Chapter 6
The mire and fog of Fractis Minor made any kind of troop movement difficult at best. Deceptive grasslands and rock formations coming from the swampy wetlands were major hindrances for the armor in Master Valen Stral's division. The troops themselves could move reasonably well if they managed to stay atop the thick root system of the native grass. Those bringing up the rear of the AT-TE weren't so fortunate, as it smashed the imprompt floor in its huge footprints. Fortunately, this particular bog had a hard bottom, so the machine didn't founder, but the sinking combined with the plant matter was simply a cumbersome mess, causing the rear guard to sink above their waists, fighting tangles of roots and smashed plant matter in their struggle to push forward.
Stral stood atop a rocky outcropping watching the rear of his unit to ensure nobody was lost in the near-endless mud. As per his scouts, the route was void of any of the large creatures that had claimed one of the walkers he'd been sent with. It also masked their presence on radar due to the terrain. The slow, miserable process was a necessary evil if they were to rendezvous with Masters Typher Ko and Nees Traab, Ko also expecting one of the incoming Padawans inbound on the next supply shuttle.
"Sorry about the mess, sir. This was the quietest way we could find to the separatist enclave." Fray apologized.
"A hazard of our occupation, commander. I just hope we can make our rendezvous with the other units. The lack of communication makes an operation such as this rather delicate. More so because we cut off an escape route as we push through this bog." Stral replied.
"Thankfully it dries up soon after this, and we can concentrate on getting into position rather than wading through the muck." Fray informed.
"Good to know, Fray. Scout ahead and see if you can get an update on the others."
"Roger that, Sir!"
The AT-RT's signature gallop carried the commander into the foggy distance ahead. As Stral watched engineers cut more tangled roots from the legs of their tank, he contemplated things to come. Unsure of the future, the fog of this planet mirrored his sense in the Force. He felt a foreboding darkness, though unsure of its origin or timing. He wondered if his accompanying Jedi felt it too.
--
Ta'ni and Zim were quiet during most of their trip. The clones were as faceless to them as their helmets indicated. Up to this point, they hadn't seen many of them in person. A few had distinguishing marks on their armor, but by and large, it was a vast sea of white on the cruiser, its currents leading through mess hall lines, formations, drills, and checks. The two Padawans both sat quietly in the mess hall, eating their food, trying their best to look inconspicuous.
"Don't look so down in the dumps, you two. You're in good company with Razor Company!" a clone trooper jostled as he slid onto the bench near Zim.
"Don't give them a hard time, Shaker. They look fresh out of the academy." the second trooper said, "Sorry, you two. Shaker gets... enthusiastic. You've obviously met him. I'm CT-4122, or Mover for short."
"I'm Zim. This is Ta'ni. We're on our way to meet our new masters. I'm looking for Master Ko." he said, slowly gaining enthusiasm.
"I've seen Master Ko in action. Quick with his blade, that one." Mover continued, "What about you, sir?"
"Me? Sir?" Ta'ni said in surprise.
"Erm, what Mover means is you're technically our superiors. Regs and whatnot. So, what about you?" Shaker explained.
It was strange to think she outranked someone bred purely for combat, though given what she knew about clones, she was probably ten years older than these two, perhaps most of the entire army. Yet, she still had so much to learn, both about combat and about operating within a military. Her master could certainly fill in the gaps.
"I'm supposed to meet with Master Ansii." she answered.
"Oh, that's the Jedi that supposedly went to the purse worlds looking for the missing Jedi." Mover suggested.
"She was a new transfer to us, and we never did receive her. Maybe she went missing too." Shaker added.
"Anyway, we're on our way to an expeditionary mission." Zim scoffed.
"Fractis minor. You're on the same boat as us! Just a small detachment sending in supplies to claim yet another mud ball in the middle of nowhere." Mover said.
"Easy, but not much action there." Shaker said with disappointment.
"Take it easy, lads. I'm sure there will be plenty of droids to take on in this campaign. It's a big war." Mover concluded, "But, welcome to Razor Company, you two!"
The clones finished their meals in short order and then showed the Padawans to their quarters before reporting to their own stations. Ta'ni appreciated Mover's cool head and friendly disposition. She wondered how he could be so different from his partner, Shaker, when they're basically the same person. One could lose themselves in all of the intricacies of the clones, their similarities, and now that she'd met a couple, their apparent differences.
The last leg of their journey before separating from the bulk of the division they were with, included one stop to drop several platoons of clones and a group of ARC-170 fighters to assist in an occupancy on a water planet. They'd also picked up some incoming troops transferring elsewhere, among others. It still came as a surprise when Ta'ni heard a knock on her cabin door. She opened it, so see Shaker with a robed woman.
"Look who we found!" Shaker said proudly.
"I'm told you've been expecting me." the woman said, revealing her face, "Master Lira Ansii, at your service, young one."
--
Q'evarra and Blad came to the edge of the wood line, observing a large gang of worker droids loading an HT-2200 freighter. No signs of life otherwise.
"That explains the explosion we heard earlier." Blad said, pointing to the smoldering turbolaser tower.
"Then he's here, he has to be. Let's grab the freighter and get out of here." Q'evarra said impatiently.
"Not a bad idea, but I'm betting you don't just cross a couple wires and take that freighter. The Mando might be here, but Bendo certainly is. He's our ticket out of this mess!"
"I'm in no shape to tangle with the Mando, Blad."
"Relax. That's what you're paying me for." Blad grimaced as he locked his lower right arm into his custom repeating blaster, while drawing two pistols.
The duo quickly approached the large blast door, worker droids continuing unrelentingly. As they continued inside, they noticed the droids were nearly finished loading slabs. Bendo was in a hurry to pull up stakes, it appeared. They passed through an area that had equipment hastily stripped, and a corridor leading up to the large atrium. Still no signs of Bendo. The pair eventually decided to split up, Q'evarra scouring the office and lab, while Blad continued onward.
As he pressed on, Blad entered an open room that was much more opulent than the sparse industrial setting of the complex he'd just left. Art, antiquities, weapons, and a host of other museum quality artifacts adorned every square meter he looked. As he began to help himself to some of the riches, he nearly jumped in surprise when he heard a voice.
"Where's Q'evarra?" the filtered voice demanded.
"Close. But you'll never get to him."
Blad whipped around, spraying an explosive arc of blaster fire in the direction the voice came from. The wall absorbing the hot bolts, near vaporized into dust and splinters, as the Mandalorian jetted out of harms way and returning fire. Blad's rancor leather vest soaked up the hits as he adjusted his aim and swung his repeater to bear. As the Mandalorian touched down, Q'evarra entered the fray, two blaster shots narrowly missing the helmeted man. As Blad pumped voluminous fire at his target, Q'evarra seized the opportunity and kept their attacker on the run.
"We've got him Blad! Keep the pressure on him." Q'evarra nearly cheered.
"Where's Bendo, did you find him?" Blad hissed through clenched teeth, ready for an impending assault.
"You'll have to get aboard my ship to find him." The Mandalorian said.
Blad, as if competing with his blaster, roared with frustration as furniture and architecture splintered into nothingness. Two returning blaster bolts claimed a pistol and a hit on his lower left leg. He groaned and fell to one leg, but tracked the fleeing Mandalorian. When he finally ceased fire, Q'evarra was nowhere to be seen. He thought for a second only to realize the dug had either gone after Bendo, or more likely, to hijack the other ship. Just as Blad's temper was about to exit the muzzle of his cannon, he heard the distinct snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting, then a second. As the shiny combat droid approached, Bendo's voice permeated the large room.
"Mistress Trang's training droid should keep you busy enough for me to depart of my own accord." he somberly acknowledged.
The fierce looking droid, gleaming brilliant green against its humming blades, took up a combat pose similar to a Jedi. As both parties shot at the droid, what wasn't deflected from the lightsabers, bounced off of its armor. The droid closed in on the closer of the two, the Mandalorian. He blocked the lightsabers with his wrist gauntlets and rolled the blades away from him, drawing his pistol and firing at one saber, shorting it out. As he kicked clear of the droid, the saber exploded, disintegrating the droids left arm. Blad hobbled toward the atrium but was met with a swift kick to the face from the airborne Mandalorian. A huge right hook from the besalisk sent the man careening into an armored mannequin. Blad continued down the corridor toward the prospective ship, hoping it was still there. The sound of lightsaber swings gave him a brief sense of relief as the Mandalorian fought to pursue.
"Q'evarra, if you left, so help me." he growled into his comm link.
"I'm at the Mandalorian's ship. The hatch is open, but there's a droid guarding the ship. It's got me pinned down." Q'evarra said urgently.
"Serves you right for trying to maroon me!"
"Blad?! Trillem! If you leave me, you'll never get paid!"
"Better to leave empty handed than to leave in custody."
Blad switched the link off as Q'evarra squawked his curses on the other end. As he struggled to run through the empty corridors and large rooms, he could hear the engines of the freighter warming up. It would be close. But Bendo was unwittingly aiding in a quick getaway. As he ran out of the main blast door, he was met with dust kicking up from the repulsors coming to life. As he barreled toward the boarding ramp, it began to close. He grabbed onto it as the ship lifted off, firing its thrusters in a hasty maneuver. Blad used his three hands to flop himself onto the boarding ramp just as it sealed closed. He'd made it.