003. DARKNESS ON UMBARA

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THE SHIP LURCHED AND ROCKED, BUT THE SHIELDS CONTINUED TO DO A SATISFACTORY JOB OF PROTECTING THE HULL. However, Arimiya's stomach still flipped with every jolt. A hand gently squeezed her shoulder. She turned her head, half-expecting to see Burst standing behind her; however, it was Ace who had made an attempt to console her.

Master Krell's comm-link crackled to life. It was a bit difficult to understand what exactly had been said as every other word was cut out.

"Outnumber... Airstrike... South ridge..."

Krell tapped the device with little patience, but it didn't make a difference.

"Skywalker's troops... and need... South ridge... Airstrike."

"Trooper," Krell growled and held the device out to Bits, "Get this damn piece of tech working."

Bits nodded his head and quickly tried to get a better signal through all of the interference.

"Skywalker's troops are outnumbered. We need backup on the South ridge. Send in an airstrike team."

Satisfied, Krell took back the device without a word of thanks and gestured for the pilot to turn around. "It looks as if Skywalker needs some help."

Arimiya could feel that her hands had begun to tremble. She'd never been nervous before a battle, but after Devaron she'd lost just about all trust in herself to protect those around her. She'd been told that the fear should not control her. But despite all of her attempts, she couldn't bring herself to wield her fear as a weapon. Instead, it just held her back from acting on instinct and forced her to react.

She noticed Krell staring at her quivering hands. She quickly threw them behind her back as if that would hide her feelings. She raised an eyebrow as Krell was summoned by one of the other troops aboard the ship and he slipped away to take the incoming call in private.

"What's that about?" Bits asked quietly.

Arimiya shook her head. "I don't know."

The call was quick and Krell returned as if he'd never left. Soon after, the ship landed on the surface of the planet. Krell motioned for her to follow, and she did as he instructed, beckoning for the other four to follow her. They didn't hesitate to walk after her.

The area was darker than she thought it was going to be and more so than she preferred. Although she'd gotten a small amount of sleep while traveling, she was still quite skittish. Her senses acted on overdrive and her head quickly turned in the direction of a pair of clones whispering to themselves.

"General Krell's here?"

"Something big must be going on."

"Master Krell," Skywalker nodded his head in greeting and then gestured back toward the ship, "my thanks for the air support."

"Indeed, General Skywalker." Krell nodded. "The locals have proven to be more resourceful than we anticipated."

"But that's not the reason for your visit?"

"No." Krell agreed with a brief explanation. "The Council has ordered you back to Coruscant, effective immediately."

"What?" Skywalker asked defensively. "Why?"

"I'm afraid a request was made by the Supreme Chancellor, and the Council obliged." Krell added to his explanation. "That is all they would tell me."

"Well, I can't just leave my men," Skywalker protested.

"My padawan and I'll be taking over in the interim."

Arimiya looked over in surprise. It was clear that she hadn't been informed of said decision. She remained silent though, knowing exactly how Krell felt when she spoke out of turn.

"Don't worry about a thing, sir." The clone standing beside Skywalker tried to reassure him. "We'll have this city under Republic control by the time you're back."

"Master Krell, this is Rex," Skywalker introduced the clone that had spoken, "my first in command. You won't find a finer and more loyal trooper anywhere."

"Good to hear that." Krell placed a hand on Skywalker's shoulder. "I wish you well, Skywalker."

Skywalker nodded his head and silently walked over to the airship that they had come from. Arimiya wistfully watched as the ship lifted from the ground and flew back toward the safety of Coruscant.

"Your reputation precedes you, General." Rex stepped forward and broke the following silence. "It is an honor to be serving you.

"I find it very interesting, Captain, that you are able to recognize the value of honor, for a clone." Rex looked at Krell in confusion at the way that he'd been addressed; however, he straightened as Krell's voice hardened. "Stand at attention when I address you. Your flattery is duly noted, but it will not be rewarded. There's a reason my command is so effective, and it's because I do things by the book, and that includes protocol. Have all platoons ready to move out immediately. That is all."

Krell marched forward and most of the troops immediately followed after him. Arimiya made sure to keep on his heels; however, she couldn't refrain from glancing back over her shoulder. Captain Rex and another clone, the one with the Rishi eel painted onto his helmet, made eye contact with one another as if having a silent conversation. Rex sighed, but gestured for the troops to fall out and follow the newly assigned general.

"Quicken that pace, battalion." Krell commanded. "This isn't some training course on Kamino."

"Wouldn't I like to show him a Kaminoan training course right about now," Bits muttered under his breath.

From beneath his helmet, Skid rolled his eyes. "Bits, you can hardly muster out two words around the General."

"Who needs words when you have fists," Burst retorted, and Bits nodded in agreement.

Ace shook his head. "Keep quiet and keep your heads down. We've got a job to do."

Any of their brothers that overheard their conversation would have assumed that they were speaking about the mission they'd been assigned to take the capitol city; however, the individuals that remained of the Shadow Squadron knew that he was referring to his own personal mission of keeping them all alive.

Arimiya frowned as her eyes squinted in an attempt to see through the fog. As if the darkness wasn't bad enough, the fog and jungle foliage only made it more impossible to see anything more than five feet in front of her. Her hand subconsciously drifted toward the hilt of her lightsaber. She again turned her attention to the whispers of Captain Rex and the Rishi eel clone.

"Do you see that?"

"Yeah. Ready your weapons."

Before any of the troops could prepare themselves, a Banshee swooped down from the skies and snatched up one of the other 501st troops. As several other Banshees descended from the skies, screams could be heard alongside the weapons that were fired.

Krell frowned and rolled his eyes at the inconvenience before igniting both of his double sabers. He leapt up onto the back of one of the creatures and drove his blades through its skull. The Banshee shrieked before going completely silent.

Captain Rex quickly helped the trooper to his feet as Krell faced him, a disapproving look plastered to his face, "Anyone else wanna stop and play with the animals? Didn't think so. Now keep moving!"

Arimiya quickly lost track of time, but she could only assume from the ache of her feet that they'd been walking for several hours. Burst seemed to notice that she'd started to fall behind as well. He set down his Z-6 and prepared to hoist Arimiya up onto his shoulders; however, Krell gained his attention as he cleared his throat.

"CT-9725, what do you think you're doing?"

"It just looked as if Ari was getting tired—"

Krell immediately interrupted him, "You will refer to Padawan Delaway by her title of Commander. She is quite capable of keeping up with the rest of the group. Do you understand, CT-9725?"

Burst nodded his head, but Arimiya's attention focused on the whispers around her.

"Sir, we've been keeping this pace for 12 hours now." She assumed the clone that spoke was one of the 501st medics based on the insignia painted to his shoulder plate. "The men are getting worn down."

"We should rest," Rex agreed. Krell had returned to the front of the group once he'd finished scolding Burst. Rex quickened the pace of his walk to catch up with him. "General Krell, the top of this ridge will make a good place for the men to make camp."

"The men don't need rest," Krell contradicted, "They need the resolve to complete the task at hand."

But, sir—"

"CT-7567, are you reading me?"

"Excuse me, sir?"

"I asked you a question, CT-7567. Do you understand the need to adhere to my strategy?"

"Sir, the terrain is extremely hostile. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, the battalion is making good time," Rex patiently explained his position. "These men just need a little break—"

"Captain, do I need to remind you of this battalion's strategic mission in conquering this planet?" Krell finally faced Rex and pointed his finger accusingly. "Look back. See those platoons? Their mission is to take this city and take it swiftly. Time and rest are luxuries the Republic cannot afford. We are the key to this invasion. The other battalions are counting on our support. If we fail, everyone fails! Do you understand this? Do all of you understand this? Now, move on!" Krell stormed ahead.

Rex turned to look back at the troops and nodded his head to imply that they would continue to follow the general's orders. Every single head faced the ground and each troop's shoulders slumped. Arimiya herself even found that moving forward was harder with no sign of rest in the near future.

Several hours later and they finally reached the main road that would lead to the capitol city. Rex, with helmet at his side, approached Krell to discuss the next set of strategies.

"Sir, we're ready to bring our forward platoons in for a surgical strike on the city's defenses."

Krell shook his head. "There won't be any need, Captain."

"Sir?" Rex raised an eyebrow.

"All platoons will execute a forward assault along the main route to the city."

"But, sir, General Skywalker's plan was to surprise them with multiple attacks," Rex protested and explained the flaws within the introduced plan, "If we come in from the main route, they're likely to engage us in a full-frontal assault."

"Change of plans, Captain," Krell remained obstinate, "I'm in command now."

"With all due respect, General, we don't know what we are up against," Rex tried again to persuade him, "It might be wiser to think first."

"Are you questioning my order?" Krell hardened and immediately turned on a holomap from his wrist. "This battalion will take the main road straight to the capital. You will not stop, and you will not turn back, regardless of the resistance you meet. We will attack them with all our troops, not some sneak attack with a few men. That is my order. And you will follow it explicitly. Do I make myself clear, CT-7567?"

"Yes, General."

"Now, engage!" Krell commanded. Rex saluted and the men disappeared into the fog. Arimiya took a few steps to follow after Burst; however, Krell held out one of his arms and stopped her. "Not you."

"Master?"

"The clones will handle this," Krell insisted and folded the lower set of his arms behind his back while crossing the top pair.

If possible, Arimiya grew more anxious than before. She bit her lip and refused to think the worst of what may happen while she was separated from the boys; however, several screams snapped her from her thoughts. She could've sworn that she'd heard explosives as well. She looked up at Krell, but he remained unfazed.

Krell's jaw hardened as he noticed that the clones had retreated and given up valuable ground. He growled at the clones that he'd kept at his side the whole time. "Feeble minded clones! Get in there and save their necks."

It was almost impossible to sort one voice from another as they blended together while commands were shouted over the blaster fire.

"Get ready. Here they come!"

"Stand back. Hit them with everything you got."

However, Arimiya could've sworn that she heard Burst maniacally laughing as his Z-6 whirred and released round after round of fire.

The attacking Umbarans quickly retreated before they lost any more of their own troops. The clones cheered at the minor victory. However, it didn't last as Krell stormed toward Rex. He forcibly shoved past one of the other 501st troopers in the process.

"CT-7567. Do you have a malfunction in your design? You've pulled your forces back from taking the capital city. The enemy now has control of this route." Krell jabbed Rex in the chest with a finger to carry across his point. "This entire operation has been compromised, because of your failure."

"General Krell," the clone with the Rishi eel markings stepped forward and interjected, "in case you haven't noticed, Captain Rex just saved this platoon. Surely you won't fail to recognize that."

"ARC-5555, stand down." Krell ignited one side of his saber and the green laser hovered dangerously close to the clone's neck.

"Sir. Yes, sir." The clone seethed but turned and walked away.

"Sir, if I may address your accusation," Rex stepped forward and defended his actions, "I followed your orders. Even in the face of a plan, that was, in my opinion, severely flawed. A plan that cost us men. Not clones! Men! As sure as it is my duty to remain loyal to your command, I also have another duty. To protect those men."

Krell's saber turned off and he faced the captain, looking mildly impressed. "You have a spark of tenacity, Captain. I'll give you that. I know that I don't command like the Jedi you're used to serving, certainly not like General Skywalker, but I have my way. It may be difficult, but these are difficult times. And it's proven effective. And I suppose your loyalty to your men is to be commended. They seem to admire this. That's important to an effective commander. All right, Captain Rex, your opinion has been noted. Dismissed."

ARC-5555 stepped up beside Rex and snidely remarked, "I think he almost complimented you."

Rex sighed, "It's hard to tell."

Arimiya turned to follow after Krell; however, the thought was interrupted by a large electrical blast that shook the ground and took out several of the troops.

"Incoming!"

"Get back! Get back!"

The flash momentarily blinded her, but the moment she could see again, she frantically searched for her squad. She briefly sighed with relief as she watched the four of them gather beside one another to watch each other's backs as they defended themselves.

Rex shouted to be heard. "Everyone, we must hold this position!"

Before she could join in on the action, Krell placed a hand on her shoulder and forcibly walked her back behind the defensive line. She looked up at him in confusion, but he didn't offer an explanation.

R'avida would've never turned down a fight, that much she knew from the time that they'd spent together. However, with the small amount of time that she'd spent with Krell, she hadn't been involved in any fights outside of training.

Perhaps it was merely a lesson in patience. She had to assume the best because this was all she had left of her former master. It was all that she had left to hold on to. So as the clones fought for their lives below, she forced herself to remain by her master's side and listen to his instruction. He knew best after all.