Time's up! (A Clone Wars Fanfic)

Part 28- If we survive

They will execute the forward assault along the main route. It's gonna be okay.

Melian, as well as some other men, sighed while walking along the main route. Why would Krell make them do this, does he hate them that much?
"So, why aren't we sticking to the original plan and probing the city defenses first?" Tup asked his brothers
"We can do this. Lets take 'em"
"Yeah leave it to Hardcase to dive in head first" Jesse replied with a chuckle
"General's new plan is reckless"
"You ever think that maybe the General knows what he's doing?"
"Nope. No. Not once" Melian said.
"I know you think this is a bad idea" Fives told Rex. He sighed
"I raised my objection to General's plan but he didn't agree. So this is it"
"Well what if he's wrong. Then what?" Melian asked him
"This isn't the time for a debate. Right now we have to stay alert"

"Ehh, it's too quiet out here" Tup looked around. As he said that, behind their backs something exploded
"Mines! Nobody move!" Someone yelled. Everyone fell to the floor, nobody moving. Rex was looking at Melian all the time, not wanting to look away for a second.
"Oz is down"
"So is Ringo" the two clones got blown up by the mines. Fives started sweeping the mines and discovered that the whole road is booby trapped.
"Everybody watch your step"
Melian started breathing heavily, for what seemed like no reason. But Rex knew what the reason might be
"Melian? What's wrong?" He asked, afraid of the answer. She stopped for a second looked at him
"They're coming" she said, knowing the Umbarans will be here any minute and there's nothing they can do to stop them.

Melian was right. The Umbarans came. Bombs fell on them and the Umbarans were shooting from tress and ground. There were so many. Melian did her best to block as many shots and save the men. And yet, she couldn't stop so many deaths. She watched, helpless as the little life left in some clone's eyes faded out. She saw that same scene so many times, but it always felt the same... guilt. Knowing she could've stopped the death somehow. That she could've helped them. Do something. But all she did was stand there, mourn them even before they died. It wasn't easy. And it never will be.

"The Umbarans are advancing!"
"There are too many!"
"Help!"
"What do we do?!"
Groans and cries of the hurt soliders echoed in Melian's ears.
"We'll fall back, get them to follow us. If we can draw them out, we can see the. If we can see them, we can hit them!" Rex said and most of the men nodded.
"Everybody, fall back, now!"
"This can't be good" Tup groaned as he started running. Melian was running backwards, still blocking the Umbarans' shots. One of them was going right at Hardcase, but she blocked it in time.
"Thanks, sis" Hardcase thanked Melian
"Everything for you" They laughed a bit. They have finally arrived to the point where they started from. Krell and the rest of the platoon were waiting there.
"Get in there and save their necks!" Krell sighed and ordered the rest of the platoon.

After the 501st drove the Umbarans away, they all sighed. But Krell was angry. Why would he be angry, they practically won
"Captain Rex" he said, harshly, while walking over to Rex. On his way there, Krell bumped into Melian. She would've fell if Fives hadn't caught her
"Do you have a malfunction in your design?! You pulled your forces from taking the Capital City! The enemy now has control of this route! This entire operation has been compromised because of your failure!!" No one can talk to Rex like that.
"In case you haven't noticed, Captain Rex just saved this platoon!"
"Surely you won't fail to recognize that" Fives finished Melian's thought.
Krell pointed his lightsaber at the two of them
"ARC-5555 and Melian Viggó, stand down"
"Sir, yes, sir" Fives slowly said, backing away and pulling Melian with him after he saw she has no intention of standing down.

"If I may address your accusations, I followed your orders, even in the face of a plan, that was, in my opinion, severely flawed. A plan that cost us men!" Rex took of his helmet
"Not clones, men!" Rex stopped for a second
"As sure as it is my duty to remain loyal to your command, I also have another duty: to protect those men" he pointed at his brothers who were standing behind Krell. He sighed
"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 or Commander Viggó here, but I have my way. It may be difficult, but these are difficult times. And it's proven effective" he turned around to look at the men, then turned to Rex again
"I suppose your loyalty to your men is to be commended. They seem to admire this. That's important to an affective commander. Alright, Captain Rex, your opinion has been noted. Dismissed" Krell walked away to who knows where. Fives finally let go of Melian. He had to hold her arm the entire time so she wouldn't launch at Krell
"I think he almost complimented you" Fives said with a dose of sarcasm
"Eh, it's hard to tell" he chuckled a little. Melian looked at him, into his eyes. Though he was laughing, there was so much stress and sadness in his eyes. He had to get used to not being treated like human beings and it took a toll on him. It took a toll on all of them.

But the world didn't stop for Melian and Rex. It didn't stop for Melian to make each clone feel like a human being. It didn't stop for anyone. For anything.
"Incoming!!" One clone yelled as bombs fell and the Umabarns came back.
"The Umabarns must've regrouped for a counterattack"
The boys hid behind some covers they laid down
"So Rex, do you plan on telling Krell your opinion for real?" Fives teased Rex
"I don't know, I'll get back to you on that if we survive this battle"
"You mean when we survive this battle" Melian looked at him
"Sure... when"