Stand For the 989th (A story of the Clone War's last days.)

Ambush!

The ships just kept going. Quad had had no idea that this many Separatists were in Bor Shadan. Drop ships, warships, Tri-Fighters, even Vulture droids, were filling the skies above the capital with their buzzing and roaring engines. As the Legion grew closer to the city, Quad listened to Commander Gremlin converse with General Ti.

"Should we send in some V-Wings to try and stop their retreat?" Gremlin asked.

"Negative. With this many ships in the air, it would be a suicide mission," she responded.

"I don't understand it, General," Quad said, "why would they all just turn tail and leave?"

"I don't have the slightest clue, cadet. But we should be thankful, as it will make capturing the city that much easier." As she said it, their transport arrived at the edge of the metropolis in front of them.
"Dachshund, Quad, take the left side with Squad B. Commander, take Squads A and C on the right. Blitz, Charlie, and I will take Squad D in the middle. E Squad, cover our flank. Everyone wait for further instruction," she ordered.

"Roger, Sir!" all five squads called out in confirmation. Quad pulled off his helmet. He spotted Beta, the equipment manager, and walked over to him.

"Rag, please. And a few extra rounds," he said.

"Sure thing, Quad," Beta responded as he dug in his cache, looking for the required equipment. He tossed Quad a clip, then a rag for armor shining.

"Good luck out there," Beta told him.

"Same to you," he responded. He then walked off, vigorously wiping his visor so that it was perfectly clear for combat. Once he finished, he put his helmet back on and clipped the ammo to his belt. He began to return to his assigned squad, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Mind if I borrow that?" a cadet asked him.

"Sure thing, Charlie," Quad responded, handing him the rag.

"Aren't we lucky that the Seppies decided to run away instead of fight," Charlie sighed.

"I don't know. It all seems a little suspicious to me..." Quad trailed off.

"Well, we just need to be ready for anything," Charlie said. Then, General Ti ordered everyone to their assigned positions. The two cadets wished each other luck, then returned to their respective squads.

"Once I give the order, begin the advance. Do not charge the enemy until I say so," she instructed. All of the clones again called out confirmation, then waited for the word.
"Advance."

Quad instructed his squad to turn safeties off and keep in line until told otherwise. Everyone there felt the same eerie sense of trouble, he could tell from their hesitant steps. Silently, the Republic forces marched through the streets, headed for the Hall of Commerce that their spies had revealed as the location of the Separatist H.Q. The usually bustling streets were empty, and every once in a while Quad would glance a pair of nervous eyes watching the advance from inside of a run down shack. Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the sky, and streaks of red blasted through the bland, gray atmosphere.

"What the heck was that!?" Dachshund exclaimed.

"Everyone be quiet, and stay low!" General Ti ordered.

"Look, sir!" Blitz exclaimed in a harsh whisper. "It's one of the Droid warships up there. It looks like it blew an engine!"

"It must have hit the atmosphere using too much power. That could theoretically burn the heat protection plating off. That's the only possible thing I can imagine would cause one of the ships to cripple itself," a clone engineer explained.