A Clone's Duty

A Clone’s Duty
Still cornered in the river valley, Tethos tells Sparrow to look after Aqua and the Droid while he goes meet with Brutus and Schlieffen unarmed.

Tethos offers to give Schlieffen the first half of the info on the droid to let them go, then give them the second half once they’re clear. Brutus responds by shooting Tethos dead.

Meanwhile, Aqua wakes up from his injuries, and learns of Tethos’ death. Aqua if furious, but know there’s little that can be done.

A soldier named Sgt. Shark, who previously scored 59 kills defending the bridge earlier, comes up, but just then, they see an LA-AT gunship in the air. It lands nearby, and Rico himself steps out, claiming Mental found out what Schlieffen was up to, found Rico, and sent Rico down to the planet while Mental leads a space battle above the planet. Rico also reports that Commander Louie and the 1st Royal Legion is landing across the planet, and they just need to hold out until they arrive.

Battlefield

 * Zepho
 * Mountain Village

Combatants

 * Rico's Brigade
 * 9th Fountain Legion (Aqua’s Legion)
 * Aqua
 * Sparrow
 * Rico
 * 1st Royal Legion
 * Commander Louie
 * Galactic Empire
 * Dr. Schlieffen's Forces
 * 9th Fountain Legion (mind-controlled)
 * Brutus
 * Stormtroopers

Battle Results
Brutus, Schlieffen, and their Order 77 clones, bolstered by newly arrived Stormtroopers until they number around 400, prepare to attack the 26 clones in the river.

Behind the Imperials, though, the 1st Royal Legion has landed. The Imperials at the back (once again armed with Arc-carbines), engage them at once, rushing to set up a defensive line within the village.

In the river, though, the defenders are also under heavy fire, and Aqua and Shark both take serious hits, but continue fighting, and the position holds.

The Royal Legion pushes into the village, and Louie sends some of his men to reinforce the defenders in the river. The rest of the Royal Legion works to surround the Imperials.

The Royal Region reaches the defenders, but even surrounded, the main Imperial force remains strong, as various attempt to push in by the clones fail. For a time, it seems the tide of the battle will turn until the Royal Legion uses grenades to whittle down enemy numbers. One clone guns down several enemies on his own before going down. Another snipe eliminates  an entire enemy squad, allowing his squad to advance.

Rico and the defenders decide to break away from their position to help the main battle. The rest of the Royal Legion coordinates multiple simultaneous charges, and first Brutus, then Schlieffen are killed. The day is soon won for Rico’s Brigade.

Epilogue
Rico and the commanders debrief. Rico compliments Aqua. When asked where he’s been, Rico says he needs to reveal that to all the clone commanders, and tells Aqua to savor the victory and remember the fallen. Looking on a shrine to the fallen clones, Aqua begins to feel at peace.