Dageer looked out of a Republic cruiser's window. Under him, Ryloth was getting smaller and smaller. Soon, the ship would make the jump to hyperspace. Dageer didn't know when and if he would see it again.

Hell Squad stood next to him, three clones on each side. They weren't using their armor, but brown clothes that showed they belonged to the 303rd. Without their armor, the scars on their faces and arms were plain for anyone to see, showing just how much they had been through. From time to time, a trooper from the 212th would pass by them, and look at the group for a second.

When Ryloth was substituted by the blue and white lines of hyperspace, Dageer turned around, and Hell Squad followed. In the end, Ryloth was just another battle in a war that was far from over. A painful battle, that they would remember and regret forever, but still, just a battle.

Walking around the ship towards their quarters, Dageer was remembering what transpired after their crazy climbing plan and the battle on top of the walls of Lessu. As soon as Lessu was captured by the Republic, several Separatist sh.i.p.s tried to leave Ryloth and escape the system. Many were shot down, but some escaped. However, of the almost half a million clanckers on Ryloth, less than half survived. Of course, the Separatist would have no problem replenishing their ranks, but a victory was still a victory.

Dageer saw General Windu briefly after the battles were over, when the Jedi was transporting the captured Separatist leader, Wat Tambor, to a Republic cruiser scheduled to take him to the prisons of Coruscant. Together with the Jedi was Cham Syndulla, the freedom fighter leader. Syndulla just looked at Hell Squad, and scoffed, before leaving, but Dageer could see guilt in his eyes.

Gobi and Yva were nowhere to be seen, and neither was their daughter, Shouta, but one freedom fighter informed Dageer they were okay. Gobi had suffered a slight wound in the battle for Nabat, but it wasn't serious.

Shaking his head, Dageer pushed all his thoughts of Syndulla or the Twi'leks to the back of his mind. He now had something else to worry about.

Now that the Battle Of Ryloth was over, Hell Squad was returning to Coruscant. As the commander of the 303rd Attack Legion, Dageer had to be present when the higher-ups decided what would be done of the few survivors. As the leader of a special unit, Dageer had to be present when the higher-ups decided what would be done of Hell Squad.

"Dageer."

"General Kenobi."

The Jedi was walking in the other direction, towards the command bridge of the cruiser. Surprisingly, although General Kenobi had done everything Hell Squad had, from sliding over an abyss, climbing up a cliff, and fighting a thousand droids, he didn't have a single bruise. Meanwhile, Hell Squad had several light wounds, and at least two broken bones. That went to show how different from the normal folk the Jedis were.

"Listen, Dageer, I just received a transmission from Coruscant, and was about to send a trooper after you. You are to go immediately to the Judgement Room on the Senate Building, as soon as we arrive. They want to sort this out as soon as possible."

"Understood, sir. And... What about General Ragout?"

"The Jedi Council will deliberate on his fate. Usually, when a padawan loses his master before their training is complete, they finish it on the Jedi Temple. But Ragout won't be there for long. In a few months, his training will be complete."

"Thank you, general."

General Kenobi nodded, patted Dageer's shoulder, and continued on his way. The commander gestured to his squad, and went to their quarters.

---------------------------

The Senate building was impressive, to say the least. High towers of a dark shade of red, the building was in the heart of Coruscant. Hundreds of thousands of people walked by and on it every day, and it was were the most important decisions of the Republic were made. As such, of course the security would be tight.

Before Hell Squad got to the Judgement Room, they had to go through four security checks, even though they were clones. The ones responsible for the security were clones who wore long red armor, very different from the normal Phase II ones. Senate Guards. Dageer never understood them. They never talked, and rarely moved, and he had never seen them training. Even clone commandos would train with normal clones for a while, but the Senate Guards didn't.

When Hell Squad finally arrived in the Judgement Room, what greeted them was a giant platform that floated above a hole. On the walls on both sides, protected by blast shields, were people of many different species. Directly in front of the platform, surrounded by Senate Guards, was Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.

He was old, but still younger than most chancellors who came before him. He also had a smile on his lips, and looked like a very easygoing person. However, for some reason, when the chancellor gazed at him, Dageer felt shivers running down his spine. He was a dangerous man.

"CT-4063, named Dageer, commander of the 303rd Attack Legion of the Grand Army of the Republic. Is all that was said correct?"

A fat Twi'lek near Chancellor Palpatine read a datapad in his hands, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. Dageer straightened himself, and so did the other members of Hell Squad.

"Yes."

"This audience will now hear Chancellor Palpatine, to decide what will be done of the 303rd Attack Legion!"

The Twi'lek sat down, and Chancellor Palpatine got up, smiling. He was standing far above Dageer, but he stretched his hands as if he could touch Dageer. It was easy to understand why he was elected chancellor.

"Commander Dageer, we are all terribly sorry for the loss of Master Ima-Gun Di and Commander Keeli. However, this is the first time an entire legion of the Republic Army was destroyed, and we can't hesitate. We shall not show weakness."

"I understand, sir."

"Then, the surviving troopers shall be sent to other legions. Commander Cody, of the 212th Legion, seemed to show interest in them. I am sure elite troops such as yours will be of high importance."

Dageer nodded, and the chancellor's assistant, the Twi'lek, got up again, to read another note.

"One hundred and eighty-five clones remain of the 303rd Attack Legion. Of those, one hundred and twenty-three have been seriously injured, and won't be able to battle again. They will be taken good care of. The remaining sixty-two troopers, with the exception of Hell Squad, will be sent to the 212th Legion."

Dageer knew it wasn't his place to ask what would be done of Hell Squad. They were going to tell him next anyways. And that was what Chancellor Palpatine said next.

"Commander Dageer, in accounting to all the missions and tasks Hell Squad accomplished on behalf of the Republic, we thought it would be a waste to bind you to another legion. As per today, Hell Squad will be a free unit. Of course, unless there is some special task, you will fight on the battlefield just like you have done up till now."

"Thank you, sir."

"Unless anyone has something else to say, then I will declare this secession as finished."

None of the audience said anything, and, after waiting for a few seconds, the chancellor sat down again.

"I am sure you will do a good job, Commander Dageer, leader of Hell Squad. After all, you are one of the best of the Republic. You are free to go."

Dageer nodded, and turned around. Hell Squad followed, and he could already sense their questions. He would answer them, but they all knew that a whole new phase for Hell Squad was about to start.