Growing Ever More Distant

"General, we've lost contact with five companies. It's still unclear whether it's because of the weather or because they were attacked." In the temporary command post of the Republic clone army's northern main force, the clone commander spoke to Jedi Master Selius.

Selius pulled back his soaking-wet hood, took the binoculars from the clone commander, and looked into the distance.

All he could see was rain and mist. Switching between laser, radar, and infrared imaging did little good. The torrential rain was full of reflected signals, while abnormal ionization in the clouds interfered with the instruments. They were practically blind.

"A sense of danger has been lingering in my heart, and it's everywhere." Selius frowned deeply.

"Should we retreat, General?" the clone commander asked.

Selius shook his head. "Jabiim planet has fewer than five clear days in an entire year. Whether we retreat or not, this is weather we will always have to face. The only thing we can rely on now is the strength of our main legion."

The clone commander looked at the AT-TE walkers and AT-XT walkers struggling through the mud, then shook his head. Given an AT-TE's weight, one step could sink it nearly a meter into the sludge. Lifting that leg again required more than ten times the normal engine power. Both their speed and fuel consumption had far exceeded the limits of normal combat operations.

Selius said to the Jedi Knights behind him, "We can't split our forces any further. Each of you, take a group of men toward the missing companies and confirm their situation."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The Jedi Knights nodded, each taking several soldiers and mounting the Republic Army's standard Zephyr-G swoops before racing off in different directions.

Selius watched as they vanished into the rain less than fifty meters away, his