I hadn't a clue that I would create a bond like this, with clones no less, under such a situation. Master Yoda additionally spent time going over some points with the three clones, just like how he did in the show. He pointed out there was room for growth. He didn't go into too much detail for me considering we'd just met and all that, but he reminded me the galaxy is far and wide, and that I should expect the unexpected to happen, and for things to not always go in the direction you want it to go. Honestly, that was some pretty sound advice alright, so I took Master Yoda's lesson to heart. I also picked up Basic pretty quickly, which surprised the clones. I didn't become an expert on the language over the couple of hours we spent inside that cave, but I could hold my own in a conversation now. Writing it is still another challenge altogether. And with Master Yoda's encouragement, these clones were ready to take on the world.
And I'd be right there with them, supporting the clones on this remaining stretch of their mission. I'd figured we'd have a couple hours at most now to reach the rendezvous point by nightfall. Master Yoda accepted Ventress's challenge, and they'd have to reach that gigantic coral tree within the allotted time. That includes the wasted time we spent resting like this. It wasn't in vain, as I could see the clones' vigor. They were definitely ready, as was I.
Because of that, the scenery changed. With the sunset, darkness began to creep amongst the dirty and rocky soil around the coral trees. It was still enough to see in front of us. After running some distance, we found ourselves closer to the gigantic coral tree, only to arrive at yet another large trench. We could hear the stomps of the mechanical droids sounding off in unison. We didn't remain idle as the clones taught me Basic. They fiddled with what tech they had remaining to set up a comms system, and included me in it. Because of that, we were able to diversify our tactics. Master Yoda remained inside the trench, lurking nearby. The clones wandered off to the left side at the very top, taking cover. I was on the right side of the trench, hanging up in one of the coral trees.
It wasn't long until the marching droids came into view from afar. I heard a voice come through my receiver, which wasn't Adam. Turns out it was rather easy for Adam to adapt to some Star Wars tech, allowing me to patch into the clone's tech. I know it probably won't be like this for all cases, but it's a start.
"You gettin' a read on this, Shooter?", Thire asked from the other side of the trench.
As he asked that, I took a moment to observe the ongoing scene before us. Patrols after patrols. Several different types of droids.
"Ten...Twenty...Thirty..", I began, counting the number of droids marching our way. It didn't stop there. I counted by the tens. "Several patrols confirmed. Armored tanks inbound. There has to be half the remaining battalion heading into this trench. What's the plan?", I asked.
"Do what we've been doing. We've the General's backing on it, and seeing we don't have much ammo left, we'll time our attack to take a lot out in one fell swoop. That won't be the case for you Shooter, so you can assist in our timing, and take those Clankers by surprise. Are you able to strike deep within their files?", Thire questioned.
"Given our current position, that should be doable. They won't see it coming. I can sew some chaos deep within their number and scatter them so they head toward Master Yoda. Taking down some of those tanks is not out of the question either.", I responded.
"Good. We'll proceed with this plan. Let's give those Clankers some hell! Thire out.", Thire said, cutting his voice off from the comms. With a general strategy now formed, all that was left is to execute it. The three clones would wait for the right opportunity, and I'd strike at the heart of the remaining battalion. There should be around three hundred troops or so there. It is said that a Jedi can take care of a hundred droids by themselves, but they're still outnumbering us three to one. Or more like two to one, since I'm here?
It didn't matter. I began my own strategizing, wondering if I should continue testing out my Missiles and Super Missiles. I'm sure some Super Missiles could fare rather nicely against those tanks. I don't know if a single one would be enough to take it out, but that's why I'm here. It's really cool seeing Samus's weapons being used in live combat where its right up her alley, isn't it? These droids are literally walking targets. I know I have a wide variety of functions that both the Power Suit and Power Beam have, so I was curious which one to test out. Yet as if responding to my indecisiveness, I heard Adam speak to me.
I grinned hearing this.
[Ice Beam, Ice Missiles and Ice Diffusion are now online.] Adam stated, causing me to grin wildly.
So it's going to be like that, huh?
But that's an interesting thing to point out. Later on the Ice Beam would change to Ice Missiles.
And yet, Adam stated both Ice Beam and Ice Missiles are online. That meant I could use both, right? I don't think that was ever the case in Metroid. I'm pretty sure it was either one or the other. But that was because Samus was too vulnerable to the cold at the time from the X Parasites, and if that harmful effect was removed, I don't see why I can't use both at this point. I might need to have Adam run some tests back inside the gunship to see if I really am infected with the X Parasites, and if so, did I already develop an immunity to them? Otherwise, why would Adam allow the Ice Beam to go online?
I can trust Adam's judgement. After all, his sole purpose is to be my backup in this foreign world. It's just the two of us out here, until I start intermingling with more and more Star Wars characters. This first mission is a start, and it won't be the last. At least for now, I have a path forward.
Further inside the trench, the droids continued their relentless marching. The armored tanks would destroy any kinds of coral foliage, ramming them into the rocky dirt below. The red-singed sky lurked high above, fading away into purple shadows. Clank. Clank. Clank.
Heading deeper inside the trench, the first droids of the fifth wave caught a glimpse, high above the trench on the left side. A bright and icy-blue glow sparkled for a brief moment. At the same time I smiled, seeing the fifth wave arrive.
"It's time for these buckets of bolts to chill out. Permanently.", I uttered softly.
[...] Adam didn't say anything, and kept quiet at that remark.
"Too much?", I retorted, hearing an awkward silence inside my helmet.
[Just focus on what's in front of you, Samus. The final wave of those robots is upon you. I expect a full status report once this mission is over.] Adam said, simply dodging the question altogether.
"They're droids, Adam. Not just robots. There's a difference.", I retorted again.
I didn't even get a response from Adam this time before I heard his feed cut off, leaving me alone again. How rude.
Still, let's create some chaos, shall we? Those droids are marching on too uniformly. I had already thought of a little combo too. I could start off with a charged Ice Beam, allow it to freeze some droids, then fire off a charged Ice Missile, destroy the icy structure formed from said Ice Beam, then use the diffusion to freeze the icy shards over, destroying several droids in one go.
And so, I went with that plan. And I knew the perfect target. Several AATs were steadily rolling in the midst of droids and other armored droids, which stood on each side of these tanks. There were a handful of tanks, they really were going all out with this strike. There had to be at least ten or twenty of them inside this massive three hundred droid army. I didn't gaze on the ones immediately in the front. More toward the center. Smack dab in the middle.
Reaching toward the right side of my helmet, I spoke into my comms. I still had it on, so I notified Thire.
"Target acquired. I hope you boys enjoy fireworks. It might turn a little chilly.", I said, over the comms.
Over on the other side above the trench, the three clones knelt around some rocks, and Thire received this communication. He was musing by what I had just said to him.
"Looks like we're about to see a show start. Brace yourselves.", Thire said to Jek, and Rys. And sure enough, a show it was.
The droids were able to spot that icy-blue glints grow increasingly larger.
"Previous sniper spotted! Engaging in combat!", One of the droids near my target said. Yet the droids couldn't scramble quick enough before I finished charging my Ice Beam. Subtle blue highlights streaked across my arm cannon as it charged. A frosty cyan chunk of ice shot. It wasn't your normal ice that was at the normal freezing point. It was condensed, sub-zero plasma. In just a mere moment or two, it struck the tanks' coating on the outside. Hissss!
"What the...", The droid responded, seeing the tank's side near it start to freeze over. All of a sudden, a frothy blast engulfed the point of impact, quickly spreading outward on all sides. "AHHH---!?", The droid continued to say, unable to find any words. This droid was right near the blast, and it became a droidcicle in no time flat. Ice spread all over its body rather quickly, and it couldn't even feel its joints, and locked up altogether.
And that wasn't the only thing that happened. At the same time, the tank began to shudder. Its systems were exposed to this sub-zero temperature, and ice quickly spread on the right side. And then the left side. Soon, it encompassed the tank altogether.
Seeing a gigantic tank icicle form before his eyes, Thire sucked in a cold breath of air. Quite literally.
"Just what the hell type of weapon is this?", Thire questioned. It didn't even end there.
"I'm not sure, Lieutenant, but it's effective. Those droids are becoming chunks of ice one after another!", Jek said, praising my shooting ability. This was just the beginning.
Back on my side, I saw how effective a single charged Ice Beam was. I didn't remain idle. It was time to continue my combo and explode this tank into bits and pieces...