Twelve titanic warships hovered over the clear blue marble known as Quell-absolutely massive vessels that spanned kilometres and dwarfed anything Barriss had ever seen put to space. She could hardly believe they could even move.
But when you needed mobile deepdocks to facilitate an ever growing number of desperate warships, there was no quicker and haphazard solution than converting freighters and bulk carriers into auxiliary fleet-repair ships. They already had the gantries-once used to load and offload containers-to service ships docked alongside them, and they already had the cavernous inventories necessary to hold fuel, gas, parts, or all three.
And the corporate overlords of the Separatist Alliance had no shortage of either.
Standing on an observation platform aboard the freighter-cum-mobile shipyard Rimma Express, Barriss could just see the communications mast of another auxiliary peeking just over the curved horizon. The huge vessels were spaced evenly across Quell¡¯s surface, strung along the mesopause like a bead of pearls. Being virtually defenceless, they had to hide within what planetary interference there was in an attempt to evade long-range system scanners.
But also being interstellar merchantmen at their core, they weren¡¯t capable of atmospheric flight-they would collapse under their own weight-and so had to literally skirt the fine line that still allowed them to utilise their bewilderingly powerful repulsors to stay afloat. And what large repulsors they were-great jets of cold blue that extended from their ventrals like celestial pillars holding up floating islands.
¡°You must hasten, Captain Jorm,¡± Tuff sternly ordered a slouching human captain, ¡°Unicorn Squadron is supposed to make for Ord Tiddell.¡±
¡°Nothing I can do about it, droid,¡± Jorm pinched the bridge of his nose, evidently exhausted at Tuff¡¯s draconian demands, ¡°Are your photoreceptors even working!? Look around you, my Aurora Auxiliaries Division has its hands full with Commander Shive¡¯s and Captain Aviso¡¯s war. Our resources have been earmarked for this Salin Front, not your¡ your quick response squadron, and definitely not these half-flying Atrakenite junkers!¡±
Lieutenant Rame Cartroll winced inaudibly at the outburst. Barriss couldn¡¯t help but sympathise-they had been able to retrieve all of their forces from Atraken more-or-less intact, but some of the more anti-Republic Atrakenites had stubbornly refused to submit to Loyalist occupation. Instead, they raided the secret shipyards on Trilos and absconded the ships there, swearing loyalty to Separatist Alliance.
They were already traitors to the Atrakenite government. When the choice was either to take them in or abandon them to the infinite harshness of space, there was no choice in Barriss¡¯ mind.
The problem? Those ¡®ships¡¯ of theirs could be aptly described as flying metal coffins. They were unique, to say the least; some were haphazardly repaired warships from the dawn of the war, while others were built from the keel up with what little resources they had. Barriss couldn¡¯t believe any of them were space-worthy.
But they were, if not yet exactly battle-worthy; something Tuff was attempting to rectify.
¡°You know,¡± Cartroll said quietly, dragging her off towards the side, ¡°It makes a lot more sense that a tactical droid would be in charge of a squadron- not sure why it didn¡¯t occur to me that a mere lieutenant shouldn¡¯t have that much authority.¡±
Barriss allowed a wry smirk, ¡°I think it can be forgiven considering the state we found you in."
¡°Yeah, well,¡± he heaved, shoulders rising and falling, ¡°I suppose a droid would be bad optics. Not sure how he¡¯s going to weasel our way out of this one though. The Atrakenites trust me enough to follow us this far¡¡±
He trailed off, gaze fixed on something in the distance. Barriss followed it to the bunkering frigates refuelling midair, and the line of impatient Atrakenite corvettes waiting for their turn.
Those are all Horgo Shive¡¯s ships, she thought, remembering the Muun, they¡¯re being rotated from the front to keep up to snuff. Unicorn Squadron must be an unwelcome intruder on their itinerary.
¡°Captain!¡± a Siniteen logistics officer stamped into a hasty salute, ¡°Urgent transmission from Vjun. It¡¯s the Commander¡¯s address.¡±
It appeared as if something had physically gripped Captain Jorm, even as he spoke, ¡°Patch him through.¡±
Horgo Shive appeared on a monitor above the console, blinking as he took in everybody in attendance. He stated his piece only after ensuring he had the full attention of the crew.
¡°Your location has been compromised,¡± the Muun Commander exposed bluntly, ¡°And we¡¯ve intercepted communications suggesting a Republic taskforce is enroute to Quell as we speak.¡±
¡°H-How!?¡± Captain Jorm stuttered, ¡°Our location is supposed to be top secret! It can¡¯t be from my division; there¡¯s been no unauthorised outbound communications from the Quell System since we arrived!¡±
¡°A spy has penetrated deeper into our ranks than we have realised,¡± Commander Shive grimaced, ¡°Either Bonteri employs a far looser hand than he should, or someone with top level access to the tracking of our military elements has fallen in bed with the Loyalists.¡±
¡°You mean- from the general staff?¡± Jorm started pacing the deck, chewing nervously, ¡°This is outrageously-!¡±
¡°Neither of us are in any position to fret over a spy, Jorm,¡± Shive said, ¡°You just have to get out of Quell as soon as possible. Anakin Skywalker was last spotted moving Rimward on the Salin, and I will meet him at Vjun. We all play our parts.¡±
¡°You said the enemy is enroute as we speak,¡± the auxiliary captain accused, ¡°Did you trace the communications? Was it from within the region?¡±
¡°Fifteen-hundred parsec radius,¡± he confirmed, ¡°You only have a day- or less. Look, Jorm, we can¡¯t afford to lose the Aurora Auxiliary Division. Your command is a mobile Ringo Vinda. Sacrifice my Havoc Squadron frigates to make your escape if you must. Nothing is more important than your survival.¡±
Jorm swallowed, beads of sweat gathering on his brow, ¡°Understood, Commander.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t sound good,¡± Cartroll mumbled from their vantage point.
The auxiliary captain swallowed thickly, then firmed himself up, ¡°All ships to Yellow Alert and prepare for extraction!¡±
Before the Siniteen could convey the order, Tuff stepped heavily, his steel boot thumping against the ground like a gong, ¡°Belay that order, Captain.¡±
The words spilled out naturally, as if the droid had spoken them a hundred times before.
¡°You don¡¯t know where they are coming from,¡± the tactical droid continued, ¡°Acting too early is a mistake.¡±
Captain Jorm¡¯s eyes fluttered, creases in his face deepening as he absorbed Tuff¡¯s words, ¡°Caraya¡¯s soul. Shive, you useless blaster-brained cur. Fine; why don¡¯t you use that programming of yours to find us a way out of here, droid?¡±
Somewhat lost on the situation, Barriss unconsciously probed the thoughts of the auxiliary captain, encountering little resistance as his mindscape divulged any information she seeked to know. She only realised her actions after a flood of mild panic and deep-rooted anxiety pooled in her gut, along with the scraps of tactical know-how that still surpassed hers.
Logically, the most obvious direction the enemy would be approaching from was the Salin Corridor. Except, Commander Horgo Shive still held that hyperspace route. Which meant the enemy taskforce was operating behind Separatist lines, and could strike from any direction.
Extracting too early ran the risk of exposing themselves on the wrong side of the planet-or worse, running straight into the people they were trying to escape.
¡°Yellow Alert,¡± Tuff dipped his chin, ¡°I will take overall command of Havoc and Unicorn Squadron. Ensure all crews are prepared for a hasty extraction, but for now, we cannot make our move until we see the enemy.¡±
¡°What is your plan?¡± Jorm demanded.
¡°Sacrifice one or two auxiliaries,¡± Tuff replied curtly, ¡°And run in the opposite direction.¡±
Cartroll made a silent ¡®ah¡¯ sound with his mouth, eyes shining as if he had been struck by an epiphany.
¡°What is it?¡± she whispered.
¡°Simple yet clever,¡± the Lieutenant said, ¡°Now I see why the deepdocks are stationed where they are.¡±
¡°To minimise their sensor profile?¡±
¡°Well yes, but look at this-¡± he drew up a rough 2D render of the planet on his tablet, with twelve flashing dots placed evenly on its circumference, ¡°-It also means that if the enemy comes from any one spot, like here¡¡±
He tapped the screen, and a new flashing dot appeared on the outskirts of the render. Two dotted lines spanned outwards, running tangentially from the node to the planet¡¯s circle.
¡°See how their in-system scanners won¡¯t be able to detect all the ships on the other hemisphere?¡± Cartroll pointed, ¡°Yes, it does minimise our profile, both from long-range and short-range scanners. Bare minimum, we survive with half of our ships. But if we can distract the enemy long enough¡¡±
¡°We can get the rest behind the tangents, and sacrifice the closest auxiliaries in the process,¡± Barriss finished.
¡°The question is; which?¡± Cartroll looked up.
¡°That is for the enemy to decide,¡± Tuff marched past them, ¡°Board your ship, Lieutenant. We must be ready to meet them.¡±
They didn¡¯t have a day. They had five hours.
¡°Polyphemus reports sensor contact sir,¡± Taylor said, ¡°Should we begin tracing aft of their inbound trajectory to plot an origin arc?¡±
Polyphemus. A Corporate Alliance bulk carrier converted into a mobile manufacturing plant to quickly produce replacement parts from raw materials procured by fleet tenders. Six corvettes orbited the giant starship, serviced by Polyphemus¡¯ autonomous limbs and a legion of crab-like repair droids.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
¡°Do so-¡± Unicorn jolted as she dislodged from Rimma Express¡¯ cranes, freefalling several metres before her repulsors kicked in, ¡°-And identify who we are facing. Have Lieutenant Cartroll¡¯s light warships move to Polyphemus¡¯ flanks oh-four-five radial degrees from Quell¡¯s core. Begin evacuation procedures.¡±
Unicorn and Centaur immediately started burning a fiery trail through the heavens, carving a white gaseous scar across the sky. Quell seemed to go on infinitely from the vantage of the bridge, the endless sea of clouds expanding outwards as they chased the horizon.
¡°Which frigates are closest to Polyphemus¡¯ position?¡± Tuff demanded.
¡°Havoc Squadron¡¯s Sanction, Durandal, and Ullalulla,¡± Barriss checked.
¡°Can they make the intercept in time?¡±
She fumbled with the calculations for a minute, ¡°Not¡ not with the atmospheric drag.¡±
The Republic taskforce had a nearly eighty degree angle of attack, while the Separatist frigates were sailing parallel to the surface and in-atmosphere. That meant they were not only limited by their atmospheric drives, but also had to travel a longer distance following the curvature of the planet, compared to a straight-shot displacement figure.
¡°We¡¯ve identified the cruisers as you¡¯ve ordered,¡± Rame Cartoll¡¯s voice was sharp, ¡°There are three Venators; Liberty, Defiance, and Independence. Only Defiance is in carrier outfit, from what our sensors can make.¡±
¡°Liberty is General Aayla Secura¡¯s flagship,¡± Tuff stated, probably pulling the information from his databanks, ¡°And the trace?¡±
¡°An arc in the Perkell Sector. Somewhere around Aargonar, Gromas, or Tancret. Can¡¯t tell any more than that, unless you can rip out their astronav charts.¡±
Tuff twitched unnaturally at the mentioned systems, as if his behavioural programming was glitching.
¡°That¡¯s¡ the opposite direction of where they should be coming from,¡± Barriss stated, ¡°Has the Perlemian Front already collapsed?¡±
¡°Eucer definitely has- no way else for them to get behind us,¡± Cartroll stated grimly, ¡°We were supposed to rendezvous with reinforcements at Ord Tiddell right? I have a feeling we won¡¯t find them there.¡±
¡°I must follow my last received orders, Lieutenant,¡± Tuff said, ¡°Unicorn Squadron will make for Ord Tiddell. Whether you decide to follow us is irrelevant.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not your strategic analysis software talking, droid,¡± Cartroll chastised, ¡°That¡¯s your loyalty protocols overwriting your logic matrix. Who programmed you?¡±
If Tuff could blink, Barriss imagined he would have.
¡°Aurora,¡± the droid toggled the comms, ¡°Have all your ships except Polyphemus retreat to the galactic bearing oh-three-eight and jump to Kodai.¡±
¡°And Polyphemus?¡±
¡°Transfer its control codes to me.¡±
¡°¡ I hope you know what you are doing, droid.¡±
¡°My programming dictates that I always do,¡± Tuff replied stoically.
The nearest auxiliary-Winds of Trade-rumbled in the other direction, its sensory masts sticking over the horizon like a shark lurking just beneath the waves. The roar of its engines travelled the distance with time, brightness and heat warping the very sky itself as it rose first like a breaching whale, and then like a mountain range taking flight as the wall of durasteel just kept going-all ten kilometres of it.
¡°We have a visual,¡± Taylor reported, ¡°The enemy taskforce is entering the atmosphere.¡±
¡°Deploy all available Vulture wings to lure away their combat patrols,¡± Tuff ordered, ¡°Order Polyphemus to wait until they¡¯re on the edge of their firing envelopes before gradually descending to an altitude of twenty klicks.¡±
¡°That¡¯ll¡ Polyphemus will implode,¡± Taylor refused ardently, ¡°And there are still hundreds of droids onboard!¡±
TF-1726¡¯s white eyes were bright and merciless, ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±
¡®They are not our droids¡¯ went unsaid.
OOM-2200¡¯s pitch black photoreceptors were in stark contrast, the lesser B1 model staring up at his superior in such a way that it must have somehow gone against his obedience module. And yet, he still did.
¡°Roger¡¡± the B1 drew out slowly, ultimately unwilling-or unable-to disobey, ¡°Roger.¡±
Polyphemus dropped like a puppet with its strings cut, layer upon layer of shielding concentrating beneath the ship until it appeared like an glowing aurora holding back an infernal hand attempting to crush the ship in its fiery grasp. Even then, there was a visible wobble amidships as the freighter withstood gravitic forces it was never designed to handle.
Hundreds of droid ¡®deaths.¡¯ She felt nothing for it.
And above, the three Jedi cruisers continued to descend towards the mesosphere, apparently too eager to destroy their quarry to notice the trap laid out for them.
How do you not see it, Master Secura? Barriss wondered. It was so¡ obvious. Was it arrogance to presume that Barriss herself would never fall for a trick like this?
¡°Habatok,¡± Tuff called, ¡°Are your corvettes armed with torpedoes?¡±
There was a buzz of static- ¡°They are.¡±
¡°When I give the order, attack the cruisers from dead astern, forty-five degrees upwards on their vertical axis.¡±
¡°Understood. The Atrakenites are eager to prove their worth,¡±
The young Lieutenant¡¯s confirmation was devoid of emotion, as if he was as much a droid as TF-1726 himself.
Just then, a roiling swarm of Vulture droids poured out every one of Polyphemus¡¯ open bays like streams of water from a leaking jug. Defying gravity and converging over the auxiliary in a great mushroom shape, the Vultures locked in their missiles and surged upwards in a single front. As if in anticipation, Defiance deployed a counter-torrent of starfighters.
¡°Commence your attack run, Lieutenant,¡± Tuff commanded.
Master Secura¡¯s taskforce must have realised something was amiss by then, as Polyphemus continued its uncontrollable descent into the stratosphere. But it was already too late; the Atrakenite corvettes had burst forward in shimmering clouds of flares and sensory chaff, dashing up and around towards the cruisers¡¯ undefended engine blocks.
With all of their shields focused downwards to absorb atmospheric friction as they descended into the mesosphere, the cruisers were vulnerable to the Cartroll¡¯s higher angle of attack-the extremely lightweight corvettes strafing beyond the speed of sound as they unleashed a flurry of torpedoes that fractured the cylinders of the ion engine chambers and sent them spiralling to the earth in pieces.
Yet still, Defiance heaved its bow upwards in majestic fashion, barely managing to angle its rearmost dorsal turbolasers to bear and thunder off four well-placed shots that popped two corvettes like faulty fireworks. A deep rumble emerged from its hull at the same time as the Venator¡¯s structural integrity was strained to its limit with the high-g manoeuvre.
An explosion from below shook the world. As if it had struck an invisible floor, Polyphemus imploded in a way not unlike a glass of blue milk shattering on the ground. Tendrils of fire burst out in every direction, searing the air and flinging a hail of heavy metal meteorites across the sky that would surely sear leagues of land below into ash and dust.
The loss of one of the Separatist armada¡¯s most vital assets didn¡¯t seem to phase TF-1726 at all, ¡°Habatok, retreat in their blindspot. All frigates, climb one klick and lock targets on their dorsal barbettes. We will pound them into the planet itself.¡±
Unicorn surged forwards, its superheavy forward batteries blasting out a roaring barrage of bleeding fire that ripped out a chunk of Independence¡¯s gundeck and thoroughly mutilated the interior into a grotesque heap of half-metal machinery. Debris spilled out of the breach, and to Barriss¡¯ own horror, she witnessed a number of white-sheathed clone troopers thrown out and tumbling towards their deaths.
There was no recourse. With all five frigates arranged around Master Secura¡¯s taskforce and even more closing in rapidly, there was nothing for them to do except let gravity work its magic.
It was an empty sight, for Barriss, watching a Jedi Master she respected deeply falling for a trap that was so elementary in her mind. Liberty and its satellite cruisers couldn¡¯t even delay their destruction, with how their shields were preoccupied fending off the onslaught of physics.
¡°Outbound hyperwave transmission detected,¡± Taylor reported, ¡°Looks like they are calling for reinforcements.¡±
¡°Trace its destination and determine which force is coming,¡± Tuff turned around, ¡°They cannot be far away.¡±
¡°¡ Considering the direction and range, the closest Republic taskgroup is General Anakin Skywalker¡¯s at Indu San.¡±
¡°Inform Commander Shive of this development. He may wish to counterattack at Indu San,¡± the tactical droid said, ¡°And tell Captain Jorm to double his efforts. We will disengage once the reinforcements arrive.¡±
The day dragged on. The Republic warships were holding on valiantly, but with every new frigate joining the battle, the odds only stacked against them. And finally, the unrelenting firepower of Sanction and Ullalulla finally cracked open Defiance¡¯s already weakened hull at the beam, snapping off the Star Destroyer¡¯s forward half and sending both pieces careening in the clouds below.
Thousands of lives written off just like that. It still surprised Barriss just how fragile starships can be, when it mattered. A pressure built on her mind-first she thought it was from the mounting casualties in those burning wrecks, until she realised it was Force warning of an approaching threat.
¡°Cronau radiation detected at planetary bearing two-two-seven,¡± Taylor calibrated the sensors, ¡°It¡¯s the Harbinger¡ and two more ships; Redeemer and Defender.¡±
Tuff slashed down with a stiff arm, ¡°Unicorn Squadron, withdraw! Captain Jorm, what is your progress?¡±
¡°Four ships are still in-system,¡± Captain Jorm replied, ¡°Winds of Trade is lagging hard. We need more time.¡±
The droid paused as he silently computed their next course of action. Suddenly, he turned to stare at her, as if she had become a new factor in his equation. Barriss stumbled as Unicorn swerved away, firing its thrusters to escape the planet¡¯s grasp-and the pressure continued to build in her mind.
¡°Habatok, have your corvettes escort the remaining auxiliaries to Kodai,¡± TF-1726 decided, ¡°Am I correct to presume you will not be following us?¡±
¡°Sorry,¡± he sounded truly apologetic, and Barriss wondered just who he was saying it to, ¡°But I can¡¯t lead my men into what is almost certainly enemy-occupied territory.¡±
¡°Very well,¡± Tuff acknowledged curtly, ¡°Havoc Squadron will exercise independent command from now on.¡±
The sky faded away like watercolour washed off a canvas, just as the sound bled away into deathly silence. The roar of turbolasers and ion drives faded like a distant dream as the vacuum of space swallowed them once more.
¡°Harbinger¡¯s bearing down on us on our starboard bow,¡± Taylor announced.
Master Skywalker¡¯s Venator was on a straight vector bound for Master Secura¡¯s mark, on a slight angle from Unicorn Squadron¡¯s outbound heading. Barriss steeled herself for another battle, fully expecting Unicorn and Centaur to bring their guns to bear and finish what should have started at Atraken.
Except¡ they didn¡¯t. Even as the five warships came within firing distance of each other, they passed harmlessly by, guns aimed and ready, but quiet.
¡°We aren¡¯t intercepting them?¡± Confusion spilled from her lips.
¡°Havoc Squadron is still present planetside.¡±
¡°I mean¡ won¡¯t they go after the auxiliaries?¡±
Tuff stopped and stared at her in what looked like surprise. He tilted his head like a cat, then shook it.
¡°I have calculated the possibilities,¡± he said, ¡°Jedi compassion makes them predictable. Anakin Skywalker would rather rescue Aayla Secura than downing four auxiliaries.¡±
Barriss frowned, thinking, ¡°But Liberty is doomed. Master Skywalker might not even make it in time, not if he needs to fight through Havoc Squadron.¡±
¡°He will take that risk,¡± Tuff declared confidently, ¡°Even if it means fighting Havoc Squadron instead of eliminating the Auxiliary Division and achieving an easy strategic victory. A rational thought process dictates targeting the auxiliaries is the wiser action because as you had posited, Aayla Secura is unlikely to survive. But Aayla Secura will survive, not even with our best efforts, due to plot armour. With this knowledge, Jedi will always prefer to surrender a strategic objective if the price is the rescue of one of their comrades, simply because a rescue has a much greater probability of success than it logically should.¡±
Jedi will always prefer to surrender a strategic objective if the price is the rescue of one of their comrades. The droid¡¯s robotic words rang in her head over and over again like an incessant bell, and the building pressure felt like a hammer and chisel attempting to split her head in two.
What was the Force trying to tell her?
That Master Luminara was wrong on Teth all those months ago?
The mere thought was blasphemous. Barriss knew her Master had always been one of the more detached Jedi Masters, and had always taught her to rely on her own wits as much as the Force. Sacrifice was a sad necessity in some cases, and a Jedi must always be ready to let go.
Would I have done the same thing were I in your shoes then, Master? Barriss did not know which answer was worse.
Is it your fault I am now trapped and fighting for the enemy? Barriss herself had told her Master to leave her. What Rotta the Hutt could bring to the Loyalist cause was far greater than anything she could contribute. Her sacrifice had been her contribution.
Were you wrong, Master? Was I wrong?
An ugly sensation of jealousy bubbled in her stomach. Why couldn¡¯t I have been saved too?
TF-1726 took her silence as disagreement, ¡°Just as our definition of victory is not the death of a Jedi, but the safety of the Aurora Auxiliary Division; General Skywalker¡¯s definition of victory is the safety of his comrade, not the destruction of the Auxiliary Division. As our means and goals are parallel, we have no cause for conflict. Your proactive mindset is laudable, but unnecessary in this situation.¡±
I wish I never had one, she grieved. Serenity was the Jedi way, and yet, Barriss continued to battle her own oppressively traitorous thoughts. Master Luminara would know what to do-she always did.
Would she?
Chapter 24
Orbit of Metalorn, Metalorn System
Talcene Sector
¡°Thank you, Admiral,¡± Master Obi-Wan Kenobi handed back the datapad.
Admiral Block nodded stiffly, stifling a sigh, ¡°Loathe am I to say it, General, but Metalorn¡¯s going to be a tough nut to crack. It¡¯s my opinion that the planet¡¯s more trouble than it''s worth.¡±
A reasonable conclusion, Obi-Wan had to admit. The Techno Union has always kept a close hand on their possessions, and being Skakoan-dominated, it was perishingly difficult for spies to infiltrate their corporate hierarchy. It was public knowledge that Metalorn was one of the greatest forge worlds of the Outer Rim, but their scans had unearthed the depths of their ignorance.
Expansive subterranean factory-cities, automated ordnance foundries, uncountable numbers of droid command posts¡ there might not be a single sapient being left in the world, but that didn¡¯t mean it was undefended. Far from it. There may be more battle droids crawling on the floating scrapheap then there are clone troopers in the galaxy. Each and every trench and derelict compound would be trapped to Malachor and back, and every tunnel fortified. And all the while, the droid foundries would continue churning out soldiers that fear nought, and needed no supply.
Completely clearing out the planet might take as long as the Clone Wars would rage, if it wasn¡¯t completely impossible outright.
¡°What do you recommend, Admiral?¡±
¡°Base Delta Zero,¡± Admiral Block said bluntly, ¡°I recognise that it is an extreme measure, but the protocol was created for precisely a situation such as this. We will never hold Metalorn in any meaningful capacity. There aren¡¯t any civilian casualties to fret over. And our foes are all entrenched under the surface. We will slag the planet¡¯s upper crust, and let the magma seep into the underground complexes, destroying any and all resistance.¡±
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. To his great shame, he couldn¡¯t poke any holes in the Admiral¡¯s logic. A thorough orbital bombardment would indeed be the simplest way to deny the Separatist Alliance the industrial powerhouse of Metalorn, even if it means the Republic will never be able to use it themselves. Then again, they might never will.
The Metalornians have already proven themselves willing to defend their world tooth and nail, launching every single one of their warships into orbit in a last-ditch attempt to destroy Master Plo¡¯s taskforce. Not that it succeeded, but it proved their resolve and desperation.
¡°It might take months for us to crack their planetary shields,¡± Obi-Wan pointed out, not for opposition any more than curiosity as for what the Admiral thought of it.
¡°And it might take years to capture the planet, General,¡± Admiral Block replied professionally, ¡°In my opinion, I see no other recourse. After the destruction of Metalorn¡¯s standing fleet, we command complete and total orbital supremacy. We can station a handful of Acclamator-Twos in orbit and free the rest of our fleet. There is simply no reason, moral or rational, to not execute Code Base Delta Zero. Other than the sell-outs in the Senate, that is¨Cthey¡¯ll protest¨Cif that matters to you.¡±
It didn¡¯t. But there was a small part inside Obi-Wan that did not want to be one of the few Jedi Masters who sanctioned such a horrific act, but the pragmatism of the soldier inside him eventually came out above. Still, with every passing day, Obi-Wan could feel himself ageing by years. He could not remember when he accepted that there was no ¡®good¡¯ in war¨Conly lesser evils¨Cand he did not know if that was preferable.
Some days, he felt as if the Jedi were slipping down a slope they could not see. And then when the fog of war lifts in its good time, they will find themselves in a pit they could not climb out of. Setting a precedent was opening a box you could not easily close, and he feared he was doing just that. One thing was true; the sooner this gruesome ordeal ends, the sooner peace can return to the galaxy.
Obi-Wan swallowed to prevent his voice from cracking, ¡°Very well, Admiral. You have my leave.¡±
A miniscule, grim smile appeared on Block¡¯s lips. One that suggested that while he was both relieved and satisfied that his Jedi General did not veto him, he was no happier with an orbital bombardment than Obi-Wan himself was. It must chafe him as a professional officer, if for different reasons compared to Obi-Wan, to utilise such a crude and blunt weapon.
¡°General Kenobi!¡± a messenger came up behind him, ¡°General Koon is awake. He and Commander Tano are waiting for you in the medbay.¡±
A ray of light in these increasingly dire times.
¡°Inform them I will be there soon.¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡± the messenger looked relieved to go, likely feeling as out-of-place on the command deck as a janitor would in a starfighter¡¯s cockpit.
Obi-Wan swept the viewports with his gaze as he swung around, observing the remnants of the battle once fought here. He had read the report, and had wondered what sort of man the Separatist commander was to detonate his own flagship in a half-fireship, half-scuttling action.
Unfortunately, everybody who knew what had happened on the Impavid was dead, more than likely without even knowing what had killed them, so the only answers he will find will be with the handful of comatose troopers who were lucky enough to escape the blast. Master Plo Koon among them.
He chanced upon Saesee Tiin as the Iktotchi Jedi Master was coming up from the flight deck, his face stiff as the horns that framed his head. As Iktotchi were naturally attuned to the Force¨Cwith a particular gift for foresight¨CMaster Tiin was able to sense the explosion before it happened, and lead his fighter wing behind the cover of a battleship. Still, it couldn¡¯t prevent the loss of half his squadrons.
¡°It is unlike Master Plo to be taken at unawares by such a¡ choreographed action,¡± the reticent Jedi Master expressed, ¡°Something happened inside that ship, the Castigation, that shook him.¡±
¡°It is not everyday you find an opponent willing to go to such lengths to deny victory,¡± Obi-Wan agreed, ¡°Even tactical droids have some form of self-preservation programming.¡±
Plo Koon was one of the oldest members of the Jedi High Council, having ascended in the same year as Master Windu himself. Having led the Republic to victory during the Hyperspace War, he was one of the few Jedi Generals with any real prior military experience. His loss would have been a massive blow to the Jedi Order, and Obi-Wan was of the opinion that this time had cut it too close.
Vigilance¡¯s medbay was clean and sterile, with rows of cots and bacta tanks lining the room, capable of treating hundreds at a time. Even though there were only a couple dozen beds occupied, it already seemed too high a number. Master Plo was already sitting up, thankfully completely intact¨Cno doubt in due part to his thick Kel Dor hide.
Ahsoka was standing by his bed, having kept her vigil over him ever since he was recovered. Obi-Wan had heard it was Master Plo who had personally inducted the Togruta into the Order after discovering her on a mission to Shili. He knew there was a special bond between them that he would never be able to emulate, and maybe that was a good thing. For all of her zeal and alacrity, this was one a perishingly few times he had witnessed his Padawan adopt a face of patience and reflection.
Whether it was his teachings paying off¨CAhsoka was a second-coming of Anakin in that regard, oddly enough¨Cor simply mere worry for her old friend, Obi-Wan was grateful for it nonetheless.
¡°It¡¯s good to see that you are well, Master.¡±
Plo Koon looked up at Saesee Tiin slowly, ¡°The loss of Impavid¨C¡±
¡°Shies before the importance of your recovery,¡± Master Tiin interjected, ¡°Worry not over it, my friend. What matters is that you are alive.¡±
¡°You left her in my care.¡±
¡°Nobody could have expected our foe to do such a foolhardy thing,¡± the Iktotchi shook his head, drawing the curtains that would separate them from the rest of the medical bay.
Master Plo attempted to stand up as the injured troopers beside them disappeared from view, but Ahsoka swiftly¨Cand gently¨Cheld him down, not unlike a fretting nurse, ¡°The medical officer said you are still too weak to walk, Master. Please don¡¯t.¡±
The old Master grunted, but acquiesced.
¡°Ahsoka,¡± Obi-Wan said softly.
His Padawan snapped up at him like a cat, reading his face. Her sharp eyes flitted between the three Jedi Masters, and her annoyed expression morphed into tacit understanding.
She bowed her head, ¡°I will take my leave, Masters.¡±
Masters. Three Jedi Masters on one ship. And not just mere Masters, but members of the High Council. If the Separatists ever got wind about this¡ Obi-Wan could already hear the ired¨Cbut not unjustified¨Cberating of Republic Intelligence attach¨¦s. The only reason both Master Plo and Master Tiin were assigned together was because of their shared history, and the sheer significance of Metalorn to the war.
Obi-Wan dragged out two chairs for he and Master Tiin to sit on, feeling the ship sway beneath his feet as Admiral Block¡¯s steady hand guided them through the debris field.
¡°Master, what exactly happened on that ship?¡± he asked as straightforwardly as he could without sounding insensitive.
¡°We found the man we were looking for,¡± Plo Koon looked him in the eye, ¡°Rain Bonteri. Who defeated Skywalker at Corvair, you at Christophsis, and now I, here over Metalorn.¡±
¡°But he wasn¡¯t on the ship.¡±
¡°No,¡± the Kel Dor sighed through his antiox mask, ¡°He had tightbeamed a real-time holo of himself to the bridge of that ship. We were convinced the Castigation was his flagship since it was the command nexus, but in hindsight it was an obvious trap. Castigation was the relay, not the source.¡±
¡°Played us for fools thrice now,¡± Master Tiin commented gruffly, ¡°Clone Intelligence made a file on him. Relative of former Republic Senator from Onderon, Mina Bonteri. He enlisted in the Royal Army when he became of age, before transferring to the Onderonian Space Force. Then Geonosis happened.¡±
¡°So we have nothing on him,¡± Obi-Wan summarised, ¡°Do we know why he joined the navy?¡±
¡°He and a few other officers transferred to their planetary navy after the Royal Army supported a pro-Separatist coup,¡± the Iktotchi said, ¡°After that are only suppositions.¡±
It took Obi-Wan a lifetime in the Jedi Temple to recognise what contemplation looked like on a Kel Dor face, doubly so with the mask. That, and the tremor in the Force.
¡°Master?¡± he prompted.
¡°It was a protest,¡± Master Plo rubbed his chin, ¡°He and the other officers transferred out of the Royal Army in protest. They didn¡¯t support the coup, but were ultimately loyal to the will of their government. The Space Force represented an alternative way to serve their planet while also serving as a political asylum, as the navy was based in orbit.¡±
¡°And when the Separatist Crisis escalated towards war, Onderon was forced to contribute their share of naval officers,¡± Obi-Wan finished, ¡°It makes sense¡ even if it doesn''t particularly align with what little we know of Bonteri. He has been zealously serving the Separatist Alliance all this time, after all.¡±
Master Plo¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°I will have to disagree, Obi-Wan. If he wished me dead, I would be. Instead, he saved my life.¡±
Saesee Tiin leaned forward, ¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°We had a conversation aboard the Castigation,¡± Plo Koon revealed, ¡°One which ended with a warning to leave the ship as soon as possible. Even after we evacuated, there was still enough time for us to escape the blast radius before the detonation occurred. It wasn¡¯t as if he had to evacuate himself either¨Che could¡¯ve kept distracting us as he armed the ordnance. I suspect his goal was to speak with me.¡±
¡°And what did he say?¡± Master Tiin pressed.
¡°First, that there was movement amidst the Separatist ranks to undermine and overthrow Count Dooku¨C¡± Obi-Wan jolted in surprise, but even that did not prepare him for what came next; ¡°¨CAnd second, that there is a Sith Lord in control of the Republic. The very same unbelievable claim Dooku himself made. In fact, he knew Dooku told you that.¡±
¡°Misdirection,¡± Obi-Wan rasped, ¡°It must be. If it were true, we would know it. Dooku told him about our encounter.¡±
¡°Dooku told a no-name officer about a conversation he had with you?¡± Master Plo¡¯s words were laced with scepticism, ¡°Do you suppose he is trying to play all sides?¡±
¡°And you, Master?¡± Master Tiin asked severely, ¡°Do you believe what this man says? Is there actually an internal plot against Dooku¡¯s government?¡±
¡°I suspect he is using his anti-Separatist roots to leverage a bloc against Dooku¡¯s platform, ever since Geonosis. A mole in Dooku¡¯s camp is the only reasonable way he could have learned of your conversation,¡± Master Plo concluded, ¡°He had given me no reason to believe he was lying the entire time¡ though truthfully¡¡±
Plo Koon trailed off, his head tilting to stare past their heads and into the void.
¡°Master?¡± Obi-Wan nudged, ¡°Is there something?¡±
¡°...I cannot seem to remember what he felt like at all,¡± the old Jedi Master murmured, ¡°Not in the Force. Nor can I remember his face.¡±
Obi-Wan was struck by a strange sense of familiarity, like an experience from another life. But no matter how he tried to hone in on that feeling, it always slipped through his mental fingers. Trying to bring those memories to the forefront of his mind was like trying to grasp water.
¡°He could have been in another system,¡± Master Tiin said, ¡°And the hologram might have been of poor quality. But it would be wise to trust your instincts, Plo. If it is particularly unsettling, it might be worth investigating.¡±
¡°No¡ no. You may be correct,¡± Master Plo heaved, ¡°Regardless, I am inclined to believe him.¡±
¡°If that is the case, we may have to consider the prospect of opening a channel with him,¡± Master Tiin mused, ¡°The sooner Dooku is overthrown, the sooner this war can end and the galaxy reunited.¡±
Master Plo shifted at those words, near imperceptibly. But Jedi were perceptible, and Obi-Wan saw it clearly. So did Master Tiin. They never pushed the issue, however, as the old Jedi Master never followed up on it. Perhaps it was important, but they had known each other for far too long to be lacking in simple trust. Whatever it was, Master Plo will air it in his own good time.
¡°The Senate won¡¯t allow it,¡± Obi-Wan told them, ¡°Not with the Non-Communication Act they passed. Anything of this sort will have to go through Republic Intelligence.¡±
¡°If we do, we won¡¯t be able to tell their agents everything, especially about the Sith Lord,¡± Master Plo said, ¡°And Bonteri purposely made sure to speak to a Jedi. He isn¡¯t going to trust a Republic spy. If we want to foment a collaboration government, we are going to need to foster trust between our parties.¡±
¡°Assign a Jedi attach¨¦, then,¡± Saesee Tiin advised, ¡°We already have some within Intelligence, but in case they cannot be recalled from their missions in time, the Council can send another. We¡¯ll tell Intelligence the broad strokes, but give our attach¨¦ the specifics.¡±
¡°That is¡ very subversive,¡± Plo Koon lamented, ¡°I dislike it, but cannot deny that it could work. We will have to speak to the Council as soon as possible.¡±
¡°All of this will only work if Bonteri is forthcoming in the first place,¡± Obi-Wan cautioned, ¡°This may still be a Separatist plot. You cannot deny that he is a cunning one, with how he fights.¡±
¡°I concur,¡± Master Plo agreed, ¡°This is a delicate case that we must approach cautiously. We will have to take every precaution.¡±
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Master Tiin nodded decisively, ¡°Then it is concluded.¡±
¡°Then, what of Metalorn?¡± Master Plo inquired, ¡°What happened to the enemy fleet?¡±
¡°Their retreat trajectory suggests they had jumped to Wobani, Saleucami, or Jabiim,¡± Saesee Tiin said.
¡°We can¡¯t reach Saleucami or Jabiim, unfortunately,¡± Obi-Wan sighed, ¡°There is a phantom fleet menacing our rear. Only about sixty to seventy percent of the allocated supplies are actually reaching the frontlines. Lantilles has ordered us to mop up the Bryx Sector before proceeding to Sy Myrth in order to block any southern reinforcements. They want to end the skirmishes and force a major field confrontation at Centares.¡±
¡°Inform them we will proceed after securing Metalorn.¡±
Obi-Wan steeled himself, ¡°On that note, Masters. Admiral Block had insisted we execute Code Base Delta Zero. After a brief discussion on the matter, I have to admit I am convinced, but I would like to hear your considerations on the matter.¡±
Silence followed in the wake of his proclamation. Under the scrutiny of his two elders, Obi-Wan felt not like a Jedi Master and their equal, but once more like a snot-nosed Padawan seeking validation from his masters. Even while they all sat on the Council, there was still a not insignificant part of himself that does not consider him equal to their standing and stature.
How could he? He only joined the Council this very year. Despite that, he never let it show, keeping both his face and his emotions in check with a firm hand.
¡°The Force guides us, Obi-Wan,¡± Saesee Tiin reminded, ¡°You must trust your instincts. Meditate on it, if you must. What matters is not us, but whether you believe this to be the correct decision.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what frightens me, Masters,¡± Obi-Wan stared them in the eye, feeling aged beyond his years, ¡°I do.¡±
Quell Departure, Quell System
Nuiri Sector
¡°You¡¯re needed in the Battle Room, General,¡± Commander Appo notified, helmet tucked under his arm, ¡°It¡¯s the Governor-General.¡±
¡°Belay the jump, Admiral,¡± Anakin swung around, ¡°Let me see what this is about first.¡±
¡°Of course, General.¡±
Anakin started down the command bridge, Appo close by his side, ¡°What¡¯s General Secura¡¯s condition?¡±
He could feel the Clone Commander staring at the back of his head, ¡°Mourning the loss of her men. The Seps got us good there, sir. All three cruisers, gone.¡±
What was supposed to be a non-descript raid on a purported Separatist supply hub, turned into a strategic disaster. Even more so, with the discovery of an entire auxiliary mobile repair and resupply fleet¨Cone that they let slip through their fingers. Not that Anakin regretted his decision not to pursue in favour of rescuing Master Secura. If he did do that, he would be no better than the cold-blooded ¡®strategists¡¯ in the general staff.
It was always easier to make ''rational'' decisions from the rear when the consequences weren¡¯t up in your face. And after delivering Pong Krell to Republic Intelligence in chains, Anakin swore to never repeat the fallen Jedi¡¯s mistakes. No matter how reasonable, or ¡®rational¡¯ they may seem.
The blast doors opened before them and closed after them as they stepped into the familiar otherworldliness of the Battle Room. Standing about the central holoprojection table, Tallisibeth was already talking animatedly with the Governor-General Renau of the Gordian Reach Oversector.
¡°So how about it, Governor?¡± Anakin announced his presence with a bounce in his step and smug grin on his lips, ¡°Was I right, or was I right?¡±
As the CO of the Salin Front, the Governor-General was adamant that they had neither the time or resources to mount a ¡®high-risk low-reward¡¯ rescue of General Secura. He cited that she wasn¡¯t subordinate to the Salin Front, and instead an officer from the Perlemian who had gone wayward chasing rumours, and such not their problem. It wasn¡¯t that Anakin didn¡¯t sympathise, but he simply had a gut feeling they would be able to pull it off. And as Obi-Wan always said, a gut feeling was enough for a Jedi to act on whim, precisely because it was no longer a whim.
That said, the Governor-General wasn¡¯t about to sanction such a mission with only a ¡®gut feeling¡¯ as proof of its plausibility. To both his and Anakin¡¯s surprise, however, Tallisibeth came forward with detailed charts of the local spacelanes and explained how they would both be able to make it in time¨Cprovided they jump immediately¨Cand also a plan to lure the Separatist commander in the region into an ambush.
¡°This is an exception, not the rule,¡± Renau snapped, though Anakin could tell he was in a good mood, ¡°But I concede I have little experience with Jedi under my command. Twice is coincidence, thrice is a rule, as they say. Keep pulling this off, Skywalker, and I might just buy it.¡±
¡°Glad to hear it, General,¡± Anakin placed his palms on the table, ¡°So, what¡¯s the situation? You caught us right on time.¡±
Renau curled his lips in a pleased¨Cif particularly vaunting¨Csmile, ¡°Commander Esterhazy¡¯s stratagem worked out quite nicely. Your absence prompted Horgo Shive to lead a counterattack on Indu San. One we defeated rather handily. Well done on that regard Commander, though I wonder where your knowledge of this region of space came from. I can¡¯t imagine it was merely homework.¡±
If Anakin noticed the flinch, or the tremble of sudden anxiety in her Force presence, he did not show it, and neither did Renau. There were only two major hyperlanes in this region; the Perlemian and the Salin¨Cthough calling the Salin ¡®major¡¯ was a stretch¨Cand they only met at Columex. Between them was an empty quarter devoid of any contiguous hyperlane¨Cwhich showed, considering the low population density. Tallisibeth had come forward with her personal tablet with a starchart describing an opposite, contiguous hyperlane linking Indu San, Stygeon, and Quell.
Tallisibeth scratched her head, staring at a spot on the polished floor, ¡°I found it during one of my astrocartography classes in the Jedi Temple.¡±
Governor-General Renau¡¯s smile bore curiosity sharp as a phase-knife, ¡°So am I to presume it was a fortunate coincidence?¡±
His Padawan sucked in a wince, ¡°I was charting the Vorzyd Sector for an assignment. It was just luck.¡±
Anakin could¡¯ve poked a hole straight through her story as easily as his lightsaber could through a flimsi, but decided it wasn¡¯t the time for it.
¡°Jedi luck is strangely reliable, isn¡¯t it?¡± Renau shot Anakin a raised eyebrow, ¡°In any case, we have new orders, and as the vanguard of our force, I¡¯d think you¡¯d like to hear them.¡±
Anakin straightened up, falling into his General persona comfortably, ¡°Lay it on me, General.¡±
¡°The Separatists pulled a magic trick on us,¡± Renau revealed, ¡°One moment we¡¯re aimed right at Columex, and the next our cruisers are out of fuel and ammunition, our hangar crews are out of repair parts. Phindar confirms they are dispatching resupply ships, but they aren¡¯t making it to us.¡±
¡°What are our patrols doing?¡± Anakin demanded.
¡°Arriving too late,¡± the Governor-General said, ¡°Every time. And when they try to predict where the raiders strike next, the raiders never show up at all. The Separatists are always a couple steps ahead of us. And this isn¡¯t the kind of info a mole could get them¨Cour patrols are jumping on the fly. Either our ranks are as steeped with worms as a Chandrilan Squig, or they¡¯ve got their hands on a Starpath unit.¡±
Republic Starpath unit. Hooked up the right scramble¨Cwhich it always is¨Cand it can track every Republic-registered ship in a certain radius. It¡¯s anonymous and untraceable by design, but with the right know-how, the ship being tracked can normally tell when they¡¯re in the vicinity of a Starpath. Except, every Republic patrol is equipped with a Starpath out of necessity to do their job. And with hundreds of them on Salin, the Separatist raiders are just another unidentifiable blip on the screen.
¡°What¡¯s the new plan, then?¡± he asked.
¡°We¡¯ve decided to force a battle at Centares,¡± Renau¡¯s blue-scanned form fizzed, ¡°The Cerulean Spear Fleet finally got their shit together and subdued the Eucer, Tennuutta and Perkell Sectors, with Bryx and Maldrood next. Our job is to prevent Horgo Shive from reaching Centares while they do that.¡±
¡°Sounds simple enough,¡± Anakin mused, ¡°But while the Seppies are as cagey an anooba in a field of scurriers, you can¡¯t deny they¡¯ve got numbers. The problem with forcing a battle is that we¡¯re forcing a battle. They¡¯ll realise what¡¯s happening, and overwhelm us with sheer numbers.¡±
Renau provided a confident smirk, ¡°High Command¡¯s pulling out the stops. They¡¯ve mobilised the Legacy of the Founders.¡±
Anakin¡¯s next words lodged in his throat. He could feel a knot of pain forming between his eyes.
¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± he coughed out, ¡°Those things can fight? They were built under the Ruusan Reformations; they have a big hull and too little everything else. Central must realise they¡¯re feeding the Separatists Vulture-bait!¡±
¡°Central certainly feels confident about it,¡± Renau shrugged, ¡°They must¡¯ve updated the designs. In any case, unless you plan to gallivant off again, they¡¯re not your problem.¡±
¡°Master?¡± Tallisibeth questioned.
Anakin struggled with himself for a minute. High Command can¡¯t be this stupid. How the hell did KDY convince them to go through with this stupidity? He thought it through for a few more seconds, before concluding that Renau was right; if KDY wanted to feed their money-pit of a ship to the Vultures, all the power to them.
¡°Whatever. Not our problem,¡± he decided out loud, turning to the Governor-General, ¡°So, where did Shive run off to? Where do you want us?¡±
¡°We traced his exit trajectory,¡± Renau lifted a datapad, ¡°And considering the state of his forces, there¡¯s only one place he could have retreated to: the Vorzyd System.¡±
Tallisibeth tensed up beside him, almost shivering in anticipation¨Cor anxiety. Anakin narrowed his eyes.
¡°We¡¯re a single jump away from Vorzyd,¡± he ignored her for the moment, ¡°Give the order.¡±
¡°Wait!¡± Tallisibeth finally let her bottled up thoughts explode, ¡°Are¨C are you sure we should do that, Master? We only have three ships, and the Blazing Claw Fleet will have to take Gala, Vjun, and Lucazec before they are able to reach us.¡±
¡°We have the element of surprise,¡± Anakin said, ¡°We jump in, deploy fighter wings, and mop them up. Then we take Vorzyd-Five, and secure the entire Salin.¡±
¡°...I think she is implying that three ships is not enough to trap Shive, Skywalker,¡± Renau lifted his chin in a calculating stare, ¡°You may score a tactical victory, but it would defeat the purpose if he retreats further to Centares anyway. Besides, Shive knows you¡¯re in Quell. How else would he know you aren¡¯t at Indu San? He¡¯ll be expecting you.¡±
¡°So, Commander,¡± Renau pivoted on a dime to face her, ¡°How do you think we should solve this conundrum?¡±
Tallisibeth glanced at her Master nervously, and swallowed, ¡°We¡¯re only a single jump from Nam Chorios. It¡¯s an isolated system with no defences, due to its population of drochs. If we station ourselves there, we¡¯ll be putting ourselves between Vorzyd and Centares, effectively pinning both until the Blazing Claw can catch up, especially if Shive is cautious of us.¡±
Renau inspected his starmap with a keen eye, slowly nodding, ¡°Yes¡ a sound plan. Looks like your apprentice has outdone you again, Skywalker. You have my approval; jump to Nam Chorios at your discretion.¡±
¡°Understood, General,¡± Anakin replied stiffly, ¡°Skywalker out.¡±
He cut the connection, silently ordered Appo to relay the commands to Admiral Yularen, then wheeled on his Padawan with a cold glint in his eyes.
¡°Sorry, Master!¡± Tallisibeth apologised preemptively, bowing deeply, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to undermine¨C!¡±
¡°Undermine my authority?¡± Anakin laughed unconvincingly, ¡°Do you think I care? I made you read those books. For all I or Renau care, you¡¯ve done a good job. What I care about is you letting your emotions get to your head! Did you think I didn¡¯t notice?¡±
Tallisibeth kept her head down, passive as a porcelain doll as she took the scolding with nary a word. Frustrated beyond his mind, Anakin took her by the shoulders and forced her to look him in the eye.
¡°Hello!?¡± he growled, ¡°Tell me what the kriff is going on with you, Padawan. Is this something to do with your outright lie of having the Vorzyd Sector as an assignment for astrocartography?¡±
Anakin knew. He took astrocartography as well. There was a charting assignment, but you would never get a backwater Outer Rim sector like Vorzyd unless you really pissed your teacher off, or already had a fast-track for the ExplorCorps. You would¡¯ve been assigned an already well-charted Core sector, or Inner Rim at most. An Outer Rim sector would¡¯ve forced you to dig through ancient starcharts and records in the Jedi Library, which would be too demanding for an elective like astrocartography.
His Padawan remained impetuously silent, and he blew out a furious breath. Dragging her out of the Battle Room and into the empty corridor aft of the bridge, he spun around again.
¡°Well?¡± he asked, ¡°Ready to talk?¡±
¡°I did chart Vorzyd for astrocartography,¡± Tallisibeth protested weakly.
¡°But not for your assignment.¡±
She deflated, ¡°...No.¡±
¡°Well?¡±
Tallisibeth fidgeted with her fingers, before finally deciding to out with it¨C ¡°My homeworld is Vorzyd-Five.¡±
Ice formed in his chest as his stomach dropped. I know that tone. I know exactly what she¡¯s feeling right now. Sure, she charted Vorzyd out of a curiosity for her homeworld, but Vorzyd-V being her homeworld wasn¡¯t enough to prompt such an extreme reaction like this. Unfortunately, Anakin knew exactly what would.
¡°You are scared for your parents,¡± he stated.
She shrunk into herself, as if expecting him to expel her from the Jedi Order right then and there.
¡°I¨C I know it¡¯s not the Jedi way¨C¡± Anakin¡¯s heart wrenched when he realised she was on the verge of tears, ¡°¨CBut I owe them everything. I¨C I don¡¯t even know if they¡¯re still alive¨C but¡!¡±
But you don¡¯t want to see Vorzyd-V consumed by the war, on the chance they still are. Much less be responsible for it. Her suggestion to divert to Nam Chorios wasn¡¯t one made out of reason, but out of the vain hope to save her family from the war.
And how could Anakin blame her? How could¨C after everything he did for his own mother?
¡°Wipe your tears, girl,¡± he told her gruffly, ¡°And clean up your face. A commander must look presentable before their men. You can¡¯t show weakness.¡±
¡°W¨C What¡?¡±
Anakin shot her a sharp look, ¡°I never heard of this. You never told me anything.¡±
Tallisibeth stared at him with wide eyes, as if she didn¡¯t know who he was, and he was forced to remind himself that she was a girl of twelve, thirteen years. A child. She was already mature beyond her years. If he faulted her for this, he would be no better than the stuffy old Jedi Masters he hated in his younger years.
¡°Yes¡ Thank you¨C I mean, yes, understood, Master,¡± his Padawan furiously wiped her face and stood straighter.
"Report to the bridge when you''re composed. Well done today, Commander," he nodded, turning back around, "Oh, and I''ll tell you something someone told me once. Be careful. We''re Jedi. Our thoughts create our reality, so don''t think so hard about it."
I couldn¡¯t protect my family. I can still protect yours. That¡¯s the least I could do.
Chapter 25
Orbit of Sy Myrth, Sy Myrth System
Jospro System
¡°Aren¡¯t you still a senator of the Republic, Senator Greyshade?¡± Calli Trilm accused.
Simon Greyshade guffawed, ¡°Neutral senator, Commander Trilm.¡±
They were at Sy Myrth, one of the great factory worlds of the Confederacy. Hundreds of warships circled around the verdant world like the winds of a hurricane. Not only was Sy Myrth continuously spitting ships into orbit, but the White Hand was also bolstered by the surviving ships from Metalorn. While the Base Division, mostly composed of the most derelict ships, was abandoned, the highly mobile Head Divisions were able to withdraw in the confusion following Castigation¡¯s gambit.
Most significant of the new additions were the two Providence-class dreadnoughts, christened as Benevolent Mother and Olympus Mons.
¡°Neutral or not, you are in direct violation of the Non-Communication Act,¡± Captain Krett pointed out.
¡°You would be surprised how far you can go with credits,¡± Senator Greyshade grinned, twirling his moustache, ¡°Alas, this is no time for small talk. I am here for business.¡±
¡°I fear your definition of business, Senator,¡± I replied dryly.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t!¡± Senator Greyshade exclaimed, ¡°As you may be aware, I represent Columex and the Vorzyd Sector in the Senate. I¡¯ve remained neutral thus far to protect our trade right with the Republic, but now my friends on Raxus warned me that a neutral stance will no longer protect my constituents.¡±
Friends on Raxus? Christ Almighty, was this Palpatine¡¯s hand at play, or did the corruption between the Republic and Confederacy really run that deep? This guy is like the final boss of sleazy politicians. Regardless, you don¡¯t mess with jank-ass galactic politics if you could help it.
¡°And yo¨² came to us to protect your people?¡± Calli raised an arched eyebrow.
¡°Who else?¡± he said, ¡°You may or may not have realised, but your Coalition is making waves in the Separatist Parliament, especially with the upcoming Supreme Commander election. Until the First Fleet is recalled, you control the greatest concentration of warships on the Perlemian. There¡¯s nobody else to go to.¡±
¡°So you want to join our Coalition?¡± I asked warily, feeling optimistically hopeful.
¡°Not just Vorzyd,¡± he grin grew wider, ¡°I represent the entire Commonality. All five sectors; Vorzyd, Meridian, Antemeridian, Belderone, and Auril. We will contribute all of our votes, as well as eight-hundred warships.¡±
The Commonality was no small deal. It was a confederation of five Outer Rim sectors that has existed for decades. Initially formed to protect their interests against the growing demands from the Core, the Commonality has since evolved into something like the Hanseatic League of the Perlemian. With extensive agreements in both commercial and defensive matters, they were a bed of relative stability and prosperity in the ever worsening Outer Rim conditions. Until the Separatist Crisis, obviously.
Even then, they attempted to remain neutral to preserve their advantage, even after the Clone Wars broke out. Now, they were finally forced to take a side. A real side.
¡°Why don¡¯t you just leverage your neutrality with the Republic, then?¡± Calli countered, ¡°You offer big with one hand, but what do you want in the other?¡±
Simon Greyshade nodded knowingly, ¡°I am glad you asked, officer. This makes matters simpler. I already have raised my protests in the Galactic Senate, but the political backing for Operation Trident is absolutely overwhelming. Palpatine thinks he can placate me, but I have already made preparations to present my resignation and hang my post. I will not stand idly by as Columex turns into another Euceron.¡±
Krett grimaced, ¡°Euceron¡¡±
Captain Krett was currently hunkering down in Ringo Vinda and fighting tooth and nail to keep the island of Separatist space afloat while the isolated world was besieged. Not only was it a strategically sound decision, it was a political statement as well. If Greyshade was right, and the Perlemian senators were watching the Coalition closely, then the message was clear:
Euceron didn¡¯t join us. They fell to the Republic, and we did not protect them. But Ringo Vinda joined us, and we intend on defending them to our last breath.
It was a guarantee of our word. Simple as that. All those fence-sitting must¡¯ve been rightfully wary of our sincerity. Ringo Vinda was the proof all of us needed. If the Commonality becomes a signatory, that will be another massive boost to our legitimacy.
¡°Correct, officer. Euceron,¡± Greyshade¡¯s smile bled away, replaced by the first semblance of seriousness I¡¯ve seen so far, ¡°Once the proud host of the Galactic Games, now a smouldering rock in space. That hamfisted Therbon had ¡®expedited¡¯ the invasion of Euceron because they were ¡®behind schedule.¡¯ Do you know how many billions of credits in investments were lost?¡±
And in the end, it returns back to what actually mattered. Money. Typical, that¡¯s what it was. The real reason Senator Greyshade wanted to hop on the bandwagon was to protect his assets, and if he could spin it as ¡®a senator looking out for his constituents¡¯ all the better for him. For us however, well, as Calli put it succinctly, the offer was far too good to be true.
¡°And what does the Commonality want in return?¡± I bit the bullet.
¡°Equal standing in the Coalition,¡± Greyshade put bluntly, ¡°Our forces will be commanded by an independent officer of our choosing. One who will have an equal seat and voice in your decision-making processes. That is all.¡±
¡°And do you have someone in mind for this role?¡± Calli asked tentatively.
¡°My cousin, Diedrich Greyshade.¡±
I could¡¯ve slammed my head into a table, if there was a table in front of me.
¡°Worry not, officers,¡± Senator Greyshade bore a look that implied he knew exactly what they were thinking at that moment, ¡°He has served several tours of duty in his time in the Commonality¡¯s Joint Security Force. He may not have transferred to the Confederacy¡¯s officer corps, but he is capable nonetheless.¡±
I flattened my expression, ¡°Thank you, Senator. We will consider your proposal and contact you later.¡±
Simon Greyshade fixed me with a calculating stare, despite the smile that seemed permanently fixed onto his face, ¡°Consider it well, officer. I look forward to your answer.¡±
His hologram winked out of existence.
¡°We can¡¯t refuse him, and he knows it,¡± Krett immediately stated, ¡°This isn¡¯t even worth discussion.¡±
¡°The officer corps won¡¯t protest. Our member worlds will,¡± Calli raised another point of view, ¡°The Commonality is joining us as a whole. That¡¯ll be a powerful subfaction within our own subfaction. What if they try to subsume us from within? They definitely have the capital to do so.¡±
¡°She has a point,¡± I said.
¡°What of it?¡± Krett shot back, ¡°The Coalition was a creation of necessity. Once this invasion passes, the Coalition is of no use to us anymore. Let the Commonality keep the empty name, all the other worlds will leave too. Without a common enemy, that is.¡±
¡°He has a point,¡± I said.
Calli levelled me a glare that said shut the fuck up.
¡°When Senator Greyshade said the Coalition is making waves in Parliament, he was not referring to our war out here,¡± she explained in a slow, measured tone; as if speaking to a child, ¡°The Coalition has enough star systems under its name that we have become a new voting bloc in Parliament¨Cone divided by militarists and pacifists. Do you understand? We control the swing votes in a hung government.¡±
¡°She has a point,¡± I said, this time more seriously.
¡°That may be the case, but we¡¯re still fighting a war,¡± Krett snorted, ¡°Votes¨Cswing votes or not¨Cdon¡¯t mean anything to us. We aren¡¯t begging worlds for their political capital; we want their warships.¡±
¡°That¡¡± Calli flicked a glance at me, ¡°May depend on your point of view.¡±
This time, it was my turn to level her a stare that said shut the fuck up.
The Neimodian scoffed, ¡°Whatever. Bring it up with the rest; just know that I recommend accepting his deal.¡±
Calli turned to me as Krett disconnected, the scar on her face highlighted with a deeper shade of blue¨C ¡°Well? What¡¯s your plan now?¡±
¡°...I won¡¯t even ask when you caught on,¡± I sighed deeply, ¡°In any case, every vote we get is worth it. Simon Greyshade¡¯s definitely got something up his sleeves, but if all goes to plan¡¡±
¡°Will everything go to plan?¡± Calli huffed in exasperation, ¡°We don¡¯t control the votes, Rain. The agreement they signed is to ¡®support the Coalition¡¯s common interests in the Senate,¡¯ which is as vague as it gets. You might not like anyone other than the Pantoran as the Supreme Commander, but in this case the Coalition is going to agree with the militarists that we need any Supreme Commander.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I sounded more confident than I really felt, ¡°I¡¯ve got a plan.¡±
¡°Oh, do you now?¡±
¡°Who do you think I am?,¡± I said reassuringly, ¡°We¡¯ll get a representative of the Coalition to protest against Dooku¡¯s recommendation.¡±
¡°What, are you going to prepare a speech for against every possible nominee in the Confederacy?¡± Calli narrowed her eyes at me, ¡°Or¡ you know who Dooku is going to pick.¡±
Ah. Shit.
¡°I do.¡±
¡°How? How do you know but I don¡¯t?¡± she snarled, ¡°Are they going to be someone I know?¡±
¡°I¨C I don¡¯t think so?¡± I almost blurted out ¡®I watched Revenge of the Sith¡¯ there¨C ¡°I¡¯m quite certain Dooku is going to pull a literal nobody out of his ass.¡±
No-body, heh. I snorted at my own joke¨Cwhich Calli didn¡¯t take too kindly, judging from how she seemed to be actively inspecting me as if I¡¯m some sort of abominable Felucian insect.
¡°And¡ and who was on your mind to speak before the Senate?¡± she pressed further, ¡°Yourself?¡±
Dooku has probably done some digging into the Coalition¡¯s origins by now, as must know the names of the original thirty or so officers who created the initial pact. My name must be among them, but hopefully I¡¯m only in the list and not top of the list. In fact, I¡¯m half-certain sure Calli herself should be at the top.
¡°I was thinking you, actually,¡± I admitted, hastily continuing before she could rail at me, ¡°I mean, you are the face of the Coalition. And the Battle of Salvara has made you pretty famous. Not to mention, you were Dooku¡¯s second. Hearing you speak against him would be rather impactful.¡±
She scoffed in disbelief, brow nearly rising into her hairline, ¡°I am Dooku¡¯s second, Rain. And I¡¯m not about to lose my position over a vote that may or may not succeed. Unlike you, I have quite a bit to lose.¡±
¡°You¡¯re still working with us,¡± I pointed out, ¡°If you are Dooku¡¯s second, shouldn¡¯t you have¡¡±
I trailed off, a sinking feeling coming onto me. It was as if someone increased in internal pressure of Repulse, there was a force pressing down on my chest that made it hard to breathe.
¡°What?¡± she demanded.
¡°I heard something from Horgo Shive,¡± I said softly, ¡°About how someone leaked the Aurora Auxiliary Division to the Republic Navy.¡±
A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, followed by wary uneasiness. She hid it well enough that anybody else might miss it, but I¡¯ve known her too long to fail to recognise the signs.
¡°What are you implying?¡± she spat dangerously, defensively.
I¡¯m saying you¡¯re a Republic spy. Or rather, you¡¯re Dooku¡¯s spy, and Dooku is a Republic spy. Except, she wouldn¡¯t know that. Nor would she believe it.
¡°You broke radio silence to send classified intel to Dooku, which included our fleet movements, and inadvertently got them intercepted by Republic Intelligence,¡± I accused, ¡°That¡¯s why Dooku allowed you to take such a prime role in the Coalition. You¡¯re his mole.¡±
Which means my position has already been compromised. Fuck.
Her gaze was frigid, ¡°I will neither confirm nor deny anything.¡±
¡°Fuck you,¡± I spat, ¡°Horgo and Jorm want answers, Calli. You¡¯ll be fucking ruined if I told them.¡±
¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±
No, I wouldn¡¯t. I can still turn this around, but Calli needs to fall for my bluff. Her status in the Coalition is rock solid. But if this gets out, her reputation will fall straight into hell. On the other hand, if Calli Trilm¨Cthe person who effectively created the Coalition¨Ccouldn¡¯t be trusted to keep her mouth shut, who can? Morale will follow her reputation. Not to mention, it might just push her even deeper into Dooku¡¯s camp.
But Calli Trilm lived off her political standing. Her pride wouldn¡¯t let her take such a hit, or even the chance of it. I was betting that the Calli Trilm I think I know is the Calli Trilm she actually is.
¡°They think I¡¯m the one who leaked it,¡± I sneered, ¡°Look at me and tell me I won¡¯t.¡±
She ground her teeth, ¡°...What do you want?¡±
¡°You know what I want. Help me pull this off. If you can¡¯t do it, find someone who can?¡±
¡°And why can¡¯t you?¡± she demanded, ¡°You already have a foot in the door, with Mina Bonteri.¡±
There¡¯s a difference between Dooku knowing a name and knowing a face. I wanted to hold off on actually standing before him for as long as possible. Standing next to Ventress was bad enough. I¡¯d rather actually not meet a bonafide Sith Lord.
¡°Are you going to do it or not?¡± I repeated.
¡°...Fine,¡± Calli said, ¡°I already have someone in mind. But for this work, you have to be absolutely certain the new kid is a complete unknown.¡±
So this guy is going to be a career officer. The big thing I¡¯ve gathered is that nobody knows who Grievous is at this point. If Dooku is going to introduce the metal muppet himself, there¡¯s going to be a fuck ton of friction from the top brass¨Cthose who were not already paid off, at least. I was curious as to who this person was, but if there was one thing Calli had, it was silver tongue.
¡°I am,¡± I gave a pointed look, ¡°Look, I¡¯ll make my own preparations too.¡±
Calli cut the feed with a black stare and not a single word. Might¡¯ve burned a bridge there, buddy. Was it worth it? Time will tell, I suppose.
¡°Hare, where the hell are you?¡± I called.
Two rabbit ears popped up from one of the lower console decks, ¡°Reporting. Yes, Master?¡±
¡°Contact Senator Greyshade,¡± I rubbed my cheek.
Hare climbed back up to the command deck with the holoemitter held between the tips of her ears. It didn¡¯t even take a minute for Greyshade to respond. I allowed myself a small bit of humour by imagining him camping by the receiver for the call-back.
¡°Commodore¡ Bonteri, was it?¡± Greyshade had the courtesy to look mildly surprised, ¡°Considering this is your personal address¡ how can I help you?¡±
¡°You said the Coalition could receive your votes in the Senate.¡±
His eyes twinkled, ¡°Is this about the upcoming Supreme Commander election? Count Dooku himself attempted to buy the Commonality¡¯s votes. Let me guess¡ you want us to vote nay.¡±
¡°Did he succeed?¡± I heard my heart drum in my ears.
There was a toothy grin¨C ¡°The Commonality is not a corporation, Commodore. We cannot be bought. If we could, we would have never been created. Do you know how many Core worlds attempted to sabotage our foundation?¡±
¡°Then we are on the same page. I want the Commonality to vote against Dooku¡¯s nomination,¡± If I sounded a bit strangled, it was because I was choking back a sigh of relief, ¡°I will make sure your proposal gets accepted.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not enough and you know it, officer,¡± Greyshade steepled his fingers, ¡°This is clearly your own initiative. What do you have to offer?¡±
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
¡°The Coalition,¡± I replied bluntly, ¡°If Dooku¡¯s nomination gets elected, the Coalition will cease to exist. And unlike us, our new Supreme Commander will not be someone you can do business with.¡±
Right now, he was probably thinking something along the lines of me wanting to protect my own operational independence. And yes, many officers would be inclined to protest against an authoritative figure in order to stay independent. In this case, the Coalition looked like a worker¡¯s union that didn¡¯t want a manager. That wasn¡¯t me, per se, but it was a good curtain to hide behind for now.
¡°You know who his nomination is,¡± Greyshade stated in monotone, and I felt a real sense of deja vu, ¡°Who is it¨C no, how do you know? Do you have a mole in his staff? Are you tapping his communications?¡±
Dear God, I hoped I was tapping his communications. I even hired professional slicers¨Cread: bounty hunters¨Cto supplement my frigates. Alas, I haven¡¯t heard back from them yet.
¡°One of them.¡±
Simon Greyshade pulled back, cogs whirring behind his face, ¡°I¡ see. I believe we can come to an arrangement.¡±
I leaned forward, urging him on.
¡°Give me your contact,¡± he said, ¡°And you will have your votes.¡±
¡°Deal,¡± I answered immediately.
Greyshade¡¯s face broke out into a cheshire grin, ¡°I will speak to my friends. It was a pleasure doing business, Bonteri.¡±
I nodded, sharing the twisted pleasure, ¡°Agreed.¡±
Perfect. That left one last thought lingering in my mind: where the fuck is Sev¡¯rance Tann?
?
Bothawui, Both System
Bothan Space
¡°Colonel Farstar reporting.¡±
¡°Proceed,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann crossed her arms, glowing red eyes staring down towards the political capital of Bothawui and host city of the Bothan Council, Drev¡¯starn.
The serene waves of Rylle¡¯vak¨Cthe Quiet Ocean¨Clapped the coastline, gently rocking the myriad maritime vessels berthed in Drev¡¯starn¡¯s blue water anchorage as the yellow sun Both was reflected as bright highway towards the horizon. Dark shapes circled over the sea, chasing out the seabirds from their homes. Geonosian-made air cruisers. The very same that broke the back of Sarapin.
¡°Our air patrols pinged three divisions worth of Bothans marching towards us through the western mountain passes.¡±
¡°Urval¡¯starn,¡± Tereb Ab¡¯Lon snarled, his fur rippling in agitation, ¡°Latecomers to pick the scraps.¡±
Tereb Ab¡¯lon, a flat-nosed Bothan with a fur the colour of tree bark. He represented Navshe¡¯starn, the first of the eighteen Bothan city-states to ally themselves with the Separatists.
The Bothan Council had attempted to surrender the moment the shadow of the Confederate Second Fleet swept over Bothawui¡¯s continents. They offered to cede the operations of their planetary satellites to the Second Fleet, and fully pledge the Spynet to the Separatist cause. In exchange, no ground assault was to be had, and droid armies weren¡¯t allowed to be stationed in urban districts.
Sev¡¯rance Tann refused, launching a concurrent full-scale invasion of all eighteen nation-states on the planet from orbit. Hundreds of thousands of Vulture droids secured air supremacy within half a week, and unending tens of thousands of troop transports rained onto the surface, unleashing the devouring march of the Separatist Droid Army. Millions of battle droids systematically captured city after city on the eastern Rylle¡¯vak coastline as they forged a bloodless warpath towards Drev¡¯starn.
The Bothawui Defence Corps initially mounted some anaemic assaults on the First Fleet¡¯s droid armies, but at some point they realised that the droids were under orders to only fire in self-defence. And when they did open fire, they did so overwhelmingly and mercilessly. After Gna She¡¯starn was sacked, the rest did not resist. The citizens learned quickly that if they left the droids alone, they could continue their business in peace.
This was Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s strategy. She had done her research on the Bothans, and considered them too prideful to truly surrender, but also too culturally deceptive to fight on an open field. The true power of the Droid Army¨Ctotal and unforgiving annihilation¨Cwould only beckon ar¡¯krai, the declaration of total war by the Bothan Council. She had researched the doctrine prior to her invasion, and found it both wasteful and self-destructive.
There was no doubt in her mind that while the full might of the Confederacy could crush Bothan Space like a bug, it would be a tedious effort she would prefer to avoid.
Navshe''starn was the second-to-last capital city before Drev¡¯starn, and it was there Sev¡¯rance''s strategy bore its first fruit. Tereb Ab¡¯Lon approached her as she was requisitioning billets for the droid army, on behalf of Navshe¡¯starn¡¯s seat in the Bothan Council.
His terms were simple; in exchange for the favourable trading rights over the other nation-states and greater influence in the Council once the invasion passed, Nav¡¯shestarn will independently join the Confederacy and provide information on the Bothan Spynet. Sev¡¯rance Tann accepted, and took her armies to the last capital city before Drev¡¯starn, Covepi¡¯starn. There, the city¡¯s ministers eagerly welcomed her forces into their capital, presenting similar terms for their allegiance.
As she had expected of them, the Bothans reacted to her passive ¡®conquest¡¯ particularly emblematically of their so-called Bothan Way. Atypically from their galactic counterparts, the Bothans did not see any shame in conceding to demands¨Cor rather, they simply considered it the natural ebb-and-flow of the constant political machinations on Bothawui.
Bothan culture was dominated with espionage, backstabbing, assassinations, and bitter political agendas that would make the Chiss Syndicure appear tame. The moment Sev¡¯rance proved to be someone who could be reasoned with, the city-states seized the chance to further their personal gain. The Droid Army tears down the status quo, and they move in to fill the vacuum.
Within half a system month, the Separatist Droid Army already secured third of the western continent, with more falling in line on their own volition. Three army groups marched into the Kurual''grast Mountains that surrounded Drev¡¯starn from north, west, and south, seizing the planet¡¯s largest starport along with the aristocratic estates and clan holdings situated along the treacherous cliffs overlooking the planetary capital. At the same time, Geonosian-made air cruisers completed the blockade from the sea.
Drev¡¯starn was under siege. Hundreds of J-1 and HAG-M self-propelled artillery guns lined the clifftop, raining shell after shell onto the city¡¯s shields relentlessly, day and night. The sound of roaring thunder under bright skies had become a common occurrence, along with the swooping howls of air cruisers devastating any maritime blockade runners that dared to run the gauntlet.
¡°Should we intercept them, General?¡± Colonel Farstar asked, side-eyeing the cadre of Bothans surrounding her.
¡°Take a division and escort their commander here,¡± she ordered, ¡°I¡¯ll hear what they have to say.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Farstar snapped off a neat salute and spun around.
¡°Covepi¡¯starn hopes you remember the price of our cooperation,¡± Fenn Kay¡¯lay rubbed her hands, ¡°Our guides helped your armies navigate the Kurual¡¯grast.¡±
Tereb Ab¡¯Lon bristled silently, staring daggers into Fenn¡¯s spine that may as well materialise should he actually had a knife in hands there and then.
Sev¡¯rance ignored them, considering the intentions of Urval¡¯starn¡¯s government. Besides the some two million battle droids present at the mountain range¡¯s foothills, there were also twenty-thousand Bothans in four divisions stationed along the commandeered palatial mansions lining the mountainside, donated by Navshe¡¯starn and Covepi¡¯starn.
The Bothans were not a warrior race by any means, and these troops were by-and-large a courtesy to prove the authenticity of their agreement. Two million droids were more than satisfactory to storm Drev¡¯starn¨Cas the city was ray shielded only. Her artillery barrage, too, was a courtesy. It was a message that said I can take this city any time I want.
Time and time again, the Bothan Council would send another offer of surrender, each with mounting concessions. And Sev¡¯rance would indulge in her Sight and seek the possibility of a more favourable treaty. If she did¨Cshe always did¨Cshe would decline it, to the tepid delight of Ab¡¯Lon and Kay¡¯lay. After all, the harder Drev¡¯starn falls, the higher their homelands will rise. At the same time, however, they kept a peeled eye on her actions, ever-wary of too hard a hand.
Gna She¡¯starn was a statement. One they could not afford to see again. If Drev¡¯starn arrives to the same fate, it will definitely alienate them, and put the Separatist campaign in jeopardy.
Three Bothan divisions was the equivalent of fifteen-thousand men. But what¡¯s important is the implication that the cities west of the Kurual¡¯grast may be following their lead. There were nine city-states on the western continent, including Drev¡¯starn. With Gna She¡¯starn reduced to rubble, that meant Urval¡¯starn¡¯s betrayal may result in half of the Bothan Council siding with the Separatists.
It would be enough to force the remaining Councillors to cut their losses.
¡°Laryn Kre¡¯fey, representing Urval¡¯starn, General,¡± Colonel Farstar presented a young, short-haired Bothan in military dress.
¡°Urval¡¯starn comes to discuss¡¡± Kre¡¯fey glanced at the two other envoys, ¡°Terms.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s hear it, then,¡± Ab¡¯lon tipped his snout skyward ever so slightly.
Kay¡¯fay¡¯s lips parted, revealing a row of canines, ¡°General Tann, there is nothing Urval¡¯starn had that we cannot give.¡±
¡°You speak too quickly,¡± Kre¡¯fey spared them no heed, ¡°General Tann, may we have privacy?¡±
Kay¡¯fay¡¯s fur quivered in amusement. Sev¡¯rance stared impassively, prompting him to speak.
Urval¡¯starn¡¯s ambassador smiled genially, ¡°I bring you three divisions; a token of my people¡¯s sincerity. Our western clans have long been separated from those east of the Kurual¡¯grast, and we find their duplicitous means of political ascension¡ disturbing.¡±
¡°General Tann¨C¡± Ab¡¯lon started.
¡°The eastern clans are not your allies, General,¡± Kre¡¯fey said boldly, ¡°There are aks circling around a krusk, waiting for it stumble. We have a saying¨C to wait for a Bothan to gather enough stones to crush himself. They will not forgive you for Gna She¡¯starn.¡±
Ab¡¯lon and Kay¡¯fay made to move, but the two dozen battle droids ringing the rooftop balcony ended it with a single forward step.
¡°And Urval¡¯starn will?¡± Sev¡¯rance cocked her head, depthless stare boring into the young Bothan.
¡°Unlike them, we share no clan ties with Gna She¡¯starn,¡± Kre¡¯fey pointed with his chin, ¡°Should you accept our terms, Urval¡¯starn will bring you all of the western nations; Dreel¡¯starn, Gre Shev¡¯starn, and Kolme¡¯starn.¡±
Kay¡¯fay remained outwardly calm, but the bristling of her coat betrayed her true emotions. It was a good investment to study the Bothan Wrendui, Sev¡¯rance mused inwardly. Compared to the west¡¯s two, the east offered the influence of four nations. Enough to tip the balance in the Bothan Council.
¡°Do not be fooled by him, General,¡± Ab¡¯lon warned, ¡°Notice that he speaks not of the most powerful city-state of the east, Odve¡¯starn¨C¡±
Sev¡¯rance¡¯s attention drifted away from the bickering Bothans. These people are so¡ primitive. Even if General Ba¡¯kif himself told her these kinds of species existed back when she was still a sky-walker cadet on Naporar, she would¡¯ve called him a poor liar.
For all their competitiveness and political ingenuity, the Bothans could achieve so much more if they¡¯d work together than against. Their whole cultural philosophy glorifies murder and mistrust, and without genuine trust¡ this. What other race would squabble to earn the graces of their enemy, even if only to further their own gains?
Sev¡¯rance blinked. Her skin prickled. Something in the air changed, and none of the Bothans recognised it. She discreetly looked around, pretending to be deep in thought as she scanned the mountainside forest behind them. A flash of red light¨Cthe muffled discharge of a blaster¨Ca streaking ray of death.
Her head exploded in a cloud of red mist, the bolt shearing straight through her skull and shattering the stone tiles beneath her feet. As her body dropped onto the ground, a sinking void seeped into her chest, and Sev¡¯rance realised she had died.
She was intimately comfortable with the feeling. How many times had she died as a sky-walker, ripped apart by black holes, vaporised by pulsars, wrecked in anarchic nebulae, and crushed by solar dragons? The Third Sight was precognition, not intuition. Intuition came with experience, and experience came with learning how to navigate through hyperspace through trial and error.
Most sky-walkers enter service at seven years of age and lose their Sight by fifteen. Sev¡¯rance Tann was twenty-six.
She had more experience with dying than any Chiss alive.
Sev¡¯rance blinked, drawing her lightsaber and igniting its golden blade within the fraction of a second, swinging around and batting the crackling red lightning into the rooftop. The tiles shattered in an explosion of dust and shards, slicing into her skin and riddling her uniform with holes. The three Bothans leapt away in alarm, and the battle droid escort opened fire, saturating the assassin¡¯s last known position with fire.
Holding out her saber before her, Sev¡¯rance slowly brought a comlink to her mouth, ¡°Colonel.¡±
¡°On it, General.¡±
¡°The Spynet must be growing desperate,¡± Kre¡¯fey hissed, ¡°To act so outwardly.¡±
¡°They are still here,¡± Sev¡¯rance said.
His jaw clamped shut, eyes darting wildly.
¡°Go downstairs.¡±
The three Bothans quickly agreed, scampering down the stairs. Sev¡¯rance stood still as a statue, waiting for the sniper to finish changing their location. A sense of clarity flowed through her, then¨C a flash of light, and she wheeled around to deflect it.
But just as she was about to knock it aside, the bolt curved around her lightsaber. Sev¡¯rance hastily wrenched her saber leftwards, shattering the bolt in the middle. The outburst of superheated gas seared straight through her clothes and into her skin, burning out deep holes in her arm and chest.
If it wasn¡¯t for Count Dooku¡¯s training, she would have died for the last time.
Just as she prepared for another shot, the forest suddenly came alive with the roar of discharging blasters. Hurried stomping reached her ears as Colonel Farstar marched onto the rooftop, dishevelled and sweating heavily.
¡°Forgive me, General,¡± he saluted tiredly, ¡°I¡¯ve deployed probe droids on a standard search pattern and commando droids behind them. The assassin will not get away.¡±
Sev¡¯rance waited until her hackles died down before stowing away her saber.
The Colonel glanced at wounds, ¡°Shall I summon a medical officer?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t let a single vessel leave the atmosphere,¡± she ignored his concern, ¡°Even should it be identified as a friendly.¡±
¡°Uh¨C¡± Farstar stumbled over her indifference, ¡°Yes¡ yes sir. Our Bothan allies are convinced this to be the work of the Spynet. If that is the case, I recommend an all-out attack on Drev¡¯starn as soon as possible. Sorry, General, but that was too close for my liking.¡±
Sev¡¯rance eyed the canopy, and the lights flashing from within its depths.
¡°That wasn¡¯t the Spynet,¡± she corrected, remembering how the bolt curved around her lightsaber, ¡°Whoever that was¡ I sensed the Force in play. No matter how slight.¡±
¡°A Jedi assassin?¡± Colonel Farstar made a face, ¡°I didn¡¯t think they had it in them.¡±
¡°They don¡¯t,¡± she hummed, ¡°They believe blasters to be beneath them. This was a Dark Side adept.¡±
¡°A different type of Jedi?¡±
¡°Sith, or Dark Side adept,¡± Sev¡¯rance said, ¡°They prefer red-coloured blades.¡±
¡°I presume it¡¯s not just an aesthetic choice?¡± no doubt the Colonel was thinking about her own yellow blade.
¡°Different subscription models, more like,¡± she mused, ¡°It is simple tell. How many red-bladed Jedi do you know, Colonel?¡±
¡°Well, there¡¯s Commander Ventress, and¡¡± his features restricted, ¡°Count Dooku. I hear he keeps a staff of Jedi too. Sir, this talk is¡ dangerous.¡±
Indeed¡ she expected Dooku to attempt to rid her sooner or later, but she did not foresee this. Sev¡¯rance opened her Third Sight, peering into the myriad futures¨Cbut this time, she could not see far. There was a fog bank in her mind, through which, no matter how hard she looked, only silhouettes and vague impressions could be found.
Sev¡¯rance retreated, certain now more than ever that the Dark Side was moving against her. And if Dooku wanted her dead, that could only mean he feared that she would get in the way of his plans. What plans?
¡°Have we been contacted by Admiral Tonith?¡± she wondered.
¡°If we had, it wasn¡¯t brought to my attention, sir.¡±
She started towards the staircase, ¡°Get me a line.¡±
Colonel Farstar nodded sharply and ran ahead of her.
The original inhabitants of the estate were missing when the droid army came upon it, likely having fled days prior. It has since then been converted into the forward command base for Sev¡¯rance¡¯s campaign. She took a detour on the way to the communications centre, walking through a repurposed wing of the mansion¨Cturned into a medbay¨Cto pick up some bacta patches for her stinging wounds.
By the time she reunited with Colonel Farstar, the blue-scanned hologram of a long-faced Muun. Admiral Pors Tonith.
¡°Admiral,¡± she greeted.
¡°To what do I owe the pleasure, General?¡±
¡°Have you captured Lannik, Admiral?¡±
¡°I have,¡± the usually boastful Muun was warily laconic.
¡°Very good,¡± Sev¡¯rance hid her suspicions well, ¡°I received a report from Kothlis. It appears Captain Karoc is facing heightened resistance in the local space. Bring the First Fleet to Kothlis and support his squadrons.¡±
¡°I am afraid that will not be the case, General,¡± Pors Tonith rallied himself into a haughty stance, ¡°While you waste our time and resources grinding away at these Bothan dogs, our homeland is being invaded by Loyalists! Count Dooku, in his great wisdom, has personally ordered me to bring the First Fleet back to Raxus.¡±
¡°He did not inform me of this development,¡± she replied coldly.
Tonith¡¯s face peeled into a spiteful grin, revealing a row of purple-stained teeth, ¡°He has¡ become aware of your personal shortcomings. You are no longer his most favoured minion.¡±
¡°And you are?¡± she retorted rhetorically, ¡°Is that something to be proud of? Have you no self-respect as a military man, obeying the whims of a politician?¡±
¡°I do not know what barbarian race in the Unknown Regions you hail from, Tann, but it seems you have yet to understand that war is an extension of politics,¡± Tonith sneered, ¡°I follow the whims of politicians because they give the military purpose. Something for you to consider, with your unsanctioned and frivolous invasion of Bothan Space.¡±
Tonith took a deep breath, straightening his Banking Clan uniform, ¡°It is in light of our prior cooperative relationship that I am telling you this. The Republic is driving a spearhead towards Nanth¡¯ri, and soon your precious Second Fleet will be trapped. Be relieved, Tann, as soon there will be no way to reach the politics you despise so much.¡±
The Muun Admiral looked to his side, and the connection was severed, leaving Sev¡¯rance alone with her thoughts. This¡ made no sense, political or military. The Republic may be driving to cut off the Second Fleet, but while she had not foreseen it, it was still a logical and expected effort from them. The First Fleet at Lannik was in the perfect location to intercept their forces.
Why would Dooku¨Cthe leader of the Separatist Alliance of all people¨Csabotage the Confederacy¡¯s closest and greatest chance to unite two of its four largest theatres? It would not only free tied up military assets, but reopen trade between Separatist space and stimulate the stagnating economies of both the Trailing Sectors and Trans-Hydian, roping even more star systems into the Confederacy¡¯s political sphere.
But instead, he wanted to abandon the effort she strived so hard for!
A soft-pedalled shuffle reminded her of Colonel Farstar¡¯s existence.
¡°What do you think, Colonel?¡± she asked softly, ¡°Tell me what you make of Count Dooku¡¯s plan.¡±
¡°Well, sir,¡± he swallowed, ¡°It looks like Dooku, uh, wants you out of the picture. And he¡¯s bringing Admiral Tonith back to Raxus¡ Looks like he¡¯s targeting you in particular.¡±
¡°Abandoning Operation Sidestep targets nobody but the Confederacy,¡± she said coldly, ¡°We are this close to closing the gap between our constituent sectors, and he wants to sever them again.¡±
¡°II think he isn¡¯t isolating the Trailing Sectors so much as isolating the Second Fleet, sir,¡± Colonel Farstar opined, ¡°He¡¯s isolating you from something happening in Raxus that he needs Tonith for. The false flag assassination was just the icing on the cake¡ from a more political point of view.¡±
Something within her snapped to attention, like a cadet not just hearing their instructor but finally understanding what they meant. Colonel Farstar may not have realised what that ''something'' was, but Sev''rance Tann did.
¡°How long before the Republic reaches Nanth¡¯ri?¡±
Farstar jolted at the precipitous change in subject, ¡°We¡¯ll have to send some scoutships, sir.¡±
¡°No time,¡± she growled, marching back out, ¡°Prep my shuttle and have Task Force Ascendant ready for sortie. Have we completed repairs on the Negotiator?¡±
¡°Both the Negotiator and Carrion Spike are ready,¡± Colonel Farstar lurched to keep up with her pace, ¡°Going somewhere, sir?¡±
¡°Good. I am giving you overall command of our armies and fleets in the Bothawui System, Colonel,¡± she told him, ¡°Follow the plan, and adapt as you see fit. You have my full confidence in this matter. See this through, and I will make you a general.¡±
They were greeted with thundering cannons as they stepped into the sun.
¡°That is high praise, sir!¡± he shouted over the roar of artillery, ¡°I will not fail you!¡±
¡°I trust that you won¡¯t,¡± Sev¡¯rance spun on her heel, staggering the Colonel, ¡°And find me that assassin. Alive.¡±
¡°Understood!¡± Farstar was already signalling for some droids.
Sev¡¯rance left him to it, ignoring the Bothans who were attempting to gain her attention. She will never understand politics. Dooku is a bit like a Bothan, she thought suddenly. They call him the greatest politician of the age. To risk our entire war just to spite me¡ either she should increase her wariness of the Dark Side, or she should consider all politicians mad in the head.
Chapter 26
Jeyell Departure, Jeyell System
Roche Sector
In the deep abyss of space, starry eyes watched the pair of droid destroyers lurking like leviathans beneath the solar plane, silent as death itself. There was a herd of twenty-seven supply cruisers 300,000 klicks above them relative to the solar plane. Old and slow, with engines so weak they had to travel out much further to escape the gravity well. The Republic knew that too, and rigged them with enough weapons to hold off any privateers or bandits until the nearest patrol could come to their aid.
Unfortunately for them, sisters Lexington and Saratoga were not ordinary privateers. They¡¯ve been lying in wait for days, exploiting their data of the Republic¡¯s logistics corridors and resupply stations to situate themselves in the most optimal positions. Calculating the herd¡¯s time of arrival, their estimated resupply schedule, Jeyell¡¯s orbit and rotation. Find the perfect patch of space behind a gas giant where patrol sensors could not reach.
All of it, to line up this perfect shot.
>Incoming shortburst from CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV
>Initiate handshake
[From CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV] UKYIYOUZPCGXYQAUMDAWXIOZIWYBRHRCDTQXWKIETGPWLUVPXOOGGRSEOCQPKIDGORFRRKAEPEIGCTDRECENCGAZEZXNYK
>Access naval encryption key rotors
>Decrypt session
[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] HANDLER ONE REPORTS ENEMY PATROL NINE PARSECS BEARING TWO FOUR NINE GALACTIC RELATIVE. EXTRACT IN TWO HOURS TO AVOID.
[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED.
[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] PLEASE ADVISE FLIGHT PLAN UPDATE.
[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] TSSE¨CRMIN¨CGRYN¨CDHIA¨CRRQU. AGREE?
[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] STANDBY TO CONFIRM WITH HANDLER.
[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] AGREE.
[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED. CONTACTS FOUR MINUTES TO INTERCEPT. PLEASE ADVISE.
[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] NO HOSTILES DETECTED. STANDARD INTERCEPT PROCEDURE.
[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED. TERMINATING SESSION.
>Terminate handshake
Lexington jolted from her hibernation, warming up her shell as gases flowed through her systems. In a sudden shock of power, her triple ion pulse drives launched her forwards, blazing an ethereal cold stream of blue-grey behind her. Once she reached a linear 900 standard gravities, she cut her engines and began diverting all power to her cannons, relying on her autonomous attitude thrusters to make the final adjustments to her approach.
Already on high alert for the reported commerce raiding in the area, the Republic spacers caught onto Lexington¡¯s drive trails the moment she exploded out of the darkness. Distress signals were immediately fired off towards Jeyell, and the five supply cruisers pitched upwards to present a smaller target profile and manoeuvre away from the incoming raider¨C
Only to come face-to-face with Saratoga, ripping an icy scar across the stars as she approached from the opposite direction. They had been caught in a pincer.
Three minutes; the sisters¡¯ superheavy forward batteries boomed in silence, outranging the convoy¡¯s self-defence guns and punching a hole through the closest two cruisers and turning them into high velocity scrap. The wake of their death throes peppered the convoy with fragments that acted as chaff, inadvertently sabotaging friendly targeting sensors. The convoy hastily loosened their formation in order to avoid friendly fire.
Four minutes; Lexington flipped on her axis and burned retro, rotating in a clockwise direction like a round thrown from a slugthrower. Surging into her initial targets, she rammed the wreck at 800 KPS, shattering it like clari-crystals as her hundred and two laser cannons erupted in lashing whips of light, brutally slashing through the stunned cruisers and tearing them apart as if they were flimsiplast.
>Incoming shortburst from CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV
Down to a manageable 270 KPS, Lexington was already slinging her great length around to align with the hyperlane direction. Her scanners detected a squadron of extracting vessels eighty-three light-minutes away.
>Initiate handshake
Their astronavigation computers were synchronised, ensuring they would insert into the same hyperspace tunnel. Destination: Trasse System.
[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] EXECUTING JUMP. AGREE?
[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] AGREE.
?
Orbit of Aargonar, Aargonar System
Perkell Sector
Aargonar was a desolate dustbowl of a world. Stuck between two hyperlanes with no direct access, the isolated and strategically unimportant system was so worthless even the Republic didn¡¯t want to stick around after conquering it. Unicorn Squadron sailed through the uncontested space, their advanced scanners sweeping the canyon-carved continents for any sign of the Republic outpost surely erected on the planet.
Barriss didn¡¯t even know why they were there. Instead, she continued occupying herself while Tuff wasted his time chasing ghosts. She had a lot of time to think, being the only living creature on the ship. Taylor was surprisingly personable, along with the older droids. The newer ones were more sterile, boring. She had lived among them long enough to tell at a glance which were which.
The ship had a galley and a hold, but there wasn¡¯t a kitchen droid, none of the B1s were any good at cooking. Even the most service-oriented B1s operated on the premise that ¡®food¡¯ was acceptable so long as it kept the consumer alive. There was that twisted logic in that, but Barriss didn¡¯t follow. The galley continued to be quarter where she spent most of her time in, testing and tasting what sort of repugnant bantha shit Separatists considered edible.
Most of them weren¡¯t tailored for near-human taste buds, she knew. She still hated it.
Barriss massaged her left arm again, absentmindedly running her fingers over the lump tied around her humerus. There was rudimentary bioscanner in the rudimentary medbay¨Cagain, she doubted this ship was ever meant for organics¨Cand with it she was certain she either had a tumour, or something was put inside of her without her knowledge. Multiple of them. Barriss knew which conclusion she leaned towards.
She had mulled over the idea of a self-surgery, but decided better of it. While Barriss was trained as Jedi healer, and could recognise all the equipment in the medbay, she wasn¡¯t about to trust any of them. They weren¡¯t exactly the Republic-standard sort that she was familiar with, and there wasn¡¯t a medical droid on standby either. Plenty of repair droids, though.
Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t a droid, and she didn¡¯t have a spare arm.
More the reason to work on her current escape plan, which decidedly did not include breaking out. Mostly because she doubted she could find some back-alley surgeon willing to operate on a fugitive before Unicorn came down on her like a three-hundred thousand ton sack of permacrete blocks. If she could convince Rain to just let her go, wouldn¡¯t that be better?
Once the pot of stew¨Csludge¨Chad simmered for long enough, she lifted the lid and took a quick taste. Its slimy texture molested her tastebuds for a good moment, before a pleasant aftertaste bloomed throughout her mouth.
Score!
Either she was far better at intuitive cookery than she had realised, or her sense of taste had been thoroughly warped by now. She sobered quickly after that thought.
As Barriss eyed the pot, silently calculating how long it will last her, a battle droid entered the galley. His stride was looser and more relaxed than the stiff, clanking gait of a fresh-off-the-line model, leading her to decide he was one of Rain¡¯s.
¡°Yes?¡±
¡°Reinforcements have arrived,¡± he relayed, ¡°Tuff wants you transferred to the Messenger in Flames. So head to the hangar when able.¡±
Barriss stared at the droid, then at the pot, then at the droid again. Do you know how long I spent on this thing? I¡¯m not going to start over.
¡°He couldn¡¯t have told me himself?¡± she complained.
¡°He¡¯s ripping the data dump out of the Republic base,¡± the droid said, ¡°It¡¯s important.¡±
She bit her gloves and yanked them off, ¡°Grab that pot for me and bring it to the shuttle. Don¡¯t spill it on your life.¡±
¡°I have three backups,¡± he retorted smugly, grabbing the handles anyway, ¡°Where are you going.¡±
¡°To my quarters. I need to pack what little I have,¡± Barriss huffed, cleaning up the counter out of habit, ¡°Mind telling me what the raid is for?¡±
The droid hummed like an accordion, ¡°Checking restrictions¡ no rule on this¨C right, certainly sir. The Commodore¡¯s uncle was serving here when the Republic attacked. He¡¯s pretty important, so we¡¯re checking their casualty files to find out what happened to him. If he died, Rain will want to know.¡±
Oh. Barriss didn¡¯t allow herself to show an outward reaction, sweeping empty packaging into a trash bin.
¡°I see. Thank you,¡± she turned around, ¡°You can go on now.¡±
The droid hefted the pot, ¡°Roger roger.¡±
Loyalty programming, huh? Barriss did miss Cartroll¡¯s presence. An actual person to talk to. As she rolled down her sleeves, she brushed that odd bump in her arm again. It was impossible to miss once she realised it was there, and mildly infuriating indeed.
Might actually be easier to convince Rain than I initially expected.
?
Raxus Secundus, Raxus System
Caluula Sector
The Grand Convocation Chamber of the Republic Senate could seat one-thousand and twenty-four senators at any one time. It was a sight to wonder, never failing to leave one¡¯s jaw gaping upon first arrival. Circular and massive, a monolith to the greatness and apparent unity of the Galactic Republic. Just stepping through one of its portals and onto a Senate box lifted your body to the sky, swelling your heart with pride as you took your place in the beating heart of the galaxy.
One-thousand and twenty-four senators. Tens of thousands more representatives and delegates and whatever more nebulous words used to establish self-importance. It was a testament to the bloated stagnation, the quagmire of bureaucracy that was the Galactic Republic.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Raxus¡¯ House of Parliament, once used to host the planetary government, was not the Grand Convocation Chamber. Smooth, polished metal was nowhere to be found. Senators did not float in the heavens on steel clouds, instead they sat side-by-side with their peers, grounded by wood and masonry. The smell of sunshine from the windows above, accompanied by the bustle of Raxulon that rose to them.
It was everything Bec Lawise could hope for. Everything he strived for. Free of the archaic rules and protocols that invited corruption into the halls of the Republic Senate, here the atmosphere constantly reminded the voices of Separatist worlds of their true purpose. To work with those seated besides them, to serve the people they heard.
Three-hundred and six senators were now in attendance. Bec could not remember the benches completely filled since the day the Confederacy was founded. Even the delegates of nominally neutral worlds such as Columex and Belderone could finally be found at their assigned seats, to the surprise of the murmuring hall.
All gathered, to vote on the future of their war for existence.
Bec rose to the timber Speaker¡¯s dais that overlooked the debate tables, deftly activating the console before him with a practised hand. The matter of the Supreme Commander has been raised and struck down numerous times in this hall before, but with Republic fleets at their doorstep, the issue has never been so pertinent.
The Speaker¡¯s console hummed to life, displaying all the relevant information he needed to govern the Senate. Bec viewed the list of attendees. There was the War Faction, buzzing with anticipation as their long-awaited agenda reached the closest it has ever been to passing. In stark contrast were the senators of the Peace Faction, easily identifiable by their grim silence.
Then there was the third faction, the Perlemian Coalition. As the name suggests, they were primarily formed of star systems facing the Republic onslaught, with some senators even representing already-fallen worlds. While smaller than either of the two major factions, they were still significant enough to swing the votes to either side. The War Faction seemed confident that the Coalition would vote with them.
Bec Lawise wasn¡¯t so sure. As the Congress Leader, the Siniteen wasn¡¯t blind to the corruption clinging to the Senate. The Bylaws outright banned the representation of corporations, but through loopholes senators from worlds like Muunilinst and Metalorn may as well be corporate delegates. It was, however, manageable. Like most Siniteens, Bec was a realist. Try as he might, there was no government completely free of corruption.
The problem was that the Perlemian Coalition was not corrupt. You only needed to lift the carpet a little to realise what the Coalition truly was; the thralls of an ever-overreaching junta of Separatist officers. Bec knew it was a body of necessity. The Senate was too divided on the war to supply any meaningful aid to the stalwart defenders of the Perlemian. And as such, when the officers created the Coalition to fill that purpose, the Senate turned a blind eye.
But now, as the Senate dragged and dragged their feet, the Coalition may have ballooned into something uncontrollable, and perhaps even worse than blatant corporate representation. Military representation. The Coalition now controlled the fleets and armies of over a hundred star systems, and only more falling into their arms as the Republic advances.
The fate of Euceron was a statement of what happens if you don''t subscribe to their clause, and the Coalition senators knew it. They could not risk alienating the junta, and will vote for whatever they demand. The Coalition had to be placed back in check, and that was precisely the reason Bec¨Cdespite being aligned to the Peace Faction¨Cwill vote for a Supreme Commander.
Bec warily eyed the growing list of outside observers on his console, all observing the session through hovercam droids. There was the media, and then there were the officers. Admiral Trench. Admiral Tonith. General Ambigene. General Loathsom. General Durd. And a thousand more names with ¡®captain¡¯ and ¡®commander¡¯ and ¡®colonel¡¯ blurring together. They wanted to see who would lead them, or more optimistically for those of higher rank, whether or not they¡¯ll be nominated.
Admiral Kirst and General Tann would be in attendance too, he imagined, if they were not fighting their own wars among distant stars.
He silently cleared his throat, pulling out the files he needed.
¡°May I have order in the House?¡± the Speaker¡¯s voice boomed over the tables and benches, officially starting the session, ¡°This session has been convened today to debate and decide on the confirmation of the executive nomination for the office of the Supreme Martial Commander of the Separatist Droid Armies.¡±
A tall Muun immediately stood up, towering over those around him. Bec waited a handful of heartbeats for any interruptions. There were none
He nodded, ¡°The dais recognises the Senator from Muunilinst.¡±
¡°...There should be no debate!¡± Jen Hapha immediately declared the moment he reached the debate table, ¡°The Loyalists are at our doorstep! Our fleets are disparate, our armies disunified. We need a strong hand to rally our forces and fight back against the oppressors!¡±
Bold, but it made the point well. Most of the seats were in agreement, applauding the statement, and only Mina Bonteri and a hard-line number of Peace senators were silently shaking heads in disapproval. Warily, Bec noticed none of the Coalition senators were responding in either direction.
A blip on his console caught his attention¨Ca message from the Senator from Raxus Secundus, Avi Singh. It was a notification that Admiral Trench had been invited onto a local Raxulon NewsNet covering the debate. He looked up, noticing many Coalition senators staring down at their own tablets and consoles.
Bec¡¯s lips drew out thinly. Admiral Trench, as the only major officer in-system, must¡¯ve received hundreds of invitations. If he truly wanted to be heard, he would have accepted an invite from any larger media outlet. Bec found Senator Singh in the stands and gave a subtle, grateful nod.
Tawni Ames stood up to oppose the common consensus, patiently waiting for recognition. Senator Bonteri must¡¯ve chosen Ames to speak on the Peace Faction¡¯s behalf. Bonteri herself was too obvious; the Senator from Desix was known to be a much more moderate voice between the two factions.
¡°The dais recognises the Senator from Desix,¡± Bec announced.
She walked down the stairs and took a place at the debate table opposite Senator Hapha, ¡°Desix opposes the motion.¡±
¡°You would allow the Loyalists to walk all over us, Senator Ames?¡± Senator Hapha fired at her.
¡°No I would not. And no we are not,¡± Senator Ames replied with steely calm, ¡°At this very moment, the Coalition fights for us! A unity of worlds and officers! If this debate had risen at the start of the offensive, Senator, I would have agreed with you.¡±
Surprised murmuring rose from both sides. Even Mina Bonteri dug into the back of Ames¡¯ head with hawkish eyes.
¡°However!¡± Senator Ames swept her gaze across the benches, her voice rising in tenor, ¡°Electing a Supreme Commander now will only serve to disunify the already existing structure! It is too late! Do we want to flip the table on our only defensive body right now!? Admiral Trench is already in-system! He holds the highest rank in Perlemian space, and has fought bravely with the Coalition before! We don¡¯t need a Supreme Commander; just give him a fleet!¡±
The Peace Faction erupted into cheers, and even some from the War Faction were nodding grudgingly. Senator Hapha turned around in ill-concealed panic, even more so when Coalition senators made their minds and stood to applause slowly.
It was masterful, Bec Lawise had to admit, both Bonteri¡¯s strategy and Ames¡¯ speech.
Voe Atell was shifting uncomfortably, no doubt realising Admiral Trench was on the news and likely reacting in approval. A War Faction senator who was in the pocket of the Corporate Alliance. An open secret, really. Admiral Trench, also on the payroll of the Corporate Alliance. There was a conflict there.
She stood up hastily.
¡°The dais recognises the Senator from Vassian.¡±
Senator Atell was already half-way down the stairs, barely at the table when she started speaking¨C ¡°
¡°In that case, vote for Admiral Trench!¡± she pressed in a vain attempt to salvage the situation, turning to the Speaker¡¯s dais, ¡°Mister Speaker, who does the Head of State nominate for this office?¡±
¡°The nomination will only be revealed when this debate is settled,¡± Bec blinked his milky eyes, ¡°Then, it must come to a vote. In accordance with the Bylaws of Independent Systems, a voice vote is required to proceed.¡±
The Speaker waited several seconds for a consensus to approach. When nobody moved to defer, he continued, ¡°All in favour of proceeding, say aye.¡±
An overwhelming number of ayes rose up, and his console immediately began tallying the senators, reaching a simple majority in a matter of seconds.
¡°All those opposed, say nay.¡±
There were only a few discordant voices opposing the movement. Even though the House already knew the outcome, they waited in varying degrees of patience as the Speaker waited for the tally.
¡°The ayes have it,¡± Bec announced.
He received a datachip from his aide and made a show of plugging it into his console, ¡°The executive nomination is¡ General Grievous. His file is now being transmitted to your consoles.¡±
The name was not immediately reacted to, but that was to be expected. The generals of the Confederacy were many, and not all are so well-known. But as Bec read General Grievous¡¯ file, his own confusion joined the rising mire in the House.
Who is this person?
A life-sized hologram of the General burst out of one the tables, and a loud gasp was heard, followed by a stifled choke. The Senate was stunned into silence.
The file said General Grievous was a cyborg. But there was only a towering mechanical skeleton of servos and armour with clawed feet and hands. His cyborg nature was only shown through two cat-like eyes behind a skull-shaped faceplate.
¡°General Grievous,¡± Bec said aloud for the House, ¡°He was a leader from his homeworld Kalee. During the Huk War, against the pleas of Kaleesh people, the Galactic Senate sided with the Yam¡¯rii, which resulted in the enslavement of his people and exploitation of his homeworld. After prolonged fighting, he barely survived an assassination attempt that left his body brutalised. This explains the cyborg body.¡±
Terrifying at first glance, but a pitiful being underneath, was he not? A quick search of Kalee people proved Bec¡¯s theory. His body was simply modelled after his people¡¯s, a reportedly fierce but honourable race from the Outer Rim.
¡°In light of this,¡± he continued, ¡°General Grievous has pledged his services to the Separatist cause. Our Head of State considers him a capable and valiant officer, who delivered the Confederacy great victories at Christophsis, Mon Gazza, Llanic, and Zhar.¡±
¡°Why would Count Dooku nominate somebody so unknown?¡± Senator Ames demanded, ¡°I move that we defer this vote until a Senate Committee summons him to a hearing!¡±
¡°We have no reason to doubt his judgement, Senator!¡± Hapha disagreed, ¡°In fact, it is proof of Dooku¡¯s authenticity that he chooses an unknown General over more popular choices! General Grievous won Christophsis, despite being heavily outnumbered, even defeating numerous Jedi. Clearly, our Head of State considers him a capable¨Cand not to mention veteran¨Crising star to back!¡±
The Senate roared in approval, fists and other appendages pumped into the air among a deafening applause that completely smothered out any opposition. Senator Hapha seemed to bask in the praise. This was as far as any debate on this matter has gotten, Bec though seriously. Every prior debate had been cut down by the Peace Faction early on. But with the Republic at their door, and Dooku¡¯s popularity reaching new heights, the confirmation was all but decided.
Bec Lawise respected Dooku for what he achieved. It was with that respect, along with the burdensome failings of the Republic Senate, that prompted him to submit the Articles of Secession to the Republic Senate. But even then, this level of blind loyalty was admittedly worrying.
A blue-skinned humanoid stood up. Kerch Kushi, a typically non-aligned senator known for being a level head and voice of moderation.
¡°The dais recognises the Senator from Kaekay!¡± Bec¡¯s announcement brought on a wave of quiet.
Senator Kushi waited until the last murmurings died, then spoke in a gravelly voice, ¡°I will speak plainly. We may believe in Count Dooku, but it will be irresponsible of us to extend that trust to General Grievous. His service records are dry. His character is unknown. His competence, arguable!¡±
¡°He won at Christophsis¨C!¡±
¡°General Tann won at Christophsis!¡± Senator Kushi rebuked loudly, but not fiercely, ¡°General Grievous entered the battle after she cleared out the Republic fleets in orbit. General Grievous was facing a trapped, demoralised, and undersupplied enemy! Mon Gazza, Llanic¨C that was a mop-up campaign! None of them are acceptable proof of skill! I concur with the Senator from Desix; a Senate Committee must be created to audit this General and conclude¨C¡±
Chaos reigned. Uproar and screaming, senators rising from their benches with opinions and counter-opinions. Some shouting that Senator Ames and Senator Kushi were speaking sense, others demanding expediency. Many in the War Faction were claiming the Coalition was inept, and did nothing to stop the Loyalist advance¨Cmuch to Senator Atell¡¯s chagrin.
She obviously wanted the War Faction and Coalition to come to an unspoken agreement. But with her own faction alienating their potential allies¡
Mina Bonteri sat amidst the turmoil, still as a statue, eyes fixed on the rotating hologram of General Grievous. Avi Singh, similarly, was unmoving as a boulder in stormy waves. As Bec mentally calculated a reasonable amount of time for the arguing to go on, their eyes met. A deferred vote would reduce the vote¡¯s chances of passing. Fervour in the Senate was high, and Bec Lawise was not above using it to his ends.
¡°Order! Order!¡± Bec chanted, amplifying his voice over the squabble and making the closest senators jump, ¡°This matter will not be deferred any longer. According to the Bylaws of Independent System, an absolute majority is needed to confirm the Supreme Commander¡¯s nomination. You may now cast your votes.¡±
Some senators immediately went to their consoles and tapped the screens, likely to abstain, while most of them began to congregate in groups around the hall to discuss the file. As Bec stepped down from the dais, he noticed Senator Singh waving at him.
¡°How are you feeling about the vote, Bec?¡± Avi asked, glancing around as if in search of somebody, ¡°You will be voting aye?¡±
¡°I will,¡± Bec confirmed, ¡°I¡¯m feeling quite optimistic.¡±
¡°Then this will be good news to you,¡± Avi sucked in a breath, ¡°Dooku¡¯s downstairs.¡±
Bec immediately snapped to face him, alarmed beyond belief, ¡°When did you¨C¡±
¡°Just now,¡± the Senator from Raxus said conspiratorially, ¡°One of my aides informed me. He¡¯s coming up to observe the vote. Nothing more.¡±
¡°Nothing more?¡± Bec could laugh, ¡°His very presence could make or break a vote.¡±
Avi nodded slowly, grimly, ¡°I know.¡±
¡°You¡¯re voting nay,¡± he realised, ¡°Why?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not a matter of principle, friend. That¡¯s all you need to know,¡± Avi¡¯s gaze moved past him sharply.
Bec turned to follow it, finding Count Dooku taking an empty seat on the upper mezzanine, right behind the Speaker¡¯s dais. The war had aged him, that much was clear, but for a human at eighty years of age, he still carried that same fire he had since his time as Jedi. Already, some senators had gathered around him chattering in awe.
The House gradually grew quiet as people started to notice Dooku¡¯s presence in the hall, mostly younger and War Faction senators. Despite the death sentence of her agenda, Senator Bonteri leaned into her seat amidst her faction¡¯s anxious dialogue, content to wait out the vote.
¡°Which way do you suppose the Coalition will be voting?¡± Bec asked.
¡°I overheard some of their conversation,¡± Avi answered, ¡°It¡¯s on a knife¡¯s edge. A lot of them want to vote for a Supreme Commander, for good reason, but Admiral Trench is absolutely disparaging General Grievous in the media.¡±
¡°Can you blame him?¡± Bec admitted, ¡°He would accept it if it was General Tann, but Grievous came out of nowhere.¡±
¡°He knows the Pantoran is a worthy rival,¡± Avi agreed, ¡°Grievous is a usurper, from that perspective. To tell you the truth, Bec, I had not heard of him until today.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only one¡¡±
¡°Good luck with the vote,¡± Avi said suddenly, extending an arm.
¡°Likewise,¡± Bec accepted it, before returning to the Speaker¡¯s dais.
Senator Hapha reached Dooku and bowed in front of him, taking the opportunity to whisper something. Dooku tilted his chin down lightly in return. Seeing this, more people started to approach him.
¡°Fellow senators,¡± Bec called sternly, ¡°Why don¡¯t we all go back to our seats? Let¡¯s follow procedure.¡±
They said the tidings and dispersed, many with smiles on their faces, others without.
¡°Count,¡± he greeted, ¡°You do not usually attend in person.¡±
¡°If I allow myself to be consumed by my executive duties, I might never see sunlight,¡± the Head of State smiled wryly, ¡°This is a change of pace I find myself sorely needing. And it allows me to more closely judge the state of our politics.¡±
Dooku was staring down at a section of the lower benches as he said the word ¡®judge.¡¯ It was the seat of the Senator from Columex, and the gaggle of Coalition senators only just scattering back to their assigned seats.
¡°I believe your nomination will pass,¡± Bec commented.
Dooku hummed noncommittally.
The Speaker finally reached for his console and selected his vote. With all their necessary discussions complete, the mainstay of the votes were now pouring in. Three-hundred and six senators, he reminded himself, that¡¯s one-hundred fifty-four to pass.
¡°How is the count proceeding, Speaker?¡± Dooku asked.
Bec fixed his attention on the ayes/nays/abstain tally. 123/97/16
¡°Hundred twenty-one ayes,¡± he said, ¡°Seventy votes to count.¡±
¡°Thirty to pass,¡± Dooku noted.
129/104/17
Bec nodded lightly.
136/111/17
138/118/17
There was a group holding off, he realised. Taking a cursory glance, he realised only the Coalition senators remained standing. Bec could feel Dooku¡¯s intense stare targeted at the Senator from Columex. Then, the Senator from Columex tapped his console before retreating to his seat. As if waiting for precisely that signal, the rest of them submitted their votes. Bec had to force himself to drag his gaze back to the tally.
Three numbers shone at him.
149/140/17
He let out a breath in a silent sigh.
¡°The voting has concluded,¡± he announced, ¡°The nomination has one-hundred forty-nine ayes and one-hundred forty nays. The nomination fails by five votes.¡±
The Senate roared with all kinds of reactions. The Peace Faction was suddenly reinvigorated, erupting in a massive applause while the War Faction screamed in outrage and cries of manipulation. The Coalition senators gave each other meaningful looks from across the hall, some visibly uncertain of their own votes.
¡°Sorry, Dooku,¡± Bec drowned them out, ¡°Looks like it isn¡¯t our day.¡±
Dooku was deathly calm, ¡°No¡ I had expected this. This session has accurately judged the mood of the Senate. It is understandable; General Grievous is a new character in the military, and many do not trust him. I believe he will reveal his merits soon enough, Speaker. Then, we may vote again.¡±
¡°You are serious about this General?¡± Bec asked, ¡°What about General Tann?¡±
¡°Grievous has impressed me,¡± he said, ¡°And General Tann prefers to chase after her own quests. Thank you for the hospitality, Speaker.¡±
¡°Of course, Count. This is your government.¡±
¡°Never fail to remind.¡±
The aged man rose from his seat steadily. As he cut a path towards the exit, the shadow he cast over the debate tables seemed larger than ever.
Chapter 27
Centares, Centares System
Maldrood Sector
I handed the tablet back to hare, feeling a sense of perverse satisfaction. But that was the reality of this galactic order, that not even the idealism of the Separatist Alliance could cure. Politics will remain corruptible¨Cif not always with money¨Cno matter in the Bronze Age or Space Age. Nobody can fix it. Least I could do was exploit the disease for reasons better than others, if not totally unselfishly.
But as the days ticked on with no signs of the person who was supposed to rescue us, I was feeling less and less optimistic about our chances. The confirmation lost by five votes. Even with the Commonality, that was too close to replicate. Dooku will be prepared for next time, and that means I''ve stalled as much as I could. All that''s left is to put up a good fight.
And that we shall, I thought as I crossed the deck to the visual display, slamming down the blast shields and activating the holoHUD. An interdiction minefield had been laid 50,000,000 klicks out, and several dozen support ships were arranging themselves behind the Coalition Armada, already pre-loading the first caches of munitions onto their tenders.
Seven-hundred warships in total¨Cgreater than the First and Second Fleets combined¨Cmost of them now stateless and eager to return home. Then there were another eight-hundred warships that should be enroute from Commonality space. It was the largest single gathering of Separatist warships since the start of the war.
There would be no fancy manoeuvres this time. Not with this many ships. Not with this many commanders. Separatist fleet doctrine relied on overwhelming numerical superiority, justified with exemplary formations. The first the Republic will attempt to do is break up the Armada and defeat us in detail. To prevent that, everyone will have to play by the book and avoid playing hero.
"Interdiction arrays are reporting three-hundred drive trail signatures," Stelle paused, as if checking if that was all.
I keyed in the frequency, "I am declaring sector-wide Red Alert; all personnel to battlestations. There are three-hundred¨C"
"Six-hundred¨C" Stelle leaned forward, "No, one-thousand drive cones!"
I watched in quiet dread as the icons began flooding onto Repulse''s holoHUD, completely blanketing the interdiction array and sweeping through it with brute force. For a moment, I was thrown back to Ringo Vinda, watching ARENA''s red tide trample over everything on the board. This felt obnoxiously similar, instilling the same emotions you would get knowing a tsunami was approaching yet too close for you to escape.
"...Urgent transmission to Columex; request all available reinforcements immediately. Send it."
"Repulse?" a voice asked.
"I apologise," I stifled a choke, "There are one-thousand signatures approaching. Avoid all communication but tightbeam and optical. Here they come."
Calli Trilm didn''t have time to think about anything but what''s at hand. And what''s at hand was a disaster. The Coalition Armada was supposed to outnumber the Cerulean Lance, but instead they found themselves outnumbered by three-hundred warships. Which means either every Republic Sector Fleet was a thousand strong and the war was about to end in a month, or this wasn''t just the Cerulean Spear.
Either way, someone in Naval Intelligence was about to get bent over a barrel.
Of course they''d know we''d outnumber them, her brain berated, so of course they''d bring even more!
"Tell me something, Tex," she demanded harshly.
"They''re coming at us head on, sir," her tactical droid said, "No formation. The only finesse is their approach vector. They intend on rolling right over us. We''ve stopped their momentum with our mines, but they''re accelerating again."
An icon left of hers blinked on the expansive battle plot; Task Force Repulse¨CRain Bonteri''s formation in the Armada¨Csignalled steady acceleration to 1,000G in line ahead. A hundred and twenty marks surged out of orbit, ships queuing into a textbook Battle Order One. Three straight columns, with the heaviest ships in the leftmost main battle line, lighter cruisers and frigates in the middle, and auxiliaries¨Cincluding carriers¨Con the right.
Battle Squadron Talcene and Battle Squadron Bryx¨Ctwo stateless formations from their eponymous sectors¨Craced after Task Force Repule, bringing the full number up to two-hundred and fifty ships.
"Mark bearing," she commanded.
"Mark bearing," Tex repeated.
She nodded in satisfaction, "Signal Task Force Clysm into Battle Order One. Accel up to one-thousand gravs. Time to intercept?"
"Fifty minutes. Intercept velocity thirty-thousand KPS," the droid vocalised his internal computations, "Permission to speak freely?"
"Granted."
"There is only a twenty-seven point three-nine-nine percent probability of our victory," TX-103 said, "It would be more strategically sound to fall back to Columex, where our strength can be bolstered."
"That''s not the point, droid," Calli scolded mildly, "Centares is a signatory. There are thirty-seven Centarian warships in Battle Squadron Maldrood. If you want to talk statistics; over sixty percent of our fleet is composed of ships and spacers who have lost their homeworlds. The fact that they are still fighting with us is because they believe we will fight for them."
"The psyche is a troublesome factor," Tex replied flatly.
"No," she disagreed, "It is quite manageable, for most races. And when it is on your side, it is as if the gods are fighting with you. Come, droid. Let''s give the Loyalists a thrashing they will remember."
Task Force Clysm, with Battle Squadron Salvara and Battle Squadron Perkell, were situated on the right most flank of the Armada. Around one-hundred eighty warships in total. Star of Serenno''s sublight drives roared, kicking her in the rear and sending her sprawling forward, with the rest of the division neatly falling in behind.
To avenge their lost worlds. For the distant hope they will be liberated. To defend those who have not fallen. In the name of the Confederacy itself. For whatever the reason they held in their hearts, seven-hundred shining stars appeared in the night sky of Centares. Whether they would glow for an era, or burn so brightly for only a brief moment. Such was the solidarity of the Separatist Alliance.
Commander Vinoc ordered Task Force Sol forward in a standard line ahead, flanked by Battle Squadron Maldrood and Battle Squadron Jospro. The largest but slowest of the three divisions¨Ccourtesy of the heavy Sy Myrthian carrier-battleships¨Ctwo-hundred and seventy warships clung onto the Armada''s left flank.
"The Sy Myrthians are getting left behind, Commander," Captain Harsol tightbeamed, "Their carriers cap out at three-hundred gravs."
"Forget the screens!" Vinoc snapped, "We shave half an hour off our transit without them. We''re last in the battle order, so as long as the LACs catch up before then, we''ll be fine."
"LACs?"
"Light attack craft."
"Slides off the tongue well, I''ll give it that," Harsol mumbled¨C "Understood. I''ll relay the order. What about the Columexi?"
The Commonality wanted to rendezvous every one of their available ships in Columex before sending them to Centares in full force. They simply didn''t expect the Republic to charge in so fast or so hard. With 1500 parsecs between them, the difference between the swiftest cruiser and heaviest dreadnought was a couple hours to a whole day. If the Commonality was intent on sending their Joint Defense Fleet together, then they might as well not.
"Let''s hope they''re hauling ass, if nothing else."
Harsol afforded a chuckle, "Looks like they''re coming straight down our throats, sir. They''re wanting for a brawl, after all."
The captain of Sa Nalaor cut the comms with that.
"They won''t," TJ-912, his recently assigned tactical droid, pointed to the tactical display, "Their drive trails suggest some standard of coordination between ships. They are attempting to mislead us by purposefully mixing in lighter ships, but if you ignore the shorter trails, you''ll note that the more prominent cones are maintaining a coherent line abreast."
Vinoc saw it. The Cerulean Spear Fleet had arrayed themselves in two lines abreast obscured within a mess of light cruisers, frigates, and corvettes. Their violent acceleration was only a ruse to pull a fake from right under them. He checked the repeater; 30,000,000 klicks to intercept and closing. He couldn''t see them yet, but he could see the blossoming drive signatures of Battle Squadron Jospro''s LACs behind them.
Over two-hundred thousand were already in space and racing ahead of their motherships, with six-hundred thousand more swarming out of the hangars with the cadence and symmetry only the metronome precision of droid brains could perform. As he watched their formation weave itself into a star-speckled blanket fit for an eldritch god, Vinoc felt that the Republic had no idea what''s waiting for them.
Come right on then, bastards, he thought viciously, see what we''ve got for you.
"Velocity twenty-three thousand KPS, fourteen minutes to intercept range," Stelle reported.
The Republic fleet was still coming straight on. I can literally see your line of battle, assholes¨Chow much closer do you want to push this game of chicken? Ironically enough, the Republic held an overwhelming advantage in a full frontal rush. Not because they outnumbered us, but because they were using Star Destroyers as their ships-of-the-line. Aside from a couple handful of obsolete Invincible-class dreadnoughts in the back¨Cwhich we had too¨Cthe main bulk of their battle line were Venators. The ten or so ISDs¨CTectors, apparently¨Cwere on our right flank, rematching against Task Force Clysm.
Back to Star Destroyers. Venators may have piss poor ventral firing envelopes¨Cyes, even with their new hangar gun, which couldn''t depress vertically downwards or even fire rearward due to its jury-rigged placement¨Cthey do have absolutely overwhelming forward firepower. Their tapered hull meant the vast majority of the guns on their artillery deck could fire forwards, to say nothing of their dorsal barbettes. Of course, that meant their rear firing envelope was pretty much non-existent, but they don''t tend to show that anyway.
Munificents and Recusants were built similarly, in that regard.
On the other hand, the bulk of the Coalition Armada''s line of battle were Providences; their 360 degree transverse coverage sacrificed the potency of each individual firing arc, as the sum total had to be halved towards each flank of the ship. And of course, its tubular shape meant there was only a minimal forward envelope.
I eyed the readout; range to intercept 23,000,000 klicks, and plummeting eye-wateringly fast. At constant acceleration of 1000G, we were already tearing through space at 24,000KPS. And it was nothing, not when most Separatist capital ships came with inertial dampeners powerful enough to compensate for up to 2500G. But a 1000G was hard enough to control¨Cwe don''t want to be blasting straight through the enemy, right?
Unless you were that one lady with purple hair. She''s kind of special. What was her name again?
"Task Force Clysm is signalling hard to starboard," Stelle relayed.
"Project Queen of Beauty''s bridge and signal Task Force Repulse," I stood up, feeling far too jittery to sit without bouncing my leg to disintegration, "Standard starboard turn. Keep it tight as we manoeuvre in succession. Arm port launchers one to fifty."
Repulse''s bridge shimmered, a curtain of light falling over the viewports and replacing it with the illusory image of Queen of Beauty''s command deck. In a rare moment of queasiness, I could feel Repulse heeling over hard to starboard in a much sharper angle than Queen of Beauty. The disconnect between what my body experienced and what my eyes saw pretty hammered me to the point of artificially-induced intoxication.
I fell ass-first into the captain''s chair, shit-faced beyond belief and rubbing my eyes shut as I retreated onto years of naval experience to gauge the progress of the turn. Manoeuvring in succession was rather self-explanatory. When the van of a line of battle executes a manoeuvre, that same manoeuvre will be successively performed by every ship as they arrive at the wake of the vane. In simple terms, every following ship will only turn when they arrive in the exact spot the van was when they turned.
In this case, we were all following the¡ the what? Unwilling to open my eyes, I wracked my brain for the order of battle I prepared a few days ago. Repulse was in the second column¨Cso as we turn to starboard, we will be hidden behind the main battle line. And that means the van was¡ Astarte?
Whatever the case, manoeuvring in succession from a line ahead was preferable to a simultaneous manoeuvre from a line abreast, simply due to the sheer number of ships participating. Especially when there were Providences, Invincibles, Dreadnaughts, Kolivexes, Munificents, Recusants, Auxilias, and a dozen other classes which all have different rates of turns.
Like I said; by the book.
At the speed we were racing along, however, it sure as hell didn''t feel like it. I cracked my eyes open the moment Repulse stopped turning, though a cursory scan told me Queen of Beauty still was.
"They''re launching fighters!" the sensor droid cried in alarm.
The scanner displays were a sight to behold. Wave after wave of drive cones were spawning out of the Venators, radiating out in a blinding white fog that completely smothered the main signatures. Standard Venator capacity was 420 LACs. I played around with the repeater''s interface for a couple seconds, and got myself a cursory figure of 400 Venators.
That was 168,000 LACs. Considering that Venators were not the only carrier-capable ships, I rounded it up to 200,000 across the whole line. That meant Task Force Repulse had a share of 60,000¡
"Get our Vultures in the air!" I shouted, "Are our tubes loaded!?"
"Yes, sir!" Stelle answered, "Deploying Vultures¨C the enemy fleet is bearing down on us!"
Star Destroyers had a near-100% forward firepower efficiency, simply by design. But turbolasers fired tibanna gas wrapped in a magnetic field. Gas that wanted to expand into the void, and a magnetic field that decayed exponentially with every klick travelled. Strangely enough, that meant laser bolts theoretically had more range in-atmosphere than in-vacuum.
What didn''t decay, however, was steel. Explosives wrapped in steel.
"Our last ship-of-the-line has completed its turn," Stelle reported.
"Very good," I leaned forward, "Open fire."
As the first torpedo signatures glittered the battle plot, Calli Trilm drew in a deep breath. Task Force Repulse unleashed the first, massive salvo of the battle, plumes of fire and smoke rapturing out of the broadsides of their battleships.
"Open fire," she ordered.
Star of Serenno shivered as a blazing wave of energy lashed from her hull in a brilliant cascade of warheads streaking through the void. As the three Task Forces manoeuvred, their vans and rears met to form a single massive line of battle along 800 klicks. 200 destroyers and 30 dreadnoughts, with fifty and a hundred launchers per broadside respectively. Each launcher concealed three tubes.
Forty-thousand proton torpedoes screamed towards the Cerulean Spear Fleet.
The Republic had more numbers, better guns, better firing envelopes, better fire control, and simply better ships. Their main armament¨Ceight dual-barrelled DBY-827 heavy turbolaser batteries¨Ccould punch out a capital ship''s shields with a single salvo, and tear into the hull with the next.
But one thing they didn''t have was the range. Jedi cruisers relied on their fighter complements to dish out missiles and torpedoes, as they didn''t have any of their own.
We must dictate the cadence of battle, Calli Trilm mused in practised calm, that is our only hope of victory.
She snatched the backrest of her chair as centrifugal force threatened to toss her off her feet; all 230 ships rotated on their long axis in tandem, flipping ''upside down'' and unleashing a second rippling wave of torpedoes. By the time the battle line had flipped back upright, the portside launchers were already reloaded, and another salvo roared out into the abyss.
With impulse drives capable of upwards of 10,000G, it took the first salvo ten whole minutes to transit the 20,000,000 klicks between the battle lines. Three salvoes in ten minutes, Calli checked her chrono. Acceptable.
The Republic battle line dashed in to close the distance as quickly as possible, eating the full brunt of the first two salvoes with their forward shields. The actual hit ratio was poor; maybe one in a hundred, or even less. The vast distances meant their targeting computers had to rely on enemy drive cones, which were blurred enough¨Cnot to mention the torpedoes were ballistic by the time they reached. Lastly, the Republic had prepared several screens of point-defence frigates.
On the other hand, the Coalition Armada was not lacking in munitions. Each Providence carried enough warheads for eighteen whole salvoes, and munition tenders were already crossing the distance between the auxiliary column and the battle column with even more. Distant explosions lit up the void, nearly incomprehensible from the backdrop of stars.
"Time to intercept?" she asked.
"Their accel-squared is dropping," Tex noted, "I calculate¡ thirty-four point five minutes."
"Eleven salvoes," Calli grinned with all teeth, "Keep firing."
Another volley of torpedoes erupted out of the hull, charging down the gleaming wakes of the previous broadside.
Her eyes scanned the battle plot, at the swarm of drive cones pushing ahead of the Cerulean Spear''s main line of battle. Calli patiently waited for each scan, updating their position on the display and calculating the acceleration. Six scans later, and Calli was relatively certain those were enemy starfighters. 2000G; twenty-three minute transit.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Where are our fighters?" she demanded.
"Our carriers are having trouble keeping up with the columns," Tex answered.
She swore beneath her breath, "Move our screens forward, ten degrees below our horizontal plane."
"There seems to be something wrong with our bloody carriers today," Calli grumbled.
Vinoc stared at the tactical display, weaving the Force into his mind as he enhanced his own cognitive abilities. This was his first time commanding such a massive fleet, albeit in a larger formation, and he could not say that he was not slightly nervous. Nervous at the lives in his hand; tens of thousands of men and women fighting under his command. Nervous at the sheer amount of firepower he controlled.
This must be what Master Tann meant by true power. What was a Jedi Knight under the onslaught of six-hundred thousand missiles? Against the collective will of three million spacers brimming with a kindred resentment for the Republic?
Crying Sun punched out another full cannonade¨Ca hundred and fifty torpedoes rampaging out into the abyss. She was not the only one. At the vanguard of the line of battle was Task Force Clysm, with its subordinating formations Battle Squadrons Salvara and Perkell. Once boasting quarter a thousand vessels, their number has been reduced to a mere one-eighty. They had lost the most, and the least to lose.
And they fought with savagery. For every four salvoes the rest of the fleet launched, they managed five. Against the spearhead of the Cerulean Spear¨Cthe Tectors¨Cthey pushed their ageing warships to their absolute limits in order to keep up, with little regard for their own safety.
The disparity between the front and rear was evident. While Task Force Sol was the largest of three, it was also the most sluggish. Both Battle Squadron Maldrood and Battle Squadron Jospro¨Cespecially Jospro¨Chave been largely untouched by the war, and their spacers appeared keen to remain that way. Even as the boiling mass of Vulture droids swarmed from the Sy Myrthian carriers, the carriers themselves remained a good distance behind the auxiliary column.
He had briefly lost the skill in his brief stint under the thralldom of the Dark Side, but toeing the line in the Force reminded him how to keep his cool under duress. As much as he wanted to rage against the Sy Myrthians for their lack of zeal, he knew it would amount to screaming at the stars. Vinoc tried to recall the names and faces of his Jedi instructors¡ but came up short. Perhaps it wasn''t to be, not when his world was now consumed with beeping repeaters, flashing sensor lights, and the howling of sublight drives and rocketing warheads.
Thankfully, it was just as well, for the blessed stars shone bright on him. Task Force Sol''s rather anaemic efforts had prompted the Cerulean Spear to redeploy their most powerful assets to the vanguard. To the point, in fact, that Vinoc started harbouring doubts on the Sy Myrthian''s intentions¨Cbecause it seemed they had stationed their carriers so far back that the enemy hadn''t even realised their existence.
The star destroyer ahead of Crying Sun blinked out a code with their rear lights.
"Task Force Clysm is requesting fighter support," TJ-912 automatically translated, "Shall we respond?"
Vinoc glanced at the progress of their LACs, "Aye. They''re here."
Not a second later, hundreds of thousands of screeching fighters blasted straight through the columns, rampaging through the narrow intervals between ships to meet the enemy. The numerous tactical displays scrambled and hissed, formation images glitching as targeting computers and sensors all across the battle line found themselves half-blinded by the interference from just shy of a million Vultures, Hyenas, and Scarabs tearing a seam through space.
Not even a tactical droid had the mental faculty to coordinate so many pins on a screen, much less any organic brain. But droid fighters were only good at one thing, and it was the one thing the Sy Myrthians had ordered them to do: swarm.
And swarm they did, like an all-devouring hive mind. Just as last Jedi cruisers completed their line of battle and released their first laser broadside, the droid LACs descended on them like a plague of stone mites. Bright bursts of point-defence and explosive tibanna-bolts carved open gulfs in the infinitely black wavefront of destruction. But the gulfs closed, filled in by the endless numbers. Laser clusters blazed in desperate last-ditch efforts to thin the horde, but it was no use.
The swarm crashed into the enemy''s rearguard at 50,000KPS, shredding two-dozen Venators and twice the number of escorts into scrap metal within a period of seconds, and then moved on to the next section.
"What a terrible way to die," Vinoc mumbled, screams echoing in his head. Visions of bulkheads crumpling like flimsi; of the shocking onrush of dark cold, and silent demise.
"Enemy LACs are redeploying," TJ-912 stated unfeelingly.
They were. The Vultures had been concealed by the Armada''s main line of battle until now, but despite being caught by surprise, the Republic fighter wings were deflecting their vectors in surprisingly good order.
It might be too little, too late.
With the opposing column having their hands full swatting droids from the sky, there was perishingly little to impede Task Force Sol from laying into them with renewed viciousness. The enemy fleet was no longer 20,000,000 klicks in the unknown. We have them dead to rights, and they aren''t fighting back.
Crying Sun roared like a living beast, unleashing fusillades after furious fusillades in ferocious rhythm.
Sweet Mary, the sight was utterly biblical.
The Vulture swarm was a legend ripped right out of the tales of Lovecraft, undulating and writhing like a single eldritch abomination created solely to blight God himself. Have you seen a school of piranhas befall a fallen deer and leave nothing but bone behind? It was the same thing. The droids completely trampled over any resistance with hardly a hiccup, savagely chewing up and spitting out the enemy battle line with only one intent on their artificial brains.
Sure, hundreds were being downed every second, but that was expected for swarm tactics.
Regardless, it was a terrible way to die. I hoped their ships disintegrated around them fast enough for them to die painlessly. If not¡ I forced myself to ignore the horrific ramifications.
The 200,000 Republic starfighters were being redirected to the rearguard, to meet the droid LACs in what must be the single largest fighter battle in the war. A new storm of pins speckled the battle plot as the enemy carriers launched a second wave of LACs from what seemed like the depths of hell, bringing the total number up to upwards of half a million.
I swallowed my surprise. How exactly they managed to double their carrier capacity was beyond me. For a tense moment, I watched the screens to gauge what the LACs were tasked to do¨Cand to my immense relief, they were banking around to head rearward.
With the imminent threat of bombing runs now passed, the Armada''s battle column was free to renew their ceaseless battery with eagerness. This round, however, the Cerulean Spear had already closed the distance and manoeuvred into a parallel line ahead. Amidst the embroiled stars, some six-hundred warships exchanged thunderous broadside, unleashing tempests of iron and fire at each other.
Republic turbolasers punched gaping holes in Separatist deflectors. Separatist warheads screamed back in response, acrid smoke licking the heavens. Shot and shell roared through the vast emptiness between battle lines; a horrid, violent microcosm of a galaxy at war. Very soon, shields on both sides had been battered away, and durasteel hulls shattered and splintered, cracking and buckling under assault.
And amidst the maelstrom, smaller vessels minnows through the ranks. Munifexes and Arquitens met and danced just beneath the waves of hellfire, just as stupidly brave crews of Lupus-class frigates bum-rushed arcs of point defence to launch opportunistic waves of missiles at the flanks of the enemy column. They''re deaths were almost a foregone conclusion, but if they took out a whole Venator with them¡ it was then a small price for victory.
The enemy column lit up the void with a facsimile of a horizon, beads of light exploding out and rocketing towards us. Queen of Beauty ate a shot at amidships, gouging out a deep scar in her hull and carving up twenty-one of her launchers. Even if I wasn''t physically present, Repulse''s sound systems did a disturbingly good job of replicating the deep groans of crunching steel as the ship struggled to hold herself together.
I gave the order, and Queen of Beauty joined the increasing ranks of battleships being folded out of battle, with a Recusant-class battlecruiser taking her place. The tactical display spelled it out cleanly; the situation was untenable. Even with our preemptive strikes, and Task Force Sol utterly ravaging the Republic''s rear, the enemy still had better shields and better turbolasers, not to mention four ships for every three of ours. A Providence could take on a Venator one-to-one with a respectable chance of victory, but under the fire of two?
There will probably be studies and debates on this battle centuries in the future, but right here and right now, my conclusion is that we were getting fucking mauled. Something had to be done, or the stars will be witness to our deaths.
Queen of Beauty passed in front of Repulse on her way to Centares, giving me a particularly good view of how the ship was literally bent into a V-shape by the attack she endured, like a fish with a broken spine.
Not all of them were as lucky as her. Among the column were wrecks; gutted hulls still drifting with the rest of the fleet but streaming with atmosphere, debris, and life pods while frantic rescue teams launched themselves into a grim race against time, fighting with untold courage to save their trapped and wounded crewmates.
It was mountingly dangerous work. It was hard to distinguish between a fighting and wrecked ship in space. After all, even wrecks continued at velocity with the rest of the fleet. Drive cones were used most of the time, but ships-of-the-line disengaged their sublight drives once they reached the required velocity, relying on secondary drives and attitude thrusters afterwards. At that distance, the only surefire way to confirm an enemy warship was no longer fighting was if it was in pieces.
And that''s exactly what happened. Republic fire control fixed targeting solutions on wrecks and inadvertently unleashed broadsides on unwitting rescue Droch-class cutters. Sometimes, some adjacent warships recognised the trajectory of incoming fire and warned the rescue parties in advance, but most of the time most warships were too busy with their own problems.
''If enemy shells weren''t heading for us, it wasn''t our problem'' was the reigning attitude. I couldn''t blame them.
Who I could blame, however¡
"Where the hell are our allies?" I fumed, internally doubting the validity of ''allies.''
"Columex has not responded," Stelle said.
A shockwave boomed from our portside, a ship-of-the-line detonating from a torpedo run by a particularly bold Carrack-class light cruiser with too little sense¨Cwhich itself was obliterated from existence by the shrapnel. Repulse shook violently, with Stelle himself careening into a wall. If it wasn''t for our shields, we would be swiss cheese.
"Contact them again," I demanded, far too high on adrenaline to deal with my near-death experience, "This time, I want a bloody answer!"
"That would be breaking¨C"
"Just fucking do it, Stelle."
Stelle punched in a receiver address. It took five minutes for a response.
I was ranting even before there was a coherent picture of the other end, "Where are our reinforcements!? Did you fail to receive our previous transmission!?"
"I am afraid none are coming, Commodore."
The person I was speaking to was a human male. I already had my predispositions, but I did not expect Diedrich Greyshade to feel so similar to Simon Greyshade, despite their different appearances. Diedrich had that devious character floating about him, like his relative, though his voice was harsher, harder, and made the uniform he wore convincing enough.
Extra points for the honesty, too.
"Want to explain?"
Diedrich Greyshade rubbed his forehead, "I extend my apologies. I attempted to bring our fastest ships, but couldn''t gather enough support."
"Support?"
"The Joint Defense Fleet is a democracy, sir. We''re technically a civilian cooperative," he tried to explain, "Believe me, sir, Columex is next in the Republic''s sights. We know that. But the other sectors aren''t willing to risk it. There are merchantmen fleeing here from Centares, and the picture they paint isn''t pretty enough. We don''t want to die for a lost cause."
Sounds like a fat load of shit. Why''d you keep quiet then?
"Antemeridian is literally a hundred parsecs north of here¨C"
"We don''t want to die for a lost cause, sir," Diedrich reiterated more forcefully, "The Commonality did not weather galactic politics by being stupid. Antemeridian and Budpock have evacuated their armed forces to Columex as well. I advise you to preserve as much of your forces and withdraw here. We can make a real stand¨C"
"Well, can we expect anybody else to come!?" I interrupted harshly.
Diedrich paused, making a show of thinking.
"...No."
I cut the connection, even more frustrated than before. Partly because I now knew no help was coming, and partly because Greyshade was right. Balancing military strategy and political strategy will never get easier.
I had to give an order to retreat sooner or later. We created a plan to retreat in good order, though we spun it as a ''measure of last resort'' to the Centareans.
Now? Maybe. But would the Salvarans, the Bryxi, the Wobanians accept that? The Centareans most certainly won''t, and we can''t have spacers threatening mutiny at such an hour.
Should I wait for us to suffer more losses? But that would defeat the point.
I certainly didn''t expect the Republic to solve my conundrum for me. In the worst way possible.
"Sir!" a droid shouted up at me, "Our scanners are indicating a massive object extracting from hyperspace!"
It was as if the volume of the universe had been toned down¨Cfollowed by a blinding flash of light, like the fabric of space-time had been ripped apart right in front of the column to reveal the infinite heavens. And then the tear sewed itself back shut, and a behemoth drive signature slammed its way onto the battle plot, dwarfing everything around it.
That was the only warning I got before Battle Squadron Salvara just¡ disappeared. Wiped off the map. The entire vanguard of our fleet simply gone. All three-hundred thousand souls in thirty, forty Dreadnaughts, dead in the blink of an eye. The last defiant lights of Salvara¨Cthe spacers who''ve been with us since the start¨Csnuffed out almost in an afterthought.
The image was brutally clear.
Super Star Destroyer.
At least eight klicks stern to bow, and the whole length of it like a vengeful titan. It definitely wasn''t the Executor, as it didn''t have a city-like superstructure. Instead of the sleek, dagger-like deadliness that defined the Executor, it was bulkier, more mighty. An indomitable juggernaut that would not stop for nothing, casting a shade of foreboding inevitability.
"Accessing registry¡ Mandator-class star dreadnought," there was a hint of panic in Stelle''s voice, "Registered callsign; Legacy of the Founders."
That literally meant nothing to me. But if the Republic was willing to name that ship something so grandiose, then they must be damn well sure she could live up to it.
Legacy of the Founders unleashed another relentless barrage of turbolasers, and Separatist warships erupted into flames under it, paying the ultimate price for their loyalty. Task Force Clysm swung around in good time, bearing broadsides and responding with a rippling blast of torpedoes, missiles, and lasers. The Mandator''s shields flickered as they absorbed the cannonade, then replied with another punishment of overwhelming firepower.
"Sir!" Stelle snapped me out of my daze, "Should we retreat!?"
"¨CRight," I swallowed thickly, "Order of retreat."
"Order of retreat," the droid nodded, relaying the command.
Green cascaded down the repeaters as the whole fleet acknowledged and accepted my assessment of our situation. Repulse suddenly kicked her sublight drives into gear, vectoring her main thrust downwards as hard she could to lift her tail in the opposite direction.
Standard order of retreat, as it were. This was one of the rare cases our line of battle was still preserved enough to pull it off. Usually, each section of the line would just make an independent jump to the nearest friendly system, before regrouping at the rendezvous point. That wasn''t possible here, because we had to withdraw to Columex in one piece. In some deep space battles, the order of retreat was as simple as swinging one-eighty and jumping.
Doing that here would result in half the fleet disappearing into the planet''s mass shadow, or straight up ramming into Centares before they could completely insert into hyperspace.
The solution? Jump from under the system plane.
Within seconds, each ship in the Armada had spun ninety on their transverse axis to nosedive perpendicular to the Republic fleet, before spinning another ninety on their long axis to have their dorsals face Columex. The ships already in the process of retreating such as Queen of Beauty jumped first, provided their hyperdrives were still functional.
Among the abandoned hulks still drifting along the original column were crippled ships-of-the-line, pulsing out ''white flag'' signals to signify their surrender. The reason we chose to dive ''down'' instead of ''up'' was to both exploit human psychology and as well as Star Destroyer design. It worked, because the volume of fire we received immediately plummeted.
"Clear!" the astronav droid called.
"Execute insertion."
Repulse burned again, this time vectoring her thrust upwards to swing herself ninety-degrees again, along her short axis to parallel herself with the hyperlane egress on the opposite side of the planet.
Flashes of light sprung from the readouts and ship after ship ignited their hyperdrives and blasted themselves into hyperspace. Starlines appeared beyond Repulse''s viewport, and the star system of Centares was no more.
Chapter 28
Orbit of Columex, Columex System
Vorzyd Sector
The was a large luxury liner orbiting tightly around Columex, named the Salin Mariner. The poor thing was on one of its routine itineraries from Salin to Botajef to Lianna and back when it found itself commandeered by the Joint Security Forces while transiting through Columex on its return journey. Mostly because there was a war on.
The JSF has since converted the liner into something of its fleet headquarters. The original passengers were long gone, some having opted to return to their port of origin, while others taking up an extended vacation on Columex. Regardless, the only people enjoying the liner¡¯s establishments were spacers and soldiers. Granted, I was too. It was a pleasant reprieve from the spartan comforts of a military vessel, and human interaction was sorely missed.
On a more practical note, having such an extensive fleet headquarters and attached astro control in orbit made governing the some thirteen-hundred warships in-system much, much easier. It eased up the burden on the civilian astro control who still had to coordinate the hundreds of merchantmen transiting the Columex System¡¯s hyper-junction¨Cmost of them fleeing from the encroaching frontlines.
It also meant us officers were only a few thousand klicks from our ships in the event the Republic decides to suddenly pop in for a visit. Not that they will anytime soon¡ depending on the definition of ¡®soon.¡¯
I sat in the stateroom allowed to me¨Cbit on the larger side, fortunately. There was an utterly vast bed that was annoyingly softer than a cloud, a desk with a built-in holoprojector, a droid charging bay for Hare, and a four-layered wall-to-wall window commanding a rather jaw-dropping view of the Coalition Armada. All in all, I¡¯d say I deserved it.
I just wish others who deserved the reward were actually here to receive it.
The Battle of Centares was the first major fleet engagement I¡¯ve ever fought; Sarapin and Krant had fleets, sure, but the Second Fleet boasted a measly two-hundred vessels back then¨Cthe same amount of warships we lost at Centares. Excluding droid casualties, our death toll was over half a million. I would be lying if I said I could fully comprehend a number that large.
The Confederate Second Fleet was droid-crewed, mostly because there weren¡¯t any organic recruits that early in the war. Don¡¯t get me wrong, droids were many times disturbingly human, and I found it easier treating them as humans, but I still didn¡¯t consider droid casualties as ¡®real¡¯ when faced with them. But being told five-hundred thousand people were dead after the high wore off¡ it was numbing.
Sure, a number that large was a statistic on a sheet of paper until you take the time to read their names and stories. But then I remembered how I saw those people die when their ships exploded in front of me, their deaths as silent and lonely in space as they were far from home. How I would read their corpses pinging off the deflectors and think ¡®thank God it was them and not me¡¯ and now actually have the time to realise I thanked God it was them and not me.
Especially when I wasn¡¯t even in the main line of battle¨Cinstead a column behind with the frigates. That one warship that shielded Repulse from a fatal blow, was it droid-crewed, or did thousands of spacers just give their lives for me? I didn¡¯t even know the name of that ship, so I¡¯d be asking that question for probably the rest of my life.
I was but one commander amidst dozens. We had agreed the standard exchange tactic was the most reasonable way to go, even though we knew it was one of the most indecisive and casualty-heavy tactics. But we were confident we could give the Republic a thrashing¨Cand we did. Our spacers fought with an ability and intensity none of us had expected, and from that perspective they over-delivered beyond any of our imaginations.
Against that canvas, what was one more nameless death?
A holographic bust of Mina Bonteri shimmered above the desk, eyes closed and hair more dishevelled than I¡¯ve ever seen. Was it night at Raxulon, right now? Night and day have never been more blurred to me. When I was the only living being on my ship, the schedule was whatever I wanted it to be. Self-discipline could only carry so far when you had to coordinate hundreds of other elements and stay up to date with a rapidly evolving theatre.
I sat in the stateroom allowed to me¨Cvast, cold, and silent¨Carms crossed and tucked into the sleeves of my overcoat in a vain attempt to chase away the shiver that did not want to leave me alone. I was the only one there, breath lodged in my throat. The silence was devouring. For a brief moment I considered screaming just to get my voice out, and then wondered whether anybody would hear me.
The sound probably wouldn¡¯t have even left the room.
That must be what it was like to die in a vacuum. I glanced outside, and could not tell what the twinkling stars were trying to convey.
¡°When did you find out?¡± Mina asked, almost timidly.
¡°...Today¨C¡± whatever today means to you, ¡°¨COne of my squadrons took the liberty of visiting Aargonar to rip the data dump. You have it, now.¡±
¡°So I¡¯m holding onto enemy intelligence?¡± she seemed almost amused by the idea, but sobered quickly, ¡°Gods, Rain. What am I supposed to tell Lux?¡±
A tiny part of me wanted to say ¡®that I told you so,¡¯ but I knew I could put that vindictiveness to better use. Not that I had to¨CMina seemed to know exactly what I was thinking by my hesitation.
¡°Where are you right now?¡± she was equally content to relegate the question into a rhetorical role.
¡°Columex.¡±
¡°Columex voted against¡ what was his name?¡±
¡°Grievous,¡± I supplied hoarsely.
Mina looked right aggrieved at that, staring at me darkly, ¡°Of course you¡¯d know. You seem to know everything. I suppose their vote was your¡ Coalition¡¯s doing as well?¡±
¡°You know something was odd with the nomination,¡± I wasn¡¯t in the slightest surprised that the conversation had somehow regressed back into politics. That was the only relationship she and I had with each other.
¡°Yes. That it failed,¡± Mina stated, ¡°The Coalition strong-armed thirty senators into its will. The media¡¯s treating you like a rogue group¨Ca bunch of Perlemian warlords who are using the war to press your own agenda. One thirds voted aye to get the war under control, while another voted aye to get the Coalition under control.¡±
Time to reevaluate exactly how Dooku felt about the Coalition. If he¡¯s pulled out his ace against us already, it could only mean we have him on the ropes. Manipulating public perception was how he held onto the steering wheel. For him to use it not against the Republic, but against fellow Separatists was telling.
¡°And Dooku exploited that attitude to push an unknown into the second-most important seat in the Confederacy,¡± I returned, my voice returning like a familiar friend. I hated it. ¡°Grievous can only be his puppet, you know that. I know you respect Dooku, but you know the Senate has a duty to stifle executive overreach when it happens.¡±
¡°Overreach? He¡¯s following the proper procedures. You can¡¯t call a single odd nomination overreach,¡± Mina said mildly, ¡°Especially not when you¡¯re a pot calling the kettle black.¡±
I looked down, then back up again, speaking slowly, ¡°The vote failed once. It isn¡¯t going to fail the next time. It¡¯s not as if the Coalition doesn¡¯t want centralisation¨Cthe Coalition was created due to the lack of it¨Cit¡¯s that we want someone we trust in control. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me to provide you with a transcript of Admiral Trench¡¯s rhetoric. Think about your party for a bit, will you?¡±
Mina Bonteri wasn¡¯t stupid, just prideful. She knew the vote failed due to purposeful manipulation¨Cnevermind that it was also manipulated to pass¨Cand that it wouldn¡¯t fail the next time. Except, to the Senate, there was little difference between one candidate and another¨Conly whose name was behind the nomination.
The Peace Faction was the only major obstacle left. They could either die on that hill, or concede to a compromise candidate of their choosing. As long as said candidate was not out of left field like Dooku¡¯s, the rest of the Senate will come to the reasonable conclusion that this was their single chance to get a unanimous vote for a Supreme Commander. The optics will be immense; something along the lines of ¡®a united front, at last!¡¯
But that, of course, hinges on the will of the Peace Faction. Whether they wanted to hold onto their pride to their dying breath, putting up a token ¡®nay¡¯ vote in the next confirmation; or seize the initiative to regain momentum in the Senate, at the compromise of their platform.
¡°Speak to Avi Singh,¡± I suggested softly, ¡°He voted with you last time. Not to mention, he holds considerable sway over the moderates. Get him on board, and with the Coalition you¡¯ll effectively double your bloc.¡±
He will be on board. Politicians had long memories, doubly so when it comes down to favours.
¡°Trust me on this,¡± I sprinted the final leg, ¡°We don¡¯t want to risk a politician¡¯s puppet in control of the military. I am fucking begging you, literally because you didn¡¯t trust me the last time I warned you.¡±
That was low, even for me. I nearly recoiled at my own words. Mina? She was cradling her head, eyes shut as if she didn¡¯t want to look at me and face reality. I waited for several minutes, and then she finally made up her mind, palms still shielding her face.
¡°...I¡¯ll run it through my party¨C¡± my heart leapt up, ¡°¨CJust give me a name.¡±
This was it, I realised distantly. I go through with this, and I¡¯m certain my name will finally be within Dooku¡¯s crosshairs. This wasn¡¯t the first step to removing him from power, this was the halfway point. All the little pieces I¡¯ve laid out months ago will have finally created a picture that nobody can miss.
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The best way to convince someone to your side isn¡¯t by telling them to, but by making them tell themselves to. You can do that by dressing a certain way, holding that slight hunch that makes you seem more agreeable, forgoing a night of sleep to be more exhausted¡ emotional blackmail works. And when you can guilt-trip using someone¡¯s death? Play that card too.
Did I feel like a massive asshole? Absolutely. But emotional blackmail worked most effectively when you were also authentic about it. That stir of emotions swirling in my gut? I no longer knew how much of it was real and how much of it was an act. But I knew part of it was real, or I wouldn¡¯t be cursed by nightmares of screaming ships and frozen corpses and bleeding stars.
If I¡¯m going to hell for this, might as well face God while doing so.
Mina Bonteri was still patiently waiting for a name.
I gave her one.
?
I could hear a phantom clock ticking in time with my footsteps, echoing down the corridor as I marched towards the conference room. Diedrich Greyshade¡¯s longer strides kept up alongside me with ease, to my great ire. Hare waddled along behind us, flipping a small holoprojector in her hands. Her constant presence had become a familiar thing, and if nothing else, I knew I could rely on her. The hallway seemed to draw on forever, each corner casting a shadow may be sheltering an assassin.
That¡¯s paranoia, buddy.
Well, if even Calli Trilm was Dooku¡¯s mole, who knows how deep that guy has his fingers in our pie. I was already half-tempted to believe the Commonality was playing both sides, and that their inaction was a consequence of Dooku¡¯s incessant meddling.
As much as I wanted to blow right past Columex and have them taste their own medicine by abandoning them to the Cerulean Spear, it was a simple reality that we still needed the Joint Defence Fleet. Some would say that an unreliable ally serves best as an enemy, but that wasn¡¯t true. Even if the Commonality was playing both sides, that would still mean they were on our side. In fact, playing both sides was their MO. There were no permanent enemies in politics.
But that didn¡¯t have to mean I didn¡¯t want to sock Diedrich Greyshade in the jaw.
The JDF was a civil service, not too dissimilar to an interstellar policing force. They were also, fittingly enough, a microcosm of the larger Separatist military at present. While they were effective in governing the hyper-junctions and patrolling Commonality space, the boot of bureaucracy fell down the moment they had to cooperate directly.
Unlike the Coalition, where myriad personalities were more than content to fall in line before the ranking officers, the JDF had no such ability. They were plagued with inter-sector rivalries, unable to unite under a higher power. Just attending their council to demand answers made me want to rip my hair out.
To put it simply, the Meridian and Antemeridian Sectors wanted to reinforce Centares directly, while the Auril and Belderone Sectors claimed it to be a fool¡¯s errand. Sure, with the gift of hindsight it was a fool¡¯s errand. Any reinforcements would have been too little and too late; more food for the oversized fish called Mandator.
¡°What was Vorzyd¡¯s stance on the matter?¡± I broke the awkward silence.
Diedrich chewed on something, before finally replying; ¡°I was in favour. The other captains weren¡¯t. Half of our sector¡¯s forces are being besieged at Vorzyd-Five, with I believe a Coalition commander. Our decision was gridlocked.¡±
¡°Are you not the ranking officer of Columex¡¯s forces?¡± I accused.
¡°Are you not the ranking officer of the Coalition?¡± he shot back coolly, ¡°The logical decision was to immediately retreat after engaging a numerically superior enemy.¡±
Touch¨¦. I had to give him that one, no matter how much I ground my teeth at it. The Coalition and JDF were a bit too similar for my liking.
¡°Sometimes¡¡± Diedrich trailed off, eyeing the upcoming door, ¡°Sometimes nothing can be done.¡±
Like hell I was letting him get away with that.
¡°If that was the case, why didn¡¯t you inform us about the gridlock? Your silence led us to the assumption that reinforcements were coming,¡± I asked casually, ¡°You are fortunate more reasonable heads have carried the day, but the Centareans are demanding answers. The JDF has something to prove.¡±
¡°I know,¡± Diedrich said quietly, pausing at the door, ¡°Do not let your perception of my cousin define the rest of us. We will prove our worth in the coming days, that I promise.¡±
¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±
A shadow crossed his face as he opened the door, ¡°That, I do not know.¡±
The door slid cleanly, hissing as it did and opening up to a quaint little meeting room with a round table in the centre. I was already expecting Simon Greyshade to be there¨Cattending remotely¨Cbut not Calli Trilm, Vinoc, and Rel Harsol.
¡°You saw that?¡± I asked Hare quietly.
Hare didn¡¯t skip a beat, hopping onto an empty chair to gain enough purchase to toss the holoproj towards the centre of the table.
As she circled back to join me again¨C ¡°I noticed a subtle shift into defensive body language. He is hiding something, if not lying.¡±
I nodded, turning my attention back to the room. Harsol was quietly speaking with Simon Greyshade, while Vinoc next to him rested his forehead on the table. Calli, on the other hand, was watching me like a hawk, and I knew I had been caught.
I circled around the table for an empty seat, doing my best to not let anything show, ¡°So, what¡¯s the official excuse?¡±
Vinoc peeled his head off the table, revealing a pair of eyes so sunken they might as well be bottomless pits, ¡°The Blazing Claw Fleet and Open Circle Fleet had them pinned. A taskgroup at Nam Chorios is stalking both Vorzyd and Columex like a flock of buzzards. Sy Myrth is also under siege by Obi-Wan Kenobi. They bought it, if nothing else.¡±
His visible and audible exhaustion was infectious, but the severity of his words brought me back.
Alarm rose sharply, ¡°The Sy Myrthians¨C¡±
¡°Will not be going anywhere,¡± Diedrich Greyshade said meaningfully, having swiftly made himself comfortable, ¡°We¡¯ve made sure of that. They can¡¯t risk alienating the Coalition. Sy Myrth is one of the foundry worlds that give this slice of space its name. The Republic will have to spend months cracking the planetary shields. Enough time for us to beat them here and send them driving.¡±
¡°You seem certain of our victory,¡± I sat down.
¡°Every standing warship in three-thousand parsecs is flocking to Columex,¡± Diedrich straightened, ¡°Astro Control reports fifteen-hundred warships and counting. If the Republic takes its time, we may be looking at two-thousand. The largest single fleet in living memory.¡±
¡°Kuat has three star dreadnoughts,¡± Rel Harsol grimaced, ¡°One was enough to wipe us at Centares. Even if Kuat retains one for home defence, we¡¯ll still be seeing two.¡±
¡°The First Fleet is racing back from the Southern Theatre,¡± Diedrich replied, ¡°And Admiral Trench is assembling a Fourth Fleet at Raxus. We¡¯ll be ready for them.¡±
Fourth Fleet? It must be a recent development, because I hadn¡¯t heard anything of it. I was torn between deciding whether this was Dooku¡¯s way of appeasing Trench, or the Senate simply compromising on a fourth Confederate Fleet while the Supreme Commander matter was being deferred. But what really caught my attention was the First Fleet¡¯s recall. Hopefully it meant General Tann was finally returning.
¡°So,¡± Simon Greyshade chirped, flipping the subject, ¡°You have your votes. You have your ships. Let¡¯s see you uphold your end of the deal.¡±
If mere looks could kill, I would be dead ten times over. I could hardly blame Calli Trilm, of course. From her point of view, I recently blackmailed her for spying when I was doing the exact same thing. The difference, obviously, is that Dooku is an evil wizard on the payroll of the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Not that anybody would know. Dooku¡¯s public approval rates are sky-high.
¡°Now? Are you sure?¡± I had to make sure.
Simon and Diedrich Greyshade couldn¡¯t be trusted, but a deal¡¯s a deal. If I wanted to build a rock solid foundation against Dooku, the Commonality was a damn good start. Politically neutral, wielding one of the largest independent fleets in the galaxy, and smack dab in the Foundry of the Confederacy. If I could get them on my side, the future will be looking a tad more optimistic.
Dooku keeping his Sith Lord status under wraps was a double-edged sword. His ¡®former Jedi¡¯ status had taken a backseat to his ¡®honourable and idealistic political firebrand¡¯ image. If Simon Greyshade had the balls to openly oppose Palpatine in the Republic Senate, he wouldn¡¯t bat an eye doing the same to Dooku if it benefitted him. If it was known that Dooku was a cackling, lightning-wielding sorcerer whose primary political device was murder, I wouldn¡¯t have a chance in hell.
So I had to strike while the iron was hot, right after Dooku just faced a major defeat in the halls of Parliament. This was my best shot of convincing them.
Vinoc, I could trust. His loyalty was ultimately owed to Sev¡¯rance Tann. She and Dooku had been on a collision course the moment Operation Sidestep began, and she knew that.
Rel Harsol¡ was a bit of a wildcard, but a potentially very useful one. Despite his appearance and general shadiness, I took him as a moral type, if not exactly an idealist. Harsol was originally a captain for a senatorial Consular-class cruiser, but defected to the Separatist Alliance after witnessing the depths of corruption that ran in the Republic. In the process of that defection, however, he rubbed elbows with the galactic underworld, not to mention other like-minded defectors.
The problem child was none other than Calli Trilm, for reasons I shouldn¡¯t have to explain. But truth was, I didn¡¯t really see any other recourse than to convince her to work with me. Regardless of whatever happened before I came in, she now knew I was spying on Dooku¨Cand if I didn''t bring her on board, soon he would know.
¡°Afraid of airing your dirty laundry?¡± Calli drawled huskily.
You have no idea.
¡°The information in there will have the Confederacy fall.¡±
She sat up straighter at the daring claim, eyes sharpening into knives. In direct opposition, Simon Greyshade leaned forward, blue-scanned eyes glimmering in anticipation. He reached out for the holoprojector, curling his fingers halfway as if he had just realised he was a hologram and not actually there.
¡°Sounds good to me,¡± he grinned, pulling back.
¡°Gaib must be waiting for us, Hare,¡± I nodded.
The LEP droid bobbed her head, dialling an address on her datapad. I reached forward to spin the holoproj until its scanner faced only me, ensuring that the receiver wouldn¡¯t be able to see anybody else.
It didn¡¯t take long¨Cthe call was picked up almost instantaneously.
A small projection of a man and an astromech burst out of the holoprojector. He wore a professional¨Cif shaky¨Csmile, clearly unsure of something.
I tilted my head, ¡°I did pay you to keep quiet, yes?¡±
¡°It¡¯s in the bill,¡± he reassured, ¡°In my line of work, customer trust is the top priority. Whatever you tasked me with finding is safe in here¨C¡±
He patted the dome of his astromech¨Cblack steel or black painted, I couldn¡¯t tell through the subpar resolution.
¡°And what exactly did I ask you to find?¡± I asked for the benefit of his unseen audience.
¡°Uh, well. You gave me a little under two dozen comm frigates¨Cwhich must¡¯ve made me the most powerful bounty hunter this side of the galaxy for a bit¨C¡± Gaib joked to lighten himself, before sucking in a breath, ¡°Uh¡ right. You wanted me to tap into the HoloNet relays spanning Coruscant and Serenno, and look out for anything odd.¡±
¡°Coruscant and Serenno?¡± Calli demanded sharply, while the Greyshades were looking more intrigued by the second.
This is where I had to spin a story. I couldn¡¯t just say I was suspicious of Dooku in particular¨Cthat wouldn¡¯t look very good, and would only raise even more unwanted questions. I cracked my mental knuckles.
¡°The Non-Communication Act passed by the Republic Senate,¡± I said, as if it explained everything.
¡°Uh¨C is somebody else there?¡± Gaib prodded.
¡°Ignore it,¡± I told him, before addressing them again, ¡°The Act; somebody was bound to break it. Serenno and Raxus¨Cyou can¡¯t blame me for wanting to dig up some dirt, right?¡±
¡°Using military resources?¡± Harsol raised an eyebrow.
¡°Consider it Naval Intelligence,¡± I replied simply, blinking, ¡°It was on General Tann¡¯s budget. Continue, please.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Gaib inserted a datachip into his droid, ¡°Sorry for the delay, by the way. It took some time for me to find updated relay maps, and even more time to chart them out. The first few dumps were nothing interesting. Some politicians were reaching out to their contacts in Separatist space to check on their interests¡ but then I found this little fragment.¡±
The astromech transmitted the file to Hare, who then forwarded it to our datapads.
¡°I¡ don¡¯t know what I¡¯m looking at,¡± Vinoc commented mildly.
¡°These are addresses,¡± Diedrich mused, ¡°Let me guess, the sender split up the transmission and made them all sightsee around the Mid Rim before arriving at the receiver.¡±
Gaib didn¡¯t hide his appreciation, despite being unable to see the speaker, ¡°Correct. Whoever the sender is, they must be absolutely loaded to afford doing this. This is the sort of precaution not even the most paranoid senator could afford to take. But these addresses; they¡¯re waypoints between Coruscant and Serenno. This was worth reporting, but customer loyalty means a lot to me and¨C¡±
¡°You wanted to give me the full picture,¡± I finished for him, ¡°Thank you for that. Continue.¡±
¡°Right,¡± he nodded knowingly as his droid beeped indignantly, ¡°The reason this took so long was because I had to track down all these relays and figure out the most efficient way to use twenty frigates to cover all of them. Turns out there were ¡®junction relays¡¯ where the fragments recompiled, which made things significantly easier.¡±
He took a deep breath, ¡°And well, see for yourself. I couldn¡¯t catch everything, but Teekay here put it together to the best of his ability.¡±
The droid¡¯s¨CTK¨Cphotoreceptor flashed, and in a couple seconds our datapads were pinged again.
Vinoc rubbed his eyes tiredly. I had an odd suspicion he was also ¡®hungover¡¯ after Centares¨Cand I couldn¡¯t begin to imagine how terrible it must be for a Force-sensitive to feel that massive amount of death, considering my own experiences. Even more so for him, as Vinoc himself inflicted the most of the enemy casualties. He might have even felt the deaths of his former Jedi colleagues.
As the fallen Jedi slowly read the file, his eyes widened, then clamped shut again. The room temperature plunged, and I could almost make out the wisps of steam curling off his arms like a shimmering, spectral aura. The Force, made visible. Made tangible.
Simon was subtly looking around, trying to figure out why everybody else was looking at Vinoc as if he had been suddenly replaced by a wild acklay.
¡°Locations and movements of Separatist naval elements in the Near Perlemian,¡± Rel Harsol said slowly, disbelievingly, ¡°And this was from where to where?¡±
¡°Carannia, the capital of Serenno, to Sector Nine-Fourty-Three, on Coruscant,¡± Gaib translated a series of beeps and whistles from TK, ¡°This isn¡¯t the only one. I managed to catch at least two more complete transmissions, and several more fragments. The sender and receiver on Coruscant is always changing. The Works, the Senate Building, even Five-Hundred Republica¨Cbut the other end on Serenno is always the same; Carannia¡¯s castle district.¡±
I pointedly not spared Calli an inkling of attention, letting her stew in her own quiet conclusions. Rel Harsol was still inching away from the volatile ex-Jedi, mumbling something sharp under his breath. But the most severe of them all were the two Greyshades, any and all humour slowly bleeding from their attitude as they realised just how serious the implications were. I noticed Diedrich shot his cousin a pointed look.
¡°This was sent from Serenno, not received?¡± Simon questioned again.
Gaib nodded shallowly, ¡°Sent.¡±
Bleak amusement bubbled up within me, ¡°Next one, please.¡±
The slicer was clearly torn between satisfaction at a massive job well done, and ill-restrained dread at the enormity of what he had uncovered, ¡°Next¡ a report on the Separatist Parliament¡¯s recent legislation¡¡±
Simon Greyshade chuckled derisively, ¡°You were wrong, Bonteri. The Confederacy won¡¯t fall with this. The Confederacy will break.¡±
Chapter 29
Orbit of Columex, Columex System
Vorzyd Sector
Diedrich Greyshade had made an oath of duty, to serve Columex, and the greater Commonality, to the best of his ability. Simon Greyshade, on the other hand, swore no oaths other than to himself, in his relentless pursuit of personal power.
That said, Diedrich had never considered them to be at odds. He, however, was under no illusions. The only reason Simon Greyshade does not cross the Commonality for his own gain is because his own influence is a direct causation of the confederation¡¯s. Until the day comes when the Commonality no longer bears the justification to exist, Simon will always be loyal to its cause.
Which was why, Diedrich reflected, I helped cover the death of our cousin for him.
A black stain on both their careers, if it were to be found out. Simon¡¯s predecessor in the Galactic Senate was their elder cousin, Jheramahd. The old man was slipping up too blatantly¨Chis grip loosening on the Commonality¡¯s exclusive rights in exchange for his personal ambitions. There was nothing that wasn¡¯t expected of a politician, but the line has always been drawn where the Commonality was concerned.
Simon believed that the moment Jheramahd attempted to compromise the confederation, his position was forfeit. Arrange an accident, and enter the newly vacated office as a bereaved relative. Simple as that. Diedrich only found out after the fact, but managed to leverage his own influence to help avoid a scandal. Some suspicions were raised, but nothing too untoward.
Why wasn¡¯t he informed beforehand? Well, Diedrich knew how his cousin operated. Simon will always manage to install his victims into an untenable position with only non-decision presented to them. Had Diedrich been informed beforehand, he would have prevented the incident in the first place¨Cbut he wasn¡¯t. And thus, Diedrich had two options in the wake of Jheramahd¡¯s death; to out Simon and cripple the Commonality¡¯s representation in the Galactic Senate, or help Simon cover the incident up.
That wasn¡¯t much of a choice. Besides, Simon would say, Jheramahd had betrayed the Commonality.
Diedrich was under no illusions. He was a convenient pawn in Simon¡¯s games¨Cbut so long as their aims were parallel, he had no qualms acting so.
What had occurred to the Coalition Armada at Centares was much the same scheme. No, reinforcements would not be coming, but you¡¯d only find out after the battle. If the Coalition had been informed beforehand, the JDF¡¯s purposeful inaction would have been outed, instead of hushed down as it currently was to prevent mutiny. The Coalition¡¯s top brass was then presented with a non-decision; rightfully abandon the JDF to its fate, or grit their teeth and continue working with them.
That wasn¡¯t much of a choice. Besides, Simon would say, you need the Commonality¡¯s warships and politicians.
But that left Diedrich with a most pertinent question; why did the JDF not act?
It was not a matter of strategic debate. Auril and Belderone were very well justified in their stance to avoid a lost battle. The Loyalists¡¯ supply chain was at the breaking point, courtesy of the Coalition. All the Coalition had to do was keep retreating and allow the enemy to crumble under its own weight.
This matter was, regretfully, a political one. The Coalition¡¯s top brass had ultimately backed themselves into a corner of their own making. Their very mission statement was to protect their member worlds at any cost, and to retreat from Centares without putting up a fight would be a tacit rescindment of that ideal.
The JDF was a democracy. Each sector military had an equal number of votes, and any decision concerning the whole structure must first be confirmed by a simple majority.
Vorzyd Sector should have voted with Meridian and Antemeridian. Should have. As the forefront commander of Columex¡¯s planetary fleet, his word should have been enough to sway the scales. Embarrassingly, however, Vorzyd Sector¡¯s vote was split between Columex System and Vorzyd System, voting aye and nay respectively.
Vorzyd V¡¯s officers voted against Columex on the grounds that the Commonality¡¯s security was the priority over Centares¡¯, especially since Vorzyd V itself was being encircled by the Blazing Claw Fleet. But Diedrich knew better. Despite the sector being eponymously named after them, Vorzyd bowed to the will of Columex. Usually.
He saw the fingerprints, clear as day.
Diedrich cradled his cup of tea, lightly sipping.
¡°You¡¯ve put us in a terrible spot, Simon,¡± he wetted his lips, ¡°The JDF¡¯s credibility is in the gutter, and I¡¯ve half the mind to put you in one too.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not be so hasty,¡± Simon raised his hands up in surrender, a wry smile on his face, ¡°A goal has been accomplished. After their losses, we now outnumber the Coalition nearly two-to-one in warships. They need us more than we need them.¡±
¡°You¡¯re a God-damned fool,¡± Diedrich scathed, ¡°Do you not realise we stand in the exact place Euceron did? And look what happened to them! The greatest threat the JDF fought in the past century was a self-proclaimed pirate lord¨C you¡¯re seeing numbers on a page and thinking bigger is better. That¡¯s not how war works, Simon!¡±
¡°Yes, yes,¡± the Senator placated, ¡°The situation has changed. We will cooperate with the Coalition without argument. I¡¯ll leave it to you, Diedrich.¡±
Diedrich slammed his fist down, fingers still curled around the handle of the teacup. Twisted satisfaction filled him as Simon flinched at the shards of porcelain shattering across the table and flying through his holographic person.
¡°That¡¯s not enough,¡± he snarled, ¡°If you believe I will keep covering your back, you are sorely mistaken. Let me spell this out clearly for you¨Cyour existence is no longer necessary. The Republic is now our enemy, and the Commonality has all the representation it needs in the Separatist Parliament. You can go missing in three days and everyone will suspect Republic Intelligence. Do not test me.¡±
For the first time in Diedrich¡¯s memory, Simon Greyshade¡¯s smug smile cracked. The realisation finally dawned on his eyes, that through all of his scheming and deceit, he had forgotten that he was also yet another piece on the Commonality¡¯s dejarik table.
Simon Greyshade had influence; influence that the Commonality had vested into his personage to represent their interests in the Senate. The moment the Commonality tendered the Articles of Secession, most of that influence was cosmic dust.
Diedrich Greyshade had the power behind that influence. He was the head of the largest sector defence fleet on the Perlemian, that greased the wheels of trade and transformed the Columex into the shining star of the Outer Rim.
Simon chased his ambitions so far and so hard that he had left the very foundations that made him invaluable, and only now was he realising influence was intangible, and power was not.
¡°...It doesn¡¯t matter now,¡± Simon slowly slouched, ¡°Not with Dooku being¨C¡±
¡°So it was Dooku,¡± he snapped, ¡°What did he want from you?¡±
Dooku being a Republic spy? Unbelievable. The idea was preposterous, had he not seen undeniable proof of the fact. It would be one thing if this was the personal project of a single officer¨Cthe information was uncorroborated, and quite honestly, suspect in origin. But if this project was undertaken with the sanction of General Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s intelligence quarter?
Diedrich had considered as many possibilities as he could. General Tann was surely not the only individual investigating the HoloNet as a means of communication. Both the Loyalists and Separatists would have their fingers all over the network, so how did he go undetected for so long? Republic Intelligence could be in the know, but the very fact that he wasn¡¯t using the Separatist Munificent network implied that the Confederate Intelligence didn¡¯t.
¡Were Tann and Bonteri already suspecting Dooku, and made sure to calibrate their efforts to catch him in particular? Or was it¨Cas Bonteri claimed¨Cmerely a case of luck?
Perhaps he should introduce the idea of an intel collaboration agreement¨Cthat would surely give him answers. Nevertheless, everything pointed towards a greater plot at hand that nobody in the galaxy could fathom.
Count Dooku, of all people, feeding the Republic information to win the war?
Was he secretly still an ally of the Jedi Order, despite his very public departure? Why would he found the Separatist Alliance in the first place? Very little added up.
¡°He wanted the Coalition disgraced,¡± Simon finally admitted, ¡°To force his General Grievous through the Senate, he needed a win.¡±
¡°And Centares was to be the setting for that,¡± Diedrich tilted his chin up, ¡°And what did you get in return?¡±
¡°He would smooth over my introduction into the Separatist Parliament,¡± he sighed, ¡°As well as grant the Columex more favourable rights and commercial agreements. It wasn¡¯t supposed to turn out like this.¡±
¡°It can¡¯t be helped,¡± Diedrich stood up, peeling off his tea-stained glove and slapping it down on the table, ¡°You will return to Columex immediately. Do not make me bring you here.¡±
Simon shot to his feet in a panic, ¡°Wait! Look, we can¡¯t beat Dooku in a propaganda war. His grip on the Independent Systems is rock solid. This whistleblowing isn¡¯t going to change anything while he still controls the media. We still have to work with him¨Cat least for now¨Cand that¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to accomplish!¡±
Desperation coloured his voice brilliantly, and Diedrich felt no small amount of schadenfreude from it. Enough of playing in the shadows with handshakes and backdoor deals. Columex will not be deprived of her glory any longer.
Counter Admiral Diedrich Greyshade levelled his gaze beyond the porthole of his stateroom, scanning the length of his pride and joy, battlecruiser Kronprinz. Modernised and refitted over the millenia, there was likely not a single original panel left on her hull. She may not be the oldest vessel in the system¨Cthat trophy belonged to the heavy cruiser Grosstat¨Cbut she has been fighting since the Fourth Jedi Schism and all the wars since.
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¡°Know this, Simon; when people expect you to play a role without handing you a script, they should be prepared for an improv performance that may not go their way,¡± Diedrich told his cousin pointedly, ¡°That''s the risk you take when you manipulate. We¡¯re at war now¨Cwe best start treating it as one.¡±
Simon slowly lowered himself back into his seat.
Diedrich had long entertained the idea that Kronprinz once downed a Jedi flagship, in ages past.
And wondered if she could do it again.
?
Wanting to short circuit the bureaucracy, so as to not repeat the JDF¡¯s retardation, we basically told each planetary defence force to pick one or two representatives. There were some protests, but suffice to say none of us were in the mood for it and thus put our foot down on the issue.
While waiting for the amalgamation of officers in colourful uniforms and devices to shuffle around the holoprojection table, I took the opportunity to slack my nerves by goofing around with Hare.
I extended a hand palm side up, and Hare hopped up to clap it. I held it out again, and this time lifted my hand up as she tried to reach it, narrowly missing. Hare paused, annoyance blatant into her bright yellow eyes, despite her lack of expression. I offered my hand again, and she took to staring at it like a house cat would a mouse.
Time stretched on as she observed my slightest twitches, internally calculating the best time to strike. Unfortunately, LEP droids were not built for their reflexes, and I could easily notice her servomotors whirring in anticipation.
She leapt¨CI snapped my hand away¨Cand caught empty air. I snickered.
Hare punched my knee with a metal fist, ears drooping in frustration. I resisted the urge to hiss in pain and reach for my assaulted leg. Those twig-like arms really hid some real strength. Should¡¯ve thought of that¨Cservant droids like LEPs are built like ants; capable of lifting several times their body weight.
¡°Sorry,¡± I cooed, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad.¡±
¡°Is this the time?¡± a rough voice asked.
Vinoc had really seen better days. If he had looked worse for wear before¨Cwell, you¡¯d only need to see everyone unconsciously giving him a wide berth to think he was a vampire or something, to say nothing of his face. If he had tasted the Dark Side before, he was bloody stuffing his face with it now. Unhealthily bleached skin, oily unkempt hair, and dull orange eyes with blood-rimmed irises.
My skin prickled from his presence alone¨Ca cold chill settling in the air around me. It took everything I had to not shiver violently.
Diedrich had already begun the strategic conference¨CCounter Admiral Greyshade, in the local ranking system I believe¨Cthough I only kept a single ear open for it.
¡°If not now, when?¡± I shot back, ¡°When the Loyalists are here?¡±
¡°When the war is over,¡± the fallen Jedi growled, ¡°I finally understand the lessons you had to teach me, but I still do not understand how you can be so¡ indifferent at a time like this.¡±
¡°Relaxed,¡± I corrected, ¡°I am relaxed, because I may not be again. Look over there.¡±
I discreetly gestured towards Calli Trilm, who was making a pretty good rendition of a wallflower as she sneakily snacked on some of the cruise ship¡¯s complimentary refreshments. Realising we were looking¨Cor rather, realising Vinoc was looking, because he was pretty noticeable¨Cshe scowled at us and hid the packet behind her body.
¡°We might die,¡± I huffed, ¡°So sleep, eat, and party while you can. Don¡¯t let your nerves get to you. This moment? Savour it.¡±
Hare¡¯s ears perked up abruptly, slicing through the air like twin scimitars.
¡°Yes?¡± I prompted.
¡°Unicorn Squadron is at Belderone,¡± she notified.
¡°That¡¯s the one with the Padawan girl, correct?¡± Vinoc asked quietly.
He sounded almost forlorn, which I had to admit, surprised me. I inspected his face carefully, wondering how the inevitable battle at Columex would affect a Force-sensitive. The Battle of Centares played host to roughly two-thousand warships and a millions deaths, but from the look of things, Columex will see twice those figures. And battles will only keep growing as the war warmed up into its second year.
I did not pretend to know how the Force affects an individual. I imagine it''s different for each person¨Cbut from Tuff¡¯s regular reports, Barriss Offee was fantastically close to caving in. Callous of me as it may be, but if nobody could prevent the millions of casualties, I could at least use the opportunity to bring the war one step closer to ending.
¡°How do you feel about the war?¡± I asked suddenly.
Vinoc shuffled, drawing his attention back to the meeting, ¡°I just want it to end. But that¡¯s not happening any time soon, is it?¡±
I nodded proudly, ¡°Good answer. We follow the plan, Hare.¡±
¡°As you will, Master Rain.¡±
I tugged down on my lapels and crept forward slowly, gradually keying myself back into the discourse as I ¡®excuse me¡¯d¡¯ and ¡®sorry¡¯d¡¯ my way to the centre of the crowd. Diedrich Greyshade had graciously allowed the Coalition to take the lead, despite his greater rank on paper, but that didn¡¯t limit him from naturally taking control of the flow of the dialogue¨Calmost at home beneath the attention.
¡°¨CWe are going to be outnumbered, again,¡± Rel Harsol stood directly opposed from Diedrich, playing the crowd, ¡°Analysis from our sensor logs indicates the enemy fleet had been bolstered by elements from the Steel Blade Fleet and White Cuirass Fleet. We can expect two to three-thousand warships against us.¡±
¡°And you found that out now!?¡± an officer from Ampliquen slammed.
¡°Correct,¡± I cut in, drawing attention to myself, ¡°We had entertained the Republic¡¯s strategy before in one of our simulations, but we made a severe oversight.¡±
¡°What oversight?¡±
I levelled an even stare, ¡°That Republic High Command actually had the political pull to mobilise two more sector fleets at the drop of a hat. Loathe are we to admit, but the Republic does still harbour some of the brightest military thinkers in the galaxy.¡±
Manually taking control of the projection, I minimised the holotab and reintroduced the Perlemian Trade Route, highlighting Lantillies, Chandrila, and Alderaan.
¡°The Republic used the Cerulean Spear and Blazing Claw Fleets as a shield, slamming them in our faces and taking our attention with sieges and skirmishes. The Steel Blade and White Cuirass Fleets was the hidden spear, ready and waiting for the most opportune moment to strike. With the Perlemian cleared up and a stage waiting for them at Centares, all they had to do was¨C¡± I leaned forward to physically trace the hyperlane with a finger to make my point, ¡°¨CCome right up to meet us there, towing a star dreadnought with them. An admittedly brilliant and technically intensive strategy¨Cthe mastermind is someone to be wary of. But it only works once.¡±
Harsol shot me a grateful look for the assist, ¡°And considering they are taking their time following up, we can safely presume they are in the state of reorganising their forces. The Republic did not have the resources for a prolonged engagement before, they certainly do not now. Columex will make or break both of us.¡±
¡°We will not be alone,¡± Diedrich pressed his palms on the table, ¡°Admiral Tonith¡¯s First Fleet is returning from the Southern Front, and Admiral Trench has contacted us from Lianna. We can play the exact same game as the Republic.¡±
Diedrich wasn¡¯t letting anything but stalwart confidence show, even though he must be plagued with thoughts of sabotage and betrayal. The revelation about Dooku was bound to create ripples, and it was the harsh truth that nobody knew what to expect. Worst of worst cases, we will be completely alone.
Internally, I was praying to every god I knew that Sev¡¯rance Tann was hauling ass up the Salin Corridor. This was the chance she needed. She must know that. I¡¯ve made plans, of course, for the potential case where she doesn¡¯t make it. But I¡¯ve since learned that betting against her was unwise.
¡°Trench and Tonith aren¡¯t going to matter if the Republic deploys one of their Mandators,¡± Calli raised her voice from the back, lifting herself off the wall, ¡°What good will they be if we get crushed before they arrive?¡±
¡°We should¡¯ve fought them at Centares,¡± the officer from Ampliquen snarled, glaring at his still-defiant Belderone and Auril colleagues, ¡°All we¡¯ve done is given them time to pull more ships from the Core! They already deployed one star dreadnought? What¡¯s stopping them from deploying another, or two!?¡±
He was right. We needed something that would even the balance of power a little¡ a force multiplier. That¡¯s right; wasn¡¯t this battle shaping up to be an enlarged version of Salvara? If Tectors were vulnerable to ground-to-orbit cannons, Mandators would be doubly, triply so.
¡°Does Columex have planetary ion batteries?¡± I asked.
¡°We do,¡± Diedrich confirmed, ¡°But they are well-publicised, and don¡¯t offer full coverage. I can bet the Republic will jump in when they are facing the wrong side. Not to mention that if the Republic is close enough to the planet for us to use them¡ considering the number of ships, we may have already lost by then.¡±
Shit. That¡¯s also a good point. Force multiplier¡ what else could we do? I wracked my head, mentally combing through all my previous experiences¨Cboth practical and theoretical¨Cfor any inspiration.
Krant. The Battle of Krant was a masterclass in manoeuvre warfare, which I replicated at Teth at a more limited scale. Using orbital bodies to conceal warships for an 360 degree ambush¡ figuring out the exact comms and coordination matrix would be a vast undertaking, but it could be done. Theoretically.
I commandeered the holoprojector again, zooming back into the Columex System and hungrily devouring any information on the planets in the star system. There was Columex, some gas giants, a ringed planet¡ a ringed planet?
¡°An asteroid belt,¡± I muttered out loud, ¡°Do we have interdiction mines?¡±
Diedrich raised an eyebrow, clearly wanting in on my thought process, ¡°We do. But not enough to make any significant impact on the projected enemy fleet.¡±
Right, right. Force multiplier, force multiplier¡ Tann Railgun. Oh, now that¡¯s an idea.
¡°Tractor beams. What ships do we have on hand have the most powerful tractor beams?¡± I asked, stomach leaping.
¡°Providences, Lucrehulks,¡± Harsol listed off.
¡°No¨C we don¡¯t need precision¨C¡± carrier-capable warship tractors were fine-tuned to guide in LACs, ¡°We need sheer power.¡±
¡°Orbital tugs,¡± Diedrich immediately answered, ¡°Columex is the largest hyper-junction and trade hub in the region. We have hundreds of tugs. Some of our freighters and merchantmen also have powerful tractors as crane substitutes.¡±
¡°Freighters,¡± I snapped my fingers and pointed to the asteroid belt, ¡°That¡¯s perfect. Can we¡ freight these asteroids over to Columex¡¯s orbit?¡±
¡°Er,¡± the Counter Admiral hesitated, ¡°We could. But that could mean wrecking the cargo holds of our freighters in the process. They weren¡¯t designed to hold asteroids, see? And it would be an extremely lengthy procedure to ferry over any substantial amount of asteroids.¡±
¡°It won¡¯t be a problem,¡± the officer from Ampliquen disagreed, ¡°We can handle it?¡±
¡°Really?¡±
The man jolted, ¡°Forgive me. Commander Dymurra, at your service, liaison officer from Meridian Sector¡¯s Loronar Corporation. Our flagship product is the Field Secured Containment Vessel¨Cor FSCV for short¨Cthe largest bulk transport in the galaxy. We currently have three in the Commonality, each capable of holding five billion cubic metres. Bulk transport of raw materials¨Csuch as asteroids¨Care exactly what they were designed for. Please refer to our schematics.¡±
It was as if a mental switch had been flipped in his head, transforming him into a marketing agent. And he was marketing his product damn well. Dymurra inserted a datachip that he had on-hand for some reason, and a holographic representation of the FSCV replaced the existing system chart.
It was¡ an odd ship, but one bewilderingly large. The bulk carrier carried its, well, bulk, in thirty field containment bubbles¨Ceach half a klick in diameter¨Csandwiched between two star destroyer-sized engine blocks. Nineteen kilometres long. I was usually against corporate officers out of principle, but this was an almost fantastical miracle.
I grinned widely, a stupid idea taking shape in my mind¡¯s eye. The Republic won¡¯t know what hit them. Literally.
¡°Consider me a patron of the Loronar Corporation, Commander Dymurra.¡±
Chapter 30
Somewhere in Hyperspace
Auril Sector
Sev''rance Tann watched the swirling chaos of hyperspace dance beyond Negotiator¡¯s viewport impassively. How many times has she seen this exact view before? The sky-walker knew, better than anyone, of the beauty of hyperspace. And the horrors. The horrors of travelling off the beaten path, most especially. She could almost see them in her mind¡¯s eye.
But in Lesser Space, the beaten paths were many and eminent. The Chiss Expansionary Fleet could only envy the mere sight of the spider web of spacelanes that traversed Lesser Space, and Sev¡¯rance found herself among them. She had considered before, the likes of the Jedi Order¡¯s Exploration Corps and Lesser Space¡¯s boldest spacers, and the tribulations they must have endured throughout countless millennia to produce such a comprehensive work any other person would take for granted.
Hyperspace has not changed, not between Chiss or Lesser Space. What changed were the methods. Jumping in the Chaos was a more manual affair, what with the lethal plethora of anomalies that gave the Chaos its name. There was only so much course correction even a veteran sky-walker with an expert navigation crew could do in an instance of hyperspace, prompting the necessity of numerous micro-jumps to minnow through the invisible maze of interstellar aberrations.
Lesser Space was more¡ empty. It was the difference between a speeder race through the dense¨Cif lifeless¨Cblocks Csaplar spaceport, and a leisurely passage through the vast steppelands of Raxus Secundus. One might have to avoid a spot of forest or distant mountain ranges, but generally, Sev¡¯rance could see them coming.
It was still dangerous, of that there was no doubt, but it was also true that realspace is more sparse further away from the galactic plane. So long as Sev¡¯rance maintained their relative position within the galactic border, the lack of mass shadows made transit relatively simple. The greatest inhibitor of mass galactic exploration, she believed, was a lack of courage. Spurred on by the mass adoption of the hyperdrive, the great Expansion Era of Lesser Space saw eager trailblazers and pioneers set out to the stars with little concern for their own safety.
In the current era, most believed all there was to be found has already been, and what lies in the fringes of Wild Space were of little consequence. The drive for exploration was a thing of the past, and Lesser Space has become so much smaller.
As a sky-walker, she was not concerned with these constraints, nor could she afford to be.
Pors Tonith had stolen a march on her, and she needed to reach Columex before he could. By design, hyperlanes were not dissimilar to water bodies¨Calways choosing the path of least resistance. That meant they were safe, if not always direct. By forging out a new spacelane, she could cut ten-thousand parsecs from her route.
Unfortunately, her skills were still found lacking. Chiss fleets were not as expansive, and she could not guide more than a few dozen ships at a time, even if they were in the same instance. It still served her means, however, as any fleet in hyperspace was only as fast as the weakest hyperdrive. By only taking Task Force Ascendant¨Cthirty-three of her fastest warships¨Cshe could be absolutely certain she was outpacing the Confederate First Fleet.
Sev¡¯rance Tann shut her eyes, allowing the Force to envelop her like a comforting shroud. Dooku told her every person saw the Force differently; a sinuous lullaby, as a ceaseless storm, a deep ocean, or even a great tree that reached for the sky.
If she must thank Dooku for one thing, it would be for unlocking her mind to the through depths of the Force. She saw the cosmic energy as an empty, dark space. The stars were her memories, the nebulae her visions, and herself an ethereal spirit traversing its infinite bounds. It was her freedom.
The Force responded, time and space warping to bring her closer to a nearby star. You are looking for something, it appeared to ripple before her mind¡¯s eye, what is it? Who is it? She navigated the cosmic winds with practised ease, searching innumerate futures as she did. Futures of people she did not know, people she had forgotten, and people she had left behind. And as she ventured deeper into the sea of energy, the more she lost herself. Sev¡¯rance knew not to stray too far from her consciousness, lest she lost herself to her Sight.
And then there it was, revealed to her. A massive battle, stretching across an entire star system, coalescing like a fresco drawn onto the walls of her imagination. The largest single engagement fought in millennia. Its star shone bright and vivid, drawing her in like a fish to a lure. She stood still, a silent witness to the desperate defence of the Separatist forces, and the desperate offence of the Republic.
And she saw the exact moment the Confederate First Fleet arrived.
I must arrive a step earlier, Sev¡¯rance decided, and no more. It must appear that I had led the First Fleet into battle, so that I can leverage my case to Parliament.
As her senses returned to the present, Sev¡¯rance found herself standing in the deathly quiet bridge of the Negotiator. Jedi cruisers did not see fit to install a seat for their captain, she mused softly.
Sev¡¯rance turned around, purposefully striding through the abandoned Battle Room and towards the turbolifts, her heels echoing in the empty corridors. Timing her arrival at Columex to exploit the First Fleet was a simple enough task for someone of her calibre, but it would be difficult to distinguish herself considering Dooku¡¯s preparations. If her plan was to be accomplished in totality, Sev¡¯rance had to arrive first.
But she had a secret weapon. One only she had.
Upon arriving at the main hangar bay, Sev¡¯rance took in the organised chaos of droids loading ammunition and fuel and the distant hum of war machines preparing for battle. In the centre, rising like an art sculpture even the most highbrow of the Aristocra could appreciate, was the stealth corvette Carrion Spike. There was no other vessel like it, and she could certainly appreciate its design as well, if not for the same reasons.
When Commodore Bonteri reported its existence to her, she knew she just had to seize the machine.
But that was not the centrepiece of her vision, however. Instead, she took in the space around it, the vast hangar bays not stocked with starfighters, but with Decimator main battle tanks, retrofitted to operate in the conditions of vacuum. It was no difficult ask, considering that tractors and repulsors were adjacent technology, and that the crews were to be droids.
Despite the almost derisive evaluations her staff had of the Venator-class Star Destroyer, there was one thing about them she could admire as a flag officer. And that was that they accomplished the one purpose they were designed to do peerlessly; to carry and deploy war machines as expediently as possible.
Because that meant she could fit four whole regiments of repulsortanks in a single ship, for a total of four-hundred and fifty-six Decimators.
Her gut twisted, to her own displeasure. The future was in motion. Shifting, changing before her very eyes into something unrecognisable. If she didn¡¯t want to be left behind, she had to get there in time.
?
Columex Approach, Columex System
Vorzyd Sector
¡°Oh kriffing shit,¡± Counter Admiral Diedrich Greyshade of the Commonality Joint Defense Fleet said to himself very, very quietly as the claxons howled around his ship. The sandwich in his hand had disintegrated inside his fist, plates left half-eaten on the mess tables as his crew stared up at the wailing sirens blankly, as if this was the first time they had ever heard them ring.
That wasn¡¯t true. This wasn¡¯t going to be Kronprinz¡¯s first scuffle, nor her last. But this was the first time hostile warships kept multiplying on the scanner displays with every stuttering update, endlessly and endlessly like a self-replicating virus. Diedrich kept his breathing slow and calm, reminding himself of all the times he had waited for this exact moment. The exact moment when Columex¡¯s planetary batteries were facing the wrong way; the exact moment the Republic would bite.
If it didn¡¯t feel real before, it felt real now. Excitement bubbled up his throat.
¡°Well?¡± his voice struck a sharp chord, and just like that his crew were leaping off the benches, tripping over themselves as they raced to battlestations.
He carefully extricated himself from the mess table, reaching the panel on the wall and smashing in the big red button, ¡°This is Admiral Diedrich Greyshade. I am declaring a system-wide Red Alert on my own authority. Clear the hyper-junction of all traffic immediately. If you aren¡¯t already on final, you are required to divert to your pre-designated mooring points.¡±
Diedrich released the button, cleared his throat, toggled the comms to internal, and leaned on it again, ¡°Kronprinz, this is your captain and admiral. We¡¯ve all been waiting for this moment¨Cget ready for the ride of your lives.¡±
The Counter Admiral filled his lungs with air, immersing himself in the blaring sirens and cacophonous footsteps. The rampant orders thrown over the bulkheads, the stuttering pulse-burns of sublight drives coming to life, the groaning of casemates brought to bear. Diedrich felt himself in the belly of an ancient knight risen from the grave to fight for their king once more. This was the first time war had come to Columex in millennia, and Columex was eager to respond.
He wiped his hand on a napkin, and proceeded to the flag bridge.
Much like the Xolochi Dreadnoughts of antiquity, Kronprinz was chrome-plated smooth in her entirety, hull was shaped like that of an ocean-going polyreme, with mirror-finished spaced armour attached by sliding-girders covering the whole twelve-hundred metre length. Echoes from a forgotten age when combat-standard deflector technology was still in its infancy.
Fully extended and angled out, Kronprinz turned into a bird of prey gliding upon solar winds. For as long as she was within direct line of sight with a star, there was no warship her equal in speed and manoeuvrability. When retracted and flush against the hull, her shields hid a lethal array of torpedo tubes, missile launchers, and brutal pulse cannons for an unrivalled broadside.
Unlike contemporary warships, Kronprinz¡¯s ancient Tionese design meant there were no transparisteel viewports anywhere on the ship, and the pilothouse was no exception. Holos and plotting boards, external camera and FTL sensor displays arrayed the expanse deep in the citadel of the ship, all buzzing and blinking with a buffet of information slowly being absorbed and transliterated onto Diedrich¡¯s imagination.
He frowned, mind locked onto the main enemy force. They were jumping in increments of a few hundred, likely divided by battle groups. It was the practical option; while doing so forced them to give up the element of surprise, it also meant they could more reliably organise into their orders of battle as well as effectively obscure their true numbers. As more warships extracted from hyperspace, they created a ¡®curtain¡¯ of interference that hindered Separatist scanners from accurately reading the number of subsequent extractions.
It was a common tactic, Diedrich decided. They themselves were doing the same thing. The Coalition Armada¨CJDF included¨Chad been arranged into a sorry excuse of a battle lattice. Two-thousand warships, tightly knit and five ranks deep, arranged into a poor imitation of water¡¯s molecular structure¨Cor lack thereof¨Crather than the rigid covalent network of graphite a proper battle lattice should mimic.
To Diedrich¡¯s great shame, it was glaringly clear that the JDF posed the weakest link in the chain. In order to make up for the deficit in skill, Commander Trilm proposed a two-fold solution by dispersing JDF vessels among the veteran Coalition Battle Squadrons. First, it would eliminate the possibility of Loyalist forces pinpointing and targeting a specific ¡®weakpoint,¡¯ and second, that the inferior formation quality would ironically improve the purpose of this particular lattice formation in the first place.
Which was, staggeringly, to conceal the largest artillery pieces known to the galaxy.
Three behemothic Field Secured Containment Vessels travelled the distance between the edges of the lattice, each releasing one of their thirty containment bubbles at regular intervals. Carefully guided by a small army of tugs, each half a kilometre bubble contained anywhere from a hundred to a thousand asteroids captured from all over the star system.
Then there was the Victoria Louise. A forty-seven million cubic metre, hundred-forty million ton asteroid that had to be painstakingly sculpted into a rough sphere in order to fit into one of the bubbles.
To speak nothing of the man¡¯s character, this was the sort of genius¨Cor mind-numbing insanity¨Conly an Onderonian could devise. The legendarily troubled history of the jungle world aside, the very fact that their archnemesis was their own moon spoke spades of their mastery in irregular warfare. Only someone who had spent his professional career warring against the ¡®Demon Moon¡¯ could conceive the idea of using asteroids as grapeshot. That¡¯s what Diedrich believed.
The Republic took their time. He had fully immersed himself in the battle logs from Centares, and recognised the wildly different behaviour. Both fleets now had their cards all on the table¨Cor so it seemed¨Cand caution was the order of the day.
¡°Intercept in half an hour and falling,¡± someone called out, ¡°Their accel-squared with rising steeply.¡±
Diedrich leaned on a dashboard, exercising great care so as to not disturb the myriad instruments his fingers gingerly skirted. Staring down through the acrylic-shielded scanner display, he ground his teeth at the sight of Columexi battleship Hexenkoenig testing the patience of a tiny Coalition corvette. The mighty warship was like an ill-trained hunting dog snapping at the leash, biting to dress herself and her pack in the laurels of combat, while the more seasoned corvette boldly crossed her in order to force her down.
Almost foolishly brave, he thought. The Corellian corvette must be no longer than two-hundred metres in length, while Hexenkoenig was well over a kilometre stern to bow. Diedrich browsed his registry for the ship¨CHabatok II¨Cand made a mental note to thank them after the battle.
On the other side of the plot, the enemy stratagem was gradually taking shape. The boiling mass extended outwards, splitting into three customary box formations. There were five-hundred ships of Cerulean Spear Fleet in the centre, with the Steel Blade and White Cuirass Fleets taking the flanks¨Ceach boasting around a thousand vessels¨Cconfirming Captain Harsol¡¯s battle analysis exercise.
¡°What¡¯s the effective range of our¡ artillery?¡± Diedrich asked out loud.
His XO shrugged, ¡°We have ninety shells? Eighty-nine, excluding Victoria Louise. The ranging shot will be at ten-mil klicks, but effective is likely half that.¡±
The Counter Admiral nodded slowly. Eighty-eight shells meant every single one had to count, not to mention the ragtag propulsion system of commandeered freighters, bulkers, dreadnoughts and battleships meant each bubble was going to have different stats and parameters.
He eyed the integrated chrono, mentally calculating the time it will take to relay orders and manoeuvre into combat stations. Ten minutes, maybe less, with the enemy¡¯s accel-squared. Diedrich spent the time reviewing the Confederate First and Fourth Fleets¡¯ transmissions again, hoping to the Lord Above they would keep their word, hypocritical as it may be. If not¡ the plan was to stall for half a local day, until Columex¡¯s planetary batteries could be brought to bear.
And if not that¡ then for Columex to fight. The world was only marginally less wealthy than the likes of Raxus Secundus. At the centre of trade on the Perlemian, towns and cities covered the surface, supporting billions of lives. At this very moment, the landing grounds were being fortified, civilians drafted, and armies marshalled. They would not surrender without a vicious fight.
But he hoped it would never come to that.
¡°i¨COrder received!¡± the comms officer slammed down his headset and sprung to his feet, raking his eyes across the bridge until it met Diedrich¡¯s, ¡°Crying Sun orders Hydra formation, sir!¡±
Diedrich swung around to the navigator, ¡°Ventral thrust platforms¨C execute manoeuvring orders package immediately!¡±
Kronprinz whistled, her reflective armour plates ruffling like feathers and she fluently translated upwards, carefully adapting her thrust so as to not collide with the ship above, or block the ship below. He counted down the seconds on his chrono, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead.
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Every second they took translating formations was a second the enemy got to figure out the existence of the asteroid bubbles. Each bubble was propulsion-less, and when covered by the Armada¡¯s radar profiles, were effectively invisible to the Republic. But that didn¡¯t mean they could take their time clearing the line of sight.
As the battle lattice moved into two affronting lines abreast above and below, the phalanges of tugs started pushing the bubbles forward before the screen fully cleared. Diedrich recalled the question of whether the shells should be stationed behind or before the main battle lines. If they were fired from behind, it would save valuable time. If they were fired from in front, it would eliminate the risk of friendly fire.
Friendly fire by ten-thousand asteroids. There wasn¡¯t much of a debate.
Four-hundred merchant and a hundred-forty battleships followed them, and as the tugs dragged the bubbles to a total halt, the massive vessels arranged themselves into ninety three-point Cylinders that sheathed over the bubbles not dissimilar to how a shell would slide down a cannon bore.
¡°Range?¡± Diedrich stared at the holocam monitor with an intensity he didn¡¯t expect from himself.
It was a morbid fascination. Would the cannons work to utterly devastate the enemy, or would they backfire¡ morbid fascination transformed into a nervousness when he realised what backfiring would entail. There was a reason there were only skeleton crews aboard those merchantmen.
¡°Ten¨Cnine million klicks.¡±
The first pulses of energy were already pouring out in waves from the ranging shot¨Csix two-kilometre long vessels charging up every tractor beam projector they had. And when Kronprinz sensors were almost totally blind from the radiation, the bubble¡¯s containment fields dropped¨C
?
Seven-hundred and twenty-nine asteroids and many, many more meteoroids blasted out like buckshot from a sawed-off shotgun¨Conly that the shotgun had a barrel five kilometres long and was capable of tearing a rent through the fabric of space-time. Minutes later, the Republic formations scattered on the battle plot. The distance was too great for me to actually see anything visually, but Repulse certainly did.
The empty ¡®casing¡¯ left behind was then dragged back to the rear by the tugs, accompanied by hamstrung, lightly smoking hulls. Thankfully, there was no significant damage, but manually disabling the tractor beam safeties had evidently done a number on their power cycling systems.
Drive cones exploded onto the scanner displays, intensifying violently as the Republic fleets slammed onto the brakes and burned velocity against what must be dangerous levels of g-forces.
We didn¡¯t know how fast the asteroids were going exactly. Yes, we completed some feasibility tests with computerised simulations, but they weren¡¯t rigorous. We weren¡¯t physicists, and this wasn¡¯t an experiment. We figured that as long as each asteroid, meteoroid, and micrometeoroid contained enough kinetic energy to pierce double-forward particle shields, it was good enough.
There was no finesse involved, only a turbulent mix of gravitational forces acting in roughly the same direction. With the enemy speeding towards us at¨CI checked the repeater¨C24,000KPS, while the asteroids were reaching upwards of, I don¡¯t know, 96,000KPS at intercept? That meant the relative impact velocity was forty-percent the speed of light.
The Republic was clever enough to realise that they had to slow the fuck down, first to reduce the impact velocity¨Cthough I didn¡¯t know how much that would do¨Cand second to regain some of their maneuvreability. Attitude thrusters don¡¯t really work to any meaningful capacity at those kinds of speeds.
Too little, too late. Three minutes later, they were at a range where we couldn¡¯t miss.
One by one, the shells deactivated their containment fields, and a torrent of destruction was blasted out into the abyss. According to the readouts, they had under fifty-five seconds to get a fix on an incoming projectile and intercept or evade¨Cand that number was dropping rapidly. It was as if the galaxy was sucking in a breath each time a cylinder charged up their projectors¨Ceach ripple of gravitational energy able to level entire cities¨Cwashing out and prickling the skin. I shivered, involuntarily tensing as Cylinder 12 shone like a newborn star on Repulse¡¯s readouts.
Then, when the fabric of space-time had been pulled to its breaking point, like a rubber band ready to snap, the shields dropped, and boom¨C The numbers in front me sprung into the dozens of digits, consoles screaming in white noise as if they had been flashbanged. And half a minute later, a swathe of the White Cuirass was scythed into oblivion, sparkling like glitter thrown across the sky.
A hundred flames were lit for a brief moment, like angels lifting candles in mourning of lives lost, followed by black and quiet. There was an empty gash on the battle plot¨Csmall, but distinct enough that once noticed, it was hard to miss the absence of drive cones, replaced by lingering ghosts of faint steam.
The Republic fleets were decelerating, bless their souls, but not fast enough. Honestly, at this point I would expect them to initiate a mass flip-and-burn considering the dire straits they were in, but they were stubbornly refusing to do so. I could only think of two reasons; to avoid exposing their unshielded engine blocks, which was reasonable enough, or because the very idea hadn''t occurred to them.
Who knows? It seemed obvious enough to me, having learned about retrograde burns¨Cgranted, they were necessary for us technologically-primitive Earthlings who had yet to break into the open sea. It¡¯s not out of left field to suppose that this galaxy had largely lost the concept of retrograde thrust and subsequently flip-and-burns, considering the efficiency of their starships.
Or maybe ass-heavy Star Destroyers simply didn¡¯t have bow thrusters or TVCs powerful enough to initiate a complete one-eighty with any semblance of promptitude.
Cylinder 28 boomed out into the darkness, followed by Cylinders 29, 30, and 31. It was nothing more than a turkey shoot. Accuracy was questionable, as were our methods, but after running some numbers, Stelle produced a figure of five to ten ships downed with every shell. A terrible number at face value, but considering the lack of real firing solutions, unpredictable dispersion, and the sheer distance involved¡ in the end we were still ripping apart six to seven-hundred capital ships without a single casualty.
Our radars caught glimpses of the asteroids, whistling across the displays like flickering wraiths. Big pieces, crashing into other big pieces and fragmenting. Small pieces¨Csome no larger than specks of dust¨Calmost warping in and out of virtual existence.
A niggling sensation in the back of my mind disturbed me. The idea that we had just broken an unstated rule of war. That with a new precedent set, the very paradigm of naval warfare had just been flipped on its head. Engagement distances were going to magnify exponentially, capital ships a decade from now will look and operate in wholly alien manners. The idea that this battle will send naval architects and weapon designers scrambling back to the drawing boards, and that in twenty years battles will be fought, won, and lost without fleets even being in the same star system. The thought terrified me.
I wanted to ask; what have I done? But I knew what I had done; I had opened a door. All that¡¯s left to see was whether people would walk through it.
I rubbed my eyes at the painfully bright screens assaulting my senses, attempting the focus on the big picture as my droid crew called out reports. Despite my attempt, I still pondered the idea of buying some spectacles. In any case, the Republic had taken a limited reaction, but not out of a lack of effort. The three fleets were gradually splitting apart into three distinct blocks, with smaller subdivisions spacing out as well.
¡°Stelle¡¡± I dragged my voice, increasing in volume at the end.
¡°I know, sir!¡± the droid¡¯s response was sharp and frustrated.
We had to calculate the Mandator¡¯s extraction vector for the next phase of our stratagem to carry out. The star dreadnoughts were large and terrifying¨Ccapable of routing entire fleets from mere presence alone¨Cbut they were slow. Despite the size of some SSDs in the far future, subluminal drive technology had not quite kept up with the size of star dreadnoughts just yet, and Mandators were just as slow as some ponderous freighters. That didn¡¯t mean jumping in a Mandator to its desired battle station was safe by any means, but I suspected a Jedi was involved, considering the precision displayed at Centares.
Stelle must¡¯ve gotten close, but with the Republic¡¯s formation shift, he likely had to return to square one.
Repulse¡¯s proximity sensors suddenly screeched in alarm, and that was the only warning I got before the cruiser next to us was completely annihilated, inadvertently shielding us from the worst of the fragments. Gaping pits cracked through its hull, splintering and collapsing, with jets of atmosphere breaking free¨Cbefore her hull integrity completely failed, and she tore herself apart in a silent scream of agony. The readouts flashed as Repulse¡¯s shields registered crashing debris and more than likely frozen organic remains.
My face reddened in fear and panic, ¡°What the hell happened!?¡±
¡°Cylinder Seventy-Four backfired, sir!¡± the comms droid shouted up at me, ¡°But the bulker Hart Am Wind was able to reverse their projection in time and nullify a significant amount, limiting the damage. All six ships of the Cylinder were destroyed, and the tentative casualty count is six-hundred and sixty-one. Damage reports from other ships are still coming in!¡±
Well, that was to be expected! Was the first thought that came to mind. It was why six-hundred were killed and not six-thousand. Ad-hoc gravitic mass drivers with civilian-grade tractor beam projectors were never going to be safe, much less at this scale. This was an insane plan borne out of desperation and a lack of options. The fact that only one out of seventy exploded in our faces was already a miracle, probability-wise.
The next thought that came to mind was the immediate morale repercussions. I cursed mentally¨Cwe had a plan for this as well¨Cand it was to bite the bullet.
¡°Withdraw the remaining Cylinders!¡± I commanded, ¡°Dispatch order to the White Hand Fleet, all forward at flank speed! We¡¯re leading by example!¡±
¡°Dispatch order¨C¡± Stelle recited my words, pausing at the last phrase, ¡°¨CShould I include the last part?¡±
¡°Yes, you will,¡± I replied, before grumbling quietly, ¡°As much as I hate doing so.¡±
Repulse surged forwards, igniting her engines with the desire to do battle once more. I¡¯ve missed this, the star frigate seemed to howl as she shivered in delight beneath my feet, it¡¯ll be just like old times! Or maybe I was just high on my fight-or-flight response and actively hallucinating. It made me braver than I felt, nonetheless, and that worked for me.
Not to be outdone, Counter Admiral Greyshade¡¯s battlecruiser Kronprinz surged as well, followed by the might of Battle Squadron Nardolin. If there was ever an alien ship, Kronprinz fully encapsulated the idea, with armour flaps undulating almost hypnotically, like facsimiles of maritime oars crashing against invisible waves. If you looked closely, you could almost make out the bores of menacing pulse cannons hiding beneath, which were more comparable to disruptors than contemporary turbolasers.
The Battle Hydra roared, all two-thousand warships launching themselves forward in a gleaming wavefront of dull steel and brutal firepower, enraptured by the promise of glory in death. I gripped the armrests tightly, inconspicuously allowing the Task Force Repulse to overtake the namesake ship in my effort to bring Repulse to the centre of the pack, rather than the front.
¡°¨CFix!¡± Stelle cried out, ¡°Transmitting prediction model!¡±
I snapped by attention to the battle plot, where two blinking red arcs forecasted the effective extraction location of the incoming dreadnought. The problem was the fact that there were two arcs¨Ceach located the widening gaps between the three enemy formations. In hindsight, it was rather obvious. They likely wanted us to drive hard into the gaps before having the Mandators jump straight on top of us, recreating the destruction of Battle Squadron Salvara.
So the question was; which gap were they intending on jumping?
I fiddled with the console, analysing the Republic subformations; the Cerulean Spear in the middle, Steel Blade on their right flank, and White Cuirass opposite that. Most of the Spear¡¯s strength was gone after Centares and the opening phase, and they were only left with 300 combat-capable warships, judging from the drive signatures. The Steel Blade had 900, and the White Cuirass had 700.
Looks like the Steel Blade was mostly untouched by the Cylinders.
I figured it out.
¡°All units,¡± I said, and Stelle immediately began recording my voice, ¡°We are less than thirteen minutes from contact with the enemy. Execute manoeuvring package seventeen, effective immediately. I want to see a picture-perfect modified Battle Order Three with Task Force Repulse making angular point¨Cjust as we practised!¡±
Like a sluggish giant, the Coalition Armada began to move, with the rear ranks shifting over to our left flank, out of the Republic¡¯s view. Within ten minutes, our Battle Hydra had evolved into a classic oblique order with the explicit intention of ramming straight through the opening and separating the Steel Blade Fleet from the rest of the enemy formation.
On our right flank, opposite the White Cuirass, the JDF¡¯s Battle Squadron Nardolin prepared for the fight of their lives.
I blinked, and in that split-second, automated targeting systems were already aiming and firing as warships tore past each other at a combined speed of almost sixty-thousand kilometres per second. Repulse shuddered as she registered wayward hits on her shields, even despite being deep in the mass.
Republic turbolasers boomed out in panic, with the vast majority of those shots passing behind our formation as we surged hard into the wedge between their subformations. They were still reorganising when we charged¨Ca charge that surprised ourselves, much less the Republic¨Cand their targeting computers were struggling to recalibrate. By contrast, we couldn¡¯t miss. There were enemy ships all around us, and our missile volleys slammed into already weakened shields, dense barrages of particle beams and ion charges disabling and annihilating warships which had yet to make the switch to ray shields.
The enemy, instead of slowing down, accelerated again, ostensibly in an attempt to crash through our line and hook around for a flank. But we were in an oblique order, and our original five-rank deep formation had been reinforced to twice that number. It didn¡¯t take very long for them to realise they were signing their own death certificates by driving deeper into our formation, and as blossoming starbursts marked the destruction of foolhardy Star Destroyers, we began to push back the Republic with sheer mass alone.
The White Hand Fleet and Task Force Repulse punched into the gap between the Steel Blade and Cerulean Spear, roaring out double-sided broadsides as firing solutions were getting churned out on an industrial scale. At the same time, Task Force Sol and Task Force Clysm finally crashed into the bulk of the Cerulean Spear, swinging around in a last-minute fake and lashing out with two torpedo fusillades in quick succession. Far behind, the imposingly dark shadow of replenished droid LAC formations rose like an insatiable demon.
On the far side, barely registering on the battle plot, the JDF and Task Force Nardolin played cat-and-mouse with the White Cuirass Fleet. With thinned out numbers, their Tionese warships were much more manoeuvrable, rushing and unleashing opportunistic cannonades before swinging around and luring the embittered enemy formation further out of formation and into range of Cylinder 90 and the looming gaze of Victoria Louise. They took the most dangerous role, because they had something to prove. Greyshade couldn¡¯t refuse the role without outrage from the Armada, but to my surprise, he was more than keen to pick up the sword.
¡°We have an incoming transmission for Commodore Bonteri,¡± the comms droid relayed, ¡°It¡¯s from Messenger in Flames.¡±
¡°They¡¯ve arrived!¡± I exclaimed, ¡°A bit early, but it¡¯ll do. Do they have the minelayers I asked for?¡±
¡°Yes sir,¡± the droid confirmed, ¡°Sixteen minelayers.¡±
¡°Great, great,¡± I nodded in out-of-body calmness as the battle raged around me, ¡°Have them stay out of it until my order. Contact Admiral Trench; where the hell is he?¡±
¡°The cruiser Morgenlicht reports that he is enroute from Arcan,¡± Stelle paused, ¡°And Admiral Tonith has just arrived in Belderone.¡±
Oh yeah, I thought in gleeful anticipation, it¡¯s all coming together. Come on Republic, make your move so we can make ours.
Task Force Repulse finally broke through the Republic line, and was greeted by a brilliant swathe of stars in the distance, which I believed to be the Nyarikan Nebula. Drifting among them were fleets of still-warm wreckage drifting lifelessly in the void, tumbling in ignoble demise. I felt a great sadness, then, but swiftly brushed it off. There was a time and place for all emotions.
I simultaneously checked the Coalition Armada¡¯s status and the movements of the Steel Blade Fleet, checking for any untoward reactions as I timed my next order with every cell of commanding experience I had in my body.
¡°Manoeuvre package fifteen, now!¡± I commanded harshly, and the White Hand Fleet pivoted again.
Some seven-hundred warships swept to portside in tandem, formation dissolving before coalescing again into a great palm that began to isolate the Steel Blade from the rest of their allies. Munificents and Recusants, and many more destroyers angled down from above as their forward-focused batteries constituted the piercing thrust that knocked the enemy off their fleet, while the battleships and heavy cruisers closed up on each other into a great block of pure mass and momentum, mopping up any incapacitated Star Destroyers before pushing the enemy outwards.
The Steel Blade was now sliding backwards into the spreading debris field, suddenly becoming the encircled element as they were shoved further and further away. The incapability of Star Destroyers to spin around or reverse to any meaningful facility was immediately apparent, and surrounded on three sides, they were sitting ducks to the slaughter.
Realising the predicament, the right flank of the Cerulean Spear peeled off and charged Task Force Repulse¡¯s rearguard in an attempt to save their allies, but Calli Trilm¡¯s Clysm Fleet deftly slid into the wedge in a beautiful line ahead, crossing the Spear¡¯s ¡®T¡¯ and lighting up the space with a point-blank torpedo barrage. This wouldn¡¯t be the first time she had my back, and considering our admittedly complicated relationship, I doubted it would be the last.
I forced myself out of the tunnel vision I found myself in, checking in with the rest of the Armada. But I didn¡¯t have to¨Cthe Republic was crumbling on every front except the White Cuirass¡¯, which had slowed down upon realising it was on the edge of the Cylinders¡¯ killzone. And just when I had about decided the Mandators were a no-show, the Republic finally deployed their trump card.
Once again, the volume of the universe was toned down, and I could almost feel the shockwave of Cronau radiation washing over my skin as dimensional barriers were violently torn open. There was a silent explosion, and in a display of magnificent power, Legacy of the Founders appeared exactly where I had predicted¨Cin between the Cerulean Spear and White Cuirass¨Cfirst dorsal-mounted batteries already thundering away.
A shadow crossed over Repulse¡¯s bridge. I frowned, looking around. Wasn¡¯t the sun behind us? I glanced at the battle plot, and to my numb surprise, I couldn¡¯t see Repulse¡¯s drive cone. Or any of Repulse Squadron¡¯s drive cones, actually. They were all¡ smeared into a single massive¨C?
A second registry designation popped up on a readout; Pride of the Core. I looked up, and I did not see a single star.
¡°Uh, sir?¡± Stelle looked up at me with uncertainty, ¡°It looks like there''s a star dreadnought right on top of us.¡±
My pleasant emotions were shanked with a vibroknife and thrown into the sewers as my brain caught up with the situation. God damn it Harsol, now I owe you one.
Fuck. Fucking shit!
¡°Evasive action!¡± I screamed.
Chapter 31
Columex Approach, Columex System
Vorzyd Sector
Barriss Offee felt cold.
The very moment the blinding glow of pseudomotion retreated from her vision, an energy of coldness and forceful silence took its place. Something is very, very wrong. She flicked a glance towards Tuff, but the tactical droid was as impassive as ever.
¡°Plot to intercept with that dreadnought,¡± the droid commanded, ¡°And inform Task Force Nardolin of our presence.¡±
Dreadnought. The word rang in her skull. She could see it in the distance; a great island of steel buffeted by relentless waves of warheads and lasers. And it did not falter. Every crashing barrage it unleashed was like a hammer to her skull, followed by the cries of the fallen echoing in her ears and the pain of death coursing through her veins.
The Jedi healer raced to the front of the bridge in sheer instinct, pressing an open palm against the freezing transparisteel. Every fibre in her body screamed out ¨Cher training, her duty, it was as if everything had led up to this moment. Barriss was well aware of her talent; empathy was a key trait of a skilled Jedi healer. She was supposed to receive the suffering of others, and respond with comfort and healing in return.
But she could offer no comfort. Not here¡ no against this.
As Messenger sailed through the debris, she was assaulted by visions of crunching hulls and swift bursts of agony. The Force was trying to tell her something, but she was too tired¨Ctired of everything¨Cto apply Master Luminara¡¯s teachings and find out what it was. She didn¡¯t need to know, not when she already knew everything that matters.
Loyalists were killing Separatists, and Separatists were killing Loyalists. It was people murdering people on a galactic scale, for reasons that did not matter. And as a Jedi, she could only witness. Witness the battle approaching, and soon to take part in the slaughter.
Barriss wanted none of it. She was a Jedi. She was supposed to have none of it. But as Messenger forged on ever nearer, the cruelly familiar sensations returned. Sensations that once represented the warmth and respite of the Temple, transformed into the bitter swords that led the Republic to battle.
Jedi Masters.
There were Jedi Masters in the bridges of cruisers, impassively looking on as they commanded the deaths of thousands. It¡¯s people you¡¯re killing, she wanted to scream, not droids! Do you not realise!? Master Luminara has always preached serenity, to be devoid of emotions and connect with the Force more intimately than ever before. But Barriss had to doubt; was this the meaning of serenity?
The Force once again pounded her psyche as if it was a shut door. Sinister discomfort continued to rise like bile as Messenger proceeded further into the debris field, her bow shoving steel corpses from her path. Whatever happened here¡ was so swift and painful it left a hateful rend in the Living Force. An open wound that would heal in time, yet continued to fester with the lingering emotions of the dead. We¡¯re sailing through a graveyard, Barriss realised numbly.
¡°Messenger, Kronprinz,¡± a staggered voice caught her attention, ¡°This is Admiral Greyshade. Do you have the interdiction mines we requested?¡±
¡°Affirmative,¡± Tuff confirmed, ¡°We are currently on course for intercept the dreadnought¡¯s port flank, please advise.¡±
¡°Very good¨C¡± there was a sharp gasp, an abrupt disconnect, and two minutes of silence before he returned, ¡°¨CWe will proceed with the plan. Locate our mark and follow our lead. Shields to starboard beam; you will be running the gauntlet.¡±
Barriss stumbled towards the nearest repeater, snatching the droid operator¡¯s shoulder and watching the astronav plot. She could roughly understand the formations of the battlefield through her pounding headache, but with a visual aid, the picture of sheer scale could be fully pieced together.
The battle lines were in a diagonal slant, with the Republic¡¯s right flank furthest away from the planet and left flank nearest to the defensive line of what appeared to be orbital cannons. There were two Republic star dreadnoughts¨Cthe furthest one cutting a bloody swath through¡ Barriss read a familiar designation; White Hand Fleet. A complicated emotion stirred in her chest, one she did not have the energy to unravel.
In any case, the nearest dreadnought was spearheading the Republic¡¯s White Cuirass Fleet towards Columex. The navigation droid promptly ignored her, calculating out the dreadnought¡¯s vector in order to modify Unicorn Squadron¡¯s new approach heading. A dotted line was drawn out, extending from the dreadnought¡¯s bow and stabbing into Columex¡¯s orbital defences.
¡°Legacy of the Founders is too unwieldy to navigate around the orbital cannons,¡± Tuff explained, ¡°And presenting a target that large, their only course of action is to close the distance as quickly as possible. And that means they have no choice but to overextend themselves.¡±
As if on cue, the gargantuan ion drives of the Legacy were in full view, along with two more identifiable blips. First was Kronprinz, a Tionese warship that looked wholly out of place. Her glassy armour shimmered in kaleidoscopic colours surrounded by the hail of red, green, and blue laser bolts, gracefully minnowing through the torrential chaos. She swung around just within the dreadnought¡¯s blindspot, stern narrowly missing the battleship Hexenkoenig, who along with the rest of Task Force Nardolin was holding off the onslaught of the White Cuirass Fleet with determined steadfastness.
Unicorn Squadron¡¯s vector was gradually spelled out on the plot¨Cto skirt the edges of Legacy¡¯s firing envelopes and deploy their interdiction mines before pushing on to the safety behind the orbital cannons.
¡°We are going to¡ mine it?¡± she asked.
¡°No. We are going to mine our reinforcements,¡± the droid answered, as if it was the most natural thing in the galaxy.
?
¡°Dive, dive!¡± I roared as Repulse was bracketed by a cannonade of furious turbolasers.
The entire White Hand Fleet immediately turned on a dime, rotating ninety-degrees south¨Cjust as it did at Centares¨Cand overclocking their drives the get the fuck out of the Mandator¡¯s range. Unlike her smaller cousins, Pride of the Core was not lacking in ventral firepower, and my personal command was getting savaged. Ten warships disappeared off the map within the first three minutes, and another sixteen followed by ten minutes.
Twice that number were left disabled, with their stern shields buckling under the intensifying firepower, followed by their engine blocks giving way. Left with only inertia carrying them away, the renewed assault of the Steel Blade was all but certain to eat them alive. Benevolent Mother and thirty-one other ships suddenly pitched upwards, rolling over and punching out three furious salvos into our unexpecting pursuers.
¡°Sir?¡± Stelle looked up at me.
Fifteen minutes. Half my fleet was gone. Those who couldn¡¯t escape had already chosen the hill they¡¯d die on; slowing down the enemy. I checked the condition of the Clysm Fleet, and found out they had been hit just as hard¨Cif not harder than we were. While the White Hand was stuck beneath the Pride of the Core, the Clysm was unfortunate enough to be trapped in the process of crossing the Cerulean Spear¡¯s ¡®T,¡¯ and was now finding themselves between an immovable juggernaut and a vengeful warfleet.
I prayed for them, and reverted my attention to my own survival.
¡°Communications of Renown, sir!¡± the comms droid shouted¨C
¡°Sir!¡± Zenith-II hailed me, ¡°Cylinders Seventy-Five to Eighty-Nine are still loaded and ready! And with us out of the way, they have a clear shot!¡±
Even when the answer was so damn obvious, it had somehow slipped my mind in the chaos and carnage. I didn¡¯t hesitate to respond.
¡°Then have them open fire!¡±
Repulse¡¯s transmitters screamed out the order in the general direction of the planet, brute forcing its way through several layers of Republic jamming. Almost immediately, the Steel Blade cut their pursuit and veered away, taking refuge behind the massive bulk of the Mandator.
Pride of the Core, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t so lucky.
Thump, thump, thump. I could somehow hear the blasts of the Cylinders echo through the vacuum, with the sheer energy output of their gravitic ignitions rocking every warship in the vicinity as if they were dinghies in storm-tossed waves.
Pride of the Core tanked the first and second shots with hastily prepared kinetic shields, which shattered with the third shot. There was now a race between the Mandator frantically diverting power to her frontal shields, and the Cylinders frantically trying to bring her down. But as buckshot after buckshot of asteroids just disappeared into the dreadnought¡¯s mass, I realised that at this range, the asteroids didn¡¯t have enough time to get up to useful velocities, allowing the Pride to literally tank the barrages with sheer bulk alone.
I could¡¯ve sword the dreadnought was wracked by an internal ignition following another well-placed shot, with panels of armour bulging out briefly, but her bulkheads must have contained the detonation. A detonation that would¡¯ve completely vaporised a Venator. I had to admit, to my own chagrin, that Kuat really built these things to be unstoppable.
¡°All units, return to your stations,¡± I commanded, ¡°We will reorganise and sweep back around. Stelle, are we able to redeploy Victoria Louise?¡±
Victoria Louise. Our dreadnought-killer. Except, there were two dreadnoughts and one dreadnought-killer. Not the most advantageous situation, but if we can get rid of the Pride, the White Hand and Clysm can mop the fragile Steel Blade and flank around the Cerulean Spear and White Cuirass.
¡°Cylinder Ninety is lining up their shot against Legacy of the Founders,¡± Stelle reported, ¡°It will take at least half an hour to modify their station, to say nothing about calculating a firing solution. They¡¯ll have to fire across the length of our battle line. If Victoria fragments, that¡¯ll be the death of us.¡±
¡°So that¡¯s out of the option,¡± I grunted, tunnelling my attention to Task Force Repulse reforming into an elliptical formation just below the Steel Blade.
The Steel Blade attempted to take some pot shots with long-ranged missiles, but Benevolent Mother and a handful of other crippled warships had taken up the mantle of being out ad-hoc point defence screen. With their ion thrusters under repair, they were stuck between us and them. The only thing stopping the Steel Blade from completely thrashing the disabled warships was the malevolent threat of our Cylinders.
We were at an impasse. And every second that ticked away was a second that Task Force Sol and Task Force Clysm had to endure, unsupported and grossly outgunned.
My mind raced with ideas, for anything that could reverse our fortunes. I had a hard time limit; and that was until Cylinder 89 fired. Meanwhile, the Pride of the Core was ponderously yawing to starboard in order to bring the Cylinders in range of her broadsides, while relieving her beleaguered bow shield generators of pressure.
¡°Registering a new drive cone!¡± the sensor droid called, ¡°They extracted right on top of the Pride. Transferring data¡ looks to be a Star Destroyer, sir!¡±
I leaned forward, checking my sensor repeaters. There was indeed a new signature about a thousand or so klicks above the Mandator, but nothing that outright confirmed its build. Still, Star Destroyer drive signatures were pretty recognisable, but Repulse unhesitatingly identified the ship as a Venator-class star cruiser.
Even more enemy reinforcements? I wiped my face, blinking away salty tears as I double-checked the Venator¡¯s extraction vector. The easiest way would be to analyse the correlating radiation involved, but Cronau radiation detection required specific sensors, and Repulse¡¯s had either been shot off of disabled for more combat-relevant ones.
A heartbeat later, thirty more drive cones blinked into existence around the Venator. And Repulse identified them as Separatist warships, from the plumes of their ion drives.
A droid snapped to attention, ¡°We¡¯re receiving a broadcast on all Separatist scrambles¨C!¡±
¡°¨CThis is General Sev¡¯rance Tann of the Confederate Second Fleet. Reinforcements have arrived.¡±
Short, sweet, and to the point. I¡¯ve never heard more beautiful words in my life. Why the broadcast was coming from the Venator was beyond me, but damn I should¡¯ve always known Sev¡¯rance Tann delivers in the best way possible.
That feeling swelled as two more masses of drive cones erupted onto the tactical holo. Admiral Tonith and Admiral Trench. It must be. We had won.
¡°The enemy is up,¡± I immediately declared, ¡°All remaining ships, full power to sublight drives and double-up bow shields! We¡¯re rendezvousing with the Second Fleet by taking the direct route!¡±
In other words, smashing straight through the Steel Blade while they were still caught off-kilter, and hopefully, sandwiching them from above and below. At the same time, the Second Fleet¡¯s Providences¨CAscendant Sky among them¨Cdived down and ripped out a fusillade of ion torpedoes directly into the Pride¡¯s rear, disabling the great monster for the moment.
¡°Enemy warships are shifting their attitudes to meet us,¡± Stelle reported.
¡°I can see that,¡± I growled, ¡°Aim for the spaces in their formation. We¡¯ll blow right past them.¡±
And blow right past them we did, travelling so quickly we must¡¯ve exceeded Repulse¡¯s muzzle velocity, even as she and her sister ships Renown and Revenge trumpeted out a series of bleeding bolts from their superheavy batteries in quick succession. I resisted the urge to shut my eyes as Repulse in particular burned so close to two Jedi cruisers that some paint must¡¯ve been scraped off her radiator wings.
Then, now above the Mandator, I could finally catch my breath as the Second Fleet came to support my forces¨Cand realise the sheer daring of General Tann¡¯s stratagem against the star dreadnought. Her stolen Venator-cum-flagship was caught in some exceedingly queer docking procedure with the Mandator, flipped upside down and hugging the larger dreadnought¡¯s dorsal surface so closely she had slipped beneath the shields. But that wasn¡¯t all¨Cthe cruiser¡¯s main hangar doors were wide open, and hundreds of Decimator repulsortanks were ¡®falling¡¯ out and onto the Mandator¡¯s hull en masse, somehow having swapped out their repulsors for tractors and reaping the benefits.
They dropped onto the gunnery trenches and artillery decks like a swarm of termites, their turbolasers ravaging everything in arm¡¯s reach. Explosions rocked the dreadnought as isolated gas storages were ignited, blowing up battery platforms as Decimators sowed havoc roaming all over her surface, deploying endless legions of buzz droids as they did so. The Mandator¡¯s great size had become its undoing, as the AT-TE¡¯s and clone commandos deployed to fight off the boarding party now had to fight off the boarding army over indefensibly vast surface area.
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We won. We won. The mantra repeated itself over and over in my head. The Republic was surrounded on all sides. The Steel Blade Fleet had already seen the writing on the wall, and the first bursts of emergency hyperspace jumps were sparking on the tactical holo. The last of the Cylinders were firing, taking potshots at the enemy¡¯s routing rear. I could imagine it was the same picture all across the star system.
¡°Violent energy reading from starboard¨C!¡±
Without warning and like a hammer of God, a blazing pillar of bloody crimson smote Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s Venator, along with the Pride¡¯s entire bridge stalk.
?
¡°The Dark Side is always at hand, Padawan. It is no farther away than a heartbeat, an eyeblink, side by side with the bright side of the Force, separated by no more than a hair. It waits to snare the unwary, wearing a thousand disguises.¡±
Out of the many lessons Master Luminara had taught her, this was the one Barriss remembered most clearly. Of course, Barriss had heard that before, many times, and she believed what her teacher said, but she had never really felt or understood exactly what it meant. She had never been tempted by the Dark Side, as far as she knew.
But as clung on for dear life as Messenger was thrown about, bracketed by offending fire on every side, she reflected on what Master Luminara meant by a thousand disguises. Fighter screens fearlessly threw themselves between the warships, droid and organics alike surrendering their lives to absorb the onset of turbolasers and missiles rocketing from the dreadnought¡¯s artillery decks. All in order to protect the interdiction mines that would somehow¨Csomehow¨Cwin them the war.
¡°Two klicks to clear,¡± Taylor reported, ¡°We¡¯ve lost three ships.¡±
Unicorn Squadron was accelerating alongside the dreadnought¡¯s tapering prow when Barriss felt herself inexplicably drawn towards the Legacy¡¯s bridge, looming high over them. Her mind was slowly cleared of distractions, of anguish echoing through the Force and visions of destruction, until nothing but serenity remained.
¡
So this is the Dark Side of the Force.
¡°Every conscious move you make, from the smallest to the largest, requires choice. There is always a branch in the path, and you must decide upon which turning you will tread. Do you recall the testing of your ability to sense a remote while wearing blinders?¡±
This was among the most basic of Jedi skills. A remote was a small levitating droid about the size of a goldfruit that could be programmed to zip about and fire mild electric bolts at a student. With a blast helmet on and the blinders down, the only way to know the position of the orb was to use the Force. As a student progressed in the use of his or her lightsaber, blocking the remote¡¯s bolts became a standard exercise. Since you couldn¡¯t use your eyes or ears to track the device, the only way to avoid being shocked was to let the Force guide your hands.
¡°And did you ever feel during those times like destroying the remote? Reaching out with the Force and crushing it like a wad of scrap flimsi?¡±
¡°Did you know that one student in eight does eventually reach out to destroy the remote? That they usually justify it by saying it is more efficient to stop the source of the damaging bolts than to endlessly deflect them?¡±
Compassion and empathy was the Jedi way, and Barriss was not about to take the easy way out. She ripped herself from the grasp of the insidious web, pulling herself back into the turmoil of emotions that defined the battlefield. The consciousness moved, as if it had realised a pawn had wrested themselves from its grasp. Barriss stared up at the bridge of the Legacy, observing the invisible lines that stretched out, and realised that there was the nexus of the mental network. A Jedi Master, presiding over the battle like an omnipresent god, orchestrating the slaughter.
Any subservient captain¨CJedi or not¨Chad their rebellious thoughts forcefully expunged, their emotions mellowed in perfect obedience, making them numb to the slaughter. Unfeeling droids as they carried out their strategy in peerless coordination, unfettered by chains of morality or guilt.
The Jedi Master was staring at her through the Force, now, staring at the one rebellious piece who would not fold themselves into their artificial hive mind. Barriss stared back, unblinking and challenge raised in the hackles of the Force.
This is not the Jedi way, she reproached viciously, who do you think you are!?
¡°We¡¯re clear!¡± Taylor leapt to his feet.
¡°Inform Kronprinz that the minefield is in place!¡± Tuff must¡¯ve raised his output volume to the maximum, by how his voice reverberated through the bridge, ¡°Where is Admiral Trench¨Cis Victoria Louise in position!?¡±
¡°Transmitting¡ the Fourth Fleet is waiting a micro-jump away. Kronprinz is coordinating their extraction vector!¡±
A series of friendly pins faded as Task Force Nardolin was finally overwhelmed and annihilated by the White Cuirass Fleet. Only Kronprinz¡¯s flag squadron managed to withdraw in any semblance of order, armour plates shattered and cannon bores ruptured and red-hot from overheating. But their sacrifice hadn¡¯t been in vain.
A new minefield now existed between the dreadnought and the rest of its fleet, effectively isolating it. Yet, as Barriss watched for any surviving formations that could take advantage of the situation¡ she found none. Task Force Nardolin had been decimated, and any cohesion in the Separatist right flank had broken down into headless, panicking ships. The closest reinforcements were thousands of klicks away.
¡°This is General Sev¡¯rance Tann of the Confederate Second Fleet. Reinforcements have arrived.¡±
The missing pins were replaced with a boiling onrush of hundreds of Separatist-coloured markers directly behind the Republic¡¯s right flank. Soon after, the further star dreadnought¡¯s drive signature sputtered out and disappeared from the map, leaving behind only a faint outline that denoted its last known position.
The Republic is going to lose, she realised. The Steel Blade was surrounded on all sides, and the Cerulean Spear was too weak to sustain its momentum. Their every hope of victory now rested solely upon the shoulders of the Legacy and the White Cuirass Fleet.
Her sightline was interrupted by six colossal freighters, each at least twice as long as the Messenger, surrounding an equally massive asteroid that looked the size of a small moon from her warped perspective. And Barriss realised how the Separatists had held on for so long¨Cand she realised how they were planning to destroy the Legacy of the Founders.
¡°To destroy the remote is, in itself, not necessarily a wrong choice. If you have developed sufficient skill to block the training bolts and you arrive at the decision through logic and with a calm mind, then you can justify using the Force to stop the attack at its source. Some of the more gifted students do just that. But if you do it out of anger, or pain, or fear, or any emotion that you have allowed to control you, then you reach for the Dark Side. If you offer that the end justifies the means without mindful thought to determine that it indeed does, you have succumbed to the insidious energy.¡±
In a flash of brilliant light, the behemoth emerged, heralded by a shockwave that swelled through the void, even the stars bobbing like lilies floating over a disturbed pond. The dreadnought had shot right past Messenger in pseudomotion, before impacting the interdiction field and violently ripped out of hyperspace. In the blink of an eye, a five-thousand metre long warship suddenly materialised right beside the Legacy in an impossibly precise extraction. Clad in rippling grey steel adorned with navy blue markings that seemed to pulse with a stormy tempest¨Cdoubly so while blacked, fractured and steaming from the mines¨Cthe deafeningly silent whine of its sixteen oversized ion drives reduced the carnage of the battlefield to a standstill.
The Separatists have star dreadnoughts. That wasn¡¯t something you could build in a year. Even someone as admittedly ignorant as herself would realise that. Just how long has Dooku and his Separatist Alliance been preparing for the war? Since the very beginning?
Energy readings spiked.
A great disc on the side of the dreadnought blazed to life, shining and crackling with ionic radiation like the birth of a newborn star.
Messenger shut its eyes, viewports automatically blackening.
And Barriss was still knocked back, shielding her eyes from the blinding discharge of energy. A great sphere of lightning crashed into the Legacy¡¯s portside beam, completely overwhelming her deflectors in a concentrated lance. Vicious ionisation ripped through the Legacy¡¯s flank like a horde of insatiable massiffs, burning straight through cannon towers and shield generators alike, frying the entire ship from the inside out.
When the last sparkles finally dispersed, the oversized Star Destroyer was listing to portside, her entire left flank blacked out and steaming. With no shields or weapons on the correct flank to defend herself, the Separatist dreadnought laid into the half-disabled Legacy with impunity.
¡°Admiral Trench has arrived,¡± Tuff buzzed with pure satisfaction, ¡°We have won.¡±
Four-hundred new markers spawned onto the tactical plot¨Cthis time a safe distance away¨Cspearheaded by a second Separatist dreadnought. It was just as long, if not longer, and sported a malevolent, bloody maw instead of a bow. A cannon unrivalled in size to anything the galaxy has to offer, aiming straight for the Legacy, and it open fired in a pillar of flame.
A pillar of flame that sailed comfortably over the Legacy¡¯s bridge and disappeared into the abyss, accidentally striking a warship further down the battleline and completely vaporising it from existence. Barriss released a breath she didn¡¯t know she was holding.
¡°They¡ missed?¡± even Tuff sounded confused.
But his droid brain would not allow that state for more than a second.
¡°Cylinder Ninety, I am commanding you with the authority of Commodore Bonteri,¡± he quickly rebounded.
Barriss snapped around, realising Cylinder 90 was referring to the orbital cannons right next to them. The Force pulsed in her head. She could stop him. Right now. She was a Jedi. A Padawan, but a Jedi. And with the Force, not even every droid in the bridge at once could stop her.
But should she? Should she stop him from putting an end to a mass-murderer, Jedi Master or not? The only reason the Republic is still fighting is because of the Legacy, and destroying it would put a definitive end to the slaughter.
¡°If you remember nothing else from this talk, Barriss, remember this: Power wants to be used. It must be kept under constant vigil, else it will seduce and corrupt you. One moment you¡¯re swatting an annoying training toy; the next you¡¯re paralysing an offending being¡¯s lungs and choking him to death. You do it because you can. It becomes an end in itself. As a Jedi, you always live on this edge. A single misstep, and you can fall to the Dark Side. It has happened to many, and it is always a tragedy. As with an addictive drug, it¡¯s too easy to say, ¡®I¡¯ll do it just this once.¡¯ That¡¯s not how it works. The only thing that stands between you and the Dark Side is your own will and discipline. Give in to your anger or your fear, your jealousy or your hate, and the Dark Side claims you for its own. If that happens you will become an enemy to all that the Jedi stand for¡ªand an enemy of all Jedi who hold to the path of right.¡±
Master Luminara¡¯s lesson echoed in her head, every fragmented piece coming together in her memory. Awareness came to Barriss sharp as a knife into her back, twisting in her spine.
But what if the entire Jedi Order has already fallen to the Dark Side, and it¡¯s that nobody has noticed yet?
Count Dooku didn¡¯t create the Separatist Alliance, he only helped them accelerate what was already inevitable. There aren¡¯t any Sith here, only people. People fighting for their freedom, and the Republic is trying to crush them underfoot. For what reason? Why do the Jedi partake in all of this bloodshed? Just for Dooku? Barriss couldn¡¯t quite convince herself that was the case.
What will you do, the Force seemed to ask her, what would a Jedi do?
¡°This is Cylinder Ninety,¡± time was running out, ¡°We have confirmed your codes, Messenger. Go ahead.¡±
A swell of hatred rose within her. Hatred for the injustice of the war. Hatred for the Jedi Council¡¯s juvenile lies. Hatred for the Republic¡¯s false narrative. Hatred at her own inability to accomplish anything. All this time, she¡¯s been a passive observer, witnessing one bloodshed after another without doing anything about it. And each and every time, she told herself excuses.
¡°I¡¯m trapped.¡±
¡°I¡¯m only a Padawan.¡±
¡°Someone will save me.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t do anything about it!¡±
¡°¨CSo you expect someone else to do something for you?¡±
Barriss blinked.
¡°¨CJust who in Nine Hells do you think you are?¡±
Her eyes flashed towards the tactical droid on the captain¡¯s podium. In a split second decision, the Force flooded into her body with a familiar recall, like an old friend¡¯s embrace. Energy gathered in her limbs, pulsing a power that billowed like vapour down a block of frozen air.
The nav droid besides her must¡¯ve sensed something amiss, because he hastily swung around, steel limb whipping out.
Barriss caught his arm in an open grip, twisted and snapped it at the elbow, and Force pushed him away. Scrap metal hit the transparisteel viewports as the droid slammed into the console and shattered at the joints.
Two dozen droids whipped around. Barriss ignored them, singling out the tactical droid with the precision of a raptor. Power surging, she was right above him in three bounds, ripping out the command console from the floor with a harsh tug of the Force and thrown across the bridge¨Cscrapping three more. The very air seemed to pulse with fervour as she closed in on the droid¨Cas she caught the source of her every problem by the throat with one hand and ripped the comlink from his grip with the other.
She grit her teeth, somehow lifting the eighty kilogram droid off his feet with strength beyond her means, ¡°I won¡¯t sit idly by, droid!¡±
Tuff stared down at her with baleful eyes, ¡°This was an expected response.¡±
Her grip slackened against her will; a sudden shock of freezing burning through her muscles and nerves. Barriss dropped to the floor, unable to control neither her legs nor arms. She attempted to speak, but surrendered after only a slurred noise came from the attempt.
With every ounce of control she had left, the girl craned up her head to see a familiar droid bending down to pick up the fallen comlink. For the briefest moment, her eye¡¯s met Taylor¡¯s, and then the blaster in his hand.
Of course¡ she closed her eyes, and the mental barrier she¡¯s been maintaining finally fell.
¡°Have you fallen to the Dark Side, young Padawan?¡± an old, hushed voice called out to her, in almost a murmur.
Barriss lifted herself into an upright sit with trembling arms, coming face-to-face with the hem of a dirt-coloured robe. A gruff, sandpaper sound betrayed the long, reptilian tail hidden just within it. She looked up, gaze following the trail of an unkempt white beard that led to a mass of silvery hair that concealed a green-scaled head.
She recognised them. There was no Jedi Master so distinct in appearance.
¡°Master Rancisis¡?¡±
The ancient Jedi Master took a good look at her face, and recognition danced within his beady eyes.
¡°You resisted my battle meditation. Master Luminara trained you well,¡± he acknowledged.
Indignation rose within her in a boil, ¡°You! Is it the Jedi way to turn every man and woman in this fleet into your slave!?¡±
A small piece of her wanted to cringe at the mere thought of shouting at a Jedi Master, much less a Councilmember. But the larger whole of her found that she no longer cared.
Oppo Rancisis looked down at her as if she was an impertinent child who knew nothing of what she was talking about, and the indignation only grew.
¡°Everyone was willing, else it would not have worked,¡± Master Rancisis slithered towards the viewports, turning his back on her, ¡°It was unfortunately necessary, Padawan. The Republic could not afford to lose this battle.¡±
¡°Republic? And what about the Jedi!?¡± she screamed, ¡°Look around you! Millions are dead! Is this the Jedi way you preach!?¡±
The Thisspiasian Jedi didn¡¯t deign to reply, instead silently folding his arms behind his back as he regarded Cylinder 90 and Victoria Louise. Still too weak to stand, Barriss pulled herself forward, scraping her nails bloody against the flooring as she did. Claxons blared in the background; panicked footsteps crashing all around her as the Legacy¡¯s crew tried to coordinate a response.
Nobody noticed the girl on the ground dragging herself forward, even as their boots stamped inches from her head.
¡°Shouldn¡¯t the Jedi be stopping the Republic from going too far?¡± she pleaded, tears bubbling up, ¡°Answer me! Why are you enabling the Republic!?¡±
¡°So you have fallen to the Dark Side,¡± the Jedi Master lamented, pivoting to face her again, ¡°Perhaps I should rescind my previous statement. Do you truly believe Dooku¡¯s lies? Master Luminara will be sorely disappointed in you.¡±
The¡ the arrogance. Has Master Rancisis always been this arrogant? Have the Jedi? Has Barriss been part of it for long she became accustomed to it? Something within her finally snapped.
¡°Are you willfully blind!?¡± she cried, ¡°It¡¯s the Jedi who have fallen to the Dark Side! We¡¯re perpetrating a war that means nothing to us! Instead of keeping the peace like we should¡¯ve, we are waging war on behalf of the Senate! No wonder Count Dooku left us; he must¡¯ve realised the truth!¡±
Master Rancisis sullenly shook his head from side to side, ignoring her once more. Barriss could feel the Force unravelling; the vision falling apart at the seams. The Jedi Master finally had enough of her, and wanted her gone.
¡°I¡¯ve seen the war,¡± she told him, ¡°I saw what went wrong. It¡¯s the Republic. The Republic has corrupted the Order; made us into something we¡¯re not.¡±
There was no answer. The dreadnought¡¯s bridge was fracturing. The viewports were being blown out, crew pits crumpling like flimsi and crushing everybody inside them, and plating peeling apart like the skin of jogan fruit and exposing the bridge to the void.
¡°I will save the Jedi,¡± she made a promise; a promise to the unhearing master, and to herself, ¡°I¡¯ll stop the Republic, the Separatists. I will find out the truth behind the war. I¡¯ll return the Jedi to the right side!¡±
¡°You¡¯re only a Padawan. What can you do?¡±
Barriss didn¡¯t know if it was Master Rancisis who said that, or her own mind.
¡°I¡¯ve been making excuses this entire time,¡± she replied anyway, ¡°This time, I¡¯ll face it. If I¡¯m helpless until the end, at least I know that I tried.¡±
Tuff¡¯s emotionless voice reverberated through her skull¨C ¡°Aim for the bridge. Open fire.¡±
With a new determination settled in her chest, immovable as permacrete, Barriss closed her eyes one more time. This time, however, she resolved to do something about it the next she opened them.
Chapter 32
Columex Approach, Columex System
Vorzyd Sector
Columex¡¯s hyper-junction is going to be inoperable for weeks, if not months.
That was what I thought. There was probably enough scrap in the star system to build the Death Star from scratch. Scrappers were already laying into the thick of it, like vultures and rats. Sanctioned scrappers, of course, who were only allowed to access Republic vessels. Their double-duty was to pluck out any survivors¨Cprisoners of war¨Cbecause why would we dirty our hands when we could outsource the job?
Despite FTL communications, there was no underestimating the fog of war. With all the latent jamming, electronic warfare, and interference muddying up the waters, it took several hours for the entire fleet to reestablish a coherent grasp of the situation and bring everybody up to speed.
Repulse cruised over the cracked hull of Pride of the Core, her holocams recording every bit of it and transmitting the scene to media stations planetside. I could just imagine the news banner being livestreamed all over the star system: BREAKING NEWS ¨C Victory! Republic General taken prisoner!
That¡¯s right. Governor-General Therbon of the 12th Sector Army, found and captured in one of the Mandator¡¯s internal combat information centres. These star dreadnoughts; they were being used as mobile command centres. Perhaps they were so mind-bogglingly large nobody could have expected them to fail. And perhaps they wouldn¡¯t have, if we didn¡¯t bring superweapons of our own.
At least the Pride of the Core still looked like a ship, albeit more like an oversized slice of pizza, with its conspicuously missing bridge. Her sister ship, however, wasn¡¯t so lucky. There was nothing left of the Legacy of the Founders. The warship that had given us so much grief at Centares; completely vaporised. Victoria Louise essentially had the yield of a thermonuclear bomb at impact¨Csomething happened, for certain, whether it was a core meltdown or a gas detonation¨Cbut whichever the case, the Legacy and everything within a twenty mile radius was now stardust.
All of this was being broadcasted straight to the affiliated press clubs down on Columex, and from there tossed out to Near Perlemian, and then the rest of the galaxy. Murkhana and the Shadowfeed most definitely have their hands on the intel, and so will the Senate on Raxus Secundus. It was in these succeeding hours after the battle that speculation was most rampant, and whoever shouts the loudest first will be able to shape the narrative to their benefit.
The Republic dreadnoughts, the Separatist dreadnoughts, the Cylinders, the fact that there¡¯s three Admirals and two Generals in one star system. The media could tunnel vision in on a hundred different things.
And this was where being at the source was most advantageous. Dooku has Murkhana and the Shadowfeed in his pocket, but even Murkhana needs to get their intel from Columex. And who sends the intel to Columex?
We do. We can practically dictate what happened in the Battle of Columex, at least for the first precious months.
Press clubs will always leap on the most sensational scoops¨Cwhat will bring the most clicks and revenue. They will want drama. All the boring numbers and figures can be left to the military commentators. Those can follow in the wake of the first wave, when the story is more straight.
As such, I was thinking; why should the headline read ¡®Republic General taken prisoner!¡¯ instead of ¡®Sev¡¯rance Tann saves the day!¡¯ or something to that effect. We have the battle transcripts and logs, nobody in the Coalition Armada was going to deny that the Pantoran was here first.
I didn¡¯t know if it was a precious coincidence or impressive planning, but the 1st and 4th Fleets jumping in immediately after she announced that ¡®Reinforcements have arrived¡¯ was going to be a huge publicity victory for her.
¡°Carrion Spike has docked to our portside airlock,¡± Stelle sluggishly whirred, clearly reaching the end of his rope, ¡°Messenger in Flames report a shuttle is enroute.¡±
¡°Very good, guide her to the bridge. You may change bridge shifts when Tuff arrives,¡± I replied, ¡°Hare, contact¨C¡±
¡°Understood, Master¨C¡± Hare, on the other hand, was quite spry. Thinking of it, have I ever seen her recharge? ¡°¨CIs there something the matter?¡±
The rabbit robot tilted her head, noticing that I was staring at her strangely.
¡°Where¡¡± I wetted my lips, ¡°When do you recharge?¡±
Hare paused, before slowly raising a finger to her metaphorical lips¨Cwhere did she even learn human gestures?¨Cand saying, ¡°Don¡¯t ask a droid her secrets, Master.¡±
And on cue, the holoproj flashed with a response. I quietly received it.
¡°Rain?¡± Mina was very clearly looking down at her own holoproj, her voice hushed and urgent, ¡°Is the battle over? What happened?¡±
I could hear faint footsteps and chatter in the background. She was in the Senate House, I realised. Had there been a special emergency session of the Senate just for the battle? That changes some things.
¡°We won,¡± I answered, and she slumped in relief, ¡°The Republic had deployed two Mandator-class dreadnoughts.¡±
Her brows drew closer, ¡°Those showpieces¨C?¡±
¡°Retrofitted for battle,¡± I explained, ¡°The casualty count is coming in, Mina. We lost almost two million spacers. We won¡¯t be able to stop another push.¡±
Mina quickly caught on to the implications, ¡°The next vote isn¡¯t going to fail.¡±
The Republic lost a lot more, but I was trying to shape a narrative here. I wasn¡¯t lying; we won¡¯t be able to stop another push. The thing is, I was absolutely certain there won¡¯t be another push, because the Republic just had was tantamount to two full Sector Fleets completely gutted. Whatever operational warships they have left will be withdrawn to the border of the Mid Rim in order to dig in. Which is why the vote has to happen now, before the situation settles.
¡°Right,¡± I nodded, ¡°Have any of your colleagues received news of the battle yet?¡±
The Senator¡¯s eyes shifted, ¡°No¡ I don¡¯t think so.¡±
¡°Then you¡¯ll be first,¡± I felt compelled to whisper, despite knowing she could adjust the output volume of her holoproj at leisure, ¡°The Pantoran arrived with reinforcements, saving our asses just as we were about to break. Of the two dreadnoughts, one was captured and the other was completely destroyed. The General of the Republic¡¯s Twelfth Sector Army is our prisoner.¡±
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers, ¡°The Pantoran did¨C¡±
¡°Yes,¡± I replied quickly, eyeing General Tann¡¯s progress to the bridge on the camera feed, ¡°Look, I¡¯ll have all the material you need sent to the Embassy via a press club. Can you get a vote right now?¡±
¡°Now?¡± Mina unconsciously bit her lip, ¡°No, that¡¯s¡ but I can introduce a motion and schedule it in a week.¡±
¡°Too long,¡± I shook my head, ¡°Make it tomorrow, or in two days. Tell them what I told you¨Cmake it an emergency.¡±
Mina paused, looking up to something¨Cor someone¨Cin front of her, ¡°...Fine. I¡¯ll send you the details. Make sure Tann is present when it happens.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± I promised.
Insider knowledge wasn¡¯t rare. If Mina was any other senator, I could send the info to her straight¨Cbut I had her reputation to consider. Like most Peace Faction senators, her image is that of idealism, honour, and virtue. The senators will still connect the dots when they realise she¡¯s the first to receive the news, but as long as there isn¡¯t a direct path to trace, the actual public won¡¯t care.
I saw her take a deep breath in preparation for the speech she was about to make, and then the connection was interrupted.
¡°Hare, get Admiral Greyshade¨C¡± The title still tasted strange on my tongue. Not quite bitter¨Che was only an Admiral in the local context¨Cbut still odd, ¡°¨CAnd have him transmit the logs to the foreign correspondents¡¯ association.¡±
Hare was a brilliant adjutant. I only needed to tell her the bare minimum and she¡¯d pick up on everything else. As she made herself scarce, I climbed out of my seat and cracked my back, observing a small legion of tugs drag the Pride away. The death toll was going to echo throughout the galaxy, I could already see it. But right now? Right now it was the POWs that were important. Hundreds of captured warships and hundreds of thousands prisoners of war of every rank, species, and race.
Disregarding all the hidden politicking, this was now our most powerful card against the Republic.
¡°Have you considered upgrading your flagship, Commodore?¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s sharpness belied the chipper tone just underneath, ¡°You could do much better than this.¡±
In hindsight, General Tann¡¯s survival was never in doubt. Didn¡¯t Vinoc say she could foresee the future? Obviously everything would be part of her calculations. Not to mention there was a good chance the Force¨Cread: plot armour¨Cwas watching her back at all times. Still, I never quite expected her to use the Carrion Spike.
I turned around, ¡°I still quite like her. What about the cloaked ship?¡±
General Tann scraped her glowing red gaze across the comparatively small pilothouse, inspecting the consoles and the droids at their stations as she made her way down to the viewports.
¡°I have no doubt that Dooku intended for our new dreadnought to eliminate me,¡± she ignored me with one breath and dropped a figurative atomic bomb with the next, ¡°I admit I am not the most well-versed as to why that would be, and hope you can share with me your insights.¡±
¡°Why would I know what Count Dooku is thinking, sir?¡± I asked, trying not to be too outwardly nervous.
¡°If someone does, I believe it would be you,¡± the Pantoran smiled thinly.
I am actually insulted, more or less because it¡¯s true. Dooku¡¯s seriously pulling out all the stops for this, and I hate that I kind of knew exactly what him and Palpatine were trying to achieve out of this whole mess. Backup plan and all.
¡°I can¡¯t say, General,¡± I broke eye-contact to check the shuttle¡¯s progress, ¡°Nevertheless, your election to Supreme Commander is all but confirmed. Your timely arrival means all of our logs corroborate the fact that you led our reinforcements into battle. I have forwarded the information to a contact in the Senate, who I believe, has already introduced the motion to the floor.¡±
¡°That is hasty,¡± she commented, not untruthful, ¡°Would it not be wiser to consolidate my position among the Admirals and Generals before pressing my claim?¡±
¡°No,¡± I said bluntly, ¡°We need two things to pass the vote for certain; the Coalition Senators and the Peace Faction. We already have the Coalition, but we still need the Peace Faction. And for them to vote, they need to believe the situation on the Perlemian is still precarious.¡±
¡°I must commend you for the creation of the Coalition,¡± General Tann praised, ¡°I would have never considered it, but I can see it was quite the ingenious solution to our political troubles.¡±
¡°Only for the short-term,¡± I noticed Stelle giving me a hand signal, ¡°Allow me to explain, sir. Both we and the Republic are spent. Neither of us have any more offensive potential. The war on the Perlemian is functionally over.¡±
¡°For the Coalition, perhaps, but the Confederate Fleets are still active and fresh.¡±
I jabbed a thumb over my shoulder, and Stelle began shepherding out the bridge shift, ¡°From what we can tell, the Republic have only retreated back to the Mid Rim frontier, and have no intention of withdrawing any further. They are undoubtedly intent on ensuring their progress does not become undone.¡±
The General¡¯s expression mellowed into one of introspection, mind no doubt already working through preliminary battle plans and strategies.
¡°If you would excuse me, General,¡± I started, tugging my collar, ¡°Commander Vinoc had informed me of your abilities¡ I would not pretend to understand how the Force works, but would you allow me to make my own prediction of the near future?¡±
¡°Continue,¡± she said almost absent-mindedly.
¡°There is going to be a ceasefire¨C¡± her head snapped towards me almost imperceptibly, and I knew I had her attention, ¡°¨CThe very fact that the Republic mobilised not one, but two star dreadnoughts, is telling. They had every expectation of victory, and this recent defeat is borderline unrecoverable. The Shadowfeed is going to stoke public outrage, not to mention the cadres of high-ranking officers and princelings that are being processed into our internment hulks as we speak.¡±
¡°...This hypothetical ceasefire,¡± General Tann mused, ¡°Do you believe it will last?¡±
What a loaded question, I cringed. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s the type to have a ¡®correct answer¡¯ for those kinds of questions, but it was still worth a thought; does Sev¡¯rance Tann want the war to end?
¡°No,¡± I answered honestly, ¡°The powers that be do not want the war to end¨Cnot truly. A call for peace on the Perlemian will achieve three things: buy time for a reorganisation, facilitate a prisoner exchange, and ¡®reset¡¯ public opinion.¡±
Bloody red eyes sharpened, ¡°A false flag.¡±
¡°I concur, General. A false flag attack will likely reignite the war.¡±
And then there was the hidden purpose of the ceasefire; to block the election of the Separatist Supreme Commander. The Republic threat is over, at least for now. And that means the fire underneath the Senate has died. With the ceasefire in place, the Coalition and its senatorial bloc will disband, and Dooku will be free to install Grievous in power at his leisure. This is why it was so pertinent that the election happens now.
I continued to tell her exactly as such; ¡°The Coalition was never a permanent solution. Once they realise there is no more threat, they will begin to disband. Similarly, the Peace Faction that we rely on is only reliable until they realise there is no more threat. This is our very narrow window of opportunity where the stars have aligned.¡±
¡°Is this truly all speculation, Commodore? Or is it founded in some truth?¡±
¡°It is how I would act should I be a Loyalist pro-war senator, sir. Though I may be overthinking; this is quite beyond my paygrade.¡±
¡°I imagine that won¡¯t be for long.¡±
¡°Uh, pardon¨C?¡±
The clanking of metal footsteps echoed down the hallway, distracting both of us and preventing me from pressing the issue.
¡°The shuttle has arrived, Master,¡± Hare informed me quietly.
¡°Watch the bridge for me,¡± I replied, before addressing the General again, ¡°There is one more thing, sir. Care for a walk?¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann drew herself back into the imperious stature that made her so famous in the Confederate military establishment. Onderonians were on the taller side of the human species, but the General met my height with ease. It¡¯s been quite a while since I haven¡¯t needed to look down¨Cliterally¨Con the person I was conversing with.
¡°Certainly,¡± she allowed.
We passed the incoming bridge shift as we retreated into the darkness of Repulse¡¯s hull, with most of the lights dimmed or completely out in order to prioritise power for self-repair systems. The bridge shift pivoted in lockstep as we approached, saluting the General in perfect tandem, before swinging back and continuing on their path.
¡°Even your crew meets your standards,¡± there was the slightest smile tugging at Tann¡¯s lips.
I cleared my throat, ¡°Did you know about our dreadnoughts, General? Forgive me if I am overstepping.¡±
¡°I did not, but I do intend on searching for answers,¡± the Pantoran was staring straight ahead, ¡°I heard General Grievous nearly secured the office I seek, and now he commands the very dreadnought that fired at me. Do you have anything to say?¡±
¡°You did arrive rather unorthodoxly, sir,¡± I admitted, ¡°He will either pass it off as friendly fire from an inaccurate shot, or that he was aiming at the Pride and disregarded the enemy Venator in the line of fire. I imagine the latter.¡±
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
¡°It will be hard to prove malicious intent,¡± she admitted.
¡°Might I offer some advice, General,¡± I started, holding the turbolift open for her, ¡°Never approach General Grievous alone. He is Dooku¡¯s puppet, has a standing order to eliminate you, and is a trained Jedi killer.¡±
¡°Trained Jedi killer?¡±
I nodded sharply, ¡°The battle report from Christophsis details how he personally dispatched three¨Cperhaps more¨CJedi. One of them was even a Councilmember, if the rumours are to be believed.¡±
Her brows furrowed, ¡°This will be taken under advisement, Commodore.¡±
The turbolift spat us out into the starboard hangar. Munificents didn¡¯t have much in the way of hangar space¨Cmost of the Vulture complement hung from rafters outside¨Cand what little there was had been reserved for shuttles and landing ships. Such as Messenger¡¯s stunt-legged Sheathipede-class.
I almost didn¡¯t recognise the dead-eyed girl in cuffs, held still by Tuff¡¯s firm grip. Barriss Offee had grown taller, her hair growing out straight and stringy past her shoulders. Despite that, however, her shoulders were straight and even, and for one second I saw something haunted and obsessive beneath her dissonant blue gaze. The kind I¡¯ve only seen in one other person before.
A light slowly dawned on Sev¡¯rance Tann as she dug through her memories for what must¡¯ve been a footnote of a character in her life. And then she recognised the same thing as I did, or something similar in the Force, because the red glow of her eyes darkened by a tone.
¡°Barriss Offee,¡± I greeted politely, ¡°It has been a long time. Good work, Tuff.¡±
The droid inclined his head by a degree.
¡°Do the Separatists really want the war to end?¡± the Jedi suddenly asked, holding her arm.
I opened my mouth to answer, but an off-thought came to mind. This was the perfect time to hear General Tann¡¯s answer, instead of just repeating mine again. As such, I shot the her a meaningful glance and took a half-step back.
¡°...That has always been our objective, Miss Offee,¡± General Sev¡¯rance Tann stated, ¡°It has never changed.¡±
A muscle in the girl¡¯s jaw tightened, ¡°The Jedi Order has lost its way. We now obey a Republic that no longer serves the interests of its people. If you allow me to return to the Temple, I will attempt to reason with the Jedi Council.¡±
I showed no outward emotion, ¡°What do you think, sir?¡±
¡°I sense no untruthfulness,¡± she admitted, ¡°But I must ask you this, Miss Offee. Do you truly believe you can bring change to the Jedi Order?¡±
A shadow of doubt crossed Barriss¡¯ face, but her expression firmed up soon after, ¡°I will tell them of what I¡¯ve seen. They¡¯ll believe me¨Cthey must.¡±
¡°And the Republic?¡± Tann pressed further.
¡°If¡ if Master Yoda can be convinced, he¡¯ll talk to the Chancellor.¡±
I snorted softly, breaking my act for the briefest moment. Unfortunately, I was dealing with two Force users, and now found myself under their combined scrutiny.
¡°I like the conviction,¡± I chirped unhelpfully.
¡°But you don¡¯t believe it to be realistic,¡± Tann raised an eyebrow, ¡°Something to add?¡±
Then and there, I wondered if it would be alright to unload everything I knew. Not the wisest idea from first glance, but I forced myself to remember why I¡¯m putting in so much effort in the first place. Siding with Sev¡¯rance Tann, fighting a one-sided war against Dooku from the shadows, consolidating political and military power. Rising the ranks. It was all to create enough of a power base to resist the rise of the Empire.
I had forgotten that purpose, embroiled in the war.
¡°Hare, have Commander Vinoc on the line by the time I return to the bridge,¡± I spoke into my comlink.
¡°What do you know?¡± Barriss tried to step forward, but Tuff caught her stiffly, jerking her back, ¡°What are you hiding!?¡±
I met General Tann¡¯s gaze for a good minute, resisting the urge to rip away from that inhuman stare. Sighing, I swung back to Barriss, ripped the Confederate roundel from her shoulder, and deposited the rank plaque in her hands.
¡°Like I said, I admire your conviction. Follow me; it¡¯s never too late to learn the truth.¡±
?
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
Sometimes, Padm¨¦ Amidala wondered if she was ever shown the same datafiles as everybody else in the Galactic Senate.
Every day the war continued to crawl forward, with every new Senate session, she felt as if the galaxy was slowly becoming insane. Or was it only the Senate? Or perhaps, am I the one who is insane? She was struck by a giddying sense of clarity as her colleagues continued to shout and scream around her.
Yes, it must be me who has gone insane. That must be it. That must be the explanation.
What other explanation could there be?
Padm¨¦ could laugh.
It was only the shared, slightly bewildered, slightly concerned glances she had in common with Bail Organa of Alderaan and Mon Mothma of Chandrila that kept her grounded. If she was insane, then at least there was some consolation in not being the only one who has lost their mind.
Padm¨¦ could laugh, again.
Her lips quirked upwards, drawing a worried look from Teckla, her former handmaiden and now senatorial aide. Padm¨¦ reassured her with a look, before once more reading the datafile presented by the Republic High Command to confirm that she was not, in fact, insane. The sheepish¨Cno, sheepish was too weak a word¨Cthe utterly mortified orderly was still by the Chancellor¡¯s podium in his repulsorpod, arms folded at his back and gaze fixed to his feet. He stood there as if he was expecting execution by firing squad, and Padm¨¦ could only pity him as the bearer of bad news.
Because there was no way to see the ¡®silver lining,¡¯ because there was no silver lining.
Ten million patriots are dead, and these so-called servants of the people are baying for more war!
Was it deliberate callousness, or were they so out-of-touch with reality, their lives consumed by this brutalist steel cradle? Have they forgotten that there was a war raging outside, while they continued to avail themselves of the limitless privileges they afforded by their stations?
¡°There should be no debate!¡± Senator Rab of Tarn cried, ¡°We must immediately pass a bill to fund the construction of more ships!¡±
¡°By whom!?¡± the Senator from Rendili shot back, ¡°The only thing Kuat seems to be capable of delivering is defeat!¡±
The Senator from Rendili¡¯s outburst was so deviantly irrelevant to the scope of the issue it was almost absurd. Still, the quick jab was not unfounded, and the Kuati representatives could only sit and swallow the insults. Not only had their Venator line of star cruisers been thoroughly disparaged by many prominent admirals, their vaunted star dreadnoughts had also been destroyed.
Certainly, they have claimed time and time again that the losses were a matter of operation, not product, and that the blame ultimately fell on the shoulders of both the military and the Jedi, but for now it was preferable not to draw any more untoward attention. As such, the Kuati delegates shrunk further in the shadows in order to remain out of the discourse.
¡°We cannot afford to be irresponsible!¡± Senator Organa boomed over the shouting, ¡°The Republic is already near bankruptcy due to the cost of this war! The amount of funds necessary to replace our losses will bankrupt us!¡±
¡°That is not necessarily the case!¡± Senator Saam moved his pod forward, ¡°Members of the Senate; if you would refer to the emergency appropriations bill my caucus has drafted, you will find that there is a way to procure the funds we need!¡±
Padm¨¦ navigated her pod''s dashboard to find the mentioned bill, and lost just a little more faith in the body in which she participated. This was so blatantly shameless.
¡°¨CThis bill will essentially deregulate the banks!¡± Senator Farr of Rodia rebuked in outrage, ¡°This is utterly unacceptable!¡±
¡°It is a small price to pay in order to recover our losses, Senator!¡± Senator Burtoni of Kamino countered, ¡°Or are you perhaps suggesting we allow those Separatists roll over us on the Perlemian?¡±
The Senate exploded again.
¡°Never!¡±
¡°We must stop those animals!¡±
¡°Fund the war! Fight the Separatists!¡±
¡°And what about those responsible for our crushing defeat?¡± Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth called for action, ¡°How will the Grand Army face accountability!? They promised a victory, and instead returned to us begging for credits with the worst defeat the Republic has faced in a thousand years!¡±
¡°I promise you, honoured Senators,¡± the orderly proclaimed, ¡°We are completely restructuring our staffs so that a disaster of this scale will never occur again!¡±
¡°And what does that mean!?¡± someone roared, and the orderly shrunk several inches.
Padm¨¦ felt like a wooden doll as she slowly lowered herself into the seat of her senate pod, cradling her head in her hands. Money, money, money. It¡¯s all about credits, and not a single mention about those who died fighting for us! She peeked at Chancellor Palpatine through a gap in her fingers, and found the man observing the proceedings¨Cor lack thereof¨Cin an almost dreamlike quality. It was the sight of Finis Valorum come-again, except this time she did not know whether the Chancellor was distraught over the ineptitude of the body he governed, or the state of the war itself.
There was clearly going to be no help from him.
She sighed deeply.
Wouldn¡¯t the Jedi be able to instil some semblance of reason into the Senate? Except, they are apparently as much to blame as the Grand Army. If the media is to believe, Jedi Command sent their best Jedi General to battle, and now he too was dead.
But she had more to worry about than that.
Where are you, Anakin? He told her he was going to the Outer Rim, just before he left. Does that mean he was on the Perlemian as well? Was he among¨Cher eyes caught a glimpse of the figure, and she hated the clench of fear that gripped her¨Cwas he among the ten million dead?
She wouldn¡¯t know for weeks, maybe months. How could she? She was a senator, and he was a general. They had their duties, and their own wars to fight.
And oh, how I am failing mine. How we all are.
Padm¨¦ chided herself for being selfish in a time of great crisis. Even though misguided, at least her fellow colleagues were arguing in the name of the Republic. What was she doing? What was she thinking of?
¡°You need to say something, my lady,¡± Teckla leaned towards her imploringly, her well-meaning words twisting the metaphorical dagger.
¡°In this crowd?¡± Padm¨¦ jabbed her chin towards the bickering Senate, ¡°Everybody knows the platform I run on. They won¡¯t let me get a word in, because no-one seems to care. Ten million people are dead, and they think the best course of action is to continue the bloodshed instead of end it.¡±
Teckla paused, craning her head up to look around, ¡°Your caucus will, won¡¯t they? My lady, nobody here might care, but the people will, when they realise somebody is still looking out for them. Why not speak to them instead?¡±
¡°The people¡?¡± she murmured.
¡°The Senate is still accountable to the people,¡± Teckla gave her a determined smile.
Padm¨¦ didn¡¯t know how much of that was true anymore, but she was never one to give up on a challenge. The Senator from Naboo slowly rose to her feet, sweeping a look across the Grand Convocation Chamber as a plan began to form in her head. Most of the Senators are just observing, she realised. Since it was such a crucial moment, most just wanted to side with the safer option.
An option that has yet to arise, not while the debate was split right down the middle.
And what about the Chancellor? What was his agenda? Ever since the Military Creation Act, he has been introducing and passing more and more controversial bills that bordered on overreach, which he used to empower the military even further. But as a member of the Loyalist Committee, Padm¨¦ had always put her personal feelings aside to endorse them.
Now, though?
Padm¨¦ eyed the orderly, before drawing her gaze to one of the many holocam droids in the Convocation Chamber, making the rounds to record the reactions of every senator as if this was some sort of holodrama. The media wanted views, and that meant they needed drama. Arguing senators? There was no better source.
Still, one or two holocams will still make the rounds, on standby and constant vigil for the next voice to be raised.
She wetted her lips and cleared her throat in preparation for a speech, making a show of straightening out her dress. As expected, one of the holocams caught it and began traversing the open hall towards her pod.
She had to make an impact, something to cut through the din and catch the attention of those holocams. That was the only way she could speak to the ¡®people.¡¯ Military defeats have been hidden or downplayed before, but one on this size and scale? There must be billions tuning in to watch how the governing organ of the Republic intends on responding to the crisis.
Padm¨¦ silently inputted a request to speak.
Speaker of the Senate Mas Amedda looked down at his console, and then at her, nodding tersely, ¡°The Chair recognises the Senator from Naboo!¡±
The holocam droid followed her Senate pod as she drove it forward.
The Senator from Naboo took a deep breath¨C ¡°HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MINDS!?¡±
Her voice boomed throughout the Grand Convocation Chamber, drowning everything out and stunning the Galactic Senate into deafening silence. From the corner of her eye, Padm¨¦ spotted two more holocams approaching her.
If that didn¡¯t catch their attention, nothing will.
Padm¨¦ Amidala: a measured, articulate, and persuasive voice of reason in the Republic Senate. She knew the image she wore before the Senate, and the galaxy. At that moment, however, she was the daring partisan guerrilla, the former queen of a world subjected to invasion and occupation. Someone who knew first hand the consequences of war, and have had enough of it.
¡°Now that I have captured your attention, honoured colleagues!¡± she all but bellowed, ¡°Might I comment that all I have heard is credit, credit, funds and financial bills!? While all of you bicker and argue over the fiscal cost of the war, might I remind this august body that there is the mortal cost!? Must I remind every one of you that ten million people are dead!?¡±
You are fighting your war, Annie. I will fight mine.
¡°They were clones, Senator!¡± Senator Edcel Bar Gane of Roona scolded, ¡°This is what they were bred for! All you have done is made a fool of yourself¨C¡±
¡°And all you have done is expose the depths of your ignorance, Senator!¡± she roared, ¡°Must I remind this august body that there are only two million cloned troopers in the galaxy as well!?¡±
Edcel Bar Gane recoiled, as if he had been physically struck. A fourth holocam had joined the audience floating above her head, and she wondered how many billions, trillions were watching her every move. She could feel the astonished stares from Senator Organa and Senator Farr, while the rest of the Senate enraptured themselves to her rhetoric.
This is where I belong.
¡°What are you saying, Senator Amidala?¡± Senator Paulness asked.
¡°What I am saying is that those were our countrymen who had fallen, not clones!¡± Padm¨¦ berated the Senate, ¡°They were not clones. They were loyalists! Patriots! Young men and women who have taken up the torch of the Republic, to fight for the Republic! And in a single day, ten million of them lost their lives! What have we achieved? A few extra parsecs in the Mid Rim!?¡±
¡°Their bereaved families and friends are watching us, right now! And all of you have nothing to say but scream and shout at each other about credits and funds!¡± the Senator from Naboo snapped her attention to the Senator from Roona like a hawk, ¡°You argue for the appropriations bill, Senator Bar Gane! But while you only think about the ships to replace, I am thinking about who has to crew them! Will you be personally visiting the homes of grieving families, offering your greatest condolences¨Cyour thoughts and prayers!¨Cwith the left hand, and then demanding the conscription of the second son with the right!?¡±
¡°Honoured colleagues!¡± Padm¨¦ addressed the full Senate once more, voice dripping with sweetness, ¡°When I hear the argument for this appropriations bill, all I hear is the argument for ten million more of our constituents to be thrown into the next battle and once more BE SLAUGHTERED LIKE LIVESTOCK!¡±
Gasps rang out¨C aghast, appalled and astonished. Any one of a hundred emotions, and they all served her purpose. Padm¨¦ paused for the briefest moment, waiting for the Chair to reprimand her for breaching some archaic code of conduct or the other¨Cbut to her surprise, nothing came.
¡°T-That is enough, Senator Amidala,¡± Senator Saam attempted to mollify her, ¡°You have made your point quite clear¨C¡±
¡°Have I, Senator Saam!? Have I?¡± she swept her gaze across the Galactic Senate, meeting as many eyes as she could, ¡°Have I made it clear that this august body¡¯s solution to the deaths of ten million of our countrymen is keep the bloodshed going!? Have I made it clear that this august body¡¯s solution to the deaths of ten million of our countrymen is to line the pockets of their shimmersilk cloaks with bribes from the immoral corporations that fund the engine of war!?¡±
Senator Saam cringed, seeking support from his fellow corporate senators. But Lott Dod of the Trade Federation and Nix Card were motionless, clearly reading the writing on the wall. It was no secret, but nobody has dared to spell it out so clearly. Padm¨¦ knew she had just made enemies with half of the Republic Senate. But she could not care; this was greater than any of them. She could be completely on her own and it wouldn¡¯t matter, because she already had all of them by the throats.
¡°Please conclude your statement, Senator Amidala,¡± Mas Amedda requested.
Padm¨¦ cleared her throat again, sharing a grin with her Teckla before returning to her audience, ¡°My honoured colleagues. I have not an inkling of doubt in your loyalties! There is no doubt that my countrymen¨CNabooans¨Cwere present in the defeated fleet, and have lost their lives fighting for the Republic. Just as I have no doubt your countrymen were present too. They were true patriots! As such, the Naboo concludes that we must honour their sacrifice, to ensure that nobody follows them to such a fate! Naboo concludes that this war must end!¡±
¡°¨CChandrila concurs with the Senator from Naboo!¡± Mon Mothma announced.
¡°Rodia seconds the Senator from Chandrila!¡±
¡°Alderaan is in full agreement with Naboo!¡± Bail Organa had the widest smile as he said so.
Senator Bana Breemu raised a hand ¡°As is Humbarine!¡±
¡°Traitors! All of you!¡± Senator Mot-Not Rab railed against them, wilfully ignorant of the shifting atmosphere, ¡°Who¡¯s side are really on!?¡±
Padm¨¦ didn¡¯t answer at first, imbuing the Senator from Tarn with what seemed like confidence. In reality, however, she was only waiting for the holocam to make its way to his repulsorpod. Just as the Senator was about to continue¨C
¡°I am on the side that wishes for no more of our sons and daughters to die, Senator,¡± she replied coolly, ¡°I am on the side that no longer wants to see grieving mothers weeping over caskets, or see children waiting by the door for a father who would never return. What about you, Senator? I am curious, as I imagine the galaxy is, as are your constituents. The holocam eagerly awaits your answer, honoured Senator, so tell us; whose side are you on?¡±
Mot-Not Rab swung around to find the holocam buzzing sinisterly above his head, catching a right good look of his panic-struck expression. When there wasn¡¯t any answer but stunned silence, the droid almost shook in disappointment, before hovering away to find the next poor soul to terrorise.
When it was abundantly clear there was no more opposition, Padm¨¦ finished her speech.
¡°The Senator from Naboo wishes to sponsor a peace initiative with the Separatist Alliance!¡± she declared, ¡°Enough of the galaxy has bled for nothing, and so I will say it once and now: this war is over! Vote now!¡±
The Senate went wild, erupting into raucous cheering and applause. The very air was now buzzing with excitement, with dozens of new holocams introduced into the Convocation Chamber in order to capture the standing ovation in its entirety.
¡°She¡¯s right!¡± Padm¨¦ could hear.
¡°Listen to her!¡±
¡°This war is over, vote now!¡±
¡°This war is over!¡±
¡°This war is over!¡±
The whole Senate took up the chant, louder and louder until it seemed the whole galaxy roared along with them. And among it all, Padm¨¦ locked gazes with Chancellor Palpatine, who replied with a kind smile and nod. She breathed out, and took her seat. She could finally relax, because she knew that¨C
¡°THIS WAR IS OVER!¡±
Chapter 33
Raxus Secundus, Raxus System
Caluula Sector
¡°This session has been convened today to debate and decide on the confirmation of the Sovereign System of Japrael''s nomination for the office of the Supreme Martial Commander of the Separatist Armies.¡±
Bec Lawise¡¯s ritual opening statement was a calm spell that descended on the Separatist Senate, mellowing out otherwise explosive arguments and debates into civil sobriety. His was the guiding hand that has steered the apparatus of the Confederacy since its inception. Just as there has been no legitimately considered opposition to the Dooku Administration, Bec Lawise¡¯s position as Congress Leader was rock solid.
Lawise¡¯s level voice commanded respect and maturity as a rare neutral figure in an increasingly partisan Senate. Like the vast majority of Siniteens, he was a political realist, using that massive brain of his to measure every intent and intonation to maintain the fragile decorum in the chamber.
Which was why his decision to spell out the Sovereign System of Japrael was so measured and deliberate. First was that the Confederacy was supposed to be a non-partisan democracy¨Cpolitical parties were not outright banned, but there were legal stoppers in place to prevent them from participating in elections. This non-partisan behaviour was naturally extended to the expected conduct of both the Head of State and Congress Leader. As such, colloquial labels like ¡®Peace Faction,¡¯ ¡®War Faction,¡¯ and ¡®Coalition Senators¡¯ were not legally bound by any means, and were created by pundits to divvy up the Senate for easy reference.
Not that it was wholly untrue, anyhow.
Despite the very antipodal nomenclature, cross-party deals were common between the War and Peace Factions. Their antagonism only extends as far as international relations are concerned, as most of the Independent Systems share similar economic principles¨Cwhich was why they joined the Separatist Alliance in the first place. Thankfully, this meant the Confederacy¡¯s domestic policies were far more coherent than the Republic¡¯s. Pre-war Republic¡¯s, at least.
In any case, the second reason was that Onderon was an ¡®ally¡¯ of the Confederacy. When the Treaty of Iziz was signed, both Onderon and Raxus acknowledged that the Japrael System was going to be an enclave and especially vulnerable. Onderon¡¯s treatment was similar to Fondor in that regard; the membership of an Inner Rim system would be a massive boost the Separatist legitimacy, and so both times diplomats were tasked with specifically wording the treaties so that Onderon and Fondor were ¡®allied¡¯ star systems.
Neutral parties, so to speak. Secession wasn¡¯t illegal in Republic law¨Cbut apparently joining the Separatist Alliance was. Thus, Onderon used that paper thin argument that it had simply exercised its right to secede in order to disqualify the Republic¡¯s moral high ground and deter invasion.
Paper thin. Less than paper thin. Onderon and Fondor had representation in the Separatist Senate, and had contributed military resources.
But that was where Onderon and Fondor differed. Fondor was one of the premier shipyards of the galaxy, nestled in the Core¡¯s backyard¨Cwhile Onderon was an inhospitable, barely populated backwater on the fringes of the Inner Rim. The last I¡¯ve heard, Fondor was under siege¨Cby an Onderonian Jedi, ironically. But Onderon? The reason why this diplomatic scheme worked for Onderon was because it would be too much of a hassle for the Republic.
Alright, maybe that was an understatement.
Fighting Onderon would be hell on earth for the Republic. Like Fondor, the Onderonian populace was lukewarm at best to the Separatist cause; but once their homeworld was under invasion? The Republic wouldn¡¯t be fighting Onderonians, they would be fighting Onderon.
Onderon. The planet with a biosphere actively hostile to human life, not to mention the Demon Moon¡¯s yearly crusade. The planet with a frankly prideful and notoriously xenophobic people who lived in hidden cities that can¡¯t be named or located by anyone but those who lived there. The planet with an aeon-long history of bloodshed, with innumerable fortresses and mountain redoubts carved into its impenetrable geography.
Any invader wouldn¡¯t even know where to start. Iziz, the so-called capital city? You might as well mark Japrael System¡¯s dot on the starchart as Iziz, because that¡¯s the only Onderonian settlement the galaxy can name. Fuck, even I can¡¯t name any city outside of Iziz¡¯s woefully small sphere of influence¨CI don¡¯t think anybody in this sorry excuse of a ¡®capital¡¯ city can.
No, better leave this shithole of the star system alone in its ¡®neutrality¡¯ then spend nineteen years and a million men slogging through the jungle. It wasn¡¯t like Onderon had any strategic importance anyway¨Clocation-wise or resource-wise.
The Congress Leader drew my attention back to the event at hand, ¡°The floor is now open to debate.¡±
Speaker Lawise waited several heartbeats, but there was not a single voice of dissent.
Maybe it was the cliques of officers watching from the mezzanines¨Cmyself included¨Cimposing a watchful pressure on the politicians below. Each one of us owed our lives to Sev¡¯rance Tann¨Cor at least that¡¯s how it was spun¨Cand a walkout would be a tacit condemnation of our government. Holocam droids buzzed around; the eyes of the Confederacy were on us.
Or maybe it was the star of the show, Sev¡¯rance Tann herself, standing in close-eyed silence at the foot of the debate tables below. She was the very picture of composure, ready to answer any inquiry or refute any detraction of her character. Confidence radiated from her stance in waves, and even Mina Bonteri standing a handful of kiosks away appeared moved. Maybe it was simple enough that nobody dared oppose the face of the Confederate Armed Forces right in front of her.
The answer was simple; it was everything previously mentioned, and it was the collective conclusion of the Senate that this was the closest they¡¯ve ever been to confirming a Supreme Commander; the Peace Faction have finally taken a step off their platform to meet the War Faction in the middle in a rare display of compromise. If any of the War Faction argues, it would be the death sentence of their entire agenda and even legitimacy.
Even those on Dooku¡¯s payroll could only keep their heads down and let gears turn. Sev¡¯rance Tann was a decorated hero of the Confederacy who had fought for the Separatist cause ever since its inception. She was the only Separatist commander who had ever struck the Core Worlds. She was at one point the executive nomination. The media¡¯s exaltation of her character had only catapulted her fame to astronomical heights. I daresay she was very well now a household name, at least in the Near Perlemian region.
The only thing that could stop the inevitability of her confirmation was Dooku himself, and he was nowhere to be seen. I could just imagine the man hauling ass from Serenno¨Cand even though the thought made me want to giggle, that ever-present part of me warned not to underestimate him.
However, simple logic dictates that there was absolutely no way for him to get here in time. He could take any path¨Cthe Republic-occupied Salin Corridor, the Gordian Reach or the Listehol Run¨Cand still take days to reach Raxus even with the latest hyperdrive.
He wasn¡¯t getting here in time. End of story.
Would you look at that, I mused, the Senate is in checkmate.
¡°If there is no opposition in this body,¡± Mina Bonteri boomed, voice powerful and clear as water, ¡°Then Onderon moves that this body proceeds with the vote.¡±
Once again, Lawise waited some seconds for dissent, before finally relenting, ¡°The dais recognises the Senator from Onderon¡¯s motion. By the Bylaws of Independent Systems, a voice vote is required to proceed.¡±
A resounding ¡®aye¡¯ rose from the stands, to the point some of the spectating officers were moved backwards in surprise, as if the wall of noise had physically shoved them. From the corner of my eye, I spotted the Harch Admiral Trench rising head and shoulders over the crowd, passively stroking one of his mandibles as he eyed General Tann like a¡ well, like a spider watching a fly.
¡°The ayes have it,¡± the Speaker declared, though with an unmistakable tone of lament.
Before I could even begin to analyse why, however, he had already moved on.
¡°The Sovereign System of Japrael''s nomination is General Sev¡¯rance Tann,¡± he announced to nobody¡¯s surprise, ¡°Her file is now being transmitted to your consoles.¡±
A ripple of humour billowed through the spectating military caste. File, the common thought seemed to be, what file? What was there to look at, what was there to think about?
Was it her capture of Sarapin, the world that supplied 80% of the Core¡¯s power? Was it Krant, where she dealt the second decisive blow against the Republic by killing a Jedi General and crushing a Sector Fleet? Was it Christophsis, or Bothawui, or Columex?
Usually, a hearing would begin by now. Nothing serious; just a meaningless audit for the books. Stuff like cross-referencing her achievements, confirming her competency, and acknowledging her loyalty. But not a single Senator dared to stand up and break the thick, heavy fog settling over the benches. The peer pressure was so thick it made even me uncomfortable; only expounding by the pure calm General Tann displayed. I could be made to think this was just another military council.
All it would take is one person, I thought, one person to break the ice. I swept my gaze over the opposing stands, searching out the Senators I knew to be corporate-backed, or Dooku loyalists. Those driven by ideals¨CPeace or War Faction regardless¨Cwere likely sincere, but those driven by profit? It seemed not even profit could make them move now.
¡°According to the Bylaws of Independent Systems, an absolute majority is needed to confirm the Supreme Commander¡¯s nomination,¡± Speaker Lawise tapped his console and stepped back, ¡°You may now cast your votes.¡±
Like a great dam breached, the mounting pressure was abruptly released by hundreds of Senators all but leaping from their seats and dispersing among each other to debate the vote in their cliques. The only outliers were the Coalition Senators, who had already voted en masse, and General Tann herself, unmoved and straight as an arrow even as Senators crossing the floor gave her a wide berth.
I hunted down Admiral Trench once again, and began moving towards him. It was not difficult¨Ceven by alien standards, the towering Harch race was off-putting. Admiral Trench was a legendary figure long before Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s name first appeared in officer logs, and his very presence only stacked even more legitimacy to General Tann¡¯s claim. There was an invisible wall, almost tangible, that separated him from the rest of the spectators.
¡°Commodore Bonteri, may we have a moment of your time?¡±
I froze, spinning on a heel, ¡°Commander¡ Dymurra.¡±
Commander Dymurra of Ampliquen saluted carelessly, before smoothly transitioning into an introductory gesture for the steel-clad Skakoan beside him, ¡°This is Bunt Dantor of the Techno Union. We have a proposition to make.¡±
I shifted my gaze between them, before glancing over my shoulder to make sure Trench hadn¡¯t moved.
¡°I appreciate forthrightness,¡± I said, and they took it as permission to speak.
¡°With the¨C with General Tann¡¯s inevitable ascension, the Loronar Corporation and Techno Union wish for a collaborative venture with our new Supreme Commander,¡± Dymurra started.
¡°You are being a bit hasty, don¡¯t you think?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Bunt Dantor inserted, ¡°As businesses, we must seize the initiative. Doubtlessly, our rivals will be courting the Pantoran as soon as this farce of a vote is over. We wish for an exclusive contract with the Office of the General.¡±
¡°You seem confident in the vote¡¯s result,¡± I commented mildly.
¡°If you are not, officer, then consider that the Techno Union¡¯s worlds will vote for her if our proposition is accepted.¡±
I sucked in a wince. Alright, that was a bit too honest. Luckily, we were far from the prying eyes and ears of the camdroids. Nevertheless, their objective was rather straightforward¨Cthey wanted to get the jump on the rest of the military-industrial complex. With a Supreme Commander, the disparate corporations finally had a centralised figure and budget to approach in order to get contracts, and every single one of them wanted the largest slice of the cake.
A raised a flat palm, ¡°It¡¯s the Free Dac Volunteers that have brought this one, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°We are on the same page, officer.¡±
With the reveal of two QFD-built star dreadnoughts¨Cand likely many more in the works¨Cthe Free Dac Volunteers Engineering Corps undoubtedly were the premiere starship manufacturer of the Confederacy. Not to mention their chokehold on the Providence-class and Recusant-class designs that make the backbone of the Confederate Navy.
They must have secured the contracts from Dooku and the secret council of corporations backing him, circumventing the proper processes. But with a Supreme Commander, that avenue no longer existed, and everything concerning the matters of the military must go through the Office of the General of the Separatist Army. This was their chance to tear away the QFD¡¯s dominance with a superweapon of their own.
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However, if I remember correctly, Wat Tambor¨CForeman of the Techno Union¨Cwas a member of that secret council.
¡°What does the Foreman have to say about this?¡± I raised an eyebrow.
¡°There has been no contact with Foreman Tambor since Ryloth,¡± Bunt Dantor said bluntly, ¡°But the board of directors cannot let this opportunity slip.¡±
I could have also asked why they came to me of all people, but I suppose they had been thorough in their research, so it would be moot.
¡°Very well,¡± I conceded, ¡°Give me your proposal.¡±
Dymurra smirked, producing a holoproj before inserting a datachip into it, ¡°The Loronar Corporation had closely observed the Battle of Columex, and considering the effectiveness of your strategy, we propose a testbed for an entirely new class of vessel.¡±
The schematics burst out of the projector, detailing a warship that could only be described as an interstellar catamaran. The intent was clear enough¨Ceven without digging into the specifications¨Cthey wanted to replicate the Tann Railgun with an internal propulsion system rather than external.
The immediate problem that I noticed¨Cand so did they¨Cwas that the Tann Railgun wasn¡¯t a railgun. They called this vessel a testbed, and not a warship, because an internalised Tann Railgun had never been done before. See, the Tann Railgun couldn¡¯t be replicated with some rails and electromagnets¨Cthe galaxy has a long history of kinetic mass drivers¨Cbecause the Tann Railgun was more accurately a warp drive pretending to be a mass driver.
A railgun can¡¯t accelerate its warhead anywhere near relativistic velocities¨Cthe most powerful could perhaps manage a muzzle velocity of 20KPS; and the Tann Railgun had 100,000KPS. The drawbacks, however, were immense. Just to accelerate a proton torpedo needed the full power output of dreadnought reactors, with corresponding military-grade tractor beams. The energy required was immense, and the safeties were limited¨Cwe were dealing with the fabric of space-time here¨Cany smallest hiccup could result in¡ well, just look at what happened to my bastardised version of it at Columex.
A dozen warships vapourised and tens of thousands dead.
The Tann Railgun worked by contracting space in front of the warhead and expanding space behind it. With this, the warhead can break the speed of light. To my layman knowledge, this was essentially creating a warp drive. An extremely unstable warp drive that was bad enough outside the ship, but inside?
Factoring in the space needed for energy generation, propulsion systems, and the sheer amount of redundancies and safeties¡ the prospective warship will basically be a self-propelled artillery piece, possessing nothing but its main armament.
Then there were the fire control systems. While having an internal system meant firing solutions would be more straightforward, I highly doubt it would be the same as a conventional mass driver. Hell, I suspect the Tann Railgun only achieved any semblance of accuracy because of Force shenanigans, with Sev¡¯rance Tann using her foresight to trial and error every firing solution until she got a hit. Columex¡¯s bastardised version of it only worked due to the sheer number of targets and projectiles, and even then the hit ratio was less than one in a hundred.
In other words, this was going to be a long-term project. A prohibitively expensive one, at that. The Loronar Corporation and Techno Union will be building a completely new weapon system from the ground up, with a completely new hull to hold it. Would it work? I can¡¯t tell, hell I might not even be alive by the time it becomes mainstream. Can it even be done? If nothing else, both the Loronar Corporation and Techno Union possess a portfolio of non-standard designs and technologies.
If anybody could do it, it would be them.
¡°The Loronar Corporation will design the unique hullshape necessary, as is our specialty, as you know,¡± Dymurra explained, clearly responding to my pensiveness, ¡°Our subsidiary Loronar Defense Industries will collaborate with the Techno Union¡¯s Baktoid Fleet Ordnance to design the warhead and firing system. And¨C¡±
¡°And our Techno Union Research and Development Wing will immediately begin prospective studies and analysis into potential gravitic particle accelerator concepts and fire control systems,¡± Bunt Dantor finished, ¡°I will not lie, officer. This venture may or may not work, but it is my belief that proving a null hypothesis is still a step forward.¡±
¡°...I know,¡± I folded my arms, ¡°That is not my concern. My concern is the time and funds this venture needs. If you propose such after the war, I may be able¨C¡±
¡°No,¡± Bunt Dantor said heatedly, eyes burning with an intensity I had not expected, ¡°It must be now. There is no guarantee Sev¡¯rance Tann is still the Supreme Commander after the war. She is the only one who would greenlight such a risky venture. This is as much about exploring new technologies as it is about profit, officer, and the Techno Union is fully willing to invest as much resources as necessary.¡±
¡°As much resources as necessary¡?¡± I echoed lightly, snuffing a laugh, ¡°Is that the Techno Union¡¯s words, or that of the Research and Development Wing?¡±
Dymurra hastily stepped forward, holding back Dantor with a hand, ¡°We do not expect the Office of the General to fund everything, only the research and feasibility studies. For now, theory comes first. Implementation can come after the war.¡±
I slowly looked up at the ceiling, cracking my neck. That was¡ much more agreeable, not to mention it would tie the Loronar Corporation and the Techno Union¨Cone of largest commercial conglomerates in the galaxy¨Cto General Tann specifically. The same Techno Union that was the parent company of the Baktoid Industries that supplied almost all of the Droid Army¡¯s droids. There was a lot of potential for negotiations there¨Csuch as cheaper contracts and exclusivity¨Cand if I position myself as the intermediary¡
I nodded sharply, ¡°I will bring this to General Tann. But I need a lot more than this to convince her.¡±
¡°Overseer Umbrag is open to negotiations,¡± Bunt Dantor knitted his gloved fingers together, ¡°We are still grateful for your assistance in our relocation to Boz Pity. I am certain we can come to a profitable agreement; please let us know your answer to the earliest convenience.¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°Then we shall take no more of you time,¡± Dymurra saluted again, and the two of them drifted to their next meeting.
¡Thinking about it, maybe I should visit Boz Pity myself and see what Umbrag has made of it¨Cwith Vinoc in tow for safety, of course. Not to mention I had to see if my secondary rationale for selecting Boz Pity had borne any fruit. Other than that, I still had to return to my original objective.
¡°Admiral, sir,¡± I called once he was in earshot, ¡°It gladdens me to see that you are well.¡±
Admiral Trench slowly ripped his gaze away from the proceedings below, though he never fully turned towards me, ¡°Your sentiments are wasted on me, Commodore. Save them for the Confederacy.¡±
Even now, his chittering made my skin crawl. I stopped a good distance away from him, shooting a glare at the inconspicuous gaggle of eavesdroppers to disperse them.
¡°The Confederacy¡¯s safety is far from assured yet, sir,¡± I replied, ¡°But with the Pantoran now at our helm and your resurgence we may still have a fighting chance. Though I must admit, your support was¡ surprising.¡±
There was a cross between a snort and a sneer, mechanical arms whirring as he crossed them front and back, ¡°We are a long way from Christophsis, Commodore. If we are to seize victory, we must be united under a Supreme Commander our soldiers know and trust. Do not mistake me; I still believe the office should have been mine to take¨Cbut I do not find myself displeased with General Tann. There is no better candidate at this moment. At this crucial moment, we must not allow the machinations of the state to disrupt us. Dooku, for all his political intellect, has finally overreached.¡±
I swallowed, weighing my response, ¡°...There is no doubt Count Dooku is a peerless statesman, but he does not understand nor wish to understand our role as officers of the Confederacy. He still believes it is natural for soldiers to obediently comply with any order from above.¡±
¡°Grievous¡¡± this time, I made out Trench¡¯s vicious sneer clearly, ¡°He is a capable tactician, but little more than that. As generals and admirals, we must be aware that our decisions have tangible ramifications, yet that buffoon wields such great power with neither height nor responsibility. Grievous should have never been made a general¨Che should¡¯ve remained a field commander.¡±
¡°...Dooku will not take this lying down,¡± I muttered.
Admiral Trench finally swung around, giving me my first good look of his new visage. Pinkish, strung skin rippled down the left side of his face, the remnants pieced together by gilded cybernetics. I couldn¡¯t deny there was style, but the very thought of being turned into a cyborg made something inside me shrivel up. Prosthetics were one thing, but I think I¡¯d rather die than prolong my life with machinery.
¡°Then we must consider him a potential threat to the longevity of our Confederacy,¡± Trench¡¯s response was plain.
¡°The government steers the state,¡± I cautioned, ¡°Not the military.¡±
¡°Then we must impart on the government that wisdom,¡± Trench stared into my soul, ¡°We are the hounds of the state. Let¡¯s have them point their fingers in the direction of the hunt, not put them between our jaws.¡±
Something gripped me, then, as I looked into Trench¡¯s gleaming eyes. He was trying to tell me something, but I couldn¡¯t figure it out. I missed something¨Cthe thought was a clenching first, squeezing my arms to my sides¨Cbut what did I miss? I overlooked something crucial, but it was something that the old Harch has already seen. Just what was it¡
¡°¨CWhere is General Grievous?¡± I burst out, uncaring that I was probably overstepping.
¡°He and Tonith have absconded westward with the dreadnought Devastation,¡± the Admiral answered, ¡°He has been unresponsive to Raxus¡¯ summons. The investigation into the Battle of Columex will have to wait.¡±
¡°...You cannot be serious. Sir.¡±
¡°Now, more than ever, we need more hands placed upon the helm of state,¡± a rising commotion below drew our attention back to the railings, ¡°General Tann has spoken with me, and I am inclined to agree with her. Expect a promotion, Commodore. Soon, your hand will join ours.¡±
¡°The voting has concluded!¡± Speaker Lawise declared, ¡°The nomination has two-hundred and seventy-six ayes and thirty nays. The nomination passes by an overwhelming majority; General Sev¡¯rance Tann is hereby the first Supreme Martial Commander of the Separatist Armies!¡±
The Parliament hall exploded into thunderous applause¨Cmore so pouring down from the mezzanines than from the senatorial benches themselves. Even if many senators¨CPeace and War Faction alike, though for different reasons¨Cwere only clapping begrudgingly, the illusion of complete support was already established.
As General Tann began reciting her oaths of office, another thought struck me.
¡°Admiral,¡± I kept my head straight, ¡°Why did you speak against General Grievous?¡±
¡°Commander Trilm approached me with a very convincing argument,¡± Trench clicked his mandibles.
So she really did¡ A convincing argument, huh? The only thing I can think of is the debt Trench owed me for saving his life. It¡¯s a shame I wouldn¡¯t be able to cash it in at a more opportune moment, but I think this was a good exchange anyway.
¡°You have misunderstood,¡± Trench read my mind, ¡°It seems you do not know Commander Trilm as much as you think you do.¡±
I snapped my head up at him, ¡°Pardon? Sir?¡±
¡°I still owe you a life debt, make no mistake,¡± Trench watched as General Tann received her new rank plaque, ¡°Commander Trilm placed herself in my debt to persuade me.¡±
What? That Calli Trilm, placing herself in someone else¡¯s debt for no personal benefit? I couldn¡¯t help but frown. Hold on¡ if Grievous and Tonith are headed west, what about her?
I wetted my lips, ¡°Where¡ where is Commander Trilm right now?¡±
¡°Antemeridian Sector, pushing Republic forces back into the Mid Rim and fortifying our front against any further incursions.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°Allow me to tell you what I think of Calli Trilm,¡± Trench chuckled deeply, ¡°She is cut from the same cloth as Count Dooku. She is prideful, ambitious¨Cand she despises being in someone else¡¯s shadow. She will never use somebody else¡¯s name, because her dignity would not allow it.¡±
¡°Take this piece of advice, Commodore,¡± we watched as a messenger snuck through one of the side doors before whispering something into Senator Avi Singh¡¯s ear, ¡°You must secure Commander Trilm¡¯s loyalty at any cost. Once you are an admiral, you will be stepping out of our shadows. Your successes will no longer be attributed to your superiors, but yourself. Your name will be spoken in the media, and appear on the desks of Senate committees and even Dooku himself. You will need trusted friends, and it is apparent to me that Commander Trilm already trusts you.¡±
¡°...I find that hard to believe.¡±
Senator Singh had shot to his feet and scampered towards Senator Bonteri, relaying the messenger''s words. In a rare display of utter shock, Mina¡¯s eyes were wide open as she stared at Ames.
¡°If you find yourself in a disagreement with her,¡± Trench said distantly, ¡°Then you must find common ground before it proves fatal on the battlefield.¡±
¡°I will heed your words, Admiral,¡± I finally decided.
¡°I trust that you will¡¡± Trench¡¯s words drifted away as frenzied whispers spread through the Senate.
Usually, Bec Lawise would put an end to the confusion by now, but even the Congress Leader himself was struck to silence by whatever he saw on his console. Mina Bonteri was whirling around, scanning the upper decks until her eyes met mine.
The Speaker took a deep breath¨C ¡°We have just received a transmission from the Republic Diplomatic Corps! The Republic Senate has voted in favour of a peace initiative between our states, and have extended an offer for preliminary negotiations!¡±
¡°Peace!?¡± Voe Atell didn¡¯t let a stunned silence take hold, ¡°The Loyalists face one defeat and now they¡¯re suing for peace!? How many systems and worlds have we lost!? This is obviously a ploy to quit while they¡¯re ahead! With General Tann at the head of our military, we must seize the initiative and take back what we had lost!¡±
The War Faction and Coalition Senators erupted into roars of agreement, verbally tearing the Republic¡¯s offer into pieces. After all, many Coalition worlds were still occupied by Loyalist armies. The Peace Faction, on the other hand, were far from celebrating. Instead, panicked buzzing ripped through their ranks. This was a disaster. It was the Peace Faction that had nominated a Supreme Commander, and now the Republic was suing for peace? This was nothing other than a disaster for them.
Mina Bonteri stared at me, watching my reaction. I mouthed something at her, nodding shallowly, and the edges of her lips curled upwards.
¡°May we have order!¡± Speaker Lawise demanded, ¡°There will be a Senate session scheduled for the debate and voting of this peace initiative¨C the dais recognises the Senator from Onderon.¡±
¡°Might I suggest that our new Supreme Commander reveal her thoughts on this matter?¡± Senator Bonteri asked.
I could see War Faction senators leaning forward eagerly, while confusion gripped the ranks of Peace Faction senators. The question both sides had was obvious; why was she so confident?
The holocam droids circled around General Tann like vultures waiting for their next meal, while the person in question drew herself up.
¡°As Supreme Commander of our military forces,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann started, to a deathly quiet audience, ¡°I must take into account the ultimate mission of the Confederacy of Independent Systems; to secede from the Republic state, with each and every memberworld of the Separatist Alliance in its borders. However, it is also the mission of the Confederate Armed Forces to defend the livelihoods of our people, and protect the sanctity of our constitution. As such, even if this peace initiative fails, it is still my official recommendation that we respond to the Republic favourably.¡±
¡°In fact!¡± the Supreme Commander raised her voice, completely gripping the Senate in her address to the point where neither faction could seek to oppose her, ¡°It is not just my official recommendation, but the oathsworn duty of each and every one of us to seek peace where we can! Believe me, we will fight the Republic to the bitter end if our objective is not reached, but until the Republic proves unreasonable, the Separatist Armies will fight at the negotiating table just as hard as we do on the battlefield!¡±
Chapter 34
Boz Pity, Boz Pity System
Halla Sector
Boz Pity; a nondescript world just north of the western horn of Hutt Space. In this frontier region between Republic, Separatist, and Hutt Space, borders were more of a suggestion than a rule, and most star sectors acted more or less as bookkeeping labels, as most planets were self-governing or lawless. While many astrographers colour this slice of space in Hutt green, worlds like Chalacta¨Cwhich was arguably a Hutt tributary¨Calso possessed representation in the Republic Senate.
Because actual Hutt authority doesn¡¯t tangibly exist past the well-defined borders of Hutt Space, excluding some rare exceptions such as Jabba the Hutt¡¯s personal fiefdom in the Arkanis Sector. The Hutt clans¡¯ true wealth¨Cthe galactic underground, spice runs, and smuggling lanes¨Cdon¡¯t slip from their grip, the long-lived species couldn¡¯t care less who controlled the space beyond their borders.
As long as the Confederacy didn¡¯t attempt to crack down on the crime in the region, and Hutt business didn''t suffer, we would be left well alone by the mercenary fleets in Hutt employ.
And that was extremely fortunate for us. Why? Well, like it or not, the Republic offensive succeeded in its primary objective to keep Separatist islands in north and south isolated. The Republic¡¯s Perlemian offensive was a crushing success, by almost every metric that mattered¨Cthe Confederacy had been completely pushed out of the Mid Rim, and half of the Foundry was now in Republic hands. In the process, they severed the Foundry¡¯s connection with the Nanth¡¯ri Hook, rendering General Tann¡¯s gains in Bothan Space moot.
The Republic had lost three Sector Fleets in the process, but in exchange they effectively halved the Confederacy¡¯s industrial output in the eastern front. Where the Republic ¡®failed¡¯ was the PR disaster that came in the wake of their highly-publicised defeat at Columex. If the Republic had just decided to stop at the Mid Rim-Outer Rim border and rest on their laurels, they might have been able to win the war by next year. But no, they decided to reach for a bridge too far.
And now, both sides were reeling from the disaster, just not for the same reason. From what I can tell, however, we had it worse. The material losses from the campaign were roughly the same for both sides; far too many Separatist squadrons were lost in the initial stages, but we managed to claw back the zero-sum with the battles of Centares and Columex. The real loss for the Republic was the media backlash¨Cexcept media backlash fades sooner or later. The Confederacy, on the other hand¡
The newly established Office of the General¡¯s first mission was to mitigate our two long-term defeats brought on by the campaign.
First, the Office had to somehow recoup the Confederacy¡¯s industrial losses. There were two ways to do this; one solution was to expand the existing military-industrial complex, and the other was to persuade more worlds to the Separatist cause. While General Tann had no doubt sanctioned the expansion of existing infrastructure, that would take time we may not have.
The short-term solution, however, aligns nicely with the Confederacy¡¯s second defeat; the severance of our spacelane connection with our holdings in the Trailing Sectors.
And that¡¯s why Boz Pity was so strategically important; it was smack dab in the centre of a series of neutral, industrialised sectors that could circumnavigate the Loyalist-occupied Perlemian. And thus, we would be able to offset our losses, and re-establish the frontline; two birds with one stone.
Despite being only two and a half months since their relocation, the Overseer Umbrag had transformed an empty field into a sprawling industrial complex. Constructed from what looked like grounded Lucrehulks, Techno Union freighters, and prefabricated buildings, you could even already make out the beginnings of a graving dock. Say what you will about Baktoid droids¨Cthey were damn efficient in the right hands.
The nearby star systems could already see the writing on the wall; Boz Pity was well on its way to becoming a foundry of the Confederacy. Naturally, they wanted a slice of the cake. Not only that, we were reaping the dividends of the Republic¡¯s PR disaster in spades. The HoloNet was ripping the Grand Army a new asshole while the Shadowfeed was exalting the Confederate Navy in every regard¨Cfrom that perspective, wasn¡¯t it obvious which side was winning?
So while General Sev¡¯rance Tann courted diplomats from Bimmisaari, Boonta, Chalacta and Sneeve in one of the complex¡¯s boardrooms, it was my job to squeeze a favourable deal out of the Techno Union. Of course, the other reason was to begin carving away at Dooku¡¯s death grip over the corporations, by convincing them the Office of the General had a much more open hand than that washed up Jedi.
¡°An exclusivity agreement, then,¡± I proposed to Overseer Umbrag, ¡°The Tann Administration will only purchase battle droids from the Techno Union and its subsidiaries, in exchange for cheaper prices. We will always prioritise purchasing from this regional office, of course.¡±
The Overseer didn¡¯t really have a reason to disagree. In fact, I¡¯d imagine every other industrial guild in Separatist space would be green in envy at the proposal. An exclusivity deal with the Pantoran? Even if the net profit decreases, the amount of prestige and advertising that would spawn from the deal would more than recoup the loss.
Not to mention the Techno Union was a commerce guild, and Overseer Umbrag was only one of countless branch managers. By promising to always buy from his franchise before every other Techo Union or Baktoid plant meant he would never run out of demand¨Cin fact it would be more of a question of whether this brand-new industrial park would even be able to keep up.
¡°We will begin establishing branches in the neighbouring sectors,¡± Overseer Umbrag¡¯s comment could¡¯ve been mistaken for being wholly irrelevant, ¡°When this war is over, the Lesser Lantillian will be a new foundry for the Confederacy.¡±
I gave the steel-clad Skakoan a sideways glance as we approached an observation deck overlooking the parade grounds, ¡°You are confident in that claim?¡±
¡°We will need investors,¡± he stated factually, ¡°We will need a new product.¡±
¡°I have already been approached by Bunt Dantor,¡± I told him, ¡°General Tann has greenlighted his project.¡±
¡°Dantor is a dreamer¨Cthat goes for the whole Research and Development Wing,¡± Umbrag dismissed scornfully, ¡°We need something tangible, marketable. I have two ideas in mind.¡±
¡°You want the Office of the General to greenlight two more projects, Overseer?¡± I chuckled, ¡°You drive a hard bargain.¡±
¡°The Tann Railgun project is far from substantial. There is no point promoting a purely theoretical research venture a century from completion,¡± Umbrag proclaimed, ¡°We need something high profile¨C¡±
We approached the railing; and there was a platoon of BX-series droid commandos in rank and file below. Beefier than regular B1-series droids, with heavy armour, reinforced joints and servos, they were leagues more durable and manoeuvrable than any battle droid I could think of. Not to mention, their enhanced cognition matrices and programming meant they worked best in marauding packs for both infiltration or spearhead missions.
By all means, the BX-series were the cream of the crop. But these weren¡¯t clad in the advertised titanium-reinforced steel, instead a murky black metal¨Calmost matte and drinking the sunlight. I recognised that metal; I had seen it before.
Cortosis.
And interestingly enough, I spotted both Vinoc and Barriss inspecting the droids below.
¡°Cortosis-weave?¡± I asked.
¡°Pure cortosis,¡± Umbrag answered.
I shook my head, ¡°They won¡¯t survive an hour on the battlefield.¡±
¡°They aren¡¯t meant to,¡± the Overseer clenched his fists, ¡°My product development team had the opportunity to consult Commander Vinoc, who I believe was a former Jedi, two months ago. His conclusion was that cortosis would be best utilised through specialised Jedi execution squads.¡±
I see¡ cortosis was a perishingly rare metal, not to mention expensive and hard to refine¨Cas unrefined cortosis would kill even Hutts if in contact with bare skin. While exceedingly resistant to energy weapons like blasters and even lightsabers, it was also brittle and unreliable. Kill squads would theoretically make the most out of the limited supply of cortosis, and give the most bang for the buck.
But most importantly for Umbrag, advertising these droids as ¡®Jedi killers¡¯ would definitely draw the kind of interest he wanted. Once these droid commandos cut their teeth on some Jedi and proved themselves, every Confederate general and their mother would want a squad. Even if Jedi weren¡¯t present on the battlefield more often than not, the bragging rights from possessing an anti-Jedi platoon alone would be well worth the credits.
I crossed my arms, observing Vinoc tell Barriss something before they both left the grounds, ¡°What will you need to begin mass production?¡±
¡°Mining rights in the Bak¡¯rofsen System,¡± Umbrag leaned in, clearly interpreting my follow-up as interest, ¡°My prospectors found indications of vast cortosis reserves on both Bal¡¯demnic and in the system¡¯s asteroid belt.¡±
¡°That¡¯s in the Auril Sector,¡± I answered, amused by no small amount, ¡°Mining rights fall under the Commonality¡¯s strict economic regulations, which are purposefully designed to be biassed against megacorporations. You aren¡¯t going to get those rights unless you partner with a local corporation like Loronar; which means you will need the Bunt Dantor¡¯s help.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
I sensed some interdepartmental rivalry there, but hey¨C not my problem.
¡°There¡¯s merit in this idea,¡± I allowed, ¡°I suggest you allow me to take a battalion¡¯s worth of these droids for a¡ practical exercise. If there¡¯s an exemplary showing, I will give my personal recommendation to the Office of the General. And your second idea?¡±
Overseer Umbrag hesitated, which told me his second idea was going to be even wilder than the first. Not so much technologically wild as the gravitic slingshot project¨Cthe Techno Union wasn¡¯t known for shirking mad science¨Cbut politically wild. The sort of thing a mere branch overseer shouldn¡¯t really have permission for.
¡°Well?¡± I prompted.
If nothing else, I would have something to laugh about later.
Umbrag took a strained, inorganic breath; ¡°I request we begin the licensed production of Decimator war machines.¡±
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
¡°That¡¯s¡¡± I paused, ¡°I¡¯m unsure if I can help you with that.¡±
Decimators were originally an experimental weapons project started by the Republic, before the technology and every functioning model was seized by the Confederate Second Fleet during the Battle of Eredenn Prime. After a brief raid in the Kashyyyk System to secure the control codes, they¡¯ve participated in a number of high profile engagements, such as Sarapin, Krant, and most recently, Columex.
They were by far the most powerful and renowned of the Droid Army¡¯s armoured corps. The thing is, there¡¯s only one place in the galaxy that produces Decimators; Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s personal base on Krant.
When they were first introduced, the Decimators were peerless on the battlefield, and as such there was every incentive to obscure the technology and production. Ironically, that has since backfired. With research and development in full swing thanks to the war, technology was swiftly catching up, and soon Decimators will be just another class of tank.
However, they were still essentially the distinctive feature of General Tann¡¯s armies, and now that she was Supreme Commander, she couldn¡¯t licence them out for mass production without coming under scrutiny for blatant favouritism. Either Decimator production went public, or nobody but Krant gets to produce them.
Except, that¡¯s exactly what Umbrag wants. He wants all of Separatist space to believe his branch had been sponsored by the Office of the General. Customers and investment will almost certainly start pouring in.
But the eyes of the Confederacy were upon its fledgling Office of the General; especially since peace appeared to be so close at hand. The very first Supreme Commander of the Confederacy had just been elected without executive sanction¨Ceach and every move was being watched; military restructure, industry relationships, and political influences were all going to be intertwined and heavily monitored. Even the slightest risk of favouritism would undoubtedly be met with cries of foul play.
¡°I do not know the Supreme Commander¡¯s plans for the Decimator Project,¡± I admitted, ¡°I will broach the topic with her, but this is out of my hands.¡±
¡°...I understand,¡± the Overseer rotated to face me, gliding across the floor, ¡°This aside, we have come to a profitable conclusion. The Techno Union will be pleased.¡±
I eyed Umbrag carefully, ¡°Yes¡ let¡¯s hope this relationship remains profitable for many more years to come.¡±
The Skakoan¡¯s transparisteel-covered eyes were drawn to something behind me, before he stiffly bowed forward for as much as his pressure suit would allow, ¡°Indeed, officer. We will await a favourable outcome for the cortosis and Decimator projects, but for now our new deal will suffice. I will not reserve any more of your time.¡±
Overseer Umbrag swivelled around, before calling a retinue of droid bodyguards and disappearing into the depths of the compound.
¡°I cannot say I like that man,¡± Vinoc announced from behind me.
¡°He is simply ambitious,¡± I chided, turning back around, ¡°A bit too ambitious, but it serves the Confederacy. Now, tell me what you think of those droids.¡±
Vinoc snorted, ¡°Give it to him, Padawan.¡±
Barriss reached for her waist and drew a curved, inky black blade. It was a thinner rendition of a vibrosword¨Cno, it wasn¡¯t a vibrosword at all, just a sabre made out of pure cortosis. If I had to guess, a pure cortosis blade couldn¡¯t withstand the ultrasonic vibrations of the tech. As I held it, I felt its edge.
¡°Those commando droids are just like the weapons they use,¡± Barriss grumbled, ¡°Any Jedi Knight who passed the tournament could fend them off.¡±
It took a moment, but soon I fully understood what she meant¨C ¡°This blade can¡¯t hold its edge.¡±
¡°No,¡± Vinoc agreed, ¡°There¡¯s a reason ancient vibroswords were forged from cortosis-weave, not pure cortosis. The edge will chip and roll immediately¨Ceven completely shatter, if not for its solid core. It''s a one-time use.¡±
¡°If you are in a situation that warrants unsheathing this thing¨C¡± I held it up to the light, ¡°¨CI daresay you¡¯ve already made a series of terrible decisions. I understand the design principle; against a Jedi, you only get one chance¨Cif this sword misses its first swing, it won¡¯t get a second chance anyway.¡±
¡°A Jedi Knight won¡¯t fall for such tricks,¡± Barriss scoffed, ¡°Lightsabers aren¡¯t everything. We have the Force.¡±
Jedi have been killed by less. It pained me, the idea that the Jedi are stuck between a rock and hard place with no way out. Jedi are an unwanted foe, but until we figure out a way to remove them from the war, we¡¯ll have no choice but to treat them not as Jedi but as soldiers. And war is all about figuring out the most efficient way to kill soldiers. Thankfully nobody really bats an eye as to why Jedi somehow escape even the most devious of traps, but even then excuses were finite, and sooner or later I¡¯ll have no choice but to wet the sword I¡¯m hiding behind my back¨Cif I wasn¡¯t cut down first.
I still can¡¯t swallow that bitter taste, but at least we can finally start doing something about it.
¡°...That remains to be proven,¡± I decided, inconspicuously moving the sword behind my back, ¡°And you, Barriss? How are you feeling now?¡±
¡°Lighter,¡± the Padawan lifted her arms and swung them as if to prove a point, ¡°What did you even put in me?¡±
¡°Restraining devices. I had never dealt with a Jedi before,¡± I apologised, ¡°And I wasn¡¯t about to take any chances. Here, this is for you.¡±
I produced a small datacard, which was able to be inserted into just about every universally standardised receiver. As Barriss motioned to take it, however, I didn¡¯t let go even as she attempted to tug it from my grip.
¡°...What is it?¡± irritation was carved into her face.
¡°Have you resolved yourself?¡± I demanded softly, and that irritation was replaced by surprise, then finally stubbornness, ¡°It¡¯s going to be your mission to make sure these swords stay as dry as possible.¡±
At the very least, we¡¯ll be unleashing a wild hound into a dog kennel. At this point, any havoc in the Republic¡¯s ranks will be to out benefit.
¡°I know. I¡¯m not running away any longer,¡± she replied, and I released the card, ¡°What is this, anyway?¡±
¡°General Tann insisted you have a backdoor, and as your handler, I had to produce one for you,¡± I crossed my arms, ¡°If you ever need help¨C actually need help, and see no recourse, then insert that into any long-range transmitter.¡±
¡°What?¡± Barriss raised an eyebrow, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are going to come? I could do without that.¡±
Is it just me or has she gotten some of that Jedi spunk back into her?
¡°Not me,¡± I shook my head, ¡°The sisters will. I thought about giving you two cards¡ but the sisters never leave each other anyway.¡±
A wave of recognition rippled across Vinoc¡¯s face, and he barked out a laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t waste them, Padawan.¡±
¡°What kind of ¡®help¡¯ is this anyway?¡±
¡°The kind that can conquer a city,¡± Vinoc said.
Barriss swung around, slowly realising the fallen Jedi was dead serious about what he said.
¡°What¨C¡±
¡°Are the negotiations complete?¡±
¡°General!¡±
All three of us snapped to attention¨Ceven Barriss, because that was simply the symptom of the imperious aura Sev¡¯rance Tann exuded. And it was clear as day that the Pantoran wasn¡¯t in the best of moods.
¡°They are, General,¡± I reported, ¡°I will transfer the datapacket to your tablet as soon as possible; there are some decisions for your consideration.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann approached the rail, eyeing the still-present platoon of droid commandos, before sniffing in disdain, ¡°The Halla, Kastolar, and Suolriep Sectors have officially joined the Confederacy.¡±
The clipped tone at the very end of her statement hung on an edge, as if there was more to be said, but she wasn¡¯t going to say it. Vinoc shot me an urgent look, as if bestowing on me the exacting mission of eliciting more words from the Supreme Commander without blowing her fuse.
¡°Uh¡ very good, sir,¡± I said carefully, ¡°I believe now that Commander Merai and Captain Karoc have secured Bothan Space, we have now re-established secure supply and communication lines with our southern territories.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± General Tann muttered, ¡°Except, the south doesn¡¯t appear to be receptive to the government.¡±
¡°Sir?¡±
¡°The peace initiative,¡± she clarified, ¡°Our northern holdings in the New Territories are firmly in Dooku¡¯s grasp, while the Trailing Sectors and Western Reaches are outright ignoring our calls for peace. If there will be a ceasefire, it will be far more limited than either the Republic or Confederacy intended.¡±
Ah, so my prediction wasn¡¯t at all correct. Nearly there, but just off the mark enough that it mattered.
¡°So the war will continue, then?¡± I prodded, ignoring Barriss¡¯ half-jolt.
¡°This so-called peace initiative has become a delaying action,¡± General Tann decided, ¡°While the talks are underway, the Office of the General must move swiftly to restructure the Armed Forces before the war picks up again. That means I need someone to handle the upcoming negotiations in my stead.¡±
She stared at me, ¡°Consider this a battlefield promotion, Rear Admiral. I am afraid there is no time for lengthy hearings and bureaucracy.¡±
¡°A privilege of the office, General,¡± I tried not to let a single glimpse of internal elation and anxiety show on my face, ¡°I prefer it this way.¡±
Rear Admiral. Finally. But it was a double-edged sword; while I now had access to resources beyond my imagination, it also meant other people would know I have access to those resources. With the way the Separatist military is structured, I could expect unfettered freedom and extreme scrutiny all at the same time. I¡¯d imagine the upcoming restructuring was going to change all of that, however.
¡°I must raise my concerns for my colleagues in the Coalition as well, sir,¡± I raised my voice, ¡°They have all served with distinction¨C¡±
The Supreme Commander stopped me with a hand, ¡°I have no argument, Admiral. Commander Vinoc, you too will be promoted to Commodore, but by following procedure.¡±
The intent behind her words struck me like a sledgehammer, and I immediately tensed up. Shit, should¡¯ve expected this from a battlefield promotion. Everybody else could get a ceremony, but I couldn¡¯t, because I¡¯m about to be sent on another shitty errand. One that required me to be an admiral.
¡°My mission, sir?¡± I decided to bite the bullet, to General Tann¡¯s dry amusement.
¡°Forgive me, Admiral¨C¡± at least she had some self-awareness, ¡°¨CBut I require your political expertise. You are to journey to the location with your fleet and prepare for the Republic¡¯s peace delegation. The security of the entire conference will be your responsibility, and all the assets you require will be granted to you. I suspect there will be agents hoping to sabotage our efforts; deal with them. The eyes of the galaxy will be on the Confederacy¨Cif we want legitimacy, we need to be legitimate.¡±
¡°No funny business allowed,¡± I managed, ¡°Crystal clear, sir.¡±
¡°And you, Jedi,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann snapped to Barriss, who took a half-step back. The blue-skinned woman towered over the poor girl, ¡°You will be handed over to the Republic in the prisoner exchange. From there, you will be on your own. I wish you the best of luck.¡±
Barriss could¡¯ve swallowed a dead rat, from her twisted expression, ¡°T-Thank you.¡±
¡°Well, sir,¡± I cut in, ¡°May I know the location of the upcoming negotiations?¡±
The Supreme Commander¡¯s lips curled, ¡°The Republic Diplomatic Corps insisted on a world in Loyalist space. In response, Parliament required a Confederate world. It was an issue of trust, you understand.¡±
¡°A hard ask, sir,¡± I remarked, ¡°I suppose that would mean a Separatist exclave?¡±
¡°Indeed; but both sides are operating on the assumption that the other will attempt to subvert the credibility of the negotiations, through sabotage or other means,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann scowled¨Cher new office seemed to be an endless source of frustration, ironically enough, ¡°That means the world in question must be strategically unimportant, and its public perception of the war neutral enough to not influence the talks one way or the other.¡±
I ran a list of star systems through my mind, mentally crossing out names as General Tann recited the criteria. The number of Separatist exclaves was few enough, and assuming they had to be close to the border eliminated all but a mere handful. Null, Colla IV, the Red Twins, Fondor¡ Onderon.
A strategically unimportant Separatist exclave that¡¯s close to the border, with a relatively indifferent population? Oh¡ so that¡¯s why she chose me.
¡°Admiral,¡± the Supreme Commander at least had the tact to look mildly apologetic, ¡°I am afraid you will be returning to Onderon. There have been some reports of insurgent activity on the planet, but I am certain your skills will see it quelled.¡±
Chapter 35
Orbit of Vorzyd V, Vorzyd System
Vorzyd Sector
The Harbinger was a beautiful ship. Scout watched as Master Skywalker lingered under the viewports¨Ca rare, unguarded expression gracing his face as he trailed his gloved fingers along each and every shiny and flat surface of his flagship¡¯s bridge. The surfaces Scout had slaved away every night since her assignment to memorise and learn, until she could draw their internal circuitry on the back of her hand.
After all, her master was going to be the Anakin Skywalker. How could she have not heard of his seemingly defining characteristic?
Whenever and wherever military types crossed paths¡ªin battle, in briefings, in small talk with a drink in whatever mess hall, or even the occasional civilian bar. Even the Jedi who fought on the front lines talked about him, too. Everyone who relied on the massive Republic warships knew that their odds of survival had increased because Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker liked to muck about with machines¡ªwhen he wasn¡¯t busy being the scourge of the Separatists.
So Scout learned to keep up. The long-range scanning station, comms, helm, tactical, atmospherics, and everything else that kept Harbinger lumbering along and fighting. And yet, no matter how much she tried, she knew she would never understand Master Skywalker¡¯s love for his machines. She doubted anybody would.
Oblivious to his audience, to the urgency of their mission, the Jedi Knight communed in leisurely silence with the newly commissioned cruiser. As though they shared a telepathic conversation¨C as if the ship were whispering secrets in his ear.
Anakin Skywalker loves machines as if they were living, breathing creatures.
She knew this. She knew this because each and every component was pristine and spotless; no blaster burns, no scorch marks from shorted wiring, no war wounds at all. And Anakin Skywalker could only ever regard all of it with this subdued, rueful smile. One nearly wishful.
Because Anakin Skywalker had a pristine, spotless cruiser before. His very first. The very first command he ever received following his ascension to Jedi Knight.
Resolute.
And on Resolute¡¯s very first major engagement, she was shot and torn apart. The very moment Anakin Skywalker departed his first flagship to battle on the crystal grounds of Christophsis, the Separatists struck like a viper and made him pay dearly.
Firsts¡ were important. Scout knew this. Resolute must¡¯ve felt like tangible proof that he was truly a Jedi Knight¨Ca Jedi General¨Cmore so than any ceremonious Knighting or removal of Padawan braid. And he failed that responsibility.
Scout knew this because she knew that feeling all too well. After all, Master Skywalker was tangible proof that she truly was a Jedi Padawan¨Cmore so than any dumb tournament. She felt a tiny prickle of fright. No, no, no. Don''t think about that, don¡¯t think like that. I¡¯ve prepared for this, fought for this.
Besides, once assigned to this man she had made her own private and personal vow quite apart from the public oaths she¡¯d sworn in the Jedi Temple.
I will not be the Padawan who gets the Chosen One killed.
Even more so after everything he¡¯s done for me.
¡°Unpleasant thoughts, Commander?¡±
If it wasn¡¯t for the shiver that ran through her body beforehand, Scout might¡¯ve just leapt out of her skin at Admiral Yularen¡¯s sudden comment. Her precognition was the only Force ability she had any pride in, but the Admiral somehow had a way of sneaking up on her every time. No, not just her; the man was not unlike a cat, slinking around, which she supposed kept the crew on their toes in every waking hour.
He took her startled silence as its own answer, ¡°A word of advice, Commander. If even I can infer your thoughts from mere conjecture, then your mind is most certainly laid bare to the General.¡±
Scout stared at Master Skywalker. If the Jedi Knight did indeed, then he never showed it.
¡°...Is there anything I must relay to the General, Admiral sir?¡± she asked.
¡°What do you suppose it will be?¡± Admiral Yularen looked down at her, an eyebrow raised.
Scout observed the quiet hustle of the datapits, then at the fleet of Horgo Shive just a scant few million klicks away. The Siege of Vorzyd V was in a deadlock, with the Separatist Havoc Squadron stubbornly refusing to sally out from the range of Vorzyd¡¯s ground-to-orbit batteries.
After a brief scuffle on Nam Chorios, their battle group was ordered to pin down Havoc Squadron while High General Rancisis led the assault on Columex. Scout had heard that it was much the same for other elements of the Open Circle, with General Kenobi¡¯s half besieging Sy Myrth in order to hold the entire Triellus Trade Route hostage. The strategy was simple; deprive the Separatists of their numerical superiority by pinning down as many of their fleet assets as possible by positioning their inferior numbers in strategically critical locations.
It worked, as last she heard, the joint Sector Fleets outnumbered the Separatists¨Ca true statistical anomaly. On the other hand, Scout couldn¡¯t help but notice that it was the Open Circle Fleet that had been sidelined to this menial¨Calbeit crucial¨Ctask. If she had to hazard a guess, Scout would say Republic High Command depended on Columex as a badly needed victory, and couldn¡¯t risk the Jedi Command taking credit.
Regardless, after their objective had been completed, Governor-General Renau soon gave the order to assault the Vorzyd System directly. But to Scout¡¯s buried, traitorous relief, it appeared that Horgo Shive had learned his lesson from his defeat at Vjun. Now, the Muun commander refused to leave the umbrella of Vorzyd¡¯s orbital defences, and after the terrifying reminder of what GTO artillery could accomplish at Salvara, Admiral Yularen wasn¡¯t willing to risk approaching either. To make matters worse, Havoc Squadron and the Vorzyd System Defence Fleet had taken to forming a battle lattice that hugged the hemisphere of the planet. Whenever Admiral Yularen tried to manoeuvre around and prod for a weakpoint, the battle lattice would shadow them.
It was a stalemate.
Scout hoped a Republic victory at Columex would soon arrive, prompting Horgo Shive and Vorzyd to surrender. The battle must be over by now.
And now, Admiral Yularen had news for the General. Scout could only think of two reasons why, and a quick quiver from the Force told her she was correct.
¡°Either we assault Vorzyd immediately,¡± she started, ¡°Or we are to withdraw.¡±
Admiral Yularen crossed his arms, ¡°A Jedi¡¯s funny feeling?¡±
¡°No sir¨C¡± Scout started, before thinking better of it, ¡°Well¡ maybe a little.¡±
The Admiral regarded her with leonine eyes, ¡°That may be beyond me, but try not to undersell yourself, Commander. Know your strengths, you¡¯ll find yourself walking far. Come, let¡¯s take this to the General.¡±
It was obvious Master Skywalker was expectant, from the tight smile he flicked at them. Anakin Skywalker was notoriously impatient, even more so when it was self-inflicted. As the commanding Jedi General of the battle group, even Admiral Yularen had to defer to him¨Cand thus there was nothing stopping him from ordering an all out assault on the enemy positions.
Nothing, other than the fact that they were facing a Separatist battle lattice. The same tactic Anakin Skywalker had suffered greatly at the hands of, twice now. Obviously, Horgo Shive knew that too. Internally, a small part of Scout hoped his hesitation was also a symptom of their personal exchange only a scant few weeks ago.
¡°We have an incoming transmission from Horgo Shive¡¯s flagship,¡± the Admiral informed bluntly.
Her stomach leapt. Incoming transmission? Does that mean he¡¯s surrendering?
Master Skywalker shot her a brief glare, and Scout crushed her internal monologue just as swiftly.
¡°Let¡¯s hear it,¡± the Jedi Knight replied calmly,
¡°Put it through, Lieutenant!¡± Yularen called.
Lieutenant Avrey, their resident chief comms officer, hastily saluted and fiddled with her console, prompting a holographic bust of a Muun commander to burst out of the forward dashboard. Horgo Shive sported an impossibly smug, self-satisfied smile that immediately tossed her hopes into doubt.
¡°Good day, General Skywalker,¡± The Muun commander spoke in a tone that suggested he was a victor speaking to the vanquished, ¡°You must have received the news by now. The Republic Senate had just extended an offer of ceasefire to the Confederacy. All fighting in the Near Perlemian is to end, effective immediately. I suggest we bring this affair to an end, and that you comply with your government¡¯s wishes by lifting your blockade.¡±
With an effort Scout smoothed her expression into uncaring blandness, mirroring her Master¡¯s similarly emotionless expression. It was at this point that Scout wished she possessed Ahsoka¡¯s empathic talents, so that she could peer into Master Skywalker¡¯s impenetrable poise for even a moment.
General Anakin Skywalker turned to face Admiral Yularen, and for a brief moment Scout felt like an intruder upon the silent conversation the two men shared.
Master Skywalker released an imperceptibly small breath, and turned back to their enemy, ¡°We will begin withdrawing our forces. No in-system shipping will be molested from my men from this point onwards, you have my word.¡±
¡°...Let me ask you this, Master Jedi,¡± Horgo Shive leaned forward, holding his chin with spindly fingers, ¡°Do you believe your Senate¡¯s vision of peace is attainable?¡±
¡°No,¡± Master Skywalker¡¯s answer was swift and blunt, ¡°Not against you Separatists.¡±
¡°Enlightening as always, you mystics,¡± Shive chuckled, before haphazardly cutting the connection.
Master Skywalker¡¯s shoulders lifted, and plunged down in an explosive sigh, ¡°So we lost.¡±
¡°The lack of communications is concerning, and suggests great disarray,¡± Admiral Yularen noted, ¡°But our scoutships have been reporting signs of emergency jumps into nearby systems from the direction of Columex. I am afraid you may be correct, General.¡±
We lost. The greatest¨Clargest¨Cfleet in the history of the Republic lost against the Separatists.
¡°Still, peace?¡± her Master muttered, ¡°I must speak to the Council on this.¡±
¡°I will send a request for orders,¡± Admiral Yularen whirled around and marched back towards the Battle Room, with Master Skywalker close on his tail.
¡°Tallisibeth,¡± said her Master, not even looking over his shoulder¨Cas if in an afterthought, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you? Our thoughts create our reality. Cut it out.¡±
Her cheeks burned in shame, hating how her Master always seemed to be able to sense her true feelings. Was it the same for Ahsoka? Scout was doubtful¨CMaster Kenobi probably wasn¡¯t as¡ inclement as Master Skywalker. A confused sense of envy rose in her. Would she prefer Obi-Wan Kenobi as her master?
In an unusual outburst of defiance, Scout unwisely decides to test her Master¨C ¡°Speaking from experience, Master?¡±
Anakin Skywalker froze, and she immediately knew she ought to be on her knees begging for forgiveness. But she didn¡¯t, and as the Chosen One slowly. creakily, turned around, Scout decided she would endure any punishment if she was able to get an answer out of him.
His glance down at her was severe, "The things I know that you don''t, Padawan, would fill a Corellian spice freighter. Twice."
O-oh, okay.
¡°...Yes, Master.¡±
The Battle Room was inhabited by the holographic Jedi Council, including Master Kcaj and Master Kolar¨Cwho had replaced Master Mundi and Master Koth respectively¨Calong with a dozen more front line Jedi, for an ad hoc strategy conference.
Impatient and insubordinate as always, Anakin Skywalker declared¨C ¡°How is it that I found out about this peace effort from a Separatist commander¨C?¡± the moment he stepped into the sensor range of the holoproj table.
¡°Anakin¡ must you?¡± Master Kenobi was audibly exasperated as Scout meekly followed in her Master¡¯s shadow. The moment her skin prickled from the holoproj scanning and inserting her form, Ahsoka noticed and gave a subtle wave.
Scout grinned, and waved back.
¡°What?¡± Anakin Skywalker asked, ¡°We lost. So just how badly did we lose? HQ must be regretting not having the Open Circle participate in the battle.¡±
¡°That¡¯s enough out of you, Skywalker,¡± Master Windu was grim and humourless, ¡°Master Rancisis has fallen.¡±
A sombre blanket fell over the meeting, and even Master Skywalker sobered up¨C ¡°How?¡±
How did Oppo Rancisis fall? How did three Councilmembers lose their lives in the first year of the war?
¡°From what the survivors tell us,¡± Master Plo Koon said, ¡°It appears the Separatists unveiled a new superweapon, destroying both of Kuat¡¯s dreadnoughts and much of the combined fleet.¡±
¡°And peace is the Senate¡¯s answer?¡± Master Even Piell scowled, ¡°Do they not realise that we are winning? Loss or no loss, we have still captured half of the Foundry, and our northern fleets had just liberated Dantooine and Ord Trasi. Not to mention our southern fronts are proceeding smoothly, with Knight Alrix on route to Vondarc as we speak.¡±
The diminutive Jedi Master gestured towards a tall, flinty woman dressed head to toe in stark white plastoid armour, not unlike a cloned troopers¡¯. Even an entire galaxy away, Scout still heard tales of the Jedi Knight from chit-chatting officers in the mess. It was said that the Coburn Plan was originally meant to be nothing more than a limited offensive entirely contained in the Colonies and Inner Rim, until the Emerald Banner Command leveraged its influence to expand the effort to encompass the entire Rimma Trade Route.
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Most were pessimistic about the strategy. Even with both the Emerald Banner Fleet and embattled Night Hammer Fleet, the combined Separatist forces on the Rimma outnumbered Republic fleets three-to-one. That was, until Jedi Knight Rees Alrix took command and scored victory after victory every step of the way down the Rimma Trade Route, crushing numerically superior enemy fleets as it was only natural.
¡°It¡¯s a matter of perspective, Master Piell,¡± Master Kenobi reasoned, ¡°To the citizens, we have just suffered the single largest defeat and loss of life since the New Sith Wars. Both the Senate and public are outraged, and demanding answers.¡±
Master Piell wasn¡¯t done; ¡°This could have been avoided if we¨C¡±
¡°Trust us, the Republic does not,¡± Master Yoda cut in mournfully, ¡°Not after our failure at Christophsis, hm?¡±
¡°They had Master Rancisis take command of the combined fleet,¡± Master Fisto pointed out.
Master Gallia, one of the few Councilmembers still present on Coruscant, shook her head, ¡°The Senate is demanding answers from High Command, and High Command is demanding answers from the Jedi Temple. They are blaming the defeat on Master Rancisis¡¯ failure of command.¡±
Anakin Skywalker slammed his fists on the table, ¡°Those chickenshit bastards¨C!¡±
¡°Anakin!¡± Master Kenobi snapped in a rare display of ire, ¡°Control yourself! Remind yourself that you are no longer a Padawan.¡±
Scout looked away as her Master silently fumed.
¡°Increasingly isolated, the Temple is,¡± Master Yoda lamented, ¡°Return to Coruscant, Master Ti, Master Kenobi, and Master Windu will.¡±
¡°Master Windu as well?¡± Master Skywalker questioned, ¡°What about the Bothans?¡±
¡°I was too late,¡± Master Windu shook his head, ¡°The Bothans have betrayed the Republic. Confidence says there had been a Separatist-backed coup on Bothawui. Regardless, they now side with the Separatists, allowing Dooku to circumvent Hutt Space.¡±
Bothawui. Home to the Bothans, whose intelligence-gathering skills were legendary. Information was their greatest currency, and already their assistance had made a difference against the Separatists. The loss of the Bothans made their defeat at Columex look trivial, even if it was not exactly mass media worthy..
Without the Bothan Spynet, Republic Intelligence would be hamstrung. While Scout had overheard that some clone intelligence units show promise, at this point there were still only a handful of them.
¡°I am afraid Lannik has been conquered, Master Piell,¡± Master Windu finished.
If Master Even Piell was at all moved by the news of his homeworld¡¯s downfall, the stoic Jedi did not show it.
¡°Be that as it may, Master Yoda, I am unsure as to why my presence on Coruscant is necessary,¡± Master Kenobi admitted, ¡°My dislike for politics is no secret, and there is still a war to fight here.¡±
¡°Strategic Command has ordered all fleet elements to withdraw to the Mid-Outer Rim border in order to shorten the front,¡± Master Gallia informed, ¡°And all taken worlds are to be evacuated immediately. Knight Skywalker, you are required to retreat to Lucazec and await further orders. Our instructions are to begin entrenching our gains in case the Separatists think light on the Senate¡¯s proposal.¡±
¡°Master Kenobi, you will not remain on Coruscant for long,¡± she continued, ¡°I will naturally be overseeing the Temple¡¯s role in the peace affairs, and I have chosen you to represent the Jedi during the peace summit, which has been decided to be on Onderon. Dealing with the Senate will be left to me.¡±
The Tholothian Jedi ended her statement with a small smile. Master Kenobi breathed out with a sheepish smile, as if thinking himself foolish for even suggesting anybody but Master Adi Gallia would be handling the fickle nature of Coruscanti politics. It was said Master Gallia presided over an impossibly vast personal intelligence network, and that she even had ties with pirate factions in the Outer Rim¨Cthough Scout could not differentiate between truth and hearsay. This made her the go-to person for dealing with the political spheres the Jedi found themselves increasingly embroiled with.
Scout supposed it was only natural Master Yoda would choose Master Gallia to supervise the Jedi Order¡¯s duties during the peace summit.
¡°May I know my objective?¡± Master Kenobi asked.
¡°First, represent the Jedi Order,¡± Master Gallia ordered, ¡°Let me put this bluntly; our name has been dragged through bantha dung, and with each day that goes by, the respect the word ¡®Jedi¡¯ affords plummets through another level of Coruscant. Soon we will be approaching the Nine Hells themselves."
Even Master Skywalker winced as a ripple of disquiet shook the attending Jedi. Did she forget to mention that Master Gallia was an infamously sharp-tongued cynic? Scout knew for a fact that her lessons brought a not insignificant number of younglings to the edge of tears more than once.
¡°Second,¡± she continued, ¡°You will be there to protect the Senatorial delegation. There has been no indication that either Count Dooku or General Tann will be attending, and there are fears this may be a foreshadowing to a Separatist trap.¡±
¡°Dooku will not be so obvious.¡±
¡°No,¡± Master Gallia agreed, ¡°But I have selected you because of your shared history with the lead delegate and sponsor of the peace initiative; Senator Padm¨¦ Amidala. We do not need any more undue tension between the Temple and the Senate, won¡¯t you say?¡±
¡°The sponsor is¨C is Senator Amidala?¡± Anakin Skywalker all but blurted out, almost¡ askance.
¡°Why yes,¡± Master Gallia confirmed, ¡°It was quite a fiery speech. I¡¯d imagine there¡¯s now not a single soul in the galaxy who does not know her name; she had, after all, demanded peace and ridiculed the entire Senate in the same breath.¡±
¡°That must have been quite the sight,¡± Master Kenobi brushed his beard, ¡°The young Senator has come far indeed.¡±
Master Gallia hummed noncommittally, ¡°Is there a problem, Knight Skywalker?¡±
¡°No¨C¡± Master Skywalker answered quickly; a bit too quickly, ¡°No problem at all, Master.¡±
Scout narrowed her eyes. There is something up with Master¡ but what is it? She was taken back to her days in the Jedi Temple as she observed the normally unflappable Jedi Knight shifting awkwardly as the discussion continued, as if dipping in and out of focus. Wanting to confirm something, Scout nervously peeled her lips open.
She discreetly nudged her Master, ¡°Who¡¯s Senator Amidala, Master?¡±
¡°Nobody important,¡± Anakin Skywalker looked mildly pained even as he said those words, ¡°She¡¯s just the Senator from Naboo.¡±
The glimpse she caught of his expression as he turned back to the conference was like a sucker punch to her gut. That¡¯s where I¡¯ve felt this sensation! Scout was reminded of the times in her old clan hall when her fellow initiates would tease and badger each other on whatever hot topic had seized their attention that week¨Cusually when someone or the other¡¯s crush was exposed. Oh, their hall wardens always insisted on maintaining some level of standard, but the only thing that taught younglings was how to keep a secret.
Too bad Scout earned her nickname for a reason, and she was always on top of the latest gossip¨Cmore often than not, she had already long known before some blabbermouth spilled the beans to everybody else.
Nevertheless, she had long learned that the go-to way of preserving your dignity when confronted was to either vehemently deny everything or feign ignorance, before looking away and pretending nothing happened. Every. Single. Time.
Except¡ this was the Chosen One she¡¯s accusing of having a childish crush¡ nah, no way. You¡¯re being absolutely ridiculous, Tallisibeth. Stop getting carried away. Didn¡¯t Master Gallia just mention that Senator Amidala knew Master Kenobi from beforehand? Anakin Skywalker was once Master Kenobi¡¯s Padawan! Of course they¡¯d know each other! Master Skywalker must simply be pleasantly surprised by the familiar name.
¡I think. Scout cannot recall an instance in which she had ever been wrong before, but decided that the real world was much more complicated than the childish adventures her clan had in the safety of the Temple.
¡°¨CJoin Master Kenobi on Onderon,¡± she heard Master Plo Koon say as she tuned back into the conversation.
¡°Do you believe that is wise, Plo?¡± Master Saesee Tiin furrowed his leathery brows.
¡°I am unable to elaborate without complete confidence,¡± the Kel Dor stressed.
Master Kenobi shared a meaningful look with Master Tiin, before clearing his throat, ¡°I concur with Master Plo. If his suspicions are true, then there is merit in him attending the summit.¡±
¡°And these suspicions cannot be disclosed here?¡± Master Windu crossed his arms.
¡°Not when it can potentially decide the outcome of the summit,¡± Master Tiin refused gruffly.
Hearing the taciturn Master Tiin backing his fellow Jedi Masters with such a severe statement visibly piqued the interests of more than a handful, as did Scout¡¯s burning curiosity. Considering how some nearby clone officers were perhaps involuntarily leaning closer to the conversation, however, Scout could understand why Master Plo was unwilling to speak. They weren¡¯t in the confines of the Temple; over half of the attending Jedi were¨Clike her and Master Skywalker¨Cin the middle of prying ears and eyes. Whether it be in the Battle Rooms of warships or planetary command posts.
¡°In that case,¡± Master Gallia mused, ¡°You can bring me up to speed later. Privately.¡±
Master Skywalker edged forward, as if in anticipation to speak, but reined himself in a split second later. Maybe he¡¯s a little self-conscious? There were more than a handful of Jedi Knights at the table¨Cbut only Master Skywalker ever butted into a conversation between Masters. Not even Rees Alrix dared to draw attention to herself, despite her endless victories in the southern front.
On the other hand, that wasn¡¯t like Master Skywalker at all.
¡°If that is all¡¡± Master Windu started.
¡°Wait¨C!¡± that spurred Master Skywalker into action, ¡°With your permission, I would request that my Padawan and myself join Obi-Wan on Onderon.¡±
Scout snapped her head around in surprise. Okay, I wasn¡¯t expecting that.
¡°A reason, you have?¡± Master Yoda folded his hands atop the pommel of his cane.
¡°Well¡¡± her Master drew out, ¡°Let¡¯s just say that with the Perlemian cooling down, I won¡¯t be of much¡ use, anymore.¡±
¡°We can transfer you to another front if you wish, Skywalker,¡± Master Piell suggested, ¡°Perhaps the south?¡±
Knight Alrix¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°With all due respect, I do not need Skywalker of all people challenging my command. Rather than him, I¡¯d prefer a hundred more warships.¡±
Gratefulness and indignation tussled for control over Anakin Skywalker¡¯s expression as coughed, ¡°As¡ as Obi-Wan kindly reminded me, I have a Padawan now, and a responsibility for her education. Being on Onderon¨Caway from the war¨Cwill do both Tallisibeth and Ahsoka some time away from the war. Jedi were supposed to be diplomats and peacekeepers, right? The summit will give them a chance to pivot away from soldiery and command.¡±
¡°I must say, that is well put, Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi drawled, a small smirk gracing his lips, ¡°If only all of your ideas could be this sound.¡±
¡°Hey! I have my moments,¡± he protested, ¡°Besides, if anything my presence will only reinforce the peace effort, right?¡±
The Hero With No Fear, supporting the peace negotiations? The HoloNet will have a field day with that information.
¡°Skywalker has a point,¡± Master Kit Fisto pointed out, ¡°Two Jedi Masters and Anakin Skywalker? That might just be enough to pull the Order back into relevance.¡±
¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree,¡± Master Gallia said, ¡°I believe this is enough for today¡ Skywalker, stay behind. I would speak to you.¡±
As the attending Jedi departed, the Battle Room dimmed once more as the blue glow dozens of holograms winked out of existence. Master Kenobi spared her a half-apologetic, half-reassuring look, as if saying ¡®thanks for putting up with him¡¯ before disappearing with an excitable Ahsoka in tow, who was clearly looking forward to their reunification. Scout would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t eager to talk with someone her age again too. Well, the clones were her age¡ but that was like saying Kel Dorians counted their years the same way Twi¡¯leks do.
¡°Skywalker,¡± Master Gallia began once the rest were gone, ¡°Master Yoda would have allowed it, but I am not so easily convinced. I will only sanction this on two conditions.¡±
Master Skywalker straightened, ¡°I¡¯m all ears, Master.¡±
¡°First, obey Master Kenobi and Master Plo,¡± she ordered in such a severe tone Scout could only wince, ¡°The galaxy¡¯s eyes will be on Onderon, and I don¡¯t want your add ill repute of troublemaking to the list of things that can go wrong. Second¨Cand this goes for you too, Padawan¨Ckeep a close eye on both our friends and enemies. Do not allow anybody, even those who would claim to be our allies, to disrupt the proceedings. If you must get rid of them, do so, discreetly.¡±
¡°Loud and clear, Master Gallia,¡± Master Skywalker grinned, ¡°You can count on us. If you would allow me to ask¡¡±
¡°Well?¡± the Jedi Master raised an eyebrow.
He wetted his lips, ¡°Will this peace initiative actually succeed?¡±
Master Adi Gallia scoffed derisively, ¡°Of course not. Were you listening at all, Skywalker? Watch for both friends and enemies. There is no shortage of both who are trying outrageously hard to be funny. I find it pitiable.¡±
Scout really wanted to see her Master¡¯s expression then, but in the darkness of the Battle Room she could no longer pierce through the shade crossing his face. Not for the first time¨Cand definitely not the last¨Cshe once again envied Ahsoka¡¯s empathic abilities.
¡°I see,¡± Master Skywalker said softly, ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±
He moved to cut the connection, fingers hovering over toggle¨Cwhen Master Gallia stopped him with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes.
¡°One more thing, Skywalker.¡±
Both master and Padawan froze, slowly deciphering the odd tone as they met the Jedi Master¡¯s stare. It was then, when Scout, at a single glance, realised the great ravine that lay between normal Jedi and a member of the High Council. She felt the weight of Master Gallia¡¯s stare, and grazed an agelessness and unfathomable depth of knowledge behind her cobalt eyes.
Oh, there was no shortage of discourse and speculation about the Councilmembers in the Jedi Temple. After all, they were famous, renowned Masters of great stature the likes of Master Yoda, Master Windu, and Master Plo. Yet, Scout realised with a clarity that there was never much mention about the unassuming Councilmembers; for every word of admiration for Obi-Wan Kenobi, there was no mention of Adi Gallia or Even Piell. It was as if they were ghosts¨Cnothing more than beings who occupied a chair.
What was the difference between them and any other Jedi Master?
And Scout finally understood that symptom of anonymity, when she wracked her brain to Nine Hells and back and still came up short on who Jedi Master Adi Gallia was. Because for all the Tholothian looked the age of Master Aayla Secura or even Anakin Skywalker himself, Scout knew in her gut that she was anything but. Tholothians were ageless.
In Master Yoda¡¯s eyes, you saw the weight of uncountable aeons, of history then came and went from living memory, left only in dusty scrolls and hidden archives. That was his knowledge and wisdom; that of centuries of experience, observing the galaxy change around him while he remained timeless.
Master Gallia¡¯s was different. Her¡¯s was a piercing gaze that saw right through you, that could dig out your darkest secrets. Her¡¯s was the knowledge that¡¯d bades you to ask not ¡®how much does she know?¡¯ but ¡®how did she find out?¡¯ Maybe, just maybe, the rumours that Master Gallia was the kingpin of a galaxy-spanning intelligence network wasn¡¯t as much of a myth as any self-respecting Jedi would like to admit. Maybe the Bothans weren¡¯t so great a loss, after all¡
Councilmembers were Councilmembers for a reason, Scout reminded herself coldly. There was an even greater rift between Councilmember and Jedi Master than Jedi Master and Jedi Knight.
¡°Yes, Master?¡±
Scout knew she was not the only one, because she swore a hint of trepidation crossed the Chosen One¡¯s voice.
¡°Look out for our dear Senators, will you?¡± Master Gallia asked sweetly, ¡°Onderon is an infamously dangerous planet after all. Keep close to them¡ ah, but not too close. I¡¯m certain you can manage.¡±
Though Master Adi Gallia continued to smile kindly, her eyes spoke a most un-Jedi-like language of warning. Anakin Skywalker stiffened up like a boy who had his hand caught in the cookie jar, as if divine retribution to smote him right then and there.
¡°I¡ I understand, Master,¡± the Chosen One bowed his head, ¡°I will keep them safe. Master Kenobi and Master Plo will be present as well, so I believe there will be no threats at all.¡±
Master Gallia narrowed her eyes, hair tendrils swaying laxly, ¡°That is exactly what I fear, Skywalker. Master Kenobi and Master Plo are far too lenient and forgiving. Stay on your toes, because I am not.¡±
And just like that, the Jedi Master came and left like a thunderous whirlwind, leaving the two Jedi alone in the middle of dozens of officers respectfully pretending they didn¡¯t just hear the Chosen One get his dignity carved out with a spoon.
¡°...Tallisibeth.¡±
Scout flinched, ¡°Yes, Master!¡±
Master Skywalker pivoted on a heel and marched out, ¡°I¡¯m keeping your secret, so how about you keep mine?¡±
¡°What secret?¡±
¡°Just what I like to hear,¡± Anakin Skywalker chirped, though Scout could not tell if it was forced.
Well, she was only half-lying in any case. I hope.
Chapter 36
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
Iziz. The oldest, largest, greatest, and perhaps the only city of Onderon, as far as the galaxy was concerned. But there were more¨Cmany, many more¨Chiding away in the impenetrable wilds of the planet. Most were Beast Rider settlements¨Cdescendants of criminals who were exiled from the walls of Iziz. Most perished in the thousands of years following, but I think the Beast Riders themselves would prefer the phrase ¡®faded into obscurity.¡¯
Can¡¯t exactly blame them. Still, the Onderonian Space Force was tasked with keeping tabs on them, and our relationship was going along quite swimmingly.
The more contentious people, on the other hand, were the Untamed. The Beast Riders had somewhat settled down after the Kiran Peace four millennia ago, but there were the quarrelsome few who didn¡¯t fancy the idea of being civilised. So they fucked off into the hinterlands, beyond even the reach of the Beast Riders, and called themselves the Untamed. Bunch of lunatics.
As the White Hand Fleet sailed over the rooftops of Iziz, a single glance out the viewports brought back memories of the city. First built to ward off man-eating fauna, Iziz has grown into a beast of a city, with walls so thick and tall they appeared carved out of the mountaintop that the city straddled. Despite the fact that the walls rose sheer from the mountainside, with no telling where they ended and earth began, it was obvious they had been designed for an older age of warfare.
Bristling with ravelins and bastions, with the only approach being a bridge spanning an impossibly deep gorge, the city was virtually unassailable from the ground, and the threat of Demon Moon raids were a bygone memory to the four million souls within. Because even if the odd drexl slipped past the Onderonian Space Force, the innumerable battlestations atop the bastions of Iziz remained ever-vigilant.
Not that they have shot a single round in a thousand years. But the Wave Gunner Corps remains, because no matter how much the galaxy tries to export culture and technology to this world, no matter how hard the Kings of Onderon try to uplift us from this stagnation¨Cthis mad planet will always be held back by its own cultural psyche.
Masonry and carpentry are still booming industries, with not a single speckle of grey permacrete or glinting transparisteel in sight. You could count each individual brick in the walls of every house and castle. The Royal Army still used laser lances as their standardised weapon, for fuck¡¯s sake. Onderonians were xenophobic, isolationist, and culturally incapable of taking ideas from other cultures, whether it be military or art. We may as well be suspended in the galaxy¡¯s definition of the mediaeval era.
The city walls, the architecture; that brutal massiveness of Iziz that made the place wholly Onderonians¡ was all the physical manifestation of that psyche.
The people didn¡¯t care; they¡¯ve lived the same way for four-thousand years. But the noble houses? They¡¯ve been painstakingly promoting uplift for so damn long, trying to finally bring Onderon out of its stagnation, to catch up with the rest of the galaxy. So when King Ramsis Dendup insisted on neutrality in the Clone Wars, the Council of Lords finally snapped. They deposed him, and naturally sided with the faction that offered greater economic incentives: the Separatist Alliance.
You know, if I didn¡¯t know anything about the Separatists beforehand, I would have been a hardcore supporter of the coup. But knowing the truth behind the Separatist Alliance¡ well, in the end I still have to make something out of this shit sandwich.
Strolling out of the Iziz Starport and into the hazy, noisy streets of Iziz was like a punch of nostalgia. The myriad, pungent scents of spices and perfumes mixed and mingled in the air along with the grunting of burdenbeasts lumbering through open plazas. Gilded repulsorlift carriages dragged by dalgos pushed aside the teeming crowds, many a symbol of lordly house emblazoned on their flanks, riding hard up the mountain slope towards the Unifar Temple. To me, Iziz felt like a miracle when I first saw it.
Or rather, it had been a miracle.
Memories of youth; dashing through these cobbled streets, ducking under the strides of fambaas, waving up at ruping riders soaring just over the rooftops. Memories of adolescence; honouring the dirges in the Hall of the Spirits, and studying the arts among Ov Taraba¡¯s hallowed halls. It was downright fantastical. Now, battle droids patrolled the streets and watched over the people from totem pole watchtowers, and ray shield gates cordoned off sections of the city. That had been Dooku¡¯s price, and I¡¯m not sure if it was worth it.
My shuttle whirred as it lifted back into the air and towards the fleet that most citizens had took to gawking and pointing fingers at, while at the same time my honour guard of fifty Dxunian warbeasts and twice as many Onderonian rupings plunged towards the Unifar Temple to await my arrival.
I stepped into the repulsorlift carriage, double-checking that my burdensome cape remained firmly on my shoulders and not caught in the door. As the dalgo started on its leisurely traipse up the sky ramp, I poked my head out the window to marvel at my destination. If Iziz was built around a mountain, then the Unifar Temple was the mountain peak itself. The Royal Palace once stood there, but after its collapse the Temple was built in its place, to serve mostly the same function.
As for why it was a temple, that would be because its construction was sponsored by the state-sponsored religion; the Unifras Sect. Functionally, however, the Unifras was just another marketing stunt by the Council of Lords to promote xenophilia and draw in more offworld visitors via Onderon¡¯s latent tourism potential. After all, there was no shortage of nature lovers out there, and all Unifras had to do was build ¡®shrines¡¯ at the many scenic locations of the planet.
¡°Best keep your head in, sir,¡± a female voice¨Cthe carriage driver, presumably¨Ccalled from outside, ¡°Nobles aren¡¯t all too popular these days.¡±
¡°And why is that?¡± I took her advice, and leaned back into the cushioned seat.
¡°They brought the war to Onderon,¡± the driver answered.
So, it was as I thought; ¡°It¡¯s the droids, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°It feels more like occupation than security.¡±
I frowned. The driver sounded familiar¡ it¡¯s probably someone I knew.
¡°What rank are you?¡± I asked abruptly.
The driver didn¡¯t answer. I huffed silently.
Soon enough, I was forced to lean back as the sky ramp grew ever steeper and winding, with the noise and smell retreating behind us. In replacement, the air grew colder and wind louder, and that¡¯s when I knew we were rising above the lower city and into the upper quarters. Peeking out of the silk windows, I swiftly made out the lordly estates that clung onto the slope, jutting out from the mountainside like blocky, artificial cliffs. The Bonteri Estate was somewhere around here, I figured.
Higher yet, the honour guard of flying beasts had entered a circular holding pattern around the Temple. Almost like vultures around a wounded falumpaset, I couldn¡¯t help but think, how most fittingly foreboding.
¡°There¡¯s an insurgency fermenting,¡± the driver warned once we were in the less populated section of the city, ¡°Something about re-installing Dendup. They¡¯ve got a camp in the southern jungles, but we don¡¯t know where exactly.¡±
I had held back a snort. At least fight for abolishing the monarchy, or something, not just replacing one absolute monarch with another. Ramsis Dendup isn¡¯t even the enlightened kind, just an old and conservative man who wishes to maintain the status quo. Then again, abolishing a four millennia old monarchy was easier said than done. Every King of Onderon since the Kiran Peace were members of an unbroken lineage tracing back to Oron Kira.
Sure, the cogs of aristocratic politics turn, and noble houses sit and vacate the throne like taking turns on a carousel, but the blood remains. Both Ramsis Dendup and the incumbent Sanjay Rash can trace their bloodline back to Oron Kira, as can a hundred other people. It¡¯s been four-thousand years; the entire Royal Court may as well have royal blood.
¡°Is that so?¡± I humoured her, ¡°How did you find out?¡±
¡°The rebels are much too free with their rupings¨C¡± The driver realised she had slipped up, and immediately cut herself off.
¡°...Huh.¡±
Rupings, hm? They were the swoop bikes of Onderon; four-eyed, carnivorous, and deathly loyal to their riders, they were dime a dozen in the Royal Army¨Cincluding the Space Force¨Cand as it appears, the rebels as well. Except, not everyone could ride a ruping, for obvious reason, and the Army is always on the lookout for those who might be up to some mischief.
The terrain levelled out, and the carriage drifted to a halt, repulsors weakening to lower it to the ground. The woman who opened the door had an odd, wobbly gait¨Calmost as if she was wholly unfamiliar to solid ground. Her armoured uniform was bronze and gold, and the device of the Space Force was emblazoned on her shoulder.
¡°These rebels,¡± I continued the conversation even as I stepped out, ¡°I¡¯d imagine they are in a bit of panic right now.¡±
¡°Not everyday a warfleet darkens the sky of Iziz,¡± the driver agreed, ¡°They must be trying to evacuate the city as fast as possible.¡±
I swallowed a murderous grimace, finally recognising her, ¡°Can I leave them to you, Lieutenant Mishar?¡±
¡°Captain, now,¡± she corrected, placing a hand on her hip, ¡°Someone had to fill in the hole you left.¡±
Captain, then. The last time I saw her, Verala Mishar was the rider of a particularly violent Dxunian raptor that was as deeply red as her hair. I, for one, would have never tried my hand at a skreev or drexl, instead settling for a rather tame ruping I named Nausicaa. Before I left for Raxus, I set her loose into the wild, as was tradition. I had to admit she was a lovable thing, and hoped she was doing well. In any case, Mishar served in Royal Intelligence in the Army, before the Officer¡¯s Coup resulted in her being transferred to the Space Force, along with the rest of us.
¡°I thought they would have chosen Vander,¡± I muttered.
¡°I¡¯ll have you know Vander also got promoted. He¡¯s the boss of his own warbeast, now,¡± Mishar glanced upwards in a mild double-take, ¡°Ah, here he comes.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll have to fill me in the details later,¡± I patted the dalgo and urged it to move aside before it found itself in the stomach of a demon, ¡°But before that, I¡¯ll need you to find a lead on the insurgents.¡±
I tossed her a comlink, which she deftly caught with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Is that an order?¡±
¡°Like old times, unfortunately. I¡¯ll fill you in on the details later, so keep an eye on that comlink.¡±
The remark earned me a bruise on my shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s only been a year, Admiral. Get over yourself.¡±
The world darkened as a monstrous shadow passed overhead, nearly knocking us off our feet. With a furious gust of wind, a hundred foot long Dxunian warbeast set down almost right on top of us. It took everything I had to not piss myself¨Cmaybe I would have, had this been my first encounter. The first time¡ the memory flashed before my eyes, of staring down a monster straight from the pits of Hell, its scissor-like mandibles snapping as if eager to snap off in two before defiling my corpse with its maw full of squirming, snarling feelers.
The creature was an unwieldy beast on the ground; possessing no legs, it was forced to half-drag, half-slither on the ground using its colossal, clawed arms and serpentine tail¨Cthe same tail that ended in a man-sized stinger capable of killing a adult hragscythe in a single jab.
This was the monster that earned the Demon Moon its infamous moniker, and the reason the Space Force didn¡¯t expand its fighter corps beyond its cache of existing Aurek-class tactical fighters. Why would we, when our warbeasts could grow to the size of a krayt dragon and shrug off anything less than a turbolaser bolt with its jagged, brutal carapace?
The rider of this particular warbeast, Captain Vander, peeked his head over the top of his drexl¡¯s huge shoulder blade in an almost comical juxtaposition, ¡°You need to get a move on, sir! We¡¯d all like to catch up, but you¡¯re the star of the show today! The King¡¯s waiting!¡±
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
He has a son, I recalled, of¡ seven years? Generally, only madmen or daredevils go anywhere near even a tamed drexl, much less a father. But Vander was a particularly nut case.
I shot Captain Mishar a strained look, ¡°Looks like I won¡¯t be able to get over myself just yet. Just do what I ask. You can call it a favour.¡±
¡°Glad I won¡¯t be there to see it,¡± she grinned, waving my comlink, ¡°Oh, and, just for you? I¡¯ll deal with this personally."
¡°She has always been on top of things! Just trust us, Bonteri; we¡¯ve been in this business much longer than you!¡± with a good-humoured scoff and a furious gust of wind, Vander;s warbeast blasted back into the air, releasing a deafening shriek that seemed to make Iziz shudder down to its primordial bones. I thought it was only natural, for in older times, that very cry had only been known as the herald of death and blood.
Gripping my shoulder to keep the damn cape from ripping off my shoulders, I continued climbing the steps with weak legs, trying¨Cand failing¨Cto rid the drexl¡¯s grotesque, four beady-eyed visage from my mind¡¯s eye. Warbeasts had a way of occupying your thoughts and nightmares forever, which I supposed was why the Beast-Lords took such a liking to them.
Thankfully, the image didn¡¯t last, as it was soon replaced with the resplendent garments of the Paladins; the palace guards. With a stiff bow of greeting, their mirror-polished pauldrons glinting in artificial firelight as they folded in lockstep behind me in the rapidly filling colonnade leading up the Royal Court.
It was painfully obvious that in his eagerness to display the glory of Onderon to the galaxy, King Sanjay Rash had dressed his entire palace in the brightest finery his domain possessed. The great bronze doors groaned open, and the crowd flooded in like an overgrown brush of purple kings¡¯ crowns, with all the brilliantly lavender Onderon silk¨Cone of the few exports the planet was renowned for¨Cstyled into capes and woven into ostentatious dresses.
It was a far cry from the austere days of Sanjay¡¯s predecessor, Ramsis, when the nobles wore only the white and gold of the House of Dendup and the walls remained spartan of heroic frescoes and dazzling drapes. The Royal Court used to be the sacred temple of the dynasty, and thus nobles could only wear the colours of the ruling house, but these days it was all about cultural splendour. Not quite the bad look, if one could forget that we were at war.
It was only after the Court was filled in that the Paladins bade me on. With their wholly enclosed helms and tight-gripped laser lances, I felt more akin to a prisoner than a lord as I walked on. I took in the immense height of the building, the arched roof with its buttresses of stone and rafters of dxunwood, the huge hanging lamps and baskets of purple kings¡¯ crowns, and the banners and streamers that fluttered with every shade of rainbow hue.
Horns blared to herald my arrival, followed by the chamberlain¡¯s announcement; ¡°Presenting the Lord Admiral Rain of the House of Bonteri!¡±
Lord Admiral¡ sounds better than Lord Captain, I had to give it that. The banners whipped before a sudden gust of chilly, mountain air, catching my attention. House of Rash, House of Dendup, House of Kaa, House of Tiree, House of Petryph, House of Tandin, House of Oarr¡ and yet, no House of Bonteri¨C actually, two attendants were frantically unfurling the pale purple and teal of my house just as marched past. Which meant, somewhat surprisingly, that neither Mina or Lux were among the watching faces in the galleries.
The only other house to conspicuously ignore the royal summons was the House of Kira, but nobody really dared to fuck with them.
As I stopped before the foot of the dais, I opted to salute rather than kneel, effectively and wordlessly entailing that I was here as an agent of the Confederacy, rather than as a lord of Onderon. Also because I was feeling a little too petty to kneel, and for once could get away with it.
King Sanjay Rash hesitated for the briefest moment, before standing and descending in a sweep of gold and sable, his the embellishments on his ceremonial armour and golden wreath catching the light of the overheap lamps.
¡°Welcome home, child of Onderon!¡± he proclaimed, ¡°You have demonstrated your world¡¯s might and leal to the galaxy, and return wreathed in glory as the pride of Onderon! Is there a soul in this Court who would deny this man the honours he deserves?¡±
The response was the clacking of steel boots against stone as the Paladins rotated their positions, and the howling gale beyond the open-air colonnade behind the royal throne. If one strains their ears, they could perhaps make out the chorus of rupings, accompanied by the screams of drexls and skreevs.
Through it all, the King maintained his measured, genial expression through his carefully groomed beard, before ascending back up to his throne.
¡°I have returned under as pleasant circumstances as I could, Your Majesty,¡± I said stiffly, ¡°But until our battles are concluded, I will receive no reward in good conscience.¡±
¡°Do not humble yourself, Lord Admiral,¡± King Rash¡¯ smile thinned¨Ca warning, to not make light of his generosity, for both of our sakes, ¡°There must be something you wish for.¡±
Just say it, the King¡¯s eyes seemed to scream, just say that you want the House of Bonteri, and I will give it! Without either Mina or Lux present, this may as well be the closest I¡¯d ever get to usurping the house, and I was more than certain half the Royal Court was expecting me to request just that. After all, I was many years older than the current Lord Bonteri¨Cwho was still technically ruling under the regency of his mother until he returned to Onderon¨Cand no doubt I could usurp his titles through some obscure succession law.
Not that I wanted any of it. See, like many monarchical worlds, many appointments were hereditary; chief among them galactic senator. I¡ really didn¡¯t want to deal with all that. My best bet would be to find some derelict fortress in the wilds and renovate it before taking up residence in my new fiefdom, far far away from¡ the galaxy. I quite liked the sound of that, actually.
¡°I have been tasked to assume supervision over the upcoming peace summit¡¯s planetside security detail,¡± I started, ¡°And thus request that the total command of the Space Force be temporarily transferred to my office until this affair is concluded.¡±
If King Sanjay was surprised for the second time, he did not show it, even as the Court started to simmer with talk.
¡°Will you permit this, General Tandin?¡± the King lazily glanced at a moustached, white-haired man in bleak armour.
Built like a great bear, the great General of Onderon easily commanded attention as he moved beside the throne, regarding me with severe emerald eyes, ¡°And for what reason do you need the Space Force, when you have all Separatist Droid Army at your beck and call, Lord Admiral?¡±
When I left him, I was captain, I thought, now we stand at equal rank.
I raised a hand and flicked my wrist, before clenching into a fist, ¡°I intend on withdrawing all droid forces in Iziz to the Jyrenne Military Base. As I walk the streets of Iziz, I see nothing but the illusion of security. The Republic delegation will undoubtedly notice this. If we withdraw all droids and rely on the manpower of Onderon to maintain order in Iziz instead, however, we will be projecting confidence.¡±
¡°And the veneer of confidence is worth more than the illusion of security?¡± the old General asked.
¡°A rebel sees battle droids and devises a cunning plan to circumvent them,¡± I replied, ¡°The same rebel sees empty streets and fears a trap they do not know, or fall victim to arrogance. This is my belief.¡±
¡°And these hypothetical rebels¡¡± King Sanjay waved a vague motion in the air.
¡°Are retreating out of the city and into the wilds as we speak,¡± I confirmed.
The King scoffed dismissively, ¡°Then they are of no threat.¡±
¡Are you kidding me? I blew out a breath. Alright, look, I understand that when you live under a monarchical regime, you are bound to get bad eggs on the throne sooner or later. Not that Sanjay Rash was even at all that bad, relatively speaking. If anything, his only sin was ignorance. But that could at least be rectified with some patience, unlike Ramsis Dendup¡¯s sin of chronic indecisiveness.
A Bivall alien stepped out from the shadow of the throne, dressed in the robes of the royal advisor, ¡°Your Majesty, might I suggest that the Lord Admiral is implying that the rebels are more dangerous outside the city than within?¡±
Indeed; at the very least we could keep an eye on them within the city. Trying to keep your enemies close, as they say. The rebels being in the jungle poses the risk of them creating hidden bases and caches, not to mention seeking allies among the hidden settlements and clans. The last thing we want is for the Republic to find Onderon embroiled in guerrilla warfare.
¡°My spotters have observed unidentified saddled rupings flying south, towards the highlands,¡± General Tandin admitted, ¡°However, that does not explain why you cannot simply wipe them out with your fleet.¡±
I levelled him an even look, ¡°We do not need to stoke the ire of the people any longer. These rebels are disenfranchised not because Onderon has joined the Confederacy, but because their streets no longer belong to them. What more efficient way to disprove them and root out traitors at the same time by forcing them to face the reality that they will be fighting fellow Onderonians, rather than droids?¡±
General Tandin folded his arms behind him, ¡°...I must concur with the Lord Admiral, Your Majesty. This plan will have my approval.¡±
Of course he did. Akenathen Tandin was a hardcore old guard nationalist; he didn¡¯t like the droids in his streets any more than the citizens did. He couldn¡¯t do anything about him, because he didn¡¯t control them, but now I was presenting a way out, and essentially handing him exactly what he wants on a silver platter. For the droids to go, and for the Royal Army to take centre stage once again.
The King was clearly pleased about it too, because he gets to make a show of flexing his authority without actually having to give up something valuable like a castle or appointment.
¡°Very well. Lord Admiral, the Space Force will be in your trusted hands; however, the Royal Army will dispatch an adjutant to supervise your good work,¡± King Sanjay nodded decisively, before spreading out his arms to address the whole chamber, ¡°Lords and ladies, let this be proof of Onderon¡¯s devotion! The galaxy¡¯s finest will bear witness, and we must prepare accordingly. Today, we celebrate the return of a child of Onderon. Tomorrow, we get to work.¡±
The King sat down, and the invisible barriers restraining the spectators broke. Simmer came to a boil, and people began to spread out across the bare central space in knots of conversation, whilst from servant doors chamber attendants came bearing silver platters upon which decanters of wine and spirits gleamed. If nothing else, Sanjay Rash knew how to control his Court much better than Ramsis Dendup did.
I actively avoided the most colourful nobles as I shoved and excused myself towards the sides of the Court where it was less crowded, fully intending on becoming a wallflower until the function was over. More than once, I had to politely turn down ill-concealed marriage offers and ¡®incentives¡¯ to fasttrack some second son or the through the military.
¡°Bonteri.¡±
I spun around, saluting the General with muscle memory alone, ¡°Sir.¡±
Tandin gestured to a tall, black-haired woman beside him, ¡°Lieutenant Slen. She is to be your adjutant.¡±
Awfully quick on the decision making¡
¡°Planned all of this out, had you?¡± I crossed my arms.
¡°After what you did? This is the bare minimum,¡± the General¡¯s moustache wrinkled, ¡°Withdraw the droids and I will handle the city. If you cannot subdue the rebels, just make sure they cannot affect the summit.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the job, General.¡±
The old man dipped his head, ¡°I¡¯ll leave him in your hands, Lieutenant Slen.¡±
Pithy as always, General Tandin left as quickly as he came, leaving the woman behind. I inspected her closely, deciding she was new blood, considering she must be just out of her teens.
¡°Orders, sir?¡± Slen chirped, downright sprightly.
I snatched her shoulder and manoeuvred the both of us to a nearby balcony, away from prying ears. From up here, you could catch a magnificent view of the entire city of Iziz in its full glory, and even the southern highlands on a clear day. It wasn¡¯t a clear day¨Cnot because of the weather, but because of all the starship exhaust painting the sky a grim shade of grey.
¡°Full name, please.¡±
¡°Kavia Slen, sir.¡±
¡°Alright then Kavia, do you know where Jyrenne is?¡±
¡°Just west of here, sir.¡±
¡°Great. Send an order to Jyrenne; they need to dispatch their swiftest riders and contact the southern Beast Rider Clans as quickly as possible,¡± I said, ¡°Then, have them prepare to process a six-hundred prisoners of war, as well as make arrangements for¡ how many droids are there in the city?¡±
Lieutenant Slen¡¯s attitude had been subdued by the gravity of the task at hand, ¡°Two¡ three regiments, sir? Twelve-thousand units, and around three-hundred heavy armour.¡±
¡°Have them make arrangements for that many additional troops,¡± I continued without missing a beat, ¡°Oh, and make sure they know that the six-hundred prisoners are the first batch¨Cthere are several more thousand enroute as we speak.¡±
Despite the chilly air, Kavia Slen was sweating as she noted everything down, ¡°We will have to requisition the nearby bases as well, sir.¡±
¡°Requisition a monastery or a dozen fortresses if you have to¨C¡± we instinctively ducked as another customarily vicious skreev shot over us, ¡°¨CAnd get those bloody riders out first.¡±
¡°The riders, the riders¡¡± Slen paused, tapping her tablet as she looked up at me, ¡°You think the rebels will contact the Beast Riders, sir? Isn¡¯t that a bit far-fetched?¡±
¡°The rebels were spotted using rupings, which means they must have some beast tamers with them,¡± I said sourly, ¡°Not to mention, it will be unfortunately easy to convince the Beast-Lords. Tell me, Kavia, do you like having droids patrol the streets of Iziz?¡±
Slen hesitated for the briefest moment¨C ¡°No, sir. Nobody does. Some say it looks like we had been invaded and occupied.¡±
A bit extreme, but that was Onderonian isolationism in a nutshell.
¡°And that¡¯s for the city-folk, who live only a short carriage ride from the only starport on this whole planet,¡± I sniffed, ¡°Can you imagine what the Beast-Lords will think? First, the droids occupy the city. Next¨C¡±
¡°They will invade the wilds,¡± Slen finished hastily, ¡°I¡¯ll get right on it, sir. With your leave?¡±
¡°Get to it.¡±
I leaned on the railing. Next, I¡¯ll need to get Vander to contact the western clans to make sure they don¡¯t get the wrong idea about an army of twelve-thousand marching towards their territory¡ but to do that, I¡¯ll need to contact Vander, and I don¡¯t know his comm address¡ ah, fuck me. Should¡¯ve brought Hare with me.
Chatter and laughter continued to spill out of the Royal Court, warring against the buffeting winds. The King said that work starts tomorrow¡ except for me, I guess. I considered the idea of hailing one of the riders, but decided against making a fool out of myself; it wasn¡¯t like my voice was going to be heard over the gale.
Hold on, Mishar would know about Vander''s comm, right? And she had my comlink, which is connected to my datapad. I¡¯m an actual genius.
I pulled out my tablet with a white-knuckled grip, so that it wouldn¡¯t be thrown out of my hands.
Time to get to work, and once I get my hands on these bloody rebels, I¡¯m going to make them pay dearly for making me do overtime.
Chapter 37
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
In the shade of low-hanging eaves, Steela Gerrera only had a single thought running through her mind; we were too late. Or rather, they were supposed to have more time. For the first time in four-thousand years, the skies above Iziz were made darker by the smog of war. Brutal Separatist cruisers hung from the clouds, just as murders of warbeasts weaved in and out of their ranks, each and every swooping dive ripping up slates from the rooftops.
Steela had never seen a Dxunian warbeast firsthand before, only in the most terrifying visages of her childhood nightmares. The vast majority of Onderonians haven¡¯t, especially those who lived in the shelter of Iziz¡¯s mighty walls. Flame-scaled rupings were a common enough sight, and oft spotted on Army patrols. By the Demon Moon, their small insurgency possessed a handful, albeit illegally.
But Dxunian warbeasts? Skreevs and, Unifras forbid, drexls? Those were more often than not the subject of tall tales, the real things stowed far far away by the Onderonian Space Force. The same Onderonian Space Force, it seemed, that was finally dipping its toes into the intrigue of the capital city after centuries of neutrality. And that was terrible news for their budding rebellion, because there was as much information about the Space Force as there was about the Beast Rider Clans.
The Space Force was the home of political outcasts and disgraced soldiers, exiled to a forever-crusade against the Demon Moon. Steela had painstakingly cultivated sympathisers in both the Iziz Council and the Royal Army, only for all of that effort to come crashing down as the impenetrable, non-aligned Space Force returned with their ruinous warbeasts in tow. How must those Wave Gunners vigil on the walls be feeling, having trained their whole lives to shoot down drexls, only to be forced to stay their hand at their very first encounter with them.
To make matters worse, those were Separatist ships, which could only mean the city will be crawling with droids even more than it already was in the coming days, and she was not so confident to believe they will be able to remain under the radar for much longer.
¡°Steela!¡± Dono called in an instinctively hushed shout, ¡°Hutch¡¯s cell got through the gate safely. His cover was for a chartered hunting party.¡±
It was a good cover. One of the best, actually. The longest Onderonian hunts could go on for weeks, if not months. Hutch¡¯s cell was one of the largest, so the guardsmen won¡¯t bat an eye at an entire caravan leaving the city. But it also meant ¡®hunting party¡¯ could only be used once or twice, before the gate gets suspicious. Fortunately, all of their cells were on the same flimsi, in that regard.
¡°His safehouse?¡±
¡°Not even fingerprints left behind,¡± Dono grinned, ¡°And everything they couldn¡¯t get out was stored in caches not even I know where.¡±
Dono was one her cell¡¯s most zealous members, joining after her family¡¯s boutique was trashed by droids for ¡®anti-Separatist¡¯ activity. As Steela¡¯s right hand, she trusted Dono with everything from gathering sympathisers to scouting ahead. She trusted her brother, Saw, just as much, but he was a little¡ rough around the edges, and perishingly little of freedom fighting actually involved brute force.
Steela tore her eyes away from the fleet above, ¡°What about the summons? Did you figure out the purpose of the gathering?¡±
¡°Can¡¯t say,¡± Dono shook her head, ¡°But whatever it is, the House of Kira isn¡¯t attending. Our spotters didn¡¯t catch the Kira¡¯s colours among the arrivals. I got in touch with one of my contacts, who¡¯s an ex-Army guardsman, to bring us up to speed.¡±
¡°Are you sure it¡¯s safe?¡± Steela couldn¡¯t help but be concerned.
¡°Apparently they were banished by the current Lord General for protesting against joining the Separatists,¡± Dono explained conspiratorially, ¡°And they¡¯ve had a chip on their shoulder ever since.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll leave in two days,¡± she said with finality, ¡°We¡¯re the last ones out, so if the contact doesn¡¯t arrive by then¡¡±
¡°They¡¯ll be here by today,¡± Dono promised.
That was good. They desperately needed the information, as the usually vocal Council of Lords were being exceptionally tightlipped about what was going. However, they desperately had to get out of the city even more; because something big was going on, and sooner than later the droids were going to crack down even harder than they¡¯ve been before. Steela peeked inside the safehouse, at her comrades struggling to stack up ammunition and supplies necessary for their prolonged sojourn in the jungle before any unwitting eye stumbled upon a cache of smuggled weapons in the middle of Iziz.
¡°Where¡¯s Saw?¡± Steela suddenly asked, despite admittedly not entirely sure why Dono would know. Her brother was hard to pin down at the best of times¨Cbut if there was someone other than her that would know, it would either be Dono or Hutch.
Dono opened her mouth halfway, stepped back, and narrowed her eyes, ¡°I¡¯d imagine he¡¯s on the roof, Steela.¡±
Her heart spiked¨Cthat idiot!
¡°Thanks,¡± she said hurriedly, traipsing back inside, ¡°Fix yourself a drink.¡±
Without waiting for a response, Steela rushed through the storeroom and clambered up the wooden stairway at the far end, dust sprinkling off the timber at every footfall. Shoving open the half-ajar loft window, she pulled herself out onto the eaves and clawed up until she could see the soles of Saw¡¯s boots as he laid flat on his back, watching the Separatist fleet through a pair of macrobinoculars.
¡°What are you doing!?¡± she hissed loudly, ¡°What if they spot you!?¡±
¡°Relax, Steela,¡± Saw brushed her off, not even physically reacting to her presence, ¡°I¡¯m not the only one. Look.¡±
¡°Not the only¨C¡± she twisted around, and spotted dozens more climbing onto their roofs to observe what must be a once-a-century occurrence. Children jumping and gawping, whole families pointing out starships, and even recreational ruping riders trying to get in as close as possible before being warded off by shrieking droid starfighters.
Steela allowed herself to slowly deflate, internally scolding herself for not trusting her own brother. Which, she supposed, would be far easier if he wasn¡¯t so difficult most of the time.
¡°So,¡± she sighed, ¡°What do you see? Anything interesting?¡±
¡°Yes, actually,¡± Saw replied mockingly, handing her the binocs before scooting upwards, ¡°Those ships have markings, and I swear we¡¯ve seen them before.¡±
Interest piqued, Steela put her eyes to the binocs and scanned the Separatist warships¨Cand through the magnification, realised that beneath the battle weariness and laser scars, each ship was clad in individually unique coats of paint. One had a flock of white birds racing alongside its hull, another a rose brush, and another a dazzling array of strange patterns that made her eyes swim.
¡°So¡?¡±
She could feel Saw grabbing hold of her head and guiding her to what he wanted to see, ¡°Look at those frigates. Don¡¯t they remind you of something?¡±
Frigates, frigates¡ were those cave paintings? Cave paintings, and the other had what appeared to be indiscernible scriptures rakes across its hull. Saw was right, she had seen those before. The Halls of the Spirits was a series of caverns deep within Iziz¡¯s mountain, said to be the very place Iziz came into being. The first primitive Onderonians took refuge from the wilds in those caves, and over millennia their descendants built the greatest city in the world. It was a sacred place, and no man in Iziz has not honoured the ancestors in its halls, for it was now the resting grounds for almost all Onderonians.
And all those cave walls was history, drawn and carved. Much like on that ship. And the other, the scriptures; it was just like the stone tablets displayed in Iziz¡¯s largest university, the Ov Taraba. The first writing system of Onderon, it was said¨Cthe first ever stories and legacies of Onderon.
¡°You¡¯re joking,¡± Steela said disbelievingly, ¡°That¡¯s just coincidence. There must be hundreds of other worlds like Onderon¨C¡±
¡°Then look there,¡± he insisted, growing heated.
A stark white hand, writ large. It wasn¡¯t everywhere, only in the central dozen or so ships, but large and obvious enough to be the only common factor between the warships. Steela immediately, instinctively, knew what it meant. After all, what Onderonian didn¡¯t respect their ancient history? Offworlders, perhaps.
The white hand meant ¡®I was here.¡¯ In the primal time, when humans were still struggling for the survival of their species on this hellish planet, there was only one way to prove to others that you existed. How else would you let others know that they were not alone, or that this place was safe, or that you drew this particular cave painting, than by leaving a signature of yourself? Throughout Onderon¡¯s history, handprints of blood and paint served as a testament to their ancestors'' existence.
¡°It¡¯s too much to be coincidence,¡± Saw spoke her mind, ¡°The Separatist commander is an Onderonian.¡±
¡°A very sentimental one, I agree.¡±
Steela flinched, nearly digging her face into the edges of the macrobinocs. Whirling around, she found a woman in coveralls balancing precariously on the peak of the roof, her illustrious red-hair billowing in the breeze. Saw was already on his feet, hand hovering over his holster.
¡°Who are you!?¡± he shouted.
¡°The name¡¯s Alvera¨C woah!¡± the woman attempted to walk closer, but her noticeably unstable footing cost her¨Cwith a step failing to find purchase on clearly open air.
With an explosive, panicked waving of arms, Alveraslipped off the peak, sliding uncontrollably down to the eaves¨Cand if it wasn¡¯t for Steela leaping to snatch her, she might have just found herself with a broken spine. Wrapping her arms around her, Steela slowly exhaled as she lifted the woman up to a sit.
¡°¨CShould I call you my saviour, or¡?¡± Alvera trailed off, and as Steela backed away, she noticed a faded insignia on their shoulder.
¡°You¡¯re the contact?¡± she asked incredulously, trying to match her mental picture of a gruff, exiled soldier with that of the clumsy person before her.
¡°Contact?¡± Saw asked, moving to open the loft window, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡±
¡°Dono got one of contacts with Army ties to rendezvous with us,¡± Steela explained, ¡°But I didn¡¯t think¡¡±
¡°I feel an insult coming on,¡± Alvera held up a hand, ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I have everything Dono promised.¡±
¡°...Get yourself downstairs,¡± Steela wiped her face, ¡°Dono¡¯ll fill you in.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do just that,¡± the contact took one final look at the Unifar Temple, high among the clouds, before descending through the window.
¡°You don¡¯t trust her, do you?¡± Saw¡¯s jaw clenched, ¡°She¡¯s acting and you know it. She managed to climb up here with none of the spotters noticing, and managed to sneak up behind us without making a sound.¡±
¡°According to Dono, Alvera is an ex-guardsman,¡± Steela pointed out, ¡°Aren¡¯t they the Army elites?¡±
Her brother frowned, ¡°There has to be more to it. The way she walks¡ it¡¯s almost like¨C¡±
¡°Like what?¡±
¡°Nothing,¡± Saw closed up, ¡°I¡¯ve got a suspicion, that¡¯s all. I¡¯ll keep an eye on her, trust me.¡±
She did. Steela did trust her brother, ¡°Fine. Just don¡¯t scare her away.¡±
¡°If she really was a guardsman, she¡¯ll be the one doing the scaring,¡± he grumbled, dropping over the eaves and pivoting through the window.
Joining the rest in the safehouse, Steela found Alvera sitting on a chair sipping from a mug in absolute tranquillity even as half a dozen men and women surrounded her in what appeared to be an improvised interrogation. Saw was leaning against a pillar, face scrunched up in thought.
¡°Steela, there you are!¡± Dono cried in wide-eyed panic, ¡°Onderon is going to host the peace talks to end the war!¡±
Steela froze, ¡°What?¡±
¡°The Council of Lords was summoned to prepare for the peace summit,¡± Alvera leaned back, ¡°The reason they didn¡¯t declare it to heaven and earth is to keep it a secret for as long as possible. In fact, as far as the galaxy is concerned, the location is still up for debate.¡±
Keep it a secret as long as possible. Before Steela could even ask why, she noticed Alvera was staring at her with an extremely pointed look. The reason, she realised, was to keep ¡®us¡¯ from finding out. Not just them, but every group in the galaxy potentially attempting to sabotage the peace efforts. All of that, by keeping the final location of the summit secret until the last moment.
¡°We have to stop it,¡± Saw hissed, knowing just as well as the rest of them that he was proving the Council¡¯s pont, ¡°If the war ends, we are going to get crushed, and any hope of freeing Onderon from the Separatists will go up in smoke.¡±
Steela couldn¡¯t help but nod in agreement. They were under no illusions; the only reason the Separatists haven¡¯t wiped them out was because they were too low a priority. If the war ends, Rash¡¯s puppet regime will get all the resources it needs to hunt down their insurgency.
¡°And how are we going to do that, exactly?¡± Dono demanded, ¡°The plan was to ask for Republic aid, but it¡¯s the Republic initiating the talks!¡±
Even in the worst of times, Saw would somehow come up with an idea¨Cusually an incredibly foolhardy one¨Cbut this time he could do nothing but sigh in frustration and close his eyes. Steela suddenly found herself sorely missing his insane plans, because at this point any plan at all would do. Despondency fell like a shadow over their small group, as each man and woman mulled over their dire straits.
¡°...Isn¡¯t there a good chance there will be Jedi among the delegation?¡± Alvera spoke up, ¡°Can¡¯t we asked them.¡±
¡°We?¡± Saw sneered, ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®we¡¯ yet.¡±
¡°Calm down, Saw,¡± Steela crossed her arms, ¡°She¡¯s got a point.¡±
¡°What? Ask for the Jedi to help?¡± he repeated sceptically, ¡°Are we talking about the same Jedi? The Jedi that are generals of the Republic Army? The Jedi that are the Senate¡¯s lackeys?¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to be peacekeepers, at least before the war?¡± Dono mused, warming up to the idea, ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to help fight against an illegal government?¡±
¡°And we¡¯re just supposed to trust them to do the right thing because they¡¯re Jedi?¡± Saw scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s stopping them from selling us out immediately? You realise if they are coming to Onderon, they¡¯ll be here as security.¡±
¡°Well,¡± Alvera swivelled her attention between them, ¡°This might just be me, but¡ if we can¡¯t trust the Jedi of all people, who can we trust? They¡¯ve always been friends on Onderon, since ancient times.¡±
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
¡°I mean, there¡¯s no harm in it, right?¡± Dono looked around, ¡°Do any of us have a better idea?¡±
After a series of shaking heads, Steela finally decided; ¡°Dono and I will stay behind and contact the Jedi. Saw will take the rest of us and rendezvous with Hutch; you all will follow the original plan.¡±
Saw¡¯s lips twisted, ¡°I don¡¯t like it, but we can¡¯t put all our eggs in one basket either. But¡ are you sure about this, Steela?¡±
Are you worried about me, Steela thought fondly, thanks.
¡°Dono and I can handle ourselves, and we¡¯ve got our own ways out in case things get sour,¡± she promised, ¡°We¡¯ll remain in contact, and if the line gets severed, we¡¯ll rendezvous at the Nest.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
¡°¨CWait,¡± Alvera held up a hand, like a child in a classroom, ¡°What¡¯s the ¡®original plan,¡¯ exactly?¡±
Dono blew out a breath, side-eyeing Saw, ¡°To seek help from the Beast Riders. But I, for one, think contacting the Jedi is a much better idea.¡±
Alvera slowly lowered her hand, mumbling, ¡°We agree on that, you and I.¡±
?
The skies over Onderon were painted red with the gleaming hulls of scarlet Consular-class cruisers. Scout pressed her hands against the transparisteel viewports as her Master guided the starship through the press of clouds, revealing the Separatist warfleet waiting for them below. If this whole thing is a Separatist trap, she thought, this would be the perfect time to spring it.
After all, dozens of Republic diplomatic cruisers were descending towards the fleet, filled with hundreds of delegates and senators. If the Separatists wanted to deal a crippling blow to the Republic, they would have no greater chance than this. If the Separatists were truly the monsters the HoloNet painted them as, they certainly would. But they didn¡¯t. Even as unarmed cruisers fell arm¡¯s reach from bristling turbolasers and missile launchers, the painted warships remained silent.
Wait, painted? Since when were Separatist warships painted? Must be an Onderonian thing.
They came and went like a mirage, and when she finally ripped her attention away from them finally found their destination. Iziz.
¡°Woah¡¡± Ahsoka muttered.
Scout nodded in silent agreement. Whether it had been Vorzyd or Coruscant, she had lived her entire life among transparisteel spires and towering skyscrapers. But there was none of that here; ringed around a single mountain peak was a world ripped straight from the bedtime fable. Iziz stretched on as far as the eye could see, as would a city that housed an entire planet in its gargantuan walls.
An ear -splitting scream pierced through the hull of their cruiser, followed by a wall of scales and spines encompassing the viewports. If Scout hadn¡¯t been a Jedi¨Cor if Master Skywalker hadn¡¯t been as prodigious a pilot as he was¨Cshe would¡¯ve found herself thrown off her feet as a gust of wind rocked the cruiser like it was a toy boat.
¡°Warm welcome, huh?¡± Master Skywalker grunted as he wrestled with the yoke.
When Scout found her footing again, she found herself greeted with two insectile eyes, nearly imperceptible under a riot of horns and spikes. Man-sized mandibles snapped, and the monster folded in its gargantuan wings and dove out of sight. Ahsoka immediately ran to the viewports and pressed her face against it to catch a better view. After a brief struggle between her own dignity and curiosity, Scout joined her.
That thing is as large as this cruiser! As the monster moved ahead, the twenty or so men riding on its back came into view¨Csome waving, and others making what she assumed to be obscene gestures.
It wasn¡¯t the only one. All around them, flying beasts of all shapes and sizes swarmed and revelled between the warships. Some massive, others leaner and lighter, and each and every one sporting dagger-filled jaws and viciousness in their wingbeats.
¡°Woah¡¡± Ahsoka repeated, this time with a sense of breathlessness, ¡°Did we just travel back in time a thousand¨C two thousand years? Look at those gunners on the walls! Can those relics even shoot?¡±
Scout tried to follow her friend¡¯s gaze, but decided it was a hopeless task. There was no way she was going to match a Togruta¡¯s perception.
¡°They can, but they do not,¡± Master Plo answered, ¡°I¡¯d imagine those Wave Gunners haven¡¯t fired a single shot since the Third Galactic War. These days, their navy intercepts the Demon Moon long before anything comes close enough to Iziz to warrant action. These tamed warbeasts are proof of that.¡±
¡°Then why do they still have them, Master?¡± Scout questioned.
¡°Because the people of Onderon are warriors,¡± the old Jedi answered, ¡°No matter how far they''ve progressed, they''re fundamentally still warriors standing watch on their battlements. They still believe they are fighting a war for survival that started at the dawn of history, and will continue doing so until the end of history.¡±
¡°These monsters are still monsters,¡± Master Skywalker scoffed, ¡°Can¡¯t see why they don¡¯t just call for Republic intervention and wipe out that moon of theirs.¡±
¡°Legally, because the Republic would not allow it,¡± the Kel Dor folded his arms beneath his robes, ¡°Both Onderon and Dxun are protected legacy worlds for the aggressiveness of their fauna and flora; as both are completely capable of seeding new ecosystems into previously dead worlds, and have done so in the past.¡±
¡°More importantly, Master Plo is right; Onderonians are warriors,¡± Master Kenobi stroked his beard,¡± They don¡¯t like outsiders, and they don¡¯t like being told how to do things even more. For them, this is a matter of pride. It is why their world was chosen for the summit; they dislike the Republic and Separatists equally.¡±
¡°As Jedi, we must be sensitive to the cultures we visit, even if we may personally believe things are wrong,¡± Master Plo finished, ¡°It is not our place to know what¡¯s better for others. This will be a learning experience; you may hear comments that upset you, or practices that may seem deplorable, but you must never forget to be patient. This goes for everywhere in the galaxy, understood?¡±
A duet of ¡°Yes, Master¡± spilled forth from the two Padawans, just as their cruiser gently coasted into the docking bay of Iziz Starport. To their right were the senatorial cruisers, and to their left were more cruisers bearing the devices of the various humanitarian groups, the Refugee Relief Movement chief among them.
As the most senior among them, Master Plo descended the ramp at their head, followed by Master Kenobi and Master Skywalker. As Scout waved away the jets of atmosphere, she raised her head to behold their welcoming party¨Cand her breath caught in her throat.
What awaited them was an army.
Hundreds of soldiers in gleaming bronze-gold armour and long shimmering purple cloaks, conducted by parades of stone-faced cavalrymen atop silver-barded, carnivorous steeds. Over their heads, dozens of flying warbeasts provided shade from the beating sun by sheer volume alone, announcing their arrival with triumphant roars that sent banners whipping at their standards.
Ahsoka¡¯s right, she decided numbly, it really is like just stepped into the last millennium.
The ranking officer raised his sabre, and the ranks of soldiers split with a synchronous clank of armour, allowing the Separatist delegation to come forward. Scout spotted the sponsor of the summit and the Senator from Naboo, Padm¨¦ Amidala, shooting a single curious glance at their Jedi entourage before linking with her senatorial peers to greet their Separatist counterparts in a single body. Joining her, Scout spied the colours of Alderaan, Humbarine, Glee Anselm, and Uyter as well. Curiously, another delegation a while away from the Refugee Relief Movement also shone with Alderaanian colours.
The Separatist delegation was led by the host, the Senator from Onderon, Mina Bonteri, along with several more Scout couldn¡¯t put a name to. Master Plo wordlessly led them to a seemingly random spot behind the senators¨Cbefore the randomness was proven otherwise by the throngs of blue-robed Senate Guards filing in behind them to oppose the Onderonian guardsmen, as if in anticipation for a pitched battle.
Holocam droids swiftly descended onto the scene between the two guard troops as the senatorial delegations approached each other. Senator Amidala and Senator Bonteri raced in front of their contingent and collided in a warm hug¨Cas if greeting an old friend¨Cto the visible surprise of their colleagues.
¡°Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi said quietly, ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted. Remember why we are here.¡±
Master Skywalker, who had been observing the two senators exchange words before letting the laborious proceedings continue, begrudgingly pulled away. There had been a hint of impatience there, Scout noticed, which made her wonder why her Master even wanted to come here if he knew he would be out of place. She was just about to continue watching, before a persistent voice in the back of her mind suggested Master Kenobi¡¯s words may have been partially directed towards her as well.
Oh, right. We¡¯re supposed to be watching for¡ assassins? Bounty hunters?
Would there even be any bounty hunters brave enough to strike now? They were surrounded by thousands of well-armed, well-armoured soldiers.
Suddenly, the procession continued, with the delegations marching into the ranks of Onderonian soldiers. On cue, the Senate Guards surged forwards in lockstep, ranks folding in to fit between the corridor of steel and spears.
¡°Follow me,¡± Master Plo said, swerving away from their intended route, towards the officer with the sabre.
¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Ahsoka whispered in her ear.
¡°Dunno.¡±
The Togruta opened her mouth to continue, but slowly hesitated until her jaw snapped shut with an audible click.
¡°What is it?¡± Scout whispered back. She had known her friend long enough to know Ahsoka was the type to say whatever comes to her mind. If she was hesitating, it must be something serious.
¡°...I can¡¯t see their face,¡± she mumbled.
¡°Can¡¯t see¨C¡± Scout diverted her attention back to the officer, squinting.
His face was¡ pretty. That was the only word that came to her tongue. It was the same kind of ¡®pretty¡¯ you might use to describe a spy; the kind that could charm you with one smile before cutting your throat with the next.
¡°I can see him,¡± Scout shot her friend a weird look.
¡°You can?¡± Ahsoka asked, ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s¡ blurred.¡±
Blurred.
¡°Ahsoka¡¯s correct,¡± Master Kenobi leaned down beside them, ¡°I cannot see his face either¡ nor does he have any presence in the Force. I do know that some files in the Temple Library suggest that Dxunian fauna have developed a resistance or immunity to the Force, so perhaps the phenomena may have spread to Onderon. Somehow.¡±
Resistance or immunity to the Force¡ haven¡¯t she heard of that somewhere? Scout could have sworn she found something similar in Master Skywalker¡¯s old mission logs while she was researching, dating from back when he was Master Kenobi¡¯s Padawan.
¡°Granta¡ Omega?¡± Scout stated slowly, almost as if it was a question.
But Master Kenobi definitely recognised the name, the normally unflappable Jedi Master flinching. At least all my overpreparation finally proved useful, somehow.
¡°Thank you, Padawan,¡± he murmured, spurring forward to speak to his former Padawan.
Anakin Skywalker leapt out of his skin with a startled jolt, followed by a long hiss. He glanced back at her with a single eye, nodding slightly.
¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Ahsoka asked again, insatiable curiosity brimming in her wide eyes.
¡°Some terrorist who was immune to the Force,¡± Scout recalled the reports, ¡°Master Kenobi and Master Skywalker were tasked to bring him to justice.¡±
¡°So did they?¡±
Scout¡¯s face scrunched in effort, ¡°I¡ think so? Either I can¡¯t remember, or the report never got that far.¡±
¡°Master Jedi¨C¡± her concentration broke, and all the memories at the tip of her fingers fled away, ¡°How may I be of service?¡±
¡°Rain Bonteri?¡± Master Plo immediately asked.
Master Skywalker flinched, leather creaking as his gloved mechno-arm curled into a fist. Right, wasn¡¯t he the guy who thrashed our fleet at Christophsis? Bonteri paused, flicking a glance towards her Master for a briefest half-second, before bringing a hand to rest on the pommel of his sabre¨Cas if trusting the thing could stop a lightsaber.
But something wasn¡¯t right. Master Skywalker was still a Jedi Knight; he wouldn¡¯t get so angered by something so normal. Pained as she may to say it, men die all the time in war, and Rain Bonteri was no different from the thousand other Separatist commanders who plied his trade. Anakin Skywalker wasn¡¯t looking at Rain Bonteri, but something else. But what? Scout creeped forward, leaning forward so she could see his face¡ just what are you seeing, Master?
¡°Not the first time we¡¯ve met, I am guessing,¡± Bonteri nodded at Master Plo, ¡°I assume you will be in charge of protecting the senators, Master Jedi?¡±
¡°We are,¡± the Jedi Master confirmed, ¡°I would like to confirm the route we are taking to the Palace.¡±
¡°You do not have to fear anything, Master Jedi,¡± Bonteri gestured towards the colonnade that constituted as the foyer, at the hundreds of animal-drawn carriages awaiting them. The hundreds of soldiers had moved, too, to flank the carriages, with the Senate Guards crowding around those bearing Republic devices, ¡°I have been placed in charge of this summit¡¯s security, and have taken every precaution to ensure the proceedings are not interrupted.¡±
¡°You did not answer his question,¡± Master Skywalker pointed out.
Rain Bonteri eyed him carefully, before finally relenting, ¡°Very well. We will be taking the sky ramps to the Unifar Temple. As you can see, they rise above the city, and are the only way to access the walls or mountain.¡±
The sky ramps. Scout had not noticed them from above, but from the ground they seemed painfully obvious. The ramps were colossal superstructures that, as their name implies, acted as elevated bridges above the tangled riot of buildings. From afar, they appeared like the flanks of grey snakes slithering amid the rooftops and towers, steadily climbing to the mountain peak.
¡°After that will be the reception,¡± he continued, ¡°And the prisoner exchange will be tomorrow, followed by the negotiations¡ the exchange is going on as planned, yes? The RRM were quite insistent about it.¡±
Anakin Skywalker grit his teeth and took a half-step forward, only stopped by Master Plo¡¯s firm hand, ¡°Is there a man named Rex among your prisoners?¡±
Bonteri stared blankly, previously relaxed palm morphing into a grip around his sabre¡¯s hilt, ¡°...Who?¡±
¡°He¡¯s a clone captain,¡± Master Skywalker explained impatiently, ¡°He was on my ship, at Christophsis. You were there, I know you were.¡±
¡°If he survived, he must have been transferred to Battleship Fifty-Three,¡± the Onderonian replied tersely, ¡°And if you did not find him there, he must have died as a result of your raid.¡±
¡°Raid?¡± Anakin Skywalker¡¯s face reddened, ¡°It was a rescue operation! Dying stars know what you would have done to my men¨C¡±
Master Kenobi¡¯s shoulder rose and fell in a silent sigh as pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head, as if thinking ¡®I knew I shouldn¡¯t have allowed him to come here.¡¯
¡°What I would have done¨C?¡± Master Kenobi¡¯s fears were proven right the next second, as Rain Bonteri¡¯s expression grew precariously brittle. Indignation was blatant, as if he couldn¡¯t quite believe his ears; ¡°Master Jedi, I would have treated them with every right a prisoner of war would have afforded, and if you had not raided my ship, you would have found each and every single one of them here on Onderon. I realise there is no small supply for barbarism in this galaxy, but do not think that we are all monsters just because we are Separatists.¡±
¡°Anybody can be a monster. It is a choice we make, not one labelled unto us,¡± he continued, and for the first time Scout found someone who could rival her Master¡¯s towering height, ¡°Even slaughter has rules for civilised men to follow, and I¡¯ll be twice-damned before I give up hoping that there is still honour in war. It is not battle that makes monsters, but what occurs after.¡±
Master Skywalker was silent, but seething. Scout half-expected either Master Plo or even Master Kenobi to step in, but both seemed content to simply observe. Observe the exchange, and observe Rain Bonteri in particular¡ had he always looked like that? She couldn¡¯t remember.
¡°Master Jedi, the ¡®monsters¡¯ you seek are those who are incapable of following rules. Those who fail to treat enemies with respect, those who fail to recognise surrender, those who cannot differentiate between the guilty and innocent, those who punish the collective for the crimes of the few,¡± Bonteri wasn¡¯t speaking in general, Scout realised, but directly at Master Skywalker, ¡°I will not lie, Master Jedi, this galaxy is filled with men who sanction slaughter. It is because they are fuelled by anger and loss, or merely sadism, or apathy. We do not call those people ¡®men¡¯¨C we call them savages.¡±
Anakin Skywalker was trembling now, skin shining with sweat. It was as if Bonteri had indeed drawn that sabre and shoved it through his heart. Honestly, Scout thought that the Separatist was being reasonable; but whatever he said had clearly been personal to her Master.
¡°You would know a lot about savages,¡± her Master said quietly, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you, Onderonian?¡±
¡°Correct. And that is why we also know a lot about the sanctity of life, whether it be of men or monsters,¡± for some reason, it looked like Bonteri was looking down on Master Skywalker, despite their similar heights.
¡°That¡¯s enough, Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi warned.
Anakin Skywalker shook his head, ¡°I would like to see the prisoners. To ensure they are being treated as humanely as you claim.¡±
¡°No you won¡¯t Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi snatched his arm, ¡°You will be coming with me, and you will be doing what you came here to do; protecting the senators.¡±
At the word ¡®senators,¡¯ Anakin Skywalker stilled. He blew out a furious breath, before composing himself and nodding, muttering an apology as he retreated a few steps.
¡°I will see the prisoners,¡± Master Plo reasoned, ¡°I too wish to see the conditions the prisoners are held in. Of course, one of your men will be invited to review our holding wards as well.¡±
Rain Bonteri¡¯s expression slackened, ¡°That is agreeable to me.¡±
To their collective surprise, however, Master Plo then looked down at her and Ahsoka, ¡°So, Padawans? Will you join your Masters at the reception, or will you visit our men with me?¡±
On one hand, she would be trapped in a stuffy room filled with politicians for the next several hours¨C so it wasn¡¯t really a choice, however. That was, if she didn¡¯t also have a duty as a Padawan to remain with her Master¡ but it was Plo Koon who raised the idea in the first place, so did it really count?
Besides, she knew from Appo that Rex was a close friend of her Master, and the least she could do was afford him some closure.
¡°And these two are¡?¡± Bonteri trailed off.
¡°These two are our Padawans,¡± Master Kenobi introduced, ¡°Ahsoka and Tallisibeth.¡±
The Onderonian blinked, glancing at them¨Cthen at their Jedi Masters¨Cthen back at them again, as if he couldn¡¯t quite believe his ears. Or his eyes.
¡°You are¡¡± he squinted, as if she was some alien lifeform he had never encountered before, ¡°Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Padawan?¡±
¡°Padawan Learner Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy, at your service,¡± she bowed lightly.
¡°Padawan Learner Ahsoka Tano, nice to meet you!¡± Ahsoka chirped.
¡°Right¡ most certainly,¡± Bonteri smiled at them in such a way that suggested he thought they were mere children, ¡°In any case, any decision you make can occur after we reach the Temple. Let¡¯s not keep the senators waiting.¡±
With a hand, he gestured towards the convoy of gilded carriages. The sky ramp leading up to the mountain peak, right then, appeared perilously long and difficult.
Chapter 38
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
Scout expected it to be colder. Well, she honestly didn¡¯t know what she expected¨Cshe had never ridden a dragon before, after all. Steam curled from the warbeast¡¯s armoured hide, every powerful beat of its wings like a climbing and descending an entire mountain in the span of seconds. She snuggled herself into an uncomfortable spot between the spines, white-knuckled grip around the frayed ropes that criss-crossed the body like overgrown vines.
She had no idea how any of the Onderonian riders felt confident enough to walk, much less even stand, across the monster¡¯s back. Some held onto the sorry excuse for a harness for insurance, while others placed their absolute trust into their sure-footed stances and braced lances to counterbalance against the torrential winds.
Not that the fear of plummeting to her death stops Ahsoka from trying to learn anyway, her montrals whipping sideways as she holds onto the ropes for dear life. One slip, Scout thought morbidly, and this¡¯d be the last I¡¯d see of her.
¡°You¡¯re afraid,¡± Rain Bonteri observed, ¡°Don¡¯t be. You¡¯d be caught before you hit the ground, most of the time.¡±
¡°Most of the time?¡± Scout felt sick.
Bonteri shrugged, leaning back against a horn¡¯s flank, ¡°We have to learn to fly somehow. There¡¯s a dozen men on this warbeast, and more than half know the feeling of freefall. They¡¯re still alive, aren¡¯t they?¡±
Curiosity got the better of Scout, despite herself, ¡°And have you fallen before?¡±
He gave her a wry smile, ¡°I catch, not fall. See those smaller warbeasts? I was a ruping rider, not a drexl. They aren¡¯t large enough for one to stand on. Skreevs and drexls are a different story. They can fly for days, crossing the oxygen bridge, and so their riders must learn to eat and sleep on their backs. You can tell if a man rides a Dxunian warbeast when they don¡¯t walk right on the ground.¡±
Captain Vander¨Cthe ¡®captain¡¯ of this particular warbeast¨Ccaught her attention when she spotted him in the middle of a precarious balancing act creeping out to the tip of the warbeast¡¯s wing. A single flap, and he¡¯d be thrown right off. After an exchange of hand signals with a neighbouring raptor, he all but skipped back to the harness.
¡°Hragscythe spotted approaching Darrastead, Bonteri!¡± Vander shouted as he tugged the ropes, prompting the huge beast beneath them to irritably lumber starboard.
¡°Tell Oarr to deal with it and bring us lower,¡± Bonteri looked up at him, ¡°We continue to Jyrenne.¡±
¡°I take it hragscythes aren¡¯t a normal sight around here?¡± Master Plo guessed, sitting cross-legged.
¡°We had to lighten our patrols to prepare for the summit,¡± Vander explained as a nearby drexl rose, tucked in its wings¨C and dove straight down with all the speed of a blaster bolt, whips of lashing out and knocking Ahsoka off her feet.
If it wasn¡¯t for Master Plo¡¯s timely interference, her Togruta friend may have found herself impaled on a spine. Instead, she casually floated back towards them, courtesy of Master Plo¡¯s command of the Force.
¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault I fell,¡± Ahsoka said indignantly as she was carefully set down.
¡°Then can¡¯t imagine what it¡¯s like to fly through a cloud, much less a storm,¡± Captain Vander laughed in spite of his passenger¡¯s near-death experience.
¡°Through a storm¨C¡± Ahsoka interrupted herself, ¡°¨CHow do you even hold on? You aren¡¯t Jedi.¡±
¡°Tightly. This old girl doesn¡¯t care,¡± Vander patted his warbeast, ¡°So we just hold on tightly and trust her to bring us through it.¡±
Ahsoka looked at the two Onderonians strangely. As the warbeast descended, the emerald canopy approached rapidly, smeared with the purple-red crowns into a blur. If Scout was brave enough to crawl to the edge and lean over the rumbling mass of muscle and keratin, she¡¯d think she may have been able to reach out and brush against the leaves¨Cand lose a hand in the process.
¡°If Onderon doesn¡¯t like both the Separatists and Republic, why do you still fight?¡± Ahsoka was looking directly at Bonteri, and Scout envied her forthrightness.
Bonteri and Vander shared a look only years of camaraderie could create, before turning back to her friend, ¡°Why does anybody fight for the Separatists? Because they believe in Separatism, or because they are simply fighting for their homeworlds. Why do I fight? To prevent something very, very bad from happening to the galaxy.¡±
Vander looked down, tugging at the loose strand of rope that unravelled endlessly, ¡°We must be approaching Jyrenne. I¡¯ll get us down.¡±
With a final harsh jerk, he snapped the strand and released it, watching the thread disappear behind them as he stood and left. Instead of clarifying exactly what he meant, however, Bonteri rather simply kicked his boots over a protruding ridge or armour and closed his eyes. He must be feeling much less comfortable than he¡¯s actually showing, Scout decided. There was no way lying on a bed of thorns was anywhere pleasant¨Cshe definitely didn¡¯t think so. But these riders slept on the backs of their warbeasts, so maybe Onderonians simply had thicker skin than her city-raised self.
Master Plo seemed fine too, but he didn¡¯t count. He was a Kel Dor.
¡°Ahsoka and Tallisibeth can be trusted, Lord Bonteri,¡± Master Plo leaned forward, ¡°You know what I came here for.¡±
¡°Tallisibeth? What is it like being Anakin Skywalker¡¯s apprentice?¡±
The irrelevance of the subject was so precipitous Scout found herself flinching at the sudden question, ¡°Apprentice¨C? Uh¡ he¡¯s fine?¡±
Bonteri popped one eye open, regarding her strangely. Scout internally winced at just how lame her answer was.
¡°I mean¨C¡± she took a deep, freezing breath, ¡°He cares a lot more than he lets on. I know that, at least.¡±
¡°Hmm,¡± he hummed, ¡°And during your training sessions?¡±
¡°Wha¨C why are you asking me this?¡± Scout suddenly felt defensive, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡±
¡°I fought him on the field twice. Beat him bloody twice,¡± Bonteri said easily, bragging so casually she doubted if it was even his intention to do so, ¡°I want to know who he is as a person. Is he learning? Will I still beat him the next time?¡±
¡°And how will you learn that from me?¡±
¡°By getting an answer,¡± he finally cracked open the second eye, tone in deadpan.
This guy¡ I can¡¯t tell what he¡¯s thinking.
¡°Speak truthfully, Tallisibeth,¡± Master Plo advised, ¡°There is no shame in a Jedi¡¯s teachings.¡±
¡°...Well, Master Skywalker doesn¡¯t really know how to teach me,¡± she cringed, ¡°Since I¡¯m not all that powerful with the Force like him. Instead, he has me training with the troopers.¡±
Bonteri scratched his cheek, ¡°And you, Ahsoka?¡±
¡°Jedi things,¡± Ahsoka shrugged, ¡°Every other lesson is about patience, it feels like.¡±
The vast jungles whittled away into walled clearing surrounded the ruined foundations of an old castle. Far from the mortar-and-brick of the capital, weathered durasteel of dozens of buildings and transports glimmered a dull sheen in the sunlight. Soldiers patrolled the grounds in rank and file, while warbeasts flocked in and out of a pit-like structure that clearly served as some kind of stable. Scout¡¯s stomach lurched as their drexl landed with a heavy thump, comically dwarfing the humble shuttle on the adjacent landing pad.
Rain Bonteri stood up first, slowly, doing little to hide the shaking of his legs, ¡°So Kenobi teaches you to be a Jedi, and Skywalker teaches you to be a soldier¡ not exactly what I was looking for, but it¡¯ll do.¡±
¡°And what were you looking for?¡± Master Plo spoke the question on all their minds.
Bonteri glanced at them, ¡°Proof that Anakin Skywalker is who I think he is.¡±
Then, he stepped off the edge and deftly slid down the warbeast¡¯s wing membrane until his boots hit solid ground. Master Plo and Ahsoka skillfully followed him by vaulting off the back and using the Force to survive a fifty-foot fall. Scout, having none of those handy abilities, resorted to the tried and tested method of sliding down the wing¨Cbut not without tripping over extended phalanges, because of course she did.
By the time she caught up with the group, Scout found Vander and Bonteri staring into the distance, towards a group of warbeasts near the far wall.
¡°What is it?¡± Ahsoka peered, her alien vision catching much more than any of their¡¯s will.
¡°Beast Riders,¡± Rain Bonteri mumbled, ¡°What clan?¡±
¡°Clazca, looks like,¡± Vander said, ¡°Entertain our guests, Bonteri. I¡¯ll deal with them.¡±
¡°I thought you already did.¡±
¡°The Clazca don¡¯t hang around these parts, you know that,¡± offence leaked into Vander¡¯s tone, ¡°The Ezelk are the closest clan, and they¡¯ve already allowed access through their forests. The Clazca are here for a different reason.¡±
¡°How can you tell they¡¯re Beast Riders?¡± Scout questioned, ¡°All warbeasts look the same.¡±
¡°Those don¡¯t have harnesses,¡± Ahsoka pointed out.
¡°Wha¨C¡± she spluttered, ¡°How am I supposed to know that!?¡±
Bonteri shook his head, ¡°Nevermind that. Let me bring you to the internment camps.¡±
As they forged deeper into Jyrenne Base, the only thing Scout could think was; oh, so this is where all the droids went. There weren¡¯t any battle droids marching about, per se, but she easily recognised the Multi-Troop Transports and C-9979 landing ships littering the parade grounds like out-of-place monuments. The soldiers she could see were less ornamental than those in the capital, as well, sporting modern¨Cwell, as modern as Onderon seems to get¨Ctactical combat gear and blaster carbines instead of antiquated laser lances.
The prison compound was tucked away, out of view from the rest of the base, surrounded by a chain link fence that Scout hazarded was electrified. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of prisoners milling in the yard, many of them wearing the same face. Others held themselves straighter, taller, unwilling to discard their pride even in chains.
¡°You keep officers with the clones?¡± Ahsoka noticed the same thing.
¡°They all eat the same thing, don¡¯t they?¡± Bonteri answered simply, swiping the blast door open to permit them entry, ¡°Aliens are handled case-by-case, because as you might have noticed, we don¡¯t have a lot of experience with non-humans.¡±
The doors thudded shut behind them, locking them inside.
¡°Has Count Dooku sanctioned this summit?¡± Master Plo immediately asked.
¡°No, but the Parliament has voted in favour of it, so that¡¯s the matter concluded. Dooku¡¯s only role is to sign the flimsi.¡±
¡°And if he doesn¡¯t?¡± the Jedi Master pressed.
¡°Then he loses all legitimacy, and the Confederacy will finally see him for what he is. That¡¯s why he will never let us get to that point. Before you ask me; I don¡¯t know how. That¡¯s the problem.¡±
Even as the exchange dragged on, Bonteri didn¡¯t fail to tour the compound. While it was obvious the whole building was pre-fabricated, the matter of fact was that it was also sanitary and spacious enough. The bunks in particular were no less cramped than those on the Harbinger, which was a point of wry amusement for Scout.
¡°If you are on the reacting end, how do you expect to drag him into the open?¡±
Scout and Ahsoka pretended not to listen, or rather, failed to pretend. Because Master Plo was clearly treating the bane of the Republic Navy as a Separatist traitor, and how was that not riveting? Was this what Master Tiin meant by potentially deciding the course of the war? What a stupid question¨Cof course it was.
The architect of the Republic¡¯s single largest loss of life in living history, being a traitor? Questions raced through her mind; was this a whole conspiracy in the Separatist ranks? How and when did Master Plo find out? Why doesn¡¯t Bonteri just switch sides? Did Master Tiin and Master Kenobi know as well?
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¡°Reacting?¡± Bonteri opened the door leading out into the yard, ¡°The one thing preventing us from going on the offensive is not us only capable of reacting, but the Republic¡¯s capability for reacting.¡±
A thousand pairs of blank eyes widened and brightened the very moment they caught a glimpse of Jedi robes. Scout had a feeling they would have been rushed, if not for the presence of Rain Bonteri¡¯s purple cape dissuading them.
¡°You want the guarantee that the Republic will not intervene?¡±
Bonteri spun around, ¡°The only thing we want is confirmation that the Jedi Order¡¯s enemy is Count Dooku, and not the Confederacy. I am certain you already know this, Master Jedi; the only path to reunification left is through force, and we have already made our bed. The Rim will never surrender its newfound independence, and the Rim will gladly bleed to the last man for it.¡±
Master Plo Koon was silent for a long while, thinking, picking his next words carefully.
¡°I do not speak for the Council on this matter,¡± he started, ¡°But if you truly intend on going against Dooku, I will support it. The Sith must be eradicated; that is the Order¡¯s mission. If I must, I will convince the Council to delay any action by the Republic in response to the Confederacy¡¯s¡ housekeeping.¡±
¡°Then remove the Sith in the Republic first, before it is too late,¡± Bonteri replied grimly.
The Jedi Master went silent again. Scout shivered. It was as if a divine hand had turned down the temperature, and a biting gale burst through the yard grounds. The Sith in the Republic. She shared a look with Ahsoka. Disbelief at first, then horror as Master Plo made no effort to contradict the statement. There¡¯s a Sith in the Republic? Are we allowed to hear this?
¡°Very well,¡± Master Plo was calm. Like stone. Or like the mirror-polished surface of a transparisteel skyscraper hiding Force-knows-what within, ¡°Do you have any leads¡?¡±
He trailed off, masked head snapping up towards the crowd of anxious prisoners.
¡°Something the matter?¡± Bonteri¡¯s voice was flat, his face bearing all the emotion of a permacrete wall.
¡°There is a Jedi among the prisoners.¡±
It wasn¡¯t a question, but a statement. Scout wished she could sense them like he can, but she couldn¡¯t. Ahsoka¡¯s face scrunched up in effort, but she soon slacked and shrugged, making Scout feel that tiny bit better about herself. Or maybe that was just Ahsoka making her feel better.
Master Plo took off with haste in his strides, and the two Padawans struggled to keep up. The throng of prisoners split before the Jedi Master¡¯s billowing robes, hope brimming in their eyes like unshed tears, yet also skittish at his purposeful march. A Jedi Master, distressed? Unthinkable. Somehow, Scout felt like that was exactly what was at hand.
By the time she caught up¨Csomehow out of breath¨CMaster Plo was standing over a kneeling girl, one some years her senior at a mere glance. She was a Mirialan, one of those Outer Rim species, and despite her imprisoned state, the should-be Jedi bore only peace on her face, as if she had been expecting them all along.
¡°What is your name, Padawan,¡± Master Plo almost¨Calmost¨Cdemanded, ¡°Who is¨C was your master?¡±
¡°My name is Barriss Offee,¡± the captured Jedi¡¯s words were soft, measured, ¡°My Master is Luminara Unduli.¡±
Master Plo swung around, nearly backhanding Ahsoka in the process. He was glaring directly at Rain Bonteri, who had positioned himself halfway between them and the exit, lips drawn out thinly.
¡°You were at Teth,¡± Master Plo said roughly. Again, it was posed as a statement, ¡°You were there with Asajj Ventress. You were the one who shattered Master Unduli¡¯s task group.¡±
Rain Bonteri, having once more proved himself the bane of the Republic, allowed a small smirk to take over his lips¨C ¡°Looks like you found your lead, Master Jedi.¡±
?
Padm¨¦ expected it to be colder, on the mountaintop. Among the clouds, a steady breeze poured in from the open air colonnade behind the vacant throne, sending flowing cloths and banners aflutter. Through some wild sorcery, however, it was anything but. The braziers crackled merrily with laughing flames, generating a warm fug that hung over their heads with a distinct charcoal smell. The open air architecture, however, meant the incense was never more present than a passing sensation.
For all the terrific descriptions Padm¨¦ had overheard of the savagery and primitiveness of Onderonians, they seemed quite refined to her, in their own archaic way. The courtly culture was something she could respect, as the former queen of another monarchical world. Courtly¡ with the martial touch that pervaded all things Onderonian.
Talk blossomed as local Onderonian delicacies were passed hand-to-hand from silver platters, punctuated with the clinks of blood-full wine glasses. From the galleries floated the soft sounds of string instruments she could not name, backing a woman¡¯s magnificent alto. The only signs that this hall hosted the Court of Onderon was the throne, and the colourful tapestries depicting the devices of the Council of Lords¨Cand even then, the colours of the Republic and Confederacy hung in the forefront.
There was not a battle droid in sight, to her¨Cand perhaps she was not alone in this¨Csurprise. Bronze armoured Paladins and blue cloaked Senate Guards stalked in the shadows of the galleries, hawkishly watching for the uninvited, and each other. The standoffish attitude was thankfully confined to the upper decks, however, as on the floor Republic and Separatist delegates mingled with each other without barriers, and Padm¨¦ found herself transported to a time when war was not yet a foregone conclusion.
Most Separatist senators were once Republic senators, after all, and familiar faces were all too common, as were rekindled¡ something close to friendships. The Republic Diplomatic Corps had strategically picked out the most congenial senators to represent the Loyalist cause, and there was little doubt in her mind that the Separatists had mirrored that effort. There was no questioning Senator Orn Free Taa¡¯s patriotism, but he¨Cand many other well-meaning senators¨Ctend to be overzealous. Not that Padm¨¦ had the heart to blame the Twi¡¯lek, considering the plight of his homeworld before Jedi Master Windu liberated Ryloth.
¡°Padm¨¦!¡±
Certainly, she had her own familiar faces.
¡°Mina!¡± Padm¨¦ couldn¡¯t help but grin, seeing the usual purple dress cut through the crowd.
No matter where or when, Mina Bonteri would never fail to wear her family¡¯s colours; purple and teal, the same colours that hung from the rafters with the Bonteri sigil emblazoned over it. The older Senator rose over her by a whole head, and Padm¨¦ was forced to reacquaint herself with the towering stature of her old friend.
Senator Amidala¡¯s career was initially buoyed by her momentous introduction¨Cresulting with the ousting of the Valorum Administration¨Cbut would have lagged once that fleeting relevance faded. That was, if it wasn¡¯t for the seasoned Senator Bonteri, who commanded the kind of attention and authority few others could match. Perhaps it was the fact that she was tall enough to look down on even men, or how she spoke in that piercing Onderonian dialect that could cow even the toughest Weequay into subservience.
Regardless, if Senator Bonteri had never decided to take Padm¨¦ her wing, the Senator from Naboo wouldn¡¯t be standing in the place she was now.
¡°How good it is to see you again!¡± Mina wrapped her in a crushing hug that almost lifted her to the ground, ¡°Let me tell you, Padm¨¦, watch you give that speech, telling the entire Republic Senate what for? I have never felt so proud. Might I daresay I almost regretted resigning, even for the briefest moment?¡±
¡°You do me too great a service, Mina,¡± Padm¨¦ tittered as she regained her balance, ¡°I was only doing what was expected of me. It was my best, that I admit, but my best is what I owe the people of the Republic.¡±
¡°You did something many of us thought a dream!¡± her old mentor whisper-shouted, ¡°You proved peace was still possible! You were always one for big declarations, even from that fateful day you stepped into the Convocation Chamber as the proud Queen of Naboo.¡±
¡°It was the least I could do,¡± it took all her political experience to not show her blush, ¡°After that disastrous campaign¡ if nothing else, it proved that war is no way to settle our differences. Let it be here, at the table, that we prove that the dream we share does not have to remain one any longer.¡±
A shadow crossed Mina¡¯s expression at the mention of the campaign, ¡°Yes¡ well said, Padm¨¦, well said. This war has already claimed far too many lives.¡±
¡°That is an intriguing stance to take,¡± another voice emerged from the crowd, ¡°Considering your family¡¯s involvement in the war, Senator Bonteri.¡±
Master Obi-Wan Kenobi stuck out like a sore thumb, his humble Jedi robes a relief for sore eyes among the extravagance of bright hues that the floor seemed all but ablaze in. And just by his side¨CAnakin. Padm¨¦ found herself inadvertently holding her breath when she realised she would be hearing him speak, and that she could finally¨Cfinally¨Chear his voice after so, so long. She was quiet, anticipation like a fist around her throat despite herself, feeling the beat of her heart, and wondering if he could hear it too.
¡°Senator Bonteri, Senator Amidala,¡± Obi-Wan bowed lightly, ¡°I hope we are not intruding.¡±
And then time seemed to still as his eye found her¡¯s, and he straightened; a new light broke over his golden face and he said, ¡°Padm¨¦. You are well.¡±
Not a question. A statement. And it was truth. She was well. The most well she had felt in a time far too long¨Cand she couldn¡¯t remember the last time, because why should she, when she had the now?
Padm¨¦ dipped her head, ¡°Master Jedi. Not at all.¡±
Just a little longer, Annie. She could see the endearing in his clear eyes, and she wondered if he could read her mind. Let him.
¡°My family, Master Jedi?¡± Mina questioned, gracefully plucking a glass of deep red from a passing attendant and offering it forward, ¡°My family is one of many who fought, yes, and lost.¡±
¡°Lost¡?¡± Padm¨¦ echoed, warmth in her chest slowly replaced by a stalking cold that never seemed too far away in this war, ¡°Your husband was a soldier, wasn¡¯t he?¡±
Husband. Soldier. The words burned in her mouth as it did in her heart.
¡°Thank you for remembering, Padm¨¦,¡± Mina laughed distantly, ¡°He was. He fought well, was what I heard, though that is what they tell all of us. I am inclined to believe it, however, because a Jedi killed him. And a Jedi¡¯s blade does not cut without reason.¡±
Even Obi-Wan could hardly hide his surprise, though he did not relent, ¡°Forgive me, Senator. I had been insensitive. May I know how your husband was killed?¡±
¡°The Cradle of Confederacy was supposed to be safe,¡± Mina explained with a smile that could not quite hide everything, ¡°Funny how this war continues to overturn all our expectations¡ it was a Jedi that went by A¡¯Sharad Hett. That is all I know.¡±
A soft snarl ripped out of Anakin¡¯s mouth before he could stop himself¨C ¡°A Tusken.¡±
The Jedi have Tusken Raiders in their ranks? Love him as she might, Padm¨¦ was not ignorant of Anakin¡¯s temper, or his past with the Sand People. No, she was the only person who knew the truth¡
¡°Perhaps you should recall Rain Bonteri¡¯s words, Anakin,¡± Obi-Wan advised, ¡°Before you become unwise.¡±
¡Or not. Was there anything Obi-Wan Kenobi did not know? Sometimes, Padm¨¦ would catch him observing her closely, and there was never a moment the thought of her relationship with Anakin being revealed terrified her¨Cfor his sake.
Mina Bonteri, meanwhile, opened her mouth with a silent ¡®ah,¡¯ a knowing glint in her eye, ¡°So that is why I am of interest to you, Master Jedi. I have weathered more than a few accusations of hypocrisy, and I suppose this will be no different.¡±
¡°Mina?¡± Padm¨¦ asked, no less curious than she was grateful for the change in subject.
¡°The architect of the Battle of Columex, Padm¨¦,¡± Anakin said slowly, ¡°Was Senator Bonteri¡¯s nephew, Rain Bonteri. He was the officer with the sabre at the starport¡¡±
If Anakin had not trailed off, she imagined he would have followed with something along the lines of; ¡®and the murderer of ten million men.¡¯ I would like to meet him later, Padm¨¦ thought, if for no more than to see what kind of person he was.
¡°The nature of war is a terrible thing,¡± Mina sighed, ¡°If he had not been present, then that infamy would simply belong to another man, Separatist or Loyalist. Be honest, Master Jedi; if a Separatist armada had been on the doorstep of Anaxes, would you not have fought just as hard?¡±
¡°I am in agreement, Senator,¡± Obi-Wan agreed easily, ¡°We have only come to seek information on your nephew.¡±
Mina raised a palm, ¡°I know far too little to be of any help in your investigation, Master Jedi. We all have our secrets, and it is far be it for me to pry into the privacy of a man I barely know¡ Jedi do have the concept of privacy, yes? All of you living in that big Temple of yours must become tiring after some time. I certainly cannot imagine doing so.¡±
¡°I see¡¡± the Jedi Master stroked his beard, ¡°In that case, we shan¡¯t take anymore of your time.¡±
¡°I¡¯d think not,¡± Mina agreed, her accent leaking out, ¡°It is conversations of this nature that lead people to think we can never put war behind us. All of our delicacies are at your fingertips, so enjoy yourselves instead, Master Jedi. There is no safer place in Onderon than here and now.¡±
¡°For being so confident in your security, I haven¡¯t seen a single battle droid,¡± Anakin observed.
¡°Nor do I see a single clone,¡± the Onderonian replied coolly, ¡°As I said; let us leave the instruments of war behind us. I do hope you enjoy your time here.¡±
¡°We will be sure to do so, Senator,¡± Obi-Wan said, finally drinking from his glass, ¡°Come now, Anakin. The crowd is getting impatient. Please excuse us, Senator Amidala.¡±
Master Kenobi heeled around and swept away, his billowing robes like a flag signalling that Senator Bonteri and Senator Amidala were now free to talk. As Padm¨¦ watched carefully for the encroaching throng, she decided to seize the initiative and honed in on the first familiar face she saw.
¡°Celly!¡± she cried, ¡°You made it! Mina, I¡¯m sure you remember Celly and Bail.¡±
With that, the waiting audience had no choice to discreetly return to their own debates as the two Organas took the cue to approach them.
¡°Of course I do,¡± Mina smiled, ¡°It¡¯s been too long.¡±
¡°I¡¯m here for business, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Celly Organa shook her head, ¡°I was hoping you could include some terms in the negotiations allowing the RRM to intervene on wartorn worlds, especially in the Near-Perlemian.¡±
Padm¨¦ nodded sagely. There was little question to which worlds Celly alluded to¨Cthe tragedy of Atraken had been broadcasted throughout the Republic, as was the inhumanity of all forces participating in the battle. Even the Jedi Order did not emerge unscathed, as the People¡¯s Inquest launched a media crusade damning them for the involvement of a Jedi Master. If she recalled correctly, the Order was forced to try Master Pong Krell in military courts, where he had been found guilty of war crimes.
¡°The Confederacy is extremely grateful already, for the RRM¡¯s efforts at Atraken,¡± Mina spelled it out clearly, ¡°You are more than welcome to operate in our systems.¡±
Celly Organa blinked, ¡°Is that the case? I did not think¡¡±
¡°We are not the Republic, nor do we operate the same way,¡± Mina explained, ¡°Our new Supreme Commander has already pledged the Armed Forces¡¯ full cooperation. In the meantime, our worlds in the Near-Perlemian do not need government sanction to invite the RRM; all you have to ask. Considering the state of things, I believe you will find all of them more than cooperative as well. Our Parliament only weighs in on matters deemed threatening to the Confederacy as a whole, and you have my guarantee we do not consider your cause a threat.¡±
There was a joking lilt to Mina¡¯s tone at the end, but the implications still surprised them all. While Padm¨¦ did know of the Separatist Alliance¡¯s decentralisation, the sheer extent of autonomy their member worlds possessed still beckoned astonishment.
¡°There must be some troublesome aspects of autonomy,¡± Bail Organa mused.
¡°Certainly, but our Bylaws are well prepared for such scenarios,¡± Mina took a sip from her glass, ¡°Even now, our Supreme Commander is in the process of reining in some of our more quarrelsome elements¡ enough about us. Lady Organa, why don¡¯t you enlighten us with some of the RRM¡¯s plans? I¡¯m sure the negotiations will¡¡±
The discussion, and a hundred others, continued well into the day, under the watchful eye of guardsmen and Jedi. Meaningless as they may seem, there was no question the words spoken today would decide the outcome of the following days. As the Demon Moon¡¯s baleful eye rose crossed the starlit sky, shadows of monsters crossed its emerald gaze. The riders of Onderon would find a sleepless night in their constant vigilance for would-be saboteurs and assassins.
The Demon Moon¡¯s gaze passed. There were none.
Chapter 39
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
¡°Isn¡¯t it remarkable, that one can have all the power in the galaxy¡ and yet, the words of a single senator can sway the thoughts of trillions?¡±
The Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic was standing by the vast transparisteel window behind his desk, soberly gazing at the endlessly complicated ribbons of traffic seething across Coruscant''s cityscape. Hearing the muffled shuffle of footsteps on the velvet carpet, he turned, gravely smiling.
¡°Not just any senator, Chancellor. Padm¨¦ Amidala,¡± Director Armand Isard spat out the name like a curse, ¡°Something has to be done about her.¡±
Armand Isard¡ the Director of Republic Intelligence, an ambitious man. Palpatine liked ambition. It made men predictable, gullible, and easy to control. Ambitious men will only act to benefit themselves, and are incapable of trusting others. But when you can convince them your goals are roughly in the same direction¡ ah, that¡¯s when they become cooperative. No trust¨Conly mutual benefit.
A sort of¡ ¡®I scratch your back, and you scratch mine.¡¯ That is the only language they understood.
The most important part is the first step; identifying the itch. It was also the easiest step. Armand Isard was simple enough¨Cas simple as every other ladder-climbing halfwit in the Republic Military. Like the rest, he strived to reach the top, and was willing to lie, betray, and murder his way to it. Anything for that fleeting moment when he could see the entire galaxy at his feet, the fate of millions in his hands¡ before the next ambitious man snatched him by the ankles, threw him off, and took his place.
But what made him different from the rest is that he produced results. And so Palpatine identified him early on, back when he was a mere Senator from Naboo, and promised to scratch his back. Palpatine presented himself as just another ambitious senator, but deceptive enough not to show it. Armand Isard was let in on a secret and oh, did men like him love being in on secrets. It made them feel special, like they were part of something larger, as if that made them larger.
And now, Senator Palpatine was the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, and Inspector Isard was Director of Republic Intelligence. A most profitable relationship. And so long as Isard continued producing results, this relationship will continue¡ so it is most unfortunate that Republic Intelligence has been demonstrating less-than-satisfactory competence as of late.
¡°Senator Amidala is not some sort of anomaly, Director,¡± Mas Amedda said dryly, ¡°Will you also ¡®do something¡¯ about Senator Organa and Senator Mothma as well?¡±
¡°Amidala is not the same as Organa and Mothma, Deputy,¡± Isard paced the office, ¡°Their years of service have tempered their idealism; made them realists. They can be bargained with. But Amidala? From the day she entered the Senate Chamber¡ and her resolve has only grown under the wing of Senator Bonteri.¡±
Palpatine slowly lowered himself into his chair, steepling his fingers. Senator Mina Bonteri¡ yes, he was vaguely aware of her. She was an ardent supporter of the Rim Faction, despite her world¡¯s Inner Rim location. By all means, she shouldn¡¯t have been a very large player in either the Rim or Core Factions, as Onderon simply didn¡¯t have the influence¡ if it were not that her force of personality made up for her homeworld¡¯s intrinsic lack of pull.
Even among her human colleagues, Bonteri stood head and shoulders over many, and held herself with all the dignity only a woman raised by the wildness of Onderon could. When the person you spoke with could crush your phalanges in a handshake, one tended to be very receptive. Even if she did not have the¡ eccentricity of Onderon in her, Amidala still picked up her mentor¡¯s pride and character, because as she had proved not too long ago, it made men listen.
¡°Amidala would never have had the material to work with in the first place had your department not failed so critically,¡± Amedda scathed, ¡°How did a Separatist superweapon slip past Republic Intelligence?¡±
¡°They did not slip past, Amedda,¡± Isard shot back, ¡°By every report, these ¡®superweapons¡¯ were not present in-system prior to the battle. Nor were they present after the battle?¡±
¡°Who do you expect to believe that?¡± the Chagrian Vice Chair scoffed, ¡°How did scores of dreadnought crushing mass drivers get assembled and disassembled in a matter of hours?¡±
Isard threw his hands up, replying with words the Director of Republic Intelligence should never utter; "I don''t know. But it''s the truth. The only proof we have of these ''superweapons'' were asteroid fragments and derelict freighters. Our agents are currently investigating, but considering what the energy readings from our surviving ships have to say, our current hypothesis is that the Separatists fabricated a composite tractor field based weapon-"
Boring.
¡°Nevermind that, Director,¡± the Chancellor beckoned him to sit, ¡°What about the Separatist dreadnoughts? They certainly exist, don¡¯t they?¡±
¡°That¡ is a failure of Intelligence,¡± Isard admitted as he dropped onto a couch, ¡°We knew the Free Dac Engineering Corps were building something large on Pammant. But Pammant has always been impenetrable to us. All the logs we could acquire indicated the massive amount of important resources had been earmarked for a new fleet. We now know how the Separatists are disguising the construction of these Subjugator-class dreadnoughts. The next time we find a similar paper trail, we won¡¯t make the same oversight.¡±
¡°Next time is useless!¡± Amedda slammed the Speaker¡¯s staff on the ground, ¡°Where are the dreadnoughts now? I hope you have an answer, Director, for your sake.¡±
¡°One is at Lianna and the other is at Celanon¨C but that¡¯s not important!¡± the Director insisted, ¡°As we speak, the war is coming to a close, and something needs to be done about this!¡±
Armand Isard desired power. He wanted more funding for Intelligence, more influence over other branches of government. Armand Isard believed Sheev Palpatine desired to retain his Administration; to prolong his already overdue terms by justifying the continuity of the Emergency Powers Act. At this moment, factions in the Senate led by Mon Mothma were already arguing it was time for the Chancellor to vacate his position.
The path to both desires? Keep the war going; until their positions were so consolidated and so unassailable it would no longer matter if the galaxy was still the same in the end.
¡°Very well,¡± Mas Amedda filled the Chancellor¡¯s silence, ¡°What do you suggest?¡±
¡°Our biggest problem is Amidala¡¯s stranglehold on the HoloNet. Right now, she is the golden child of the Republic,¡± Isard¡¯s cold blue eyes were inhuman as he spoke of her, ¡°But if she falls during the summit¨Cit would make her a martyr. I can procure a ¡®Separatist pro-war extremist¡¯ for the job. Not only is her untimely death one of the few things that could overturn public opinion of the peace efforts, it will also rid of an existing and future problem.¡±
¡°A controlled political opponent is useful, Director,¡± Amedda¡¯s jaw tightened, ¡°Especially in the Senate. Not that I expect you to understand why.¡±
¡°There are a hundred other senators that can fill that role,¡± Isard leaned forward, expecting the Chancellor¡¯s answer, ¡°Organa, Breemu, Mothma, Chuchi, Feenix¡ Amidala¡¯s downfall will be a blow, but it will also be the spark that reignites the flame of the Republic.¡±
The two men paused, waiting for the Chancellor to break his silence. Palpatine placed his elbows on the table, knitting his fingers together. The death of Padm¨¦ Amidala¡ will be useful, especially if it is believed the crime was committed by the Separatists. It would throw young Skywalker into a rage, yes, a rage against the Separatists, against Dooku. The grasp of the Dark Side will tighten around him¡ especially if Skywalker convinces himself her death was his fault.
But it would also be too early. Palpatine had not finished his war on democracy, not while he still has to pretend to be an ardent proponent of it. It was not easy, balancing the fine line and convincing the galaxy he was always forced to ¡®regretfully accept further expansion of my executive powers.¡¯
The completion of the New Order, the destruction of the Jedi Order, and the fall of the Chosen One must coincide perfectly, lest one interfere and prevent the other.
¡°Amidala still has her uses,¡± Palpatine gestured to Amedda in agreement, ¡°Her outspoken opposition in the Senate is a critical curtain rod that maintains the facade of this Administration.¡±
¡°Organa and Breemu¡¯s deaths won¡¯t have the same impact,¡± Isard warned, ¡°Nothing shy of this office controlling all media in the Republic will make them change their stance. Other than Amidala getting hit by the Separatists.¡±
¡°Controlling all media in the Republic¡¡± the Chancellor muttered, ¡°The entire galaxy is looking at Onderon.¡±
Armand Isard narrowed his eyes, ¡°Your point, Chancellor?¡±
¡°What is the state of our fleets in the Core?¡±
If the Director was taken by surprise, he did not show it; ¡°Depleted. And with the Republic Navy overhauling its divisional structure to absorb its losses at Columex, our fleets are rather preoccupied. If you would allow me, Chancellor.¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
Isard rose stiffly, commandeering the data feeds and holoprojector on the Chancellor¡¯s desk to display a detailed star map of the Core. Jagged red lines sliced up the spacelanes and sectors into Sector Army Commands, and glowing pins spawned all across the charts, over system markers and crawling along hyperlanes. An inconspicuous, easily overlooked pin bobbed just a few parsecs south of Coruscant itself.
¡°High Command wants to avoid our frontlines being shattered by the Therbon Plan,¡± the Director explained, pointing at the mass of pins lining the Mid-Outer Rim border at Centares, ¡°Thus the strategy is to bend, but not break. To do that, reinforcements need to be redeployed Rimward from the Core Sector Commands. As you can imagine, the Governor-Generals of the Core were not pleased.¡±
¡°The Senate¡¯s emergency amendment to the Military Creation Act allows High Command to take every measure necessary to limit the damage done,¡± Mas Amedda said gruffly, ¡°The Governor-Generals may protest, but they cannot prevent anything.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Isard agreed, ¡°They¡¯ve identified the primary reason of our struggling offensives to be the inherent uncooperative nature of the Sector Command structure. This is the Armada Reformation Directive, recently passed through Strategic Planning Amphitheatre by a vast majority. The command of all existing fleets is to be centralised under the Navy of the Republic. In effect, it expands the Navy¡¯s role from de jure authority to de facto authority. The Governor-Generals will no longer be able to use the Sector Fleets as their personal playthings.¡±
The Director placed his tablet on the table, the lengthy paragraphs of the Reformation Directive scrawled all over the screen. Knowing it wasn¡¯t going to be read, he swiftly drew it back to continue manipulating the projection.
¡°To rectify the sorry state of the Cerulean Spear Fleet¨Cnow the Twelfth Forward Armada¨CNaval Command has mobilised the First Core Reserve Armada and Sixth Reserve Armada to replenish their ranks.¡±
As he continued, a migration of pins continued along the Perlemian Trade Route and Hydian Way, resulting in a void of naval assets in the Core Worlds.
¡°Let¡¯s just say Governor-General Weblin and Governor-General Trachta would have never allowed it,¡± Isard said, ¡°But they don¡¯t have a say now.¡±
They don¡¯t have a say now. Those words echoed in Palpatine¡¯s head, repeated like a trance by the Force. With the fleets wrested from individual Governor-Generals and unified under the Republic Naval Command, the cumbersome bureaucracy plaguing the Republic¡¯s military objectives had finally been done away with. And with the Chancellor¡¯s Military Advisory Council possessing near-absolute influence over the central military establishment¡ the Reformation Directive had effectively placed the entire Republic Navy in his hands.
Another step closer to my New Order. All without a whisper of dissent in the Senate.
Palpatine smiled. The Confederacy of Independent Systems was playing its role most wonderfully.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
¡°Your thoughts, Chancellor?¡± Amedda asked.
His thoughts? He thought it was time for the Confederacy to play its part again. Assassination, murder¡ such methods were far from reliable. Too many things could go wrong. The Separatists could claim ignorance, or even counter-accuse the Republic for staging an incident on one of their member-worlds. A Republic agent could fail, and be traced back to this very office he sat in. Hiring bounty hunters poses even greater risks.
Palpatine was not so desperate to stoop to such crude methods. Armand Isard lacked imagination. You did not have to make such an uncertain move when you could simply have your enemy make the wrong move.
¡°Is Admiral Salima in-system?¡± the Chancellor inquired.
¡°The Coruscant Home Defense Fleet has been untouched by the recent redeployments,¡± Isard confirmed confidently, ¡°Admiral Honor Salima continues to guard Coruscant with her full might. There is nothing to fear, Chancellor.¡±
¡°Our Core Worlds must be concerned with the departure with the First Reserve Armada,¡± the Chancellor met the Director¡¯s eyes, ¡°Have Admiral Salima detach sections of her fleet to garrison our less defended worlds.¡±
For the first time, Palpatine sensed an underlying uncertainty beneath Isard¡¯s stoic face.
¡°That is certainly an appreciative symbolic move¡¡± Isard dragged on, mulling over his next words, ¡°...But it is not exactly advisable. We would be leaving Coruscant far too vulnerable.¡±
¡°I must concur with the Director,¡± Amedda looked pained to admit.
¡°What about our battleships? Can they be brought to Coruscant?¡± Palpatine suggested.
¡°All new Tectors have been earmarked for the front,¡± Isard¡¯s fingers danced over his datapad, and the projection zoomed out to reveal the galaxy in full. Three regions were highlighted, ¡°These are our three major fronts. The Bright Jewel Fleet¨C my apologies, the Eighth Northern Armada¡¯s campaign against Muunilinst; the Eighteenth Seswenna Armada¡¯s campaign against Sullust; and lastly the Twelfth Armada¡¯s Perlemian front.¡±
¡°With the war at a standstill, surely the fronts aren¡¯t in such dire need of new battleships?¡±
¡°Republic Intelligence has detected signs that the new Separatist Supreme Commander is also restructuring their armies. General Sev¡¯rance Tann has been trying to push the Militia Act through their Senate¨Cwith significant support¨Cwhich would demand greater military contributions from Separatist worlds and nationalise all their existing fleets under a single administration. Chancellor, if the war does continue, it is about to get much harder.¡±
When Palpatine heard Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s name as the identity of the Separatist Supreme Commander, hard at work reforming the inept Confederate military, he suffered an actual, physical shock.
Sev¡¯rance Tann was alive? She is the Supreme Commander?
When had Tann returned from Bothawui? When had she been elected? And why had Republic Intelligence failed to inform him of the fact? Was it finally time to replace Armand Isard?
The recent extended absence of the infamous ¡®Pantoran¡¯ had been noted. She had been found missing and off the grid in the period leading up to the Bothan Coup and the Battle of Columex. There had been some muttering. The Confederate Second Fleet was still in orbit around Bothawui, but its commander was nowhere to be found. A mere colonel was in charge of the ground troops.
The Chancellor had been on the point of expressing hope and launching a little investigation, which would then reveal the truth of General Tann¡¯s fortunate demise. An enemy of the Republic, taken off the board. It was cause for celebration.
And now she wasn¡¯t dead?
How¡ disappointing.
He was aware of rage bubbling beneath his surface. He had not bothered to end Sev¡¯rance Tann himself, though he could have easily taken some time out of his week to dispose of her personally.. He had assumed¡ he had accepted¡ that Dooku would deal with her.
That was his function. That was his purpose. That''s what an ageing apprentice was for.
Housekeeping.
And he failed.
With more of an effort than he cared to expend, Palpatine soothed his rage into a mild concern.
¡°Then we must double our efforts towards security,¡± Palpatine smoothed his expression, ¡°Have Naval Command redeploy the Shadow Hand Fleet¡ what¡¯s it called now¨C?¡±
He selected the group of pins in the Deep Core, reading aloud the designation, ¡°¨CThe Fifth Deep Core Reserve Armada. Have the Fifth Reserve Armada be redeployed to replace the First Reserve Armada¡¯s prior stations. Once they have filled the garrisons, the Home Fleet can be recalled to Coruscant.¡±
¡°You fear a potential attack, Chancellor?¡± Mas Amedda narrowed his eyes.
I have foreseen it. Beneath the affable surface, Darth Sidious''s dark thoughts seethed.
The game has changed. That much is obvious. But this is a mere setback, a mere ripple in the pond. My Grand Plan is not so fragile to break at the first obstacle. I still have other threads to pursue, other schemes, other contingencies. My Empire is inevitable.
And yet, the continued to whisper doubt in his ear. Had Dooku failed? He knew the threat of the Chiss girl even more so than Palpatine did. Such carelessness was unlike him. What if¡ what if¡ what if Dooku had decided it was time to ¡®part ways?¡¯
If this is true¡ if this is true¡
Perhaps¡ perhaps it was time to test his apprentice, to ascertain where his true loyalty lies.
But test him how? It had to be a choice, between the Grand Plan and something¨C someone that mattered to Dooku. Yes¡ that will do nicely. All that¡¯s left is to find an opportunity to do so.
And as for Sev¡¯rance Tann, I¡¯ll deal with her¡ when it¡¯s time. She¡¯s still useful.
The war will continue. I have foreseen it so.
I will make it so.
The Chancellor pointed at the pin on the starchart, the one he had noticed from the beginning, but had been seemingly overlooked by Director Isard. It was small, with a slight design that suggested no more than a hundred ships.
¡°This¡¡± he jabbed a crooked finger, ¡°Foerost. This is a security risk. What has Republic Intelligence gathered?¡±
Armand Isard wetted his lips, flicking his datapad and directing the display to focus on the Foerost System. The single red pin scattered into some seventy different warships, concentrated northward of Foerost. A planetary ring orbited the world; the Foerost Shipyards, one of the largest and oldest in the galaxy, dating back twenty-four thousand years. In the years after the Ruusan Reformations a millennia ago, the Republic had sold the shipyards to the Techno Union¡ the same Techno Union now aligned with the Separatist Alliance.
¡°There,¡± the Chancellor pointed at the number of dark spots bouncing between the shipyards and the planet, ¡°If my memory serves, Republic Intelligence had identified those objects as cargo ferries.¡±
¡°The only inhabitants on Foerost are miners,¡± Isard confirmed, ¡°Those ferries supply the Foerost Shipyards with materials from the planet.¡±
¡°Which means they are building something,¡± Palpatine pushed his palms flat against the desk, rising to his feet, ¡°What are they building?¡±
¡°Despite our best efforts,¡± Isard started, browsing his files, ¡°Techno Union shipyards remain as impenetrable as ever. Loathe as I am to admit it, the Skakoans are masters of operational security¡ mostly because they don¡¯t hire workers outside of their species. However, some of our spy ships were able to closely observe the shipyards before being driven away. We are drafting a report on this, but please take a look.¡±
The system chart was replaced with a series of holo-photos of the Foerost Shipyard¡¯s graving docks, and after a bit more fiddling, circles and pointers honed in on details that would have been invisible if not for advanced image analysis.
¡°What are we looking at, Director?¡± Mas Amedda stalked forward for a closer look.
¡°We have observed high levels of sustained activity occurring within the Shipyard¡¯s graving docks. The amount of industrial discharge has also been consistent with expected levels from mass starship construction. We have also visually identified¡¡± the Director pointed at miniscule shadow almost completely obscured behind the orbital ring, ¡°...What looks like the drive blocks of multiple vessels hidden in the orbital ring¡¯s radar shadow.¡±
¡°Wait,¡± Amedda physically recoiled, aghast, ¡°All graving docks are active? How many docks does the ring have?¡±
¡°Just under two-hundred.¡±
The Chagrian looked about ready to maul Armand Isard with his staff, ¡°You are telling us that the Separatists are building a fleet right under our noses, only five hours away from Coruscant?¡±
¡°That is¡ an accurate assessment.¡±
¡°And why wasn¡¯t this known to us earlier?¡± Amedda pressed, consternation seeping into his tone.
¡°Because whatever the Separatists are building, they have made no signs of revealing anytime soon,¡± Isard replied tersely, ¡°We can accurately track the progress of their fleet by the activity of their graving docks. While the Techno Union has made efforts to disguise their progress, it is obvious which docks have completed construction and which haven¡¯t. Of the some two-hundred bays, only half have lowered activity.¡±
¡°A hundred warships.¡±
¡°Not to mention,¡± he continued, casting his gaze between the Chancellor and the Speaker, ¡°As you had so aptly proven, Speaker Amedda; any such news, especially at such a crucial moment like this, would cause chaos in the Senate. And from the Senate, it would spill into the media. This is not the kind of attention we need in the HoloNet. It is Republic Intelligence¡¯s advice that we prepare a task force to handle this threat, but not reveal it too early lest the Techno Union realises we are onto them.¡±
The Chancellor silently tapped the comlink on his desk, ¡°Sly, my dear, could you please come in?¡±
As if she was waiting just outside the door for such a moment¨Cwhich she most certainly was¨CSly Moore stalked into the office like an Umbaran skeeris, almost gliding over the floor in her shadowcloak. Skin as pale and lifeless as flimsi, the Chancellor¡¯s Senior Administrative Aide bowed, eager to serve.
Ah, now there was someone who knew how to keep the house clean. Sly Moore would have made the perfect apprentice; she was capable, deadly, and above all, loyal. It was so unfortunate, then, that she was only capable of wielding the Force to touch and manipulate the minds of others, and little else. Very useful, yes, and that was why she was his Chief of Staff, but nothing powerful enough to warrant greater favour.
But Palpatine supposed her steadfast loyalty and zeal must be rewarded somehow. It is decided, then, that when he declares his New Order and rules the galaxy as Emperor, Sly Moore will be by his side.
¡°My dear,¡± Palpatine was nothing but affable as he transferred the data onto a chip before handing it to the Umbaran, ¡°Please direct this information to the Senate Security Council and Senate Military Oversight Committee. Director Isarde, I would like you to do the same for the Intelligence Oversight Committee.¡±
Sly Moore¡¯s response was immediate and unhesitating; ¡°Understood, Chancellor.¡±
Armand Isard, on the other hand, was more inquisitive, ¡°Might I ask the purpose of this action, Chancellor?¡±
¡°But our loyal senators in these committees will realise the danger of such critical information,as you did, Director,¡± Palpatine allowed a leisurely smile to overcome his expression, ¡°However, now that the data has been obtained by three different committees, it will only be a matter of time before it is revealed to the Senate. Knowing this, it will be an astute senator¡¯s prerogative to draft a bill that ensures the media never catches wind of this information.¡±
¡°The only way to achieve that is by ending all private sector media,¡± understanding dawned in Amedda¡¯s eyes, ¡°This¡ might have enough support, if enough parties realise the implications of this information.¡±
¡°Precisely, my dear Speaker,¡± Palpatine scanned the list of senators in the committees, already picking out who will draft and who will introduce the bill, ¡°The Senate will vest even more power into this office¨Cagainst my wishes, of course. I will make sure of it ¡°
Armand Isard shifted, impatience dripping from his voice, ¡°Indeed, that will be very beneficial to you, Chancellor. But may we return to addressing the peace summit? Might I remind us that none of this will matter if the war ends and you are forced to surrender the rest of your term?¡±
¡°Director, the safety of the Republic must come first,¡± the Chancellor insisted, ¡°This¡ Foerost fleet must be contained. The damage of them potentially breaking out will be unimaginable. Are there any available forces in the Core that can bolster the blockade?¡±
¡°The Fifth Reserve Armada will be redeployed as you ordered, Chancellor,¡± Director Isard thinned his lips, ¡°Is that not enough security?¡±
¡°That will take far too long. We must reassure the Senate of our commitment to defence,¡± Palpatine slowly retook his seat, making no effort in actually looking concerned, ¡°We have the¡ the Victory Project, was it?¡±
¡°The Victory Initiative Project,¡± the Director corrected icily.
¡°Yes,¡± Palpatine pointed meaningfully, ¡°Are our new cruisers ready? I¡¯ve heard only good things from the Project¡¯s progress.¡±
¡°The estimated completion date has been brought forward by useful combat and operation data from our Tectors,¡± Isard supplied, oblivious to the Chancellor¡¯s true thoughts, ¡°With some convincing, Kuat and Rendili will be able to deploy the first batch of the Victory-class in months, if not weeks.¡±
¡°Immediately,¡± the Chancellor stressed, ¡°Deploy the ready ones immediately. The rest can follow at their own pace. It is simply critical we reinforce our fleet at Foerost as soon as possible.¡±
¡°At Foerost?¡± the Director slammed the desk, ¡°Chancellor, moving our latest battlecruisers to Foerost will make the Separatists believe we are¨C!¡±
Isard interrupted himself, the creases in his face deepening as slowly interpreted Palpatine¡¯s actions. The Director of Republic Intelligence was a smart man, and as he unflinchingly held his stare with the most powerful man in the galaxy, Palpatine could see a macabre sense of appreciation bubble in the man¡¯s unflappable heart.
Armand Isard quirked a small, rare smirk, ¡°It will be as you order it, Chancellor. The Separatists, the Republic¡ no, the entire galaxy is looking in the wrong direction.¡±
The Chancellor of the Republic shook his head somberly, ¡°We should have known it was a mistake to ever believe the dastardly Separatists would open negotiations in good faith.¡±
If Director Isard had been a more humorous man, Palpatine thought he may have burst into laughter.
Chapter 40
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
Saw wasn¡¯t stupid. He wouldn¡¯t deny that Steela has always been the clever one between the two of them, but that didn¡¯t mean he was dumb. Saw and his sister, they were raised as hunters, and you don¡¯t survive for weeks in the wilds without learning quickly. Steela planned the hunting, and Saw did the hunting. But improvisation was a necessary skill, and he picked it up the first time he stared down a mother grefna standing over her nest.
¡The mother was supposed to be gone, see.. Hunts involved dozens of people, and not all knew each other, so something went wrong somewhere up the chain, and two good men found themselves on the wrong end of a grefna¡¯s beak. Or horn. Or claws. Saw couldn¡¯t remember; he barely escaped with his own life.
In any case, he learnt to be observant from that day on. A nifty skill, because that was essentially the one thing you had to be good at on the back of a ruping. And as a rider, let¡¯s just say a rider can¡¯t hide from another the same way a ruping can¡¯t hide its wings.
So the moment he saw Alvera walking like a midday drunk he knew he was looking at a woman who spent more time fifteen thousand feet in the sky than on dirt. He knew what it felt like, when your inner ear was constantly self-correcting for a wobble that wasn¡¯t there because it hadn¡¯t gotten the bloody memo that the ground was solid yet.
Now that got him thinking; Alvera was a rider. Guardsmen were the elites of the Royal Army, and far be it for Saw to presume anything but he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they could ride rupings far better than any hunter could. There was just one slight problem with that, and the problem is that he didn¡¯t know what it was.
It was just a gut feeling, but Saw has since learnt that gut feelings were more reliable than people gave them credit for. It kept the ancient Onderonians alive, didn¡¯t it? It kept him alive.
He found her in the shadow of a stone column, in the middle of the ruined fortress that served as one of their waypoints. The name of the fortress has been lost to time, but these days it served as a hunters¡¯ camp or simply a traveller¡¯s waypoint for any party coming through this part of the woods. It was easy enough, disguising a rebel cell as another hunting party. But they also couldn¡¯t stay long. First light, and they¡¯d be off to the eastern highlands, where their base¨Cthe Nest¨Cwas.
This old place? Just the rendezvous location for his and Hutch¡¯s cells. They waited a bit longer for Steela and Dono to show up¡ but they didn¡¯t, and now they could only hope to the purple king that those two still had their heads on their shoulders.
And see, those two were the smartest people Saw knew. They had a way with words, and could probably manage to get the truth out of Alvera without even making her realise it. Saw¡ didn¡¯t have a way with words. Which was why he preferred the straightforward approach¨Cthe kind with a blaster held behind his back.
¡°You¡¯re a beast rider, aren¡¯t you?¡±
The defector snapped up, slowly bringing her arms down from her face, one hand curled in a loose fist. If there was something in that hand, Saw couldn¡¯t see anything in the darkness.
¡°How would you know if I was?¡± Alvera returned.
Saw crossed his arms, ¡°The girl up there is my mount.¡±
He nodded at the mottled ruping nesting in the understory above them. Alvera casted her gaze after him, shifting her balance again,
¡°There¡¯s a saying, isn¡¯t there?¡± she huffed, ¡°The one about a ruping and its wings.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not a ruping rider,¡± Saw denied, ¡°You get the stiff from rupings, not whatever you have.¡±
Her fist clenched¨Cbeeeep¨Cand Saw drew his blaster with the speed of a starving pritarr. The blaster purred as its energy pack warmed up, aimed squarely at the shock of rusted red hair visible against the murk.
¡°And if you¡¯re not a ruping rider, you¡¯re not a guardsman,¡± he finished, finger curling around the trigger.
¡°I was not lying,¡± Alvera said far too calmly, ¡°I was a guardsman.¡±
¡°Which one is it?¡± he demanded, jabbing the blaster forward, ¡°Your Space Force. What warbeast is it?¡±
¡°You know quite a bit for an Izizian.¡±
¡°Warbeasts aren¡¯t so rare outside the walls. We find them as far as Dox Piter,¡± Saw swallowed, eyeing for a blaster on her body, ¡°Now what warbeast is it?¡±
¡°Dxunian raptor,¡± she stepped back, one arm against the column to keep herself steady.
He swore loudly. By the Four Moons, this couldn¡¯t get any worse. None of Onderon¡¯s flying warbeasts were easy to handle, but Dxunian raptors were the worst of them all. Rupings were loyal to their deaths, drexls were gargantuan and pants-shittingly terrifying in person, but simple enough to keep appeased if you kept them fed. But skreev? They attacked anything that looked at them wrong.
Adult drexls were dangerous, but cautious. At their size, even a small wound could kill them, due to infection. It was why they loved humans back in the day¨Csmall, defenceless humans. When they didn¡¯t have to hunt, they hibernated. Raptors on the other hand, hunted for sport. Saw once saw a raptor pick a fight with a drexl five times its size on a hunt, for no other reason than because it could. He didn¡¯t linger around longer¨Cbecause he enjoyed his body in one piece¨Cbut he figured it wasn¡¯t long before both were run down by either the Beast-Lords or Space Force.
Another raptor that went down in legend was Wodnakki, who was said to have grown as large as a drexl. It terrorised the eastern highlands for years, before Queen Lina was forced to marshal the entire Royal Army in order to put it down. Drexls were predictable, skreevs were not. Vicious buggers.
Most importantly right now, however, is that they had single riders. Which meant, unlike drexls who could have up to twenty or so, that raptor could be following its owner. And stalking them.
¡°Where is it right now?¡±
¡°You shoot me, and you¡¯re going to find out.¡±
¡°You¡¯re bluffing,¡± Saw accused, ¡°Raptors aren¡¯t loyal. It¡¯d sooner fly off before attacking us.¡±
¡°You want to take that chance?¡± she shot back, ¡°Your people are tired. You have pack animals and burdenbeasts. My Red Galia is seventy feet across and starving.¡±
Stang, she¡¯s right. Alvera had been with them all this while; that meant the raptor was unattended and mostly unfed. Saw involuntarily flinched at the thought, glancing upwards into the canopy, under some illusion that he could find a Dxunian raptor that didn¡¯t want to be found. Could he warn the camp before she could whistle? There were hundreds of them, and only one raptor¨Cbut that wouldn¡¯t matter if only a handful were left by the time they put down the monster.
Alvera moved again, and Saw cursed himself for his lack of attention; ¡°Drop whatever you¡¯re holding, now! Hands where I can see them!¡±
The defector made a childish face, unrolling her palms as she raised them in front of her, letting a small device fall onto the moss. A glaring red dot blinked in the darkness. Comlink. Saw stomped down and crushed it.
¡°I underestimated you,¡± Alvera said sourly, with a languish that made him uneasy, ¡°I thought your sister was the hard part.¡±
¡°Steela prefers to see the best in everyone. It makes her an effective leader,¡± Saw circled around her as if she was a wild animal, jabbing the blaster into her back and nudging her towards the camp, ¡°I see people for what they show. You¡¯re the one who planted the idea that we should find help from the Jedi, and now Steela and Dono are missing.¡±
¡°It was a good idea!¡± she protested, ¡°You can¡¯t deny you were convinced a bit.¡±
¡°I should¡¯ve realised sooner,¡± Saw snarled into her ear, ¡°You led the two of them right into your people¡¯s arms¨C if they aren¡¯t already dead!¡±
¡°They have a good head on their shoulders,¡± Alvera laughed, ¡°If your sister is as clever as I give her credit for, she¡¯ll stay alive by being useful.¡±
Saw froze, and for a moment it felt as if liquid spice had been injected into him, flooding his bloodstream and hazing into his vision. His finger curled around the trigger, though Alvera wouldn¡¯t know it, and he considered putting her down right there.
¡°You don¡¯t know what you are talking about!¡± he roared, ¡°Steela would never betray us¨C!¡±
The silence that followed was loud. You idiot, he scolded himself, you let her get under your skin too easily. The branches rustled overhead, and Saw tore his aim away and up, fully expecting to find himself face-to-face with a salivating Dxunian raptor. But there was nothing overhead, except maybe the odd Izizian monkey wondering what they were doing.
¡°...Wait,¡± he snapped his blaster back, ¡°Is your skreev even here?¡±
Alvera snickered, ¡°Your little rebellion means nothing, Gerrera. You are so petty. Billions of men are dying out there, but you would put your pride over the entire galaxy.¡±
¡°A meaningless number. We all know that. Why should we care what happens out there?¡± Saw clenched his jaw, ¡°The galaxy didn¡¯t care about us. We would have lived as we always did, until your opportunistic and greedy nobles bit the first kriffing worm Dooku threw at us. Our own streets no longer belong to us!¡±
The spy shook her head, ¡°The sooner the war ends, the sooner those droids leave.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t tell me you believe that ¡®security¡¯ famba-shit they are trying to feed us,¡± he scoffed, ¡°Those droids are building bases in our jungles! If we don¡¯t drive them out, they will be here to stay.¡±
Alvera sighed, shoulders rising and falling. For a second, he thought he had gotten through to her¨C
¡°No point reasoning with the unreasonable,¡± she mumbled.
¡°Unreasonable!? No, obviously we are unreasonable. You haven¡¯t been in Iziz for a year, you Unifar-damned exile. You don¡¯t know what it''s like to live with a droid watching your every move, their boots pressing down on your neck¨C!¡±
¨CBOOM¨Cthe forest shuddered, with even the tallest and mightiest sentinels and monarch trees shuddering. A sharp wind pierced through undergrowth from above, followed by a torrent of fruits and nuts, plummeting from up high and thumping against the moss. Saw hastily ducked beneath a low-hanging tree, spying Alvera mirroring his action with a nearby arch.
¨CBOOM¨Canother thunderous clap echoed through the forest. Their camp¡¯s rupings screamed, blasting off their lofty perches amidst falling leaves ablaze in hues of amber, purple, and gold.
¡°Saw!¡± Hutch shouted at him, dashing across the forest floor as he dodged vine nuts large enough to cave his skull in, ¡°We¡¯ve got a situation!¡±
Saw stared at Alvera, whose grim expression did not bely the tone she had used with him beforehand. His mind flashed to the comlink she had, and then at the rupings who had uncharacteristically scattered like pikobis at the first sign of trouble. Whatever rage he had left in him bled away into a panicked chill. Not frightened¨Che wasn¡¯t frightened. Just worried.
Because the only thing that can make rupings flee like that were¨C
¡°Warbeasts,¡± he whispered.
Hutch nodded, swallowing thickly, ¡°What do we do, boss?¡±
¡°How many are there?¡±
¡°J-Just one, but it¡¯s large enough to¨C¡±
The world disappeared before his eyes. What rare sunlight there was filtering through the emerald canopy were snuffed out as a soaring shadow engulfed them, accompanied by a tearing wind that raced through the undergrowth, sweeping up everything before it and literally bending the ancient trees to its will. It had always been dark in the jungle, but right then it was as if day turned to twilight, then downright nocturnal. It had only been for a second, maybe two, but when you were beneath a scouring drexl it could¡¯ve been a lifetime.
¡°Are you sure they are after us?¡± Saw asked harshly.
¡°If they weren¡¯t, then they had definitely seen our rupings,¡± Hutch answered, voice hushed for no reason, ¡°Our mounts still had harnesses.¡±
Another undercurrent of wind whipped through the brush in the damning silence of the wildlife. Saw could feel a primaeval fear in his bones, as the flying tyrant slowly yawned around, beating its wings a single time like a drumbeat against the world.
¡°What should we do!?¡± Hutch demanded, unabashed terror in his voice.
There wasn¡¯t any possible answer. There wasn¡¯t any time to do anything. The warbeast crashed through the forest in a wall of impenetrable scales without end, claws slicing through the foliage while its thrashing tail ripped through gnarled branches and towering trunks in order to carve out space for its colossal form. Unhindered sunlight glared down, illuminating the wavefront of dust and debris, as the forest¡¯s protective canopy found a new dragon-shaped hole in it.
The warbeast writhed behind the dust, tearing up everything in its path as it dragged itself on towards the camp. Saw swallowed. The entire camp was silent as death as the monster¡¯s pincers snapped through the fog, its mouthful of tendrils licking up the bracken in search of prey. Drexls had poor eyesight, and frozen as statues they could only hope it would sense their presence with its disgusting feelers.
¡°Cityfolk!¡± an accented voice howled from the top of the warbeast, ¡°Your machines steal our wilds, and now you march an army to our lands! State your piece; would you leave, or have war!?¡±
Saw snapped his head towards Alvera, whose grim had deepened into a murderous scowl. He could have laughed. The Demon Moon was smiling upon them. These weren''t the Space Force, these were Beast Riders, the very people they were seeking out.
He sucked in a breath, and marched out of the shadows, feeling the anxious gazes of well over a hundred comrades fixed on his back.
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¡°Beast Rider!¡± he shouted up at the monster, ¡°The machines have already taken the city, and we now must seek refuge in your wilds!¡±
A tall, lithe figure leapt off the warbeast¡¯s back, catching its protruding spines on the way down to slow his descent. A mask carved out of dxunwood, depicting a savage pritarr, regarded him warily. The Beast-Lord hefted his carbine, the gleaming ammo belt slung over his shoulder clanging against his tactical gear as he did.
¡°You do?¡± the masked Beast Rider asked, ¡°Then the Amroth Clan welcomes you. The cowardly Clazca and faithless Ezelk have slept with the machine. We will not, and all who fight them are friends of ours.¡±
Vindication soared in his soul, followed by punishing regret. If only Steela had believed me! If only I had convinced her!
¡°We seek only safe refuge,¡± Saw decided to tread evenly. Offending the man with the three-hundred foot devourer wasn¡¯t wise for his health, after all, ¡°Until we can take back our city in the name of the rightful king.¡±
¡°There is only one rightful king!¡± the Amroth declared, offering a weathered hand, ¡°Our Beast-Lords, the Kira Clan, will be pleased by your fealty.¡±
Kira Clan¨Cthe House of Kira!? Saw¡¯s breath hitched, and it took every fibre in his body to not cough out his lungs. Was he talking about the House of Kira, the founders of the royal dynasty? They were vying for the Royal Court? He couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine who the current Lord of Kira was; he doubted even the Houses did¡ in fact, the House of Kira didn¡¯t respond to the royal summons, did they?
Saw and Steela wanted to return Ramsis Dendup to the throne because he would surely expel the droids, but if there was a Kira who wanted the throne as well¡ was there anybody in Japrael that could stop them? He could feel the camp cautiously emerging from the brush, their expectations laid on him with all the pressure of a warbeast¡¯s stare. You should be here, Steela, he lamented, you always knew what people were thinking. You would have made the right decision.
Saw could only make what he thought was the right decision. He glanced over his shoulder¨Cfirst seeing Hutch nod shallowly, then at the empty spot where Alvera once stood. She was nowhere to be seen.
He swallowed. She¡¯s gone, and that means our movement is on borrowed time. The droids will soon come down on us with all the wrath of Dxun. The only way out¡ to survive¡
¡°You have our allegiance,¡± Saw announced loudly.
The Beast Rider was grinning beneath his mask, and the warbeast released a low croon that he never realised a warbeast could make; ¡°Then we make for Kira Fortress, warrior.¡±
?
¡°You¡¯re fucking kidding me.¡±
The Clazca Warlord, Olko Baz, shook his head, ¡°The Amroth and Dor-Drel have summoned their warriors for battle. They see the Ezelk Clan¡¯s arrangement with your machines as a sign of cowardice.¡±
¡°Not a single droid has stepped onto Amroth or Dor-Drel lands!¡± Vander fumed, ¡°This has nothing to do with them!¡±
Olko grimaced, ¡°Fear makes men unwise, warrior.¡±
Vander swore, ¡°By the purple king¡¯s balls! How many warriors do they have between them?¡±
¡°The Amroth have at least forty wings of warbeasts,¡± the Clazca replied, ¡°The Dor-Drel¡¯s numbers are unknown. They settle beyond the highlands.¡±
¡°At least two-thousand warriors and berserkers from the Amroth alone,¡± I mumbled, ¡°...Wait, why have they even summoned their warriors? We have not trespassed on their lands.¡±
Olko¡¯s expression dropped a shade darker, ¡°The Amroth and Dor-Drel would never unite. War is the only history between the plainsfolk and mountainfolk. For them to have allied could only mean there is a greater power behind them. And there is only one power that can still unite the Beast Rider Clans.¡±
I seized Vander¡¯s shoulder and spun him around, whispering harshly, ¡°Where are the Jedi!?¡±
¡°I sent them back on my swiftest warbeast,¡± the warbeast Captain slapped my hand away, ¡°They will arrive in Iziz before nightfall. All of them will attend the prisoner exchange, as planned.¡±
I blew out a breath, ¡°You realise what he means, right?¡±
¡°The House of Kira is behind this,¡± Vander answered, sounding none too happy about it, ¡°Those uppity bastards retreated from Iziz for a hundred years, then come back thinking they can take our throne just because they are Kirans. At least now we know why they didn¡¯t respond to King Rash¡¯s summons¨Cthey have their hands full preparing for a civil war!¡±
It was difficult to predict the House of Kira¡¯s next actions, mostly because nobody knew what the House of Kira even was at this point. Vander wasn¡¯t lying when he said they retreated from Izizian politics; after the House of Dendup displaced them, they withdrew all their bannermen from Iziz and holed up in their mountain city for the next hundred years. Not a single Kira has been seen in the city since then.
Alas, there was a greater issue at hand;
¡°There¡¯s a good chance a sizable chunk of the Royal Court will side with the Kirans on the basis that they are Kirans,¡± I grunted, ¡°And we can¡¯t have a planetary political crisis at the same time as a galactic political crisis is being resolved on said planet.¡±
The way I saw it, we had two real options; hope to God the Kirans had the decency to wait until the Republic and Confederate delegations left before plunging Onderon into Civil War, or nip them in the bud right now. I was leaning towards the second option.
And Vander knew it as well.
¡°We have five-thousand men in Jyrenne, excluding droids,¡± he said loudly, inviting Olko Baz back into the conversation, ¡°If the Clazca allow us through their lands, we can reach Kira Fortress in days. It might take weeks or months to siege them down, but at least we can bottle them up far away from Iziz and buy time for the summit.¡±
¡°I will speak with my elders,¡± Olko rubbed his fists, ¡°To fight the Amroth, they will give anything. Our only demand is that no machines are to blacken our forests.¡±
¡°No machines,¡± I promised.
The Beast Rider Clans were mobilising because of the droid threat, and the House of Kira was exploiting that fear and directing it towards the current monarch. Sending droids would only deepen the control the Kirans had over the Amroth and Dor-Drel, and what we needed was the direct opposite.
¡°Get your riders to Kira Fortress, but don¡¯t engage,¡± I ordered Vander, ¡°Just keep them occupied until our army arrives. Will the Clazca join us?¡±
¡°We have twenty-six wings ready to fly at the horn,¡± Olko Baz grinned with red-stained teeth.
That was thirteen-hundred riders against the Amroth Clan¡¯s two-thousand. We had five-thousand soldiers ready to march, but had no idea how many the House of Kira could field. Not to mention that to march against arguably the most powerful and influential House on the planet¡ I was going to need royal sanction, which hopefully also meant the Royal Army would join us.
¡°We¡¯ll march at first light,¡± Vander slapped me on the back, ¡°And you¡ get permission from the Lord General, so that we aren¡¯t declared traitors to the realm.¡±
As Olko Baz returned to his warbeast, I fished out my comlink, ¡°General Tandin, I¡¯m going to be borrowing your army.¡±
A fizz of static, then a response; ¡°What are you doing now, Bonteri?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not doing anything,¡± I took in the twilight setting over Jyrenne, as claxons blared and guardsmen scampered to the briefing rooms, ¡°The Clazca came to us. The Amroth have begun making moves against them, and the Dor-Drel are coming down the mountains. We suspect the Kirans are behind it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you marched the droid armies in the wilds.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t argue with me, sir,¡± I gritted my teeth, ¡°You knew it was the best decision we could make. I want to get the story straight with the Kirans, but they¡¯ve isolated themselves from the world. I need your permission to take the Jyrenne Army and besiege Kira Fortress. At least that way we can occupy them until the summit is over, however many weeks it takes.¡±
¡°...I did not expect the House of Kira to act so quickly.¡±
¡°You knew they would do this?¡± I demanded.
¡°It¡¯s my job to, Bonteri. With this, we finally have a reason to subjugate the rebellious Beast-Lords and ¡®reintroduce¡¯ the Kirans to Onderonian society. Iziz¡¯s authority will not be challenged again. Take the Jyrenne Army, and make sure the prisoner exchange tomorrow isn¡¯t interrupted at any cost. I join you at Kira Fortress.¡±
Asshole. Was this why he agreed to withdraw the droid army so easily, to manufacture a war with the Beast-Lords? I couldn¡¯t believe it, because Tandin was a royalist, not a jingoist. He knew better than anyone that Onderon didn¡¯t need a war. And what the hell did the prisoner exchange have anything to do at a time like this? I could only afford one conclusion; he knew something I didn¡¯t. And he had a plan I was an unwilling participant of.
I wasn¡¯t exactly worried, because if I knew anything about General Tandin it was that he always knew what he was doing. But that didn¡¯t mean I wasn¡¯t pissed, because I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing, and in a galaxy as fucked up as this there was little more I despised than not being in control of the situation. Because in a galaxy rife with lethal surprises hiding behind every corner, I needed to be aware of every corner to stay alive.
I was already a piece in General Tandin¡¯s game. I wasn¡¯t about to let my game spin out of my fingers too.
The prisoner exchange¡ right, the Jedi. After the Jedi left, the prisoners were sent to Iziz on barges after them in preparation for tomorrow. Maybe¡ maybe Tandin was telling me to stay in my field. While I was charged with the overall security of the summit, I don¡¯t think I was supposed to expect an honest-to-God civil war. And yet, that¡¯s what I now had to prevent
Which brings me back to the Jedi, and the rebels, which was my situation to control. And, man, Anakin Skywalker has a Padawan? Since when? Who in their right mind would give this homicidal child an apprentice? Obi-Wan was a surprise too, but I could buy that. I was under no illusions, the galaxy was not the same as the movies anymore. Something changed to give them Padawans¨CI was probably the cause, through some inconceivable long domino chain¨Cand now Anakin Skywalker was a mentor.
From what little I could glean off the girl, Tallisibeth, he¡¯s grown to care about her¡ which is good, but caring too much was also the exact thing that turned him into a nuclear bomb in the first place. As for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka¡ I didn¡¯t really care, I only asked her because I didn¡¯t want to raise the Jedi¡¯s suspicions, and wanted to pass off as a naturally curious person wanting to know more about child soldiers.
I dialled Verala¡¯s comlink, and waited for a response.
In any case, the Kiran plays were out of my hands¨CGeneral Tandin made sure of that¨Cbut I could still do my job and manage the situation with the Jedi and rebels. Bloody rebels. I still had to think of a fitting punishment once I had them in chains. Preferably something ironic, so at least my unpaid overtime could be recompensed by a dose of emotional catharsis.
Onderon was a monarchy, and public execution would be the norm. But that was what I was trying to avoid. The rebels knew if they got captured, the only fate that would await them was their heads rolling down the steps of Yolahn Square. I had to give them a way out, yet also dispense punishment severe enough for the Royal Court to swallow. A hard ask.
My comlink flashed red. No answer. My gut sank; it wasn¡¯t ¡®no response¡¯ but ¡®receiver unavailable¡¯ which either meant Verala¡¯s comlink was out of juice, or it had been broken. The latter was more likely, and could only suggest that she had been compromised by the rebels.
Nothing¡¯s going my way, it seems. Which means its time to improvise.
Verala was an old friend, and grappling with the idea that I may have just sent her to her death was not an easy one. She was in trouble, no doubt about it, but I also doubted someone of her calibre would allow herself to be captured by some ragtag rebels. If nothing else, she had that Dxunian raptor of hers. Nasty creature. Almost had my right arm for breakfast, once.
Alright Rain, time to use that brain of yours. If you were a rebel with limited resources, trying to overthrow a government, what would you do? Well, I would seek allies right¡
Allies? Jedi? A lightbulb flashed in my head¨CVerala warned me that the rebels were going to contact the Jedi! Which could only mean there were still rebels in the city. Would the Jedi accept? They would be foolish too, and Plo Koon and Obi-Wan seemed to have good heads on their shoulders. The wildcard was Anakin Skywalker. I thought I had a handle on his character, but my brief and enlightening exchange with Tallisibeth brought me back to the drawing board.
And if they couldn¡¯t bring the Jedi into their insurrection, their next move would be to align with the only other power on Onderon; the House of Kira and the Beast-Lords.
This time, I dialled Kavia Slen. Please be awake, please be awake, please be awake.
My comlink beeped green. Yes!
¡°...?¡± Kavia made a vague noise from the other end.
¡°I need you to do something for me,¡± I immediately said, in a tone that would brook no argument.
¡°If this has to do with the Kirans, the Lord General told me to tell you¨C¡±
¡°Nothing about them,¡± I hastily rebuked, ¡°I need you to find the rebels. They are going to show themselves tomorrow, during the exchange.¡±
That, at least, made Kavia pause, ¡°...Is this confirmed?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± I lied bluntly.
¡°Understood,¡± a hard edge crept back into her speech, ¡°I will personally eliminate them.¡±
¡°Uh, no you won¡¯t?¡± I coughed, ¡°You can capture them, but only after they contact the Jedi.¡±
¡°...Permission to speak freely?¡±
I sighed, ¡°We need to know the rebels¡¯ plan, Kavia. Their first option is to ask the Jedi for help, and their second is to seek asylum at Kira Fortress. They¡¯ll ask the Jedi, and if the Jedi bite, you can swoop in and arrest them all. Create a diplomatic incident if you prefer¨Cthough I¡¯d rather you not¨Cand get us the upper hand in the negotiations. If the Jedi don¡¯t bite, then that¡¯s one loose end tied up, and I can focus on the Kiran problem without having to look over my shoulder. Does that answer your question?¡±
¡°...Yes sir,¡± she replied somewhat flatly, ¡°I¡¯ll see what men are still awake at this hour and arrange a rebel hunt. If we start the search tomorrow, it may be too late.¡±
¡°Sorry about this,¡± I apologised, genuinely. Because I was now the one handing out overtime, and I could imagine Kavia dragging herself out of bed right at this moment to carry out some dumbass order her superior was demanding at an ungodly time, ¡°I¡¯ll recompense your squad later.¡±
¡°We¡¯re guardsmen, sir. Things may have worked differently in the noble castes and Space Force, but try not to insult us. Duty has little to do recompensation.¡±
¡°I doubt getting pinned onto a Separatist admiral has much to do with Onderonian duty.¡±
¡°I volunteered.¡±
Now that took me by surprise¨C ¡°You did? I assumed Tandin just assigned you to me. Why did you volunteer for this thankless role?¡±
¡°...This may be unpatriotic of me to say, sir,¡± Kavia started after some initial hesitation, ¡°But I want to get off this world. Me and my squad. The Royal Court dished out Ov Taraba scholarships and credit grants for engineering, astrography, planetary science, and similar courses.¡±
¡°I know,¡± I answered, ¡°After the Treaty of Iziz with the Confederacy, they had the funds to finally get to work on their uplifting program. They started with the basics, didn¡¯t they? Education. It¡¯s a good plan.¡±
¡°It started the year you left,¡± Kavia admitted, ¡°And a lot of us in the Army were granted military scholarships to return to Ov Taraba for them. Thing is, sir, all this knowledge is useless on Onderon. I have a degree in starship engineering, but what in Unifar¡¯s name does that have to do with taming rupings? My buddy has a degree in astrogation, but he¡¯s never even entered orbit before. Some went to the Space Force, but most of us didn¡¯t¨Cyou must know its reputation.¡±
¡°The involuntary home of exiles and outcasts,¡± I agreed sympathetically.
¡°And look, with all these damned droids in Iziz now? We want out. You coming back? It¡¯s our chance to leave. So we volunteered. If you¡¯re still up on that compensation offer¨C¡± she barked out a wry laugh, ¡°¨CThen I hope you consider saving us a place on your ship before you leave.¡±
A low thrum reverberated through Jyrenne Base, gravel quivering at my feet. Suddenly, the forest exploded into light, flocks of birds erupting into the air as waves of force boomed outwards. The thrum rose into a whine as pump drives roared to life, blinding searchlights scouring the treeline with artificial daylight.
Screeching warbeasts took to the air first. Large drexls and skreevs, who could fly for days without rest with their massive wings. Next came the troopships, more alike repulsors and thrusters taped onto cargo containers than actual starships, despite their low orbit capabilities. Then came the patrol carriers, with their wide open hangers¨Cmore accurately on-board stables¨Cfilled with smaller rupings and raptors, resting for the battle ahead.
Last came one of Onderon¡¯s few bonafide fleet carrier, escorted by two orbital monitors. The device of the Space Force emblazoned on its beaten hull, Amanoa¡¯s Wrath graced the stars with her complement of Aurek-class interceptors. Her antiquated thrusters belched fire and dirty smoke as she hauled herself into the sky.
There was no other starfleet like it in the galaxy. What starfleet, after all, would bear marks of close combat? Amanoa¡¯s Wrath proudly bore her battle scars. Scratches from claws powerful enough to tear its hull, and bite marks large enough to swallow her interceptors whole. I couldn¡¯t name the last time she was modernised, but she was still fighting. Only, this time she¡¯ll earn scars of a different calibre, as her destination wasn¡¯t the Demon Moon.
It was Kira Fortress.
¡°Tell you what, Kavia,¡± I said lightly, ¡°I¡¯m watching Onderon¡¯s starships fly to war right now. If you get what I asked for done, I¡¯ll have you a place on my flagship.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t eat your words later, sir.¡±
I won¡¯t. Not for something this trivial, anyway. First things first, though; making sure the summit remains unmolested for the foreseeable future. God, I hope someone was appreciating our efforts. Not just mine, but for all the sorry Onderonians having to pull out all the stops for a war that meant nothing to them¡
Whatever. Kavia will mop up any rebels still in the city, and I will catch the opportunistic rebels trying to take advantage of whatever the Kirans were planning¡ just couldn¡¯t make it easy for me, could you?
Chapter 41
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
It was not long after the departure of the senatorial delegation did Yoda receive peremptory summons from the Office of the Supreme Chancellor.
The reason for the summon was without explanation, but conveyed all due urgency with the lack of protocol-approved language accepted and expected for such communications. Regardless, it wasn''t a meeting he anticipated with any kind of pleasure. More and more of late it seemed the Jedi were being drawn into politics, into matters of legislation and legalese that had never been their arena.
The Jedi were sworn to uphold the Republic and protect its ideals, not entangle themselves in the fortunes of any one Chancellor.
But that thousand year paradigm had changed. Changed by Chancellor Palpatine¨Cnot because he was a bully or a strongman as some had feared he would become. Quite the contrary, in fact; Palpatine was constantly resisting the Senate''s growing desire for him to assume more and more executive powers. He resisted, the Senate insisted, and he was forced to acquiesce. And every time he acquiesced, he turned once more to the Jedi for advice.
It was hardly an ideal situation. The Jedi Council was not just another branch of the executive office; a claim growing thinner every passing day, according to cynical holonews services.
But how, in good conscience, could they refuse to aid a man who had so humbly begged for their help? A man who championed them in the Senate at every opportunity, against ever louder voices? A man who had worked tirelessly for peace since assuming the highest political post in the galaxy and was now faced with the terrifying task of keeping their flagging Republic afloat?
How could the Jedi Council turn its back on such a man?
Clearly, it couldn''t. Clearly, in the face of these daunting times, the Jedi must set aside their traditions and come to the aid of the man a galaxy looked to as its saviour.
But that didn''t mean they had to be happy about it.
¡°Forgive me when I say this, Master,¡± Master Gallia murmured as they made their way through the bewildering maze of corridors to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine''s executive suite, ¡°But the summons only asked for you. I may find myself unwelcome.¡±
¡°Attend you will, Master Galia,¡± Yoda said firmly, ¡°In these unfamiliar times, your expertise is a welcomed necessity.¡±
¡°Unwelcome times,¡± the Tholothian replied softly, ¡°The very fact that my expertise is welcomed bodes poorly for our Order.¡±
When the Jedi Order accepted the Republic¡¯s call to war, even the most consular Knights and Masters were forced to take up their lightsabers and depart for battle. The Jedi were oathsworn to do so. They were dying now to uphold that sacred oath. No sacrifice would be too great to ensure the survival of peace and the Republic. Master Adi Gallia would¡¯ve been no exception, even if she was self-admittedly poor in combat and even if it took months of training to refamiliarise herself with the skills she lost.
Then came the Battle of Christophsis, and just like that Master Gallia had to stow her saber once more and resign herself to defending the standing of the Jedi Order in the halls of politics, against growing condemnation and louder denunciation. Even now, her personal war of words and favours were the only things keeping the Order¡¯s reputation clawing itself back up the mountain from which it fell, rather than plummeting into the abyss.
For that, Yoda could never be more grateful.
Yet still, even the ancient Jedi Master had no positive response to Master Gallia¡¯s statement. A bleak feeling, made worse as they entered the crimson opulence of the Chancellor¡¯s suite¡ and as Master Adi Gallia smoothed her expression and poise into that not of a Jedi, but of a seasoned politician not one twitch out of place of the oppressive decor. Perhaps it was merely habit by now, and nothing indicative of Master Gallia¡¯s increasing distance from the Temple, but Yoda still could not avoid the sinking feeling that he had just witnessed the death of another Jedi.
Killed, not by the enemy, but by the failures of the Order she served.
Yoda expelled himself of such dangerous thoughts, even as he took in the bleeding palette of the office antechamber. An unexpected choice of colour scheme for such an unpretentious man. He had asked the Chancellor about it, once, to satiate his curiosity.
¡°When I think of my new responsibilities I grow cold with fear,¡± Palpatine had said, ¡°Red grants me the illusion that I am warm.¡±
Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila was waiting in the otherwise empty antechamber, dressed in her emblematic swan white raiment. Her face immediately brightened upon noticing their entrance, leaping to her feet to greet them.
¡°Master Gallia! And, of course, Master Yoda¡¡± she breathed out, flicking her attention towards the diminutive Jedi briefly as if in afterthought, ¡°What a mercy it is to see you again. The Chancellor¡¯s summons must have been a surprise, but I assure you there is a good reason for them.¡±
Master Gallia showed none of the displeasure she displayed before, an affable cordiality gracing her features as she took the Senator¡¯s hands and cradled them, ¡°Likewise, Senator. We were most concerned when we recognised the unusual nature of the summon¡¯s writing. I assume you have your suspicions concerning the subject of these summons?¡±
¡°I am afraid so, Master Jedi,¡± Senator Mothma nodded gravely, ¡°A terrible revelation that could threaten everything my colleagues are striving for on Onderon.¡±
With the absence of Senator Organa and Senator Amidala, Mon Mothma was one of the last major pillars of the Loyalist Committee remaining on Coruscant. As a woman closely involved with the debates over many affairs not excluding the Republic¡¯s security, it should not have been a surprise that she was also summoned.
Before Yoda or Adi could reply, the doors to Palpatine''s office opened and Sly Moore stepped into the antechamber, her needle-like irises piercing as ever as she took in each of them.
"Master Jedi, Senator Mothma," she said politely, "The Supreme Chancellor will see you now."
The gravity of the situation was made apparent the moment Yoda saw the Director of Republic Military Intelligence, Armand Isard, in the office, apparently having just given a report to the Chancellor. And the Chancellor¡ Palpatine was in a worse state than Yoda had ever seen him in. Almost slumped in his chair, the Chancellor of the Republic tiredly massaged his forehead as he acknowledged the entrance of the Jedi, the creases of his face deep and taut with feverish anxiety.
¡°Master Jedi¡ I am afraid I had let my guard down,¡± Palpatine admitted, ¡°I¡ I had made the grave mistake of believing being so close to peace meant we were at peace. Director Isard, could you please show our Jedi friends the images from Foerost?¡±
Foerost. One of the largest shipyards in the galaxy, and one that had sided with the Separatist Alliance. Republic forces had swiftly blockaded the world after the Battle of Geonosis in hope that the lack of supplies would strangle the shipyards into submission, or at least obscurity. One this was for certain; the Republic did not have the resources to assault an armed orbital structure of this calibre. If there was news coming from Foerost, Yoda thought, it could not be good.
A series of highly annotated holo-images shimmered into existence above the Chancellor¡¯s desk, and Director Isard seized the opportunity to elaborate before any of their untrained eyes decided to ask the obvious question¨Cwhat are we looking at?
¡°What you are seeing here,¡± Armand Isard spoke plainly, ¡°Are signs of activity in all two-hundred of Foerost¡¯s construction docks. The Techno Union is building a secret fleet five hours south of Coruscant. Considering the size of each dock and other observations, each ship is at the very least equivalent to a Providence-class dreadnought.¡±
Yoda stared at the floor, both hands grasping his gimer stick. What answer could he have to that? This was not what the Jedi were summoned for, no, but Yoda felt the need to say something nonetheless.
¡°Unforeseen was this development,¡± at the very least, he could assuage the Chancellor¡¯s self-blame, ¡°Made a mistake, we all did. We breathed out, before we were even safe.¡±
¡°Unforeseen, yes,¡± the Chancellor murmured as Mas Amedda shuffled into the office, ¡°And by the Jedi as well, no less¡ ah, my friend, good news I hope?¡±
The Chagrian Vice Chair shook his head grimly, ¡°The Oversight Committees were insistent. The Media Security Act must be passed before the Senate hears this. There is already a majority support in the committees and Core-aligned factions.¡±
¡°Bill!¡± Senator Mothma rebuked, ¡°It has not been introduced to the Senate, and will remain a bill if we have anything to say of it!
¡°Media Security¡ Bill,¡± Master Gallia crossed her arms, ¡°I dislike the word ¡®security.¡¯ It¡¯s a pretty little wrapping the committees like to use to thinly disguise a new version of tyranny.¡±
¡°Because it is tyranny!¡± Mothma insisted, hands frantic, ¡°This bill will essentially nationalise all media outlets in the Republic! First the media, and then it''s the end of all private enterprises in the Republic! Can¡¯t we see? It sets a precedent that cannot pass!¡±
¡°Senator Mothma,¡± Mas Amedda said without emotion, ¡°I am afraid the bill already has enough support to pass in the Senate. Expected key opponents such as your allies Senator Amidala, Senator Organa, and Senator Breemu are absent, and Chandrila cannot shoulder the opposition alone.¡±
¡°Chancellor!¡± Senator Mothma pleaded in a last ditch effort, ¡°If the bill reaches your table, you must veto it! Else¡ else you would be putting your signature to the end of democracy in the Republic!¡±
¡°An odd notion, Senator, considering the bill is going to pass through the democratic body,¡± Director Armand commented softly, purposefully, ¡°Chancellor, I find myself in agreement with the Oversight Committees. If the media catches wind of an enemy fleet mere hours away from their worlds, it will be pandemonium in the Core. Our home armadas have been sent to the front, and the Deep Core Reserve is nowhere to be seen. We cannot afford any disruption in public order, not with the Separatists as skittish as we are, with the ongoing summit.¡±
Chancellor Palpatine looked up at the Jedi with distress in his eyes, caught between the airlock and hard vacuum. There was an urgent hope he conveyed, as if expecting the Jedi to have some miraculous solution for his predicament.
¡°Wait,¡± Master Gallia tried to unwound the tension, though her swaying tendrils betrayed her uneasiness, ¡°Director, care to explain how the Separatists are building a fleet from scratch while under siege?¡±
¡°It had been a shameful oversight,¡± Director Armand admitted sourly, ¡°Unlike most shipyard worlds, Foerost is largely uninhabited. With no extraction regulations or limits, the entire planet serves as a resource source for its shipyards.¡±
¡°Communicating with their government, Foerost is not,¡± Master Yoda asserted, ¡°Under siege they are.¡±
¡°Master Yoda is right,¡± Mon Mothma latched onto the argument, ¡°There isn¡¯t any way Foerost knows about the state of the galaxy. They still think they are at war! Can¡¯t we contact them?¡±
¡°They won¡¯t believe anything less than Dooku himself, and you know that, Senator,¡± Director Isard clenched his tablet tightly, ¡°Aside from that inconvenient fact; we have already tried. The Foerost Shipyards have cut all communications. They are utterly unresponsive to all of our attempts.¡±
¡°Well, are there any signs at all that the Techno Union is planning to use this fleet of theirs?¡± the desperate Senator tried one last time.
¡°None at all. That is the only good news,¡± Isard replied, ¡°But you know as well as I how selective the Core is in their hearing. Chancellor, there is no other recourse; you must sign the bill into law when it passes. We are nearly at peace. Once we are, this law will be gone with your Administration. One last sacrifice, Chancellor.¡±
Slowly, painfully, Palpatine removed himself from his chair to stand staring through the transparisteel window into Coruscant''s teeming sky, hands clasped behind his back, chin sunk to his velvet robes.
¡°Do you know, my friends,¡± he said at last, breaking the heavy silence, ¡°There are times when I begin to doubt I have the strength to go on.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say that!¡± Mas Amedda exclaimed frantically, ¡°Without you the Republic would have already fallen!¡±
¡°The Speaker is correct, Chancellor,¡± Mon Mothma hastily seconded, ¡°This is not your failure. If there is anybody to blame than bad fortune, it is Intelligence for failing to reveal this threat, and the Senate for overreacting. They¨Cwe¨Care the ones who have failed the Republic, not you.¡±
The fact that Director Isard did not move to protest was begrudging agreement in of itself.
¡°But I have failed!¡± Palpatine retorted loudly, swinging around, ¡°I have failed, by allowing the Senate to ¡®overreact¡¯ again and again and again! In the name of defence, in the name of protection, in the name of security! I stand before you as the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, but I also stand before you as the man who is tearing down the Republic¡¯s Constitution bit by bit! We are this close to putting the dreadful war behind us. This close! And yet I must still sign my name on the corpse of another of the Republic¡¯s democratic institutions?¡±
¡°That¡¯s untrue!¡± Mon Mothma turned to the Jedi for help, ¡°You can still veto the bill, not to mention, it hasn¡¯t even been introduced to the Senate yet! You have my word, Chancellor¨CI will fight against this bill with everything I have. I will not let Padm¨¦ and Bail return to a Republic where her citizens'' voices are no longer theirs.¡±
Just as slowly as he stood up, Palpatine returned to his chair, composing himself with a hint of shame, ¡°I must confess you surprise me, Senator. Given your close relationship with Senator Amidala, I wasn''t entirely certain you still supported me.¡±
Senator Mothma laughed bitterly, ¡°It is true the Senator from Naboo and I have disagreed with you on several critical issues, especially during the Separatist Crisis. But neither of us have ever denied that you were only doing what you thought was right for the Republic. Neither of us could have begun to imagine what it must be like sitting in the chair you are now, trying to keep us ¡®safe¡¯ yet ¡®free¡¯ at the same time.¡±
¡°An easy road to walk, it is not,¡± Yoda agreed, ¡°No shame there is, in stumbling once so often. Stand up again, you still can.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Master Gallia glared at Director Isard, daring him to argue, ¡°You can still widen the road. Compromise with the committees. The bill is still a mere draft. It can still be edited. You must not even allow the bill to be introduced to the Senate in the state that it is in now. Senator Mon¡¯s fear of precedent is correct, but wrong about one thing. Every evil bill we allow to even enter the Senate makes the next one that much easier to introduce, even if it is defeated in the end.¡±
Chancellor Palpatine looked at them with wide eyes, hands half-outstretched, as if clutching at something intangible¨Cas if the Jedi had just given him back his soul.
¡°Compromise,¡± he muttered feverishly, ¡°Yes¡ we can still compromise. Mas, please tell our dear senators that I will not be the man who signs away the freedom of the Republic, even if in the name of peace.¡±
Mon Mothma could have collapsed in relief. Perhaps, in the privacy of her own apartment, she still would. And Yoda sympathised with her greatly.
¡°The bill still must retain enough enforcement to prevent a media circus once Foerost gets revealed,¡± Director Isard warned, before stepping back to indicate that he had spoken his piece.
Palpatine rubbed his hands, deep in thought, ¡°The current bill seeks to overcorrect. Instead of this body, what if it temporarily expands the HoloCommunications Commission regulatory powers over the HoloNet? This way, the Commission can issue a gag order and censor any media without that could threaten public order¨Cat least until the armistice is signed. It could also finally act against the prominent elements of speciesism in the media that has grown louder following Senator Amidala¡¯s call to treat with the Separatists.¡±
Senator Mothma tensed up again, but breathed out, ¡°I dislike it, but I cannot deny that this could very well be the smallest thing the committees could swallow. I will speak to my caucus and the Loyalist Committee. You have my promise, Chancellor; the bill as it is will be defeated before it even enters the Convocation Chamber.¡±
¡°I must excuse myself as well, Chancellor, Master Yoda,¡± Master Gallia bowed, ¡°I fear I¡¯ve found too many friends in the Senate as of late. On the bright side, I will be able to aid Senator Mothma¡¯s cause.¡±
¡°Please, please, my friends,¡± there was nothing but gratefulness written on the Chancellor¡¯s face, ¡°You have my sincerest apologies for taking so much time out of your most certainly busy schedules. Especially you, Master Jedi. I owe all of you a great deal today. If there is anything in which you require my assistance, you must only ask.¡±
As Senator Mothma and Master Gallia departed to speak with their allies; as Mas Amedda sunk into a couch to take a sigh of relief; as Director Isard measuredly packed his effects before his long journey back to the Center for Military Operations; as Chancellor Palpatine absentmindedly tapped near his desk¡¯s comlink, as if awaiting news from the peace summit¡ Yoda could only think that this day could have gone much, much worse.
No, Yoda shook his head as he left the office, today is a good day. It is, after all, another day in which the Republic has not fallen.
?
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
It felt like nary a handful of hours before dawn was climbing over the rooftops again, and streets already busy with the morning life of the markets. Scout was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she strode through the Onderonian palace¡¯s stone corridors, with Ahsoka hurrying to keep up beside her. It was the first official day of the summit, and both sides were hoping to set off on the right foot with the prisoner exchange; the most public and publicised event on the itinerary. Millions of Onderonians would be watching, and trillions of galactic citizens.
That meant if there was any saboteur aiming to make a statement, this day would be the perfect time to do so.
At the foot of the mountain, both the Senate Guard and Onderonian Royal Army were out in force on the grounds of Yolahn Square, with the latter commandeering the innermost ring of buildings encircling the central avenue. The Square was shaped like a cross, inclined slightly upslope towards the mountain. The opposite avenue lances straight through the city, defining the Merchant¡¯s Quarter and leading straight to the gatehouse, while the perpendicular avenues disappeared into the tangle of skyramps and rooftops.
It was from those perpendicular avenues which the Republic and Separatist prisoners-of-war would come in from, before meeting in the Square. Letting the Force guide her, Ahsoka led them both to the Masters, who were patrolling the grounds¨Ceven though Scout thought it was a bit useless, considering the sheer amount of soldiers already present.
¡°Scout, Ahsoka,¡± Master Plo greeted, ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±
¡°Better than on dragonback,¡± Ahsoka grumbled, and Scout nodded her mirrored sentiments, ¡°My body¡¯s still sore all over.¡±
¡°You know, when I was younger I dreamed that one day I could ride dragons too,¡± Master Skywalker quirked a smile, ¡°Though I hadn¡¯t quite imagined dragons would look like this.¡±
¡°I remember that,¡± Master Kenobi grinned through his beard, ¡°Turns out you were looking in the wrong place all along.¡±
¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Scout asked.
¡°There¡¯s an old tale on Tatooine, that there were dragons who lived in our suns,¡± Anakin Skywalker¡¯s smile grew sombre for reasons unknown, ¡°Maybe we should have been looking at our moons instead.¡±
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Master Kenobi sighed lightly, folding his arms into his sleeves as he squinted up at the lonely moon in the sky fading into the blue as the sky brightened.
¡°Where¡¯s Barriss?¡± Ahsoka suddenly piped up, looking around, ¡°I could¡¯ve sworn she came back with us¡¡±
¡°She did, Ahsoka, you weren¡¯t dreaming,¡± Master Plo said kindly, ¡°I told her it wasn¡¯t necessary for her to attend. What she needs now is rest.¡±
¡°An entire year spent as a Separatist prisoner,¡± Ahsoka mumbled, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what it must be like.¡±
¡°She was Bonteri¡¯s prisoner,¡± Master Kenobi mused out loud as they walked, ¡°Ahsoka, what did you think of him?¡±
¡°Bonteri?¡± the Togruta echoed, ¡°I mean¨C he said a lot of¡ am I really allowed to say this?¡±
¡°I have already informed Obi-Wan and Anakin of our conversations,¡± Master Plo advised, ¡°What your Master wants to know is your observation of Bonteri¡¯s character.¡±
Ahsoka scrunched up her face in thought, her unmatured lekku bouncing stiffly in the morning breeze. Scout decided she ought to lift some of the burden, at least until her friend could organise her thoughts.
¡°He seems normal,¡± was Scout¡¯s answer, ¡°A normal person who follows rules. From what I heard about the Battle of Columex, I wasn¡¯t sure what I expected. But I didn¡¯t think Bonteri is the kind of person able to¡ you know.¡±
Master Kenobi nodded sagely, ¡°Normal people can do extreme things, when they believe it is their duty. As Jedi, we must seek justice where possible, but also be prudent as we do so. Is a lawful man evil?¡±
Scout shook her head, feeling as if she had been transported back into one of her hated Temple lectures, ¡°No, Master.¡±
¡°But what if the laws he adheres to are evil?¡±
¡°That means the laws are evil, not the man,¡± Ahsoka protested.
¡°Would you feel the same way if you were at the Battle of Columex?¡± Master Kenobi¡¯s gaze was distant, ¡°If you were watching Separatist battleships bear down on you, filled with spacers seeking your death because you are a Jedi?¡±
¡°That¡¯s because Dooku is evil, and he made the rules the Separatists follow!¡±
¡°Evil¡ is a terrible word,¡± Master Plo grieved an old friend, ¡°I prefer misguided, by the dark side. I hope he is misguided by the dark side.¡±
Scout looked up at the old Jedi, ¡°Count Dooku was your friend, Master?¡±
Plo Koon turned around, ¡°Dooku was stern, and perhaps not the easiest to talk to. But he was respected by the entire Order, and a friend to all of us. I still regret the mistakes we made, but hopefully with this peace we can start fixing them.¡±
¡°Masters,¡± a soft, yet clear voice rang out.
Master Plo looked past Scout¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Barriss. You should be resting. I have already called for a shuttle to bring you back to the Temple, and have informed Master Luminara of your return.¡±
Master Luminara Unduli¡¯s lost Padawan. Scout knew Master Luminara lost a Padawan far outside the Republic¡¯s borders, apparently for a secret mission that was critical to the war. It was hard not to know, considering Master and Padawan left, and only Master returned. Considering how long it¡¯s been since, it¡¯s a miracle¨Cthe will of the Force¨Cthat Barriss survived all that time. Scout doubted she was the only one wondering how. Rain Bonteri, at least, clearly knew she was a Jedi.
¡°Thank you, Master, but I have done nothing but rest,¡± Barriss¡¯ cobalt eyes were bright, and disturbingly awake, ¡°I cannot leave until I have seen Columex through.¡±
¡°You were at Columex?¡± Ahsoka¡ didn¡¯t quite shout, but still exclaimed in the same eagerness she would when searching for war stories.
Barriss dipped her head.
¡°Hold on a moment,¡± Master Skywalker stepped forward, ¡°On which side were you fighting for?¡±
Huh¡? Wasn¡¯t she a prisoner¨C
¡°I was onboard the Separatist destroyer Messenger, and frigate Unicorn before that, Master Skywalker,¡± the Mirialan Padawan curtsied the best she could in the robes lended to her, ¡°I am blessed to see you again in good health.¡±
¡°I knew I recognised you from somewhere,¡± Master Skywalker scowled, ¡°You were at Atraken, weren¡¯t you? The Unicorn was the ship that warned us about the refugees. You warned us about the refugees.¡±
Anakin Skywalker stared down at the lost Padawan, a complicated expression adorning his face. As abruptly as he accused her, Master Skywalker rubbed his face tiredly, and relented.
¡°The Force works in mysterious ways,¡± he murmured, ¡°And it¡¯s not my place to ask, Padawan; that¡¯ll be the Council¡¯s. But I¡¯d think they''d have your reasons, not blame.¡±
¡°You would be right, Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi crossed his arms, ¡°Clearly, it is by the Force that you met us on Onderon, Barriss. There will be nothing to fear; anything less than a hearing would be a grave mistake.¡±
¡°That is relieving to hear, Master Kenobi,¡± Barriss¡¯ eyes darted, ¡°But I have been tasked to bring you back to the Square. The crowds have gathered, and the exchange has already begun.¡±
¡°Begun¨C¡± Ahsoka paused, and like a cat she was suddenly scrutinising the ground.
The next moment, Scout knew why. The ground is trembling. The citywide thoroughfares of Iziz were wide and spacious, but as the mass of miserable humanity marched towards them, packed in by shuttered storefronts glaring tenement facades, Scout could only think they may as well be alleyways.
¡°The handover¡¯s begun,¡± Master Plo observed.
¡°Its happening like this?¡± Scout was aghast. She knew it was for the galaxy to see, but to parade all of them under the spotlight, each man and woman knowing they personified the Republic¡¯s greatest defeat¡ it must be humiliating.
The air had changed, somehow, become heavier. It trickled down her throat and slithered through her robes and clung to her skin like sweat as a solid, unyielding presence. It was not until she could make out their expressions glowering at the world from under patches of unkempt, verminous hair, did Scout finally put a face to the largest battle the galaxy has seen for a thousand years.
This was the Battle of Columex. Hundreds of thousands of Republic prisoners, memories of hard vacuum lingering behind their eyes, uncountable in number. They came in orderly files, first the officers, some looked beaten and dragged, while others marched with heads still held high. There were Duros, Twi¡¯leks, Rodians, Zabraks, and another hundred Loyalist races that served the faded uniforms they wore. Then were the cloned troopers; an army with a single face, all wearing the same black body gloves.
There was no way to know what rank each were, but Master Skywalker scanned the faces of each one as they passed anyway.
¡°There¡¯s a point where hope becomes desperation, Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi breathed in, lifting his shoulder as he did.
Master Skywalker broke off his trance, ¡°I know, Obi-Wan. But when does one turn into the other? If Master Yoda didn¡¯t tell Master Luminara to hope, where would she be now?¡±
¡°Master Luminara thought I was dead?¡± Barriss asked quietly.
¡°She didn¡¯t, Padawan,¡± Master Kenobi shot his former apprentice a look, ¡°She never stopped believing in you.¡±
¡°But she never did look for me.¡±
A frown glanced off Master Kenobi¡¯s face, ¡°I''m sure she did, Barriss.¡±
Barriss didn¡¯t look fully convinced, but neither did she argue.
¡°Our presence must be missed at the Square,¡± Master Plo wasn¡¯t an inch moved by the exchange, ¡°Let us return and witness the formal exchange.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡¡± Ahsoka swallowed back the word ¡®boring,¡¯ ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to keep an eye out for terrorists?¡±
Scout nodded vigorously in agreement. Standing there with the politicians looking pretty was boring, not to mention a little unnerving as thousands of prisoners were being paraded around for dare she say it; nothing more than extra sensationalism for the HoloNet to slurp up.
¡°I will return to the Square,¡± Master Plo corrected himself, tinged with amusement, ¡°Will you join me, Barriss?¡±
The Mirialan shook her head, ¡°I wish to speak with Master Skywalker, with your permission.¡±
Master Kenobi raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is that so? In that case, you can stay here with Anakin and Tallisibeth. Ahsoka and I will patrol the Republic side of the exchange.¡±
¡°And I will watch over the ceremony,¡± Master Plo finished.
Anakin didn¡¯t wait around for their departure, but immediately began eyeing the nearby rooftops as if to find a good vantage point over the streets.
¡°I can¡¯t follow you up there, Master,¡± Scout felt compelled to point out.
¡°No, you cannot,¡± her Master agreed as they continued walking, ¡°So we¡¯ll stay down here. Was there something you wanted to tell me, Barriss?¡±
The Jedi in question was looking at her curiously, Scout realised, but tore her attention away when she noticed, ¡°I wanted to thank you, for believing me at Atraken. You saved a lot of lives.¡±
¡°You saved a lot of lives,¡± Anakin Skywalker corrected, ¡°I should be thanking you; you saved me from being a criminal. It must not have been easy, surviving the Separatists ranks, keeping your faith, and returning to us. If it was up to me, Barriss, you¡¯re due for a Knighthood.¡±
¡°You praise me too greatly, Master Skywalker.¡±
¡°I am,¡± he agreed, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know how the Council administers Knighthoods. There used to be trials, but my Knighthood was the first based on battlefield accolades. With the war going on, the Council has been granting Knighthoods left and right, so I wouldn¡¯t put it behind them to give you one as well.¡±
¡°Why did you¨C I mean, how did you end up joining the Separatists?¡± Scout couldn¡¯t help but address the bantha in the room.
¡°Another Jedi helped me,¡± Barriss answered distantly, ¡°They told me Dooku either have me handed to him, or killed. The only way to survive was to give my lightsaber as proof of the death, and join the starfleet where I could be protected.¡±
¡°Another Jedi? There are more?¡±
¡°A lot more,¡± the answer was clipped.
¡°Don¡¯t press, Scout,¡± Anakin advised, ¡°I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t like someone else pressing you for answers you don¡¯t want to give. I wouldn¡¯t either.¡±
¡°Yes, Master.¡±
Scout scanned the facades, searching for anything out of the ordinary. If Master Skywalker had his way, they would definitely be up on the tiles overlooking the whole city; but with Scout¡¯s Force potential as pitiful as it was, they would have to knock on one of the doors to get access, and she wasn¡¯t sure if the the residents would be very receptive to that. They had already stolen their city for a whole day, and she wasn¡¯t about to ask them for their house too.
As they moved past a dimly lit alleyway, however, micro-vision shot through her mind¡¯s eye¨Cin an alleyway, an armoured arm trapping me in a deathly chokehold, lightsaber slipping from by grip. Scout barely had a second to process the revelation before her body sprang into action, catching the unknown assailant¡¯s arm as it reached to grab her. Wrenching them forward, she wedged her shoulder in their armpit and spun them around, before slamming them into the brick wall with an arm crushing down on their windpipe.
Didn¡¯t actually think we would be attacked¨Cwas the only thing that ran through head before the snap-hiss of an igniting lightsaber shocked her back into reality. Master Skywalker pointed his sabre right at between the eyes of their attacker¨Ca tanned woman with slanted eyes and dirty brown hair¨Cto which Scout could only thank the graces she was short enough to not have her scalp shredded off in the process.
¡°Who are you!?¡± Master Skywalker demanded.
Staring down the pillar of blue fire, the woman slowly raised both of her hands.
¡°Wait, don¡¯t hurt Dono!¡± another woman scampered out of the alley, arms held in front of her, ¡°It was my fault! I didn¡¯t actually know if you would hear us out¡!¡±
Dono shifted, and Scout pressed harder on her throat. The Onderonian audibly choked, spittle flying from her lips as she rasped for air.
¡°Master?¡± as she turned for confirmation, Scout realised that Barriss was still watching the prisoner marching, barely noticing that they had been attacked.
¡°Let her go, Tallisibeth,¡± Master Skywalker measuredly shifting his lightsaber from one woman to the other.
¡°So there are terrorists out here,¡± Scout remarked as she pushed herself off the wall, letting Dono go, ¡°For all of, well everyone¡¯s, cautioning, I nearly thought we were about to go through the whole day without any interruptions.¡±
¡°We aren¡¯t terrorists! I¡¯m Steela, and this is Dono,¡± Steela raised her arms higher, ¡°We just wanted to talk to you¡ away from prying eyes, if possible. You were not easy to find, and this was our best chance.¡±
¡°You are in a restricted area, and attacked a Jedi,¡± Master Skywalker said wryly, prodding the terrorists back into the alley, ¡°If you aren¡¯t terrorists, you aren¡¯t doing a very good job of not being terrorists.¡±
¡°I¨C You are stronger than you look,¡± Dono gasped, backing away.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that before,¡± Scout replied, unclipping her own sabre.
¡°Wait! At least just hear us out.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll hear out why I should drag your sorry asses to the Onderonian army,¡± Master Skywalker agreed with mock cheer.
¡°Because they¡¯ll kill us!¡± Steela shouted, her curled locks springing in panic.
¡°I think you¡¯re overreacting a little, there,¡± Anakin replied mildly, ¡°And if you aren¡¯t¡ well maybe you should have been smarter than this.¡±
¡°We need your help,¡± Steela begged, ¡°The Jedi are our last hope.¡±
¡°We¡¯re just here to prevent people like you from making a mess,¡± Scout said maybe a little harshly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring whatever you have to the city council, or something?¡±
¡°No¨C we want the Separatists off our planet!¡± Dono cried, ¡°It¡¯s not just us; it¡¯s everybody in Iziz! The droids just came here one day, took our city, and started thrashing our streets! You¡¯re Jedi, right, aren¡¯t you supposed to help us get rid of them?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t see any droids,¡± Master Skywalker raised an eyebrow.
¡°They¡¯ll come back the moment you¡¯re gone,¡± Steela insisted.
¡°And what do you want us to do?¡± Anakin chuckled in disbelief, ¡°Overthrow a reigning government while we¡¯re trying to hammer out an armistice in their house? Go home! Forget about it! We saw the city while we were here, everybody¡¯s living life like normal. You should do that, too. The war will end, and the droids will leave for good.¡±
¡°They won¡¯t,¡± Dono shot back, ¡°We¡¯re Onderonians¨C we always try to tough it out. The Separatists are stepping all over us; they overthrow our rightful king and replace him with a puppet, then they take our city and expect us to bend over for them. But you don¡¯t see that, because we¡¯re too prideful to let you see that. But the Separatists are crushing us. Slowly enough that none of us notice it, until we do and by then it¡¯ll be too late. So please, help us.¡±
Scout glanced nervously at her Master. What if they were telling the truth? Onderon never told them about any rebellion going on¨Cbut if they had their planet wouldn¡¯t have been considered the site of the armistice, and the monarchy likely wanted to avoid that. Scout could see it now; bringing all the droids out of the city to present a nice, neutral front for the summit, and when the Republic left, the droids will come back with renewed force.
¡°And what do you want us to do?¡± Master Skywalker repeated, lightsaber buzzing brightly in the gloom of the alley.
¡°We don¡¯t need you to fight our war,¡± Steela pleaded, ¡°But anything will be helpful. Modern weapons and training, mostly; you don¡¯t need to fight our war, but you can still help us fight ours.
Huh? These guys don¡¯t have any training? Then how did they even sneak past all the guards¨C Scout desperately dug through her memory again, begging the Force to show her that vision. She saw herself pinned, a bronze-armoured arm crushing her¨Cwait, armoured?
¡°Uh¡ Master?¡± Scout piped up, ¡°This area is patrolled by the Onderonian army, right?¡±
¡°And the Senate Guard patrols the side with the Separatist prisoners, yeah,¡± mild confusion coloured his voice, though he didn¡¯t take his eyes off the two rebels, ¡°What of it?¡±
¡°How did these two even get into the restricted area?¡±
¡°Because we grew up in this city,¡± Dono narrowed her eyes, ¡°We know every street around here.¡±
Scout pursed her lips, ¡°Even better than the Onderonian army?¡±
Master Skywalker froze¨C ¡°Ah, kriff. Barriss, see anything out there?¡±
¡°Yes, Master,¡± Barriss answered flatly, ¡°There is a soldier looking at us from across the street.¡±
¡°For how long?¡±
¡°Since the beginning, I think,¡± she answered, ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell if it''s us or the prisoners that they are looking at.¡±
Master Skywalker adopted a look of ¡®and you didn¡¯t think to tell us this earlier?¡¯ as he snapped his lightsaber shut, ¡°You two should scram before I change my mind.¡±
¡°What!?¡± Dono hissed, ¡°But¨C¡±
Steela grabbed her shoulder, shaking her head, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Dono. Saw was right. Thank you for hearing us out, Master Jedi.¡±
Master and Padawan watched as the two rebels retreated back into the alley at a frantic pace, footsteps scampering against the cobblestones. Shadows lurked above them, the eaves closing in the like the jaws of a sarlacc, just waiting for the right moment to strike. There was movement in the darkness.
Scout shouted¨C ¡°Watch out! Above you!¡±
Steela¡¯s head snapped up in surprise, but it was already too late. Before they could reach the safety of the street on the other side, the air above them erupted with the metallic clangour of armoured boots. With a silent roar, soldiers fell from above, lights leaking from shuttered windows glinting off their pauldrons. In a single, swift movement, two soldiers had the rebels pinned against the ground, roughly pressing their skulls against the stone.
Anakin and Scout ignited their lightsabers out of pure instinct, holding them forward to provide a light source. The third soldier stood up, clapped the dust off her hands, and moved towards them, ¡°I am Lieutenant Slen of the Royal Army. We extend our gratitude for your aid in apprehending these terrorists, Master Jedi.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Master Skywalker asked sarcastically, ¡°I don¡¯t think we did much of anything.
¡°You stalled them long enough for me to get my men into position,¡± Slen gestured towards the two soldiers forcing Steela and Dono to their feet, ¡°You helped us do our jobs.¡±
¡®And you should do your job too¡¯ was left unspoken. If they wanted to, Slen could definitely force a diplomatic incident by claiming the Jedi were communicating with potential terrorists in secret, but Scout realised that wasn¡¯t their intention. The whole ¡®stalling¡¯ thing was a peace offer; a straight story they could use when they inevitably had to report the encounter.
¡°You were testing us,¡± she accused, ¡°You wanted to see what would happen if they got to us.¡±
Scout tilted her head to the rebels when she said ¡®they.¡¯
¡°Allow us to handle it from here, Master Jedi,¡± Lieutenant Slen said smoothly, ¡°If you have any more encounters with these terrorists, please notify us immediately.¡±
Master Skywalker was clearly thinking of a clever retort, but ultimately decided to leave the matter lie¨Cthey were already lucky Lieutenant Slen didn¡¯t intend to escalate. Just as he made to stow away his lightsaber, however;
¡°W-Wait!¡± Dono begged, ¡°Please help us! They¡¯ll kill us!¡±
¡°They will?¡± Anakin lifted his saber again, ¡°You will?¡±
¡°The punishment for treason against the monarchy is death,¡± Steela said bitterly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it, buckethead?¡±
¡°Public execution,¡± Slen confirmed, ¡°You can have your revolution in the Halls of the Spirits, rebels.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that too harsh?¡± Scout asked nervously, ¡°It¡¯s not like they¡¯ve done anything yet, right?¡±
¡°That is none of your concern, Jedi.¡±
Scout glanced up at her Master for guidance. Our jobs here are to help the local security keep the peace, but as Jedi, shouldn¡¯t we preserve life? Did these people really deserve to die? Evil laws¨Cwas this what Master Kenobi meant by evil laws? The Jedi had a responsibility to enforce the law, but didn¡¯t they also have a moral responsibility to stop evil where it exists?
¡°Madam,¡± one of the soldiers spoke up, ¡°We should go.¡±
Slen eyes their lightsabers cautiously, ¡°Will you try to stop us, Jedi?¡±
¡°Please,¡± Dono whispered.
All eyes were on Master Skywalker. Scout could barely notice Barriss turning around, clearly wondering what was happening behind her.
¡°You know¡¡± Master Skywalker sighed, ¡°Before I was a Jedi, I was a slave on Tatooine. My Master and his Master freed me when I was child, after which I joined the Order.¡±
¡°Where are you going with this?¡± Slen demanded.
Scout listened, enraptured. She had no idea that the Chosen One was once a slave. Her Master never did talk about his past, though she couldn¡¯t blame him for leaving those memories behind him. Which was why she had to wonder why he brought it up now.
¡°But they didn¡¯t free my mother, or the hundreds, thousands of other slaves in Mos Espa,¡± he continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t think anything of it back then; I was just happy to leave. But as I was taught how to be a Jedi, I had to ask my Master; why didn¡¯t he free all the slaves on Tatooine? Why allow such evil to exist? The Hutts, the Zygerrians, they all practise slavery and other evils, but the Jedi have never intervened.¡±
With a low hum, Master Skywalker¡¯s lightsaber was deactivated before it disappeared underneath his robes, ¡°The answer is because we cannot fall into the trap of thinking we know better just because we are Jedi. We cannot impose our will on an entire culture on the basis of our virtues. If every Jedi in the galaxy could act according to what they think is right, and act against what they think is evil, then we would have a hundred more Count Dookus than we do now.¡±
¡°But don¡¯t you still want to help them?¡± Scout asked, ¡°The slaves, these people? I don¡¯t want to see them die!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve long learnt that desires have very little to do with being Jedi,¡± Master Skywalker met Dono¡¯s crestfallen face with regret, ¡°Obi-Wan once told me that being Jedi isn¡¯t just about power, or lightsabers, or skill with the Force. It is about connection, of being part of something larger than us. We have an oathbound responsibility to that connection, and that means we can¡¯t always do what we want. Instead, try to do good where you can, and when you can.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± her Master turned his back on them, ¡°But we can¡¯t help you now.¡±
Scout could hear Lieutenant Slen breath out sharply as they left, before ordering her men to take the rebels to the Palace cells. Barriss observed them as they entered the sunlight once more, taking in the now desolate streets. A man¡¯s amplified voice echoed down the thoroughfare as they officiated the ceremony, largely indecipherable at this distance.
¡°Do you believe what Master Kenobi said is true, Master Skywalker?¡± Barriss asked quietly as she took her place beside them, ¡°Or do you think it is just an excuse for being unable to do something?¡±
Anakin Skywalker was silent for a long, pregnant moment.
¡°I of all people have no right to say whether it is either way,¡± he finally said.
Chapter 42
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
There was a sight, from a hill not far from a small monastery, overlooking a forested valley. It was the sight of the magnificent Kira Fortress, melded into the side of a three-spire mountain, aglow with the golden lights from thousands of tall arches sculpted into the stone that served as windows and the hundreds of balconies that sprang from them. It was the sight of rolling waves of dull steel, crashing against the walls like a seaweed-thick tide against an immovable rock.
I could feel my bones rattle as the hills erupted with the fury of a thousand cannons, self-propelled mass drivers hammering against thick energy shields. On the valley floor, tens of thousands of soldiers clashed underneath the smoke of roaring starships, turrets meting out volley after volley of turbolaser bolts as they circled around the Fortress.
And the mountain responded in kind. It reaped slaughter; with the roiling mass of bodies all in one place, the defenders needed to expend no effort to kill. Shells and bolts shot out in hails, cleaving through ranks of men like hammer and chisel on porcelain. The mountainside glittered as hidden casemates roared out a blistering, creeping barrage that painted the land with mud and blood and swept entire battalions back to their siege trenches.
Skreevs and rupings duelled each other in the air, clawing and biting for superiority until their torn carcasses rained down from above, many times their screaming riders falling alongside, or even worse, still chained to their saddles. Aurek-class interceptors swooped down from above, strafing the battlefield, usually too swift to be caught by enemy warbeasts. But every so often, a Kiran drexl would pounce from behind the walls, stinger-tipped tail striking out with the speed of a viper¨Cand spear an unsuspecting starfighter straight through, before dashing its mangled remains against the ground and retreating back behind the shields.
It was only the rare occasion, as both sides were holding back their drexls for the opportune moment. Such massive beasts could turn the tide of battle on their own, and even warships like Amanoa¡¯s Wrath recoiled whenever there was a sign of a drexl sallying out.
¡°It¡¯s going to take another month to grind down those shields,¡± General Tandin grumbled, his polished armour gleaming, ¡°If you could bring your damn warships here, Bonteri¡¡±
I didn¡¯t want to answer him, not while I was forced to watch his ¡®solution¡¯ to the time-consuming siege; to brute force the mountain redoubt and take out the shield generators through sheer manpower. The result? Onderonians dying in droves, noble banners toppling under artillery fire, warbeasts screaming in agony as they ripped each other apart, and inches of land gained. It was one thing to preside over a space battle, and watch exploding starships from hundreds of klicks away, the death count nothing more than a rising number of the stats repeater.
It was another to witness gore flying through the air, hear the sound of human torture, and smell death rising from corpse-filled trenches, and fetid pools of coagulated gore. Flies swarmed raw chunks of day-old meat. Sand, dust, and blood. Few could imagine the sight of their admixture.
I could now. And I could retch.
¡°There¡¯s a Republic diplomatic fleet in orbit,¡± I swallowed, ¡°My warships aren¡¯t going anywhere. Believe me, if I could, my first choice would be to blast this accursed mountain from the sky.¡±
I fruitlessly called Verala again, hoping for an answer that wouldn¡¯t come.
General Tandin side-eyed me, ¡°You need to have more faith.¡±
¡°I dislike loose ends,¡± I told him, ¡°If she¡¯s caught up in this because of me¡¡±
Vaguely gesturing towards the siege, I grimaced at the mere thought of it. Not just her, but everybody here. ¡®It shouldn¡¯t have come to this¡¯ was at the forefront of my mind. This could have been avoided. Should have been avoided. Something, somewhere, went terribly wrong. And I needed to figure out what that catalyst was, so that I didn¡¯t have to watch a disaster of this magnitude happen again.
¡°General!¡± an orderly galloped into the camp atop a striped dalgo, ¡°A Dor-Drel host was spotted crossing the eastern ridges.¡±
Enemy reinforcements, aiming to lift the siege. We didn¡¯t know how much of the highland clans had already allied with the Kirans, and we didn¡¯t want to wait around to find out. For all we knew, a host of hundreds of thousands was already marching. Kira Fortress had to fall by then. If it didn¡¯t the possibility of this internal dispute becoming an actual civil war would suddenly become very real. The only reason we could keep this lowkey was because only the Royal Army¡¯s standing forces had been redirected here. If the noble banners had to be martialled¡ the cat would be well out of the bag.
Maybe not a cat. A pritarr, more like.
¡°We must take Kira Fortress by tonight,¡± Tandin crossed his arms, ¡°Have all our troops retreat to the hills.¡±
¡°Retreat, sir?¡± the orderly pronounced the word like it was a curse.
¡°I didn''t know the Army accepted men short of hearing.¡±
¡°My apologies, General. Right away!¡±
Faded standards were raised, a horn bellowed across the hills, and the disorganised mass of soldiers reeled like a retreating gale, peeling off the walls and siege engines and making back to the trenches. As if awaiting for precisely this moment, a clarion call resounded across the battlefield, rising in pitch until the hairs on the back of my neck rose with it. Fortress Kira¡¯s stone gates swung open, and a torrent of armoured heavy cavalry thundered out to run down the flight. Killing lances lowered and levelled. The Kiran cavalry spread out into a thin line, and a furious wavefront of lightning blue destruction rippled out from their lines. The rearmost line of the standing army was scythed down like sheared wheat.
General Tandin sniffed in disdain, and raised his hand. A second horn bellowed, and with practised discipline the disorganised mess of soldiers condensed into near-perfect squares of pike and shot at the drop of a dime. The Kiran cavalry didn¡¯t slow, bone-shaking trot quickening into a furious gallop that churned the earth into a red slush as they rumbled down the hillside.
In response, the unbroken squares of pike and laser lances inched forward, three rows deep from every second man, guided by veterans walking on the outside like sheep dogs. In a blink of an eye, the enemy cavalry was upon them, steed and men alike thirsting for blood.
Two-thousand lances cracked and roared, enveloping the valley in blue light. Birds scattered from every direction, and thin white smoke covered the line and hung like fog as the men stooped instantly to reload, revealing the second rows taking their place and firing. For thirty long seconds, the entire valley was consumed by a blinding hail of laserfire from both sides. From my vantage point, far enough away from the eye-watering light, I could see the damage. The first ranks of dalgo-mounted cavalry topped like bowling pins, bones splintering and steel twisting, trampled and crushed underhoof by those after them.
Half the Royal Army¡¯s frontline seemed to slump or sag against their fellows, shields and long pikes or laser lances dropped to the dirt as men collapsed. And then heavy armour and momentum met the sharp end of the pike.
There was no sense of impact, no thunderous crash. The heavy horse melted into the squares and crumpled like wet paper. Three rows of sharpened iron pierced and repelled the first, throwing back gnashing and snapping dalgos with stab wounds to chests and knees.
Others advanced behind them more cautiously, batting at the pikes and riding between the gaps of the squares. Another volley of laserfire roared out, and then the squares clamped shut on the cavalry like the jaws of a warbeast. Momentum turned from ally to foe as the Kiran cavalry found themselves trapped with nowhere to go but the killing point of an Izizian pike. The lances fired again.
I closed my eyes as screams mixed with the terrible cacophony of hoofbeats, bent steel, and shattering spears. What remained of the Kirans had submerged in dying comrades and chaos, many surrounded on all sides by heavy infantry, while most pushed uselessly against a wall of death. Finally, the horn blew, and the sortie turned tail and ran.
?
This is all that woman¡¯s fault!
Saw went white as another rumbling fist of thunder smashed into the fortress¡¯ shields, warped blue sky rippling out with tongues of crimson fire. The entire mountain shuddered under the Royal Army¡¯s relentless assault, fiery braziers flickering and eyes jerked anxiously as overhead rock groaned. Dust sifted down, crackling and popping in fire pits and powdering hair, following each destructive bellow. Again, and again, and again.
Even with the fires, a thick, heavy fug settled. And with the rising smoke blotting out the sky, it seemed downright nocturnal.
¡°Saw!¡± Hutch roared over the howling siege, ¡°This is not what we planned!¡±
The battle seemed so far away. The chamber the Kirans had given them faced east, sheltered against the mountain and on the opposite side of the siege lines. But there were no siege lines in the sky, and the mountain fortress found itself in the eye of a maelstrom of warbeasts, swooping in and out of the shields as the Space Force viciously clawed and bit their way to the generators, all while the ominous thumping of the Royal Army¡¯s massive laser siege ram pounded away at the main gates.
The only way it could get any worse was if those Separatist warships appeared over them¨Cbut they weren¡¯t, for some reason. Saw opted to count his blessings, however little he had.
¡°There was no way any of us could have known the Royal Army already knew about the Kirans!¡± Saw hissed, ¡°If we did, we would have never come here!¡±
¡°That isn¡¯t what I¡¯m talking about!¡± Hutch seized his collar and dragged him closer, ¡°I¡¯m talking about joining the Kirans! I didn¡¯t say anything when you made us follow the damn Beast-Lord, but I know I¡¯m not the only one who joined Steela because she wanted to bring Dendup back! He¡¯s our rightful king!¡±
Saw could feel over a hundred piercing stares digging into his skin like billhooks. The Kirans allowed them to stay, but nothing more. And now they were all in this room, still dirty with sweat and grime, waiting for the Royal Army to chop off their heads¨Cif the castle didn¡¯t collapse on their heads first.
He grabbed Hutch¡¯s arm and dragged him out onto the balcony, away from the eyes. The shields seemed close enough to touch, beyond the safety of the stone, as it warped and billowed like storm-tossed waters. Streaking shells pounded the world around them¨Cthe thin filament the only object between them and a fiery death. Saw counted to five, then forced it out of his mind.
¡°I needed to keep us alive!¡± Saw insisted, ¡°Kira Fortress was the only immediate place of safety¨C¡±
¡°We had the Nest!¡± Hutch shook his shoulder, and it took every fibre in Saw¡¯s body to not instinctively throw him off, ¡°We could have just continued making our way to the highlands, and disappear into the hills before the Royal Army could catch us!¡±
¡°You don¡¯t understand!¡± Saw shouted in frustration, ¡°The Royal Army was already on our tail! They already knew our every move!¡±
That made Hutch interrupt himself, pale eyes blinking in surprise¨C ¡°You¡ are you serious?¡±
¡°There was a spy in our ranks, reporting everything back to Iziz,¡± he explained as calmly as he could in the middle of a raging battlefield.
¡°How?¡± Hutch whispered, ¡°How did you know?¡±
Steela and Dono invited them in, he wanted to say. But he couldn¡¯t. Hutch was right; the vast majority of them joined Steela because they wanted Dendup back. Saw, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care. He didn¡¯t care who sat on the Onderonian throne as long as they were Onderonian, not some Separatist puppet. Or Republic puppet, for that matter. He knew they only trusted him, followed him, because he was Steela¡¯s brother.
Saw gritted his teeth. They were all nothing, weren¡¯t they? Dendup, Rash, Kira. This little rebellion of theirs. Nothing at all, in the face of something as vast and incomprehensible as the galaxy. Under Ramsis Dendup, they thought they could continue to ignore it forever, and live peacefully in their own untouched corner of the universe. But the galaxy was here now¨Cit came to them, and it wasn¡¯t going to leave. Not even the Kirans were a worthy enough foe to require warships.
They were insignificant.
But that didn¡¯t mean they had to stop fighting. That¡¯s what fighting was for.
And Saw knew that the fighters followed not him, but his sister. He can¡¯t let their faith in her die because she allowed a spy into their ranks. There were people with them in that safehouse, but they didn''t know the truth either. Only he did.
¡°I found her out, at the ruins when the Beast-Lord interrupted me,¡± Saw straightened his back, ¡°She escaped. And now the Royal Army is here.¡±
¡°Who was it!?¡±
I can¡¯t say the name. Saw kept his lips sealed, and that only incensed Hutch even more.
¡°Is that why you accepted the Beast-Lord¡¯s offer so quickly!?¡± he demanded, ¡°Without asking any of us? Because you already knew we had been sniffed out!?¡±
Saw breathed in, and made his decision; ¡°No. I don¡¯t care who lives in that damned Palace. I only care that the Separatists and their puppets are not. Dendup, Kira, they¡¯re all the same to me. But unlike Dendup, Kira had more guns. I saw my chance, I took it.¡±
For a brief moment, he saw confusion on Hutch¡¯s face, and then a rictus of rage. And then there was a blaster barrel to his gut and a finger on the trigger.
¡°Then you aren¡¯t fighting for the same reason as us,¡± Hutch snarled.
Saw allowed himself to be socked across the face, allowed himself to be thrown back into the hall, and allowed the rebels¨CSteela¡¯s rebels¨Ccrowd around him in confusion, suspicion. Some rushed out to help him up, but Hutch dissuaded them with a furious wave of his blaster.
¡°Does Steela know!?¡±
Saw spat, ¡°How could she? If she isn¡¯t already dead, then she must be thinking we¡¯re already in the safety of the Nest.¡±
¡°Steela trusted you! We trusted you!¡± Hutch roared, ¡°You betrayed us all, led us here. And now we¡¯re all dead men!¡±
¨CA thunderclap, and for a split second Saw believed it was his own heartbeat. A gust of hot air flooded in from the balcony, accompanied by a cry¨Cshrill, bloodcurdling, and utterly otherworldly. Saw could count the number of times he heard that noise on one hand, but he couldn¡¯t mistake it for anything else.
Skreev. Dxunian raptor.
¡°Now, I wouldn¡¯t say dead men,¡± a mirthful, and deplorably familiar voice pointed out.
?
¡°Brooding does not suit you, Bonteri,¡± General Tandin said gruffly, ¡°Out with it.¡±
A carpet of bodies spanned the entire valley, so thick that I could barely make out the earth underneath, red with blood and churned into a slick crimson mud. I breathed in¨Cbodies from both sides laid face down in the dirt, and those facing up stared blankly into the rose-coloured sky with empty eyes. Wandering dalgos grazed on the corpses¨Csome still with saddles, others with limp bodies still tied up in the reins¨Cmunching on flesh as loitering soldiers stabbed the dead. The Royal Army had withdrawn, but everybody knew there was going to be another assault in a few hours.
Another assault. More blood. That stench was going to linger for months to come, I thought.
I shook my head, ¡°Just wondering what I could have done to avoid this outcome.¡±
¡°What you could have done?¡± Tandin raised a thick white eyebrow, ¡°The answer is nothing at all. You did not have the information available to you. You could have never known.¡±
¡°I should¡¯ve had all the information available to me,¡± I gritted my teeth, ¡°I should¡¯ve known something was up the moment you let me have my way so easily.¡±
¡°And then what?¡± Tandin countered, ¡°Would the droids have remained in the city, increasing tensions with the Republic, while embittering Iziz even more?¡±
¡°If that would have led to a more preferable outcome, yes.¡±
¡°You do not know if it would,¡± Akenathen Tandin chuckled deeply, mockingly, ¡°The rebels could have been emboldened. The droids, the Republic. What if they ended up remaining in the city, and continued striking droid patrols during the summit? There would have been less bloodshed, indeed, but would that have been preferable to this?¡±
I rubbed my face, wiping away the oppressive humidity, ¡°No. It would have not.¡±
¡°How far do you want to go back?¡± the General continued, ¡°Blame the Royal Court, perhaps? It was their eagerness to introduce Onderon to the galactic stage that piloted the invitation to the Republic and Confederacy. I did not want this outcome either, Bonteri. Consider that the King would have my head should we fail here.¡±
¡°Then what?¡± I spun around, furious despite myself, ¡°Should I just accept that there were no good outcomes, that despite any choice I could have made, there would have never been a peaceful solution?¡±
General Akenathen Tandin met my gaze with a silent rage that made me feel like a child, ¡°Do you think I did not ask myself that question every night following the Officer¡¯s Coup? I know what it feels like to be helpless, Bonteri, and allow me to impart on you the wisdom you taught me the day my men turned their spears on me; men are unpredictable.¡±
¡°I know that!¡±
¡°Yet you do not consider it when making your decisions,¡± the General rebuked, ¡°And neither did I, then. People are not puppets on a Malgan theatre play, Bonteri, and nobody is omnipresent! You convince yourself you know this, yet you expect everyone to play the roles you made for them. There will always inevitably be facts unknown to you, or third parties waiting for an opportunity to intervene. The larger and stricter you craft your plan, your strategy¨Cthe harder it will crumble when something inevitably slips.¡±
¡°You slipped!¡± I accused.
¡°I took that opportunity to consolidate royal influence,¡± he agreed, ¡°And yet I did not expect the Kirans to overreact. I expected them to do anything other than spark another war so hastily. But men are unpredictable, and I prepared for the worst. How do you think the standing army was able to respond so quickly?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t treat me like the green-faced child I was a decade ago,¡± I scoffed, and for a moment I could only marvel that I could speak to the Lord General like this without repercussions, ¡°I know how the world works. The world is unreliable, and fickle. Always prepare for the worst. That¡¯s what I do, General.¡±
In both lives, there had always been people above me, standing over me, demanding things of me. But now I was that person, with all the shiny effects that came with it and a fist that commanded hundreds of warships and thousands of soldiers. There was one fact; I made it. I stood near the top of the ladder, and I could count the rungs above me with a single hand. And yet, I never felt less in control. Like this rank was just another face I could wear that didn¡¯t actually change anything.
¡°Of everybody who acted against me in the Officer¡¯s Coup,¡± General Tandin sucked in through his nose, ¡°You were the one I overlooked. And with the curse of foresight, I see now you were the most dangerous. I knew the ringleaders¨CJamiro, Tiree, and the rest¨Cbut you and Mishar were the disease who spread through our ranks. You wear a different face for every person you talk to, convincing them to do your bidding. And somewhere along the way, you tricked yourself into thinking that was how the world worked.¡±
What the fuck are you talking about?
¡°Forget it,¡± I snorted, looking away, ¡°You¡¯ve gone senile.¡±
¡°Listen to me, Bonteri,¡± Tandin snarled, and I forced myself to listen, because Tandin was built like a bear with tree trunks for limbs and a grip that could probably crush my skull like a melon, ¡°The only thing I know about you is that in the end, you will always prioritise yourself over everybody else. You think only yourself is real, and the world around you is inhabited by characters who you must cajole and influence to get what you want. It has worked for you so far, but it won¡¯t work forever, and this situation proves it. What do you think Verala Mishar is doing right now?¡±
¡°Finding a way to return and report back to me¨C¡±
The General set his jaw, and I immediately knew that was the wrong answer.
¡°What were her original orders?¡± he asked with a cool calm.
¡°To compromise the rebel forces,¡± I answered, ¡°But communications were cut, to which I could only assume meant she had been compromised.¡±
¡°But you think she is alive.¡±
¡°...Yes,¡± I confirmed, admittedly hesitantly, ¡°She still has her raptor with her.¡±
Tandin narrowed his eyes, ¡°Then have you considered that she may still be trying to carry out her original orders?¡±
¡°Why would she?¡±
¡°Because she¡¯s Onderonian, and Onderonians don¡¯t leave matters half-finished.¡±
¡°Speak for yourself.¡±
The General blew out a heated breath, ¡°In the purple king¡¯s name, Bonteri, when was the last time someone did anything for you without direct orders?¡±
The last time¨C I could name a few instances of my droids doing so, but I had a feeling ¡®programmed habit¡¯ wasn¡¯t the sort of answer Tandin was looking for. I thought back on the past year, climbing ranks, giving orders, doing my damnedest to survive the war¡ and realised there was not a single instance I ever trusted someone enough to do something without strict orders. Except, wasn¡¯t that my job? To give orders?
¡°Your obsessive need for control is going to fail you one day,¡± Tandin told me, ¡°You treat people like droids, when they aren¡¯t. You project your worldview on the rest of us; that we only do things that are self-beneficial, without considering that not everybody thinks like that. I agree, Bonteri, that if you were Mishar¡¯s place, you would have returned in order to risk your skin any more than you must. But I doubt Mishar thinks that way.¡±
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
I was quiet for a long while, the sight of mud and dirt and shifting blocks of soldiers blurring before my eyes until the squares looked like a particularly bloody chessboard. Then, I made my decision, and lifted my comlink to my lips. If Verala was still out there, so was her skreev.
The General lightly brushed his moustache, ¡°If Mishar is alive, and isn¡¯t here, where is she?¡±
She would have tailed the rebels. To Kira Fortress.
¡°Get a Clazca wing ready for flight, Vander,¡± I ordered, ¡°We¡¯re going on a raid.¡±
As I turned to leave, Akenathen Tandin called out one last time; ¡°You don¡¯t need to be in control of everyone and everything, boy. This may sound absurd coming from me, but you need to trust those who serve under you. That¡¯s what they¡¯re there for. You¡¯re not the only one trying the best you can.¡±
Why is fighting an interstellar war easier than this? I decided on a suitable answer; because Onderonians are far less rational than the galactic standard. I supposed that was the reason why I found the galaxy far more pleasant than this hellhole. People like Sev¡¯rance Tann, Calli Trilm, Simon Greyshade¨Cthey always wanted what was best for themselves. It was rational, it was simple. When I asked for something, they would follow through so long as they had something to gain from it as well. But Onderon? Everybody here is a fucking madman.
¡°Attack when I give the signal,¡± I ignored him, ¡°Find her or not, we¡¯ll take the Fortress tonight.¡±
?
Saw cursed, and saw an Alvera didn¡¯t look a hair different from the day she slipped from his fingers, alone on the balcony. The only sign a raptor was ever present were the scuffed claw marks dug into the masonry, and the ringing in his ears.
¡°Who in the name of the Four Moons are you?¡± Hutch demanded, whirling his blaster around.
Kriff! If she speaks, this is all going to be for nothing! Saw eyed Hutch¡¯s unguarded rear, and resisted the instinct to jump the man from behind. He still had his own blaster, tucked in behind his back, and wondered if he had enough time to draw it before somebody else shot him first. From the looks around him¨Che was already a dead man walking.
In any case, he wasn¡¯t getting out of Kira Fortress alive. That was fine with him. But the rebellion must. At any cost.
I need to stop her from speaking. How?
¡°You¡¯re the defector from the safehouse,¡± someone recognised.
Stang. Stang stang stang!
Hutch lowered his blaster by an inch, ¡°You¡¯re one of us¡?¡±
Alvera tilted her head, meeting Saw¡¯s desperate eyes. She grinned.
¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s someone here who could vouch for me,¡± she continued, holding his gaze, ¡°Remember old me, guys? The ex-guardsman? Well, I decided that the moment you people joined the Kirans there was no way you¡¯re escaping the headsman. Too high profile, you get me?¡±
At the mention of the headsman, Hutch whirled around again, as if he had forgotten Saw¡¯s presence. The blaster, however, was still aimed squarely at Alvera. Hutch isn¡¯t professional, he reminded himself, just some thug from the lower city. Hutch and his gang weren¡¯t there when Alvera joined them; he was still suspicious of her.
¡°Well, you¡¯re right about that,¡± Saw slowly straightened his knees, carefully eyeing the trigger arm that was following his every move, ¡°Can¡¯t say it was the smartest decision to return.¡±
¡°Oh, not really,¡± Alvera agreed casually, ¡°But I got in touch with some of my old pals. There¡¯s no way for the Kirans, but you dumbasses? When the Royal Army breaks down the doors, you drop your blasters and none of you will die.¡±
¡°...Really?¡± a meek, but cautiously hopeful voice piped up.
Saw couldn¡¯t tell where it came from, but right then he could¡¯ve both killed and kissed her. What in the Demon Moon is she playing at? What¡¯s her end goal? Alvera grinned at him again, as if saying ¡®if I wanted you all dead, I could¡¯ve had the Royal Army drop on you in those ruins like a sack of bricks.¡¯ He wanted to call out her bluff, except he didn¡¯t know if she was bluffing in the first place.
¡°You went back to the Army?¡± Hutch narrowed his eyes, ¡°Why didn¡¯t they kill you?¡±
Alvera shrugged, ¡°Friends are friends, right? That isn¡¯t important. I already secured my way out, but what about all of you?¡±
Saw bit his lips. If she wasn¡¯t lying¡ then they had to accept. That¡¯s what Steela would do. Take a blow to their pride, but the rebellion will still live on. Better to be a coward with a pulse than a martyr in a grave. He knew he wasn¡¯t the only one thinking that. These people weren¡¯t hardened freedom fighters. They were believers in a cause, yes, but most were simply wronged civilians, many of whom had never held a blaster before and held a rightful fear of death in their souls. It was people like Hutch¨Cstreet thugs who grew up with scepticism close to their chest¨Cwho needed more convincing. But even thugs treasured their lives. Even more than normal people, actually.
They just needed a little push. Well, he rolled his shoulders, considering the circumstances, I doubt she¡¯s lying. And if she is for any reason, we¡¯re all dead either way.
In a single action, Saw whipped out his blaster and pointed it directly at Hutch¡¯s skull; ¡°Don¡¯t you damn dare do it, Hutch.¡±
Hutch stilled, murder in his voice, ¡°What in Prael¡¯s name are you doing?¡±
Saw flipped the safety with an audible click, ¡°Alvera is a traitor! The moment we were in trouble, she fled back to save her own hide! If you join her, you¡¯re no kriffing better.¡±
He could feel the room turning against him. He could hear the whirr of energy packs as blasters were held up and aimed at him. His eyes darted to his peripherals¨CHutch¡¯s goons. The moment I shoot him they¡¯ll shoot me. Or maybe they¡¯ll shoot me first.
¡°Accept the traitor¡¯s offer and you¡¯re a traitor too,¡± Saw scathed, ¡°Steela trusted all of you, and this is how you repay her? Turn your back on the mission the moment things get rough?¡±
¡°You turned your back on us first!¡± Hutch shouted, arm shaking, ¡°And now you¡¯re threatening us for trying to live? What would Steela say about this!?¡±
That¡¯s right, he thought, you all already hate me. Hate me more. I want to fight, and you hate me, so you want to live. We all shout at each other some, I lose my focus, you disarm me, and we all walk away alive. In chains, but alive.
¡°Steela¨C¡± Saw choked, pretending that Hutch¡¯s words had struck a chord, ¡°Don¡¯t¨C is Steela even alive?¡±
Saw got ready to lower his blaster in ¡®surprise.¡¯ Come on, Hutch, disarm me! He could see the bastard tensing himself up to strike¨Cknock it out of his hands, then tackle him to the ground. For a moment, Saw was ready to believe everything was going to work out, and no triggers were going to have to be pulled.
¡°Steela¨C?¡± and then his blood ran cold when he heard Alvera echo the name¨C ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she be alive?¡±
Hutch froze¨Cdamn it!¨Cand tilted his head to face her, ¡°Steela¡¯s alive? How do you know?¡±
Saw¡¯s finger was quivering.
Alvera shrugged, ¡°I made her¨C¡±
The shot rang out with a hum, crackle, and bang, the blaster¡¯s discharge blindingly bright and searing into all of their dark-adjusted eyes. Saw squinted, still seeing red, and found Alvera¡¯s body slumped against a column, eyes still wide in surprise, smoke rising from a hole in her chest.
And then the blaster was knocked out of his hand, and he was tackled onto the ground.
¡°You kriffing bastard, what did you do!?¡± Hutch roared in his ear, ¡°I¡¯m going to put a bolt in your kriffing head¨C!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t!¡± another person screamed, ¡°He shot her! We need him alive! He shot her! We need him to convince the Army we didn¡¯t kill her!¡±
¡°Why the hell did you do it, Saw!?¡± Hutch roared again.
I needed to protect Steela, Saw thought numbly, feeling his cheek blister and tear as it was pressed against the rough stone floor. Did you? Another part of him asked mockingly. Did you pull the trigger, or did you panic?
At his lack of audible answer, Saw felt his skull slammed against the ground, and didn¡¯t feel anything else.
?
I poked my head over the edge to watch Olko Baz¡¯s ruping, Watchwing, struggle against the thin air as she climbed up to their drexls¡¯ cruising altitude. The sky was a bleeding red, now, as the sun touched the horizon, as if mirrored against the earth. Half a dozen warbeasts and over a hundred Beast Rider Commandos lumbered through the sky, each wingstroke punching holes in the clouds, mist curling at the fingertips. They were flying high to avoid detection, but would drop closer to the mountain.
As soon as Watchwing was roughly level with Vander¡¯s warbeast, Olko tossed a lasso onto one of its wing spines, before leaping across. Almost immediately, Watchwing dove back into the clouds. In fluid, practiced motions, the Beast Rider climbed his way onto the warbeast¡¯s back, almost floating as he skipped from one handhold to the next.
¡°See anything?¡± Vander hollered loudly, offering a hand to the Beast Rider.
Olko took it, ¡°No raptor. But I saw raptor prey.¡±
¡°So there¡¯s a raptor,¡± I breathed out, igniting the hope in my chest, ¡°Where?¡±
The Warlord raised a fist and made a series of gestures, before wordlessly taking the reins and whipping them. Vander¡¯s warbeast released a guttural roar, and tensed beneath us. Vander and I shared a look, before diving for its back and holding onto the spines for dear life¨Cright before the monster tucked in its wings and dove. And then it was as if my face was being torn off my skull, plunging through the atmosphere. Despite that, Olko Baz continued standing, reins wrapped around his arms as he controlled the warbeast¡¯s descent. Around us, Clazca warriors whooped and hyped themselves as we forged through the clouds.
With a stomach-churning wrench, the warbeasts levelled, wings unfurling into their impressive width, skimming right along the underside of cloud cover. In the distance, Kira Fortress looked like a bonfire the size of a mountain, the forests around it lit with firefly-like campfires and rising smoke columns. Artillery boomed like distant thunder.
The fires faded as we continued circling around to the eastern face of the mountain, dropping altitude until we were in its shadow and completely hidden from Kira Fortress¡¯ watchtowers. With a gentleness unbefitting of a drexl, the warbeast lightly touched down in a river-carved valley, followed by the rest of the wing.
¡°You could''ve asked first,¡± Vander huffed, ¡°Asshole.¡±
Olko ignored him, pointing into the valley, ¡°Look.¡±
My neck hurts. I rolled my head, hearing the bones pop, before staring down the length of the dried up stream; and just as reported, just under two dozen dalgos and pritarrs. Some with saddles, others without. All gored and bloodied. No human bodies. Watchwing was hunched over a carcass further uphill, cheerfully filling its stomach with free dinner.
They weren¡¯t eaten, only mauled. And only one animal on Onderon hunted for sport¡ besides the fact that it wasn¡¯t native to Onderon.
¡°Which way was it going?¡± I asked the expert.
¡°Uphill,¡± Olko answered easily.
Vander¡¯s face scrunched up in confusion and curiosity, ¡°How do you know?¡±
¡°Bodies facing uphill,¡± the Beast Rider said in a tone that suggested we were all idiots, ¡°They were running away.¡±
¡°...In hindsight, that should¡¯ve been obvious,¡± Vander admitted.
It could¡¯ve only been a Dxunian raptor, and not any but Verala¡¯s. Because these corpses were recent, and this close to the Fortress, and to the siege, even the most insane skreevs would¡¯ve had the instinct to stay clear¨Cif there even were any still-wild skreevs in Kiran airspace. But something didn¡¯t sit right with me; this looked more like the work of a lone raptor, rather than a mounted one. Because I doubted Verala would¡¯ve chosen the ¡®guns blazing¡¯ approach to what should have been a stealth mission.
We continued up the slope, massive, heavy warbeasts tearing up the ground as they laboured against the gradient, all the way until we reached a ridge with the eastern face of the Fortress right in front of us. And on that ridge was a single raptor, striped with maroon and red as freshly wetted blood. At its clawed feet laid the missing scouts that it had run down. Red Galia released a low croon that bounced off the ravine walls and echoed across the mountain. As we approached, the only indication we had passed through the castle¡¯s ray shields was the electric tingle rushing over our bare skin.
That hope was replaced with a horrible feeling stirring in my gut.
Olko Baz said exactly what I was thinking; ¡°Raptors do not act like that.¡±
I climbed up to my feet and slid down the warbeast¡¯s wing, making the rest of the trek on foot until I was practically right next to Red Galia. I gingerly sidestepped the bodies, trying my best to ignore her wet claws as I cautiously brushed my fingers against her scales. Galia crooned lowly again, which I took as a sign that she wouldn¡¯t use my arm as a chew toy.
Which was a problem, but Galia was the single meanest monster I knew, and the only person she doesn¡¯t try to eat on first instinct was her rider. I sensed the rest of the wing catch up to us; over a hundred hardened killers hesitantly approaching a tame raptor as if that terrified them more than the six gargantuan drexls towering over us would¡¯ve been funny, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that a tame raptor terrified me just as much.
¡°Where is she?¡± I whispered, now rubbing Galia¡¯s scale with as little fear as I could, ¡°Where is Verala?¡±
The name all but sparked a dormant fire in the raptor¡¯s eyes. Red Galia screeched, snapped at me, snapped at the fortress¡¯ glittering lights and balconies, and burst off from the ledge, knocking the bodies into the ravine. She dove, then glided, until she reached a single colonnaded balcony which had been shuttered by wooden screens. Galia roared, lightly clawing at the screens, as if trying to not damage something, before returning to us.
¡°Your best warriors, Olko?¡± I asked blankly.
¡°Pokk and Foth,¡± he offered two names.
I activated my comlink; ¡°General?¡±
¡°You¡¯re in position, Bonteri?¡±
¡°We could use that distraction.¡±
And just like that, the entire valley erupted in fire. Distant, intermittent artillery escalated into a furious crescendo of fire and screaming death as stars rose and fell and smashed into the ray shields. Hundreds of warbeasts took to the night sky, making a beeline for the shield generator¨Cand the Fortress responded, already waiting and ready. A rumbling march of tens of thousands of soldiers and groaning of siege engines shooked the earth, soone followed with the whining hum of cannons and mass drivers pumping lead and lightning into the valley.
¡°Foth?¡± I turned around.
¡°Foth Shemar,¡± a gruff brute of a man nodded.
¡°Foth Shemar,¡± I repeated, ¡°Take your Commandos and destroy the shield generator. Pokk?¡±
¡°Present,¡± a much thinner man raised his hand.
¡°Open the gates from the inside,¡± I then addressed Olko himself, ¡°Warlord, find the Beast-Lord Kira and take his head.¡±
Olko Baz grinned savagely, ¡°Always wanted to be a king slayer.¡±
¡°Can I borrow a carbine?¡± I asked, and Vander shoved one into my hands, ¡°¨CYou¡¯re with me, by the way.¡±
¡°Figured,¡± Vander was the picture of seriousness, now, and his men were already prepping rappels and double-checking their gear.
¡°The rest of you,¡± I addressed the remaining two warbeast captains, whose men were rolling shoulders and cracking fists and going through the many rituals of courage, ¡°Kill anything and anyone that tries to stop us.¡±
The Clazca riders saluted and climbed aboard their drexls, immediately leaping off the ridge without waiting for the go ahead. Soon enough, mad laughter, cries of alarm, and drexl roars rose over the rooftops of Kira Fortress.
¡°Alright boys,¡± Vander announced, ¡°Here we go!¡±
Thump, thump, thump. The rappel launchers bursted off with a rippling puff of smoke, shooting across the ravine and drilling deep into the stone wall on the other side, right over the balcony Galia had indicated. Silently, the best of the Space Force zipped over to the other side one by one, with their Captain in the lead. Just as I was about to follow suit, however, Galia nudged me with her snout, lowering herself slightly.
Okay, now this is really freaking me out. I climbed onto her saddle, carefully, as if a single wrong move would have me thrown off the cliff¨Cwhich I still wasn¡¯t completely certain wouldn¡¯t happen. Without warning, Galia leapt into the ravine, wings out and catching the healthy gust wind blowing sideways.
By the time I was ferried across, Vander¡¯s squad had already burst through the screen, carbine blasters up and screaming ¡°hands where I can see them!¡± and ¡°drop all your weapons and nobody dies!¡± I followed them through, hefting up my borrowed carbine too, with more effort than I expected to expend.
¡°Wait, don¡¯t shoot!¡± a man quickly ran to meet us, hands raised, ¡°We¡¯re unarmed!¡±
He was tall, grimy, with these pale eyes that wouldn¡¯t be remiss to shooting a man in the head. The entire room was filled with wide-eyed men and women, and even some with faces too youthful for comfort, huddled against the walls. It stank. Not only of dirt and wood and forest, but also of blood. For a brief moment, I had thought we had gotten the wrong room, and had accidentally stumbled on a group of refugees¡
Until I saw the pile of weapons heaped onto the centre of the room. They had prepared in advance. I should¡¯ve been relieved that my job turned out to be so easy, but for some reason I couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that something was very wrong.
¡°Who¡¯re you!?¡± Vander demanded sharply, with none of the humour that usually defined his character.
¡°We¡¯re the¡ the rebels!¡± just uttering the word ¡®rebel¡¯ seemed to pain the man, ¡°My name¡¯s Hutch. We want to surrender. We were promised our lives.¡±
The man¨CHutch¨Csaw something behind me, and swallowed thickly. Slowly, measuredly so as to not spook anyone, he reached behind him and pulled out a hidden blaster by its barrel, before holding it out and dropping it on the pile. It took me a moment to understand the reason why¨CRed Galia was sticking her massive head through the balcony, in an image ripped straight from one of those old fantasy books where the dragon peered in through a tower window.
The only thing missing was the licks of flame escaping her jaws. Alas, she was not a dragon.
¡°You were promised?¡± Vander slowly moved forward, aim jumping from person to person, ¡°Promised by who?¡±
¡°By Alvera!¡± someone else shouted a name none of us recognised, but Galia clearly did.
The skreev released an ear-piercing screech, and the entire room recoiled even further as the huge beast tried to claw its oversized body into the room, ripping out chunks of stone from the doorframe. The confusion that lingered between Vander and I snapped into realisation¨C
¡°Alvera¨C you mean Verala!?¡± I demanded, ¡°Where is she!?¡±
The rebels looked at each other nervously¨Ceven more nervously than they did looking at a raging Dxunian raptor. That uneasiness in my gut climbed into dread.
¡°Where is she!?¡± Vander repeated, with a roar that would put a warbeast to shame.
The crowd parted, and two women emerged from the throng, holding between them an unmoving red-haired body, and gently setting it down in front of us. The body¨CVerala¨Clooked just as I had remembered. Coveralls, and blazing red hair that matched her raptor¡¯s scales. There was just one problem; she wasn¡¯t moving.
And then I saw the charred hole in her clothes, and her closed, peaceful eyes. And that fiery red hair of hers turned into pale blood before my eyes, spilling out and spreading across the stone floor. I couldn¡¯t differentiate Galia¡¯s piercing cry from the thundering artillery or clangour of battle that was spreading through the halls of Kira Fortress like a rampant inferno. My chest constricted, the dread curling into a snake constricting around my heart.
Verala wasn¡¯t moving.
She was dead.
I killed her.
I tore my eyes away from her hair, but the red glare didn¡¯t leave my eyes. The blaster carbine suddenly seemed much lighter in my hands.
¡°She told you that?¡± I asked thinly, ¡°She promised your lives and you killed her?¡±
God damn you, Verala. Why couldn¡¯t you just have returned? You think I would have faulted you for anything? You didn¡¯t have to do any of this.
¡°We didn¡¯t,¡± Hutch said slowly, ¡°He did.¡±
A man was shoved out in front. Tall, with short cropped hair, sharp eyes and a ragged goatee. A nasty purple bruise covered half his face, littered with tiny cuts and blisters. It was obvious the rebels had already punished him for what he did¨Cbut that wasn¡¯t enough for me.
¡°Why did you do it?¡± I asked with a calm I did not feel.
¡°Rain¡¡± Vander looked at me with a warning in his eyes.
¡°Why?¡± I repeated, ignoring him.
¡°Is¡ is my sister alive?¡± the man slurred his words.
¡°Your sister?¡±
¡°Steela¡ Steela. She was in the city¡ Jedi.¡±
I snarled, finger curling around the trigger¨Cuntil Vander forcefully pushed my carbine down.
¡°Verala promised their lives,¡± the Captain insisted.
¡°And it cost her¨C!¡±
¡°Her life,¡± Vander finished, ¡°She didn¡¯t have to do it, but she did it anyway. We won¡¯t know her reasons, but her death must count for something.¡±
¡°They could be lying,¡± I tried to convince him, but more myself.
¡°We aren¡¯t!¡± Hutch restrained a growl, ¡°We were going to accept! Demon Moon take my soul if I¡¯m lying¨Ctake all our souls. That¡¯s why Saw killed her!¡±
I shouldn¡¯t have let her leave the city. That bastard Tandin said I should¡¯ve trusted her¡ Verala clearly knew what outcome I wanted; that must¡¯ve been the reason she tried to reason with the rebels. But what good is it if you end up dead in the process?
¡°You¡¯re going to die,¡± I told the man, ¡°But as much as I want to shoot you¨C¡±
¡°Rain,¡± Vander reminded.
I spat, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re arguing with me on this. You were her friend too.¡±
¡°And I continued being her friend after your left us here to chase your war,¡± he said tersely, ¡°And yet, the moment you came back, she jumped at the chance to help you out. You think she had to do this?¡±
¡°No she didn¡¯t!¡± I nearly raised my blaster again, ¡°And if I knew what she was up to, she never would¡¯ve!¡±
¡°Well guess what? If we knew what you were up to, we would have never let you leave a year ago!¡± Vander half-laughed, half-cried out, ¡°But we didn¡¯t know everything! And you don¡¯t know everything! You were stupid! She was stupid! People are stupid! We make decisions others don¡¯t understand! You made a decision we didn¡¯t understand, but we trusted you, and we allowed you to leave!¡±
He jabbed a finger into my chest, and it felt like I was just run through with a pike.
¡°She was waiting for you when you came back! If you had died out there¡ we wouldn¡¯t even have a body to bury in the Hall of Spirits,¡± Vander pointed at Verala¡¯s peaceful form, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know how you feel right now? Get over yourself, Rain. You did the same to us. At least extend the same trust we gave you, to her. We don¡¯t know her reasons, but at least she died an Onderonian.¡±
If you had died out here, Vander¡¯s eyes seem to continue, you would have just been another body in space. And for an Onderonian, there was perhaps no bleaker fate. But I¡¯m not an Onderonian, am I? Not truly.
The clamour had stopped now, and Kira Fortress was silent as a mausoleum. No artillery, no warbeasts, no fighting. It was as if time had stopped, and the world was held in stasis. Vander¡¯s guardsmen were still aiming their carbines at the rebels, stoically still under their helmets. But I could feel their agreement hanging in the air. They were all probably people I knew, that I ate and worked with for a decade. And they all probably felt just as betrayed when I left Onderon to fight a personal war against destiny.
I bit my lip.
¡°As much as I want to shoot you,¡± I repeated slowly, ¡°I won¡¯t. Because Verala will kill me in the next life over it. So I¡¯m going to tell you what¡¯s going to happen. You¡¯re going to be beheaded in Yolahn Square, before all of Iziz. That¡¯ll appease the Council of Lords. And then everyone in this room is going to be banished from Onderon. Forever.¡±
¡°...My sister¨C¡±
¡°Steela Gerrera is alive.¡±
The man slumped, his bloodied face breaking into a miniscule, but satisfied, smile. And I suddenly had the urge to shoot him again.
I tore my attention away before I changed my mind, ¡°Everyone got that?¡±
¡°We¡¯re going to die out there,¡± Hutch mumbled.
I could have laughed. That¡¯s right. Onderonians in space? Talk about fish out of water. But no, I had no intention of letting them all die.
¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± I snapped, picking up Verala¡¯s body and holding it up the Galia.
The skreev crooned, nudging her rider¡¯s corpse as if expecting her to wake up. When Verala didn¡¯t, Galia gently scooped her into her mouth without biting, and disappeared out balcony. It was only a few seconds before the raptor disappeared into the horizon.
¡°The skreev¡¯s going to eat her,¡± Vander mumbled, but he didn¡¯t argue.
¡°Then she would have died an Onderonian,¡± I replied, ¡°Now leave the room. We¡¯re going out through the front door, and leave this accursed place behind us.¡±
Chapter 43
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
Padm¨¦ Amidala hoped she looked more composed than she felt as she and the rest of the Republic delegation followed an aide into the great hall of Ov Taraba¨COnderon¡¯s largest and oldest university. History seemed alive in these walls, with a gentle breeze whistling through carved stone arches like wandering spirits. Murals and busts of ancient kings and heroes gazed down upon them, as if in judgement of worthiness.
Unlike her, the Jedi¨CAnakin included¨Cwere doing a far poorer job of hiding their unease, though for far different reasons than her. Despite not being a fault of its own, the security details of both parties had entered the summit on the rather pessimistic premise that something would go wrong, that someone would try to prevent the summit from going forward. From a logical standpoint, as it was, the moment with the greatest possibility of that event was the prisoner exchange, which was the most public affair of the whole ordeal.
And yet, everything went smoothly.
As the summit reached its final days, the timeframe for the event to occur was shortening, and nerves were tightening in response.
¡°Have you tried unwinding, Master Jedi?¡± Padm¨¦¡¯s suggestion was half-directed at herself, despite being intended for their mystic security detail, ¡°Such stress must not be good for the body. I heard Master Skywalker had helped the Royal Army apprehend a terrorist group in the city; surely that means the threat has passed?¡±
¡°Be it as it may, Senator,¡± Master Kenobi smiled kindly, ¡°We would rather not lower our guard until the armistice has been signed by all parties.¡±
¡°The Separatists have been nothing but agreeable hosts thus far,¡± Padm¨¦ scolded lightly, ¡°This level of distrust is what prevented the galaxy from ending the war before it began in the first place. Are we incapable of believing the Separatists could treat in good faith?¡±
¡°I think the Jedi are alluding to a third party getting involved, Padm¨¦, not the Separatists themselves,¡± Bail said, ¡°There are many powers, known and unknown to us, that want the war to keep going.¡±
¡°There has been absolutely no sign of that,¡± Bana Breemu pointed out, ¡°Might I remind us of why Onderon¡¯s candidacy was looked upon so favourably? Any offending party would not only have to travel through both Republic and Separatist space and orbital patrols, before landing at the only starport on the planet, of which no more than a hundred ships berth each day.¡±
¡°All that does is separate the amateur bounty hunters from the professionals,¡± Anakin scoffed lightly.
¡°Please,¡± Master Plo Koon mediated, ¡°As your security detail, it is our duty to be worried. The sooner this armistice is signed, the sooner you can prove our concerns unwarranted.¡±
¡°On that, we can all agree, Master Jedi,¡± Bail Organa straightened as the opposite entrance opened, ¡°Looks like we can begin.¡±
The entry of the Separatist delegation largely mirrored their¡¯s, with a core of senators orbited by satellite officials and third parties with their own stakes in the peace. The Refugee Relief Movement was one such instance, as were numerous journalists and correspondents from both sides, most prominently from the Hyper-Communications Cartel. They took their places on opposite sides of a long stone table, laden with a bounty of refreshments and glistening decanters of both wine and water.
¡°I¡¯m sure we can do away with the introductions,¡± Mina Bonteri started abruptly in her blunt way, ¡°We had many days to familiarise ourselves with each other, I think we can agree. It occurred to me, my friends, that this is a case of the less formality, the better. We have done away with the theatrics; there are no cameras in Ov Taraba. If you won¡¯t take a Separatist¡¯s word for it, take Onderonian obstinacy. The dean was quite resolute on that matter.¡±
The words had their intended effect. Other than prompting some surprise from the Republic delegation, the drop of humour had completely defused the mounting electricity between them¨Cnot to mention settled the butterflies in Padm¨¦¡¯s stomach.
¡°I do have a certain structure in mind,¡± Mina continued, pulling out her chair, ¡°But with your agreement, I''d prefer to allow frank discussion among all the participants, instead of the standard procedure where we simply repeat our formal positions to one another over and over until the our war is not with each other, but what will be the merciful cradle of sleep.¡±
¡°That is agreeable to us, Senator,¡± Bail Organa retained the serene, patrician air around him impressively, but Padm¨¦ had known her friend too long to mistake the slight smile he couldn¡¯t fully suppress dancing about his lips, ¡°I hope our efforts won¡¯t be disappointing.¡±
As they took their seats, a tall man standing behind Mina¡¯ shoulder stepped forward softly, his purple cape whispering against the ground, ¡°Will the Master Jedi be sitting at the table?¡±
Padm¨¦ could not say she had eyes on the back of her head, but she nevertheless recognised the stiffening of muscles as the Jedi recognised the man. She inspected him closely, finding that a craned neck was required, and found him a fair, if utterly androgynous Onderonian. If it were not for his voice, perhaps there might have been a tinge of uncertainty, setting eyes upon their form for the first time.
¡°Ah!¡± Mina exclaimed, a controlled tint of bashfulness injected into her voice, ¡°Pardon me, I had forgotten¨Cmay I introduce Admiral Rain Bonteri of the Confederate Navy? I¡¯m afraid he has been occupied with developments outside Iziz. He will be joining us today, as a representative of the office of our Supreme Commander.¡±
She could see it. Rain Bonteri carried a tired fog around him, and glassy eyes that strangely reminded Padm¨¦ of a dead fish¡¯s. Despite that, without mention he would be easy to miss. Rain Bonteri was a name greater than the man himself¨CPadm¨¦ decided¨Call the defenders of Columex were. Names with no faces to put to them; Rain Bonteri, Calli Trilm, Diedrich Greyshade; their efforts overshadowed by the likes of General Tann and Admiral Trench. And yet if it had not been for their valiant defence, she would not be sitting in this chair.
It is a good thing we now seek peace, Padm¨¦ thought. All this time the ranks of the military have been dominated by the Core Worlds, but the stars know how many brilliant minds and soldiers lay dormant in the Rim, with never the opportunity to reveal their talents. War changed a lot of things.
¡°A blood relation?¡± Bana Breemu raised a manicured eyebrow.
¡°None,¡± Mina said curtly, and nothing else.
¡°The man who defended Columex until the Pantoran arrived to save the day,¡± Senator Darsana of Glee Anselm leaned back, ¡°Could you satiate my curiosity? Did it incense you to discover that General Tann¡¯s late arrival had largely overshadowed your efforts, and had used the battle you fought to elevate her position?¡±
A small smirk emerged on Admiral Bonteri¡¯s face, as if in response to a joke privy to only them¨Cand he replied with a joke of his own; ¡°General Tann made me an admiral, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯d understand if I can¡¯t say anything¡¡±
A round of chuckles rippled on the table as official after official shared the words to the person next to them. Padm¨¦ finally allowed herself to relax a little, and exercise her eyes by observing her surroundings. Some senators were already helping themselves to the table¡¯s offerings, while journalists standing away bore a mild confusion on their expressions. No cameras meant the galaxy couldn¡¯t react in real time, and would have to instead rely on the articles these journalists author.
No doubt they were expecting a passionate, fiery debate, one to capture the imagination and attention. Not some subdued, friendly gathering one could expect more of a family on the night of the Festival of Lights, rather than what should be bitter enemies. Padm¨¦ could confidently say she was glad to betray their expectations.
Despite the mirth shared across the seats, however, Senator Darsana remained as smileless as the stone busts outside the hall.
¡°Of course, Admiral,¡± he rested his elbows on the table, ¡°And mind if I ask why the Separatist Army requires a representative? Surely Separatist egalitarianism doesn¡¯t extend to the armed forces as well?¡±
There was a hint of derisiveness to the end of the rhetoric, and Bana Breemu exhaled slightly at it. Oh dear, Padm¨¦ thought as she recognised the dangerous glint in Mina¡¯s eye, the very same glint that always occurs whenever she was just fed ammunition by her own opponent. Bail pretended to wipe his face of sweat, though from her seat beside him, she could tell he was clearly hiding a quirked lip.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s a very good question, my dear,¡± Mina drawled, ¡°Might I refer you to a minute ago when the Admiral asked politely if the Jedi Order is to have a seat at this table? Ah¡ I also mustn¡¯t begin to presume why you thought bringing children would contribute any meaningful debate to our negotiations¡ or perhaps did you mistake this conference for a school trip?¡±
Senator Darsana could have been mistaken for a droid, by how bolted onto his chair he appeared, staring at Mina with opaque eyes. Notwithstanding the glares brought down on the back of his head by the Jedi, as the two apprentices bristled against the perceived insults.
¡°The Confederate Armed Forces will not be participating in the negotiations, not make any demands, and will obey the outcome of the armistice without debate,¡± Admiral Bonteri said quietly, as continued holding his gaze towards the Jedi, ¡°I am only here to observe, and offer my perspective when requested or required. Now, will the Master Jedi be sitting at the table?¡±
¡°That will not be required,¡± Master Plo Koon said smoothly, ¡°The Jedi Order will not be participating either. We are only here to observe.¡±
¡°Good!¡± Separatist Senator Tyreca Bremack snapped in ill-concealed impatience, ¡°In that case, will the Republic delegation begin sketching out for us what the Supreme Chancellor and Republic Senate might view as the terms of a sensible and agreeable peace settlement? Nothing to end the war definitively, just the broad requirements to end the fighting.¡±
The easy atmosphere was forced down once more. This is where it begins, Padm¨¦ decided, pleasantly surprised that the likes of Tyreca Bremack would so easily concede the initiative to the Republic. Senator Bremack of the Lahara Sector once served in the Republic senate, before seceding to the Separatist Alliance. She was not alone in this, of course, but what made the Lahara Sector¡¯s secession so memorable was its Senator¡¯s speech. While most sectors preferred to tender the Articles of Secession as inconspicuously as possible, Senator Bremack did so right in the middle of a public session.
"I have no doubt that many of my colleagues here have no idea where the Lahara Sector is. They couldn''t even find it on a map if their careers depended on it, but we''ve been burdened with high taxes and little to show for it for too long. Perhaps now you''ll notice us, if only for our absence!"
Even now, Padm¨¦ could feel the bubble of shame threatening to burst in her chest at the remembrance of that speech, at the exact moment she realised she was one of those ¡®colleagues¡¯ who had no idea where the Lahara Sector was.
Padm¨¦ looked side to side, gauging her colleague¡¯s demeanors in order to judge the best way to proceed. Should they seize the diplomatic initiative Senator Bremack had given them, which might eke out better terms for the Republic, or respond with a concession of their own for a better long-term relationship with the Separatists?
Bail edged his chin down slightly.
¡°Allow me to begin, ladies and gentlemen,¡± Padm¨¦ started, folding her hands on her lap, ¡°By saying that both the Chancellor and Senate are fully aware that the view of who''s truly responsible for the conflict between our two nations aren''t the same in the Confederacy and Republic.¡±
A few of the more hardline loyalist Republic delegates were already bristling back at the step back, but Padm¨¦ found it well worth it when she saw the Separatists leaning forward, their interest peaked when she caught the diplomatic ball and returned it. It¡¯s a good start, Padm¨¦ decided, we just need to keep this up.
¡°As such, allow me to concede that the Republic must bear its shame for the diplomatic failure on Geonosis which led to the outbreak of outright hostilities between us¨C¡± before Padm¨¦ could continue, a Separatist senator scoffed loudly.
¡°Diplomatic failure!?¡± Senator Esu Rotsinu of Abrion Sector exclaimed, ¡°Let me be frank, Senator Amidala; I think no one in this room can deny that the Republic actually fired the first shots of this war when the Jedi Order and its Clone Army launched the Battle of Geonosis. Believe me, we in the Confederacy are rightly justified in thinking that the Republic is fully responsible for the war, especially when diplomatic recourse was still available until that point.¡±
¡°Let us not forget that the decision was not lightly taken,¡± Bail Organa admonished mildly, ¡°Your Head of State, Count Dooku, had unlawfully detained two Jedi and a senator of the Republic¨Call three of whom, may I remind, are present before you right now.¡±
¡°All three of whom were complicit in espionage, and caught red-handed,¡± Tyreca Bremack narrowed her eyes at Padm¨¦ herself.
¡°You speak of diplomatic recourse, Senator Rotsinu,¡± Bana Breemu demurred sweetly, ¡°Yet the Separatists pursued none of it. Espionage or not, Senator Amidala and the Jedi could have stood trial as was their right, in either Republic or Separatist justice systems. Count Dooku had instead individually decided to execute them via Geonosian bloodsport. Do we, perhaps, have differing definitions of ¡®diplomatic recourse?¡¯¡±
Before the argument could escalate, a dusky skinned Separatist senator laid her palm flat on the table without a soft tap, catching their attention.
¡°I think, ladies and gentlemen,¡± Senator Tawni Ames of Desix spoke softly, but meaningfully, ¡°That Senator Amidala had already established that both sides had made their fair share of poor decisions that resulted in open conflict. Shall we stop quibbling like children and move past that? Senator Amidala, what are the Republic¡¯s conditions?¡±
Padm¨¦ forced down the terrible memories of Geonosis as an echo of bleak satisfaction quivered around the Republic side of the table at Senator Breemu getting the last word in, and she met Mina¡¯s gaze, before nodding very slightly to her.
She breathed in, sampling the whirlwind emotions behind the outwardly calm and attentive faces of everybody present, before breathing out slowly.
¡°The Republic¡¯s bottom line is the complete termination of hostilities on the Northern, Western, and Southern Fronts, with the complete evacuation of all military forces within five-hundred parsecs on both sides of the current frontline, resulting in a one-thousand parsec demilitarised zone, in which the Refugee Relief Movement can operate without harassment or molestation,¡± Padm¨¦ began, with Breha Organa nodding in gratitude down the table.
Hushed discussion fluttered on the Separatist side, ebbing and flowing as delegates traded agreements and disagreements, until Mina Bonteri finally cleared her throat¨C
¡°And what about the currently contested worlds, and worlds under siege?¡± she asked, tapping the table.
¡°All sieges will be lifted,¡± Bail stated firmly, ¡°And all attackers on contested worlds must withdraw. The Republic also demands the cessation of any and all letters of marque and reprisal to privateers, corsairs, bounty hunters, and any private person not under the immediate jurisdiction to a government-sanctioned military body.¡±
Mina half-turned to check for Admiral Bonteri¡¯s input, who didn¡¯t seem to expect the sudden influx of attention, despite the obvious implication that the letters of marque were under the Separatist Army¡¯s purview.
¡°That is¡¡± the Admiral frowned, ¡°Perfectly agreeable.¡±
Mina clapped, ¡°The Confederacy of Independent Systems concedes to all of the Republic¡¯s demands. Now, let us give our own demands.¡±
Padm¨¦ tensed, casting a worried glance to her colleagues. She couldn¡¯t help it; Mina Bonteri may be her friend, but right now they were on opposite sides of the table. For the Separatist delegation to so easily capitulate meant the Republic hadn¡¯t hit any of their pain points, and more importantly meant they found the trade-offs satisfactory in exchange for their own demands.
With the journalists hawkishly recording every word of the negotiations, the Republic had suddenly found itself in a disadvantageous position. They were going to be pressured to concede just as easily, lest be accused of treating in poor faith. Nevertheless, Padm¨¦ and her colleagues had drafted their demands to be as agreeable as possible, and she had little doubt Mina had mirrored that effort.
¡°First,¡± Tyreca Bremack watched their faces intently, ¡°The Supreme Chancellor and Republic Senate must release an official statement recognising the Confederacy of Independent Systems as a legitimate and sovereign star nation.¡±
¡°Naturally,¡± Bail agreed.
¡°Second,¡± Tyreca continued, holding up two fingers, ¡°A general association of star nations must be formed for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to large and small states alike.¡±
So that a war like never this could never occur again before pursuing all other means of diplomacy was left unsaid. Notably, Senator Bremack specifically avoided saying ¡®between our two nations¡¯ and instead made sure to affirm ¡®large and small states alike.¡¯ The Republic and Confederacy were not the only nations in the galaxy, and there were still thousands of independent star systems on the fringes of the Outer Rim.
¡°That will require greater debate in the Senate,¡± Senator Darsana said, ¡°But it is largely agreeable, and very sensible.¡±
Senator Bremack smiled in satisfaction, before the Separatist delegation once more kicked off another round of discussion to present their third point. Since the Republic delegation made three demands, the Separatist side wanted to mirror that in order to force them to ¡®balance the scales¡¯ so to speak.
¡°The third point,¡± Mina Bonteri finally said, almost apologetically, ¡°Is in reference to the admittedly ignoble conduct on both sides of the war. Despite the general declaration for the cessation of hostilities, both sides had continued to fight, and taken significant territories from each other.¡±
Senator Darsana¡¯s jaw clenched. There it is. Padm¨¦ should have known that Mina would have never let their previous friendship get in the way of giving her a hard time¨Cactually, she did know, and had even expected it. She just wished she didn¡¯t have to.
¡°We demand an alteration to the Republic¡¯s first demand. The borders must be reverted to the date of fourteen-four-four of the ReSynchronization calendar before the demilitarised zone is enforced.¡±
¡°Absolutely not!¡± Bail immediately replied.
It wasn¡¯t some knee-jerk reaction, Bail was far too composed for that. Mina was referring to the fourth day of the fourth month of the Year Fourteen since the Great ReSynchronization¨Cor the date both governments formally agreed to begin peace efforts. Hostilities throughout the galaxy by and large ended, most significantly on the Perlemian Trade Route, but not everywhere.
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On the Separatist side, Authala Sector fleets, recently unified under the Emberlene System, had lifted the Siege of Nanth¡¯ri, killing Jedi General Laan Tik. Preserving their momentum, they counterattacked along the Nanth¡¯ri Route, encircling Colonel Gentis¡¯ army at Attahox.
On the Republic side, the 8th Sector Army had relentlessly assaulted Separatist positions in the Northern Territories, taking both Dantooine and Ord Trasi to show for it. In reality, both worlds had been contested, but after the intention for a ceasefire was made known, General Vanto had ordered an all out assault to take the two planets, ostensibly so as to not waste his efforts.
What the demand was truly aimed at, however, was clearly Jedi General Rees Alrix¡¯s lightning campaign down the Rimma Trade Route. Ignoring the calls for peace and defying all expectations, she scored a decisive victory against a force over three times her size at the Battle of Medth, before conquering the rest of the Induparan Crown Worlds with the 18th Sector Army close behind her. At this moment, her forces besiege Sullust, while the Outland Regions Security Force of Eriadu seized the opportunity to liberate the Seswenna Sector.
The Induparan Crown Worlds, Sullust, and Seswenna Sector combined represent the most powerful economic, industrial, and military powers in the southern galaxy. It was not unlawful for General Alrix or even Emberlene and General Vanto to keep fighting, as intention does not equate law, but as Mina had established, it could be seen as rather ignoble, if not entirely dishonourable. But say whatever of General Alrix¡¯s doggedness, to give away so much strategically important territory would be hard to swallow.
¡°No?¡± Esu Rotsinu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Senator Organa, you cannot propose to share a cake, but slice just a bit more for yourself before we can decide how to split it. You might find yourself biting off a bit more than you can chew.¡±
Padm¨¦ wished she could defuse the situation, but this was one of the points they couldn¡¯t give ground on. For one, General Rees Alrix and her Hundred Days Offensive had been sensationalised and even immortalised in the HoloNet, as the Republic eagerly turned to another vector of propaganda following the disastrous Battle of Columex. If that wasn¡¯t enough, the powers at play in the Senate would never swallow it, surrendering the Seswenna Sector so soon after it had been liberated, not when Eriadu was the homeworld of a bloc as influential as the Tarkins.
¡°We can¡¯t let this happen,¡± Bana Breemu whispered begrudgingly, leaning down, ¡°Senator Tarkin will never stand for it, and the Chancellor cannot afford to lose her backing.¡±
Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin of the Seswenna Sector was a core Loyalist of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and the political centre of a caucus of Outer Rim senators supporting his Administration.
¡°I don¡¯t like her,¡± Senator Darsana muttered, ¡°But even I cannot deny her support is paramount for keeping more Outer Rim sectors from breaking away. Her and Orn Free Taa. And that¡¯s ignoring the potential ramifications of stymieing the media¡¯s new golden child. If¡¡±
Darsana''s eyes tracked the Jedi briefly, before returning down, ¡°If Alrix becomes particularly incensed, the combined influence of the Jedi Order and Republic Navy could become especially troublesome.¡±
¡°I highly doubt the Jedi would allow that,¡± Bail Organa returned.
¡°You can¡¯t say that for the Navy as well. The Hundred Days Offensive has been the critical success they¡¯ve been chasing after for so long,¡± Darsana pressed, ¡°The Tarkins alone are enough to inhibit the Administration, but if General Osvald Teshik throws his weight behind them¡¡±
Senator Padm¨¦ Amidala marshalled her features, presenting a cold front as she stated¨C ¡°We¡¯re afraid we won¡¯t be able to compromise on this point. Our original demand stands; the demilitarised zone must be created on the present frontlines.¡±
Mina slowly leaned back, crossing her legs with a hard edge in her eyes, ¡°Then we will not press the issue. Allow us to retract the demand and refine it, before proposing it again.¡±
¡°Of course, Senator,¡± Padm¨¦ mollified.
As the Separatist delegates huddled and whispered to decide on a counteroffer, Padm¨¦ noticed a devilish tug at the edge of Tyreca Bremack¡¯s lips, one that suggested she knew exactly why they were unable to cede any diplomatic ground. Tyreca was, after all, once a member of the Republic Senate, and also once victim to Shayla Paige-Tarkin¡¯s less-than-magnanimous character.
She used the moment¡¯s reprieve to reorganise the notes on her datapad, barely registering a faint beeping from behind her, and a scuffle among the gathered Jedi.
¡°Something the issue, Master Jedi?¡± it was only at Bail¡¯s interest did Padm¨¦ realise it may be more important than mere chatter.
As she turned around, she caught a glimpse of Admiral Bonteri observing them like a Naboolian bogwing, through dull, almost lifeless eyes.
¡°That remains to be seen, Senator,¡± Obi-Wan had his arms crossed, watching Anakin¡¯s retreating back, ¡°Anakin had just received an urgent transmission from Coruscant.¡±
¡°Urgent?¡± Padm¨¦ couldn¡¯t quite disguise the alarm in her voice.
¡°Yes,¡± Master Plo Koon said with a heavy tone, ¡°Otherwise it would not have gotten through his holoprojector¡¯s disturbance settings.¡±
?
¡°Any ideas on the caller?¡± Senator Amidala questioned.
¡°The Chancellor,¡± Master Kenobi suggested confidently, ¡°They are quite close. Not many else can contact him like this, and had it been a Jedi, they would have contacted either Plo Koon or I first.¡±
¡°Hey,¡± Ahsoka nudged her, ¡°You hear that? Master Skywalker¡¯s friends with the Chancellor!¡±
Scout shushed her, ¡°Can you not, right now? I¡¯m listening.¡±
And yet, she would be lying if she said she was not surprised. My Master and the Supreme Chancellor are friends? Since when? How am I only finding out now? Questions like that ran through her mind. And she had to admit, this was the most interesting thing to happen in hours. Oh, she knew how important the words being exchanged at this negotiation was¨CMaster Skywalker had been drilling it into her head the moment he convinced Master Gallia to allow them to come.
But still. How could the words that would decide the fate of billions, trillions of lives still sound so boring? And Senator Bonteri even said that this was a more casual session! Scout¡¯s knees were already aching, and she couldn¡¯t imagine just how much more tedious a¡ non-casual negotiation would be. If there was one thing she envied about Admiral Bonteri, it was how still he¡¯s able to stand without showing even a hint of discomfort.
I should meditate more¡ Scout thought¡ wait, how long has it been since I last meditated?
¡°Hey Ahsoka?¡± doubling back on her words, this time it was Scout¡¯s turn to nudge her friend, ¡°When was the last time you meditated?¡±
Ahsoka looked at her strangely, and perhaps a little bit betrayed, ¡°Like¡ a few days ago? Master Kenobi¡¯s serious about this kind of thing. How about you?¡±
¡°...At the Temple,¡± Scout mumbled.
¡°What!?¡± Ahsoka hissed in shock, ¡°That¡¯s¡ like a year ago!¡±
¡°Master Skywalker never asked me to!¡± Scout argued, ¡°And I¡¯ve never seen him meditating! He¡¯s always either standing on the bridge, talking with the crew, or¡¡±
Wait a minute, has she seen Master Skywalker meditate before?
¡°Or what?¡±
¡°Or tinkering with stuff,¡± realisation slowly dawned on her, ¡°Tinkering with the ship. Fixing the droids. Maintaining the armour. For hours.¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Ahsoka started hesitantly, ¡°That sounds like meditation to me.¡±
¡°¨CWhat does the Chancellor have to say at a time like this?¡± Senator Breemu asked with a slight frown.
¡°I imagine we are about to find out, soon enough,¡± Master Kenobi crossed his arms as a small blue-scanned figure popped up from the handheld holoprojector, largely inaudible at the distance.
A faint, polite cough brought their collective attention back to the table. Senator Bonteri took a long sip of wine, purposely making them wait by savouring the taste. She set the glass down with a dainty clink, lips stained a dark purplish hue.
¡°May we continue?¡± she finally raised an eyebrow.
¡°Our apologies for the interruption,¡± Senator Amidala wiggled in her seat, seeking a comfortable position as she settled down for the second round of negotiations.
¡°Good,¡± Senator Bonteri smiled sharply, ¡°I hope you find our revisals more tolerable.¡±
¡°Third!¡± Senator Bremack laid her tablet on the table, pushing it to the middle with two fingers, knocking several platters of pastry out of the way, ¡°The Republic must respect an absolute freedom of navigation within the captured territories. The nationals of Confederate systems as well as their vessels and property must enjoy the full usage of their own ports without obstruction. Any enforced regulations must be reasonable and uniform and must not impede traffic unnecessarily.¡±
If it wasn¡¯t for Senator Bail Organa raising a hand as he received the tablet, the Republic side of the table may have just erupted in outrage. Already, delegates down the row were almost out of their seats, animatedly debating whether the revised clause was better, or perhaps even worse than the reversion of territories.
¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Ahsoka mumbled, fairly put out. It was the type of feeling you get when you know something interesting was going on, but was so far out of the loop that the words went in one ear and out the other. Scout sympathised.
Bail Organa¡¯s hand dropped, and he looked up, ¡°Allow me to present a counteroffer; in exchange, the Confederacy must repatriate all interned civilians of Republic citizenship, including hostages under trial or convicted, to either their homeworlds or Republic territory.¡±
¡°At the Republic¡¯s expense,¡± Senator Bonteri challenged.
¡°...At the Republic¡¯s expense,¡± Senator Organa sighed.
¡°Perfect,¡± the Onderonian¡¯s face immediately brightened, ¡°Let us begin drafting the armistice.¡±
¡°Hold on,¡± a Republic senator whacked the table, one Scout didn¡¯t recognise, ¡°What about reparations?¡±
¡°Reparations, annexations, and ceding of territories can wait until the conclusion of the preliminaries of peace,¡± Master Plo stepped in, ¡°This is not a treaty to end the war, but merely an agreement to stop the fighting.¡±
¡°Tallisibeth,¡± Master Kenobi leaned down, ¡°Why don¡¯t you bring Anakin back to us? He has been absent for quite some time.¡±
Scout bowed slightly, internally elated at the chance to exercise her stiff legs, ¡°Yes, Master Kenobi.¡±
Ignoring the envious stare a certain Togruta was shooting at her, Scout discretely backed away before dashing off to find her Master. Anakin had hid himself away at the far end of the hall, making an impressive rendition of a wallflower as he listened to the holoprojector. As she approached, however, Scout could immediately notice something wasn¡¯t right.
The air around her Master was chilly, and the Force taut like a strung bow ready to snap. Even without trying¨Cor even without the capability of trying¨CMaster Skywalker still tends to broadcast his emotions like a jamming beacon. This never happens in front of the men; in front of the men, Anakin Skywalker was a Jedi General, indomitable and invulnerable.
¡°Master?¡± she called out.
¡°¨CYou must evacuate our delegates off Onderon!¡±
Scout had heard that voice before, on the HoloNet. It was Supreme Chancellor Palpatine¡¯s voice. But she could hardly believe it. The Chancellor had always been calm, almost soothing whenever he spoke on the HoloNet, giving speeches on the state of the Republic and updates on the war effort. As if he was telling the people of the Republic ¡®everything¡¯s going to be okay.¡¯
But not here. The Chancellor¡¯s voice was nervous, and wore the hue of panic and urgency.
A distant explosion wracked the scanner, and the Chancellor¡¯s figure snapped out of view for a moment.
¡°...Chancellor!¡± a faraway voice shouted, ¡°The mirrors are falling!¡±
¡°Where¡¯s Admiral Honor!?¡± the Chancellor shouted back as he gripped his desk.
¡°The Home Defense Fleet has been destroyed, Chancellor!¡± the second person stepped into the frame, revealing Jedi Master Adi Gallia, ¡°Admiral Honor isn¡¯t responding! They¡¯re destroying all of our satellites!¡±
Chancellor Palpatine clutched his chest, gasping, but the Jedi Master caught him just before he keeled over.
¡°Our shields¡!¡± he muttered feverishly, ¡°Our shields¡!¡±
¡°The planetary shields are up, Chancellor, but I need to get you to safety,¡± Master Gallia bent towards the comlink, ¡°Skywalker, is that you? Thank the Force we were able to reach somebody. Our satellites are being targeted, so Coruscant¡¯s communications are about to be cut off. I¡¯m afraid the attack we feared was coming has finally arrived, just in the wrong place. Get the delegates out of¨C!¡±
The hologram spluttered, then disappeared in a splash of blue.
Master Skywalker continued looking at the lifeless holoprojector for a long time, before slowly stowing it away in the folds of his cloak. He breathed out heavily.
¡°...Master?¡±
¡°You know,¡± Master Skywalker said, ¡°This is the second time the Chancellor personally contacted me to evacuate our forces off a Separatist world.¡±
¡°What happened the first time?¡±
¡°Jabiim.¡±
The single name sparked a memory in Scout¡¯s head. Appo said something about Jabiim, how it was the worst battle the Jedi had ever fought.
¡°Eighteen Jedi were dead,¡± Anakin Skywalker continued, ¡°All who were left were nine of us, all Padawans, without our masters. Obi-Wan was missing in action. We were prepared to die in order to buy time for our forces to evacuate. But the Chancellor contacted me, ordering me to lead the evacuation.¡±
He looked down at her, ¡°I didn¡¯t call them my friends then, but I wish I could now. I left, and I never saw those Padawans again. I was a damned coward, secretly happy I could live, and I should have been called a coward. But Jabiim was one of the first battles of the war, and the HoloNet needed a victory for the media. So they called me a hero instead; the Hero With No Fear. The hero who single-handedly held off the Separatist scourge and evacuated the Republic¡¯s forces off that living hell.¡±
A tower crumbled in Scout¡¯s mind, ¡°You¡ you lived¡¡±
¡°Because I had friends in high places,¡± Anakin finished, ¡°My entire reputation was built on a lie. Hero? The only heroes were the eight orphaned Padawans dead in the rain, who gave their lives to delay the enemy. Tae was the best of us, so powerful he could read our minds in the Force. Mak was the only one of us considered for Knighthood, and should have been Knighted upon his return. Aubrie was supposed to be trained by Master Windu. They said she was destined for the Council. Me? I was friends with the Chancellor. So I lived.¡±
He smiled bitterly, then unhooked his lightsaber.
¡°Master?¡± Scout asked in alarm, ¡°What are you doing?¡±
¡°Convincing,¡± he answered.
Master Kenobi was the first to notice their return; ¡°Anakin! Care to share what you had¡¡±
The Jedi Master flicked his eyes to Anakin¡¯s lightsaber, and his easy expression died.
¡°I just spoke to the Chancellor,¡± Master Skywalker announced loudly, ¡°The summit has been called off. The Republic delegation is to evacuate off Onderon immediately.¡±
This isn¡¯t going to go well, was the only thing Scout could think.
¡°The Chancellor did?¡± Bail Organa sprung out of his chair, ¡°For what reason!?¡±
¡°The Separatists have tricked us,¡± Master Skywalker replied bluntly, ¡°This whole negotiation was a sham. A trap.¡±
Amused surprise rippled outwards, from the delegates to the officials to the journalists. Master Skywalker huffed, as if he had expected this.
¡°Anakin,¡± Senator Amidala admonished, ¡°The Confederacy has been nothing but pleasant hosts since we arrived¨C¡±
¡°Indeed, Master Jedi,¡± Admiral Bonteri had somehow circled around the entire table without any of them noticing, and was now standing right in front of Anakin, a hand resting on the pommel of his sword, ¡°Care to explain how we managed to trick the Jedi of all people? Go on, confound my already low expectations.¡±
Master Skywalker adjusted his grip, taking a deep breath in preparation for what comes next¨C and then the Force quivered, like a sudden heatwave warping the air. Anakin closed his mouth as both Master Plo and Master Kenobi were startled into rapt apprehension, eyeing the room carefully.
Seconds stretched on, an unspoken unease settled over the room like a heavy fog, thickening with each passing heartbeat. Eyes darted nervously from one person to another, seeking reassurance but finding only the mirrored anxiety reflected back. Separatists and Loyalists, once on the breakthrough of peace, were now nervously eyeing each other, as if expecting the other to attack like savage dogs.
¡°...Nobody doubts your integrity, Master Skywalker,¡± Bail Organa picked up on their sudden collective unease, ¡°But we¡¯re going to need to contact Coruscant for further advisement.¡±
¡°You can try,¡± Anakin replied warily, ¡°There won¡¯t be a response.¡±
The Force swam before Scout in a haze, and fleeting visions travelled through her mind one after another like words going in one ear and out the other.
¡°Put your weapon away, Jedi,¡± Admiral Bonteri warned, his form like a blur as he gripped his sword, ¡°Let¡¯s be reasonable. What do you mean there won¡¯t be a response?¡±
The bowstring snapped.
With a distinct snap-hiss, an edge of blue erupted out of Anakin Skywalker¡¯s lightsaber. The Admiral didn¡¯t waste any time drawing his sword with the blade ringing out of its scabbard with a ghostly whisper. The strange black metal seemed to hungrily drink in the light of the lightsaber, making the space a shade darker for it. Chairs clattered and fell as delegates and senators scrambled to get out of the way, many of them hastily dialling their comlinks to contact anyone they can.
Behind them, the Onderonian Paladins and Senate Guard both snapped into action, lowering their weapons in a tense standoff.
¡°Stand down!¡± the Admiral shouted.
¡°...Master,¡± Scout whispered, discreetly drawing out her own lightsaber, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s lying. None of the Separatist senators know what¡¯s happening either.¡±
¡°I know,¡± her Master murmured, ¡°That¡¯s what worries me.¡±
¡°Anakin,¡± Master Plo asked calmly, ¡°Will you tell us what you know?¡±
¡°We are leaving,¡± Anakin declared, obviously referring to not just the Jedi but the entire Republic delegation, ¡°I¡¯ve got orders from Master Gallia. Will you let us leave?¡±
Master Plo and Master Kenobi twitched at the mention of their fellow Councilmember.
¡°After you drew your weapon?¡± Admiral Bonteri brandished his sabre, ¡°Nobody''s going anywhere. Not until you deign to enlighten us.¡±
¡°He¡¯s right, Anakin,¡± Senator Amidala agreed worriedly, ¡°Just what is going on? Why isn¡¯t Coruscant responding to our calls?¡±
Anakin Skywalker¡¯s eyes flitted from one face to another, some frightened, others irritated at the interruption. He¨Cwe made a mistake, Scout decided, we thought the Separatists already knew. Now there¡¯s no easy way to diffuse the tension.
The problem only got worse when Admiral Bonteri decided to take it upon himself to defuse the situation. With no warning, the black sabre sliced cleanly through the air, as if shearing through the Force itself before it could give any forewarning. Even without the Force, however, Anakin Skywalker was still a formidable duellist. Four more lightsabers burst to fiery life as Anakin snapped to parry¨C
The midnight edge struck blue fire, the lightsaber¡¯s blade emitter and flux aperture violently sparked with arcing electricity.
And just like that, the most renowned weapon of a Jedi was nothing more than a useless rod of steel. Anakin didn¡¯t waste any time checking the integrity of his lightsaber, immediately shoving the Separatist Admiral away with the Force. Scout and Ahsoka advanced, weapons raised despite their newfound weariness of the strange metal.
¡°Cortosis,¡± Master Kenobi identified, ¡°Pure cortosis.¡±
Rain Bonteri tapped a device on his wrist, and the doors burst open, followed by an unmistakable sound Scout hadn¡¯t heard since arriving on Onderon. Perfect, inhumanly synchronised footfalls, accompanied by an orchestra of whirring servomotors and pounding steel. Droids.
Not any droids. Commando droids. Dozens of them, all equipped with cortosis sabres with midnight edges. Behind them followed even more super battle droids, with their heavy torsos and wrist cannons¨Cexcept, every single one of them were clad in that light-drinking metal. Master Kenobi and Master Plo ignited their lightsabers, taking protective stances around the Padawans. The Senate Guards tightened their ranks into a circle around the table as the poor journalists were seized and taken away by droids.
The clanking stopped. They were surrounded on all sides.
We can still use the Force, Scout thought, but I don¡¯t think getting into a fight is what we want to do.
¡°Tell us what happened,¡± Admiral Bonteri half-pleaded, ¡°That¡¯s the only way this ends peacefully.¡±
¡°This won¡¯t end peacefully,¡± her Master promised, not unkindly, ¡°I wish signing the armistice was still an option.¡±
He then stowed his malfunctioning lightsaber and pulled out his holoprojector again, fiddling with the dials until the device spat back out its memory of the last transmission. Holding it up for the entire table to see, Anakin bore a halfway apologetic, resigned expression as the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s and Master Gallia¡¯s voices echoed throughout the agonisingly pregnant silence.
¡°Coruscant has been attacked by a suspected Separatist fleet,¡± Anakin Skywalker said, ¡°The capital of the Republic is under siege. We are ordered to evacuate immediately.¡±
Chapter 44
Onderon, Japrael System
Japrael Sector
The first name that came to mind was General Grievous.
That robot bastard was the only person I could think of with the ability to attack Coruscant¨Cbut there were several issues with that. First, I didn¡¯t know how Grievous reached Coruscant in Revenge of the Sith. It was the end of the war by then, and for all I know the frontlines were in the Core Worlds, despite my half-baked memory being pretty sure the Separatists were losing badly by then.
Regardless, this entire affair had an unmistakable Sith Lord-shaped shadow looming over it all. I hadn¡¯t even considered that they might do something so drastic, which with the curse of hindsight made me realise how optimistic that train of thought was. The Republic¡¯s sudden desire for peace¨Ceven an incomplete one¨Cwas a surprise, but a pleasant one. The sheer impact of the Battle of Columex on the Republic¡¯s war weariness was an even greater surprise, and an even more pleasant one.
Nothing save an attack on the very initiator of the peace effort could overturn the public perception of the war, that¡¯s what I thought. I suppose an arbitrary surprise attack on the capital of the Republic might just do the trick as well.
Just can¡¯t get a break, I internally complained, thrown from one place to another. That¡¯s what I get for fighting against the will of space magic, I suppose.
But now I was in a pickle. Standing in a room full of terrified senators and delegates, with small army droids¨Cthat I could only get in here by threatening the dean of Ov Taraba¨Cthere was no doubt I was painting myself as the villain. Not to mention I had just attacked a Jedi Knight in an attempt to shut down his lightsaber¨Ca terrible decision in hindsight, as there was no chance I could out-reflex a Jedi¨Cthat to my own credit, worked.
And for the record, I was terrified as well. Anakin Skywalker doesn¡¯t have the greatest track record with this sort of thing, and I was far less concerned with the four extra lightsabers not being held by Anakin Skywalker now being directed at me, considering they were all being held by mentally stable individuals.
¡°¨CHome Defense Fleet has been destroyed, Chancellor!¡± a Jedi,by the robes, stepped into the frame of the holoprojector, ¡°Admiral Honor isn¡¯t responding! They¡¯re destroying all of our satellites!¡±
The miniature Chancellor then doubled over, muttering something mad as he was caught dragged away by a pale, bald aide. Anakin frowned, speeding up the footage and distorting the imaging and audio until the tendril-haired Jedi was the only person in-frame.
¡°...Is that you?¡± the Jedi was so close to the sending comlink that her head was morbidly enlarged, as if she was afraid we couldn¡¯t hear her, ¡°Thank the Force we were able to reach somebody. Our satellites are being targeted, so Coruscant¡¯s communications are about to be cut off. I¡¯m afraid the attack we feared was coming has finally arrived, just in the wrong place. Get the delegates out of¨C¡±
And the recording was unceremoniously cut off with a sharp hum and wink of blue light. Anakin Skywalker looked up expectantly at all of us, conveying a very vindictive ¡®I told you so¡¯ through his expressive eyebrows. Bail Organa moved to speak, but the whirr of a blaster being primed made him think twice.
Padm¨¦ Amidala was not so afraid.
¡°Well?¡± she asked, doing her best to conceal the utter defeat in her voice, ¡°What is going to be done now?¡±
One thing¡¯s for certain; the political careers of everybody in this room was done. For both sides. They spent all their pull and capital crediting and sponsoring the peace initiative, with nothing to show for it. Worse than that, actually. One step forward to peace, and the Sith¨CI suspect¨Cdragged us all a hundred klicks back in one decisive strike.
¡°First¨C¡± I ensheathed my sword, ¡°Let¡¯s put our weapons away, then confirm the situation.¡±
I raised a fist, and my droid battalion stood down with the sort of pure unhesitation to follow orders you could only expect from machines. Thankfully, the Jedi didn¡¯t want to pick a fight either, and swiftly reciprocated the sentiment.
I made a show of taking out my own holoprojector, toggling a hotline straight to my boss; General Sev¡¯rance Tann. I didn¡¯t even have to wait.
Her disciplinarian form appeared, ever more severe since her ascension; ¡°Yes, Rear Admiral?¡±
¡°We have an audience,¡± was the first thing I said.
¡°...Noted. Do you have a report for me?¡±
I eyed the Jedi carefully. Every bone in my body was screaming for me to get out now, behind the siege of droids, while I still could.
¡°A rogue Separatist warfleet has attacked Coruscant,¡± I reported bluntly, not moving an inch from my spot, ¡°Do you have any news on that account?¡±
Damning silence was all that followed. General Tann immediately disappeared from the holographic frame.
Obi-Wan Kenobi raised an eyebrow, ¡°Not even General Tann¨Cwho is now your Supreme Commander, if I recall rightly¨Cknows anything about this? Truly, I am now wondering if this rogue fleet even belongs to the Confederacy.¡±
¡°I hope not,¡± Mina Bonteri¡¯s gravelly voice snarled, ¡°Or there will be the Demon Moon to pay.¡±
¡°Master Gallia never specified the perpetrators,¡± Master Kenobi brushed his beard, unflappably calm, ¡°It would be a mistake to presume the attackers are Separatists. The recall of our delegates could be nothing more than a precautionary action.¡±
¡°With all due respect, Master,¡± the Togruta Padawan said nervously, ¡°But who else has the firepower to attack Coruscant? And the Home Defence Fleet was destroyed too. There aren¡¯t any pirate fleets in the Core, and what pirate fleets there are in the Outer Rim¡ are under the Confederacy¡¯s payroll.¡±
Mina snorted loudly, falling back onto her chair heavily, massaging her forehead. As always, she knew how to discreetly command the mood. Tawni Ames and other Peace Faction-aligned officials immediately followed her lead, effectively breaking everybody out of their fight-or-flight fugue.
¡°How would we even get a fleet to Coruscant?¡± she bit, ¡°Unless you intend to self-report the vulnerability of your Core Worlds.¡±
They didn¡¯t have to wait for the answer, despite the fact that my arm was already aching by the time Sev¡¯rance Tann returned.
¡°I just spoke with Rear Admiral Trilm,¡± the Supreme Commander said, ¡°I am afraid there is a Separatist presence in the Core Worlds. One that I was not aware of.¡±
I barely had the time to process the fact that Calli Trilm was now also an admiral, before my mind immediately latched onto the latter half of the statement¨Cas did nearly everybody else around me.
¡°There is!?¡± Mina Bonteri demanded before I could, slamming her palms against the table.
The Supreme Commander couldn¡¯t have seen her, but she most definitely heard her. General Tann crossed her arms, ¡°During the Separatist Crisis, Count Dooku secretly dispatched Admiral Dua Ningo to the Techno Union shipyards at Foerost, ostensibly to build a new fleet right under the nose of Coruscant. Unfortunately, the Battle of Geonosis started the war before the fleet could be constructed. We¡¯ve had no contact with Admiral Ningo since, and due to the secrecy of his commission, nobody but the scarce few inside Dooku¡¯s inner circle even knew of the mission¡¯s existence. Even I assumed Admiral Ningo was simply missing in action.¡±
¡°And Count Dooku never informed you?¡± Senator Bremack asked in disbelief.
¡°He did not,¡± General Tann gave me a knowing look, ¡°I had to find out through one of his former subordinates.¡±
That¡¯s¡ not something you say unless you didn¡¯t care about legitimacy, I winced internally. A Supreme Commander who wasn¡¯t in control of her own military didn¡¯t instil a ton of confidence. But that was Sev¡¯rance Tann for you; straightforward, tactless, and not a single politicking bone in her body. Fortunately, it appeared that Calli Trilm was already acting as her unofficial political advisor, and even I had to admit, there was no better choice.
Regardless, it was already said, and considering the furious expressions of some of the Separatist senators, there was going to be a senatorial investigation in order.
¡°Hold on,¡± Anakin Skywalker¡¯s apprentice raised her hand like a schoolgirl, ¡°Isn¡¯t Foerost only two-hundred parsecs from Coruscant? That¡¯s a five hour jump.¡±
¡°And more importantly,¡± Master Plo added, ¡°Considering the prominence of the Foerost Shipyards, this fleet could already be finished¨Chas already been finished.¡±
¡°We never heard of it,¡± Bail Organa shook his head, bouncing between each of his colleagues to confirm his statement, ¡°Of Foerost, yes, but not about the construction. But we had a blockade there; why didn¡¯t we inform Admiral Ningo about the peace effort?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not a question that can be answered here,¡± Senator Breemu pointed out.
¡°So that¡¯s it then?¡± Padm¨¦ Amidala was despondent, holding her head in her hands, ¡°Everything we strived for, wiped clean by pure bad luck? A rogue fleet nobody could communicate with, that nobody knew existed, just chose this precise moment to break out?¡±
Well, when it was put like that¡ it only deepened my suspicions even further. General Tann was giving me another meaningful look¡ oh, that does make a lot of sense.
The Supreme Commander cleared her throat, ¡°There is going to be a lot of confusion and accusations in the coming days, but I wish to guarantee to the honourable Republic delegation that the actions of Foerost have not been sanctioned by my office. The Confederate Armed Forces will be completely forthcoming and transparent to any official inquiries from the Republic Diplomatic Corps. If you can procure me a secure line to a Republic asset nearby Admiral Ningo, I may be able to communicate with him."
¡°There¡¯s no chance that¡¯s happening,¡± Senator Darsana scoffed derisively, ¡°Give a line of communication from the Supreme Commander of the Separatist military to a suspected Separatist fleet? Try asking the Senate to decrease taxes on Core hyperlanes instead.¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid what we think won¡¯t matter anymore,¡± he continued, slumping, ¡°The HoloNet will go on a rampage, and our standings in the Senate will be completely gutted.¡±
If he had it bad, Padm¨¦ Amidala had it worse, and everybody knew it. All of the Republic senators present here would have their careers severely damaged, but not enough to completely destroy them. Padm¨¦, however, was the exception. She was the star of the show, the main character of the HoloNet¡¯s eye, the woman who made that damn speech define her career post-Columex. I wouldn¡¯t pretend to know how Naboo elects its senators, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Senator Amidala would be forced to tender her resignation, or even be recalled and replaced.
¡°So the war continues¡¡± the Senator in question appeared far more distressed over the files on the table than her own future, ¡°And to think we were so close¡¡±
¡°Bad luck, huh¡?¡± Mina looked at the Jedi, ¡°Does the Force think this is bad luck as well?¡±
¡°The Council will seek answers,¡± Plo Koon promised, turning to me with intent through his mask, unflappably calm, ¡°I imagine you will too. But for now, our priority is returning our delegates to Republic space safely.¡±
¡°Our warships will escort your diplomatic vessels as far as Commenor,¡± General Tann promised.
Wait, Commenor? That¡¯s neck deep in Republic space. There¡¯s no way our ships will be allowed to return¡ wait a second, the only ship¡¯s in Japrael are mine!
¡°Commenor?¡± Obi-Wan Kenobi questioned, ¡°General, we would be satisfied with the edge of the Japrael Sector.¡±
¡°I insist,¡± Tann returned, ¡°Considered a prerequisite of safety. Rear Admiral, I¡¯m sure your vessels are up to the task?¡±
Considering her tone suggested it was an order and not a question, I had no choice to comply. Not to mention, I could recognise Calli Trilm anywhere. Yes, Sev¡¯rance Tann was speaking, but those were Calli¡¯s words. General Tann would never give a reassurance to the Republic senators, or waste any naval resources escorting them back to Loyalist space. Calli Trilm, however? Optics was her middle name. For all I knew, the grey-haired witch was standing right next to Tann, out of view.
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Because the reason for my fleet escort was obvious enough; to dissuade any¡ let¡¯s call them ¡®pirates¡¯ from jumping the Republic¡¯s diplomatic corps while in-transit. Whether they were Republic or Separatist ¡®pirates¡¯ didn¡¯t matter.
But I had to ask¨C ¡°And what will become of my ships once they arrive at Commenor?¡±
¡°Make sure they contain nothing of value to the Republic,¡± the General might as well shrugged, ¡°Scuttle them or let the Republic intern them.¡±
¡°...Understood, General,¡± I blew out a furious breath, then pulled out my comlink with my free hand, ¡°Tuff, come in. I need you to prepare a squadron¡¡±
I raised an open hand, and my droid encirclement swiftly opened its ranks. Prompted by the implied acquiescence, the blue armoured Senate Guards immediately began ushering the Republic delegates out of the room.
As I spoke to Zenith, I noticed Padm¨¦ Amidala forlornly collecting her documents off the table¨C
¡°Forgive me for hoping that one day, we will need these files,¡± she muttered, clutching them close to her chest before trudging after her colleagues.
¡°Bonteri!¡± I tensed as Anakin Skywalker called me, ¡°Looks like we will be meeting each other on the battlefield again.¡±
I looked up, ¡°I wish it wouldn¡¯t come to that.¡±
The Jedi Knight shifted, ¡°Well¡ sorry about earlier. I thought you planned the attack. But it looks like it really was just bad timing.¡±
My gaze skipped to Plo Koon, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure. I would check all communications concerning Foerost, Master Jedi.¡±
The old Kel Dor bowed his head, clearly catching my meaning, ¡°I will launch an investigation upon our return. Personally, if I must.¡±
¡°Not personally¡ that¡¯d be drawing too much attention from the wrong people,¡± I returned to Skywalker, jabbing a finger at him, ¡°And one more thing; I want my ships back in one piece.¡±
As they left, Mina released a laborious sigh, childishly flicking a wine glass over and spilling its purplish contents over the table. Tyreca Bremack snorted in response, and pushed down her arms in a movement to stand.
I adjusted the receiving and transmitting apertures of my holoprojector and tossed it onto the table, ¡°Please stay a while, senators. Your attendants can leave.¡±
It was clear it wasn¡¯t a request, and considering there was still a not insignificant number of droids remaining, Bremack took a good look around, and plopped back into her chair. Mina waved her hand, and their senatorial aides left through the side doors, though not without a few worried looks over their shoulders.
¡°What is it, Rain?¡±
I gestured towards the holoprojector, which, now with a larger aperture, displayed a life-sized Sev¡¯rance Tann.
¡°It wasn¡¯t bad timing,¡± I said once nobody else was in earshot, ¡°And this may be a mistake bringing you into the loop, but we¡¯ve decided risks had to be taken.¡±
Esu Rotsinu raised an eyebrow, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t bad timing, then what was it?¡±
¡°There is one person we know for certain who has lines of communication in the Core Worlds, and also the authority to order Admiral Dua Ningo,¡± General Tann dropped the ball, ¡°It is our Head of State, Count Dooku.¡±
I would¡¯ve put it more tactfully than that, but I supposed brevity has its place. If nothing else, it conveyed the required amount of seriousness to the senators to tell them that this wasn¡¯t our idea of a joke.
Mina looked at me, ¡°To suggest something like that is treason¨C¡±
¡°We aren¡¯t the ones committing treason,¡± I replied softly, involuntarily tensing up as I observed each senator absorbing the General¡¯s words.
Tawni Ames, a more moderate senator, leaned back, ¡°Thesis?¡±
I hastily took out my tablet and swiped the files and reports into Mina¡¯s personal datapad.
¡°Our¡ Naval Intelligence caught several encrypted transmissions between Separatist and Loyalist worlds, notably between Raxus and Coruscant,¡± the Supreme Commander explained.
¡°Oh, my colleagues must love that,¡± Esu Rotsinu grinned vindictively, ¡°How many senators does the Armed Forces hold a sword over?¡±
¡°But we have also caught a specific line of communication between Serenno and Coruscant,¡± the General ignored her, ¡°More specifically, Count Dooku¡¯s personal residence in Carannia¡¯s castle district.¡±
Senator Bremack frowned, ¡°That is far from proving Dooku staged this attack¨C¡±
¡°It proves that our Head of State is acting without accountability,¡± Mina suddenly interrupted, tearing her attention away from her datapad, ¡°It proves he has undisclosed contacts in Loyalist space, and not to mention has withheld critical information from his own government and military regarding classified assignments. Accusing him of treason is a bit too far, but these are still grounds for impeachment.¡±
I had to agree. From a practical standpoint alone, trying to try the founder of our nation for treason is simply a fool¡¯s errand. Abuse of office, on the other hand? That was a much more realistic goal, and it still largely achieves the same thing.
¡°Mina!?¡± Tyreca Bremack exclaimed in surprise.
Mina Bonteri silently forwarded the documents to her colleagues, before staring at General Tann, ¡°What do you want from us?¡±
If Sev¡¯rance Tann had it her way, she would have immediately demanded Dooku¡¯s impeachment or even trial. But that would never have flown in the Senate. So instead, she once more spoke Calli Trilm¡¯s words.
¡°An investigation is all I ask,¡± the Supreme Commander requested, ¡°By an unbiased Senate committee, on the basis of innocence until proven otherwise.¡±
¡°That is reasonable enough,¡± Tawni Ames admitted, ¡°And this¨C this is enough to justify a parliamentary hearing. Still, forget getting an unbiased committee¨Ceven I still don¡¯t believe it, and I just read a frankly damning document¨Cit will be near-impossible to even accuse Dooku of anything in the Senate.¡±
Senator Bremack pinched the bridge of her nose, ¡°We¡¯re the most receptive audience you¡¯re going to get, and I for one, am not very receptive. But I think you already know that.¡±
There were two types of senators in the Confederate Senate. On one side were the veteran ex-Republic senators, who while respecting Count Dooku, possess a more tempered image of him, borne from years of experience. Tyreca Bremack, Mina Bonteri, and Esu Rotsinu belong to this group. The other side was the pure Separatist senators, who mostly belonged to worlds and systems that never had representation in the Republic, but now do in the Confederacy. Tawni Ames and Voe Atell belong to this group.
Tawni Ames, however, was an exception. The vast majority of the ¡®new¡¯ senators were staunchly pro-Dooku, and almost held him up to an impossibly high pedestal.
¡°Just consider it,¡± I pleaded, ¡°Not doing so will be a failure of our democracy.¡±
¡°On that, you are correct,¡± Esu Rotsinu said somberly¡ before cracking open a mirthful grin, ¡°Dooku of all people? Now that is ironic. If nothing else, it will be amusing watching him fail.¡±
Mina Bonteri stood up so stiffly it was possible she had been replaced by a protocol droid, ¡°I only pray the Confederacy doesn¡¯t fail with him.¡±
From where I stood, the next step she took was another step towards peeling open Dooku¡¯s iron-handed grip over the nation.
?
¡°This place could get a rework to not look so¡ oppressive,¡± I decided out loud.
¡°You think so, sir?¡± Kavia Slen looked around the damp dungeon, the rough-hewn stone walls almost pulsing with heat, ¡°I think it''s nice.¡±
I pushed open a heavy cast iron door, grunting, ¡°I don''t think the folks inside share your point of view.¡±
Half a mile deep in pure mountain, the dungeons were but one arm of the sprawling catacombs and mineshafts found beneath Unifar Temple. No sunlight¨Csometimes no light at all, period¨Cno fresh air, no human contact, and no noise except chirping sentinel birds and the odd earthquake. Trapped in here, and you were trapped in limbo. There have even been cases of prisoners being forgotten in the more remote shafts, and found dead from presumably asphyxiation after weeks alone.
¡°Steela, Dono, and Hutch. Those are your names?¡± I asked as I entered the interrogation chamber, ¡°Don¡¯t worry; this isn¡¯t an interrogation.¡±
Chains clinked as Hutch raised his hands, ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem that way to me.¡±
¡°Where is my brother!?¡± Steela demanded immediately.
I turned to Kavia in surprise, ¡°I thought you let them meet to say their goodbyes.¡±
¡°I did!¡± Kavia turned indignant.
¡°Then you dragged him away!¡± Steela tried to stand, only to be jerked back down by the manacles chaining her to the table.
¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s been slated for execution, Miss Gerrera,¡± I sat down opposing them, ¡°As the leader of the insurrection, he faces the death sentence. Or do you want to take his place?¡±
Steela opened her mouth, then closed it, slumping against her chair.
¡°I thought so,¡± I smiled kindly, despite my not-sudden urge to rip off her whiny mug.
¡°Hold on,¡± Dono asked, ¡°The death sentence is for participating in an insurrection, not just for leading one.¡±
¡°You thank your friend here,¡± I jabbed a thumb at Hutch, ¡°He made a deal. They surrender peacefully, and they get to keep their lives.¡±
¡°What in Dxun¡¯s name happened out there?¡± Dono whispered.
¡°We may as well face the death sentence anyway,¡± Hutch sulked, ¡°Our punishment is to be eternal banishment from Onderon.¡±
¡°So we¡¯re just going to be thrown into outer space?¡± Dono sputtered, ¡°Or what? Will we be dumped on the closest departing ship?¡±
¡°If you wish, but that¡¯s not preferable to any of us,¡± I shrugged, ¡°So I¡¯m going to cut you a deal; serve the Space Force. You¡¯ll get free lodgings, grub, and work. You will be given an allowance¨Cthough good luck spending it anywhere on a warship¨Cand should you earn yourself a medal, our King will be forced to pin it on your chest and give you a reward. In other words, you get to come home.¡±
¡°...What!?¡± Steela snapped out of her depressive episode, ¡°You take us prisoner, are going to kill my brother, and now expect me to fight your war? The same war we wanted out of!?¡±
Banishment was an old Onderonian punishment. It was the punishment that directly led to the existence of the Beast Riders and Untamed, in fact. But they¡¯re the reason why banishment isn¡¯t necessarily administered anymore; what if the banished don¡¯t succumb to the elements as expected, but instead return stronger, with a lust for vengeance in their blood? Chopping off the heads of criminals is much cleaner, and ties up any loose ends instead of letting them run free.
¡°Steela¡¯s right,¡± Dono said hesitantly, ¡°Why would we fight the war we were fighting against? I don¡¯t want Sanjay Rash to pin a medal to my chest.¡±
¡°You get to fight for Onderon,¡± Kavia asked earnestly, ¡°Look, what other ways are there for you to reclaim your lost honour? Saw Gerrera will reclaim his in death. To die fighting for one¡¯s cause is a worthy way to go, in the eyes of the gods. Will you follow him? Or will you follow the path of the Beast Riders? Carve out your own way in the cosmos, become a mercenary or bounty hunter, and return to Onderon to seek your revenge? Do you think you can become a second Modon Kira, and overthrow the Dynasty?¡±
That moved them, and even the Dono¨Cwho seemed the most rational of them¨Cwas listening intently by the end. You know, I should¡¯ve expected that a plea to their sense of honour would be the most effective against an Onderonian. If anybody tried that one on me, I think I¡¯d shoot them.
¡°How long does it take to earn a medal?¡± Hutch asked.
Kavia turned to me, face draped in her own expectations.
¡°Survive a battle or two,¡± I shrugged, ¡°Distinguish yourself in service. It¡¯s not all that difficult, in my experience. The longer wait will be for the next award ceremony.¡±
¡°...Why?¡± Dono finally wondered.
I retrieved a datapad from Kavia¡¯s hands and gently placed it on the table, ¡°The Confederate Senate just signed the Militia Act into existence. Each of its Independent Systems must contribute a percentage to the Armed Forces¡¯ budget or manpower, or both. Onderon is neither rich nor populous, but we must all do our part.¡±
Steela laugh-coughed, ¡°So Onderon gives this Confederacy its prisoners? You¡¯re insane¨C I will never agree to this.¡±
¡°You know the other options,¡± I didn¡¯t argue, ¡°What about you two?¡±
¡°As long as I¡¯m not working with droids,¡± Hutch looked at me.
¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Kavia promised, ¡°There are only eight-hundred of you. You will be serving with volunteers from the Royal Army, and will be trained by us.¡±
Hutch sucked in a breath, ignoring both Steela and Dono, ¡°Better than death.¡±
I nodded, and stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll let you two think about it further. You have¡ a day, until you¡¯re either lined up on Yolahn Square or shipped off on the first junker leaving Iziz.
Kavia and I left, and the guardsmen entered the room behind us to bring the prisoners back to their cells.
¡°You think the rest will agree?¡± I asked for her opinion.
¡°They¡¯ll come around,¡± Kavia replied confidently, ¡°I know how they think.¡±
¡°I hope you¡¯re right about that,¡± I said as sincerely as I could.
Upon our return to the surface, Kavia left to begin gathering the Royal Army volunteers while I took a shuttle up to my fleet¨Cnow conspicuously missing several dozen ships. As the ramp to my Sheathipede-class shuttle lowered, I spotted Tuff¡¯s polished plating waiting for me on the other side.
¡°Repulse is yours, sir,¡± the tactical droid greeted.
I sniffed, refamiliarising myself with the scent of rust, steel, electronics, and whatever cocktail of chemicals the engineers cooked up today. Droids hopped from one station to another, systematically going through the pre-orbit checks to make sure Onderon¡¯s atmosphere hadn¡¯t fucked up any critical components needed to keep the ship spaceworthy. The usual suspect is corrosion.
¡°Good to be back,¡± I allowed, ¡°I want to speak to the Supreme Commander on the bridge.¡±
¡°As you command.¡±
I must have walked through every compartment of the ship on the way up to the pilothouse, visiting the engine room, the gunnery decks¡ almost as if I was reintroducing myself to the ship. Or making sure my house was exactly the way I left it; because Repulse was my home more than Onderon or Raxus at this point, and I still remembered her every nook and cranny like the back of my hand.
Eventually, however, I made it back to the bridge. To the conversation I was half looking forward to, and half dreading. That was always the case when it came to orders. By the time I received them, I would give anything to get away from my current location¡ at the cost of plunging myself into the next battle. The next chance of death.
¡°General Tann,¡± I saluted as the captain¡¯s chair projected her form, ¡°Requesting orders.¡±
¡°We are going to let the Republic make the first move,¡± the Supreme Commander told me, ¡°You will meet Rear Admiral Trilm and I at Nanth¡¯ri for an emergency strategy conference. Your new command, the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet, awaits you there.¡±
At the mention of Calli Trilm, I couldn¡¯t stop myself from asking¨C ¡°How did you manage to convince Trilm to work against Count Dooku¡ if you don¡¯t mind me asking, sir.¡±
¡°I am as mystified as you are, Admiral,¡± General Tann replied, ¡°Her cooperation began after her deserved promotion to Rear Admiral, after which she became very receptive to my requests.¡±
¡Nevermind. She¡¯s the same as always.
¡°Ah¡ I understand, sir,¡± I nodded sympathetically, ¡°From Nanth¡¯ri, I expect I will be redeployed back onto the Perlemian?¡±
¡°Negative. Fleet Admiral Trench has been given command of the Perlemian AO,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Your new fleet possesses unique qualities unsuited for frontline combat. Considering the volatile situation, you will receive your orders from me directly, on Nanth¡¯ri.¡±
I sighed, ¡°Crystal clear, General.¡±
¡°If you must know, Rear Admiral,¡± the Supreme Commander folded her arms behind her, ¡°Your new theatre will be in the south. The Republic General Rees Alrix has pushed our forces all the way to Sullust, and now our core dependencies are under threat. This is where I suspect the Republic will focus their attention next. You will be working with Commander Asajj Ventress to lift the Siege of Sullust.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann cut the connection with an empathetic smile. I fell ass first into my chair, staring blankly at the clouds.
I rubbed my cheek. This is why I dread new orders.
Chapter 45
Nanth¡¯ri Orbit, Nanth¡¯ri System
Kurost Sector
¡°This is the star frigate Repulse,¡± TF-1726 spoke, ¡°We are seeking clearance and a berth. Standby for clearance code transmission.¡±
Nanth¡¯ri. A green-blue, rather unremarkable¨Ceven borderline backwater world¨Cwhose only call to fame was the lending of its name to the Nanth¡¯ri Trade Route. Alright, maybe that was a little disingenuous. The Nanth¡¯ri Trade Route was a meandering spacelane running through a rather volatile region of space that acted as a shortcut between the Core Worlds and Mid Rim¨Cand Nanth¡¯ri sat right at the end of that spacelane.
On galactic scale astrocharts, it would hardly be a blip on the map, but in the context of local space, Nanth¡¯ri was a critical tradeworld sitting on a rather profitable merchant route. On the other hand, Nanth¡¯ri sat in that literal grey area where neither the Hutts nor the Republic could agree who owned, leading to an explosion of piracy on the Nanth¡¯ri Trade Route, transforming the star system into something of a Nassau or Tortuga of the Outer Rim.
Not that there were anymore pirates left. Not after the Confederacy stormed in and flipped the table.
¡°Repulse, this is battlecruiser Kronprinz,¡± a familiar voice responded, ¡°We¡¯re laying out a vector for you. Welcome back.¡±
Kronprinz? I stood up and peered out the viewports, glancing down at the flashing pins on Repulse¡¯s array of repeaters and scopes. Familiar transponders blinked back at me; Columexi battlecruiser Kronprinz, Metalornian dreadnought Olympus Mons, Salvaran heavy cruiser Sarissa, Sy Myrthian carriers, Ringo Vindan destroyers, Atrakenite corvette Habatok II. Familiar ships, captained by familiar names. It was as if the entire Perlemian Campaign had come to Nanth¡¯ri.
¡°Looks like we¡¯re late to a party,¡± Chief Engineer Kavia Slen commented, awe glittering in her eyes, ¡°So this is a warfleet¡¡±
Kavia stood to my left, directly opposite Tuff¡¯s reserve on my right, and I nodded in silent agreement as I studied the ponderous mountains of battle steel drifting against the stars, glittering with the brilliant pinpricks of their own riding lights. I knew the exact feeling stirring in Kavia¡¯s gut right now¨CI had once been in her shoes, after all. A child seeing the world for the first time. Power in your left hand, and the lives of millions in your right.
¡°Tuff, get me a list of ships in the star system that with matches in Repulse¡¯s comm logs,¡± I ordered.
The tactical droid looked at me critically, as if saying ¡®seriously, now?¡¯ but nonetheless pushed an indignant B1 out of the way to commandeer their console. Not fifteen minutes into our transit towards our designated orbital births, Tuff swiped the data into my chair¡¯s built-in displays, and I scrolled the list. There were almost a thousand warships in orbit that Repulse had previous contact with before, but digging deeper, I then filed a request to view their formations.
It was then I received my first taste of the Pantoran¡¯s military reformations. A barrage of numbers assaulted my eyes. Realising I was going to get lost navigating the structure, I saved the datafile for future reference, before filtering it down into a quick summary so I wasn¡¯t walking into the meeting blind.
1st Fleet Group; Commanding Officer Admiral Kirst. New Territories AO. The only formation of the 1st Fleet Group present was the 19th Mobile Fleet; Rear Admiral Trilm.
2nd Fleet Group; Commanding Officer Admiral Trench. Perlemian AO. There were two subformations present in-system: the 21st Guard Fleet, CO Rear Admiral Merai; and 28th Mobile Fleet, CO Rear Admiral Bonteri.
That¡¯s mine, I thought. The 28th Mobile is mine.
¡°Give me the list of vessels organised under the Twenty-Eighth Mobile,¡± I requested.
¡°...Thirty battleships, twenty-three battlecruisers, thirty-six cruisers, seventy-five destroyers, one-hundred fifty-one frigates, and five auxiliaries,¡± Tuff dutifully narrated, ¡°Three-hundred and twenty vessels in total.¡±
¡°Stelle, give me a line to Kronprinz.¡±
¡°Roger roger. It¡¯s open, sir.¡±
¡°Admiral Greyshade,¡± I asked tentatively, ¡°Is that you?¡±
¡°...Your memory honours me,¡± the Columexi replied, ¡°The Twenty-Eighth Mobile is yours.¡±
¡°What on God¡¯s green Earth are you doing here?¡± I questioned, inwardly elated to see a familiar face, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you back on the Perlemian?¡±
¡°You can thank the Militia Act,¡± Diedrich replied, and I could almost feel him shrugging on the other end, ¡°With much of the Peace Faction at the summit and unable to vote, the Militia Act passed the Senate with a huge majority. All existing military assets must be registered under the Office of the General, and all system and or sector governments must contribute a portion of them to the Armed Forces. So here we are.¡±
¡°Yes¡¡± I dragged out, double-checking the glaring Perlemian AO on a nearby readout, ¡°But it says here the Second Fleet Group¡¯s area of operations is back home.¡±
¡°Need-to-know, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Diedrich chuckled, ¡°We¡¯ll meet on the Invincible. You¡¯re the last to arrive.¡±
Star dreadnought Invincible. Two kilometres of hardened doonium and bristling with a fearsome array of over two-hundred torpedo launchers. Once the most infamous warship of the Southern Theatre and bane of the Republic, the flagship of Admiral Trench¡¯s scarred visage has been renewed with a fresh coat of paint and plating, almost as if mimicking her commanding officer.
Once upon a time, Repulse served directly under her. Once upon a time, a certain General Tann pulled Repulse away from her. Strange how I¡¯ve seemed to come full circle. Maybe this was the Supreme Commander¡¯s idea of a joke¡ or a measured display of authority for Admiral Trench.
¡°Prep me a shuttle,¡± I circled to the rear of my chair, ignoring the purple cape draped over the backrest, ¡°Hare, come with me¡ Kavia, watch the ship.¡±
¡°Can do, boss,¡± Kavia grinned, clearly intent on continuing ship-gazing.
After a quick transit, my shuttle decelerated to a halt relative to Invincible, then rolled on its gyros as the dreadnought¡¯s hangar bay tractors locked on. They drew the Sheathipede steadily in, then deposited it with scarcely a tremor within the atmospheric ray shields. There was a background thud, and the ramp lowered, spewing out the pressure differential in the form of white steam.
Two familiar faces met me at the bottom; Diedrich and Vinoc. The most immediate detail that caught my eye was the effects of the Armed Forces, most notably the Confederate rank plaques on their shoulders. Commodore, the symbol read on both.
Greyshade blinked, noticing my curiosity, ¡°Militia Act.¡±
As if that explained everything.
It sort of did. It explained most things in the Armed Forces these days. The Militia Act officialized the precedence of the federal military hierarchy over local system hierarchies. The only people who were promoted or retained in rank following the Militia Act were heretofore Armed Forces officers already, like I was. Diedrich Greyshade was likely still a Counter Admiral in the Commonality¡¯s Joint Defence Fleet, but it didn¡¯t translate to the Confederate Navy. The system blatantly favoured officers already on the federal payroll¨Cfor obvious reasons¨Cand pissed off everybody else. But it pissed off everybody else equally.
And that¡¯s arguably good governance.
But first, formalities. Respect goes a long way¨Cboth for people and officialities. I strode right up til the painted line on the deck which indicated the official beginning of star dreadnought Invincible, but no further. I zeroed in on the nearby B1, wearing the colours of the hangar officer of the deck.
¡°Permission to come aboard, sir?¡±
The droid startled in surprise, before snapping into a mechanical salute, ¡°Permission granted, sir. Welcome aboard.¡±
I smiled, replying to the salute with my own and crossing the painted line.
¡°What¡¯s the agenda?¡± I quickly asked, ignoring the strange looks the two commodores had for me, ¡°And where¡¯s the Supreme Commander?¡±
¡°She couldn¡¯t make it,¡± Vinoc answered as we began power-walking to the turbolift.
¡°Why?¡±
Diedrich raised an eyebrow, ¡°You ought to tell us why. You were there.¡±
¡°The Senate has summoned her for a public hearing,¡± Vinoc punched in a deck level, ¡°And she ventilated her suspicions of Count Dooku on national holotelevision. The Senate then summoned Count Dooku for another public hearing. It¡¯s a full blown political crisis up there.¡±
¡°And it''s a military crisis down here,¡± Diedrich added wryly, ¡°The Supreme Commander will still be attending. Simply not in person as she wanted.¡±
?
¡°Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet, designate, arriving!¡± the intercom declared as I stepped through the briefing room¡¯s blast doors, and the officers who had been seated around the large conference table rose.
¡°As you were, all of you,¡± Admiral Trench towered over the table and everybody around it, ¡°I extend my congratulations, Rear Admiral. You find the Twenty-Eighth to your liking, I hope?¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t explain why it¡¯s here and not on the Perlemian,¡± I admitted as I found my seat.
Diedrich and Vinoc followed me as Hare came to a stop at my feet, and as they found their chairs and the other officers settled back into their places, I let my eyes run around the table. The table was as stacked as it could be with veterans of the Perlemian Campaign, and many of them greeted me with a wave and nod. I found Calli Trilm lounging a ways away, as the only flag officer from the 1st Fleet Group present¨Cwhich was doubly strange, as the 1st Fleet Group¡¯s AO was the New Territories. On her left was her flag XO, the one-eyed Commodore Aviso, and to her right was Commander Rel Harsol, now commanding a whole squadron of frigates.
Then there were the officers of the 28th Mobile Fleet, the people under my direct command and many recently promoted. I counted the Muun Commodore Horgo Shive and the Neimodian Commander Krett, along with Auxiliary Commander Jorm.
At the head of the table was Admiral Trench, my direct superior, and beside him was his fellow former-Corporate Alliance officer, the Mon Cala Rear Admiral Merai.
I think I was starting to see a pattern emerge.
¡°It¡¯s good to see all of you gathered in one place at last,¡± Trench said, after a moment. ¡°I believe everybody here is in the know. As such, I will furnish a summary of recent events while we wait for our Supreme Commander¡¯s arrival. Six days ago, Coruscant had been attacked by an unknown fleet. This has been confirmed. The damage the planet sustained is unknown. And as of yesterday, our Naval Intelligence have confirmed the perpetrator was Admiral Dua Ningo.¡±
A wave of recognition rippled out. Everybody knew Dua Ningo was the old Sullustan admiral who disappeared shortly before the war began. Few present could have predicted how he chose to re-enter it.
¡°Who we lost contact with before the war began,¡± Commander Krett tapped the table with his ridged digits.
¡°And the last person who was in contact with him was Count Dooku,¡± Trench finished, none too happy about the interruption, ¡°We must be prepared of a certain possibility; that the Armed Forces must take action against our Head of State, in the case he refuses to surrender his office. Commander, speak over me again and I¡¯ll have you slated for administrative punishment.¡±
The Neimodian shrunk back, ¡°My apologies, sir.¡±
¡°Permission to speak freely?¡± Horgo Shive leaned forward.
¡°Granted.¡±
¡°So we¡¯re planning a coup?¡±
¡°In the case that he refuses to surrender his office,¡± the only Fleet Admiral at the table repeated, this time more forcefully, ¡°Otherwise, that sort of talk will not be tolerated.¡±
¡°Will the Senate even successfully impeach Dooku?¡± Commander Harsol rested an elbow on the table, ¡°He¡¯s basically their favourite child.¡±
Not a small amount of eyes turned towards a certain Calli Trilm, as if expecting her to comment, as she usually did on political affairs. After so long, it was easy to think that Calli had become their unofficial political liaison, considering her mastery of the affairs. The woman in question, on the other hand, was leaning so far back in her seat she was only a single move away from kicking her feet onto the table.
Annoyance flashed across her face, ¡°...What?¡±
The intercom blared, ¡°Incoming transmission from Raxus Secundus.¡±
The clattering of chairs filled the room as everybody shot to their feet, with Admiral Trench hastily vacating his position. Not a moment later, the Supreme Commander took the now empty slot at the head of the table.
¡°At ease,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann immediately ordered, ¡°I will make this update quick. As some had predicted, the Confederate Senate had been split by the crisis into those unapologetically pro-Dooku, and those who support the integrity of our Bylaws.¡±
No one actually moved, but it was as if an invisible stir had run around the compartment. General Tann¡¯s choice of vocabulary had been¡ pointed, and almost accusatorily specific¨Cit was safe to say, at least, where she stood on this debate.
¡°The documents had been presented to the Senate and made public to our nation,¡± she continued, ¡°The rest is out of our hands.¡±
For the first time since the meeting started, I spoke my piece; ¡°And what happens if the Senate decides to not impeach Count Dooku?¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s glowing red gaze met me squarely, ¡°Then we will wait for Dooku to act again, and catch him in the act again. The Armed Forces¡¯ sworn duty is to conserve the sanctity and integrity of our nation and its laws. We will continue to do that primly.¡±
She broke eye contact, sweeping over the rest of the table, ¡°Until then, let¡¯s focus on winning the war.¡±
Right on cue, the projection of the entire galaxy sprung out of the table, awash with great swatches of blue and red, concentrations of lights indicating the presence of fleets, and other minutiae no ordinary officer would have access to. Glaringly, there was a splotch of red hovering over Coruscant, a lone island in a sea of blue. A question mark bobbed over the spot in place of a designation or callsign.
¡°In order to distance ourselves from the Attack on Coruscant, and defy the HoloNet¡¯s expectations of our so-called treachery, we will be pulling back all our fleets on all fronts,¡± she explained to a captured audience, ¡°We will be, in essence, allowing the Republic to seize the initiative.¡±
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
¡°We won¡¯t have to wait long,¡± Vinoc brushed his beard, ¡°The HoloNet is already espousing the values of war.¡±
¡°The question is,¡± Admiral Trench tapped his cane on the ground, ¡°Where will the Republic attack first?¡±
¡°There are five possible fronts,¡± the Supreme Commander snapped her fingers, ¡°First, and most likely is in the New Territories, where the Republic¡¯s Eighth Sector Army had recently captured Dantooine. Their supply lines are solid, and they are riding on good momentum. My staff projects they will soon encircle and take Mygeeto, as well as proceed east to Agamar.¡±
Agamar, capital of the Lahara Sector. Senator Tyreca Bremack won¡¯t be pleased to learn her constituency was about to become the front line.
¡°The second front is on the Perlemian,¡± her finger then drifted east towards the Foundry of the Confederacy, ¡°Reports indicate the Republic will not make any new offensives in this region, as their fleets are spent for the time being. Instead, the Second Fleet Group under Admiral Trench will seek to liberate our lost systems. Third, and just as unlikely, is right here, at Nanth¡¯ri. Our Mistryl allies from Emberlene had recently beaten back the Republic from Nanth¡¯ri, and have now encircled significant units of the Republic¡¯s Fourth Sector Army on Attahox and Mimban.¡±
¡°Fourth, and most at risk, is our holdings on the Corellian Run¨C¡± the projection traversed to the string of heavily populated commercial and industrial worlds in the Mid Rim cut of the Corellian Run, from Allanteen to Christophsis, ¡°As you are aware, our victory at Christophsis had stymied the Republic¡¯s ambitions on the Run early in the war¨Cbut that did not stop them from taking the shipyards of the Allanteen System. We predict the Republic¡¯s Sixteenth Sector Army intends on pushing Rimward until they¡¯ve captured the Seventy-Seven Sectors.¡±
The 77 Sectors were the seventy-seven subsectors crossed by the Corellian Run in the Expansion Region, stretching from Allanteen-VI and Tynna to Bacrana and Thaere in the south. While the Tion Cluster and Near Perlemian was the industrial heart of the Confederacy, the 77 Sectors and the Corellian Run could be said to be the commercial soul. It was for this reason we spent so much effort linking up the two territories. It has always been in the GAR¡¯s best interest to prevent precisely this, and with Emberlene¡¯s timely intervention at Nanth¡¯ri, it looks like the GAR has pivoted on their objectives.
¡°And lastly, there is the Rimma Trade Route. Forces in the south led by Commander Ventress had recently crippled the shipyards of Eriadu, and paralyzed the Seswenna Sector¡¯s capability for extended operations,¡± the Supreme Commander looked up, ¡°However, we had also suffered a string of defeats at the hands of the Twentieth and Eighteenth Sector Armies, led by Jedi General Rees Alrix.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t Ventress another of Dooku¡¯s political plants?¡± Rel Harsol scoffed derisively,
¡°Not just any plant,¡± Diedrich Greyshade added, ¡°She¡¯s one of his ¡®new¡¯ Jedi Order.¡±
¡°The old Jedi Order is doing just fine, if all of them are like General Alrix,¡± Horgo Shive muttered.
¡°But the Republic are not without casualties,¡± Admiral Trench clicked his mandibles, shutting everybody up, ¡°At the beginning of their offensive, the Republic possessed a reported eight-hundred warships on the Rimma. Our strategy of the defence in depth has seen their forces whittled down to little over a hundred-thirty warships concentrated around Sullust and Eriadu.¡±
¡°Eighty-percent casualties,¡± Rear Admiral Merai said in disbelief, and admiration, ¡°Any sane commander would pull out far before that.¡±
¡°The linchpin holding the Republic fleets together is their Jedi General. That is my belief,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann nodded, ¡°General Alrix¡¯s propensity for fighting against mounting odds and still seizing victory has seen her status catapulted to one of near-legend among her troops, and in the Core Worlds. At this moment she is besieging Sullust with only a hundred warships, while the Eighteenth Sector Army continues to recapture the Seswenna Sector. There is no better time to launch a counteroffensive than now.¡±
From the way the Supreme Commander was looking right at me, I had a rough idea of whose job it¡¯s actually going to be to launch said counteroffensive. And right on cue, Admiral Trench used his cane to point at one of the pins hovering over Nanth¡¯ri; 28th Mobile Fleet.
¡°This is Operation Storm-Door,¡± the Harch Admiral announced, ¡°In the New Territories, the First Fleet Group will take forward defensive positions on Agamar, preventing the Republic from advancing on the Celanon Spur. At the same time, the Third Fleet Group will prepare to defend the Corellian Run, holding onto positions around New Cov and Druckenwell.¡±
¡°That is an awful lot of assets being moved around,¡± I noted out loud, ¡°Are we certain the Republic hasn¡¯t learned their lesson from Operation Trident?¡±
¡°There is no hiding the redeployments, not at this scale,¡± General Tann folded her arms, ¡°In fact, Republic High Command must have viewed Trident as a victory, because they are doubling down on investing even more resources. For one, their Seventh Armada has departed the Northern Dependencies to reinforce the Eighth Sector Army, and the Second Sector Army has been mobilised and are now pouring onto staging grounds along the Corellian Run. In order to fill the gaps left by the Seventh and Second, the Republic has even redeployed their Core Reserve Fleets towards the Colonies and Inner Rim. Every indication of these two offensives are present to us.¡±
¡°They¡¯re leaving the Core Worlds defenceless?¡± I nearly fell out of my chair, ¡°While a rogue fleet is rampaging around Coruscant!? What are they thinking!?¡±
¡°If that says nothing of their overconfidence,¡± Vinoc mused, ¡°Nothing will.¡±
¡°Or maybe we will witness a complete one-eighty in the coming weeks,¡± Greyshade pointed out, not without sense.
General Tann waited in silence until attention returned to her¨C ¡°Nevertheless, we will wait for the Republic to commit to their offensives, before executing the second phase of Operation Storm-Door. Admiral Trench¡¯s Second Fleet Group will launch a counteroffensive poised to retake our lost Perlemian worlds. Concurrently, the Fourth Fleet Group will do the same on the Rimma Trade Route.¡±
¡°Query¨C¡± Diedrich drawled.
¡°Go ahead.¡±
¡°Who will be commanding the Third and Fourth Fleet Groups?¡±
¡°The Third and Fourth have not yet been activated as of this moment,¡± the Supreme Commander answered, ¡°When they are, General Atticus Farstar will be the acting Commanding Officer of the Third Fleet Group. General Horn Ambigene will be acting Commanding Officer of the Fourth Fleet Group.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± I leaned down half-way to Hare, ¡°I suppose the Twenty-Eighth Mobile will be paired with the Fourth Fleet Group?¡±
¡°After you remove the Republic presence from Sullust, General Ambigene will reclaim the Rimma Trade Route. I believe your fleet will be attached to the Fourth until Yag¡¯Dhul is liberated.¡±
I nodded, before whispering to Hare, ¡°Send the files to Tuff and have him start running simulations. I want at least fifteen posted up to be reviewed while we¡¯re underway.¡±
Hare looked down at his datapad, then looked up again, ¡°Fifteen or fifty?¡±
I paused, ¡°...Fifty.¡±
I continued discussing the preliminary details with Hare for a while longer, with intermittent clarifications supplied by Diedrich and Vinoc. Organising a whole new fleet was complicated work, especially one as diverse as the 28th Mobile Fleet. Over three-hundred warships from backgrounds all across the Near Perlemian. It helped that I was already familiar with many of them, but I still had to compare capabilities and datasets to fit them together into efficient task forces and battle squadrons.
And I¡¯d rather do that now than in the heat of battle.
With something to occupy my mind, the rest of the conference went by in daze. Considering my name didn¡¯t come up again, I regarded it as a lucky break.
¡°¨CAll files will be transferred, and any specific details can be found with your commanding officers,¡± the Supreme Commander finally finished, ¡°If there is nothing else¡ good. You may all return to your vessels. Bonteri, Trilm, please remain for a little longer.¡±
¡I held in an aggrieved sigh.
?
I forlornly watched Hare leave with Diedrich. The droid wasn¡¯t allowed to stay, and she was more useful putting her computing power to work organising the fleet. The robot bunny glanced at once last time before the blast doors locked shut. Only Sev¡¯rance Tann, Trench, Calli Trilm, and I were left inside the suddenly spacious compartment.
Calli Trilm kicked her feet onto the table, and clapped loudly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about coups. How do we overthrow the government? There¡¯s not a cold chance in hell Dooku¡¯s going to allow a peaceful transfer of power.¡±
Somewhere faraway, I distantly realised this was the first time Calli decided to speak on her own accord since the meeting began.
¡°Three things keep Dooku in power,¡± Admiral Trench pointedly ignored her, ¡°And they are his control over the economy, military and public perception. We must deprive him of all three if we hope for him to see the futility of resistance.¡±
I sat up, realising that they were serious, ¡°His hand over the megacorporation lays on the shadow council in the executive branch of the government. Have we gotten proof of its existence? That alone would be enough to impeach him.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t,¡± Calli snapped her fingers, ¡°We roughly know the corporations he¡¯s in the pocket of, but no hard evidence of a shadow council. Even the magnates know that once its existence is proven, the Raxus Government would fall upon them with the hammer of god. Finding proof will be more trouble than it''s worth, especially when we can simply lure the corporations to our side. Much safer, and much more beneficial to make new friends than make new enemies.¡±
¡°We already have the Techno Union, thanks to your efforts,¡± Admiral Trench said, to General Tann¡¯s silent agreement, ¡°The Techno Union has invested far too much into General Tann¡¯s administration, and it did not take much to sway Wat Tambor. This also means we have secured the vast majority of the Confederacy¡¯s military-industry and research and development sectors.¡±
¡°The problem is that the InterGalactic Banking Clan is solidly in Serenno¡¯s sphere of influence,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann crossed her arms, ¡°Unlike the Techno Union, the IGBC¡¯s core holdings lay within the New Territories, which are more aligned with Count Dooku¡¯s personal circle than the Raxus Government. I initially requested Admiral Pors Tonith to take the mantle of Admiral of the First Fleet Group, but he denied the invitation. Admiral Kirst, being born in the Tion Cluster, was more loyal to Raxus.¡±
That was an issue. It scarcely meant anything if we had the military-industrial complex, but no credits to fund it. The corporate and industrial magnates are not so unpredictable; they were loyal to profit and influence, and credits was the primary medium for both. Until now the Banking Clan has been the Confederacy¡¯s primary sponsor¨Cand the Republic¡¯s primary sponsor, for that matter¨Cand without them the Confederacy could foresee a gaping hole in its budget.
I said as such; ¡°In that case we need to find a new source of income.¡±
¡°The Corporate Alliance has pledged its support to our bloc,¡± Trench clicked, ¡°Magistrate Argente and the Alliance Directorate were all too pleased to side against Dooku, especially if they see more influence to gain from it. Even if the Alliance is not as wealthy as the Banking Clan, the funds donated should still be substantial.¡±
But it did help that both Admiral Trench and the now Rear Admiral Merai were both once in the employ of the Corporate Alliance. That employment had to undergo a¡ let¡¯s call it a restructuring, after the Militia Act forbid direct corporate ties within the Armed Forces, just as if forbid direct planetary ties. Reduces favouritism and corruption within the ranks, apparently.
¡°It helps that Dooku had gridlocked Passel Argente¡¯s ambitions in the past,¡± General Tann noted, ¡°Nevertheless, that leaves the Trade Federation, Commerce Guild, Retail Caucus, and Hyper-Communications Cartel.¡±
¡°We must seize the Hyper-Communications Cartel,¡± I immediately stated, ¡°They operate the CIS Shadowfeed and Confederate HoloNet networks from Murkhana and Ando. I foresee the Trade Federation, Commerce Guild, and Retail Caucus jumping on the bigger, more stable ship.¡±
¡°The primary shareholder and de facto leader of the Hyper-Communications Cartel is Senator Po Nudo of Ando, despite his denials of being directly linked to it,¡± Calli pointed out, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean¨C¡±
¡°Po Nudo and I do not share a homeworld, Rear Admiral,¡± Admiral Trench slammed his cane down with a piercing bang! ¡°Nor are we from the same species. I hail from Secundus Ando, an Andoan colony world.¡±
Calli lowered her feet, raising her hands in surrender, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean presume anything¡ nor did I say anything at all?¡±
¡°I am certain Senator Nudo could be convinced to see our point of view,¡± General Tann said easily, ¡°If not, a company of commando droids can easily seize the communication operations on Murkhana. Not to mention Murkhana City also hosts the Corporate Alliance headquarters after the loss of Koorivar.¡±
The implications were clear. The Hyper-Communications Cartel was indeed a megacorporation in its own right, but it paled in comparison to the Corporate Alliance, which was a conglomerate of megacorporations. When the choice was between leaving Dooku¡¯s cabal or being forcefully folded into the Corporate Alliance¡¯s portfolio, the answer was quite obvious.
¡°I will speak to the Alliance Directorate,¡± the Harch Admiral agreed.
¡°Very good,¡± the Supreme Commander swiped the table, introducing a new overlay onto the starmap. One that displayed the concentration of droid forces and number of units active. The number was¡ well let¡¯s just say there was a significant exponential at the tail end of the figure. ¡°The Militia Act introduced substantially reduced the influence of the Droid Army within the Armed Forces in favour of citizen soldiers, but droid forces still constitute a significant fraction of our active military. And the Executive Office still holds the master codes to every droid unit ever produced.¡±
¡°I¡¯m guessing Dooku won¡¯t give those up if we ask nicely,¡± I muttered, ¡°Can we engineer an overriding set?¡±
¡°We can program our droids to ignore them,¡± Calli explained, ¡°We can engineer failsafes. A set of overrides for every officer so they can regain control of their droids. But there¡¯s the chance that said officers forget, lose them, or simply get shot dead by their own droids before they can execute the override.¡±
¡°The vast majority of our battle droids are manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata, aren¡¯t they?¡± I wondered aloud, ¡°Can¡¯t we ask the Techno Union to make the old master codes obsolete, and design new ones?¡±
¡°The programming was outsourced,¡± Admiral Trench answered.
¡°To whom?¡± I demanded.
¡°Geonosian Industries.¡±
Shit. Geonosian Industries wasn¡¯t a traditional corporation. It was more or less just a front for the Stalgasin Hive to do business with the civilised galaxy. In other words, it wasn¡¯t swayed by profits or politics or shareholders. Everything to do with Geonosian Industries had to go through Poggle the Lesser, the Archduke of Geonosis.
Why does Poggle the Lesser even support Count Dooku? What motivates him? What motivations can a sentient bug even have?
¡°That¡¯s a¡¡± I clicked my tongue, searching for an apt word, ¡°...problem.¡±
¡°We will work on the overrides first. The rest can be dealt with another time,¡± General Tann decided after a moment¡¯s thought, ¡°Otherwise, I will give you your orders.¡±
Precipitous change of subject aside¨Cwhich was something I¡¯ve come to attribute to Sev¡¯rance Tann by now¨CI was not expecting another set of commands. Raising an eyebrow, I asked¨C ¡°Were we not to counterattack up the Rimma Trade Route?¡±
¡°Those are the orders for the Fourth Fleet Group, not the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet,¡± she explained slowly, as if I was a child.
I nodded just as slowly. From Calli¡¯s frankly bored expression, it seemed like I was the only person here not in the know, to my mild annoyance. I liked knowing things.
¡°So is this about how the memorandum stated the Second Fleet Group¡¯s AO is the Near-Perlemian, but for some reason I¡¯m being deployed to the Galactic South?¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Admiral Trench took over, impatience present. With his six arms, he skilfully navigated the holoprojection to show two red arrows thrusting deep into the Core Worlds from different directions, ¡°This is Operation Starlance. As you may or may not have noticed, the Nineteenth and Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleets are the only two of their kind in existence. Your mission is not to capture territory, but to rescue Admiral Dua Ningo.¡±
I double-taked, looking at the projection again. The two arrows¨Cone started at Randon in Separatist Space, and proceeded on the Triellen Trade Route towards Commenor, Humbarine, then Sarapin. The second arrow started at Sullust, slashing right up the Rimma Trade Route to Yag¡¯Dhul, Hosnian Prime, and Corellia.
From the corner of my eye, I witnessed Calli Trilm slowly straighten as she mimicked my sudden stroke of attention, pale-faced as she traced the red arrows. Looks like even though she didn¡¯t know the specifics, to be honest, I could see why Trench and Tann kept it such a close secret. This was, for all meanings of the word, insane. The 28th Mobile had only 320 warships, and I imagined the 19th Mobile to have a similar outline. And now they wanted us to rescue an isolated fleet in the Core Worlds!?
¡°Your fleets were designed to sustain themselves on the move, with mobile deepdocks, manufacturing plants, and harvesters,¡± Admiral Trench continued, ¡°Simultaneously, they are small enough to be strategically manoeuvrable. Your crews are made of the best droids we have to offer, and more importantly, the most veteran crews in the entire galaxy. The Perlemian Coalition had been split between your two fleets. There is no finer fighting force in the Confederacy, and none more familiar with going against near-impossible odds.¡±
¡°Operation Starlance will begin the moment Operation Storm-Door does, to disguise its purpose,¡± General Tann explained, ¡°By attacking from two directions, we decrease the possibility of interception and increase the chances of finding Admiral Ningo. While acting behind enemy lines, you will be cut off from any communication with the Confederacy, and as such you will be given full operational independence. Any questions?¡±
I wetted my lips, a tad too stunned to even speak. Hells, I was still processing the fact that I¡¯m being sent on a suicide mission, again. Not to mention, I will be working with Asajj Ventress¡ again.
¡°Why?¡± Calli nearly whispered, ¡°Why are we risking all of this for Admiral Ningo?¡±
¡°Because Admiral Ningo was sent to Foerost to oversee the construction of not only a new fleet, but a new class of vessel,¡± General Tann snapped her fingers, and the projection warped into a 3D schematic a new warship, ¡°The Bulwark-class battlecruiser. It is currently the most advanced warship the Confederacy has on its hands. The secrecy of its construction meant the designs only exist with Admiral Ningo, and the Republic cannot be allowed to obtain them.¡±
¡°Finding Admiral Ningo will also present an opportunity to learn exactly how Dooku manages to communicate with his contacts in the Core,¡± Admiral Trench added, ¡°Furthermore, bringing him to our side might just gain us a veteran fleet admiral as well as the support of the SoroSuub Corporation¨Cjust another reason why lifting the Siege of Sullust is so important to our cause.¡±
¡°How are we so certain Admiral Ningo hasn¡¯t already been defeated?¡± I inquired, trying my best to seem composed, ¡°It has already been a week. And it will be weeks more before we arrive. And even then, we still have to find him.¡±
¡°Because Admiral Ningo is still rampaging through the Core Worlds, Rear Admiral,¡± Trench pressured, ¡°And the Republic HoloNet is so graciously documenting his every step. If he was defeated, the entire galaxy would know about it. If you find yourself too late, you may withdraw at your leisure. If not, expend every effort to search and retrieve¨Cor should that prove impossible¨Cdestroy every last trace of the Bulwarks from existence.¡±
I stood up, gripping the table tightly. Sev¡¯rance Tann raised a well-defined eyebrow in expectation. For a moment, I stared into Trench¡¯s six unblinking eyes¨Conly to lose my nerve and break away.
The Confederacy chooses its admirals and generals based on fear factor, seems like.
I saluted, ¡°Orders received.¡±
¡°Orders received,¡± Calli repeated.
General Tann smiled, and her hologram disappeared.
Admiral Trench stood up slowly, ¡°Every file relevant to Operation Storm-Door has already been transmitted to your flagships. As for Operation Starlance, the both of you will only receive oral orders from me directly. This includes the beginning of Starlance, and when you are allowed to inform your crews of its existence. Until then; dismissed.¡±
As if on his word, the blast doors groaned open, allowing a flood of clinical yellow light into the conference room. Calli marched out silently, almost petulantly, and I followed close behind her.
¡°This will only be the second time the Confederacy pierces the Core Worlds,¡± I said to fill the silence as we walked towards the turbolift, ¡°Looks like the Pantoran wants us to follow in her footsteps. Hell, you will be tracing her previous raid right up until Sarapin.¡±
Calli remained silent. Our footsteps were gradually accompanied with the steel cadence of droid patrols and roving parties of Andoan engineers and technicians. Here and there, were crossed paths with knots of Koorivar Fusiliers, the elite marines of the Corporate Alliance.
From behind her, I noticed a considerable few more streaks of white hair in her tight military bun.
¡°Like old times, huh?¡± I sighed.
Calli slowed down, wordlessly allowing me to walk beside her, ¡°...Let¡¯s talk on the way down.¡±
The turbolift lobby came into view, and then the small gathering of officers waiting there, painstakingly staring at the deck numbers tick upwards on the overhead display. Calli and I walked past it, somehow coming to the same conclusion that we¡¯ll use the maintenance shaft that goes straight to the hangar bays.
I hummed in agreement.
Addendum 3: Operation Storm-Door [CLASSIFIED]
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Following the failure of the Onderon Peace Summit due to the withdrawal of Republic delegates in the wake of an Attack on Coruscant, the perpetrator of which was swiftly identified as Admiral Dua Ningo, the galaxy has been spurred once more towards the flames of war.
The drumbeat of propaganda has only amplified on both sides, drowning out any hopes of reconciliation with unrelenting fervour. Moderation and reason have become perishingly rare among our political bodies. Citizen war support has exploded in both the Core Worlds and Outer Rim, as innumerous swathes of volunteers flood conscription centres galaxy-wide. With the Republic''s military industry slated to continue expanding, the Confederacy of Independent Systems must regard the unshakable truth; our final victory is only becoming less certain.
While the Confederacy may have enjoyed a large materiel advantage over the Republic in the first year of the war, difference is now closing swiftly, and the Raxus Government is marching towards bankruptcy. While we do not know the exact conditions of the Grand Army of the Republic, the GAR have nonetheless made no action to disguise the mobilisation of their reserve armies.
Direct your attention to the display above. Naval Intelligence indicates the mobilisation of three reserve armies; the 2nd Sector Army, 3rd Sector Army, and 4th Sector Army.
According to our projections, in which we have full confidence, the GAR 2nd Reserve Armada is bound for the Mechis System, ostensibly to support the 20th Sector Army''s existing efforts in the region. Meanwhile, the GAR 3rd Reserve Armada has been observed transiting the Perlemian Trade Route, towards Lantillies. It is our confidence that the GAR intends on reinforcing the deficit of troops in the region in the wake of Operation Trident. Lastly, the GAR 4th Reserve Armada has departed Alderaan and is bound for Gyndine, where we predict they intend on countering our counteroffensive on the Nanth''ri Route. At the same time, our agents in the Bilbringi Shipyards report the activation of the GAR 7th Northern Armada, last seen headed north to Ord Mantell.
In consideration of these new discoveries, the Confederate Armed Forces must take drastic action, lest the continuation of warfare eventually become untenable. Our intelligence efforts have already produced results; we have hard and presentable evidence that the GAR is planning two independent offensives in the Northern and Southern Theatres in an effort to seize key commercial sectors of the Confederacy.
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
To this end, we propose Operation Storm-Door. We will mobilise every last of our operational military assets and advance on every possible front.
In the Northern Theatre, the 1st Fleet Group under Admiral Kirst will take forward defensive positions at Agamar, pinning down the GAR 8th Northern Armada and 9th Northern Armada. He will adopt a strategy of defence-in-depth, grinding down the enemy''s numerically superior force while slowly retreating towards Celanon. Considering our lack of forces in the region, we advise that the goal of this operation is not to take territory, but to bleed the enemy.
In the Perlemian Theatre, the 2nd Fleet Group under Admiral Trench will execute a counteroffensive with the intent of liberating our lost worlds. We emphasize the necessity of taking decisive action in this decision, as the 2nd Fleet Group must break through the enemy''s defensive positions and seize key worlds before reinforcements from the GAR 3rd Sector Army arrives in to the front.
In the Eastern Theatre, the 3rd Fleet Group under General Farstar will take forward defensive positions around New Cov and Kalarba. Our intelligence efforts have given us detailed insight into the GAR''s strategy, and we can reliably predict their movements. With this consideration, a small strike squadron can attack the enemy from the rear when they arrive, via the Gamor Run. At the same time, units of the 3rd Fleet Group will continue counterattacking along the Nanth''ri Route, with the intent of liberating Mimban before the GAR 4th Sector Army arrives.
In the Southern Theatre, the 4th Fleet Group under General Ambigene will reverse the effects of the GAR''s Hundred Days Offensive by launching a counteroffensive up the Rimma Trade Route. Once again, we urge haste in your decision, as the 4th Fleet Group must reach Yag''Dhul, and fortify their positions before the GAR 2nd Sector Army reaches the Mechis System.
Conclusion: The ultimate objective of Operation Storm-Door is to recapture our industrial and manufacturing worlds taken by the Republic, from which way may begin revitalising our military industry to gradually close our materiel deficits. The present outlook from the war proves foreboding for the Confederacy. Whether Operation Storm-Door is approved or otherwise, it is our belief that drastic and decisive action must be taken to preserve any hope of satisfactory outcome from this war. Political troubles on Raxus Secundus notwithstanding, we eagerly await your decision no matter the outcome.
*can you edit this? the supreme cmdr. wants to present it to the oversight committee
**why? isn''t there a political crisis going on?
***the gen. stf. wants more transparency apparently. makes us trustworthy
****does this look good? i removed starlance
*****make the introduction longer and make it seem more urgent
******now?
*******LGTM
*Edited for presentation to the Confederate Parliament
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| Attachment CWY21M02: State of the Galaxy: |
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Chapter 46
Nanth¡¯ri Orbit, Nanth¡¯ri System
Kurost Sector
¡°There¡¯s one more trick Dooku has up his sleeve,¡± Calli said quietly as we turned into a disused engineering shaft.
¡°So serious,¡± I mumbled.
¡°I am serious,¡± she rebuked, ¡°Dooku has a secret fleet operating out of deep space. Warships built by Kuat Drive Yards, at least a hundred of them, maybe twice as many. Enough firepower to subjugate entire worlds.¡±
I wizened up, ¡°Built by KDY? I can believe Kuat building ships as long as they get paid, but how did they keep a fleet of one¨C two hundred warships secret?¡±
¡°Because they look like bulk freighters,¡± Calli paused as the maintenance shaft beeped, ¡°Around a klick long, like A-class freighters on drive scopes. And up close¡ the gunports are concealed, and it''s hard to differentiate durasteel armour from reinforced hulls. Other than that, nothing else is known about them.¡±
The elevator shaft opened up, and we stepped through after a cursory look around. Soon enough, we were rumbling down to the hangar bays.
¡°If they¡¯re so secret, how did you find out?¡±
¡°They¡¯re not very secret among our privateer friends,¡± was Calli¡¯s answer, ¡°On the Nanth¡¯ri Route, every other ship could be a pirate raider, and they¡¯d know if there''s a new tradefleet operating on their turf. All it took was one pirate flotilla to attack this fleet, and never return, for them to know it¡¯s trouble. They call it the Storm Fleet, because it comes and goes like one. Not long later, the Storm Fleet berthed at several neutral ports in the Nanth¡¯ri Hook, and those neutral ports were suddenly Separatist-aligned. Most recently was Emberlene, and right after Emberlene went on a rampage across the Authala Sector, conquering at least a dozen worlds before taking their warfleet to Nanth¡¯ri and beating the Republic back to Mimban.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t know you had privateer friends.¡±
¡°We had privateer friends,¡± Calli rolled her eyes, ¡°The Confederacy didn¡¯t hide its less than savoury allies. After the Militia Act, the Pantoran finally put her foot down. Letters of marque and reprisal were withdrawn, and the Office of the General disavowed all piracy based in Separatist space. ¡®If you want to continue raiding Republic vessels, get yourself a commission in the Confederate Navy, and do it legally.¡¯ And now Celis Mott, one of the most infamous pirates in this region, is Commander Celis Mott. I found out from him.¡±
¡°So I checked nearly every shipyard in the galaxy,¡± she continued, ¡°Not many could build even a hundred warships simultaneously, in a timely manner, and even less can design star destroyers that look like bulk freighters. Few fit the bill. Kuat, Rendili, and Fondor. Corellia, Sluis Van, Lianna maybe. But only Kuat had an order for that many freighters, apparently for a shipping corporation that¨Cand I checked¨Cdoesn¡¯t actually exist.¡±
¡°Alright, you got me,¡± I said, ¡°I¡¯m going to assume the Storm Fleet is slave-rigged, or at least slaved by droids, because there¡¯s no other way to keep a fleet of that size operating out of deep space. But that also means they can be compromised with ECM. First, though, we need to find out where they are. How recent was ¡®recently¡¯?¡±
¡°They¡¯re in the south, where you¡¯re headed,¡± Calli watched the deck numbers ticking down intently, ¡°That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m telling you. The Mistryl Shadow Guards of Emberlene can track it down, which is why we¡¯re going to be hiring a team, who¡¯ll rendezvous with you as soon as they have liberated Attahox. As for disabling the Storm Fleet, the Twenty-Eighth Mobile has enough Munificents to blackout a space station, given the right configurations.¡±
¡°Understood¨C¡± the lift grinded to a halt, and the doors slid open to reveal an obscure corner of the hangar bay, ¡°¨CBut I have to lift the Siege of Sullust first.¡±
Stepping out, the bustle of the hangar deck enveloped us. Droids, technicians, engineers, spacers, and even massive Vulture droids¨Cthat were much bigger than they seem¨Cstomping across the bays. Invincible could deploy nearly five-hundred LACs at a moments notice, and to retain that operational efficiency required a colossal, constant effort.
Calli straightened her outfit and brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face, revealing the pale scar over her right eye¨Cnow almost pinkish under the flare of the hangar¡¯s prismatic floodlights.
¡°You didn¡¯t know.¡±
The words spilled out from my mouth before I even knew what I was saying.
She spun around to face me, scoffing, ¡°How could I? Couldn¡¯t you tell? Operation Starlance doesn¡¯t exist. The Pantoran is telling us to dive feet first into Nine Hells, and didn¡¯t offer a way out. We¡¯re disposable. We were never meant to know¨Cno one is. You heard Trench; not even our crews are to know, until it¡¯s too late to turn back. They know how suicidal this plan is. And I still can¡¯t see the point of it.¡±
For a moment, I struck with a sense of deja vu. I had been in her exact position once, hadn¡¯t I? If there was one thing I learnt about Sev¡¯rance Tann, it was that she considered promotions not as a reward for excellence, but as expectations of excellence. If she says you¡¯re due for a promotion, expect an undertaking to convince her. If she says you¡¯re promoted, expect an undertaking to prove you are worth the rank. The Battle of Teth felt like a lifetime ago.
And now Calli Trilm was learning the same thing I did.
I laughed.
Calli¡¯s lips thinned¨Cthe only sign of incense on an admirably controlled expression¨Cand she crossed her arms, ¡°Think this is funny, do you?¡±
I smiled shallowly, ¡°Back on the Wheel, I told you what I did. Serving the Pantoran is a fast-track to the Admiralty. But maybe I forgot to mention that she demands an equal worth of results. Did I ever say how I leaped ahead of you, back then?¡±
Calli Trilm was shorter than me, but in all the years we¡¯ve known each other, I¡¯ve never had to make a conscious effort to look her in the eye. The same way, I suppose, that you¡¯d never have to look down to watch a lioness stalking you.
¡°Escort Asajj Ventress to Teth,¡± I continued without prompt, ¡°Don¡¯t ask any questions. Next thing I know, I was fighting an entire Republic battlegroup led by a Jedi Master. Turns out Ventress had kidnapped Jabba the Hutt¡¯s only son. That¡¯s the thing with the Pantoran; she is demanding, but reliably demanding, and reliably rewarding. She made you an admiral, now she¡¯s telling us to earn our keep. None of that politicking stuff, you know well as I she¡¯s a Hutt in fine dining when it comes to politics.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t seem concerned at all,¡± Calli complained¨Cshe was too dignified to complain, but I could tell she was complaining¨C ¡°Usually you¡¯d be whining about how you¡¯re in over your head at this point. Most of the time you¡¯re awfully cautious, but this time you¡¯re overly careless.¡±
I shrugged, ¡°I can afford to be. The moment we enter enemy space, our closest known friendlies will be¡ only you and I. We won¡¯t be able to communicate with the Confederacy anymore, only each other. Am I wrong for trusting you to watch my back?¡±
Her eyes widened, then narrowed, ¡°Awful lot of trust given I betrayed you.¡±
It might have been my imagination, but I thought I saw a little colour come to her cheeks.
¡°You paid me back. I consider us even,¡± I grinned, Trench¡¯s words echoing somewhere at the back of my mind, ¡°Have I ever, ever, asked you outright to trust me?¡±
Calli¡¯s shoulders lifted as she ran through every time we spoke¨Cthen dropped with a sigh, ¡°Never.¡±
¡°And I won¡¯t now,¡± I agreed, ¡°Because I know you wouldn¡¯t ask me to trust you. That¡¯s the game, isn¡¯t it? Since the start. So let¡¯s only use that when it counts.¡±
It was when she turned her back on me, but made no movement to leave, that I knew I had her.
¡°So quick to leave,¡± I joked, ¡°Am I so disappointing?¡±
Calli Trilm slowly turned around, a fire burning behind her eyes that wasn¡¯t there before, in the meeting or otherwise. I barely had enough time to take a half-step back before she was already on me, snagging my cheek with thumb and index and yanking me down to her level.
¡°Stop screwing with me. I was vocal enough with my opinion of you that you should already know what I think,¡± she drily said, ¡°I¡¯m not as easy as that overgrown spider likes you to think.¡±
My grin only grew, tugging against the pain, ¡°I still prefer my validation straight from the horse¡¯s mouth.¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯ll get it,¡± she hissed, releasing me¨Conly to shove me back against the elevator doors, and punching in the control panel.
Not a moment later I found myself locked in a kiss, trapped between cold steel and an enticingly warm body. My eyes closed out of instinct, a hand naturally finding her hip. For the briefest second I thought of pushing her way, as this was hardly the place¡ but after all that has happened, I couldn¡¯t say returning to this brand of distraction wouldn¡¯t be enjoyable. Not like there was ever going to be a better time.
The elevator doors opened behind me, and we made no effort to not tumble back into the carriage. A hard landing later, and when she withdrew I felt the full weight of her on me, sharpened gaze digging into my face.
¡°Now, really?¡± I gasped, ¡°Somebody could be listening.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t have chosen this place if somebody was,¡± she looked amused, ¡°I¡¯m the one here who captains a Providence, not you. I think I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±
In more ways than one wordlessly passed between us. The elevator doors slid shut, and the noise died. The deck panel remained untouched, forgotten, and without orders the cab was eerily silent. Suffocating. With a brisk tug, a storm of grey, radiation bleached hair fell around me, blocking out the rest of the world until it was only the two of us.
¡°Nobody¡¯s listening,¡± Calli whispered.
¡°One for the road then?¡± I suggested.
The next gasp wasn¡¯t one of disagreement.
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Sullust Approach, Sullust System
Brema Sector
General Horn Ambigene was the quintessential Separatist.
Tall, slender, but with broad shoulders that gave a sense of reliable stability. His arms were thin, but well-muscled and worn by the passing of time and hardship. Stark white hair gave a sense of his age, along with the crinkles in his eyes, but otherwise Horn Ambigene was perhaps just another old man, earning his place at the flag of the Fourth Fleet Group by experience if nothing else.
In any other military, that would be enough. But a military headed by Sev¡¯rance Tann? Experience had to be backed up by talent, and skill. Simply serving a desk job for decades wasn¡¯t enough to warrant one of four highest positions in the largest military in the galaxy.
If not for one thing.
Horn Ambigene was not just simply a Separatist. He was the first Separatist. He was a Separatist before Separatism was even coined as an ideology. He has been fighting the Galactic Republic for decades, before Sev¡¯rance Tann was even born, perhaps, and definitely before Dooku turned to the dark side. In fact, when Count Dooku created the Separatist Alliance, Horn Ambigene was one of the first supporters he sought after.
Because Horn Ambigene offered something the Separatist Alliance desperately needed; experience in fighting a war. He was made the Commander of Organic Training, and personally created the core of what became the Confederacy¡¯s citizen soldiery. It would not be untruthful to say the Militia Act that reformed the Confederate Armed Forces was built on the back of Horn Ambigene¡¯s lifework.
The so-called First General of the Confederacy was well-aware of his own reputation, and had the pride to match.
¡°I expect Sullust to be devoid of Loyalist forces by the time I arrive, Rear Admiral,¡± General Ambigene barked, ¡°Your own reputation precedes you, and I am aware of your impressive history against Jedi commanders. Can you assure me General Alrix will be just another tally to your track record?¡±
Every sentence came out of his mouth like an order, and I could already tell what sort of person he was. General Tann and Admiral Trench¨Cthey let their presence do the talking. Shouting was beneath them, and they expressed anger in the form of quiet dismissal, followed by administrative punishment. They were career officers, and wielded authority with easy familiarity.
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General Ambigene, by contrast, was a drill sergeant, a squad commander. His authority was enforced¨Cusually with volume¨Clikely borne from a lifetime of organising militias and training soldiers. It was not an unwelcome thing, in many cases. People like Trench and Tann went to the academies of some form, and emerged ready to command, bearing the certain expectations that came with it. Horn Ambigene learned how to command by commanding, and behind all that hard-ass exterior, he knew firsthand the limitations of expectations.
Whatever orders he gave would be much more realistic than General Tann¡¯s. There would be no ¡®let¡¯s raid the Core Worlds via a hyperlane that doesn¡¯t fucking exist¡¯ and there definitely would be no ¡®hold off the entire Republic Navy for two months, with no fleet and no resources except what you can procure out of thin fucking air.¡¯
Sure, I could tough out some barking, if it meant reasonable orders.
¡°I can¡¯t promise anything, General,¡± I replied coolly, ¡°I can only judge my opponent after facing them.¡±
General Ambigene grasped his chin, thinking. It was a good sign. At this point I¡¯d usually hear something along the lines of ¡®you¡¯ve done it before, why can¡¯t you do it again?¡¯ There was nothing wrong with data-driven assumptions, especially when looking at my admittedly outlying record, but fighting battles was¡ well, holistic in every sense of the word.
I honestly didn¡¯t know why I do so well against Jedi. The thing about Jedi Generals is that I can always rely on their tactics being simplistic, but somehow effective. Even Plo Koon¡¯s revolving spearhead only appeared complicated, when the idea behind it was as primitive as charge forward. Doing something unconventional always seems to push them off-balance, despite the preconception that Jedi cannot be pushed off-balance.
Try as I might, I cannot wrap my head around the Force. Oh, it sounds simple enough, but I¨Cand every other bloody person in this galaxy¨Ccould only try comprehending it as we might comprehend the four-dimensional space. What the fuck is the Force? How the hell does it work? Why does it sometimes make the Jedi omnipotent, and other times have no outward effect at all?
Therefore, I can only form my own subjective conclusions against an opponent¨CJedi or otherwise¨Cby standing across them on the field, and observing how they make their moves. I¡¯d ignore the Force as one might ignore unpredictable weather. If it strikes, when it strikes, I¡¯d know I couldn¡¯t have done anything about it. Until then, I¡¯d proceed as I always have.
¡°Very well,¡± General Ambigene finally decided, somehow still barking, ¡°I trust that you will do your utmost regardless.¡±
I stood a little straighter, ¡°As I will always, General.¡±
General Ambigene lifted the corner of his lip, ¡°Remember, Rear Admiral; provocate, but do not attack. We need the Republic to make the first major move. Unless General Alrix decides otherwise, you will only advance once the Supreme Commander announces the commencement of Operation Storm-Door. At the same time, my forces will surround the Seswenna Sector, and I hope to see both Eriadu and Sullust firmly in Separatist control before we proceed north. We will teach the Republic the strength of our resolve.¡±
¡°Very good, General¨C¡± we shared a salute, ¡°¨CI shall we see you at Yag¡¯Dhul.¡±
The last thing I saw before the connection cut was a savage grin, bearing all teeth.
¡°Contacts on scopes,¡± Tuff alarmed.
I snapped towards the nearest repeater; 110 warships clustered around Sullust¡¯s southern hyperspace jumpzone, and another 74 warships even further ahead, camping out behind a distant asteroid cluster. I transferred those coordinates to the system chart, identifying the cluster as the Sululluub Field.
¡°That must be Ventress,¡± I said aloud.
¡°We are in a poor position to support them,¡± Tuff inserted, ¡°Sululluub¡¯s orbit is in the third orbital position, compared to Sullust¡¯s fourth. The enemy¡¯s position is well-placed, blocking the Rimward egress while simultaneously blocking Commander Ventress¡¯ fleet from escaping the star system.¡±
Well placed indeed, and I had to struggle to comprehend how Ventress even got herself in that position. See, the Sululluub Field was an asteroid belt that orbited the sun, except it was closer to the sun than Sullust itself.
¡°Can we plot a vector towards Ventress without the risk of interception?¡± I asked Stelle.
The droid shook his head, ¡°We can plot a vector following a prograde orbit in relation to the system primary, we still need to return on a retrograde to make the final leg, at which the enemy fleet can intercept us.¡±
The problem was that Ventress had taken a position shadowing Sullust. Which was sensible, as she needed to keep a constant eye on the planet and her opponent, but the negative side effect I was now facing was that it would always put Sullust between her and any reinforcements coming from the south. Which is to say; we had an enemy fleet in between us, and that wasn¡¯t going to change unless Ventress decides to offset her orbital position by a few million klicks.
¡°Ventress can see us, right?¡± I wondered, ¡°Can we communicate with her?¡±
¡°If we can see her, then she can see us,¡± Stelle confirmed, ¡°But communication is unlikely so long as the enemy is between us.¡±
¡°We outnumber the Republic three to one,¡± Tuff interjected, ¡°The quickest way to rendezvous with Commander Ventress is to go through the enemy.¡±
I reviewed the latest fleet status reports, fighting a brief internal battle over whether I should just take the tactical droid¡¯s advice to engage immediately, or prioritise seeking regrouping with Ventress first. The central concern was that the 28th Mobile Fleet¡¯s primary objective was to carry out Operation Starlance, and that meant preserving our most crucial elements; namely Commander Jorm¡¯s 286th Auxiliary Division, consisting of five lumbering mobile shipyards.
We couldn¡¯t risk getting caught in a battle now.
¡°Get me a tightbeam to Commodore Greyshade,¡± I ordered.
Diedrich Greyshade was the commander of the 283rd Battle Division¨Cor ¡®3rd Battle Division for short¨Cwith a sum total of seventy-five assorted warships. Only twenty-four of those were capital ships, but it should be enough to dissuade Alrix from fighting.
¡°Admiral?¡± Diedrich¡¯s voice rang out.
¡°Battle stations. I want the Third in a starboard echelon weighted towards the tail and ranged¡ two-hundred thousand klicks off Aurora¡¯s starboard bow,¡± I commanded, ¡°We¡¯re going to be rendezvousing with Commander Ventress, and that means strolling right past the enemy. If Alrix presses, you decline. If she presses harder, the Fourth will assist you. Prioritise the safety of the Sixth above all else.¡±
¡°Orders received.¡±
I turned back to Stelle¨C ¡°Now get me Vinoc.¡±
¡°Sir?¡±
¡°Battle stations. I want the Fourth in portside echelon weighted towards the head and ranged two-hundred thousand klicks off Aurora¡¯s starboard quarter,¡± I commanded, ¡°Mirror the Third on our transverse plane at all times. If Alrix attacks, prioritise the safety of the Sixth above all else.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
The 28th Mobile had been divided into seven subformations; the Third and Fourth were Battle Divisions, and the Sixth was Commander Jorm¡¯s Auxiliary Division, flagged by Aurora II, a massive mothership that was large enough to fit the original fuel tanker Aurora in its spacious hangars. It really couldn¡¯t be stressed enough that if Operation Starlance was to go ahead in any capacity, the 6th Auxiliary Division had to stay intact.
The Fleet proceeded on a vaguely orbital vector spinning prograde with Sullust¡¯s star, skirting outside of the enemy¡¯s operational perimeter. I had still half the mind to engage directly, if not for the confirmation that General Alrix had defeated a force over three times the size of her own before. Until I find out exactly how she did that, it was in my best interest to stay wary.
¡°I want the Third and Fourth Battle Divisions tracking their every move,¡± I told Tuff, ¡°And get the Second Strike Division to create a picket line on our portside, just in case.¡±
I tracked our progress, the formations of the 28th Mobile Fleet unfolding out like the petals of a blooming flower. Battlecruiser Kronprinz taking point and leading her fellow Tionese warships at the point, like black sihouettes against the harsh solar flares¨Cbut from the Republic¡¯s perspective, their chrome armour must be gleaming like newborn stars as they reflected unfiltered sunlight. To our rear, Vinoc led our Ringo Vindan and Metalornian battleships from his flagship Crying Sun. The brutal form of star dreadnought Olympus Mons lurked in the far rear, her bristling array of weaponry tracking the yet-stationary contacts of our foes.
They weren¡¯t stationary for long.
¡°Enemy drive cones detected!¡± the sensor droid alarmed as the previously dead contacts on the tactical holo burst into life, the ever-distinctive drive profiles of Star Destroyers leaping into action.
¡°Should we enter battle stations, sir?¡± the tactical droid might as well be raising an eyebrow, if he had eyebrows.
¡°Alrix is sitting on a hyperlane egress,¡± I thought outloud, ¡°If her intention is to intercept hostile forces, she will. If her intention is to blockade and besiege Sullust, however, then she cannot risk leaving the jumpzone. However, considering she had not yet engaged Ventress¡¯ inferior flotilla, she must be prioritising the blockade over us. Her forces are alert, but have they left the jumpzone?¡±
¡°Enemy contacts are turning to face us,¡± Stelle reported, ¡°We can assume they are fixing our velocities and are plotting vectors to intercept.¡±
¡°But if they were intent on intercepting us, they would have left the jumpzone already,¡± I finished, turning to Tuff, ¡°What do you think?¡±
The tactical droid stared at the tactical holo, running through his calculations.
¡°A sound conclusion,¡± Tuff finally decided, ¡°Refer to Battle Registry Log Two-Four-Three; First Battle of Christophsis. Alliance Directorate Fleet under Admiral Trench upheld standing orders to enforce blockade over Christophsis over engaging approaching Republic Taskforce. This was not the tactically preferable action, if not for strategic concerns relevant to the world in question.¡±
¡°You think General Alrix is in Admiral Trench¡¯s position?¡±
¡°Affirmative.¡±
I leaned back, observing the contacts on the display. Tuff was right¨Cthey weren¡¯t moving. There was a certain trick to blockading jumpzones. Since their primary objective was to intercept blockade runners, the most effective blockades were a layered defence, focusing on maximising angles of fire. A simple line abreast, while covering a much wider area, was too easily run since there was only one layer to overcome. Jumpzones were not a wide area. The end result was that a blockade looked like a haphazard strew of ships placed seemingly randomly¨Cuntil you were trying to run the blockade and realise every ship somehow had an angle of attack on you.
On the flip side, that loose, spread-out formation made a terrible order of battle.
As long as the enemy fleet remained in that blockade formation, they weren¡¯t going to attack.
That internal battle came back again. If they weren¡¯t going to attack, why shouldn¡¯t I? I could leave the Auxiliary Division with a rearguard and take two-hundred warships and crush them right here and now. Unfortunately, General Ambigene was strict on the matter; no offensive actions until the Supreme Commander gives the go ahead.
¡°Very well,¡± I waved away the tactical holo, ¡°Continue at speed.¡±
There was a window in the couple hour transit in which the Republic could still attempt to intercept, but General Alrix was seemingly content to sit and watch. So that¡¯s what happened; two fleets with all scopes and sensors and weapon arrays aimed and primed at each other, but nobody made the first move. My own hands were bound by, well, larger strategic concerns as Tuff would put it, but I wonder what Rees Alrix¡¯s hands were bound by.
I don¡¯t believe she¡¯s the type to follow orders in the face of prime opportunity. To pull something off like the Hundred Days Offensive¡ opportunity for offence was everything to be seized. I slumped in my chair.
Which can only mean one thing. She believes she can still defeat me. Which means she knows something I don¡¯t. Reinforcements are already enroute, most likely.
¡°We have confirmation from the central database,¡± Tuff reached forward to tap the display in front of me, ¡°Taskforce Conciliator, flagged by star cruiser Resilient, Venator-class.¡±
¡°Anything on the Resilient in particular?¡±
¡°It¡¯s the personal flagship of Republic Admiral Cede Wieler,¡± Tuff said, ¡°Except Admiral Wieler was reported killed in action at the Battle of Medth, at the hands of Commander Asajj Ventress.¡±
¡°Resilient indeed,¡± I muttered, ¡°Get me a detailed report of everything we know about them, down to the fuel reserves if we can.¡±
¡°By your command.¡±
¡°Can we reach Ventress now?¡±
By now we were directly perpendicular to Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s position, relative to the hyperlane egress. The window for interception was quickly closing, and the enemy still wasn¡¯t moving.
¡°Patching a line to star dreadnought Dark Rival,¡± Stelle announced, finger hovering over her console as she glanced for confirmation,
I nodded, stood up, and cleared my throat. The last time I spoke to Ventress was at Teth, at which I was glad to see her leave soon after on that junker following the dicey skirmish over the planet. This time, however, our positions were flipped. Somewhere within me, I wondered what she had been doing the entire time? Surely Dooku¡¯s personal assassin has more ¡®important¡¯ things to do other than lead a failing defence of the Rimma Trade Route?
A hologram fizzled into view before me, and as it coalesced so did the pale, bald form of Asajj Ventress. Her slitted eyes were as menacing as ever, and with the hems of her hooded cloak and black dress ebbing at her feet¨Cat the edge of the holoprojector¡¯s frame¨Cshe was as very much a malevolent wraith as I last remembered.
¡°Bonteri,¡± she hissed, ¡°I hate to say it, but you are a welcome presence.¡±
I stared at her blankly, ¡°At least use the rank, Commander.¡±
¡°...Fine. Rear Admiral.¡±
I beamed, ¡°Submit a report on the integrity and battleworthiness of all your vessels as soon as able, Commander. We¡¯ll work from there.¡±
¡°Report?¡± Ventress nearly snarled, ¡°With your forces here, we can overwhelm and crush that Alrix!¡±
I raised two fists, miming invisible handcuffs as I tried to pull them apart, ¡°My hands are tied, I¡¯m afraid. There will be no attacking anyone until the Supreme Commander gives the go-ahead. I will be transmitting some files I¡¯d advise you to glance over. Is Dark Rival your fleet¡¯s flagship?¡±
¡°Our command centre is aboard the Chakdrukke.¡±
I leaned away, whispering to Tuff, ¡°Which one is that?¡±
¡°The Inexpugnable-class battleship, sir.¡±
¡°Never heard of that class,¡± I mumbled before quickly returning my attention to Ventress, ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll see you aboard.¡±
She was still staring daggers at me when I closed the connection.
Rubbing my cheek, I stood up and snatched the purple cape off the backrest, ¡°Prep a shuttle, and tell Jorm to start repairing Ventress¡¯ ships.¡±
Chapter 47
Sululluub Asteroid Field, Sullust System
Brema Sector
Chakdrukke was an Inexpugnable-class battleship. Shaped like a disc with a prominent ventral fin, she boasted three klicks from stern to bow, and three klicks from port to starboard beam; she had more the profile of a spin station than a starship. I¡¯ve never heard of such a class before, which shouldn¡¯t be surprising, as the galaxy was vast beyond imagination.
For a ship built four-thousand years ago, even more so. So it was just as impressive how well she was holding up, though it would be a miracle if there was still an original stiffener left in her. If nothing else, this ship was living proof of the ancient Republic¡¯s shipbuilding prowess.
Just making my way to the bridge showed me enough of the ordeal Chakdrukke went through. The roar of angle grinders and welding torches filled the compartments and corridors as soldiers and droids made whatever repairs they could with the emergency patches they had on hand. It was the same scene throughout the entirety of Ventress¡¯ command, but the fleet should find itself back in fighting order soon enough.
The Sululluub Field had enriched Sullust and the SoroSuub Corporation for thousands of years, and now it was enriching us. With Horgo Shive¡¯s ¡®2nd Strike Division dispatched to secure the myriad mining stations and repair yards littered throughout the belt, and Jorm¡¯s ¡®6th Auxiliary Division now processing a truly gratifying amount of pure metal, the 28th Mobile now had our workshops running round the clock to provide Ventress her desperately needed repair platings, spares, and expendable ordnance.
This was what the 28th Mobile was designed for, and Sululluub provided a good practice exercise to shakedown the process and work out any kinks before Operation Starlance begins.
Stepping onto Chakdrukke¡¯s pilothouse was an experience, to say the least. Instead of a traditional pilothouse, Chakdrukke had three floors of transparisteel instead, with the central command deck¨Calso made from transparisteel¨Cbeing suspended by durasteel cables. On one hand, you got a 360-degree view of the void, on the other, I felt like it was in breach of several WSH protocols. As always, the utter genius of Republic starship design never ceases to stupefy.
Pointedly ignoring the endless, starry void beneath my feet lest I lose my sense of being, I marched straight up to Ventress and the cadre of officers surrounding her. There would always be something unnerving about being in the physical presence of a Sith, but with Vinoc at my side I finally had a Sith of my own. Distantly, I wondered how many more Force-sensitives had enlisted into the Separatist ranks at the behest of the Pantoran.
Vinoc once told me of the plight of the Service Corps Jedi, many of them opting to simply remain in Separatist space than return to a Republic that had forgotten about them, maybe even convinced by Dooku¡¯s Raxus Address. Unfortunately, Dooku had hunted down many who hadn¡¯t subscribed to the dark side. I once introduced the idea that Separatism and Jedi didn¡¯t have to be mutually exclusive¨Cthat fighting for the Confederacy didn¡¯t necessitate being one of Dooku¡¯s Dark Acolytes.
I had to admit, it was a bit gratifying to see that General Tann had taken my word into account when enacting the Militia Act. One of the laws stated that any Force-sensitive, trained or otherwise, may enlist to the Armed Forces and be provided specialised training, or even opt to enrol in a federal military academy. It made Dooku¡¯s Acolytes and even the Jedi Order much less exclusive, now that any Force-sensitive in the Confederacy had the opportunity to pursue their unique powers.
With Sev¡¯rance Tann a war hero, and propaganda pieces of her and her golden lightsaber dime a dozen these days, there was really no better time to be Force-sensitive in the Confederacy. One thing for certain, the Supreme Commander was committed to providing her new military a fresh generation of Force-sensitive officers, considering her growing lack of frontline involvement.
And wasn¡¯t that a thought? One day this nation may be led by precognitive generals and admirals, with a distinguished general staff of space wizards. Hopefully us mundane officers wouldn¡¯t be made obsolete¡ but maybe I would be long dead by then. Sev¡¯rance Tann, no matter how capable, was one person, and a national institution can¡¯t be built in a day. Though if more Temple-bred Jedi defected to our side, bearing all the institutional knowledge that comes from an aeon-old religious order, that process might just be hastened some.
Back to Ventress¨Cwho definitely won¡¯t be making me obsolete anytime soon.
¡°Bonteri,¡± she greeted.
I raised an eyebrow.
¡°Rear Admiral,¡± she tried again.
¡°Great,¡± I swept an eye over the bridge, before checking my chrono, ¡°We will be engaging the enemy taskforce as soon as Operation Storm-Door commences¡ which may be sooner than I¡¯d like.¡±
¡°The sooner the better!¡± Ventress snarled, ¡°We have numerical superiority¨Cwe should seize it! Why must we languish around while Loyalist reinforcements could be on their way at this very moment!?¡±
Definitely won¡¯t be, I reaffirmed.
¡°We follow orders, Commander. We have a duty,¡± Diedrich Greyshade reprimanded with all the disdain of a Columexi elite, ¡°Dooku¡¯s pawns are no longer in control of our nation. You can no longer do as you wish. If you are unable to serve the interests of the Confederacy, consider tendering your resignation.¡±
A side effect of the Militia Act was that all of the Dooku¡¯s Acolytes, who had all been arbitrarily ranked as commanders by Dooku thus far, could no longer operate outside the cogs of the system. They were retroactively given commissions, salaries, and the actual authority afforded to their ranks. On the other hand, they now had superiors as well, and ¡®commander¡¯ was not a very high rank.
Ventress¡¯ eyes flitted like a cornered cat¡¯s, and Vinoc stepped forward.
¡°You¡¯re a Jedi washout,¡± she hissed, ¡°You think you have what it takes to defeat me?¡±
¡°You won¡¯t find me so easy an opponent, Ventress,¡± Vinoc stated harshly, ¡°Back down.¡±
¡°Do not make trouble in the Rear Admiral¡¯s presence,¡± a flat voice said¡ flatly. It was a fair woman, dressed in a modest black coat with a face so stiff and eyes so lightless one could imagine it was a ultra-realistic droid faceplate, ¡°I will not have disorder on my ship.¡±
I was unnerved enough, and apparently so was Ventress, considering she relented and backed down not a moment later.
¡°...Thank you, Commodore,¡± I pulled Vinoc back by the shoulder, ¡°Let me be clear; we will be engaging Jedi General Alrix as soon as the go-ahead is issued. I must stress the severity of the task at hand; we must not allow Alrix to retreat. Our victory must be total and complete. This is a strategic necessity.¡±
¡°An ideal result, and one not too distant considering the undoubtedly deserved infamy of your forces, Admiral,¡± a Neimodian garbed in the colours of the Trade Federation spoke up, ¡°But may I ask for an elaboration?¡±
I nodded understandingly, flicking out a hand, ¡°Can someone please pull up a starmap of the Rimma on the holo?¡±
A nearby officer who had been doing his damndest to not listen in literally jumped in his own skin, before scrambling over his console and opening up a truly gargantuan starmap that spanned all three floors, enveloping the bridge in a flurry of blue stars and artificial lines. The Rimma Trade Route was like a tree trunk, spanning from the roof a level above us, to the level beneath our feet, visible through the transparisteel decks.
Vinoc whistled in appreciation.
¡°We are here,¡± I pointed at Sullust at my feet, ¡°And General Ambigene is there.¡±
I pointed further down to Eriadu, floating in the middle of the floor beneath us.
¡°Our target is this,¡± my finger whipped through the air, and now I was pointed at a sparkling constellation above our heads¨Cfour major star systems located where the Rimma Trade Route, Corellian Trade Spine, and Harrin Trade Corridor intersected, ¡°Yag¡¯Dhul. Our objective is to establish forward defensive positions at Yag¡¯Dhul, preventing anymore Republic troops from reinforcing the front while General Ambigene sweeps up the Rimma to our south.¡±
¡°If we allow Alrix to escape,¡± the Neimoidian understood, ¡°She could hit us from behind when we reach Yag¡¯Dhul.¡±
¡°Precisely,¡± appreciation bloomed in my chest when the projectionist shrunk down the holodisplay until the map was in a more manageable state, ¡°The Republic¡¯s Second Sector Army is already on its way. After securing Sullust, we will jump directly to Yag¡¯Dhul. We will be behind enemy lines, but the Aux Division can sustain us until General Ambigene arrives. This is why it is paramount we do not leave any loose ends behind us.¡±
Of course, the real reason is that I didn¡¯t want to risk the chance of an enemy fleet blocking our only vector of escape once we entered the Core Worlds, but Trench was adamant that Operation Starlance remained top secret until the moment arrived. Similarly, the reason why Yag¡¯Dhul was chosen as our objective instead of, say, the forge world of Mechis III or bacta world of Thyferra was because Yag¡¯Dhul sat directly on the confluence of two major hyperlanes, and gave us some much needed options.
Not to mention, the native Givin of Yag¡¯Dhul were famous galaxy-wide for being expert astrogators due to their sheer natural mathematical abilities, and securing their help would go a long way to improving our chances of success.
¡°Thank you for that,¡± I said loudly, ¡°Now please show us a chart of the star system.¡±
Right on cue, the holodisplay focused onto the star of Sullust, zooming in until the orbital lanes and bodies of the star system were close enough to be rendered in. A scanner ping went off, and fleet assets appeared, apparently based on visible drive cones and last known positions.
¡°Our order of battle will be as such¨C¡± I started, pausing until I was sure everybody was keeping up, ¡°Chakdrukke, Dark Rival, and this fleet¨Cwhich has been designated the Forty-Sixth Guard Fleet, will be stationed right here along with the Sixth Aux Division.¡±
Some of the officers moved to protest, but Diedrich Greyshade raised a palm to stop them, ¡°Nobody doubts your devotion. You have already done well fending off the Republic, and making them bleed for every system they take. Both your ships, and your crews, are spent. Allow Captain Jorm and his auxiliaries to service your vessels their much needed repairs. We''ll take it from here.¡±
¡°At least allow those of us with battleworthy ships to fight!¡± the Neimoidian protested, ¡°We spent the entire war running. This is our chance to return the favour! My crew may be spent, sir, but you will find no men more eager and ready to serve some pain to the Republic!¡±
I looked towards Vinoc, ¡°What do you think?¡±
The fallen Jedi peered at the gathered officers with a critical eye, ¡°It will be good for morale if nothing else. These people have only been running away until now.¡±
¡°Very well,¡± I crossed my arms, to the barely restrained rejoice of the officers, ¡°Any still battleworthy ships and fighter squadrons can join us. Now, we will advance towards Sullust on a straight vector, forcing Alrix to leave the hyperlane egress as she comes around to face us.¡±
A red-scanned line spanned the distance between the Sululluub Field and Sullust, a tiny red annotation popped up automatically, stating 82,780,000 klicks.
¡°We will form our primary battleline here, fifty-five mil¡¯ klicks out, two-thirds of the way across,¡± I pointed, ¡°Commander Krett¡¯s Fifth Support Division will be positioned three-million klicks behind us as a rear guard.¡±
¡°What strategy will we use?¡± Greyshade mused.
I looked at Ventress, ¡°What strategy does Rees Alrix use?¡±
If anybody knew, it would be someone who had the most experience fighting her all this time, right?
Ventress glanced at the officers behind her, then back at me, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any. She finds a hole in your formation, even if you do not see it yourself, and charges straight into it.¡±
¡°She¡¯s a Jedi Knight,¡± Vinoc rolled his shoulders, eyebrows furrowing in concern, ¡°The Force is a powerful ally in battle. If we show any weakness, she will find it. All formations come with their weaknesses, so which will we use?¡±
I rubbed my cheek, analysing the hundred or so ships of Taskforce Conciliator, before coming to a decision.
¡°We will use Battle Order Three,¡± I decided.
Diedrich startled in surprise, ¡°But that has one of the most obvious weaknesses. It¡¯s a standard formation; you don¡¯t need to be a Siniteen to know how to counter it.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± my lips stretched into a smile, ¡°If we use a complicated formation, she might know our weakness before we do. But a standard formation¡¡±
?
¡°Bow-and-quarter line,¡± Commodore Kendal Ozzel sniffed in disdain, ¡°They must think us fools.¡±
Jedi General Rees Alrix stood upon the pilothouse of star cruiser Resilient, the former flagship of Admiral Wieler, as her own former flagship, Conciliator, had been boarded and scuttled at the Battle of Medth. Ozzel¡¯s own Star Destroyer, Imperious, sailed close to portside, the Tector¡¯s red-painted markings ablaze as Taskforce Conciliator crossed Sullust¡¯s terminator line, a curtain of blazing solar radiation swept over the fleet¨Csunscreens automatically activated across viewports.
Her earth-brown robes trailed on the polished metal deck, covering the extensive plastoid armour that protected her body from neck to toe. Many Jedi Generals had adopted the distinct white body armour of their cloned troops, and General Alrix was no different, despite never having to fight a planetside battle yet. At their feet, the crews in the data pits worked with a furnaced intensity, determined to avenge the loss of their former commanding officer.
Kendal Ozzel reflected on the start of Operation Trident, at the chagrin that gripped the officer corps when Jedi Command assigned them some nameless, recently promoted Jedi Knight to be the Jedi General, as if mocking them. That displeasure only mounted when High Command made their low expectations of the coming campaign known by approving the assignment. The Separatist strongholds of the Rimma Trade Route were too powerful, too unbreakable to be captured.
The Rimma Campaign would never go far, High Command must have thought, so why invest resources that could go to the Perlemian?
Fools then smashed the greatest warfleet of the Republic on at Columex, all while their forgotten ships on the Rimma seized world after world, system after system with unparalleled success.
To their starboard, the lava rivers of Sullust¡¯s volcanic crust weaved and meandered, as if following them as they orbited around to face the Separatist foe. As the dark side of Sullust retreated to their rear, the formation of the enemy fleet ahead became ever clearer to them.
¡°With all due respect, General,¡± Ozzel said, ¡°This is why I recommended intercepting the enemy fleet when they arrived. We could have caught them in transit, while they were in disarray and unorganised.¡±
¡°Is Governor-General Teshik still coming to reinforce us?¡± the Jedi General inquired, keeping her gaze fixed on the menace before them.
¡°The Separatists have blockaded all spacelanes in and out of the Seswenna Sector,¡± Ozzel informed, ¡°And now that they are advancing on all fronts, General Teshik has retreated to Eriadu to shore up its defences.¡±
¡°The end of Eriadu will be the end of our Eighteenth Sector Army,¡± General Alrix¡¯s robes rustled as she approached the viewports.
¡°You will find me in agreement, General.¡±
The Separatists loomed, their flanks unfurling and expanding into an imaginary horizon of gleaming riding lights and battle-forged durasteel. It was a standard bow-and-quarter line, ranging on two lines¨Cone directly parallel to them, and the other reaching forward in a portside echelon, or reversed chevron. Standard, but effective.
¡°How many ships are we counting?¡± the General asked after a brief pause.
Ozzel leaned over a datapit to watch the numbers crawl over an operator¡¯s shoulder¨C ¡°Two-hundred warships. This is not their full force.¡±
¡°I was informed over three-hundred instances extracted at the termination shock,¡± Alrix looked spun on a heel, looking down on him from a lifted chin. Something disdainful shone in her dark eyes, ¡°Is that information still correct?¡±
Ozzel concealed his feelings behind a professional facade, ¡°With the addition of Ventress¡¯ ships, General, that number is now over four-hundred.¡±
¡°Half,¡± she mused, ¡°And what is your opinion on this, Commodore?¡±
Ozzel set his shoulders straight, ¡°The enemy commander must not be confident with Ventress¡¯ ships. There is, however, no explanation for not bringing their full force against us. A bow-and-quarter line against a numerically inferior force like ours can only mean they are seeking a full encirclement, and the full destruction of our taskforce.¡±
Her eyes swirled with a murky haze, which Ozzel has come to connect with the Force her order of monks had a relationship with. He was not a deeply religious man, but even then there was something about it that didn¡¯t quite sit well with him. It brought victory, however, as it did at Medth, and that alone was reason for him to tolerate mysticism in a place where data and logic should be held above all else.
Tolerate, not accept.
If only Jedi mysticism could have saved the fleet at Columex, hm?
¡°Or,¡± she turned back, ¡°They are protecting something. Something that hinders them from presenting their full might. What have we identified from the enemy?¡±
Ozzel slowly nodded, ¡°All these ships have been redeployed from the Perlemian Trade Route. I advise caution; we are facing veteran commanders and veteran crews. We have identified the flagships of numerous named commanders, many of whom have battled Jedi such as yourself before. Captain Krett saw action against Jedi Generals Tiplar and Tiplee at Ringo Vinda, and Commander Shive against Jedi General Skywalker at Vorzyd-Five. We also spotted the star frigate Repulse, the reported flagship of Rain Bonteri, who requires no introduction. The Separatists have sent their very best against us.¡±
¡°Bonteri¡ he was the one who fought Master Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin to a standstill at Metalorn, was he not?¡±
¡°He defeated General Kenobi and Skywalker at Christophsis as well, General.¡±
It was as if the Separatists have gathered every officer with a modicum of experience against Jedi Generals to face them. Ozzel was determined to not let this taskforce join the list of tallies the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s infamous Armada have etched onto their painted hulls.
¡°¡Then I inquire, Commodore,¡± she finally said, ¡°Why would using this formation of theirs convince you that they think us fools? We know our opponent, and they must know theirs.¡±
¡°Because the bow-and-quarter line is a standard battle tactic, General,¡± he answered easily, ¡°It is effective in the purpose for which it had been created, but like all effective tactics, it has been extensively studied. Weaknesses were identified, and counters are well-known and practised, so much so that counter-counters were created in turn, and so on.¡±
¡°That is fascinating,¡± Rees Alrix said, ¡°And what are these weaknesses?¡±
Is this a test? Kendal Ozzel had to admit, he could not have expected such a¡ foolish question. Any officer cadet worth their uniform would know the ins and outs of what was one of the most researched and applied tactics in naval history.
And as if the Jedi had been reading his mind¨Cand for all he knew, she might have¨CGeneral Alrix glanced over shoulder with a thin smile.
¡°Indeed, Commodore, I do not know,¡± she professed, ¡°In the Jedi ways, my Master Maks Leem had taught me well, but she had never been fond of warfare or even lightsaber combat herself. Is this not why I had called you upon my bridge, to seek your advice?¡±
If Resilient¡¯s crew had been despirited by the confession, they did not show it. The ghost of Admiral Wieler seemed to linger over the pilothouse of his flagship. The discipline he wrought, the respect for authority he imbued, the diligence and professionalism he imparted. He may be gone, hunted down by that savage assassin Ventress, but a piece of him remained in each and every man and woman serving on his ship.
And perhaps, part of it was the steady confidence that Rees Alrix exuded, almost visibly warping the conditioned air. Her robes dragged against the deck as her plastoid boots clapped against the plating, and yet they remained as pristine as they ever have.
¡°The bow-and-quarter line¡¯s greatest weakness is its lack of force concentration,¡± Ozzel explained, ¡°The inverted chevron creates a killzone that we must avoid, forcing us to attack the parallel line, to which the flanking arm can then sweep around and envelop us from the rear. However, by trying to lengthen their front and envelop us, the line becomes thin enough that a concentrated forward assault on the parallel may allow us to break the line before the flanking arm can encircle us.¡±
General Alrix narrowed her eyes, ¡°So shall we assault the parallel?¡±
If there was one thing Ozzel could appreciate about the Jedi, it is the prominence of simple forward assaults in their tactics. Offence was the best defence, as he always said, but even offensives must be sensible.
¡°The enemy will likely deploy their starfighters and conceal them behind their signatures,¡± he forecasted, ¡°The moment we enter their firing envelopes, the starfighters will circle around one of the flanks and strike first, pinning us down until the arm can finish us off. The counter is simple; deploy our own starfighters in advance to engage theirs before intercepting the parallel.¡±
¡°...We will not be able to achieve a tactical victory here,¡± the Jedi General decided, or perhaps foresaw.
¡°General?¡±
¡°But we can still deprive the Separatists of the victory they are hoping for,¡± she continued, ¡°Very well, Commodore; have our fleet prepare to intercept the enemy. I will provide the interception target. For now, craft a command package for a tight diamond. We will only tighten our ranks at close range in order to not telegraph our strategy.¡±
¡°Very good, General,¡± Kendal Ozzel grinned in eagerness, and appreciation, ¡°When shall we deploy our starfighters?¡±
¡°Have all our combat patrols return to hangars,¡± General Alrix commanded, ¡°We will only deploy them when we break their line.¡±
His smile died as quickly as it came, ¡°General? Their Vultures will tear us apart before we even get close!¡±
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¡°You have made your input, Commodore,¡± Alrix barely paid him any heed, ¡°Have that command package ready for execution on my command. Helmsman; all ships full forward.¡±
Resilient lurched beneath them, their only saving grace the inertial dampeners activating before they could be thrown off their feet. As if they hadn¡¯t been listening at all, Ozzel could only watch as the crew obediently followed the Jedi General¡¯s order with single-minded purpose, without protest. He swallowed, watching the enemy line swiftly respond, sublight drive signatures exploding onto the displays.
Kendal Ozzel was a hardcore proponent of the constant offensive, of which he was proud to proclaim. But there was a difference between that and suicide, of which General Alrix seemed to be committing now. He could see it in his mind¡¯s eye already; the moment Taskforce Conciliator crosses the threshold into the enemy envelopes, a swarm of Vultures would emerge from the glaring drive cones and rip them to shreds.
They will be more capable of identifying light attack craft at close range, but that would mean nothing if they didn¡¯t have any combat patrols in the black to intercept them.
But the Jedi have their own way of fighting. Alrix isn¡¯t foolish. She must see something I don¡¯t, and the crew trusts her judgement.
¡°What do you see, General?¡± Ozzel asked.
To that, Rees Alrix gave the answer; ¡°A vulnerability.¡±
?
I checked my chrono.
Sometimes, the hours before battle were the most difficult. Knowing you have already gave all the necessary briefings, and made the necessary preparations, and left with nothing to do but wait. Knowing your life and the lives of thousands were on the line, and agonising over the fact that you couldn¡¯t do anything more because you¡¯ve already done everything you can.
It was the hours before a final exam, knowing you¡¯ve studied and revised everything you needed to know and still wondering if you could know more, wondering if you were missing something.
It was that something that lingered like a spectre over your head. Most of the time it was your own mind playing funny tricks, because on a droid-crewed ship there was little chance of a weapons engineer cutting corners, a deck officer forgetting to do their necessary rounds, or a tactician failing to consider all the options. Not when those tasks were programmed, hardwired directly into artificial brains.
But that was one ship.
That something will always exist, and will never show itself until the critical moment you realise the something you need isn¡¯t there.
Waiting for a battle to start was agonising. I was here. The enemy was there. And now I was waiting for an order coming in from thousands of parsecs away, one that might come in minutes, hours, days, or weeks.
So maybe I was a little thankful when the enemy decided to be less patient than I.
Drive cones bloomed into the tactical holo as Taskforce Conciliator surged ahead, wrenching themselves from Sullust¡¯s gravity well and forcing a path straight towards us without any recognisable formation.
I stood up, ¡°Status?¡±
¡°All ships report on standby,¡± Tuff said.
¡°All systems green and operating at acceptable parameters,¡± Kavia followed.
I tapped the comlink on the armrest, ¡°Ventress, get your birds in the air. I¡¯m giving you command of our Vultures.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
I toggled the frequency, ¡°All ships, Repulse; all ahead full. You have your orders. Check your bearing at all times. Don¡¯t straggle.
¡°Repulse, Renown; roger roger.¡±
¡°Repulse, Kronprinz; understood.¡±
¡°Repulse, Crying Sun; got it.¡±
A hundred more affirmations poured in, and I quickly lost track of who was who. A quick look at the feed on the comms repeater got my head back in the game, however, as a cascade of check-ins poured down the callsigns.
Repulse rumbled, sublight drives igniting with fiery zeal. A series of thuds echoed through the hull as her Vulture wing dropped from her rafters, encircling the hull in close combat escort. To our portside, the ¡®4th Battle Division swelled forth in line abreast, dreadnoughts and battleships pounding like the thunderhead of an approaching storm. To our starboard, the sleek Tionese battlecruisers of the ¡®3rd Battle Division surged out ahead like unrestrained hounds, their speed unmatched by any in the Fleet.
At the same time, Ventress¡¯ fanbladed Ginivex-class starfighter dropped out of a Sy Myrthian, followed by a whole¨Cand perhaps, only remaining¨Cwing of Rogue-class starfighters from Forty-Sixth Guards. Soon after, their droid counterparts followed in the form of Vultures, Hyenas and Scarabs, in a darkening cloud that remained well aft of the main line of battle.
The plan was simple. According to Ventress, Jedi General Alrix was the type to identify a weakpoint in her enemy¡¯s formation before mercilessly exploiting it, over using complicated stratagems planned many moves in advance. In other words, like most Jedi she used her instincts. Therefore, we will have the most simple formation of all, with the most obvious weakpoint¨Cbecause it was better to fight a Jedi with a deficiency we know and account for, rather than try to outwit the Force.
That being said, the weakness of the bow-and-quarter line was the fragility of its long line abreast. Near the inverted chevron, overlapping firing angles created an unassailable crossfire with every ship supporting the one adjacent to them, but on the line abreast that wasn¡¯t possible. Which was why the purpose of the line abreast was to give ground, slowly retreating while the angled arm reached forward and flanked around, completing a three-way encirclement.
Alrix¡¯s objective was most assuredly to shatter the line abreast before we can flank her, splitting our battleline in two and opening us to be defeated in detail¨Cand this is where the starfighters come in. Starfighters can respond more promptly than warships, and can pin down the enemy until the flank could be executed fully.
The trick laid in disguising where the starfighters will come from, as the stratagem would all be for nought if the enemy could simply see where they will be hit from and deploy a screen in advance.
Right now, there was¨CI checked the tactical holo¨Cnear 50,000,000 klicks between our forces. At this range, the most effective scopes were for drive cones by far. Sublight engines were bright, hot, and spit copious amounts of radiation in every direction. They were basically unmissable. Furthermore, different classes of ships with different drive configurations produced different drive signatures, allowing us to effectively identify the make of enemy ships at the same time.
However, it was precisely because sublight drives were bright, hot, and spit radiation in every direction that we can hide smaller drive cones in their near proximity. Trying to find the tiny cones of LACs among a horde of battleships was like trying to identify if there was a candle or a hundred in a bonfire.
Unfortunately, droid starfighters weren¡¯t all that smart. The manoeuvres will require timing and precision, of which Vulture droids may be unable to accomplish. They were good at swarming, overwhelming the enemy through sheer numbers, but this tactic required a little more finesse than that. Controlling the droids from the bridge of their motherships meant factoring in a response delay. A field commander was needed. Someone who could judge the ebb and flow of the battlefield from the ground and react appropriately.
Ventress would field that role. She was one of the Confederacy¡¯s ace pilots, and had more experience with starfighter combat than all of the 28th field officers combined.
Drive cones grew, heat and radiation expanding outwards as their well-defined edges frayed and blurred into hazy smears of light. It wasn¡¯t easy to judge the velocity of the enemy formation, as they were burning straight at us. We can estimate, however, based on their drive cones.
I watched the distance between us plummet as the relative contact velocity skyrocketed.
¡°Their accel-squared is rising,¡± Tuff noted.
I nodded blankly. Our fleet was forging ahead at a reasonable accel-squared, with the intention of levelling at a steady 500Gs, as we needed to maintain our bearings between ships, not to mention that this was the top acceleration our retrofitted Lucrehulks can maintain. On the other hand, Alrix had slammed the pedal to the metal off the starting block, and her fleet was now climbing to an astronomical 1000Gs, with seemingly no intention of slowing down.
¡°What¡¯s the maximum inertial dampening Republic cruisers are rated for?¡± I asked aloud.
¡°Two-thousand Gs in the best circumstances,¡± the tactical droid answered, ¡°But grievous internal injuries to organic crews may still occur.¡±
¡°I can imagine,¡± I observed the enemy formation¨Cor lack thereof. With each ship possessing different drive specs, Taskforce Conciliator didn¡¯t have a stable formation, ¡°Show me our vectors.¡±
Lines burst out of the pins, each with their own annotated accelerations and bearings. Whereas our formation had neat, parallel lines with matching bearings, the Republic had a mess of constantly shifting figures.
I frowned, ¡°Relative intercept velocity?¡±
¨C13,859KPS
¨C14,183KPS
¨C16,431KPS
¨C17,003KPS
¨C18,098KPS
¡What the fuck?
The distance between us wasn¡¯t just plummeting now, it was a literal blur of numbers as the readout struggled to keep up. Everytime the tactical holo refreshed, the enemy pins traversed a greater and greater distance, until it was as if they were warping through the void.
Something wasn¡¯t right. I smacked the readout, as if it was malfunctioning. But it wasn¡¯t. The Republic was really going that fast. The time to intercept was an hour, but every time I looked away, it seemed to reduce by whole minutes, instead of seconds.
¡°Have their LACs been deployed?¡± I demanded.
¡°Negative.¡±
¡What the hell is she doing? This isn¡¯t how you fight a battle!
I checked the time to intercept again; she won¡¯t have enough time to deploy starfighters at this rate! Wait, is she planning to deploy starfighters at all? I shook my head; that thought was absurd. Everybody knew that you needed starfighters to counter Battle Order 3.
I needed to check our acceleration, or by the time we make contact there won¡¯t be any formation left to fight in. Some of our slower dreadnoughts and battleships were already straggling behind, and our Lucrehulks were being left in the dust. But if we shut our engines now, our starfighters were going to be revealed. That wasn¡¯t much of a problem on its own, as the Republic were likely already expecting starfighters¨Cas was standard for the tactic¨Cbut it was their location that would give away which flank they would strike from.
We had to continue burning bright and dirty¡ unless Ventress suddenly decided to go rogue.
Ventress suddenly decided to go rogue.
She took her fighters and spun them right around, all fifteen-thousand of them, and began streaming back to Krett¡¯s 5th Support Division trailing three-million klicks to our rear. And maybe, just maybe, that was my fault for forgetting she was a Sith acolyte first and foremost.
¡°Ventress,¡± I asked with a measured calm that I didn''t quite feel, ¡°What are you doing?¡±
¡°...Something is up,¡± Ventress hissed, telling me something I already knew, ¡°We¡¯re playing right into Alrix¡¯s game.¡±
¡°And your response is to¡¡± I wanted to say desert, but I knew that wouldn¡¯t be quite true, ¡°...retreat from the battle?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not retreating,¡± she denied impertinently, ¡°I¡¯m reducing our intercept velocity.¡±
I toggled to the fleet frequency, ¡°All ships, Repulse; shut down primary drives. Maintain formation.¡±
There was no point burning if the reason we were burning for decided they didn¡¯t need it anymore. As soon as the order was transmitted on the tightbeams, the entire 28th Mobile went dark as a single body. And as soon as we did, our scanners picked up signals¨C
¡°LIDAR,¡± Tuff reported, ¡°The enemy is targeting us with lasers. I recommend employing our shields and passive countermeasures to refract and scramble them.¡±
I nodded absentmindedly, waving the go-ahead.
¡°Repulse, Crying Sun; copy,¡± there was irritation in Vinoc¡¯s tone, ¡°What on Malachor is Ventress doing?¡±
¡°I¡¯m trying to find out,¡± I clenched my jaw, switching frequencies again, ¡°¨CNow, why are you reducing your intercept velocity? Where the hell are you going!?¡±
A beep¨C Stelle looked up at me; ¡°Sir, Commander Krett is sending us a tightbeam.¡±
¡°Tell him I¡¯m trying to deal with it!¡±
¡°Roger roger.¡±
¡°I am not going anywhere!¡± Ventress bit in audible frustration, ¡°It¡¯s you who needs to slow down!¡±
¡°Thirty minutes to intercept,¡± Tuff said dryly.
¡°Why!?¡± I shot to my feet, nearly shouting.
¡°¨CI don¡¯t know!¡± Ventress screamed back, and it was then I realised she was not frustrated at me, but at herself, ¡°I have a bad feeling! Even I know Alrix should have her fighters in the black by now! But she doesn¡¯t!¡±
I looked back at the tactical holo. Alrix wasn¡¯t letting up, and the lights past the transparisteel viewports were only growing from tiny sparks to flares in the darkness.
¡°You¡¯re jeopardising our entire strategy off a bad feeling?¡± I demanded.
¡°Sir, Commander Krett is contacting us again!¡±
¡°Twenty-seven minutes to intercept.¡±
¡°Tell him to fuck off!¡±
¡°Roger roger!¡±
¡°Ventress, get back to your stations now! Don¡¯t force us to override the Vultures,¡± my gaze was shooting between readouts, mentally calculating whether we can get the LACs back in time to salvage the battle, ¡°You can still make it back in time!¡±
¡°Twenty-five minutes to intercept,¡± Tuff droned.
I swore, ¡°Stelle, execute the override codes.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°Stelle?¡±
¡°It¡ it looks like they¡¯re out of range?¡± the droid¡¯s statement sounded more like a question.
My frown deepened, ¡°She can¡¯t possibly link all of them to her starfighter. They still need a central server to work from.¡±
¡°They¡¯re¡ Commander Ventress transferred them to battleship Fortressa.¡±
Krett¡¯s flagship.
¡°Sir, Commander Krett is contacting us again.¡±
¡°Oh for¨C patch me in!¡±
I waited as patiently as I could for the Neimodian to start; ¡°My apologies, Admiral¨C¡±
¡°You have the Vulture overrides, Krett? Transfer them to me.¡±
Krett went silent for a moment.
¡°...My apologies, Admiral,¡± he said again, with an indecipherable tone, ¡°But I don¡¯t think our enemy is fighting the same battle that we are.¡±
¡°...What?¡±
¡°The vector of the enemy flagship doesn¡¯t intercept any of ours.¡±
I looked at Tuff, and he immediately brought up the vectors again. And indeed, the line leading out of Resilient did not intersect any of ours. Now, usually this didn¡¯t mean anything, as it was perishingly rare one would actually engage the ship it was aiming for, but fixing an intercept target¨Ceven on a random opposing ship¨Cwas a simple and effective way to create a useful point of reference for the rest of your fleet.
If Alrix was not making any of us her intercept target, then either she was truly flying arbitrarily, which was hard to believe, or she made her point of reference something else entirely.
¡°...What do you think, Tuff?¡±
¡°This tactic has zero matches in my databanks,¡± he answered, ¡°Opening new calculation instance.¡±
¡°No need for that,¡± I waved him off, ¡°We only have¡ twenty minutes to intercept. Just tell me if victory is still possible without our fighters.¡±
¡°Considering the enemy no longer has the time to deploy fighters, and have not adopted any effective formation,¡± he calculated, ¡°I compute an eighty-six point nine-five-five percent chance of overwhelming victory, based on the parameters available to me.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad¡¡±
But then what the hell was Ventress on about in the first place? I squinted at the tactical holo. Even if Alrix wasn¡¯t aiming to intercept us, we were still aiming to intercept her. And without LACs on the field, we can easily envelop her smaller fleet and destroy it completely. The starfighters had been taken out of the field on both sides, that¡¯s all. Nothing changed in the end¡ we were still going to win. We were still going to destroy them.
In the purple king¡¯s name, Bonteri, when was the last time someone did anything for you without direct orders?
An annoying voice I wish I had never heard again appeared in my head. Fuck off.
This may sound absurd coming from me, but you need to trust those who serve under you. That¡¯s what they¡¯re there for. You¡¯re not the only one trying the best you can.
¡
¡°And what if the enemy adopts an effective formation?¡±
Tuff stared at the holo with a critical eye, ¡°Factoring in their velocity and positions, the number of formations the enemy can adopt in time for intercept is severely limited and unlikely¨C¡±
I blew out a breath, cradling my forehead, ¡°Ventress fought Alrix before. I can¡¯t discount her ¡®bad feeling¡¯ being some Force-damned power.¡±
¡°The Force is not an unreliable variable, neither quantifiable nor qualifiable¨C¡±
¡°I know!¡± I snapped, ¡°We¡¯ve gone through the motions before.¡±
¡°...Calculations complete,¡± Tuff finally announced, bringing up his datapad and keying in the result.
Almost immediately, new vectors popped up on the holo, along with ghostly apparitions of possible formations factoring in the current relative bearings and speed of each ship along with time left to execute the necessary manoeuvres. One formation and its variations stood out to me most prominently; a somewhat conoidal diamond that looked terribly familiar¡ where had I seen that before?
I checked my chrono for the time left to intercept. Fifteen minutes. I had to make a decision now.
Ventress had taken up new stations around Krett¡¯s 5th Support Division, and the 5th itself was acting strangely, doubling up their lines and condensing their formation.
I wetted my lips, ¡°That cone shape. Superimpose it on their current headings and extend out Resilient¡¯s vector.¡±
The holo created a second instance of itself, simulating what would happen if the ships moved into the cone formation, then extending out the vector of the point¨Cwhere it shot past our battleline and off the display.
¡°What is she targeting?¡± I rubbed my eyes, ¡°The Sululluub Field behind us? Expand the scope of the display.¡±
The display zoomed out, showing how the vector extended out through the Sululluub Asteroid Field before it curved due to some orbital influence or the other.
¡°¨CHostile intercept detected,¡± Tuff announced, and there was a realised panic in his modulated voice.
I checked the intercept, and my breath was caught in my throat and my eyes widened three sizes. Then I looked back at the conoidal formation and realised where I had seen it before; it looks like an arrowhead. The last time I saw that formation was at Metalorn.
I checked my chrono.
Ten minutes. Not enough time.
No. The pieces suddenly clicked in my mind¡¯s eye. I should have realised from the start; Rees Alrix was by all accounts a master tactician. I was right from the moment I saw her suicidal charge; this wasn¡¯t how you fought a battle. Ventress realised the same thing, and abruptly acted on that instinct. Then it was Krett who realised why; because Alrix wasn¡¯t fighting us
It¡¯s not us who needs time. It¡¯s Alrix.
I slammed my fist down on the fleet frequency, ¡°All ships, this is Repulse. We are making a complete withdrawal! Hard left on etheric rudders and retro-burn as you do; present broadsides and open fire once the enemy is in effective range!¡±
?
Kendal Ozzel felt his heart lodged in his throat as Resilient tore a seam through space, his skin prickling as the enemy battleline went dark and prepared their guns for contact. He was unsure if the cause was nervousness at the suicidal nature of the charge, or the damaged inertial compensators trying and failing to keep pace with the screaming main reactor.
¡°Sir,¡± one of the pit officers reported, ¡°Enemy Vultures are retreating.¡±
Rees Alrix looked down at them, ¡°All of them?¡±
¡°All of them?¡±
¡°Very well. Continue at present acceleration and heading.¡±
¡°Very good, sir.¡±
Ozzel watched one of the readouts in silent astonishment; relative intercept velocity 35,000KPS. Over a tenth of lightspeed. These weren¡¯t sane tactics; no amount of training could have prepared him for this. Resilient, nay, the entire taskforce was being pushed to its physical limits in order to reach the Separatist battle line before the enemy to realise what their true intentions were.
¡°Five minutes to contact,¡± he whispered beneath his breath. Contact, not intercept. They weren¡¯t intercepting this group.
¡°Execute command package,¡± the Jedi General abruptly ordered.
Just as the tightbeams were dispatched however, their scopes were suddenly blinded by the scorching heat and radiation of two-hundred configurations of sublight drives erupting across the artificial horizon. Through the sunscreened viewports, a bead of brilliant white pearls strung across the width of the sun, and the relative intercept velocity started to fall. Drive-glows. Too bright to be facing away from them.
¨C34,000KPS
¨C31,000KPS
¨C27,000KPS
¡°Hostiles are withdrawing!¡± an officer said hurriedly, ¡°They¡¯re decelerating!¡±
The Jedi General was unmoved; ¡°Continue at present acceleration and heading.¡±
Ozzel was not so calm, ¡°I want details! Are they retro-burning?¡±
¡°Affirmative, sir! They¡¯re presenting broadsides!¡±
Alarms immediately rang out in Ozzel¡¯s head.
He climbed down into the data pit and observed the tactical display over the officer¡¯s shoulder, watching how the enemy vectors were shrinking in magnitude and deflecting to portside. Contact velocity was dropping, and time to contact was now increasing. He reported as such to the General; ¡°They¡¯ve pivoted from an offensive to a defensive posture, General! They will be unable to encircle us, but with our contact velocity reduced and facing full broadsides, it is highly unlikely we will be able to break through their ranks as intended.¡±
She frowned, ¡°Weren¡¯t they planning to envelop us? I cannot imagine them doing so from a that position.¡±
¡°I can only mean they have seen through our strategy, General,¡± Ozzel explained, with no small irritation, ¡°Separatist warship¡¯s have their firepower concentrated on their beams. Against a solid battleline, we will not be able to break through without being torn to pieces. This was proven at Centares.¡±
The Jedi General narrowed her eyes, then looked away, back at the sparkling lights ahead.
The bridge was silent.
¡°Sir?¡±
¡°...Tch.¡±
Jedi General Rees Alrix clicked her tongue, and it was as loud as a thunderclap.
¡°Sir?¡±
She spun around, allowing Ozzel to catch the briefest glimpse of a deep scowl marred onto her expression. Robes billowing, she marched back down the length of the bridge under the gaze of dozens of officers, clearly intending to leave.
Ozzel swore, clambering out of the pit, ¡°General!? What are your orders!?¡±
¡°Send a message to General Grant and the Twentieth Sector Army requesting reinforcements. Tell him who we¡¯re facing.¡±
¡°What about the enemy, General?¡±
¡°The enemy?¡± Alrix paused in her steps, as if just realising they were still in a battle, ¡°...Return us back to our stations. I will meditate on this, and we will try again in sixteen hours.¡±
And then she started again, striding through the open blast doors and disappearing around the corner. The entire bridge seemed to be suspended in a stasis field.
¡°Well!?¡± Ozzel barked, breaking the trance, ¡°You heard the General! Send to all ships; check acceleration and bring us back to Sullust orbit!¡±
¡°Yes sir!¡±
Ozzel swallowed his frustration as the bridge sprung back into action, the helmsman coaxing Resilient back to a manageable velocity for a reciprocal turn, handling the warship as one might a glass chalice. As the invisible pressure on his body retreated, he allowed himself to look at the tactical display again, tracing Resilient¡¯s vector with a sharpened gaze. Forward, blowing past the enemy fleet, into the Sululluub Asteroid Field¡
And straight into the five massive auxiliaries the Separatists had brought into the system. Ozzel didn¡¯t think much of them; they were currently repairing Ventress¡¯ flotilla, but that¡¯s all they were; repair vessels. But the Jedi General thought otherwise. Why did the enemy break off so suddenly? He could think of one reason; because they realised what our true intentions were, and it terrified them. Those auxiliaries¡
¡°Lieutenant,¡± Ozzel called, ¡°What do you think of those auxiliaries?¡±
The sensor officer looked up from his post, ¡°Nobody brings auxiliaries onto a battlefield, sir. That¡¯s common sense.¡±
¡°So there must be more than what we are seeing,¡± Ozzel concurred, ¡°Let¡¯s find out everything we can about them.¡±
¡°Very good sir.¡±
Kendal Ozzel looked at the vectors one last time. If General Alrix¡¯s plan had worked¡ it would have been a one way trip. To break through the enemy lines would also mean ultimately being trapped behind them and isolated from the safety of Sullust¡¯s fiery shadow. But the Jedi was confident that if the definition of ¡®victory¡¯ was not to ¡®win¡¯ but to deprive the enemy of their own ¡®victory,¡¯ then, somehow, those five measly jury-rigged bulkers were key to everything.
And judging the enemy¡¯s reaction¨C
¡°Looks like the Jedi was right again,¡± he murmured.
Chapter 48
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
The sun was rising over Coruscant, twilight¡¯s gloom lingering over a new day upon the bleak, gasping heart of the Republic. It was once thought that even amidst the greatest conflict the galaxy had seen in a millenia, the blazing soul that was Coruscant never faltered in her relentless march onwards.
They were proven wrong. For the first time in one thousand years, her relentless march had faltered.
Coruscant was dying.
It has been a month since Coruscant was struck by a freak storm from Foerost, and the world has yet to recover. Coruscant Prime, their system¡¯s feeble star, was little more than a whimpering white spark over their heads, like a flickering street lamp on a rainy night. Because Coruscant¡¯s orbital mirrors that once reflected and amplified her sun¡¯s paltry strength, were gone, shattered to a fine crystal mist that traversed the overcast sky, catching what little daylight there was left and refracting it into an ephemeral aurora, lit ablaze as it descended through the atmosphere, one layer at a time.
A shadow over Barriss¡¯ head, and what might have once been day in the Senate District was suddenly engulfed in a nocturnal gloom. The planet¡¯s industrial arcologies were still churning out smoke and ash in an endless cycle of activity to manufacture new construction materials to repair the damage Galactic City had sustained. The raiders had focused on bombarding military sites such as the Coruscant Flight Academy, Clone Barracks, and the Centre for Military Operations, but when those targets were built upon an accumulated millennia of subterranean infrastructure, there was no limiting the damage done.
There had to be permacrete to rebuild the shipyards, and duracrete for the arcologies. There had to be I-beams for the structural supports. There had to be transparisteel and clari-crystal to fix the shattered facades of glittering skyscrapers. And there had to be an endless amount of them to restore Coruscant to her former glory.
Even if that meant killing what¡¯s left of the sun.
Barriss breathed out. Mist escaped from her lips.
It was cold.
There were no seasons on Coruscant. Her orbital mirrors had always ensured the right temperature and climate globally, all-year round. But they were gone now. And now winter has been introduced to a world with no seasons, one that might never end.
The grief was nearly unbearable. Living on the surface, one may forget that they were walking and talking over the heads of billions, trillions of souls trapped in the Underworld, one-hundred thousand years of accumulated civilization. With power shortages and rolling blackouts thrashing even the rich cityscape above, how must they be living below, with neither heat nor light? Suffocating to death was more likely, and it would be a mercy.
The grief was unbearable. It was a chill, constant presence that clung to her skin like frost. It poured out from the smokestacks in the industrial parks, snuck its way through the cracks in broken tiles, and screamed through the underworld shipping portals, hoping for anybody to listen. It was present on Atraken, it was present over Columex, and it was present on Coruscant. That was war. It brought grief to all, without reprieve. To fight for either side was to make grief your trade, and the galaxy your market.
Barriss breathed out again. She tried to catch the mist curling from her lips, but it escaped through her fingers.
The grief was unbearable, and it was screaming. And everybody pretended not to hear. It was easier to curse the flickering candle, wilfully ignorant of those who lived in complete darkness.
Barriss stood in the centre of the training grounds, surrounded by ornate tiling and wilting leaves of ashen gold. The ancient tree that stood there was once a comfortable presence, for all who called the Jedi Temple their home, but to Barriss, it was a sad, lonely thing. The only one of its kind for leagues around. It was dying now, too, along with Coruscant. Along with the Jedi Order.
¡°Barriss,¡± a familiar voice awoke her from her self-induced reverie, one she had thought she would give everything to hear again, ¡°How long have you been here?¡±
¡°Master Luminara,¡± Barriss now felt nothing but a kindling of relief that her Master was alive and well, ¡°It eases me greatly to find you in fine health.¡±
¡°As do I, Barriss.¡±
A silence lingered. It has been a year since Barriss last saw her Master, and there were too many things to say, so much so that they lodged in her throat and refused to come out.
¡°...I¡¯m sorry,¡± Master Luminara said finally, honestly. The wind was biting, but neither of them noticed, ¡°I know you think I failed you. I cannot blame you. I think so too. There is no need for words at this time. Maybe our relationship will never be the same again¡ but let it be known I have never been prouder.¡±
¡°I kept your teachings close to heart, Master,¡± Barriss wanted to cry, but her eyes remained stubbornly dry. Maybe that was a good thing. ¡°I return thanks to them.¡±
¡°No¡¡± the Jedi Master murmured, ¡°Give thanks to the Force. Welcome back.¡±
Barriss bowed her head, and for a brief moment the wind could not reach her, ¡°I admit myself back under your tutelage, Master.¡±
When she raised her head again, she found her Master smiling, a mix of pride and sadness.
¡°The Council wishes to speak to you, Barriss.¡±
That was neither affirmation, nor denial. Returning into the warm embrace of the Jedi Temple, Barriss was once again struck by the sense of unfamiliarity. The Temple she returned to was the same as the Temple she left. The once vibrant halls were now empty, and the few Jedi who remained drifted through the galleries and chambers like ancient ghosts, absorbed in their own worlds. Their footsteps echoed loudly.
¡°The Temple¡¡± she murmured, unable to hold it in.
¡°Fewer and fewer Jedi remain with each passing day,¡± Master Luminara folded her arms into her robes, ¡°Despite our every attempt to distance ourselves from the war, it drags us right back in. Every time we suffer a defeat, Strategic Command demands more Jedi Generals to make up for our losses. Every time we win a great victory, Strategic Command demands more Jedi General to maintain our successes. With our reputation already leery, we cannot afford to say no. And with the rest of us preoccupied aiding relief efforts across Coruscant, including facilitating the evacuation crisis in the northern and southern poles¡ this is the result.¡±
¡°Then the Council¡ what does the Council want from me?¡±
Master Luminara craned her head upwards, admiring the frescoes dancing across the ceiling. Barriss caught a glimpse of the interlocking diamond tattooed on her Master¡¯s chin, wondering if there were now more of them. There didn¡¯t look to be. In Mirialan culture, each tattoo signified a major achievement. She lightly touched her own tattoos, inked across her cheeks and over the bridge of her nose.
Her elder Mirialan noticed, as she always did; ¡°It¡¯s been some time since I have held a needle, but you have earned new ones.¡±
Master Luminara dodged her question again, yet answered it more clearly than she ever could. In all honesty, Barriss found herself unsure if she was worthy, or even ready, for what was to come.
The turbolift ride was agonisingly long. With every rumble of the carriage, the screaming in her ears faded just little more. And by the time the two of them stood in the middle of the High Council Chamber, surrounded by the pinnacle of Jedi Masters, towering above even the skyline of Coruscant¡
I can¡¯t hear the screaming anymore.
It was muted. As if the world had been muffled by something deep and unfathomable, and¡ pervasive; like a sudden plunge into an infinite sea, and cold, salty water clutching the skin. This¡ is this the ¡®peace¡¯ and ¡®serenity¡¯ the Jedi Code imposes? Has it always been this way? Then I want no part of it any longer.
How could she? How could she willingly deafen herself so uncomfortably, and shut herself away from reality like a child in tantrum?
She blinked, and looked around. The first person to catch her eye was the towering figure of Anakin Skywalker, who had obviously just emerged from a heated conversation with the Council. Then was the Council themselves. Of the twelve Masters at the start of the war, nine were left. Of the three now with the Force, Barriss had personally witnessed the departure of one of them. Master Oppo Rancisis¡¯ seat was now inhabited by Master Stass Allie, the second Tholothian on the Council, following Master Adi Gallia. And similarly to Master Gallia, Master Allie was not known for any outstanding combat techniques, but rather her political and diplomatic prowess, making her suited not so much for the frontline as the Senate Building.
Barriss took it as a sign of the times, and evidence of where the Jedi Order¡¯s current priorities lay.
¡°I bring my Padawan as requested, Master Yoda,¡± Master Luminara bowed as she shuffled back.
¡°Thank you, Master Luminara,¡± the Grand Master waved his cane, ¡°And made, your argument has been, Knight Skywalker,¡±
Master Skywalker retreated, a deep frown apparent upon his features as he turned around, though at the sight of her it was replaced by a tug at the corner of his lip and a shallow nod.
¡°We have already foregone the trials,¡± Master Gallia lounged back, ¡°We need every Knight we can get. What makes this different?¡±
¡°Never before have we knighted a Padawan so quickly after they had just returned from serving the enemy,¡± Master Windu argued, all but confirming Barriss¡¯ suspicions, ¡°What risks¨C¡±
¡°I would appreciate it if you did not question the integrity of my student before her, Master Windu,¡± Master Luminara interrupted calmly, but firmly, ¡°We have meditated on this matter, and the will of the Force is clear. Any further obstruction could only be viewed as deliberate obstinacy.¡±
¡°I am inclined to agree,¡± Master Kenobi smiled wryly, ¡°Though admittedly it would be highly hypocritical of me not to, considering the circumstances of my own Padawan¡¯s Knighthood.¡±
¡°Has this young Padawan not already passed the Trial of Skill, when she fought the dark assassin Asajj Ventress and survived?¡± Master Kit Fisto grinned as he spoke, ¡°And did she not pass the Trial of Courage when she chose to do so, knowing it may well have cost her life, for the greater good of the Republic?¡±
¡°The Trial of Flesh, passed when she was torn away from her Master, and fought to return, flinching but never failing in the light,¡± Master Shaak Ti mused.
¡°We have deliberated that the whole ordeal the young Padawan has suffered was her Trial of Spirit,¡± Master Plo Koon¡¯s gravelly voice struck out, ¡°She faced the mirror, asked her questions, and made her answers. Young Padawan, have you found your resolve strengthened?¡±
¡°I have.¡±
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
¡°And your answers?¡±
Barriss looked each Jedi Master in the eye, sweeping across the Council. She could feel Master Luminara¡¯s calm certainty, and Master Skywalker¡¯s natural confidence. She let them bolster and she gathered to give her answer.
¡°The Jedi Order has failed.¡±
¡°No, I think we can all agree on that front,¡± Master Gallia swiftly raised a fist to interrupt any ired response, now leaning forward in rapt curiosity, ¡°Come, Barriss, tell us how you reached that conclusion.¡±
¡°The only thing the Jedi Order has achieved by joining and fighting this war is being complicit in the spread of slaughter and misery,¡± Barriss clenched her fist.
¡°Are you saying we should have allowed Dooku¡¯s Sith to wage this war against the Republic without consequence?¡± Master Windu demanded.
¡°We have done nothing to Dooku,¡± she gritted her teeth next, ¡°Count Dooku still sits in his palace on Serenno. Do you think he cares about how many Separatists we murder? Do you think he cares about how many worlds are razed and salted? We are doing his work for him. All we are doing is pushing more people to his side. Our mistake was fighting for the Republic, when we should have been fighting to end the war.¡±
¡°Like you have?¡± Master Even Piell raised a scarred eyebrow, ¡°When you decided to serve the Separatists?¡±
¡°Republic. Separatists,¡± Barriss said bitterly, ¡°I thought that too. I cursed myself for it, when I realised that the only way to live was to join the enemy, and I cursed myself more when I realised I wanted to live, even if it meant joining the enemy. But what does it matter? Loyalists. Separatists. They¡¯re people. I may have been on a Separatist frigate, but do you think I regret trying to stop a Jedi Master from slaughtering thousands of refugees?¡±
A pulse in the Force. Pong Krell was an accursed name to all of them, one that did more irreparable damage to the Jedi Order than any other, no matter the reasons for his fall.
¡°The only way to live was to join the enemy,¡± Master Stass Allie echoed, ¡°Did Dooku lure you to his side, in exchange for your life?¡±
¡°Ventress tried. She captured me, tried to convince me, and when I said no, she didn¡¯t kill me.¡±
¡°She did not?¡± Master Kenobi brushed his beard, ¡°Now that is intriguing.¡±
¡°She said we were the same,¡± Barriss said quietly, ¡°That we were both abandoned by the Jedi Order.¡±
The entire room tensed. Barriss once had the very same reaction. It was the reaction of ¡®Asajj Ventress was once a Jedi?¡¯ A nearly impossible thought. But Count Dooku was once a Jedi too¡
¡°She said she had a Master,¡± she continued, ¡°A Master who ¡®served his purpose¡¯ before being thrown aside and abandoned by this Order.¡±
¡°Have you considered she may have been lying, Padawan?¡± Master Windu¡¯s voice was deep, and sharp as a vibroblade.
¡°I believe her,¡± Barriss insisted.
¡°Why is that?¡± Master Saesee Tiin asked.
¡°Because the Jedi Order has failed,¡± she repeated, more forcefully this time, ¡°We forget and we abandon. We forget we¡¯re fighting not Sith, but Separatists. We abandon those who don¡¯t share our point of view, even if they were fellow Jedi. Ventress didn¡¯t kill me, but it was a Jedi Knight that saved my life.¡±
Barriss continued her tirade, before they could interrupt, ¡°But maybe ¡®Jedi Knight¡¯ is too good for a member of the AgriCorps. Maybe the title ¡®Jedi¡¯ at all is too good for the hundreds of them on Ukio, Kinyen, Folende and Omman, Agamar, Bandomeer, and all the other Outer Rim worlds. Do you think they consider the Separatists the enemy too, after living among them for years?¡±
A long silence lingered after that, filled only by her own heavy breathing. I said what I wanted to say, she thought slowly, it¡¯s not an often chance a mere Padawan like me can speak to the High Council. It was worth it. If I get expelled here¡ then I can leave knowing I was right.
Master Gallia broke the silence, ¡°I think we can all agree Barriss Offee passed the Trial of Insight as well. I move to knight her.¡±
¡°So do I,¡± Master Stass Allie followed her fellow Tholothian¡¯s lead.
¡°As do I,¡± Master Kenobi sank into his seat, an introspective expression as he crossed his arms.
¡°Revealed many things to you, the Force has, young Padawan,¡± Master Yoda finally made his mind known, ¡°Many things. To ignore them, we wish we could, as if they didn¡¯t exist. A just debate you have put to us, young Padawan. Guidance from the Force, we must seek. Trust in the Force, you do, hm?¡±
¡°I do.¡±
¡°Trust in the Force, I do too,¡± Yoda nodded in that knowing, sagely way, ¡°A Knight, you shall be.¡±
¡°...Very well,¡± Master Windu finally conceded, ¡°I will respect the decision of the Council, but I would also be remiss if I do not air my concerns¨C¡±
Master Skywalker suddenly stepped forward, a snap of anger running through the Force, ¡°With all due respect, Master Windu; Barriss has already proven herself faithful. The Council had meditated, and the Force gave an answer. If this Council can knight Jedi like Pong Krell¨Cno, even promote the likes of him to Jedi Master¨Cwho cracked like a mere initiate at their first sight of wholesale slaughter, yet fail to properly reward a Jedi like Barriss, who went through the same ordeal and emerged strengthened, then what confidence can the Jedi Order really have those chosen to lead it? Isn¡¯t your continued disagreement just a persecutory delusion of yours?¡±
Master Luminara sighed, though Barriss could sense a tingle of silent agreement emanating from her poise. Master Kenobi, on the other hand, sighed laboriously.
¡°Anakin¡¡±
¡°No,¡± Master Windu stood slowly, gaze digging into her¡¯s, ¡°Despite his callous retort, Skywalker may be correct in this instance. It is simply a bad feeling of mine, that this decision may come to harm the Republic. The decision of the Force, and the Council, is known. Barriss Offee will be knighted.¡±
Wordlessly, one by one, the remaining eleven Jedi Masters rose out of their seats, and moved by some invisible force, Barriss knelt without being ordered. Master Luminara¡¯s and Master Skywalker¡¯s presence disappeared from her mind as the chamber was clouded by the Force.
Twelve lightsabers ignited.
Master Yoda¡¯s brilliant green blade lowered towards her shoulder.
¡°Barriss Offee,¡± the Grand Master¡¯s words echoed through the Force, ¡°By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, dub thee I do, Jedi Knight.¡±
Once, the Knighting of a Padawan Learner was a more ceremonious ritual, and could take days, beginning with a long vigil. These days, Barriss could imagine more Knights were made on the battlefield than in the Temple, otherwise the High Council would be doing nothing but knighting Padawans all day.
As she stood on weak knees, Master Plo Koon wasted no time in moving on; ¡°Let us deliberate your next assignment, Knight Offee. We need not explain to you that we have a dire need for more hands.¡±
¡°I would request for us to be assigned together,¡± Master¨Cno longer her Master, simply ¡®Jedi Master¡¯¨CLuminara¡¯s tone was intricate, and serenely impenetrable, ¡°But I will be returning to the front, and you have made your mind known on that matter.¡±
¡°You were trained as a healer were you not?¡± Master Stass Allie asked her kindly, ¡°If you wish, you can come with me to the Circle of Jedi Healers. We need healers now more than we do battlemasters, despite what Master Piell claims.¡±
It was an enticing thought, after all she would not be fighting a war she wanted nothing with, and instead helping those who suffered because of it. A year ago, she would have accepted, as for what other reason did she decide to learn the healing arts? But the situation was different. She was cursed with knowledge that there was a truth hidden from everyone. Sitting out of the war would be just as terrible as participating in it, when she had the chance to at least try to end it.
No. Barriss had a plan. A plan she had been creating ever since Atraken. She had to be assigned somewhere she wouldn¡¯t be just another cog in the machine. Somewhere she had access to information. Somewhere she would have the power to actually uncover the hidden truth.
¡°You have somewhere in mind, Barriss?¡± Master Plo Koon stared intently at her.
Master Plo was the one who brought her back to Coruscant. He likely already knew her answer.
¡°...I wish to be assigned to Republic Intelligence,¡± she announced.
The ensuing boil of surprise and consternation was a bit more damning than she had expected to feel, despite expecting the response beforehand. The only Councilmember, who appeared even a bit pleased was Master Adi Gallia, and even then it edged more on the end of amusement than any positive reaction. Master Luminara continued being impenetrable, and Barriss didn¡¯t feel any bit more Knightly in her presence, while Master¨Cshe probably shouldn¡¯t call him Master from now on¨CSkywalker released a snort of dry admiration.
¡°Are you sure you have what it takes, Barriss Offee?¡± Master Gallia asked, her amusement bleeding away into seriousness, ¡°Many would claim, rightly so, that the Jedi Order¡¯s cooperation with Republic Intelligence is the largest sign of the corruption of our ethics. And despite that, you who had so blatantly espoused our failures, wish to partake in it?¡±
Adi Gallia. Her name was surrounded by rumours, even back when Barriss was still a mere Jedi Initiate. Master Gallia has ties to the Coruscanti elite. Master Gallia controls a secret intelligence agency. It was all speculation borne from anonymity. Nobody knew who Adi Gallia was. She was not surrounded by legends and great achievements, like Master Windu or Master Kenobi. She has simply slid into the Jedi Order as if she had always meant to be there. Nobody knew her age, not truly, because Tholothians were ageless.
She was an ace pilot that Barriss knew. Master Gallia commanded the starfighter wings over Geonosis and Christophsis in the beginning of the war, but after what happened at Christophsis¡ Barriss has since learned that Master Gallia had been summoned back to Coruscant to apply her political and diplomatic skills towards salvaging the worsening situation closer to home.
If she wanted to be attached to Republic Intelligence, Master Gallia was who she needed to convince.
¡°I am sure, Master Gallia,¡± Barriss reaffirmed, ¡°I understand what I am getting into. I survived this long in Separatist space. I know how they think. I can help end the war.¡±
¡°Bold words,¡± Master Allie said severely, ¡°But are you truly prepared to have your hands stained?¡±
Barriss hearkened back to her time at Atraken.
¡°They already are.¡±
¡°Barriss¡¡± Master Luminara said her name softly, but nothing more.
¡°Trust me, Master.¡±
¡°I do,¡± the elder Mirialan paused, ¡°But you no longer need my trust. I will support your decision.¡±
¡°Is it just me, or do Padawans these days have way more guts¡?¡± Master Skywalker wondered out loud.
¡°Barriss has decided, Adi,¡± Master Plo Koon turned his head, ¡°You are in charge of overseeing the Temple¡¯s attach¨¦s and liaisons with Republic Intelligence. What is your decision?¡±
Master Gallia contemplated for a while, before coming to her decision, ¡°Very well. It¡¯s hard enough recruiting, we won¡¯t turn down a volunteer. We shall discuss this at a later date. Don¡¯t worry; I will find you when you are ready.¡±
She felt no elation for it. Just a grim satisfaction that she had taken another step forward in her self-given quest. Her ear tingled, and she instinctively brought up her arm to brush against it. Ah¡ it¡¯s coming back. It was as if a bubble within her ears had popped, and the vibrancy of sound was returning to the Tower, to her. I can hear it again, that roar of suffering. It was proof of life. It was a sign from the Force. It must be. It meant she was on the right path.
Barriss bowed, ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±
¡°Rest, you must,¡± Master Yoda told her kindly, ¡°Long, your trials have been. Much more work there is, to be done.¡±
Barriss avoided acknowledging Master Windu as she bowed and turned back to the door. After all, that odd weight in her robes was weighing much more heavily now. Crossing the threshold with Master Luminara and Anakin Skywalker beside her, she discretely reached into her cloak to grab it. It was small, unassuming, disguised like any ordinary comlink, and fitted squarely in the palm of her hand.
It is simply a bad feeling of mine, that this decision would come to harm the Republic.
Master Windu truly is terrifying. He was the only one who realised¡ ah, she was getting ahead of herself. What did Barriss, a Knight of a few minutes, know of any of the inner processes of vaunted Jedi Masters? Perhaps they all realised, but only Master Windu saw fit to air his concerns. But that was fine, because this was not the Republic she knew. This was the Republic anybody knew, no matter how one might try to convince themselves.
As they retreated from the Council Chambers, the thrum in her ears only intensified.
Neither Jedi beside her made any action to signify they noticed it too. None of the Councilmembers did, either. She carefully observed them, their faces, their expressions imprinted in the Force. She wanted so desperately validation, proof she was not the only one. Did none of them hear it? The thought frightened her more than she would be willing to admit. Because it could only mean the Jedi has fallen further than she thought, and that she was more alone than she realised.
Barriss silently lamented.
Why can¡¯t any of you hear the screaming too?
Chapter 49
Sululluub Asteroid Field, Sullust System
Brema Sector
¡°We have received another transmission from Admiral Trench,¡± Tuff informed.
¡°Good news?¡± I asked hopefully.
¡°Negative. Our standing orders are still in effect,¡± a note of disappointment was produced by the droid¡¯s artificial personality, ¡°We are not to engage with the enemy until Operation Storm-Door commences.¡±
Hope shrivelled into a confused frown, ¡°You did remember to tell him that the enemy is engaging us, right?¡±
¡°I have briefed the Admiral with all the necessary information, including the state of our forces and all actions that have transpired in the last sixty-one system hours,¡± the droid replied, ¡°This is our third request for orders to engage. Admiral Trench has shown every indication of maintaining his stance.¡±
¨CAnd his stance was the Office of the General¡¯s stance, which in other words meant the Pantoran. Before the Supreme Commander affair, Trench and Tann were the two most reputable officers in the Separatist Alliance. Pillars, you could say, holding up the Confederacy¡¯s military, and as we are at war, thus the Confederacy itself. That naturally meant a rivalry, one perhaps tinged by mutual respect, but still persists to this day.
The reason for which? There were still two prevalent groups of officers in the CAF. Those formerly on corporatist payrolls, and those on federal payrolls. The Militia Act had by and large eliminated the former, mandating the latter nation-wide, but there was still a noticeable difference in culture between one and the other.
Sev¡¯rance Tann may be the Supreme Commander now, but Trench still had the ear of a not insignificant fraction of the CAF. The point I¡¯m getting at is that if Trench and Tann aren¡¯t on the same page, the CAF would not be operating as smoothly as it currently wass.
In other words, Trench wouldn¡¯t so blindly enforce Tann¡¯s ¡®standing orders¡¯ unless he himself personally agreed with her. We''ve already explained in detail the exact predicament the 28th Mobile found itself in.
I breathed out. Since Trench still did not change his orders even after that...
So is this all part of the plan? I could only suspect.
It has been sixty-one system hours since that initial bloodless skirmish, and Jedi General Rees Alrix has attacked us two more times. Three skirmishes. Three messages to the Admiral begging for permission to attack and wipe them out. Three rejections.
It was actually infuriating, how obvious Alrix¡¯s play was, and how we were unable to respond due to¨Cwhat I assume, at least¨Cgreater strategic concerns. For sixty-one system hours, I could almost see the cogs turning in her head as she methodically tore apart our situation like a noir detective, sussing out every detail that made us tick.
See, I had made a mistake, sixty-one system hours ago. We did not know why General Alrix had targeted the Auxiliary Division; we didn¡¯t even know if that was her intent at all. In preparation for her attack, we had taken every precaution. Not only had we moved our main battle line forward by fifty-five million klicks, we also left the Auxiliary Division in the middle of an asteroid field, guarded by over an additional hundred warships. An attack on the auxiliaries shouldn¡¯t have even existed in the realm of possibility.
Who would take that risk, for five unassuming converted bulkers? Who would spend a hundred veteran warships for that?
Alrix did anyway.
We think Alrix did anyway. And that was the problem, we soon realised. There was no exaggerating the importance of the ¡®6th Auxiliary Division. Not only was it the fulcrum for Operation Starlance, it was also a cornerstone of Operation Storm-Door on the Rimma Trade Route. So when Alrix fixed her intercept on the auxiliaries and charged, we flinched.
Because our plan was blatantly obvious from the start; allow Alrix to come to us, and encircle her forces. She must have known that as well. For all we knew, her insane charge was simply a test to gauge our reaction, with no intent to actually follow through. Whatever the reason, we gave her an answer.
Because we flinched. I gave the order to prioritise the defence of our auxiliaries. We abandoned our strategy to encircle, and pivoted into a defensive line ahead.
And that confirmed her suspicions. Because we were slated for a crushing victory. Even if Alrix had followed through and smashed straight through us, the ultimate result would have been her fleet being caught isolated in the black, between two Separatist forces. We could have easily adapted and envelop her anyway, completely destroying the one major obstacle in our path without Storm-Door even starting.
Except the risk to our auxiliaries was too great. Taskforce Conciliator still wielded nine Tector-class Star Destroyers and sixty Venator-class battlecruisers. Enough firepower in both capital ships and starfighters to pose a real threat to our rearguard. By the time our main battle line has reversed and caught up¡ even a single auxiliary being lost would cut down our chances of success in future campaigns by a fifth.
Sixteen system hours later, Taskforce Conciliator launched their second attack. Alrix split her force into half a dozen squadrons and dispersed them across the star system, keeping her main formation between us and Sullust In the first skirmish, we had flinched, raising Rees Alrix¡¯s suspicions¨Cnow she wanted to confirm those suspicions.
For the next eighteen system hours, we suffered raids and skirmishes all across the Sullust Star System. She attacked, we fled, and she pursued. Again, and again, and again, to the next moon, and the next planet. She prodded different sections of the 28th Mobile Fleet, gauging our reaction each time and slowly building up a case. In the end, we made the decision to retreat into a highly defensible position in the Sululluub Asteroid Field, around a derelict mining station discovered by Horgo¡¯s Strike Division. As Alrix had ostensibly given up her task of sieging Sullust in favour of hunting down our auxiliaries, this was the only surefire way to physically keep her at bay until the order to execute Operation Storm-Door arrives.
A wait that was growing more and more unbearable by the hour, to the point where I felt like a persistent ex-lover constantly dialling Trench for updates. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, Tuff convinced me that our case would be more convincing if we did so after every enemy action instead, to build up justifications.
In any case, it was then she all but confirmed that the ¡®6th Auxiliary Division was truly the linchpin the 28th Mobile Fleet pivoted around. After all, the ¡®6th was what put ¡®Mobile¡¯ in ¡®Mobile Fleet.¡¯ Every time she pressured the position of the ¡®6th, we would redeploy in force, slowly but surely retreating the auxiliaries deeper into the asteroid field.
In that time, she realised the second thing; we weren¡¯t going on the offensive. When she split her force, she opened up a massive weakness. We could have surged out, crushing each squadron in detail. But we didn¡¯t. We were under standing orders not to. But she didn¡¯t know that, and with her suspicions raised, she wanted to confirm that too.
Twelve system hours later, Task Force Conciliator sallied out a third time. But this time, she didn¡¯t adopt any formation. In fact, she adopted the antithesis to ¡®formation.¡¯ As if mocking us, she deployed each of her ships in isolated groups of two to three, parading them just outside the Sululluub Asteroid Field. She tested our limits, like dipping her toes into gryzard infested waters, trying to figure out exactly how close she could get without us attacking.
She got her answer when she came within five-million klicks of the asteroid field, when Horgo Shive¡¯s ¡®2nd Strike Division struck out with the speed of a viper, destroying a cruiser and two corvettes in the blink of an eye. She withdrew again, after that.
After all three skirmishes, we immediately requested orders to attack. Jedi General Alrix was, after all, slowly but steadily discovering the true purpose of the ¡®6th Auxiliary Division. We had already intercepted multiple outgoing transmissions requesting reinforcements from nearby Loyalist taskgroups. Our situation was deteriorating by the hour. Taskforce Conciliator had discovered our fatal weakness, and mercilessly exploiting our inability to attack, flipped the battlefield on its head.
Taskforce Conciliator had the upper hand against an opponent four times their size, albeit, somewhat equal tonnage. And infuriatingly, in all three skirmishes, she used insane tactics that should have never had succeeded, if not for the chains bound around our wrists.
It has been fifteen system hours since then.
Horgo Shive contacted me.
¡°Alrix is out in force again,¡± the Muun Commodore reported, ¡°She¡¯s headed right for us with her entire fleet.¡±
I shared a look with my tactical droid, before breathing out slowly, ¡°What mad strategy is she going to employ this time?¡±
¡°She¡¯s already employing it, Admiral,¡± Shive possessed a tone one would have observing an exotic animal in a menagerie, ¡°She¡¯s coming at us through the asteroid field.¡±
Despite myself, a note of beleaguered expectation dropped from my tongue, ¡°So she¡¯s actually doing it.¡±
?
Commodore Kendal Ozzel observed the tactical display and deflector readout in tandem.
The Sululluub Asteroid Field was a vast thing, a torus-shaped belt orbiting the star in between Sullust and the gas giant Lununmo. It was there that the enemy had hidden their most protected assets; the five auxiliaries. Over the past sixty-one system hours, the Separatists have withdrawn deeper and deeper into the asteroid belt under the constant pressure of Taskforce Conciliator.
That alone was proof that the auxiliaries were key to their campaign. No other force would sacrifice so much, and risk so much, to protect some mere retrofitted merchantmen. Bringing bulkers into an asteroid field was bold enough. They didn¡¯t have military-grade deflectors; all it took was a few fast moving asteroids slipping through their escorts to cripple them. Yet, they hazarded the threat anyway, all to create as much distance between them and Taskforce Conciliator.
After all, who would fight a battle in an asteroid field?
Kendal Ozzel grinned.
We would.
Over the last sixty-two hours, they had discovered two key objects of interest. First, the Separatists were prioritising the safety of their auxiliaries to an unbelievable degree. Second, they were unwilling, or unable, to go on the offensive. With both factors in mind, Taskforce Conciliator possessed an incredible advantage. They could choose the time of battle, they controlled the initiative, and they could set the siege.
¡°Deflectors holding steady, sir,¡± a technician notified.
¡°I¡¯m not blind, ensign!¡± Ozzel snapped, ¡°Look in front of us! Resilient¡¯s division is shielding us from the asteroids! Our only priority at the moment is to remain untouched until the General gives the order.¡±
¡°Y-Yes sir.¡±
Intermittent flashes of blue light battered the polarised viewports. Turbolaser bolts, vaporising any asteroid that draws too close for comfort.
The Separatists have chosen their fortress cleverly. There was a clearing, deep within the asteroid belt, carved out by a derelict mining station, large enough to station the entirety of their fleet. From the clearing branched two winding corridors, each around 2,000,000 klicks long and 40,000 klicks wide, separated by a some hundred-degree angle transversely and thirty-degrees vertically, in which laid the tumultuous chaos of the Sululluub Asteroid Field.
In this nature, the Separatists only needed to defend two thin, navigable strings of space. And should Taskforce Conciliator push down one capillary, they can evacuate their auxiliaries through the other. The tunnel-shaped voids were originally excavated by the Sullustans, to access their old mining station¨Cbut now it was to be another battlefield of this ever expanding war. Even Ozzel had to admit, there was no better location to stage a defensive battle.
There were concerns among the staff, though it seems there always was some way or the other. It must be a Separatist trick, they say, the enemy most certainly awaits us with a trap¨Cthat is plain to see!
Ozzel had to remind them not to think so hard about it. No need to look at the guarlara in the mouth, as it were. The only thing they had to focus on was the destruction of the enemy fleet before their foe suddenly finds the will to attack.
They didn¡¯t have to stress over the true purpose of the auxiliaries if said auxiliaries were scrap metal drifting on solar winds.
But the Separatists have chosen a location where we can¡¯t trap them! They bickered loudly again. After all, a diameter of forty-thousand klicks was not too small to host opposing lines of battle. The Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada, hamstrung by unknown orders as they were, still boasted many times their number. For Taskforce Conciliator to bear any possibility of breaking through one corridor, they must bring the full might of their fleet¨Cwhich will allow the enemy to escape from the other exit.
No matter. The answer to this conundrum was obvious.
¡°Follow the General¡¯s lead!¡± he roared, jabbing forward, ¡°Deflectors to the bow; all ships, forward!¡±
Star Destroyer Imperious forged ahead at the head of nine Tectors and twelve Venators. Directly ahead of them, battlecruiser Resilient¡¯s ice-blue ion drives sputtered, then roared, leading the way for two dozen Venators and a score of escorts¨Cwhile on their starboard bow laid the main mass of the Sululluub Asteroid Belt. And on the opposite side of the belt, little over four-million klicks starward, was the battlecruiser Statesman leading the remainder of Taskforce Conciliator.
Said answer was of course approaching down both corridors, trapping the enemy.
One of Imperious¡¯ batteries thundered off, vaporising an asteroid that dared to slip Resilient¡¯s reach.
Ozzel diverted his attention to the radiation scanners, and the fiery red blots piercing through the cool blues and blacks of lifeless rocks.
He would have preferred to be leading the vanguard, but the Jedi General had all nine of their battleships grouped together under his command. Even if he wasn¡¯t privy to her exact plan¨Cif she even had a plan¨Cit was clear enough that his nine Tectors would be hammerblow to crush the Separatist menace once and for all. He only needed to be a little bit patient¡
Still, there was that nagging feeling at the back of his head, that all was not what it seemed. Why did General Alrix split our fleet in two, for one, or three, counting my squadron. It couldn¡¯t be as simple as trying to hit the enemy from two angles; the Separatists still boasted four times their number¡
He chewed air.
Jedi¡¯s still seeing something I¡¯m not. Again.
?
¡°They¡¯re coming in from both corridors,¡± Krett laid out the basic details, ¡°Two-thirds led by Resilient to our starboard, and one-third led by Statesman to our port.¡±
¡°Splitting their force like this¡¡± Horgo narrowed his eyes, ¡°Do they not understand that Statesman will have their positions overrun immediately?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll match them,¡± I said to the officers, ¡°Diedrich and Horgo will hold the line against Resilient and Imperious. They will give ground and buy time. Vinoc, Ventress and I will take our port flank, against Statesman. We¡¯ll take our heaviest dreadnoughts, smash their starward division, sweep around to the rimward side of the belt, and block Alrix¡¯s rear.¡±
Diedrich Greyshade and Horgo Shive had the most experience with independent command, and their ¡®2nd and ¡®3rd Divisions were nothing to scoff at either, with a combined 115 warships¨Ctwice the number of the the Republic¡¯s left flank, if not quite twice the tonnage. Considering the make of both fleets, in fact, the tonnage differential was nearly non-existent. Against the full-forward firing arcs of Star Destroyers, they were initially going to have a hard time about it, but we had an astrographical trick up our sleeves.
Vinoc, Ventress and I, on the other hand, will have 130 ships, among which were some of Ventress¡¯ repaired warships. Three times the Republic¡¯s starward flank. That left Krett with some hundred and twenty warships in reserve.
¡°I¡¯ll take the rear again,¡± Krett confirmed, ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye out for any enemy stratagems. But for now, stay wary.¡±
Krett was our defence specialist, aboard the floating fortress Fortressa. He was one of the first to figure out Alrix¡¯s play sixty or so hours ago, even without the Force in his head. Seeing how I was blind as a mole-rat then, I would be remiss if I didn¡¯t take his advice. I mean¡ he successfully stalemated not one, but two Jedi Generals at the Siege of Ringo Vinda for three entire months. Neimoidian or not, he had a better head on his shoulders than any of us, in this regard.
¡°General Alrix¡¯s stratagems may seem mindless at first,¡± Krett warned, ¡°But as with all Jedi, the idea behind all of them are rather simple. The hardest part is to stop overthinking. Consider meeting us in the belt. It may seem the height of lunacy, but it has its merits.¡±
A round of affirmative nods swept through us. Looking at the tactical readouts shared across all of our displays, it was spelled out plainly. Within the confined spaces, Alrix was likely seeking a brawl, where Republic ships held the tactical advantage.
See, the battlefield doctrine of the Republic and Separatist Alliance had irrevocably diverged. The Republic had greater access to high quality ammunition, thanks to their heavily industrialised Core Worlds¨Cseen with the widespread use of their iconic blue ionised blaster bolts. The Confederacy, on the other hand, was forced to rely on cheaper, unrefined gases, as apparent from our red bolts.
As turbolaser bolts were close quarter armaments, Republic starship designers naturally gravitated to heavier, frontloaded brawlers. Star Destroyers.
To counter this, the Separatist Alliance moved away from gas-based weaponry, and invested in self-propelled warheads. The Providence-class star destroyer was the product; boasting a heavy array of turbolaser batteries, indeed, but its main firepower lay in its 306 torpedo tubes in 102 launchers. Then came the dreadnought variant, boasting twice that number. It was designed to be the antithesis to the Star Destroyer; to levy its missile armament to pound its opponents to scrap before they could ever get trapped in close quarters combat.
By contrast, Venators only had four torpedo tubes, and it has been discovered that the Republic¡¯s newest Tector-class had foregone torpedoes and missiles entirely.
Long range battles like Centares was where the Confederacy¡¯s starfleets shone most brightly, but get trapped in a Star Destroyer¡¯s hammerlock¨Ceven a Venator¡¯s¨Cand a Providence is unlikely to win in a one-to-one brawl.
¡°Looks like Alrix doesn¡¯t want a repeat of sixteen hours ago,¡± Shive grinned, ¡°Can¡¯t blame the girl, you know?¡±
Sixteen hours ago, Alrix sent a Hammerhead a bit too close to us, into the effective range of one of Shive¡¯s missile frigates. This time, she was approaching under the cover of the belt, effectively forcing us into the close quarters brawl Separatist battle doctrine had evolved to avoid.
It was true that the only reason we were in this predicament was because of Ventress, even if none of us would say it in her presence. If it wasn¡¯t for Ventress¡¯ damaged flotilla stuck here, we could be stationed safely outside of the Sullust System¡¯s termination shock, waiting patiently for Operation Storm-Door to begin. However, we chose this location for a reason. The navigable tunnels had a quirk Alrix couldn¡¯t know from outside, one that allowed us to marshal our full numbers.
And it was that they widened ever so imperceptibly closer to the clearing, until it was too late, ballooning from 40,000 klicks to nearly 100,000 klicks in diameter near our end.
¡°One more thing,¡± Ventress rasped, ¡°Our Vultures will be useless.¡±
¡°Not useless,¡± Diedrich admonished, ¡°Just¡ diminished.¡±
Vulture swarm tactics don¡¯t work in an asteroid field, for obvious reasons.
¡°I will take our best aces,¡± the Sith Acolyte said, ¡°And only the most responsive Vultures. Any more would be a liability out there. This time, Bonteri, when I warn you, do your best to listen to me.¡±
¡°Duly noted,¡± I sighed, ¡°Anything to add, Vinoc?¡±
¡°Look out for me too, Ventress,¡± he drawled, ¡°I¡¯m not the most connected with the Force.¡±
Ventress sneered, but crossed her arms in agreement anyway, ¡°I know.¡±
There was a jab there, depending on how you took it. But Vinoc only seemed amused, and I wasn¡¯t in the mood for stepping into other people¡¯s quarrels.
¡°If that¡¯s all,¡± Horgo clapped with long, spindly hands, ¡°Let¡¯s get the show on the road!¡±
¡°Remember,¡± Krett said one more time, ¡°In a battle outside the bounds of common sense, commonsensical thought is always found most lacking. The Jedi¡¯s first and final trick is not on the battlefield, but in our heads. Whatever happens, do not overthink it.¡±
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The holograms then flashed out of existence. Repulse¡¯s pilothouse dimmed into battle lighting, and the heavy thuds of blast shields vibrated the bridge as they covered the viewports. The holographic HUD spun up a moment later, cycling through a dozen different sensor modes before settling on IR.
I patted one of Repulse¡¯s consoles as the ship automatically pinpointed the enemy signatures ahead, Star Destroyer drive cones radiating brightly through the dense asteroid field.
¡°Time for another go at it, old girl.¡±
Repulse rumbled in agreement.
?
A firefight was breaking out.
Ozzel could only watch the shadowed backs of Resilient and her two-dozen battlecruisers as the first opening salvos trumpeted the declaration of battle. There had been once again cautionary words of Separatist trickery from the staff, right before the outset. After all, in these narrow corridors it was impossible to use a large force to its best advantage. The Separatists will not be able to marshal their most irritable tactic, the presentation of broadsides in line ahead.
It was reasoned, then, that the Separatists were likely to prepare a trap ahead.
Ozzel scoffed at that.
It¡¯s not so complicated. The Separatists won¡¯t spring any trap, because they won¡¯t be able to. It is the Republic taking the initiative, setting the stage, and controlling the pace. This was the Republic¡¯s game, not the enemy¡¯s.
Sixty-three system hours since the first Skirmish at Sullust, the forces of the Republic and Confederacy met in the first major engagement in the star system. Loyalist warships, in convex formation, steadily pounded forward, intent on overwhelming the enemy with the depth of the all-forward firing envelopes of their Star Destroyers. Hundreds of brilliant beams pierced the boundless forest of asteroids, blue-red fangs of energy bit into deflector shields in sparks of bright light, the sheer volume trapped within the constriction turning them almost violet.
Don¡¯t overthink it. That¡¯s what Ozzel always said.
There were no fancy formations, no brilliant manoeuvres, no convoluted stratagems. There were only shields forward, and the enemy ahead. This was not a battle of skill, but one of pure firepower.
And the Navy of the Republic was not lacking in firepower.
General Alrix¡¯s battlecruisers roared ahead in furious forward assault, heavy DBY-827 turbolaser batteries shoving shot after shot down the throats of the enemy. In this battlefield, the main Separatist ships of the line, their Providences, were unable to present their broadsides, whereas the Republic¡¯s wedge-shaped hulls could open fire with all guns.
Ozzel felt his stomach churn. They were winning, that much was certain. After responding to the initial assault, the Separatist right flank had finally laid down a steady stream of laser fire, and began retreating back up the corridor. But something still nagged at him. His Tectors, the heaviest warships in Taskforce Conciliator, were stationed at the rear.
It was not so much that it was a questionable decision¨Cthough it no doubt was¨Csimply that he wished he was in the vanguard, so that he could see the faces of the fleeing enemy himself.
Unable to do so, Ozzel occupied himself by reviewing the tactical displays to vicariously live the battle through the screens
And it was there he noticed that as the Republic left wing pushed the Separatists further and further, the diameter of the corridor was slowly beginning to widen, like a reverse funnel. As it did, the enemy was able to introduce more ships to their frontline one by one. Already, some Separatist Providences were trying to storm past the bow of Resilient, nearly brandishing their torpedo launchers, if not for the relentless fire of the Republic front pushing them back.
¡°Get me a line to the General!¡± Ozzel barked.
¡°Patching in the Resilient right away, sir!¡±
General Alrix¡¯s hologram commanded the deck of Imperious as she appeared, earthen cloak ruffling in an imaginary breeze.
¡°Something the matter, Commodore?¡±
¡°Reporting, sir,¡± Ozzel missed the timing to salute, but the Jedi didn¡¯t seem to notice, ¡°The passage is expanding, allowing the enemy to leverage their greater numbers against us. The further we push them back, the more the astrographical advantage will slip from us and tilt towards the Separatists.¡±
It appeared the Separatists had prepared accordingly by retreating into a larger region navigable space in the belt in their rear. It was difficult to parse on the tactical display, but with a keen eye and some skill with the hardware, one could project what looked like a wine bottle in the asteroid field. Right now, they were in the ¡®bottleneck,¡¯ but as they pushed, they were gradually moving into the ¡®bottle¡¯ itself. If they continued pushing, the Separatists could easily field reinforcements and surround them before they could realise.
General Alrix disappeared for a brief moment, ostensibly to corroborate his findings.
Sixty-four hours. A wave of asteroids buffeted Imperious and Ozzel¡¯s rearguard, bypassing the bow-concentrated particle shields and tearing into their Tectors¡¯ armour plating. Superficial damage, and perhaps from some freak event.
Two minutes later, a second wave of asteroids broadsided his ships with chaotic turbulence, knocking their formation off-kilter. Ozzel, cracking whips of rebuke at his panicking deck crew, ordered shields diverted to starboard to block the next wave.
¡°Get our formation back in order!¡± he demanded fiercely, ¡°Lieutenant, I want details, now!¡±
The General had not yet returned, leaving the holoprojector flourishing a mildly blue empty space, one intermittently interrupted by Resilient¡¯s deck officers passing back and forth like apparitions.
¡°It¡¯s hard to tell, but it looks like our right flank is the cause, sir!¡± the sensor officer reported hastily, fingers dancing across his dashboard.
¡°How!?¡±
¡°It¡¯s the Statesman, sir!¡± the lieutenant swallowed thickly, ¡°They¡¯re targeting the asteroids around them!¡±
Ozzel fell into contemplation, but the sensor officer took his silence as confusion.
¡°...They are shattering the asteroids, sir,¡± he tried to explain, ¡°Creating a chain reaction of fragmenting asteroids that is now reaching us. Our right flank is trying to collapse the tunnel, and make the space unnavigable¨C¡±
¡°I know that,¡± Ozzel snarled, ¡°I want to know why they are doing that! It wasn¡¯t part of the plan!¡±
If it was, then he wasn¡¯t informed. The thought only served to irritate him further.
¡°Commodore,¡± the Jedi¡¯s calm voice nearly made him jump as he snapped around, ¡°Statesman reports they are being pushed back.¡±
Ozzel wetted his lips, looking out through the starboard viewport. Apart from splintering asteroids, there was no sign of the battle so far away yet so near. The enemy strategy clicked in his head. The reason they were so easily pushing back the paltry force on their front must be because the enemy had marshalled their heaviest squadrons against Statesman.
¡°They must be intending to crush our starward division, then sweep around and hit us from our rear,¡± he predicted, ¡°How will we respond?¡±
¡°I am unable to,¡± Alrix said, ¡°The Separatist rearline had sent some forty ships to reinforce the front. It is as you say. The further we push them back, the stronger the resistance. We are already losing momentum, and must soon consider our vector of retreat. Unfortunate, but we can still accomplish the objective of this battle.¡±
¡°Then cycle my battleships to the front!¡± Ozzel demanded heatedly, ¡°Our Tectors are more than an even match for however many numbers the Separatists try to throw at us!¡±
¡°Not quite,¡± the Jedi General¡¯s expression grew a mote colder, ¡°I foresee a great blaze in our foe¡¯s ranks. I need you to ignite that blaze, and the ensuing wildfire will consume them.¡±
Ozzel quite liked the sound of that.
¡°You only must point me in the direction, General.¡±
Rees Alrix closed her eyes and spun towards the viewports, as if she was only deciding upon his target right at that moment. After a long moment, she lifted up an arm and pointed a finger.
¡°I sense a vulnerability right¡ there.¡±
Kendal Ozzel tried to trace her finger on the tactical display, following it as a straight line until¨C would you look at that, so that¡¯s why the Statesman was¡ unbelievable. He was starting to like his Jedi. Maybe Admiral Wieler had been onto something.
¡°That¡¯s not a target,¡± he had the compulsion to point out.
¡°A vulnerability can be many things, not merely a place and time. Here, it is a choice with no correct answers,¡± Alrix lectured with a sense of finality, ¡°I trust that you do not have the same weakness. May the Force be with you.¡±
?
On the Separatist left wing, the forest of asteroids transformed into a garden of red, blue, and violets overrun with wildly blooming blossoms. Javelins of light blazed and gleaming missiles screeched down the corridor as we stormed the Republic back. For some reason, they weren¡¯t directly responding, but instead focusing on trying to collapse the tunnel by shattering the asteroids around us.
Every time the display refreshed, a drive cone would dim, then disappear, among the mounting chaos. Flowers sprung across the hulls of ships, smoking wakes their stems and destruction their petals, each colourful blossom consuming the lives of hundreds.
Star dreadnought Olympus Mons led the charge, six-hundred missiles erupting from her hulls like the black wings of a god of war incarnate, unfurling out as she lashed at the enemy. By now, microasteroids were more hazardous than the enemy; miniscule grains of rock zipping around like a mad game of pinball, slipping through exhausted shields and tearing plating from warships.
¡°The corridor is collapsing,¡± Tuff reported, audibly concerned.
¡°We have them on the ropes. This is their last ditch attempt to stop us,¡± I grunted, toggling the comms, ¡°All ships, all ahead full! Break the enemy!¡±
Sublight drives ignited, and the ¡®4th Battle Division roared in triumph, its dozen battleships and ten battlecruisers driving ahead in furious tempo. Before us, the Republic was burning a frantic retro as they attempted to withdraw from the worsening situation. Like a nest of rampaging leviathans, our dreadnoughts surged past the enemy¡¯s bow, unleashing concentrated fusillades of strikes against the enemy.
Battlecruiser Statesman, buckled, then snapped under the pressure. Olympus Mons unleashed another broadside, tearing out chunks of doonium and ripping apart bulkheads. From the wreck, debris and bodies streamed out into the hard vacuum. And yet, even then Statesman¡¯s dorsal turbolasers continued defiantly thundering out into the void. Even more, as if escaping their mother¡¯s corpse, a flurry of starfighters streamed out of the gaping holes in a last ditch attempt to strike back, only to be met by whips of point defence¨Cif they had not already been popped by the stray micrometeoroid.
The indomitable spirit displayed was something to be admired.
¡°Our shields are in the red,¡± Kavia warned through the intercom, ¡°Any longer in here and I can¡¯t guarantee hull integrity.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± my uniform was soaked through with hot sweat on cold skin as I did my best to manage both the fleet and my own ship, ¡°Crying Sun, you alright?¡±
Far ahead of me, I tried to make out Crying Sun through the array of battle. The ¡®4th Battle Division had pushed nearly 12,000 klicks ahead Repulse, hounding the remnants of Alrix¡¯s starward wing every step of the way.
¡°Going strong,¡± Vinoc answered, ¡°We¡¯ve taken damage on our port bow, but the Second Division can still follow through with the plan. There¡¯s a problem, though.¡±
Of course there was. I blew out a breath.
¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±
¡°Something doesn¡¯t feel right. Alrix sent so little to face us over here, and they¡¯re crumbling so easily. Even she should know better, and if not her than her staff. This has to be a trick.¡±
¡°Is that the Force talking?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t tell the difference.¡±
I swallowed, ¡°Diedrich and Horgo are running Caraya¡¯s Gauntlet out there, by how far Alrix is hammering them. We need to clean this up on our front and help them as soon as possible.¡±
Despite Vinoc, my every instinct was still roaring to push, push, and push. Our opponent was on the back foot, their line was crumbling, and we had momentum on our side. Just a little further, the devil on my shoulder seemed to whisper, just a little further and we¡¯ll crack them open.
¡°Incoming transmission from Ventress,¡± Taylor looked at me.
¡°Patch her in.¡±
¡°Bonteri,¡± Ventress¡¯ naturally gravelly voice said, ¡°I¡¯m bringing my fighters to our right flank.¡±
Not even asking for permission, huh?
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Alrix has played her hand.¡±
Sixty-five hours. The Republic rearguard of nine Tector-class Star Destroyers and dozen Venators finally sprung into action. Battleships in the lead, they veered starboard and plunged straight into the field of asteroids in between the corridors, crashing their way through the forest of cosmic rocks, shoving and trampling every obstacle in their way without any concern for their own safety.
For a moment, it felt like the battlefield was holding its breath as all sides watched the some thirty warships slamming through the supposedly unnavigable region. With relatively fresh shields, the Tectors rammed every asteroid it did not vaporise beforehand, driving a deep wedge into the gap and blatantly posing the question; ¡®where am I headed!?¡¯
¡°To do this now¡¡± I started.
¡°The plausibility of this action being a coincidence is exceedingly low,¡± Tuff finished, ¡°I will conduct a full recalculation of the battle.¡±
If we were to consider Alrix¡¯s main objective in the past, then the obvious conclusion was that they were going to try reaching our rearguard and target our auxiliaries. But it just seemed so¡ unreasonable. They had what, some thirty ships? Commodore Krett had almost ninety ships in reserve, not to mention that even those Tectors would have their shields spent long before they reached Krett¡¯s main line of battle.
So how would they do that? They can¡¯t rely on sheer speed this time, not this thicket. Shit, what was the enemy seeing that we weren¡¯t?
¡°Take every fighter you need and slow them down,¡± I hastily told Ventress, ¡°Taylor, bring up every angle of the battle as you can. Tuff, try to calculate every possible way those Tectors could break through Krett¡¯s line.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t need to tell me, Bonteri.¡±
¡°Roger roger.¡±
¡°I will not assume,¡± Tuff declined, ¡°There is no evidence that our auxiliaries are General Alrix¡¯s target.¡±
¡°They have been for the past sixty hours¨C¡± the tactical holos exploded onto the bridge, pins and annotations and vectors criss-crossing all of them as the collective computing power of Repulse¡¯s bridge plunged into calculations as we tried to find the ¡®vulnerability¡¯ that Alrix was seeking out, ¡°¨CWhat could she be after if not them?¡±
¡°It is statistically impossible for the enemy to breach our rearguard,¡± Tuff inserted, ¡°The plausibility of such an event is a percentage of a percentage. They cannot be targeting our auxiliaries.¡±
¡°You know statistics aren¡¯t reliable when the Force is in the equation¨C¡±
My uniform was soaked through, now. Did Repulse¡¯s radiators get destroyed? From time to time, I would look back up from my figures to see the enemy Tectors drawing closer and closer.
¡°I concede that your statement is more true than false,¡± Tuff was deathly calm, ¡°However, consider the ten-point-two-three-three percent chance that the Tectors manage to destroy the Fourth Battle Division.¡±
Wait. Closer and closer?
There was no way to accurately tell their vectors, as they were flying manually, weaving through the asteroid field as they avoided the larger rocks and pushed through the smaller ones. However, if they were targeting our rearline, shouldn¡¯t they be proceeding laterally relative to our stations?
¡°In that case¡ you think they are coming here?¡±
¡°I have included Commodore Krett¡¯s input into my calculation parameters,¡± the droid all but confirmed, ¡°I can only conclude that the most probable answer is the correct answer.¡±
Don¡¯t overthink it. Once you do, the Jedi¡¯s got you in their trap.
The Tectors were still headed in such a way that there was no predicting which way they could go. A swarm of lights¨Cstarfighters¨Cwere now buzzing around them, starting a lightshow amidst the asteroids.
¡°Then bring us around,¡± my mind settled into a concentrated fugue, completely absorbed into the tactical holo, ¡°Let¡¯s meet them. Get me Krett and Vinoc.¡±
¡°We¡¯re patched in, sir.¡±
¡°Crying Sun, Repulse,¡± I wasted no time, ¡°Withdraw to my position at best speed. Fortressa, Repulse, I¡¯m requesting reinforcements.¡±
¡°I already sent the forty ships to reinforce Greyshade¡¯s Battle Division,¡± Krett replied first, with a tone of apology, ¡°I¡¯m seeing the same thing you are. Right now, those Tectors could either hit you or me, correct? If we were playing dejarik, then Alrix got us in a fork. If I reinforce you¨C my tactical droid calculated that the Tectors will come for me instead. I¡¯ve got my pride in Fortressa, but against twenty-one Star Destroyers? They¡¯ll have a straight run to Jorm.¡±
I fist was so tightly clenched around my tablet that I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the crystal screen cracked. The asteroid field was still interfering with our sensors. Every time the display refreshed, those Tectors appeared in completely different places than the system predicted, splitting up and converging time and time again.
¡°I can dispatch a squadron,¡± Krett tried, ¡°Make it linger half way between us. We¡¯ll observe how Alrix responds, and redeploy accordingly.¡±
¡°Those are twelve Venators,¡± I winced, ¡°Can your frigates react faster than starfighters storming your position?¡±
The ensuing silence was all the answer needed.
¡°Stay put,¡± I told him, ¡°Tell Diedrich and Horgo to storm Alrix¡¯s positions and take out as many of her ships as possible.¡±
¡°Shall I deploy Vultures?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not waste them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all well and good,¡± this time it was Vinoc who made his presence known, ¡°But I think I just found out Alrix¡¯s trick. We¡¯re stuck.¡±
¡°Say again?¡±
¡°We used to fish back on Folende,¡± he said, ¡°This is a fish trap. And we¡¯re the fish.¡±
I looked back at the tactical holo, spinning it to get a better angle on our port flank. With his words in mind and heart in my throat, I found the corridor¡ still there. Confusion blossomed in my chest. From Repulse¡¯s scopes, it was true that the passageway had been constricted thanks to Statesman¡¯s wild firing, from some 40,000 klicks sloping down to 10,000¨Cbut it still appeared entirely navigable.
¡°I don¡¯t follow,¡± I nudged Tuff to pry into his thoughts on the matter, ¡°Are you able to withdraw?¡±
¡°We are,¡± Vinoc hastily swore, ¡°But we¡¯ll have to thread the needle. From our side, the corridor is no wider than a hundred and twenty klicks. The friendly folks here know it¨Cthey planned it. They¡¯re just waiting for us to turn around so they can rip into our rear as we try to squeeze through the hole.¡±
In other words, I¡¯ll damn the 284th Battle Division to annihilation if I retreat, as I would be allowing the Tectors to complete the encirclement. If I remained in an attempt to buy time for Vinoc to extract, however, it may be signing off my own annihilation. Munificents were capable warships, and could punch far above their weight class¡ but against Tectors? Those things were triple Repulse¡¯s size and had quadruple Repulse¡¯s firepower.
For a moment, I considered asking Vinoc to go through the asteroid field, just as the Tectors were doing now, but Tuff seemed to realise what I was thinking, and dissuaded me with a stern look from his pitiless photoreceptors. Demanding foolish acts made in desperation are unlike you, they seemed to say.
Then the Tectors turned, finally settling onto their ultimate heading¨Cstraight towards us. My mouth dried. I have to make a decision. The thought seemed so far away. Do I stay or retreat?
¡°Get your game together Bonteri!¡±
For a moment, I thought it was conscience coming back to haunt me again. Then I reasoned there was no way my conscience would have the grating voice of a chainsmoker.
¡°Alrix isn¡¯t kriffing invincible!¡± Ventress berated.
As if illustrating her point, a thundering explosion roared through the comlink¨Cbriefly deafening me¨Cfollowed by a flash of light and blinking pin. The drive signature of a single Tector-class Star Destroyer was wiped off the map.
¡°There¡¯s no trying to outwit her game,¡± Ventress snarled, and a second drive signature disappeared. But for each Star Destroyer downed, it cost dozens of her own pilots, ¡°So just play it!¡±
The dozen Venators opened their hangars, flooding the tactical holo with a convulsing mass of ARC-170s, swiftly overwhelming Ventress¡¯ squadrons and forcing her to retreat. As the Dark Acolyte did, she swung around a 120-klick wide asteroid and struck the nearest Venator in retaliation, hitting something nasty and blowing it up. The ARC-170s pursued briefly, before breaking off and turning their attention¨Call 2,500 of them¨Cto me. My frigates will be lamb to the slaughter.
¡°The odds have reversed on our right flank. Conciliator is now being pushed back, due to Commodore Krett¡¯s reinforcements,¡± Tuff notified, ¡°This battle will be decided here. Your decision, sir?¡±
I looked back, ears still ringing from the destruction of the Venator. The first of Vinoc¡¯s battleships had just crossed the collapsed tunnel. Repulse¡¯s scopes could just faintly make out a great blaze tearing apart the asteroid field on the other side as Olympus Mons fought like a dreadnought possessed, near-singlehandedly keeping the counter-attacking enemy at bay.
¡°...How many ships do I have?¡± I asked anyone who could answer.
¡°Fifty-five,¡± Taylor immediately said, ¡°Five Providences; thirty Munificents, including Repulse, Renown, Revenge, Unicorn, and Centaur; and twenty smaller ships.¡±
And each and every one of them had an open palm painted onto their hulls. It was my personal fleet, the White Hand. The symbol was proof of my existence, a small, personal rebellion against the unfairness cosmic powers had dealt me. Throughout the history of my world, cave paintings often feature handprints that serve as a testament to humanity¡¯s existence. In a similar vein, the placement of the open palm on distant planets or moons was a message to the universe, a declaration that we were here and left our mark on the cosmos.
Maybe, just somewhere, somehow, I had hoped I was not the only Earthling in this foreign place, and that someone might have recognised the symbol as I gained notoriety in the galaxy. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, nothing ever came of it. Maybe that simply meant that this was my galaxy now, and there was no point looking back.
I made a cursory check of the White Hand¡¯s overview, confirming something I already knew. Depleted shields, major structural damage, hull integrities failing. There would be no coming back. And yet, in exchange for saving the heaviest and most powerful warships of the 28th Mobile? A more than fair trade.
Demon Moon smile upon me, I¡¯m going to do something stupid.
I tapped the comlink, ¡°Crying Sun, Repulse; take your time¨Cwe¡¯ll hold the door open for you.¡±
¡°Force be with you.¡±
I took the consolation as it was, despite my boiling hatred of this unreasonable ¡®Force¡¯ right then, "Tuff. I will have some choice words for Trench later."
"I will prepare the tea, sir."
¡°Knew I could count on you. All ships,¡± I swallowed, pointing a finger gun straight into the asteroid field, at the Republic division that dared to attempt to outplay me. Damn me if I didn¡¯t get a higher Tector kill count than Calli right here. ¡°Deploy all fighters. All power to sublight drives. Intercept the enemy.¡±
Sixty-six hours. Star Destroyer Resilient and the Republic left wing made a bloody withdrawal under the onslaught of battlecruiser Kronprinz and destroyer Havoc. Star Destroyer Imperious, threatening to cut off the 284th Battle Division, crashed into the remnants of the defending White Hand Division amidst the asteroid belt, at the head of seven Tectors and eleven Venators. On the starward flank, the 284th Battle Division made an orderly retreat despite suffering counterattacks from the Republic right wing.
Preliminary casualties report Taskforce Conciliator suffered the loss of Statesman and twenty-one other warships, including seven of nine Tector-class Star Destroyers. The 28th Mobile Fleet lost Olympus Mons and sixty-six other warships, including fifty of the fifty-five strong White Hand Division.
Chapter 50
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
Palpatine smelled the suffering, heard the screaming, and relished it. He could feel the pulse of the dark side strengthening, fuelling him. Not just from Coruscant, but from all across the Galactic Interior. As Dua Ningo¡¯s Bulwark Fleet rampaged across the Core Worlds, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, Palpatine only grew more powerful. He could devour the hatred and rage from the millions who lost much by the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s warpath, and he could drink the terror and panic from the billions who feared that they would be next.
¡°After he struck Coruscant, Admiral Ningo led the Bulwark Fleet east to Ixtlar, then north to Basilisk, where Admiral Honor caught him. She reported back an indecisive engagement,¡± the stern, stiff-lipped voice of Director Armand Isard narrated coldly, despite the rising discomfort in the Chancellor¡¯s Office, ¡°From there he fled back west where he raided Grizmallt for materiel and resources, destroying several warships under construction. Alsakan was next, but the Bulwark Fleet immediately retreated north to Thorgeld upon noticing the Mandator-class dreadnought Defender of the Arrowhead in-system. He then reached the Shawken System further north, where he was intercepted by Admiral Honor and forced back south to Corulag. Leading a detachment, Captain Dodonna caught him there, forcing the Bulwark Fleet to jump to Anaxes, where Admiral Honor intercepted him again. We are still awaiting the results of this battle.¡±
The holographic projection evolved in lockstep with the Director¡¯s oral report, flawlessly displaying the progress of the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s warpath through the Interior.
¡°What are they doing?¡± Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin of Eriadu snarled, ¡°This Dua Ningo is running circles around the Bloodhound! It has been one standard month, and the Bulwark Fleet remains no more than five-hundred parsecs from Coruscant!¡±
¡°Might we remain professional in the Chancellor¡¯s Office, Shayla?¡± Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila coolly reprimanded, locking horns with her counterpart, ¡°Let¡¯s refer to Admiral Honor by her name, shall we? I imagine this is all a part of her strategy, Director Isard?¡±
Honor Salima, Admiral of the Coruscant Home Defense Fleet. The Bloodhound. So-called for her relentless pursuit of Dua Ningo and his Bulwark Fleet. She had viewed the Attack on Coruscant as a personal failure of hers, and in a fit of rage and contrition, launched a total, obsessive manhunt of the Separatist perpetrator, wielding the Home Fleet as one might a personal weapon. The Chancellor might have reined in the Bloodhound, if not for that he saw no real reason to.
Indeed, Admiral Honor may be overstepping her authority, ignoring all attempts to restrain her from the Republic Navy. That may have been a great blow to the GAR¡¯s authority, if not for the unanimous support for her great hunt from across the Republic. Taking Captain Jan Dodonna with her, the man who once oversaw the Siege of Foerost and witnessed the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s breakout, along with every new Victory-class Star Destroyer in the Republic¡¯s employ, Admiral Honor has been in a non-stop, month-long pursuit of the Bulwark Fleet to avenge her failure in defending Coruscant.
Ultimately, the Republic Navy opted to relent, concealing their efforts to subdue her rogue actions out of concern for public reprisal. Instead, a compromise was reached; the Bloodhound could continue her pursuit unrestrained, so long as she sent regular updates to Strategic Command.
¡°Admiral Honor is a woman of few words, and has failed to elaborate on her strategy,¡± Admiral Barton Coburn¨Cmastermind behind the Coburn Plan that resulted in the crushing success of the Hundred Days¡¯ Offensive¨Cfolded his arms behind him, ¡°But I know her well, as colleagues, and she is a most talented officer and taskmaster. A requirement, especially for someone who must manage the viper¡¯s pit that is the Home Fleet.¡±
The Coruscant Home Fleet. The dustbin of the Republic Navy, where it discards the useless, but ¡®important¡¯ graduates from naval academies across the Core Worlds. Noble scions, talentless children from military families, and the dregs of the political elite. Those who desired the glory of serving in the Grand Army of the Republic and fighting the Clone Wars, yet wanted none of the risk and danger that came with it. A prestigious post within the safest place in the Republic such as the Home Fleet was the perfect posting.
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine allowed himself a mote of outward humour at the thought of all those worthless failures now trapped on the Bloodhound¡¯s wild ride. How ironic it was, that all those who seeked to avoid battle now found themselves under the tyranny of one of the most humourless and bloodthirsty Fleet Admirals of the Republic, actively seeking battles and forcing engagements wherever possible.
¡°If she is so talented,¡± Senator Tarkin sneered, jabbing at the projection, ¡°How do you explain this!? Why hasn''t she driven the Bulwark Fleet out!?¡±
¡°If I may, Senator,¡± Director Isard intervened, ¡°We in Republic Intelligence believe Admiral Honor never intended to allow the Bulwark Fleet to escape. She is seeking not the rout of our foe, but their complete destruction. Observe the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s progress to Shawken, where they attempted to escape, and was thwarted by the Home Fleet. He then jumped to Corulag, where Admiral Honor ordered Captain Dodonna to strike from the Rimward direction, pushing the Bulwark Fleet back into the Core. Every attempt Admiral Dua Ningo makes to escape to the Outer Rim, the Home Fleet inevitably blocks his path and drives him back Coreward.¡±
¡°This¡¡± Senator Tarkin was red, and at a loss for words.
¡°We are witnessing a dance, where the Core Worlds is the ballroom,¡± Jedi Master Adi Gallia, official liaison of the Jedi High Council, mused, ¡°Both wish to end the dance, but in incompatibly different ways. Admiral Coburn, Director Isard; might I suggest that the reason Admiral Honor has not been forthcoming with her plans may be due to the fact that she has none at all? The simplest answer is many times to correct one; the Bulwark Fleet and Home Fleet are reacting to each other on the move. Neither have any long-term strategy beyond their final goal. One seeks escape. The other seeks total annihilation of the former.¡±
¡°In that case, there is no point in further discussion of this matter,¡± the Chancellor declared decisively.
¡°Chancellor!?¡± Senator Tarkin raised her voice in surprise, and even the level-headed Mon Mothma flinched at the announcement, ¡°With all due respect, every day the Bulwark Fleet spends in the Interior is another day they could strike at another system!¡±
And every day the Bulwark Fleet spends in the Interior is another day their legend of horror grows, until its shadow covers all of the Republic. Admiral Dua Ningo moved history by hitting Coruscant for the first time in a thousand years. Oh, Coruscant will recover. Already, relief fleets from the Agricultural Circuit were pouring into the system en masse, while great nets swept away orbital debris and cleared the way for replacement satellites and mirrors.
This was not the first time the Coruscant had been attacked. This would not be the last. Not even once, did the Office of the Supreme Chancellor consider the evacuation of the government. Coruscant was the cog at the heart of the galaxy, the single one that turns all the others, and she herself cannot stop turning. The Chancellor was well prepared for the Bulwark Fleet.
After all, was it not him who staged the Attack on Coruscant in the first place?
It was such a simple matter. Palpatine could laugh at his victory. He dealt the most grievous blow to the Republic in a millennia, and not a single soul suspected him of it!
The deployment of the new Victory-class Star Destroyers to Foerost. Not in mass, no, but one by one, gradually instilling fear in the mind of Admiral Dua Ningo. ¡®The GAR intends on ending the Siege of Foerost,¡¯ the old Sullustan must have thought, ¡®I must break out as soon as possible, but in which direction?¡¯
The mobilisation of the Core Reserve Armadas to the frontlines, leaving the Interior devoid of any significant military presence. This raised concerns amongst the myriad Core Worlds who seeked protection. And out of magnanimous consolation, the Chancellor personally ordered the Coruscant Home Fleet to spread out across the Interior to ease their anxieties, leaving behind only a few dozen ships at Coruscant itself. It was only a stop-gap measure, of course, as the Home Fleet couldn¡¯t remain away from the capital for very long.
And so, the Republic Navy was forced to mobilise its final reserve armada to garrison the Core; the 5th Deep Core Reserve. A secret fleet, hidden throughout the entire war in the Deep Core. Many prominent GAR officials have no idea about its existence, much less the Separatists. Over five-hundred ships spilled northbound on the Koros Trunk Line, whereas it so happened to be that Foerost sat directly in their path.
The Bulwark Fleet ultimately only had one way to go¨Cnorth. And as the old Sullustan must have realised¡ the majority of the Home Fleet was nowhere to be found in the Coruscant System.
Had his office been empty, Palpatine would have cackled. He did cackle, as Separatist warships scoured the skies above him and as his aides begged for his evacuation. Nothing was quite so stirring as a plan coming together.
And now? The fruits of the seeds he so carefully planted? The collective consciousness of the Galactic Republic will accept nothing less than the complete destruction of the Separatist Alliance. Every day the Bulwark Fleet spends rampaging through the Interior, every day the HoloNet fans the flames of bellicism and militarism. The budget and size of the Grand Army exploded as donations and recruits flooded in from affluent Core Worlds, while any hope of a ceasefire was thrown into the void.
Alas, the outcome was not perfect. If only those annoying Separatists had killed the peace delegates on Onderon¡ then the Chancellor would have no real opposition left in the Galactic Senate. He also had a group of Separatist ¡®pirates¡¯ waiting at Ambria to intercept the diplomatic convoy¡¯s return journey, but that Sev¡¯rance Tann had prepared for that too, ordering a military escort of forty warships to accompany them. Warships now interned at Commenor for investigation.
Most irritating.
No matter, the Chancellor thought, it delays some of my plans, but causes no real effect. The Loyalist Faction within the Senate was now ineffective, trapped in a power struggle between Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin and Senator Mon Mothma about how to best proceed forward, and the uneasy alliance between the usually antagonistic Senatorial caucuses that held it together was falling apart. With figures like Senator Bana Breemu, Senator Bail Organa, and especially Senator Padm¨¦ Amidala disgraced upon their return, many of the peace delegates had retreated from public life.
Some out of shame.
Most out of fear.
Coruscant was now a teeming hotspot of anti-Separatism, on the surface at least. Should the likes of Senator Amidala step onto public grounds, it was likely she would find herself strung up and lynched by the masses baying for her blood. She was nearly lynched in the Senate Building itself, having been chased out by workers, staffers, and even fellow senators the multiple times she attempted to attend meetings and sessions. Her plight was not at all a special one.
All of this in mind, the only real obstacle left between Palpatine and his New Order was Mon Mothma and the Chandrila Caucus. The poor Senator spends most of time arguing against bills to no effect, so tirelessly trying to straddle the line between ¡®pacifist¡¯ and ¡®traitor.¡¯ The two words were so close they seem synonymous in the Senate¨Cnay, the entire Republic¨Cthese days.
¡°Then allow Admiral Honor Salima all the resources she needs to put an end to the Bulwark Fleet!¡± the Chancellor exclaimed, ¡°I will admit, my friends, I share every sentiment our good Admiral possesses. I would rather find the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s blasted wrecks in the Core than allow them to return as heroes to the Separatist Alliance!¡±
Palpatine injected just the right amount of fervour and anger into his voice to unbalance his audience. He had carefully cultivated his image for so long¨Cthis amicable, genteel fatherly figure of the Republic¨Cthat by breaking that image in the right places, he could effectively convey exactly what his audience wanted to hear.
The Supreme Chancellor was angry too. He was mourning too. He wanted nothing more than the severed head of Dua Ningo on his desk too.
Nevermind that allowing the Bulwark Fleet to escape towards the Rim would be detrimental to his Grand Plan. He needed the Republic to accept his New Order with open arms, and allowing the Separatists to sow havoc was the perfect vector to that outcome. Despite Senator Tarkin¡¯s fears, the Bulwark Fleet was by and large toothless. Admiral Dua Ningo was too busy trying to outwit and outrun the Bloodhound to risk attacking another star system. The only attacks he made were not terror raids, but raids for fuel, resources, and materiel.
It was perfect. A toothless hound evoked the same terror as a toothed one, to the average citizen of the Republic. Thanks to his newfound control over the HoloNet via the expanded powers of the HoloCommunications Commission, the Supreme Chancellor could control exactly how terrifying the Bulwark Fleet was, steadily guiding the Republic towards his Empire. It was a fine line to walk, with little margin for error, but that had always been Palpatine¡¯s ballgame, from the days spent speeder racing on Naboo in his youth.
¡°Indeed, Shayla,¡± Mon Mothma demurred, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be more concerned with your homeworld? I¡¯ve heard that Eriadu is being besieged by General Horn Ambigene. Is that not more concerning to you?¡±
Senator Tarkin scoffed, ¡°Eriadu would never fall to the likes of him! Our fleets may have been scattered, but General Ambigene will only find our people ready and waiting to fight! Eriadu and Seswenna will not be swayed so easily. My cousin, Gideon Tarkin, has assured me that our citizens will take up arms against the droid menace, to the last man if we must, should General Ambigene dare to test our strength with a ground invasion.¡±
¡°General Ambigene dislikes battle droids, Senator,¡± Jedi Master Adi Gallia said mildly, ¡°His men are all citizen soldiers from across the Outer Rim.¡±
¡°Then we shall fight even harder, knowing we face traitors to the Republic!¡±
¡°Is that so¡¡±
The Chancellor frowned. Eriadu was of great importance to his future plans, if his Empire was to come to fruition. The Outer Rim will continue being a bed of discontent for years to come, and a key supporter of his regime in the Rim such as Eriadu and the Seswenna Sector would be invaluable.
¡°The Bulwark Fleet is of little concern; I trust Admiral Honor will dispense justice in our stead,¡± the Supreme Chancellor stated, ¡°We must now turn our attention to the Outer Rim. Senator Tarkin, my dear, I speak on behalf of the Republic when I say that there is no world in the Rim more valuable to us than Eriadu. The loyalty of its people will be rewarded.¡±
Senator Tarkin shivered in delight at his words, like a peacock fluffing up its feathers, a pleased smile curling her red lips.
¡°Eriadu must not fall,¡± he met the eyes of his audience meaningfully, ¡°I have been informed that the Separatists are preparing for a large-scale endeavour?¡±
¡°Correct, Chancellor,¡± Director Isard confirmed, ¡°Our agents have been unanimous across the Rim. The Separatists have been mobilising large concentrations of ships and soldiers onto the Perlemian and Rimma Trade Routes. No action has been taken yet, despite the obvious deployments, however.¡±
Stolen novel; please report.
¡°This is no coincidence,¡± Admiral Coburn declared hotly, ¡°With the Bulwark Fleet rampaging across the Core, they must be expecting us to recall our Reserve Armadas to deal with this threat, effectively allowing them free rein over the front lines.¡±
¡°Well?¡± the Chancellor implored, ¡°Must we recall our fleets?¡±
¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± the Admiral denied, ¡°With the Fifth Deep Core Reserve taking their place, the Core will be well-defended once more. We can focus entirely on crushing the Separatists once and for all.¡±
¡°The Senate has also successfully passed the Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act. This will greatly expand the powers of Homeworld Security to act outside Coruscant, effectively putting an end to any public disorder and internal conflict on Loyalist worlds.¡± Senator Tarkin smiled triumphantly, conspicuously glancing at Mon Mothma, ¡°It vote was unanimous¡ if we ignore those the senators in¡ indefinite recess.¡±
¡°An unfortunate necessity of the times,¡± Senator Mothma sighed, ¡°The Security Act was a matter of hot debate in the Chandrilan House, but ultimately viewed favourably. I tend to concur with their conclusion.¡±
¡°And I am pleased we can finally see eye to eye on this matter, Mon,¡± Shayla Paige-Tarkin patted her colleague¡¯s back.
The two senators were friends, no matter how distant their views may seem in some places. Both were still members of the same Loyalist Committee for a reason. It was simply a matter of culture; Chandrila was a democracy, while Eriadu possessed a more authoritarian bent. Both were loyal to the Republic, simply in different ways. Ultimately, however, they were sincere, and genuine. Unlike greedy delegates who used their senatorial status to indulge their every whim¡ªlike Orn Free Taa of Ryloth¨CMon Mothma and Shayla Paige-Tarkin genuinely cared for the well-being of their people.
A perishingly rare trait in the Galactic Senate.
¡°Very good¨C¡± the Chancellor stopped himself as he noticed his Administrative Aide, Sly Moore slinking into his office, ¡°¨CMy dear, do we have guests?¡±
¡°Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and his apprentice, Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy,¡± the Umbaran aide relayed softly, ¡°They arrived from Five-Hundred Republica bearing news.¡±
¡°Well then let¡¯s not keep them waiting!¡±
The two Jedi were swiftly allowed in. Anakin didn¡¯t seem at all bothered that he was interrupting a meeting, but his apprentice had bowed her head down and shrunk in on herself, as if trying to not draw any attention to herself. Palpatine studied the girl carefully, deciding whether she would be any threat to his plans. There was a darkness within her, not so unlike her Master, and a conflict¡ small, and repressed, but conflict all the same. He decided no, she would not¨Cshe could even pose a boon¡
¡°Sorry for the interruption,¡± Anakin apologised with not a hint of apology, ¡°But I thought this was urgent.¡±
¡°It must be,¡± Master Adi Gallia commented dryly, ¡°If you¡¯re just barging in here.¡±
¡°I was allowed in,¡± the Knight shrugged.
¡°Please state your piece, Master Jedi,¡± Director Isard pressed.
¡°Senator Amidala has been recalled to Naboo,¡± Anakin Skywalker said bluntly, ¡°I thought the Chancellor should know, since well, you¡¯re both from Naboo.¡±
Mon Mothma couldn¡¯t contain a soft gasp at the shocking news.
Shayla Paige-Tarkin was not so composed, ¡°Padm¨¦ is!? I didn¡¯t hear anything about this!¡±
¡°She was just informed,¡± Anakin explained, ¡°Tallisibeth and I were with her as she got the news. I imagine there will be an official announcement from her staff by the end of today.¡±
¡°Was Queen Neeyutnee so displeased with her efforts?¡± Palpatine didn¡¯t need to pretend to be concerned. He was concerned. It would be much harder to manipulate young Skywalker should Amidala leave Coruscant¡
Queen Neeyutnee of Naboo was the successor of Queen Jamillia, who herself was Padm¨¦ Amidala¡¯s successor. He had heard that Neeyutnee was particularly strong-willed, even compared to Amidala herself, but this was most unexpected of her¡
¡°Queen Neeyutnee isn¡¯t sending a replacement,¡± Anakin¡¯s young apprentice squeaked, but quickly caught her voice with her next words, ¡°Her Highness said that Naboo is withdrawing their senatorial delegation indefinitely due to safety concerns. Miss Amidala¡¯s security detail had already caught multiple suspicious individuals attempting to approach her in public and even break into her apartment, ranging from bounty hunters to armed, disaffected citizens. They reported as such back to Naboo, and this is the response.¡±
¡°Will Naboo be declaring neutrality as Corellia did?¡± Senator Tarkin questioned accusatorily.
¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything about that,¡± Anakin answered.
¡°What do you think of this matter, personally, Anakin?¡± Palpatine asked worriedly, ¡°Senator Amidala is a friend of all of us. This matter is most concerning to me.¡±
¡°She will be safer on Naboo,¡± Anakin said, though Palpatine recognised a hint of disappointment, ¡°Her transport will be landing directly on one of Five-Hundred Republica¡¯s skydocks tomorrow. Tallisibeth and I will be there as well.¡±
I see¡
¡°...Thank you, Anakin,¡± Palpatine leaned forward, ¡°I am confident I speak for all of us when I say¡ ah, may the Force be with her.¡±
Anakin and Tallisibeth shared a satisfied nod, and bowed to leave. The Supreme Chancellor, however, had other ideas¨C
¡°Why don¡¯t you two stay a while? We were just discussing our next actions for the war effort.¡±
¡°I advise against that, Chancellor,¡± Armand Isard ground his teeth, ¡°This is of the utmost import¨C¡±
¡°Do not be so stiff, Director,¡± Palpatine chided, ¡°Can anyone here say Master Skywalker is untrustworthy? Or his apprentice?¡±
Nobody could, and Anakin bowed his head again, ¡°Thank you, Chancellor. Tallisibeth, listen carefully. Maybe you¡¯ll learn something.¡±
¡°Sounds like you¡¯re outsourcing my education, Master.¡±
¡°Just trying to be efficient.¡±
¡°Or lazy.¡±
As amusing as the exchange was, Palpatine was forced to end it with a sharp cough. The two Jedi froze, before sheepishly sobering up.
¡°Director Isard, please continue¡¡± he started, then caught Sly Moore¡¯s attention, ¡°Sly, my dear, please prepare a draft for my response to Senator Amidala¡¯s withdrawal from Coruscant.¡±
¡°Of course, sir.¡±
¡°As I was saying,¡± Director Isard started stiffly, ¡°We must focus on killing the renewed Separatist offensive in the crib. We had just received a message from Governor-General Grant earlier today, relaying a transmission from Jedi General Rees Alrix.¡±
¡°She is requesting reinforcements,¡± Admiral Coburn explained as Isard wordlessly handed the presentation to him, ¡°In conjunction with Republic Intelligence, the Navy has confirmed the existence of a concerning Separatist fleet. The first is in the Kashyyyk System, orbiting around Trandosha. King Grakchawwaa of Kashyyyk, who until this point maintained neutrality, has allowed our fleets to enter the system to counter Trandosha¡¯s invitation to the Separatists.¡±
¡°We have since discovered the Separatist designation for this fleet; the Nineteenth Mobile Fleet,¡± Director Isard paused, allowing Anakin Skywalker to question¨C
¡°And this has to do with Rees, why?¡±
A flash of irritation crossed Isard¡¯s features, ¡°Because the Nineteenth Mobile is three-hundred strong, and formed entirely of veteran warships and crews last seen at the Battle of Columex. The flagship is the Providence Star of Serenno, belonging to Rear Admiral Calli Trilm. This is not just any formation, this is half of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada, the most decorated fleet in the CAF''s employ, and one of our high priority targets.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Tallisibeth blurted out, ¡°So Master Alrix found the other half of the Coalition Armada?¡±
Armand Isard regarded the young apprentice carefully¨C ¡°Your student does you a great favour, General Skywalker.¡±
¡°I get that more than I¡¯d like.¡±
¡°In any case, Commander Esterhazy is correct,¡± the Director of Republic Intelligence said, ¡°We have not yet discovered the designation of this fleet, but it is without a doubt the missing half of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada. Its flagship is the Munificent Repulse, belonging to Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that the name of the man who defended against General Rancisis for an entire day, before the Pantoran reinforced the Coalition Armada at Columex?¡± Senator Tarkin wondered.
Such a significant name, and yet I have not heard of it once? Palpatine frowned. He would have to look into this¡ and the Perlemian Coalition as a whole. As he scanned the faces for any sign of recognition, he noticed Anakin leaning down and nodding as his Padawan whispered in his ear. A moment passed, and Anakin¡¯s eyes sharpened as he listened.
¡°Knight Alrix only has a hundred ships at Sullust,¡± Master Gallia pointed out, ¡°If the second half of the Coalition Armada has the same amount as the first¡ that would mean she is outnumbered three-to-one. Has she not retreated?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Admiral Coburn inserted, ¡°The defining mystery is the reason why the Separatists are so reticent. The Wookiees had permitted our entry into their system on the condition that we take no offensive manoeuvres. We had expected Admiral Trilm to attack Kashyyyk, but she has since spent three days around Trandosha with no outward movement.¡±
¡°So we have a Republic and Separatist fleet in the same star system,¡± Anakin summarised, ¡°Just¡ hanging out?¡±
¡°What about Sullust?¡± the Chancellor pressed, ¡°General Alrix is a hero of the Republic. We must tell her to retreat if she is outmatched!¡±
¡°Quite the contrary, Chancellor,¡± the Admiral corrected, ¡°Admiral Bonteri, similarly to his counterpart at Trandosha, has made no aggressive action. This has allowed General Alrix to strike with near-impunity, reportedly engaging in combat on five separate occasions.¡±
Senator Tarkin giggled, then laughed. A loud, harmonious cheer that swelled throughout the office. She wiped a tear from her eye, ¡°She is? I would love to meet this Rees Alrix! Did she not defeat another fleet three times her number at Medth before?¡±
¡°Knight Alrix¡¯s has a special connection with the Force,¡± Master Gallia crossed her arms, ¡°She can identify the ¡®vulnerability¡¯ in an object, whether it be within a single individual in a duel, or within a formation in a naval battle. I admittedly know little of this ability, but I have heard the Jedi who possess it can be counted on a single hand. Knowing the resources we diverted for the Coburn Plan were far too little to recapture the Rimma Trade Route on its own, it is for this reason Jedi Command assigned Knight Alrix to this front¨Cagainst the wishes of many, including Admiral Coburn himself.¡±
¡°Then you must forgive my lack of esoteric knowledge, Master Jedi,¡± Admiral Coburn took it in stride, ¡°For the way I saw it, Jedi Command had just assigned a well-meaning young lady with no feats of her own to one of the most important fronts of the war. One only recently knighted, at that. My staff did retract its criticisms once General Alrix soundly defeated Ventress at the Battle of Medth.¡±
¡°Rees defeated Ventress at Medth!?¡± Anakin scowled, ¡°Where is she now?¡±
¡°According to General Alrix¡¯s report¨Cat Sullust,¡± Director Isard said, ¡°While General Alrix¡¯s ability may play a role in her victories over Admiral Bonteri and Ventress, what plays an even larger role is the fact that just like the Admiral Trilm¡¯s half, they are completely on the defensive. She suspects that they are under orders to not engage. To that end, the same phenomena is occurring all across the galaxy. Whole Separatist fleets and armadas are entering battle zones with no intention of fighting at all.¡±
With a flick of his wrist, the Director of Republic Intelligence activated a handheld holoprojector, a ray of blue-scanned light bursting from the emitter. It was a simple astrograph of the galaxy, with red pins dotting the frontier of Republic-held space, denoting the position of enemy fleets.
¡°Corroborating General Alrix¡¯s report, Republic Intelligence has intercepted enemy communications from across the warfront,¡± Isard pressed on, ¡°It very much appears that the Separatist military hierarchy is in a gridlock. Hundreds of fleets have been requesting for new orders since the redeployments in the wake of the Onderon Peace Summit, with little to no response from their chain of command beyond ¡®hold your position.¡¯ Governor-General Wessex and Governor-General Coy have taken advantage of this, organising independently-authorised offensives to great effect. Both our Seventh Sector Army and Sixteenth Sector Army reports minimal resistance from the enemy, and have pushed the Separatists back to Shaum Hii in the north, and Bacrana in the south, respectively.¡±
¡°This is another Separatist trick,¡± Anakin argued, ¡°It must be! This is the Pantoran we are dealing with. Have you considered that we are playing right into her hands?¡±
¡°And that is why we must destroy the trap before it can be sprung!¡± Admiral Coburn declared, ¡°The Hundred Days¡¯ Offensive is proof that the Separatists are not infallible. We must simply seize the momentum our enemies have so foolishly failed to take for themselves. The Second Sector Army has already been mobilised and are enroute to aid the Twentieth Army¡¯s Siege of Mechis and Yag¡¯Dhul¨Cwe must have them ignore the sieges instead, and reach Eriadu as soon as possible! Chancellor, I speak on behalf of the Republic Navy in this regard; you must authorise our Reserve Armadas to take offensive action.¡±
¡°This action has my blessing,¡± the Supreme Chancellor immediately agreed, ¡°Who are the Jedi Generals commanding the Second Army?¡±
¡°Senior General Ry-Gaul and General Aayla Secura, Chancellor.¡±
¡°Inform High Command of my approval immediately.¡±
¡°Very good, sir,¡± Admiral Coburn saluted, ¡°With your leave?¡±
The Chancellor stood, ¡°Thank you for your service, Admiral.¡±
A small, dignified smile graced Barton Coburn¡¯s lips, before he lowered his salute and turned around with a snap-click of his boots, disappearing into the antechamber. Senator Mothma and Senator Tarkin, recognising that they were no longer needed, dispensed their pleasantries and gracefully trailed after him.
¡°Anakin, Tallisibeth,¡± the Chancellor then diverted his attention to the two Jedi, ¡°Second Reserve Armada is large, and slow, and it will take time for them to reach Sullust. Knowing the Pantoran, you are likely correct the inaction of the Perlemian Coalition can only be some sort of Separatist trap we cannot penetrate. With Jedi Command¡¯s permit, I would ask you to take half of the Open Circle Fleet and reinforce General Alrix as soon as possible, clearing the way for the Second Army.¡±
¡°And Obi-Wan will take the other half to Kashyyyk, I presume,¡± the Jedi Knight finished, ¡°I can do that. I¡¯ll be ready to leave after Senator Amidala¡¯s departure tomorrow morning.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll notify Jedi Command,¡± Master Gallia nodded without argument, ¡°But Anakin, I ask you to hurry. I fear Knight Alrix¡¯s string of victories may be coming to an end.¡±
¡°Master?¡± Tallisibeth asked, ¡°But you said yourself that she can see the weaknesses in her enemies. That seems¡ undefeatable.¡±
¡°No Jedi is undefeatable, young Padawan,¡± the elder Tholothian shook her head, ¡°Rees is still young, and inexperienced, truly. Though you could never tell when standing before her, she is a hot-headed, overconfident individual, not unlike your Master here. After all, it is natural when, as you say, she remains undefeated in most things. One Jedi Master with a similar, if not same ability, as her is Master Windu himself. He was supposed to train her for a while, but with the war, that was no longer possible.¡±
¡°Master Windu¡?¡± Anakin stretched the name, before shrugging, ¡°Rees seems to have a pretty good handle on her abilities without Master Windu.¡±
¡°That may be the problem, I sense,¡± Master Gallia¡¯s tendrils swayed with unease, ¡°Just as a Jedi Knight trains both arms so they could never be caught off-handed in battle, a Jedi Knight must train in all aspects of the Force. Knight Alrix is still young, and singularly reliant on the one ability that has never failed her yet.¡±
¡°So you¡¯re saying that if it does ever fails her¡¡±
¡°She might just find herself at a loss for what to do,¡± the Jedi Master confirmed, ¡°Against Ventress, there is little to fear. But against Rain Bonteri? You know this man better than I do, Anakin, you met him.¡±
Anakin Skywalker¡¯s languid stance abruptly stiffened as he processed Adi Gallia¡¯s words, all as Palpatine and Director Isard watched on in silence. No reaction to Ventress, but this Rain Bonteri instead? Do the Jedi really consider this single person to be such a threat? Adi Gallia is not just any Jedi Master, she is a member of the High Council. Which means the man¡¯s name has even reached¨C
Palpatine decapitated his inner musings as he detected the Tholothian Jedi Master¡¯s presence in the Force, worming its way over to him, feeling for his emotions. He immediately pretended not to notice their conversation with all the grace and politeness of an aristocrat. Inwardly, however, Palpatine stirred with a great vexation. This is a test. Adi Gallia is testing me for any reaction to the knowledge she revealed, like I would give myself away by recognising this ability. Is the Jedi Council beginning to suspect me? What¨Cor who¨Chas given me away?
¡°Director,¡± Palpatine continued pretending to ignore them, under the guise of having pleasant conversation with Isard, ¡°I want to know everything about this man. Thank you for your tireless service to the Republic.¡±
Armand Isard tipped his chin before slinking away, straightening his uniform as he did.
¡°Rain Bonteri appears to be constrained for now, but there is no telling when the chains around his wrists are broken for whatever reason,¡± Master Gallia warned, not a feature out of place as she continued probing the Chancellor, ¡°And when that happens¡¡±
¡°Master Plo was lucky to escape with his life.¡±
¡°Master Plo told us he was allowed to escape with his life.¡±
¡°Kriff,¡± Anakin swore, ¡°Sorry, Chancellor, but I need to get the Open Circle ready for deployment.¡±
The Chancellor waved them off with a genial smile, watching their backs grow smaller until the doors of his closed behind them.
Then the smile died.
¡°Sly,¡± he called, and the pale woman melded out from a shadow in the corner of the office, ¡°I will need you to prepare a discrete shuttle and cover up my absence.¡±
I can afford to accelerate my Plan now, Palpatine thought, loose threads like Amidala can be ignored. The Republic is no longer just marching¨Cit is now sprinting towards its own grave, and the Jedi Order¡¯s suspicions are growing. I must end the Jedi Order and the Clone Wars in one fell blow, by having each end the other. The Republic must now devour the Confederacy wholly, leaving not even crumbs behind. I must prepare the dining table accordingly¡ and deal with that useless apprentice of mine at the same time.
¡°Where to, Chancellor?¡±
¡°The Works,¡± he rubbed his hands together, enjoying the roar of the Force in his ears, ¡°I have someone troublesome I must speak to.¡±
Chapter 51
Star Station ¡®Independence¡¯, Murkhana System
Auril Sector
Admiral Trench patiently waited for two orderlies to leave the Supreme Commander¡¯s office before announcing his presence. Instead of erecting the Office of the General on Raxus Secundus, or any Separatist star system, Sev¡¯rance Tann had instead opted to repurpose the former Mandator-class star dreadnought Pride of the Core into the CAF¡¯s mobile headquarters.
It took time for the old Harch to grow into the idea, but he could see its merits. The renamed Independence was definitely large enough to serve as the CAF¡¯s primary arcology, should it had been established planetside. Furthermore, the great vessel was always on the move, leaping from one system to the other, and by virtue of being a starship, permitted tighter security of its perimeter. The Confederacy¡¯s enemies would find it much harder to infiltrate the military, from now on.
¡°Pleasant news, Admiral.¡±
The Supreme Commander¡¯s personal command room was found in the citadel of the Independence, repurposed from one of many combat information centres the old Mandator possessed. It was Trench¡¯s first time visiting the station, since the completion of its retrofit, and the old Harch still did not know what to expect.
Knowing Sev¡¯rance Tann, maybe he should have. She was an inordinately busy woman these days, having to not only manage the newly reformed CAF, but also navigate the exhaustive politics that came with the position. With the establishment of a new Independence Military Academy aboard the Independence itself, if the Supreme Commander was not found in her command centre, then she most certainly was supervising the progress of her personal project.
The walls and ceilings of the command centre were covered with viewscreens and holograms, each displaying a different sector of space, dimly lit so as to not strain the eyes. At the very centre, a double ring of repeaters and readouts, blinking with the details of the innumerous assets of the burgeoning Confederate Armed Forces. And at the centre of the double circle, a simple metal chair, swivelling around to reveal the woman who spoke; Sev¡¯rance Tann.
¡°Murkhana is now completely in the control of the CAF,¡± the Pantoran stood up, ¡°Courtesy of Passel Argente. Extend my gratitude to the Magistrate.¡±
¡°That can be done, General,¡± Trench folded a pair of his arms behind his back as he strolled around the room, ¡°But I am here for a different reason.¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°Rear Admiral Bonteri has contacted me for the sixth time,¡± the Harch Admiral studied the stoic features of the blue-skinned woman, and studied the positions of the 2nd Fleet Group on a nearby display, at the same time, ¡°He has fought Jedi General Alrix half a dozen times, never getting the upper hand. His complaint, naturally, are the chains around his wrists. He demands a reason as to why he is not allowed to go on the offensive.¡±
¡°It surprises me he hasn¡¯t already,¡± General Tann mused.
¡°It is a matter of trust, General,¡± Trench said, ¡°He has served under both of us, for a time. He knows we wouldn¡¯t give orders¨Cor a lack thereof¨Cwithout reason. He now asks for us to return that trust.¡±
Tann¡¯s finger curled, and the nearby display flashed into a starchart of the Rimma Trade Route, ¡°And what will you tell him this time?¡±
The old Harch stroked his remaining organic mandible, ¡°The Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet has been authorised to proceed with Operation Storm-Door.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s opaque red eyes narrowed, ¡°You are saying¡¡±
¡°The Republic has taken the bait,¡± the Harch chuckled, his skin-crawling chitter filling the room, ¡°Their Second Sector Army has ignored Mechis-Three and Yag¡¯Dhul, and are pouring down onto the Rimma. Our forward scouts spotted the Open Circle Fleet¡¯s redeployment; one half under Anakin Skywalker leading the vanguard to Sullust, and the other half under Obi-Wan Kenobi to Kashyyyk.¡±
¡°In the New Territories?¡± a low excitement burgeoned in the normally stoic General.
¡°Admiral Kirst¡¯s First Fleet Group has been pushed back to Shaum Hii,¡± Trench built momentum, ¡°He, too, is allowing the Republic to attack unhindered. The Republic¡¯s Third Sector Army has reached Lantillies, and will soon reach the front lines. The Sixteenth Sector Army¡¯s offensive has pushed General Farstar all the way to New Cov. We are losing territory all across the front.¡±
The two greatest flag officers stared at each other, a singular conclusion arriving to both their minds; Operation Storm-Door has succeeded. By enforcing a strict ¡®no first action¡¯ policy across the CAF, they had virtually allowed the Grand Army of the Republic free rein over the front. As expected, the Republic was launching an all-out offensive, poised to knock the Confederacy out of the war. The public motivation for the ¡®no first action¡¯ policy was a fallacy from the very beginning, but a very useful one.
The Republic already despised the Confederacy for the Attack on Coruscant¨Cnay, that was a sore understatement¨Cthe Republic will now stop at nothing to bathe every Confederate world in Separatist blood in their quest for vengeance. No amount of pleading and backpedalling will change that¨Cno, this policy was to invite the Republic to attack, and thus justify what will come next to the citizens of the Confederacy. With Murkhana and the Hyper-Communications Cartel now in their hands, the CAF controlled the information nexus of the entire Confederacy, from the Separatist HoloNet to the CIS Shadowfeed.
It will be a simple matter to double down on the already common belief in this nation that the Republic staged a false flag attack on their own capital, over-exaggerating the damage to justify breaking down the armistice negotiations. When the choice was believing enemy propaganda or trusted federal news sources, the choice was predictable. Besides, how could there possibly be a CAF fleet in the Galactic Interior? That was simply astrographically and strategically impossible.
The ¡®no first action¡¯ policy would preserve their moral high ground in the eyes of the Separatist people, and lure the Republic to launch their renewed offensive at the same time, justifying Operation Storm-Door. And they did. And by drawing out all remaining Reserve Armadas of the GAR, they made the Republic leave their house completely empty.
And just as the Republic seeks the Confederacy¡¯s destruction at all costs, the Confederacy seeks the otherwise.
¡°And now all our Mobile Fleets have to do is walk through an open door.¡±
And what will happen then? When the Republic faces not one, but three fleets marauding through the Core Worlds? The Republic will no longer accept peace unless it was at the end of a turbolaser battery. The Supreme Commander was determined it was not the Confederacy, but the Republic, staring down the smoking barrel of peace.
¡°The Republic will panic.¡±
¡°The Republic will overcorrect.¡±
¡°The Republic will bring their fleets home.¡±
¡°And then we can cross the border unhindered,¡± Admiral Trench finished, ¡°And pressure the Republic into a treaty with overwhelming force.¡±
This is the true nature of Operation Storm-Door. There was no hiding the extensive fleet redeployments in the prelude to Storm-Door, so they may as well use the Republic¡¯s intelligence to their advantage.
Operation Storm-Door enabled Operation Starlance, and Operation Starlance enabled Operation Storm-Door. One would not be possible without the other, two halves of a whole. It was the shield, the spear, and the counterattack. Operation Starlance did not even exist on paper¨Cthe operation was so secret there was not a single physical record of it that hasn¡¯t been destroyed. It existed only in the heads of the staffers who devised it, and the officers participating in it, a number that could be counted on two hands.
Make no mistake; the twin operations were their last shot at knocking the Republic out of the war. The brutal truth was clear; the Confederacy was no longer able to take the Republic in a straight fight, not this deep into the war. No amount of confidentiality was too much confidentiality¨Cnot a single officer on the front could know of the reason for their standing orders out of fear from enemy interception. Not even those participating in Operation Starlance.
They had to draw the Republic¡¯s armadas as far away as possible from the Core for Starlance to have any chance of success. And similarly, Operation Starlance had to draw as many Republic armadas back to the Core for Storm-Door to have any chance of success.
It was for this reason the 19th and 28th Mobile Fleets will be provided a blank flimsi to rampage and maraud as strategically able in the Interior, at least until they found Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s Bulwark Feet. From there, the Fleet Groups of the Confederacy can exploit the Republic¡¯s panic to gouge out an opening in the Core for the three fleets to extract from.
Sev¡¯rance Tann deflated in relief. If not for Trench¡¯s keen, six-fold and artificial eyesight, he would not have noticed the brief lapse in poise. For the first time, the old Harch Admiral saw through the act; it was not the indomitable Pantoran who fought tooth and nail to seize control of the largest military in the galaxy, but a mere girl, too many times his junior, wearing a uniform and rank that still seemed far too large for her.
¡°There were two ways the Republic could have reacted,¡± the girl leaned against the consoles, once more showing no sign of weakness, ¡°They knew for certain Operation Storm-Door was some sort of trap, but they did not know what kind. They could have either acted cautiously, prodding the trap before making any major action¨Cor they could have rushed in, attempting to destroy the trap with brute force.¡±
¡°Not knowing that by doing so, they have already fallen for it,¡± Admiral Trench approached the Supreme Commander, towering over her, ¡°You have foresaw their reaction perfectly, General.¡±
¡°Then it all the more crucial Operation Starlance produces the intended effect within the Republic,¡± Tann remarked, ¡°We must prepare accordingly. Is the Second Fleet Group ready for action? You will be pitted against the most fortified Republic front of the war.¡±
¡°Your concern is appreciated, but unnecessary, General,¡± Trench staked out the room, examining the fleet positions in the Perlemian on the displays, ¡°Rear Admiral Merai¡¯s Dac Offensive has secured the Quarren shipyards of Calamari Space, including the Pammant Docks. With this, the dreadnought Subjugator has finally entered service. With both Malevolence and Subjugator, my Second Fleet Group can pierce even the strongest enemy positions.¡±
The Subjugator-class star dreadnought was the heaviest Separatist warship ever put into service, designed by the Free Dac Engineering Corps as the response to the Republic¡¯s own star dreadnoughts. Nearly five klicks long, it possessed a massive through-deck ion pulse cannon that could disable entire fleets with a single shot. The first to enter service was Malevolence, followed by her sister ship Devastator. With the newfound security of the Pammant Docks however, the original testbed and namesake, Subjugator, can finally complete its retrofit and enter service.
After the damning success of the designs at the Battle of Columex, a fourth ship of the class had been ordered, and its keel recently laid down in the Quarren shipyards of the Enoth System.
In any case, with two Subjugator-class star dreadnoughts on the Perlemian Front, the GAR¡¯s 3rd Sector Army will be due for an unpleasant surprise.
¡°Very well,¡± the Supreme Commander circled back to her seat, ¡°Then let us reveal to the Republic the true depth of our willingness to fight.¡±
The Pantoran quietly composed herself, then toggled the integrated comlink on her instrument board, ¡°This is the Supreme Commander to Admiral Kirst of the First Fleet Group. Be notified that all actions pertaining to Operation Storm-Door have been authorised. Maintain your defence-in-depth of the New Territories, and make the Republic pay dearly for every world they take. You may inform the Nineteenth Mobile to proceed with Operation Starlance.¡±
Unlike General Farstar¡¯s defence of the Corellian Run, Admiral Kirst was explicitly ordered to give ground. The strategy was twofold; the 1st Fleet Group was facing not one, but three GAR Sector Armies¨Cthe 7th, 8th, and 9th. The 10th Sector Army would have been included, if they were not poised to combat Trench¡¯s own 2nd Fleet Group on the Salin Corridor. The reason for a defence-in-depth strategy, then, was more obvious.
But there was a more sinister reason behind Admiral Kirst¡¯s defence of the Confederacy¡¯s northern holdings, devised by the adroitly sinister mind of Rear Admiral Calli Trilm. The Raxus Government¡¯s main internal political rival in the Serenno Government established its main powerbase in the galactic north. By fighting for every inch of ground and calculatively permitting the Republic to advance through the New Territories, every system lost ripped away another pillar of Count Dooku¡¯s support.
When the Republic captured Banking Clan affiliated worlds, for instance, the Raxus Government also dealt with another internal threat¨Cslowly setting the stage in the deplorable case the Confederacy finds a civil war unavoidable. For a woman born and raised on the Serennian colony world of Clysm, Calli Trilm bore frightening little loyalty to her homeworld¡ or anything other than herself, for that matter.
¡°This is the Supreme Commander to General Farstar of the Third Fleet Group,¡± the Supreme Commander prepared the next transmission, ¡°Be notified that all actions pertaining to Operation Storm-Door have been authorised. Hold the enemy at New Cov, encircle, and destroy them. Let them take not an inch of the Mid Rim.¡±
General Atticus Farstar, the protege of Sev¡¯rance Tann herself, recently promoted after his success in Bothan Space. Farstar¡¯s strategy was simple; stop the GAR¡¯s 16th Sector Army dead in its tracks at the fortress world New Cov, while their Bothan allies under Rear Admiral Laryn Kre¡¯fey holds his flank at Kalarba. Then, Commodore Karoc¡¯s 224th Strike Division, awaiting at Daalang, would proceed down the Gamor Run to Milagro, effectively cutting off the 16th Sector Army from its supply lines.
¡°Admiral,¡± then was Trench¡¯s turn, and the Supreme Commander gave him the oral command; ¡°Be notified that all actions pertaining to Operation Storm-Door have been authorised. I don¡¯t believe it necessary to elaborate upon the strategy you personally devised. You may order the Twenty-Eighth Mobile to proceed with Operation Starlance. They will first jump to Yag¡¯Dhul to cut off the 2nd Sector Army¡¯s supply line, then begin their incursion with the Nineteenth Mobile. Inform them the Fourth Fleet will take their place in Sullust.¡±
¡°You seem confident Admiral Bonteri can still defeat General Alrix. He has been engaged in battle on six separate occasions,¡± Admiral Trench observed, ¡°And not once has he been able to take the upper hand. What makes this occasion so different?¡±
¡°The commanders of our two Mobile Fleets are very different people, but unbeatable when the battlefield plays to their strengths,¡± the Supreme Commander stood up, lifting an open palm, as if there was an invisible spider resting upon it, ¡°I have made my considerations when choosing where to deploy them. Admiral Trilm is like a spider, knitting her web in silence, awaiting her enemies to tangle themselves in her invisible threads, before finishing them off. The standing order to ¡®hold your position¡¯ would work entirely in her favour.¡±
¡°Which is why she was posted in the neutral Kashyyyk System,¡± the old Harch concluded, ¡°So that the Republic could not attack her?¡±
¡°Perhaps I am looking down too much on the Republic,¡± she admitted, ¡°But that would be correct. For Operation Storm-Door to succeed, the Republic must grow suspicious of our Mobile Fleets and redeploy their most dangerous assets to the front accordingly. Considering one half of the Open Circle Fleet was retasked to Kashyyyk, this ploy has succeeded.¡±
¡°Admiral Bonteri, on the other hand,¡± as if making her point clearer, General Tann lifted her other palm, ¡°Is like a viper. He shines in unrestrained, offensive actions, and like a viper defending their nest, he will twist even the most defensive battlefields in order to strike first. There is a common thread when you study his battles; the First Battle of Christophsis, Battle of Teth, Battle of Metalorn, Battle of Columex¡ these were all defensive battles, and yet in each one Admiral Bonteri fought as the aggressor.¡±
¡°You believe¡¡±
¡°I believe that if Admiral Bonteri was permitted unrestrained action, he would have annihilated General Alrix¡¯s fleet before the Republic could even realise he was at Sullust,¡± the Supreme Commander confirmed, ¡°Thus he was forced to be hamstrung, and put in an unfavourable position most counteractive to his expertise. And as expected, General Skywalker and the vanguard of the Open Circle Fleet was sent to reinforce General Alrix¡¯s positions.¡±
¡°There was no telling the Republic would react that way,¡± Admiral Trench stroked his mandibles in thought, ¡°To assume the enemy¡¯s reactions is a risky endeavour.¡±
¡°Then we must disagree, Admiral,¡± General Tann smiled thinly, ¡°Do you not realise it is the Republic who would realise just how dangerous Admiral Bonteri is? In every battle I had listed, Admiral Bonteri fought against one or more Jedi Generals, and defeated them. It is the Republic who understands how he fights more than anybody. I imagine they must have panicked, realising the inexperienced General Alrix has been pitted against the Hydra himself. It is natural they send the Jedi General who has the most experience dealing with him to reinforce Alrix.¡±
¡°And when Admiral Bonteri jumps to Yag¡¯Dhul, General Skywalker will be too far away to stop Operation Starlance,¡± Admiral Trench finished.
The Supreme Commander nodded sharply, visibly pleased. She then prepared her final transmission.
¡°This is the Supreme Commander to General Ambigene of the Fourth Fleet Group,¡± ¨Cthe final, and most critical to Operation Starlance, was the First General on the Rimma Trade Route, ¡°Be notified that all actions pertaining to Operation Storm-Door have been authorised. Take Eriadu with all haste and fortify Sullust in anticipation for the enemy offensive.¡±
The appointment of Horn Ambigene to the 4th Fleet Group was undeniably a deft political move, one apparently originating from Sev¡¯rance Tann herself, instead of Calli Trilm. The First General of the Confederacy was loyal not to the Confederacy, but the Separatist cause itself, making him a neutral agent in the political turmoil gripping Raxus and Serenno. Furthermore, his renowned reputation and skills was necessary to inspire and restore morale among the troops of the Rimma Trade Route after the losses dealt by the Hundred Days Offensive.
From the military angle, however, Trench had his reservations. The First General of the Confederacy was not suited to large-scale campaigns. He was a field officer, his experience and command style forged on the bloody battlefields of the Tydane System which he called home. He was far more suited for his former role of Commander of Organic Training. However, Trench had to admit, if there was one officer who could make the GAR¨Cnay, the entire Republic¨Cfly into a hysteria, it was Horn Ambigene.
¡°We must be prepared to shoulder eternal damnation if Operation Storm-Door is to succeed, and win the war, General,¡± Admiral Trench was old. Harch of his species could live for centuries. He would live for decades more, but at mere mention of Horn Ambigene, his bones already ached, ¡°For the longevity of the Confederacy, I hope this is worth the price.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann looked at him, then looked down, ¡°I presume you speak of General Ambigene. Yes, his invasion of Eriadu will be bloody, but there is no commander in the CAF better suited to planetary warfare.¡±
¡°Invasion?¡±
There will be no invasion. This is Horn Ambigene we are speaking of.
Trench saw straight through the mask of the Supreme Commander, at this slight confusion swirling behind her red gaze, ¡°Yes, invasion, Admiral. General Ambigene will invade Eriadu with overwhelming might, then move to and fortify Sullust before the Republic reaches. I am well aware of his brutal methods, but I consider them a necessity for an otherwise swift capture of a world as fortified as Eriadu.¡±
¡°Supreme Commander,¡± Trench felt Doctor Cratala¡¯s prosthetics dig into his flesh, ¡°I am afraid you have underestimated Horn Ambigene. You cannot judge him with the same criteria you judge the rest of us with. He is a man of a completely different calibre.¡±
¡°A smaller or larger calibre?¡±
¡°An older calibre,¡± Trench stressed, ¡°He is a guerilla general, who has only fought a war of defiance his entire life. He considers ¡®victory¡¯ and ¡®defeat¡¯ not in terms of territories gained and lost, but in terms of enemy soldiers killed compared to allied soldiers lost. Even I cannot fathom the horrors he¡¯s been through. General, nobody can imagine the personal crusade Horn Ambigene waged against the powers that be, before he took Dooku¡¯s offer. For decades, he alone protected the natural wealth of Tydane, single-handedly fighting off the persistent encroaches of the Judicial Forces and corporate overlords of the Republic.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann frowned, ¡°I had imagined those were exaggerations made by our overly-excited media. Not even the Stark Commercial Combine could fend off the Republic in the Hyperspace War for more than a year, and yet you claim the Tydane System did so for decades?¡±
¡°Horn Ambigene gained a reputation for being more trouble than he was worth,¡± Trench said grimly, ¡°Can you conceive one must do to achieve such a reputation? General, this requires more than just mere ¡®brutality.¡¯ The Republic took from him his allies, his friends, his family, and everything he held dear. And yet, the Ghost of Tydane was a man who would still rather tear his homeworld apart than surrender to the Republic.¡±
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Admiral Trench did not fault the Supreme Commander for her ignorance of Horn Ambigene¡¯s true character. In the grand scheme of the galaxy, Ambigene was but a single man, protecting but a single star system in a small corner of the impossibly vast expanse of the Outer Rim. It was natural that hardly anybody has heard of his decade-long plight.
But Trench was an admiral of the Corporate Alliance, and he was no stranger to violence and exploitation and should it come to be, doling out atrocities in the name of greed. He has always held himself to a certain standard, and never personally engaged in such acts, but the old Harch has never denied bystanding and even enabling the inevitable horrors that arise from such exploitation. He has, after all, been many times the leader of the Alliance Fleets that scoured the Outer Rim for riches and resources.
It was natural that in his long career, Trench had come to learn of the so-called Ghost of Tydane; the vengeful guardian deity of a rich star system on the fringes of civilization. The Ghost that brutalised every prospecting fleet, commercial convoy, and Judicial Force escort that coveted a foothold in the Tydane System, until even the largest megacorporations considered the place more trouble than it was worth. If strange turns of fate and a common enemy had not made them unlikely allies, perhaps Trench would have eventually tested his mettle against the Ghost of Tydane.
It was for this reason then, that Trench has only met Horn Ambigene in person once, during the ascension of the Supreme Commander on Raxus Secundus. It was then that Trench realised just how much first impressions could be deceiving, because he had a complete idea in mind when he first met the infamous Ghost of Tydane. The First General was an ageing man, by human standards, who spoke with a hard, grating voice. Otherwise, he could have been dismissed for just another greybeard officer, who has lived long enough to tell a few fascinating stories of war.
Even now, Trench could hardly reconcile these two very different images of the same man. It was only out of concern and benefit of the doubt did Trench decide to warn Sev¡¯rance Tann of the stories that swirled around Horn Ambigene among the ranks of former corporate officers.
¡°Eriadu is the symbol of everything he despises,¡± the two most powerful officers in the Separatist Alliance locked gazes, ¡°An Outer Rim world who betrayed the plight of the Outer Rim, who would lick the boots of Coruscant. Who would abandon the common cause of the Rim, so they could stand with the exploiters rather than the exploited.¡±
¡°If you want the Republic to panic, General, then Horn Ambigene was undoubtedly the correct decision to make,¡± Admiral Trench found the holochart displaying the 4th Fleet Group around Eriadu, ¡°The Republic will panic, I assure you, but not out of fear of the Coalition Armada and the Bulwark Fleet.¡±
¡°Then what will they fear, Admiral?¡±
¡°They will fear what I fear, General,¡± and Admiral Trench felt fear in his old bones, because not even he could fight the way Horn Ambigene does, ¡°And I fear Horn Ambigene is about to teach the galaxy exactly how long it takes to turn a planet of twenty-two billion souls into a tomb.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann levelled with him, her fingers edging towards the comlink once again, as if contemplating withdrawing her orders.
¡°Is that,¡± the old Harch warned, ¡°A burden the Confederacy is willing to carry?¡±
Then, the Supreme Commander withdrew not her orders, but her hands, and folded them neatly onto her lap. She stared blankly over his shoulder, and Trench distantly realised she was in one of those trances of hers, from which she made a thousand calculations in the span of seconds, that would put even the Givin of Yag¡¯Dhul to shame.
¡°I can only express¡¡± after a silence, her lips finally peeled apart into a grim smile; and Trench understood the true depths she would bring the Confederacy for victory, ¡°Anticipation.¡±
?
Sululluub Asteroid Field, Sullust System
Brema Sector
Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri marched onto the command bridge of battleship Chakdrukke with a tempest in his step, his cape billowing at his back like a purple flame. All who came under his presence stopped and saluted, whether they be his personal Onderonian Guardsmen, Koorivar Fusiliers, Gossam Commandos, Skakoan Legal Deputies, Neimoidian Gunners¡ or Asajj Ventress and the officers of the 28th Mobile Fleet themselves.
It has been one-hundred and thirty-one system hours since the first engagement between the Sululluub Field and Sullust, and Taskforce Conciliator has engaged the 28th Mobile Fleet six times, slowly chipping away at its strength. Finally, Admiral Trench has unshackled them, and given the order to proceed with Operation Storm-Door.
Rain Bonteri gently pressed his palms onto the round table, meeting each and every officer there with a certain blankness in his eyes that conveyed nothing but a chill, merciless fury, framed by dark shadows that belied hours of non-stop planning and strategizing. The air is suffocating, Ventress thought. It was not heavy, or oppressive, or any way similar to that of standing under Dooku¡¯s presence. No, the air was¡ empty.
As if there wasn¡¯t any air at all. As if she was standing in a vacuum, and with each painful breath scraped no oxygen into her lungs. The Force was distant from her, like she was trapped in a stasis field, and she could not even will a thread of it to her fingertips. And without the Force, Ventress felt¡ exposed. She felt cold, and naked, as one would miss the familiar weight of clothes.
Across the table, a similarly uncomfortable expression was found adorning Vinoc¡¯s face, to inform her she was not alone.
¡°You all must already be informed, but I will reiterate,¡± Bonteri¡¯s mouth moved, but no sound was produced, despite her better wisdom. It was as if his voice started and ended in her head, ¡°Operation Storm-Door has begun. We will defeat Alrix here, and make for Yag¡¯Dhul immediately.¡±
¡°When will we move out, Admiral?¡± Diedrich Greyshade asked.
¡°Did you not hear me?¡± his tone, emotionless, ¡°I said immediately.¡±
At the unspoken wonderment hanging in the air, Bonteri produced four datacards.
¡°Only Ventress, Diedrich, Vinoc, and Horgo will deploy with me,¡± he slid each datacard to the respective person, ¡°Krett and Jorm will remain here. As for the four of you¨Cthis is the strategy devised by Tuff and myself. Insert them into your flight computers; they contain a variety of possible encrypted commands, covering for every scenario that might arise, and they will be automatically activated when it detects satisfactory conditions from your ships. Accept the orders within, and fulfil them to the best of your ability. If you are unable to, you may take independent action.¡±
The wonderment morphed into bewilderment, and even Ventress was taken aback.
¡°Will¡ will this work?¡± Vinoc held up the card to the light, as if checking to see if there was any secret hidden within the flimsy piece of metal, ¡°Alrix has seen through every single one of our strategies thus far.¡±
¡°She¡¯s had the upper hand thus far,¡± Bonteri countered, ¡°Now we do. It has been five days. If I have failed to figure out Alrix¡¯s trick by now, I would ask Ventress to carve out my eyes myself.¡±
¡°An honour, really,¡± Ventress commented dryly.
¡°Let me guess,¡± the Muun, Horgo Shive, steepled his bony fingers, ¡°There will be no communication between divisions for the entire battle?¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Bonteri swept his gaze over them again, ¡°Do you all trust me?¡±
Even Ventress had to admit, how could they not? Rain Bonteri had sacrificed virtually the entirety of his personal, direct command in the 4th Skirmish at Sullust, in order to protect three of the commanders and their divisions under his command. Many had their reservations, considering Bonteri was known for his solo engagements, but he has since proven he would not prioritise his own safety in the thick of battle.
If it was a matter of trust, then it went both ways. But to go into battle without even knowing the true depth of the plan... was another level entirely. Ventress honestly couldn¡¯t tell if they could pull off whatever Bonteri had in mind.
¡°Good,¡± Bonteri took stunned silence as his answer, ¡°Because I will trust all of you to carry out my commands in battle. My flagship will take the lead, followed by Ventress, Vinoc, Diedrich, and Horgo. Until the datacards are activated, simply obey this standing order; follow the ship in front of you. Pass this on to your subordinates, and every ship under your direct command. Any other questions?¡±
¡°Alrix¡¯s connection with the Force is strong,¡± Ventress gritted her teeth, ¡°How will this strategy work? What makes it different?¡±
Their eyes met, and Ventress was reminded of Count Dooku, and the assured confidence of a man who held the galaxy in the palm of his hand. It was not so great here¡ but she was still reminded of the feeling of being a pawn, but moving according to the whims of somebody above her. It was as if Bonteri beheld the entire Sullust System at his fingertips, as if he controlled both fleets entirely without either knowing, and as if he knew he already won the battle before it began.
¡°We¡¯ve tried outsmarting the Force many times, and failed many times,¡± Admiral Bonteri started meaningfully, ¡°And it all stems from a key misunderstanding in Alrix¡¯s ability. Over these five days, I have tried to prove my hypothesis, and now I am certain. The Force is a cheat, but ultimately, Alrix is the cheater. I must only get inside her head, and the Force will be useless.¡±
¡°We will devour Alrix whole with this single battle, fleet, ship, and body, whole,¡± he narrowed his eyes, ¡°Forget trying to outwit the Force. We are going to play Alrix at her own game, and beat her at it.¡±
?
Eriadu Orbit, Eriadu System
Seswenna Sector
¡°General,¡± Commander Zett approached the First General of the Confederacy from behind, ¡°A Republic fleet is trying to escape. Should we intercept them?¡±
¡°Maarisa Zsinj¡¯s Outland Regions Security Force?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Wiffa Zett confirmed coldly, ¡°Sir.¡±
¡°Ignore them,¡± Horn Ambigene spun around to regard the Commander assigned to him by the Pantoran, and noted the gleaming metal cylinder attached to her waistbelt, ¡°Humour me, Wiffa. What made you leave Dooku¡¯s side to find asylum in the Pantoran¡¯s armies?¡±
Wiffa Zett was a short, tanned woman, with her hair fashioned into a simple blunt bob cut. Obsessively pristine, not a strand of hair was out of place, revealing her burning orange eyes clearly, like two raging suns. A sinister aura clung to her black battle robes, lashing out blindly at the world. Horn Ambigene thought it reminded him of himself, back in his younger days, when he was still raging against the unfairness of the galaxy.
¡°The same reason you did, sir,¡± the fallen Jedi wrinkled her nose, ¡°I left the Order for Dooku¡¯s side because I realised the same thing he did; that the Republic is no longer worth serving. Back then, many of us in the Temple still saw Master Dooku favourably. In my blind hate for the Republic, I obediently listened to his words as if it was gospel. He taught me many things, the dark arts the Jedi would never teach, and I am stronger for it. For this, I thank him.¡±
¡°When the Separatist Parliament passed the Militia Act, you left him anyway.¡±
¡°I realised what many of us who joined him realised,¡± Wiffa Zett grit her teeth, ¡°Dooku does not believe in the Confederacy. Dooku only believes in his Confederacy. He does not truly believe in the cause he founded, only what that cause can do to empower him. Disobedience is met with punishment, and protest is met with death. He pits us against each other, so that we may fight over his favour and what he has to teach. He dispatches us to murder and kill, not the enemies of the Confederacy, but his enemies.¡±
She breathed out, ¡°Sev¡¯rance was the oldest of us. She must¡¯ve realised the truth about Dooku, and sought out her own path. The Militia Act made many of us see that truth as well, and we now follow in her footsteps.¡±
¡°I know that look in your eyes,¡± in his many years, Horn Ambigene has seen much, ¡°It is the fuel of the dark side of the Force. The very object the Jedi Order preaches against.¡±
¡°I wish to wield power against the Republic, so that its rot may be cleansed with fire,¡± those fiery orbs met his stone gaze, ¡°Whether it be the light or dark side of the Force, it needn¡¯t matter to me. Dooku saw the light of the Jedi as weakness, and killed any who disagreed with him. Isn¡¯t that just as the Jedi enforce the opposite? He is no better than the Republic and the Jedi Order.¡±
¡°As for me¡¡± the First General of the Confederacy turned his attention to the viewports, ¡°I left Dooku¡¯s employ because Sev¡¯rance Tann offered me something greater. Tell me, Wiffa, have you ever seen anything quite like this?¡±
Past the transparisteel of the battleship Antecedent, laid Eriadu, and 1,500 warships of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
¡°A fleet,¡± Commander Zett described what she saw, ¡°This is power of another kind. Power found in rolled steel and the hollow bore of a turbolaser cannon and the warhead of a missile. Power to wield against the Republic.¡±
¡°This is more than that,¡± if Horn were still a younger man, there would be tears in his eyes as he beheld everything he strove and fought for. If you could see this now, he wanted to tell his fallen comrades, if only you could see that we were never alone, ¡°This is the Outer Rim. This is the accumulated grievances of the Outer Rim, gathered in single purpose. Like you, I took Count Dooku¡¯s hand. For revenge, but for a cause I wish existed fifty years ago. This, Wiffa, is vindication.¡±
Fifteen hundred warships of the Outer Rim. From the shipyards of Sluis Van, to the scorching mantle of Mustafar. From the bustling tradeworld of Enarc to desolate wastes of Sanrafsix, and the exploited mines of Sharlissia. A hundred systems, a hundred flags, and a hundred symbols. A hundred worlds that might otherwise be enemies, bitter rivals over some patch of darkness or the other, all gathered in single cause, all bearing the Confederate Hex.
All the years Horn Ambigene spent fighting felt worth it now, for this one single moment. It was vindication for his wartorn world, that their efforts had never been in waste.
¡°It exists now, General.¡±
¡°Quite right,¡± he smiled, pleased as he could be, ¡°What were the Supreme Commander''s orders, Wiffa?¡±
¡°Operation Storm-Door may begin,¡± she obediently recited, ¡°Take Eriadu with all haste and proceed to Sullust, to relieve the Twenty-Eighth Mobile of its position, and fortify the system in preparation for enemy incursion.¡±
Take Eriadu will all haste, hm? This Supreme Commander of ours is quite the troublesome lass, isn¡¯t she? To take a world like Eriadu with all haste¡ would still take months. Not only would it make it impossible to aid the 28th Mobile and fortify Sullust in a timely manner, it would also exact a bloody toll that Horn Ambigene was unwilling to see paid again. He despised people like the Pantoran, who demand so much with no effort to understand the painful endeavours taken to make her plans possible.
¡°I hear Admiral Bonteri has taken quite a beating at the hands of that Jedi, Rees Alrix,¡± General Ambigene, however, knew very well the realisms of war, ¡°As we may find ourselves delayed here, let us send him some help. Don¡¯t we have a black sheep among the Fourth Fleet Group we can expend?¡±
¡°Naradan Du¡¯lin¡¯s twenty Mistryl destroyers,¡± Wiffa Zett recalled, ¡°She entered our AO a day ago, and then hid herself among our fleet.¡±
¡°The squadron of the infamous Emberlene Warfleet,¡± General Ambigene nodded in recognition, ¡°Incredible mercenaries, those women. I remember now; a certain Admiral Trilm had requested a favour of me, that I discreetly send these mercenaries on their way without notifying the Pantoran.¡±
¡°Our Supreme Commander does not look brightly upon privateers and mercenaries.¡±
¡°I think they are quite useful,¡± the First General¡¯s expression was hard at the thought of the Pantoran, ¡°Fortunately for Calli Trilm, I do not like Sev¡¯rance Tann. I was unable to fulfil this favour before, under the strict purview of our ¡®standing orders,¡¯ but with the commencement of Operation Storm-Door, this is the perfect opportunity. Send a hidden transmission to Naradan¡¯s flagship, and let¡¯s put her on her way¡ under the guise of pursuing Maarisa Zsinj, let us say.¡±
¡°Very good, General,¡± Wiffa Zett then relayed his orders, before returning to him, ¡°But I must say¡ Calli Trilm¡¯s designs seem to stretch across every corner of this Confederacy. Many say she is Dooku¡¯s personal aide and confidant, yet she also commanded the Perlemian Coalition, and supported the rise of the Pantoran over Dooku¡¯s own recommendation. And now she is the Supreme Commander¡¯s political advisor, but also works behind her back to deal with mercenaries.¡±
¡°The spider¡¯s web cannot be seen unless you are looking for it,¡± Horn Ambigene agreed, ¡°And there poses the question; is it worth looking for it in the first place? I think not. Not for our means.¡±
He didn¡¯t care about the Confederacy¡¯s politics¨Che didn¡¯t care about the Confederacy at all. No, he utterly despised it, the pit of snakes on Raxus wielding the grievances of the Outer Rim to further their own personal ambitions. None of them cared about the Rim; none of the cared about the slaves in chains, the open pit mines carving up worlds alive, the sprawling industrial complexes that swallowed entire biomasses. None of them. It just so happened that they opposed the Republic, and the enemy of Ambigene¡¯s enemy was his ally.
Even the Confederate Armed Forces he fought for. A third of the CAF were former corporate stooges, the likes of that deplorable Trench, Loathsom, and Tonith. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that they now wielded their strength against the Republic, Ambigene would not think twice about killing them.
But what of the Supreme Commander, Sev¡¯rance Tann? Bah¨Cshe was a military authoritarian who wanted nothing less than to command the galaxy¡¯s largest military institutions as if it were her own personal fiefdom. The Confederacy, the entire Clone Wars, only served that one single purpose for her, and nothing else mattered. She couldn¡¯t care less if billions had to die for her coveted final victory.
And what of those two rising stars, Rear Admiral Bonteri and Rear Admiral Trilm? They were nothing more than aristocrats in uniform, who cared only about themselves and their own personal power. Everything else was secondary.
Even Count Dooku himself couldn¡¯t keep his true nature hidden forever, and now his sins had been aired over the holowaves.
The Confederacy of Independent Systems was one founded by idealists and ruled by rationalists. But he didn¡¯t care. Because the Confederacy gave him the one thing he wanted for so long.
He allowed a beat to pass, as he carefully traced the outlines of Eriadu¡¯s green continents and cheerful blue seas. This world is entirely at my mercy, he thought, and yet I shall give them one last chance to surrender.
¡°Contact Gideon Tarkin. I wish to offer one final chance of mercy.¡±
Mercy the Republic never gave me. Mercy I never gave the Republic. Perhaps he was a changed man? He nearly laughed at the absurdity.
Wiffa Zett bowed and departed, and not a moment later the holographic bust of Gideon Tarkin was before him.
¡°I recited the conduct of war to you before, Tarkin,¡± Horn Ambigene said bluntly, ¡°And I shan¡¯t do it again. Surrender, and I guarantee Eriadu¡¯s entrance into the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The Outer Rim still welcomes Eriadu as one of its own. Do not force me to shed the blood of your world.¡±
Eriadu, Coruscant of the Outer Rim. As if that was a name to be proud of. Eriadu has been many times subject to offers of commonwealth from the Confederacy, and each time this blasted world turned down the welcoming hands of their brothers and sisters of the Outer Rim in favour of the pittances from the Core.
Eriadu was the last major Loyalist stronghold in the Outer Rim, and it was a world under siege, and one that has been, in one way or another, since the Clone Wars began. Its fleets have been decimated, its planetary shields cracked and broken. There was no resistance left, but that found planetside.
¡°I must decline again, Ambigene,¡± Gideon Tarkin was a poorly hidden disgust, as if he could hurl at the mere reminder of Eriadu being a Rimworld, ¡°You will find us quite willing to spill our blood. Our loyalty to the Republic is absolute. If you wish to take this planet, then meet us on the ground. We shall fight for every landing ground, for every mountain fortress, every hill, and every city, and every street.¡±
Horn Ambigene sneered at Tarkin¡¯s grandstanding, ¡°As you wish. I shall say this out of what common cause I share with your people. Eriadu is still a Rimworld, and I cannot bear to witness the blood of the Rim spilled any further. As in accordance with the Yavin Code relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, I will allow you to evacuate your civilians unmolested. Let them not die for your arrogance.¡±
¡°It is your arrogance that will undo you, mad dog!¡± Gideon Tarkin snarled back, ¡°We are not the same as you. We do not flee. Every citizen of Eriadu will do their duty for the Republic!¡±
¡°So be it. There are no words left to waste between us,¡± Horn Ambigene closed his eyes in remorse, ordered the connection severed, and opened his eyes in anger, ¡°Was that recorded, Wiffa?¡±
¡°There are no non-combatants left on Eriadu, General. If they wish to die for the Republic, then let them die with it,¡± the fallen Jedi grinned, a brutal light gleaming within her eyes, ¡°Our fleets are in position, General. We await only your word.¡±
The First General of the Confederacy lifted his tablet, and saw Eriadu in its entirety, and the 1,500 warships that orbited it. Then he saw power. Power found in rolled steel, in the bore of a cannon, in the warhead of a missile. He saw attack vectors. He saw attack vectors from every squadron and every ship. He saw targets. Painted targets, on every landing ground, every mountain fortress, every hill, every city, and every street.
The bridge of battleship Antecedent was silent in pregnant anticipation. Horn Ambigene reached into his overcoat and produced an old metal flask, banged and battered and dented and scorched, witness to a lifetime of battles. He popped off the lid, like the crack of thunder, and swirled the liquid, like the crashing of ocean waves.
He raised it to the lights above. Unbeknownst to him and all around him, a single tear ran down his cheek, in it mirrored the surface of Eriadu, as if the world was trapped in a crystal orb.
It was the last fragment of a young soul, who would spend his life in single-minded pursuit of justice, warring against the galaxy that wished to carve open his homeworld and extract its blood and flesh. It was the last fragment of an aged soul, who had surrendered his final humanity in his relentless crusade, and in the process ground his homeworld down to its bleached and salted bones. It was the last fragment of a callous wretch of a soul, who had been fighting a war against injustice for so long, he had ultimately forgotten what he had fought for.
Until nothing but bottomless hatred for the galaxy remained, a great pit that wished nothing more than to devour the stars and sate its hunger for vengeance. What did the Confederacy give he cherished so dearly? The power to spend the rest of his life spitting at his hated, eternal foe, until his very last breath. At last, after over half a century, that moment has come.
¡°My friends,¡± he told men long dead, unconcerned of his captive audience, ¡°I stand here in your place. On behalf of us all, I extract our pound of flesh. I bring to this world; emancipation, the apocalypse.¡±
He drank to his lonely toast, and thus spoke the Ghost of Tydane¨C
¡°Remove this blight from the face of the Outer Rim.¡±
¡°With pleasure.¡±
From the surface of Eriadu, it must look like a hundred thousand newborn stars had graced the sky at once, even in the bright of day. Then lightning and thunder came to earth, fire raining from the sky, destructive pillars of energy that left nothing but ash behind. Massed fire from turbolasers, a ceaseless hail of missiles and torpedoes. From the surface, one could only look above and feel the stomach-churning certainty that the galaxy was falling upon you. The wrath of fifteen-hundred warships that descended like the hammer of the cosmos itself.
There was nowhere to hide.
Not over the oceans boiled into storms of superheated steam.
Not beside the lakes and ponds vaporised into dry, cracked earth under the stormfront of atmospheric hellfire.
Not on the landing grounds churned into fields tilled with blood and slaughter and baked into fields of shattered glass.
Not in the mountain fortresses buckled and cracked, falling into the abyssal depths of the crumbling mantle.
Not in the hills vanished beneath a relentless furor of hellfire, from which rivers of molten rock flowed freely.
Not in the cities reduced the smouldering remnants, the metal skeletons of skyscrapers like corpses of giants reaching for the heavens.
Not in the streets engulfed in raging firestorms, entire populations crying out in a terror that rang the galaxy like a bell, before being silenced in inevitable atomisation.
And the screams poured into the Force, until it was an unmistakable roar heard throughout the universe.
A Jedi wandering down the halls of the Temple looked to the sky, wondering if anybody could hear that too.
A Jedi among the deserts of Dantooine, feeling the sand shiver beneath their feet.
A Jedi wading through the swamps of Mimban, pausing as stagnant water quivered and flowed.
A Jedi tripping over an protruding root in the dense forests of Togoria, hearing the wind howl through the trees like a weeping choir.
A Jedi on the bridge of their starship, watching the stars burn with an intensity never seen before.
A Jedi standing amidst the towering heights of Coruscant, closing their eyes as the galaxy darkened just a bit more.
Two Sith in conversation in the bowels of the Works, savouring the damned and yet wondering when the monster they created had broken free, chain and collar all.
It would take forty-eight hours and seventeen billion lives, and the entire galaxy would know without question; the last and greatest offensive of the Confederacy has begun.
Chapter 52
Sullust Libration Point ¡®L5¡¯, Sullust System
Brema Sector
At last, Kendal Ozzel thought, nervous despite himself, the Hydra awakes. Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s lines had been disturbed by a burst of hyperwave communications from the galactic south, which they had partially intercepted via Sullust¡¯s captured satellites. Not an hour later, the Separatist fleet stirred in its stone nest, like a beast awakening from its dormant slumber.
Commodore Ozzel stood aboard the Star Destroyer Imperious, a sense of unease coiling around his chest like a great snake, as the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada advanced. Two-hundred assorted warships streamed from the pores of the asteroid belt, like rivulets converging onto a silent curtain, sweeping off the star system as if it were a pre-set stage. The seventy-nine starships of Taskforce Conciliator moved to meet them as they recalled their starfighter wings from across the star system, the last two remaining Tectors of the fleet stationed dead centre of the formation as it stretched into a forward chevron.
Five-hundred thousand klicks away, a single, unified thought passed through the minds of all two-hundred captains of the 28th Mobile Fleet, droid and organic alike. The Rear Admiral¡¯s standing orders were clear and explicit; follow the ship in front of you.
The command was as simple as they came, leaving no room for misinterpretation. After all, every captain worth their Hex could handle a task as simple as maintaining a safe distance between their allies, and the officers of the Perlemian Coalition were all veterans of some of the toughest battles of the Clone Wars.
Follow the ship in front of you.
Those words echoed through two-hundred minds over and over as two-hundred ships converged into a single column in line ahead, bearing perpendicular to their enemy. The Separatists achieved their formation perfectly, wordlessly, with not a single stray tightbeam caught by the enemy, because there was none.
There was an urgency in the Separatist ranks, an anxious eagerness to sweep up this battle as promptly as possible. They had, after all, been informed that the Anakin Skywalker was enroute with three-hundred warships of the Open Circle Fleet. On the other side, however, one could also imagine the Hero With No Fear, standing upon the bridge of his flagship Harbinger, clenching and unclenching his fist as he silently urged his fleet to hurry up. To hurry up and reach Sullust in time. Alas, he could only stare blankly into the blurred, passing motions of hyperspace, stewing in his own restlessness.
The stars would cross his viewports with the passing of time, blinking mercilessly.
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An impossibly long pause settled between the two fleets, located in the exact same patch of space as they did six battles ago. This was to be their seventh. Kendal Ozzel shifted his balance from foot to foot, wondering what the usually decisive General Rees Alrix was waiting for.
Unbeknownst to him, his Jedi General was nursing a great pain. The Force flexed and shuddered in unnatural ways, contorting as it conveyed the agonising swell of twenty-two billion souls. Merely 500 parsecs south, the world was ending, bathed and bleached under a storm of brimstone. But Rees Alrix was stronger than that, she partitioned her mindscape, and shut away the distracting pain with lock and key. And her vision cleared, and she saw the bright flames in the Force once more.
From the far right wing of the Republic formation, fleet flagship Resilient opened a corridor for transmission. And just as the Jedi General raised her hand to give the order to charge¨C
The leading ship of the line of the Separatist formation surged forwards, sweeping towards the Republic left. Alrix¡¯s hand froze midair as the fires swelled and disappeared, vulnerabilities in the enemy formation changing imperceptibly to all but herself. Ozzel immediately ordered for a full identification of the offending Separatist warship.
Providence-class carrier-destroyer Chimeratica, built in the orbital shipyards of Ringo Vinda.
After a brief moment¡¯s hesitation, the next ship of the line, the battlecruiser Weisser Sand, launched its great mass after the Chimeratica, followed by the frigate Centaur, and the next¨Cuntil the entire Separatist battle line was shifting towards the Republic left. Loyalist captains could only look on in anticipation at their opponent¡¯s action. Just as a hundred and thirty-three hours ago, the Separatist auxiliaries were placed within the asteroid field, many million kilometres behind. Should the Separatist fleet continue their perpendicular strafe, the vector ahead will open up.
This had to be some sort of trap, they all thought.
They remained transfixed, nerves frayed, as Chimeratica turned hard to portside, following a natural, imaginary curve that rotated her bearing by 180 degrees, until she had settled on a reciprocal course back towards the Republic right. Obediently adhering to their standing orders, one by one the ships behind her turned and followed her, creating a double-ranked line before the Republic line.
Minutes later, just as she reached Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s absolute right wing, opposite Resilient, and Chimeratica banked portside once again, until she doubled back onto her original vector. Anticipation transformed into bewilderment as Kendal Ozzel and his staff observed the Separatist manoeuvres. The enemy battle line had now transformed into a squashed, conveyor belt-like shape. This wasn¡¯t any tactic ever used before, and it could hardly be called a formation at all.
The lead ship, Chimeratica, burned harder, until her bow had caught up with the last Separatist ship of the line, the battlecruiser Feranmut. But as she burned harder, so did Weisser Sand behind her, and Centaur behind her, until the unspoken order fell down the chain like a wave through a whipped rope, until Feranmust also sped up. And when Feranmust sped up, so did Chimeratica to keep pace.
Thus the formation became a snake eating its own tail, as the ship at the head increased its velocity, so did the entire body, forcing the head to speed up again. But there was seemingly one key oversight¨Cthe reason why this so-called ¡®formation¡¯ and all formations like it were never used before; it was unsustainable.
Every warship in the fleet was of a different size. Every warship in the fleet possessed different turning radii, and different acceleration and thus different velocities. Every warship in the fleet possessed different drive ratings, and some were unable to keep pace with the rest of the fleet, while others raced ahead. Order and discipline never lasts long within constantly evolving formations, and especially not when there was absolutely no communication between captains.
And as expected, the formation began to break down. As every captain struggled to avoid collisions, the single-file line began to fall apart. Fast cruisers were forced to swerve to avoid the slow battleships in front of them, just as frigates took evasive action before cruisers before them. As lumbering dreadnoughts pushed their etheric rudders to their extremes, they were still unable to attend the sharp turning circles at the end of the conveyor belt, and adopted shallower turns instead. Some followed those adapted turns, others couldn¡¯t afford to.
Taskforce Conciliator watched as the Separatists fell into chaos, the lead ship Chimeratica melting into the turmoil. ¡®Follow the ship in front of you¡¯ became meaningless as the ship in front you changed with every blink¨Cbut the Separatist captains nevertheless did so to the best of their ability, while expending admirable effort to avoid colliding with each other in the whirlwind of battle steel. And as they picked up pace, pseudo-forces stretched the conveyor belt, forcing shallower and shallower turns, until the entire formation existed within a single revolving circle¨Clike a mammoth whirlpool deep in the void.
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Aboard the Imperious, Kendal Ozzel observed the unfolding formation through the lens of his Star Destroyer¡¯s scopes. The individual drive cones of each enemy warship had since blurred away into a brilliant, flat, torus-shape¨Cand as the formation only picked up speed, it was soon near-impossible for his scanners to fix on any specific contact without a blind toss, much less accurately target hardpoints. They no longer knew where the enemy line of battle began, and where it ended.
In fact, not even the Separatists themselves knew where their own battle line started and ended. All they had on their minds was to keep following the ship before them¨Cno matter how many times it changed¨Cand avoid smashing into the ship next to them. Indeed, for the Separatist captain, this was a marathon with no time to breathe. Any hiccup, any break in the rhythm, any singular mistake could result in them crashing into their allies, and creating a chain reaction that would have the entire 28th Mobile Fleet collapse in on itself.
But for Kendal Ozzel, he saw something different. This formation reminded him of something curious that used to fascinate him when he was still a child. As the minutes ticked away with no signs of the enemy formation changing, his suspicions only deepened.
This looks like an ant mill, he confirmed to himself. Known as a death spiral, or a death march, it occurs when a swarm intelligence such as ants loses their pheromone track whilst on the march, and end up following each other in a continuously revolving circle. Sooner or later, if there is no interruption in the death spiral, they would die of exhaustion.
Ozzel looked at the spiral on the holodisplays again, and transferred the data to the combat information centre. The processed data that returned made him smile in disbelief. It was certain then, that if the Separatists didn''t break out of their death spiral sooner than later, all it would take is one trip-up to create a chain reaction of collisions.
But there was a second development he noticed as well, one that turned his smile into a worried frown.
¡°They¡¯re coming towards us,¡± Ozzel said aloud.
¡°Sir?¡± his XO asked.
The Commodore handed the captain his tablet, ¡°Despite being in a death spiral, they are still headed in our direction.¡±
To prove his point, Ozzel ordered his sensor officers to tag a single ship and observe its displacement across a single rotation of the spiral. Should it be a stationary rotation, the ultimate displacement of the ship should be zero¨Cas the tag would end up in the same place from which it began. Instead, just as Ozzel initially observed, the tag would be displaced towards the Republic¡¯s lines by around a thousand klicks every rotation, consistently, without fail.
The only question was: is it intentional?
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Aboard the Resilient, Rees Alrix knew it was intentional. She knew it not because she recognised a formation that doesn¡¯t exist, but out of instinct alone. Rees Alrix never studied the naval arts, she never cared to memorise the tactics and stratagems the Republic Navy relearned after dusting off ancient databanks. A blazing fire in her mind¡¯s eye, she only trusted in her gut feeling, and the Force that drove it.
Unlike Ozzel, she did not see a death spiral, she saw the hydra¡¯s nest, its many heads laying in wait for them to make but a single mistake. She knew the steady advance of the steel hurricane was intentional precisely because she looked¨Cand found no single vulnerability. She wanted nothing more than to recall the name of her opponent at that very moment, but their name slid through her fingers like sand.
In their place, she remembered a cognomen she overheard from two spacers in the mess hall¨C so this is the man they call the Battle Hydra¡
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Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri watched in satisfaction from the bridge of his flagship, as the cyclone continued to pick up speed. Riding lights and brilliant plumes of ion gases smeared into a blur, until individual ships were no more differentiated than minnows in a raging school of fish, or raindrops in the eye of a typhoon. Carefully, his personal squadron dispersed throughout the whirlwind would nudge just a bit further towards the Republic lines, and with each rotation, the whole fleet would unknowingly shift with them, like a responsive hivemind.
Just as Rees Alrix experimented on how to defeat the 28th Mobile Fleet over the last five days, so did Rain Bonteri experimented on how to defeat Taskforce Conciliator. After six separate engagements, he had finally placed his finger on the pulse of her ability.
Rees Alrix finds weaknesses. Just as a trained duellist could find an opening in their opponent¡¯s guard, Rees Alrix could do the same with the Force alone. It didn¡¯t matter if the formation he used was simple, or complicated, or anything in between; Rees Alrix would sniff out the slightest opening without fail. A truly unfair ability, was it not?
But fleet warfare was no simple game. A duel could end in seconds, but a naval battle never will. A fleet formation could bear one weak link, or a hundred. Did the Force show only the weakest link, then, or all hundred? If it showed only the weakest, did it account for all future moves as well, as a chess computer would? Would that not be precognition?
So Rain Bonteri experimented. Over five days, he deployed numerous formations against Rees Alrix, gauging her reaction as he gauged his, observing which intended vulnerabilities she exploited, and which she ignored. And Rees Alrix would always, without fail, wait for him to finalise the translation of his formations before attacking. She would always wait for a static enemy before deciding to attack.
And that¡¯s when he understood; the Force revealed all weaknesses.
So instead of trying to outplay this terrible, unfair ability called the Force¨Che would beat it at its own game. Over his year-long career in the Confederate Navy, Rain Bonteri had only ever faced one formation that he could not find any exploitable vulnerabilities in¨C
Jedi Master Plo Koon¡¯s revolving arrowhead.
It was the one tactic no normal commander could ever hope to overcome, on the basis that it was a tactic that existed so far outside the current era¡¯s technological and tactical capabilities to reproduce without the employment of supernatural means. Though he wouldn¡¯t know the exact parlance, said supernatural means was known to the Jedi Order as battle meditation.
By creating an all-encompassing bubble of the Force in which every captain, officer, and spacer existed, a Jedi General could coordinate entire fleets of ships and have them operate at maximum efficiency. Battle meditation enhanced morale, stamina, cognitive ability, reaction time, and even chain together millions of minds to act as a single entity. It made impossible tactics and formations, such as the revolving arrowhead, possible. A truly unfair ability, was it not?
Rain Bonteri strived to prove one could recreate such an effect without the cosmic sorcery. He was in battle, not against Rees Alrix, but against the Force itself. He was embarking on a personal crusade to strip away the exclusivity of the Force and prove that he could achieve what many scholars believe to be exclusive capability of the intangible being of the universe itself, with nothing more than collective human spite and sheer will.
Rees Alrix and Republic hadn¡¯t realised it, but they were observing how the Separatists achieved a primitive form of the battle meditation utilised by the Jedi Masters, not through any complicated or esoteric means, but by enforcing a singular, overriding state of mind. By issuing a single standing order and leading his entire fleet into a death spiral in which it only took a single mistake to kill them all, Rain Bonteri successfully created a hivemind not dissimilar to the effects of battle meditation. Unlike battle meditation, however, which could control the hivemind at will, the spiral¡¯s hivemind was only capable of a single thought¨C
Follow the ship in front of you, and don¡¯t crash.
But that was enough.
That had to be enough.
Because this death spiral was a product of two traits you couldn¡¯t find in any other fleet.
First was an absolute and unshakable trust in their commanding officer, among the captains and crews of the fleet. During the brief strategy meeting, Asajj Ventress was concerned whether the 28th Mobile Fleet could trust their Admiral enough to follow through with a plan they knew nothing about.
But she wasn¡¯t there. She wasn¡¯t there on the Perlemian Front. She wasn¡¯t there, fighting a hundred desperate battles to slow the unstoppable advance of the Grand Army of the Republic. She wasn¡¯t there at Centares, where the spirit of the Perlemian Coalition was broken. And she wasn¡¯t there at Columex, where a single man brought the spirit of the Perlemian Coalition back from the brink, and then broke the back of the Republic.
The galaxy lauds and curses the name of Sev¡¯rance Tann for the Republic¡¯s defeat at Columex, for the Confederacy had invested heavily into the sensationalism and publicity that came from one of the most infamous generals of the nation arriving just in time to save the day. So much so, that the names of those who sacrificed so much to buy that time simply faded back into the shadows.
But the men and women of the 28th Mobile Fleet knew who truly won the Battle of Columex. They were, after all, the men and women of the Perlemian Coalition. They were, after all, there to watch Columex shatter the Pride of the Core. And after the sacrifice of his personal direct command to save seventy-five ships of their comrades, the spacers of the 28th Mobile would silently follow their Rear Admiral to the Nine Hells and back, if he asked.
They would, soon enough.
Sev¡¯rance Tann knew that by placing Rain Bonteri and Calli Trilm at the head of the 28th and 19th Mobile Fleets respectively¨Ctwo halves of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada¨Cshe was created two fleets with an unbreakable trust in their leaders, and in each other. Perfect, for the purposes of the war she wished to wage.
Second was the towering experience and skill of every single captain, officer, and spacer within the fleet. Just as the GAR Strategic Command had identified, and thus dispatched the quick response Open Core Fleet to engage these priority targets, the fleets of the Perlemian Coalition were the most dangerous assets the CAF had at its disposal. It was this well-known fact that Sev¡¯rance Tann had relied upon to bait them in the first place.
Because they were, without a doubt, currently the most veteran spacers in the galaxy, witness to some of the toughest battles of the war. Their nerves were tempered in the cauldron of Centares, staring down the barrels of the Republic, unflinching as two lines of battle pounded each other into the abyss, fearlessly working at their stations even as their comrades were blasted and vaporised around them. Their skills were honed by the whetstone of Columex, in the chaos of five-thousand warships where every smallest action at the fire control station, or in the engine room, could mean the life and death of hundreds. These were men and women who had broken in their warships as an equestrian would break in their stallions.
Doing the impossible was what they did best. No other fleet, save perhaps their brothers and sisters in the 19th Mobile Fleet, could recreate such an implausible tactic.
And so the death spiral inched closer and closer to the Republic lines, gunports opening and missile launchers gleaming with steely glares.
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Kendal Ozzel gritted his teeth. There was a lack of orders from their flagship, and the enemy was bearing down on them. He wasn¡¯t so foolish to think a straight charge would defeat any enemy formation. Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s speciality was in straight offensives, in that there was no doubt, but the reason they were so abnormally effective was because of their Jedi General.
It was despite their Jedi General that they were some of the Republic¡¯s best, having beaten back fleets many times their number many times over. General Rees Alrix¡¯s ability was not battle meditation, and her tactics¨Cif they could be called that¨Cwould have never succeeded so many times if not for the skill of the many captains of her fleet. They may not be peers to their rivals in the 28th, but they acted with complete comfort and trust in their Jedi General, and knew how to cover for her blindspots.
So when Ozzel gave the command to withdraw, the entire battle line of Taskforce Conciliator pulled back without argument, burning retro and matching their retreat with the advance of the Separatists, patiently letting their commanding officer devise a plan. They have seen through the death spiral, and its purpose. By creating a rotating circle, as the Separatists came around to face the Republic formation, those along the nearest tangent could unleash a devastating storm of missiles. Since the circle was continuously rotating, the effect was a continuous stream of missiles onto their formation.
And should the Republic attempt to fire back, their shots would glance harmlessly off the swift-moving deflector shields of the enemy¨Cwhich could be entirely concentrated on their starboard beam¨Cas each warship constantly replaced the one ahead of them.
It was not as effective as the full-frontal revolving arrowhead of Jedi General Plo Koon, which could most efficiently take advantage of a Star Destroyer¡¯s forward firing envelopes. Similarly, however, this death spiral adaptation could fully exploit the broadsides of Separatist warships, even if the rotating design meant it couldn¡¯t produce nearly as much forward momentum as the revolving arrowhead.
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Meanwhile, Rees Alrix herself was struggling. There was no formation without weaknesses¨Csuch an incredible phenomenon did not exist, much to the chagrin of military theorists across the galaxy. Not only did she know this, she saw this. Nobody could outsmart the Force. And yet¡ she couldn¡¯t find anywhere to attack.
Not because it had no vulnerabilities, no¨Cfor every armour would inevitably have chinks in its plating¨Cbut because the vulnerability was constantly and randomly changing. As the death spiral grew more and more chaotic, that flame she tried to chase would leap from one location to the other. In one place, a corvette struggling to keep up, and in another a battlecruiser that mistimed its etheric rudder, and in another an old dreadnought with a struggling main reactor, or a destroyer with depleted power cells¨Call of them chinks in the armour which Alrix could stab and unravel the whole formation. And yet, they appeared once, again, and disappeared just as swiftly as the formation evolved without rest.
For the first time, there was no single weakness she could exploit.
Realising this, but unwilling to concede defeat and surrender the star system she spent so much effort reaching and defending, Alrix naturally gravitated to the next closest vulnerability she could exploit. The very same fire that constantly threatened inferno, that has hampered her enemy for nearly a week¨Cthe five auxiliary ships in the Sululluub Asteroid Field.
But to reach it, she would either have to go through, or around the great whirlpool. She chose the latter option, recognising that the revolving circle, for better or worse, was largely a stationary tactic, despite its slow advance, and could not change the direction of its heading easily.
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The order was transmitted, and Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s line of battle translated from a line abreast to a line ahead as each individual ship turned 90-degrees to starboard, with Resilient herself at the head of the line and Imperious now in the middle. The plan was simple; circumnavigate the spiral in a single file line, and should the Separatists react by breaking that spiral, they would be too disorientated to form a proper line of battle, allowing the Republic to charge in and sweep up the disorganised remnants.
Taskforce Conciliator began its transit burn, roaring around the circumference of the Separatist spiral. All they had to do was traverse a 90-degree arc of the spiral before they had a straight vector for the auxiliaries, an impulse burn that would take no more than a few minutes¨C
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Chimeratica shot out of the hurricane like a stone cast from a shepherd¡¯s sling, following an intercept tangent aiming straight for Star Destroyer Imperious.
This was the exact moment she had been waiting for, and like the monster that lended her its name, one could almost hear her snarling as she loaded torpedoes into her launchers and unleashed her horde of self-propelled droid starfighters.
There was a period of stunned silence, where it seemed the galaxy itself stopped turning, as both sides watched the lone carrier-destroyer shoot out of its formation, bravely charging the hostile battle line on its own.
Follow the ship in front of you.
The closest ship behind Chimeratica at this point was the ¡®2nd Strike Division¡¯s Durandal. The star frigate was nowhere near its division¨Cnot that there were any divisions left, as all subformations had quickly dissolved as sugar would swirled in a pot¨Cbut with their standing orders in mind, her captain ordered;
¡°Bloody stars¨C follow that ship!¡±
The spell had been broken, and the Separatist death spiral violently unwound as a steel coil would after snapping its restraints. The first head of the Hydra snapped forth, guns blazing and starfighters roaring out of their hangars and racks. After Durandal came Hound¡¯s Tooth; then Sarffgadau; then Gleaming Fey and Melodiosa; then Repulse, Renown and Revenge; then the rest of the fleet.
Imperious barely had time to respond as Chimeratica bore down on her, unleashing a furious hail of torpedoes as she swung violently to portside. Even as she ran parallel to the Republic battleline, the rest of Chimeratica¡¯s starfighters slammed straight into the two remaining Tectors, briefly blinding their scopes as the battleships¡¯ point-defence cannons spat out flack and lasers into the void. By the time Imperious had swatted away the Vultures, Chimeratica was gone, having raced ahead to reach Alrix¡¯s flagship Resilient at the head of the line.
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It was then that aboard the destroyer Havoc, Commodore Horgo Shive was the first to receive his order.
TO HAVOC: INTERCEPT AND DESTROY FRIENDLY CONTACT ¡®REPULSE.¡¯ OVER.
Horgo paused, and his crew could almost see the confusion coursing through his elongated brain. Normally, he would be well pleased to receive an intercept and destroy order, but the target of this order in particular was¡ baffling, to say the least. From his vantage point in the rear of the fleet, he could almost see the whole battle unfurling before him¨Cliterally, as the coiled snake undid itself¨Cgleaning off as much information as he could. Similarly to the Givin of Yag¡¯Dhul, the Muun were notorious galaxy-wide for being highly intelligent beings. Most Muuns use that intelligence to pursue roads of business and economy, but there was nothing stopping them from applying their calculative powers in the art of battle.
Horgo Shive was unlike most Muuns. Muuns were cautious, but Horgo was decisive. Muuns was reserved and mature, but Horgo preferred tossing himself into battle and improvising from there. It was for this reason he was made the commanding officer of the ¡®2nd Strike Division. But that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t just as every bit calculative and risk-perceptive as his kin, he simply preferred hedging his bets as opposed to holding them forever.
¡°Plot us a course for intercept,¡± he ordered the nearest navigation officer.
¡°Target, sir?¡±
¡°Repulse.¡±
Repulse was the seventh ship from the front, racing away to meet the Resilient along with Chimeratica and the rest, and she was a crippled thing. She had been one of the ships thrown headfirst against the Tector-class Star Destroyers in the 4th Skirmish at Sullust, and despite managing to escape, had paid a dear price. Much of spaced armour had been completely melted off by Imperious¡¯s brutal turbolasers, revealing her frail superstructure, and her starboard radiator-wing had been completely torn off by a stray starfighter torpedo, making her prone to overheating. She was barely space-worthy, much less in combat condition at all.
But the Rear Admiral was insistent she, and the five remaining frigates of his direct command, be brought to battle, ostensibly to go out in one last blaze of glory. Horgo had his reservations; he would have recommended the ships¨Cwhich held great symbolic value¨Cbe recessed from the battle and repaired by Jorm¡¯s Auxiliary Division. Albeit, he might admit, they may be because he was as loss-averse as any other Muun.
¡°Intercept course plotted, sir!¡±
Horgo hastily reviewed it¨Cand every dissonant piece clicked into place. From the death spiral, to Alrix¡¯s modification of her line of battle, to Chimeratica¡¯s decision to shoot ahead. Each commander of the 28th Mobile was only given a single piece of the puzzle. Each of them were only one head of a many-headed hydra, all to disguise their true strategy from the enemy. Horgo could see it; it was he who would make the finishing blow, and by the time the enemy realises, it would already be too late.
But first, he had to safely guide his ship out of the whirling hurricane. Thankfully, he was a Muun, and with the figures of his repeaters neatly slotting into formula¡¯s in his mind¡¯s eye, he could navigate this storm as easily as exploiting the volatile economic situations and opportunities his kin were famed for doing.
¡°There,¡± he pointed at an invisible gap, ¡°Bring us around! Burn, now!¡±
Star destroyer Havoc abruptly shot out of its station as Horgo personally took the helm, deftly navigating his ship through the hurricane of steel and fiery drive plumes with a white-knuckled grip. A handful of harrowing minutes felt like an eternity, Havoc¡¯s crew all bracing themselves for an impact that may or may not come, as they cut through the storm like a shark bulling through a school of fish.
And then they were free, the stars shining before the viewports once more, leaving the turmoil of the death spiral behind them. Horgo Shive breathed out, unclenching his hands and leaving two swathes of sweat on the control surface¡ and realised they had emerged on the complete opposite side of the spiral, where the Republic couldn¡¯t see them. He checked the tactical holo, observing how the coil itself was decreasing in size as more and more warships spilled forth from it¨Cthen discovered that Havoc was not alone.
A dozen other ships had somehow followed them out of the storm.
This will do, the Muun ensured the parameters of his ship and newfound squadron were all in green; yes, this will do quite nicely.
¡°Destroy the Repulse,¡± he ordered, ¡°This is an order from the Admiral.¡±
Thirteen starships disappeared among the stars, accelerating as they traversed a long curve. The fourth head of the Hydra had made its move, and nobody was any wiser. For Horgo Shive, the battle ended before it had even begun in full.
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Meanwhile, many tens of thousands of klicks away, Kendal Ozzel seethed with rage, lashing whips of frenetic reprimand at his crew as he ordered his warship turn to face the enemy head-on.
Unbeknownst to him, somewhere within the 28th Mobile¡¯s unfurling battle line, aboard the star destroyer Dark Rival, Commander Asajj Ventress received her order. The Dark Acolyte opened the command package with a eager curiosity, and came face to face with a single string of encrypted code;
TO DARK RIVAL: INTERCEPT AND DESTROY HOSTILE CONTACT ¡®IMPERIOUS.¡¯ OVER.
She recognised that callsign. Imperious was the ship that all but won the Battle of Medth for the Republic with its bold charge. The same symptoms affecting her Jedi rival did not affect her as the Force pounded in her ears like a battle drum, drowning out all distractions. Ventress eagerly took up the calling, ordering Dark Rival all ahead full. Despite the command ¡®package¡¯ being a single sentence, the Force told her everything she needed to know, predicting her hated foe¡¯s next actions perfectly. For a moment, she imagined herself in the flagship of the 28th Mobile Fleet, in the boots of the man who played the entire battle as one would an elaborate game of dejarik.
And she felt like a god.
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¡°Commodore!¡± Imperious¡¯ XO shouted in alarm, ¡°That ship¡¯s headed right for us!¡±
Ozzel spun around, involuntarily ducking as Vultures screamed over and around the bridge, eyes frantically searching and finding the single Separatist destroyer that had seemingly opted to abandon its line of battle and charge straight at them. He dashed towards the nearest astrogation officer and tore the sweating man off his seat as he commandeered the station. Imperious¡¯s scopes turned straight to the offending ship¨CDark Rival¨Cand plotted out her incoming vector.
¡°That¡¯s not an intercept vector,¡± Ozzel stumbled backwards, panic forcing open his eyes, ¡°They¡¯re on a collision course! Helmsman, take evasive action! HARD RIGHT, HARD OVER!¡±
Imperious violently swung to the right so suddenly her inertial compensators barely had enough time to adapt to the change. The lucky spacers were thrown off their feet and onto the polished metal floor, while the unluckier ones slammed against the walls, into corners, or crushed by unsecured ordnance and skidding starfighters.
The manoeuvre was made just in time. Not a moment later, the second head of the Hydra blasted through the empty space where the Imperious would have been, gnashing its teeth at a failed kill. Since only Dark Rival received the command package, all the warships behind her were still operating under the standing order of ¡®follow the ship in front of you.¡¯ In this way, Ventress had inadvertently commandeered just under three-fourths of the 28th Mobile Fleet, leading them through the Republic line of battle.
Kendal Ozzel observed the deteriorating situation in a frenzied haze. Imperious, along with the half of Taskforce Conciliator behind it, had been effectively cut off from their flagship. All communications were being jammed by the enemy; they were isolated, alone, and about to be trapped. With this in mind, Ozzel made the fateful decision as the ranking officer of his division; all ships, retreat! Escape the encirclement!
Unfortunately for him, Asajj Ventress was out for blood and vengeance. Dark Rival turned starboard to meet Imperious, effectively creating a ¡®hook¡¯ and forcing Imperious to travel reciprocally back down the Republic line. The two warships exchanged broadsides, hastily producing firing solutions on myriad hardpoints, casemates, and weakpoints in the other¡¯s shells, and pumping each other full of tibanna gas and proton torpedoes. Missiles flailed against shimmering shields, pinions of energy melting hull plating into gold liquid that rapidly cooled and blackened within seconds.
It was at this crucial juncture that the last two ships received their orders.
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TO KRONPRINZ: INTERCEPT AND DESTROY HOSTILE CONTACT ¡®RESILIENT.¡¯ OVER.
Commodore Diedrich Greyshade stared at the single sentence with disbelief. His ship, the Tionese battlecruiser Kronprinz, had just followed the Dark Rival across the Republic line of battle. He looked to the right, where he could see Ventress¡¯ ship locking horns with Imperious, the two doonium giants leading their divisions in a brutal struggle that would only end when one of them was dead.
Then he looked to the left, where he could see straight down the rear end of Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s forward half, the ice-blue glow of Resilient all the way at the end. Over there, Chimeratica was hammering Alrix from their portside¨Cand then he understood. Should Kronprinz manage to reach Resilient¡¯s starboard beam, the entire forward half of Taskforce Conciliator would be sandwiched between them.
No normal ship could reach Chimeratica and Resilient in any reasonable timeframe from so far away. But Kronprinz was no normal ship. She was a Tionese battlecruiser, and with solar wind in her sails, there was no warship in the galaxy she could not outpace. Diedrich took a cursory glance at the location of the sun, confirming what he already knew. Since the 28th Mobile was approaching from the Sululluub Asteroid Field, which was starward of Sullust, they had the solar wind at their backs.
The reserved Diedrich Greyshade grinned like a proud father.
¡°And that¡¯s all we need,¡± he said aloud, catching the attention of his bridge crew, ¡°...All hands! Helmsman, hundred-and-ten degree port turn and meet her there! Extend all solar sails, catch that wind boys! Prepare portside casemates, I want us right next to Alrix in ten minutes!¡±
Once again, maintaining the standing order of ¡®follow the ship in front of you,¡¯ the battlecruiser Kronprinz split off with half of the 28th Mobile at her back, leaving Ventress and Dark Rival alone with a quarter of the fleet¨Cnearly fifty warships¨Cto battle the rear half of Taskforce Conciliator, which boasted thirty-nine ships.
?
Commodore Vinoc upon the Providence Crying Sun recognised this from behind Kronprinz, that despite barely outnumbering Ozzel, Ventress in actuality commanded less tonnage and starfighters than Ozzel. In close quarters combat such as this, the Star Destroyers of Taskforce Conciliator would ultimately come out on top. Just as Crying Sun moved to trace the Separatist battle line through the Republic¡¯s shattered line, Vinoc¡¯s holoscreen chimed.
TO CRYING SUN: STARBOARD TURN AND ANNIHILATE ALL HOSTILES. OVER.
It was as if his mind was read¡ or was this all planned from the beginning? Vinoc did not know which possibility awed him, or terrified him, more.
¡°Ninety-degree turn to starboard,¡± he commanded.
His tactical droid, TJ-912, protested, ¡°Our turning radius at this velocity is too shallow. Calculations project collision with Republic vessels¨C¡±
¡°Failure to obey orders from the commanding officer of the fleet will result in you getting reprogrammed,¡± Vinoc reminded dryly.
¡°¨CNinety-degree turn to starboard! Meet her parallel to the Repubic line!¡± TJ-912 relayed the command so forcefully she nearly smacked the helmsdroid while doing so.
The third head of the Hydra howled, sublight drives, attitude thrusters, and etheric rudders all working in tandem to sharpen the curve of Crying Sun¡¯s turn as much as possible. And even as she did, TJ-912¡¯s calculations were proven correct when Crying Sun levelled straight onto a Venator¡¯s inbound vector. The Venator, unwilling to ram, banked hard to starboard in turn. The two warships scraped along the other¡¯s beam, the crunch and tear of stringers and stiffeners shuddering through both ships as torpedoes and laser bolts whipping out at point blank range.
Nevertheless, the turn was completed, albeit by the paint of one¡¯s hull, and now Crying Sun and the remaining quarter of the 28th Mobile Fleet had trapped Imperious on three sides. Similarly, Chimeratica and Kronprinz had successfully flanked Resilient both port and starboard. With the two halves of Alrix¡¯s fleet completely surrounded, velocities matched and unabating fusillades hammering out into the smoke-filled void, the fate of the Taskforce Conciliator has been sealed.
Their grave would be a cold, lonely patch of space somewhere in the middle of the Sullust Star System.
?
But for Rees Alrix, the battle was not yet over. She was a Jedi Knight, and despite losing contact with half of her fleet, she would not abandon hope so easily. No, not even as Resilient was smashed against both flanks, as one by one the friendly contacts on the holos disappeared. silently, or in great conflagrations of gas and cinder and slagged steel. Not even as her crew sunk into silent acceptance, that their once-unstoppable conquest of the Rimma Trade Route has come to an end. Because she could still escape and regroup with other Republic squadrons in the region, the only question that remained was in which direction to escape in?
The north seemed like an obvious answer. Unfortunately, the star of Sullust was in her way. That left one direction; south. She knew Eriadu was lost, in her heart of hearts. The silent roar of the Force was unmistakable, like a billions upon billions of lives burning in the pits of the Nine Hells. But she was not an empath, as many of her friends and peers were, and empathic connection was not her forte. If it was, Alrix would already be lost to the Force.
But that didn¡¯t mean she was not without allies in the south. Governor-General Teshik was still campaigning against Separatist fleets in the Seswenna Sector, and if she could reach him, they could sweep back north together. All she had to do was break through the Separatist line of battle.
So Rees Alrix fell back on the one ability she trusted her life with, and searched for the fire in the Force. All she needed was a spark, one that could set the enemy line ablaze.
To her starboard, there were several, but none large enough to ignite fully, not with that persistent Tionese sailboat matching them shot for shot. To her portside, however¡
There were three Munificent-class frigates, half a dozen positions aft of Chimeratica.
Repulse, Renown, and Revenge.
She recognised them as the handful of frigates that beat back Ozzel¡¯s rampage two days ago, saving much of their fleet at the cost of their own. Not only that, Repulse was the flagship of the Separatist admiral! Even now, Alrix could only consider them broken, pitiful things, barely worthy of being called ¡®warships.¡¯ In fact, they were hardly firing at all, with many of their turbolaser batteries having been shorn off during their battle with Imperious and its Tectors. And the fire in the Force¨Cit was already a great conflagration, and frustrated by tiny, fleeting embers until now, Alrix instinctively, unknowingly, found herself drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
¡°We will break through the enemy lines right there,¡± Alrix felt the target through the Force, the correct time and place to pierce the armour, ¡°Then, plot a hyperjump to the Uvena System, where we will rendezvous with General Teshik.¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡± a chorus of affirmation resounded from her crew.
¡°Inform all ships,¡± she blasted out orders, ¡°And transfer all power to the shields. Hard left, hard over!¡±
Resilient swung around, dodging a fusillade of torpedoes aimed for her thrusters as she did, leading the remainder of the Taskforce Conciliator straight into the three crippled frigates¨Cand barely slowed down as she blasted straight through them. Repulse snapped in half under a hail of blue pinions while a squadron of ARC-170s unleashed a chain of torpedoes that vapourized Revenge¡¯s spine, and Renown¡ the Star Destroyer Resilient rammed straight into Renown, shattering the frigate as superheavy turbolasers thundered off round after round into her maimed husk until, that was left were miniscule pieces of debris no larger than flakes, and the lifeless bodies of battle droids drifting out of the punctured hull.
And as Resilient emerged on the other side¨C she came face to face with the fourth head of the Hydra; the eleven fresh warships of Horgo Shive, who had taken a long detour around the battlefield to remain out of Alrix¡¯s sightlines, bearing down upon them. Just as the Muun had predicted hours in advance, his prey was not only waiting for him, but so graciously sailing straight into his maw.
Horgo Shive looked at the battered and spent countenance of Resilient and the Venators close behind her, with their empty hangars, overheating guns, overloaded shields and cracked armour¨Cthen looked at his own ships, yet untouched by battle. This won¡¯t even be a fight.
He gave the order; ¡°Destroy them.¡±
In the span of seconds, from the moment a great bolt of red flashed from the enemy destroyer¡¯s jaws to the moment Resilient was disintegrated by enough firepower to melt a small moon, Rees Alrix wondered; where had she gone wrong? She did as the Force told her, and yet¡ and yet¡
In those precious few moments, her eyes flitted from place to place, instinctively searching for another flame. But there were none. Not on the Chimeratica, sailing away. Not on the Havoc, bearing right down on her. Not in the enemy battle line she had just smashed through. The flame¡ was right on top of her.
Did she lose the moment she decided to attack the Repulse? Or did she lose by deciding to meet the Separatist offensive? Or was it from the beginning, when she refused to withdraw from Sullust? Or¡ did she lose from the moment she declined Anakin Skywalker¡¯s help? If he was here, and not rushing to her aid at this moment, could the Chosen One have prevailed?
It is so unfair, Rees Alrix lamented. She conquered the Rimma. She prevailed against the odds where the arrogant bastards on the Perlemian failed. She achieved what everybody thought was impossible. The Hundred Days Offensive was her achievement! And what, the Council wanted her to hand everything she won to the Chosen One? Alrix just knew the moment the Open Circle Fleet arrived, the Republic would praise that upstart¡¯s infuriating name to the skies above Coruscant, while her own was lapsed.
And yet, that might happen anyway, as Skywalker warred against time. Could he even beat the Battle Hydra, the great bane of the Jedi that has trounced him not once, but twice? Of course he could, he was the Chosen One, after all. She was sick of hearing that damned title.
So, so unfair.
But Rees Alrix was a Jedi Knight.
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is only the Force.
There is the Force¡ and here there isn¡¯t. A vulnerability that escaped her attention. It was not in the ranks of her own formation, or her fateful decisions. It was a vulnerability in the Force itself, an impenetrable void that she could not have accounted for. At the precipice of her life, she finally saw it, felt it. It burned like a fire on her skin, and around her.
I¡¯ve got you now, Hydra.
If she could not defeat the monster, then at least she could lend Skywalker a helping hand. Rees Alrix reached towards the great blaze burning upon her, throwing in her own spirit to fuel the fire until someone found it. Appreciate my dying breath, Chosen One.
No, there is no death.
The Hydra¡¯s jaw clamped down.
Rees Alrix closed her eyes, and revelled like a fire in the Force.
?
From the bridge of the carrier-destroyer Chimeratica, Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri watched the last remaining warships of Rees Alrix be devoured entirely, and ticked off the last square in his checklist, concluding the battle.
Preliminary casualties report the 28th Mobile Fleet lost as many as seventeen warships, with another two-dozen badly damaged. Taskforce Conciliator lost all seventy-nine remaining warships.
It has been one-hundred and thirty-five hours since the 1st Skirmish at Sullust. Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s prediction had been correct; from the moment the 28th Mobile Fleet was given the order to advance, it took only four hours to completely annihilate their Rees Alrix¡¯s fleet. The Republic would not find out about the defeat until three days later, when Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Open Circle Fleet arrived at the Sullust System to find nothing but orbital debris, and no sign of either fleet.
Within hours of their arrival, the Open Circle Fleet would receive harrowing news; Eriadu had been glassed, and General Horn Ambigene¡¯s 4th Fleet Group was advancing up the Rimma Trade Route en masse with 1,500 warships.
Chapter 53
Sullust Libration Point ¡®L5¡¯, Sullust System
Brema Sector
The 28th Mobile Fleet prowled through the debris field as would vultures upon a killing field, salvaging anything we could get our hands on, whether it be repair modules, proton torpedoes, or ionised gases from ammunition bunkers. Droch-class cutters and boarding shuttles sliced their way through drifting hulks and debris, hunting down signs of biological activity before handing survivors off to the Sullustan Home Guard, whose ageing array of light cruisers and corvettes had finally decided to join us in the black.
It was a surprise, because Sullust was the premier foundry world in this patch of space, the entire planet almost entirely ruled by a single megacorporation that had bought out its own government¨Cthe SoroSuub Corporation. This world should not have been so defenceless¡ until one considers that the vast majority of the Sullustan Home Guard had been taken by Admiral Dua Ningo to Foerost shortly before the war began.
In any case, the Sullustan Home Guard taking enemy survivors off our hands was a great boon, as the 28th Mobile couldn¡¯t afford to take on extra mouths to feed¨Cnot that there were many left at all. With the secrecy swirling around the upcoming campaign, we would have been forced to either abandon them to the void, or launch a search and destroy mission¡ which honestly may be a kinder fate for the survivors compared to what the Sullustans had in mind. Not that asked¨Cit¡¯s just that the word ¡®processing¡¯ in the Sullustan language left enough to the imagination.
They also provided us unlimited use of their shipyards out of gratitude, but we were forced to turn down the offer. After all, the only reason we were still loitering about was the catch up on news from the homefront¨Cnow that there weren¡¯t any enemy fleets in the vicinity eavesdropping on our transmissions¨Cand await reinforcements from the south, before we made the fateful jump to Yag¡¯Dhul.
Speaking of reinforcements¡
Just as Calli promised, there were Emberlene warships on the system plane, jumping in dramatically late just hours after the battle ended. Twenty Mistryl destroyers, long and sleek and like rapiers piercing through the stars and leaving a backwash of boiling silver in their wake. True to form, clearly these mercenaries weren¡¯t going to get involved in any danger they haven¡¯t already been paid for¡ or rather, any danger they had nothing to profit from.
Those sleek destroyers were the spearhead of the Emberlene Warfleet, which pledged allegiance to the CAF for nothing more than a carte blanche to rampage and conquer the entire Authala Sector, razing and salting everything they couldn¡¯t carry back to Emberlene. With Emberlene being the homeworld of the Mistryl Shadow Guards¨Cgalaxy-wide famous mercenaries¨Call Emberlene had to do was recall all their agents to acquire themselves one of the most elite warrior corps in the galaxy.
¡°Are they registered with the CAF?¡± I asked.
¡°No callsigns, no beacons, no identifications of any form,¡± Stelle shot his console a puzzled look, ¡°Even their drive signatures are slowly changing, which suggests highly modified sublight engines. Those ships are ghosts, sir. I don¡¯t think anybody who sees them is supposed to live to tell about them.¡±
¡°We aren¡¯t anybody,¡± Tuff stated coldly, ¡°Widebeam transmission. Request identification.¡±
¡°Unknown starcrafts,¡± Stelle tapped down on the sublight transceiver, ¡°This is the Confederate Navy destroyer Chimeratica. You are flying cold in Confederate space. Please identify yourselves.¡±
¡°This is the star destroyer Sharihen,¡± a woman¡¯s voice returned, speaking with deep maturity and regality, ¡°Your target is in the Itopol Sector.¡±
¡°That¡¯s one way to get the message across,¡± I muttered, waving a hand, ¡°Let¡¯s have them elaborate aboard. We¡¯ll receive them in the hangar.¡±
Hare¡¯s ears perked up, because when ¡®we¡¯ received people it''s usually her and I, and I swear to every god I know they gleamed like sharpened blades. Did she secretly carry a whetstone in her internal compartments or something? Because at this rate I¡¯m really going to have to start watching where I put my hands around her.
¡°Transmitting rendezvous coordinates,¡± Stelle relayed, ¡°Upon arrival, deactivate your main reactor and standby for tractor beam-guided docking. Acknowledge upon receipt.¡±
¡°Acknowledged.¡±
Chimeratica broke away from the debris field, leaving the burnt out husk of star frigate Repulse to the cold void. Any data that could have been salvaged from that ship already had been, and all that was left of it were depictions of predator and prey that adorned its smoky hull. She was too badly damaged after the 4th Skirmish at Sullust to put up any sort of fight, and even though she could have been repaired¨Cthe Auxiliary Division was present¨CI opted not to. After all, I had to control Alrix into attacking the single spot where Horgo could blast her into stardust.
Aside from some clenched teeth, I showed no outward emotion as the old frigate disappeared into immateriality, as just another wreck among countless others. Where would she end up from here? A Sullustan scrapyard, most likely.
I sighed, standing up and leaving for Chimeratica¡¯s main port airlock as Nightshade approached the rendezvous, portside docking flange extending out of her hull. Timing my arrival perfectly, I approached the airlock just as it hissed open, an escort of Onderonian Guardsmen at my back for insurance.
I could immediately recognise the woman who appeared from the disinfecting smoke as the voice I had heard earlier. She was tall, though perhaps not quite my height, with a pitch black mane of hair that fell down in a dozen gold-tasselled braids, and prominent cheekbones that framed her blue-black lips. What caught my eye the most, however, were the luxurious purple robes draped over her black body suit¨Cwhich all Mistryl Shadow Guards wore¨Ctied at the waist by a lavender sash.
Indeed, the rest of the Shadow Guards that emerged at her back only wore the hooded black suits as befit their title, which really made them look more like a cabal of assassins¡ which the Shadow Guards also acted as at times.
¡°Where¡¯d you get those drapes?¡± were the first words out of my mouth, prompting a single raised eyebrow, and no other reaction from the rest of the Guards.
¡°Ootoolan kelp weave,¡± the lead Guard said, ¡°A gift from the Princess of Ootoola for my prolonged service.¡±
That must be her previous employer, then, and considering the mild fondness in her voice, she must have been quite dissatisfied with Emberlene¡¯s complete recall of all deployed Shadow Guards.
¡°It looks like quality¨C¡± maybe even better than Onderonian silk, I thought as I inspected the fabric¡¯s lustre, ¡°¨CHare, remember Ootoola for me.¡±
¡°You won¡¯t be welcome,¡± the Mistryl told me, ¡°The royal family was overthrown and executed by purist rebels. That was twelve years ago.¡±
¡°The Princess must still be alive, if you are wearing that,¡± I pointed out, ¡°Which means you served as her bodyguard. Hare, where is Ootoola?¡±
¡°Morshdine Sector, in the New Territories.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll have to invade them later.¡±
¡°Yes, Master.¡±
Now that elicited a reaction¨Ca few startled looks from some of the shorter, and likely younger, members of the Guards. I disguised a triumphant smile with an enigmatic, self-assured one that suggested I might not actually be joking with that statement.
¡°All for some seaweed?¡± the head Mistryl narrowed her sharp eyes.
¡°My family got rich off producing silk,¡± I waved them in, ¡°If I didn¡¯t join the war, I imagine I¡¯d be a weaver. My name is Rain Bonteri, but I¡¯m sure you knew that. Welcome aboard the Chimeratica.¡±
¡°Naradan Du¡¯lin,¡± Naradan introduced herself, ¡°This is my personal squad, and fleet. We were hired by Calli Trilm.¡±
¡°Did she pay upfront?¡±
¡°The down payment,¡± the Mistryl informed as she took after me, ¡°We were led to believe you will pay the rest as the job is completed.¡±
I tried not to betray my disbelief as I hummed in thought, ¡°Will the job remain between us?¡±
¡°Nothing can be promised.¡±
Well, I tried. They were state-sponsored mercenaries, after all. A cut of their pay definitely goes towards Emberlene¡¯s coffers, as was how the Shadow Guard system operated for as long as the organisation existed.
¡°The Pantoran doesn¡¯t enjoy mercs and bounty hunters,¡± I called down a turbolift, gesturing to the other elevators in the lobby to accommodate the other two dozen or so Shadow Guards, ¡°How did you get past the Fourth Fleet Group?¡±
¡°General Ambigene was more than accommodating,¡± Naradan crossed her arms, ¡°As soon as the standing order was lifted, he bid us well with the guise of pursuing a fleet of fleeing Loyalists.¡±
¡°Where are those Loyalists now?¡±
¡°Chased them as far as the Uvena System before we decided it was safe to head here. There¡¯s a fleet gathering there, for your information. The Republic¡¯s Eighteenth Army may have been shattered, but their General Teshik is still rallying the remnants at Uvena Prime. Those Loyalists¨CMaarisa Zsinj and the ORSF¨Cwere just another fragment of a new fleet he is piecing together there.¡±
There was a long pause, and even as the turbolift doors slid open, nobody made a move to enter. Naradin Du¡¯lin stared at me, her eyes like chips of blue diamond, saw something on my face, and made to address the bantha in the room.
¡°And considering what is happening to Eriadu as we speak,¡± she said, ¡°I would advise caution, as they are a lost legion with nothing left to lose.¡±
She was, of course, referring to the momentous event that heralded the official beginning of the Confederacy¡¯s Operation Storm-Door; the Decimation of Eriadu. Or, as various extremist Separatist media outlets were already so chillingly declaring it; the Emancipation of Eriadu. General Horn Ambigene¡¯s complete and utter eradication of Eriadu¡¯s crust. A planet of twenty-two billion souls, the most populated world in the Outer Rim outside the Tion Cluster, reduced to a blasted wasteland.
Even the mere indirect mention of the event was enough to make the turbolift lobby freeze. Chimeratica¡¯s every compartment was maintained at a steady eighteen standard degrees to keep its automated systems and droids cooled, but just then it felt as if the temperature made a precipitous drop to zero. In this era of technology, even hundreds of light years were only a few hours away, and to think the next city over was being massacred down to the last child was enough to make you trick yourself into hearing the screams in your head.
Or was that an echo of the Force?
As soon as the 7th Battle of Sullust ended, Vinoc reportedly experienced pounding migraines that ¡®threatened to split his skull open¡¯ as he put it himself. And Ventress, she was nowhere to be found, but if I had to guess, she was either drinking in the suffering as one would a smoothie, or puking out its bitter taste. Maybe both. Maybe it was an acquired taste.
I met her gaze as I stuck an arm through the automatically closing lift doors, feeling cold metal brush my sleeves before retreating, saving me an unintended amputation, ¡°Then it will be an even match.¡±
And this time, I was actually being serious. The Supreme Commander chose the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armadas for Operation Starlance for a reason. The scale of destruction caused by the GAR¡¯s Operation Trident was just as severe, if not even more widespread than the ongoing Emancipation of Eriadu. But widespread death and destruction was simply the effect of war, while the concentrated firepower unleashed upon Eriadu in particular was considered mass-murder.
One was more sensational than the other.
But the people of the Near Perlemian didn¡¯t quite think so. Among the 28th Mobile Fleet alone, reactions to Horn Ambigene¡¯s massacre were mixed, but not quite negative. The Sy Myrthians, whose world had been briefly besieged but otherwise unmolested, were politely concerned at the political implications. The Trogans clicked their tongues in disapproval. The Columexi cheered, though they seem to always be in high spirits ever since the decisive battle their home system played host too.
But how about those, as Naradan so tactfully put it, had nothing left to lose? The Bryxi, the Pzandians, whose worlds were left devastated, and still remained in GAR hands; they celebrated. Entire warships converted into parties of triumph and toasts to Ambigene¡¯s name not as the devil incarnate, but as the man who carved an eye out for an eye.
I could only imagine what was occurring in our sister fleet, the 19th Mobile Fleet, whose crews consisted of the likes of Salvarans, Centareans, and Abheans, all victims of the 12th Sector Army¡¯s hasty advance and the levelled cities and indiscriminate slaughter that naturally spilled forth from them. Their homeworlds suffering under the yoke of military occupation, their people persecuted as popular insurrections gripped them; they must be weeping tears of blood. Tears of joy.
They had it coming.
That was the prevailing sentiment across Separatist space. Eriadu was, ultimately, an Outer Rim world that had a choice to, but didn¡¯t side with the Outer Rim. In fact, they actively distanced themselves from the Rim, pandering to the Galactic Interior. They were already traitors, in a sense, pariahs to the larger Rimward community. There were adverse reactions, obviously, but if Horn Ambigene wanted to make an impact large enough to shake the galaxy to the core, yet limit backlash from the Rim-dominated Confederacy, Eriadu was the perfect target.
And considering the devastation was still ongoing, with no signs of prohibition from the Office of the General¡ then this event must have been something Sev¡¯rance Tann had accounted for, or even planned for.
As for Ambigene¡ I did not know if he was merely following orders, or if this decision was made on his own authority. If you asked me what a man like Ambigene was capable of right after I met him through the holo, I would have never guessed this. Much of his history was a mystery, even to the CAF; all that was known about him was that he led a proto-Separatist movement in the Tydane System for many years. Except I couldn¡¯t even point to the Tydane System on a map.
In any case, I doubted Horn Ambigene would be tried for any crimes. Firstly because the Confederacy has existed for a grand total of one year, spent entirely in a war of existence, and didn¡¯t yet have any laws on that kind of thing. Nor were they signatories of agreements like the Yavin Code, for the same reason. If you squinted, Parliament could try him on grounds of ¡®crimes against civilisation¡¯... but that was Galactic Republic law.
Ultimately, however, Ambigene couldn¡¯t be tried in civilian courts. The shadow of the Pantoran loomed large over the CAF, which now operated more or less as its own autonomous stratocratic state within the Confederacy. If Ambigene was to be tried for any crime, it would be in the military courts¡ which would be unlikely without outside influence¡ with outside influence meaning Parliament. The Confederate Senate will definitely use this opportunity to flex its muscles and hold the CAF accountable for its actions.
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Now, Sev¡¯rance Tann built her military legitimacy off the back of civil legitimacy, as she was lawfully elevated to Supreme Commander by the Parliament. I had no doubt that if the Raxus Government summoned her, she would play by the rules. If she doesn¡¯t¡ well, Trench would be more than happy to replace her, I¡¯d imagine.
And myself? The only thing I cared about was how this event would affect my political calculus moving forward.
We are at war. These sorts of things happen. If I wanted to keep my conscience clean, I¡¯d focus on rescuing the Republic survivors here at Sullust than trying to stop Ambigene. Which I am. Because I¡¯m directly responsible for their suffering.
At Centares, it was my responsibility to burden the loss of lives under my command. At Christophsis, and now here at Sullust, I had personally defeated enemy fleets, and caused the deaths of thousands. The least I could do as the opposing commander was respecting their effort and grant them the opportunity to fight another day. There were thousands of people dying here and now, caused by my own hands, and not doing anything about it when I could¨Cit would definitely keep me up at nights to come.
But Eriadu? Too many zeroes. Too many commas. The Emancipation of Eriadu burdened me as much as the Battle of Atraken, or Battle of Euceron, which is to say, it didn¡¯t. Hell, I used Atraken for my own personal means, and Euceron¡ I allowed Euceron to happen, as a warning to the rest of the Near Perlemian.
We are at war. These sorts of things happen.
But I would be lying if I said there wasn¡¯t a weightlessness in my chest, a sort of indescribable wide-eyed weave of reverence and apprehension as I heard the news. A monumental event in history was occurring right now, an event that single-handedly changed the astrography and astropolitics of the entire galaxy, one that would be remembered for a thousand years. That was something to marvel at in its own right.
The most important consequence is how the Republic reacts¨Cor more accurately, how the Core Worlds react. The way I saw it, there were three possible outcomes; outrage, indifference, or fear. They were all pretty self-explanatory, and there was no way of knowing without being in the Core itself. Which to say, we were about to find out.
Rather than the Republic¡¯s political apparatus, which I more-or-less considered a lost cause, my greatest fear was the possibility that the Jedi Order decides that it was no longer just Dooku, but the entire Confederacy that deserves to fall. That will be a problem, as it will make removing the Supreme Chancellor from power so much more difficult. Still, the Jedi were not necessarily a necessity for my plan, just an extremely preferable addition.
For now, I¡¯d rather focus on getting in and out of the Interior in one piece, preferably with my fleet in the same condition. To that end, it didn¡¯t matter how the Republic or the Jedi reacted, so long as Barriss did her job as she herself planned.
¡°You seem confident,¡± Naradan observed, ¡°Even as Anakin Skywalker and the Open Circle is headed here. You are trapped between two fleets.¡±
¡°Where exactly is the Storm Fleet?¡± I ignored her.
The Open Circle Fleet wasn¡¯t a problem. We would be long gone before they even arrived, and with all of Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s survivors in Sullustan custody, Skywalker would have no leads. This is where being a Mobile Fleet paid off. We would be right at the heart of the GAR¡¯s supply lines, and the most dangerous fleet we could face would be days away, none the wiser.
And the 2nd Sector Army, lumbering right behind the Open Circle? Not a problem either. They were too large, both numerically and bureaucratically, to turn around on a dime. Not to mention, will they really dare to turn their backs against the Horn Ambigene, after what the bloodthirsty general just did? Rather, the 2nd Sector Army and the the Fourth Fleet Group were more akin to two unstoppable avalanches levelled right on a collision course for each other.
I daresay it would be just as our Supreme Commander had planned. And it was in that case, I¡¯d rather focus on the Storm Fleet, and what awaited us as Yag¡¯Dhul.
¡°When the Storm Fleet came to Emberlene to forcefully enlist us in the Separatist cause, they didn¡¯t know we are quite capable of holding grudges,¡± she answered, ¡°We have tracked them to the Llon Nebula, in the Topola Sector.¡±
¡°And where is that?¡±
¡°Standard Galactic Grid K-Fifteen,¡± Hare relayed from her massive database, ¡°Fifteen-hundred parsecs from Yag¡¯Dhul, absolute bearing two-three-seven degrees.¡±
¡°A day¡¯s transit for our ships,¡± Naradan said, ¡°But that¡¯s nothing said about destroying two-hundred battlecruisers.¡±
I didn¡¯t deign to answer, concentrating on mapping out the coordinates in my mind¡¯s eye. The 28th Mobile Fleet was stuck between the 18th Sector Army to our south and the Open Circle Fleet to our north. Yag¡¯Dhul was the key bottleneck for the GAR supply line, and should it be cut, their entire offensive strung out across 4,000 parsecs of the Rimma Trade Route would falter. But it wasn¡¯t undefended. Not only was there the Siege of Yag¡¯Dhul, there was another Republic fleet at Fondor to the northwest, and another at Mechis-III to the northeast.
To liberate and hold Yag¡¯Dhul, we might have to contend against three separate Loyalist fleets¡ and then there was the Storm Fleet as well. Troublesome, but not impossible. Presuming, they had no idea we were about to appear at Yag¡¯Dhul, it would still take a day or two for them to arrive once our presence is revealed. Considering how much closer Mechis-III was compared to Fondor, one fleet would arrive sooner than the other, allowing us to defeat them in detail.
All the more important we move before the news of Alrix¡¯s defeat spreads towards the GAR.
¡°Hare,¡± I said aloud, ¡°Inform the fleet to prepare to jump to Yag¡¯Dhul immediately.¡±
¡°Yes, Master,¡± the rabbit droid pulled out her tablet and began navigating the communications interface.
¡°What are you thinking?¡± Naradan Du¡¯lin demanded, ¡°Are you planning on having us fight with you at Yag¡¯Dhul?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± I returned smoothly, ¡°I¡¯m thinking we will have a nice, long chat over tea during our transit, where I tell you my convoluted and frankly confusing plan which you will then carry out. Depending on which backup plan you inevitably fall back on, you will be awarded the appropriate hazard pay.¡±
Naradan looked at me critically, as if trying to find any deeper meaning in my words, before glancing around at her comrades. After a moment¡¯s thought, she shrugged, tasselled braids bouncing.
¡°Very well.¡±
¡°Uh, Rain?¡± Hare looked up at me with her perpetually wide eyes, ¡°We are detecting an unauthorised inbound transmission.¡±
¡°Recipient?¡±
¡°Dark Rival.¡±
There was a pause, then laughter. My laughter. Looks like even the powers that be are finding their pants lit on fire. Did Ventress really think she could pull the same stunt twice? After nearly sabotaging our mission at Teth? The 28th Mobile Fleet had seven subdivisions; the sixth was the Auxiliary Division, and seventh was the Intelligence Division. A necessity for the Mobile Fleet that had to always remain a dozen steps ahead of its enemies so as to not get caught.
In other words, half a hundred state-of-the-art intelligence frigates, packed full with cutting edge sensor and jamming suites, electronic warfare systems, and long range subspace transceivers. They were the very reason we even knew the Open Circle Fleet was blazing down the Rimma Trade Route to our position.
¡°Go and prepare that tea,¡± I told Hare, before turning to Naradan, ¡°Mind if we add one more unwilling guest to our conversation?¡±
?
It was a web of pain, reaching to the even furthest frontiers of the galaxy from its empty cocoon, curling up and dying. It was a never-ending choir, singing through the waves of the Force, expanding, compounding, as a million new voices joined to its plaintive wail with each passing minute.
Asajj Ventress meditated within the dark recesses of her ship, timing her breaths with the ebb and flow of the Force, feeling each and every swell and fall in her mind and muscles. She wasn¡¯t like that failed Jedi, Vinoc, who struggled to withstand the assault of Eriadu¡¯s collective will. She was made who she was on Rattatak, by Rattatak, and she has struggled and fought against the galaxy since she was but a child. She left her girlhood behind the day her Master, Ky Narec, died in her arms.
She wore her kills on her clean shaven skull, twelve dagger-shaped marks, for one of each of the twelve warlords she had killed after swearing their deaths. She herself was a dagger, forged by Rattatak, yes, but tempered and sharpened by Count Dooku. In a galaxy cluttered with hate, it was easy to fuel oneself with fury¨Cbut blind fury was as common as sands in a desert. It was easy to dip into the dark side of the Force and let it control you, but to command the dark side¡ that was what Vinoc lacked, and she had.
Direction.
Lashing out blindly, aimlessly, was no way to live, much less fight. One must be focused, directed, acting with purpose and speed. Ventress was the rose and thorn; the sound of a long knife driving home, and the taste of blood upon one¡¯s lips.
Similarly, the Devastation of Eriadu was concentrated, directed, and purposeful. That was what made its echo in the Force so powerful, it was a knife that cut into the unsuspecting. She was not one of the unsuspecting. She knew the true nature of this damned galaxy from the beginning. Twenty-two billion lives? Just another day in the galaxy.
People only cared about this one because the world was on the HoloNet a few times in the past thousand years.
Ventress peeled her eyes open as the holoprojector before her blinked, shining like a beacon in the blacked out stateroom. She already knew the person on the other side, without even checking. Slowly, she shifted from her meditative stance to a kneel, and accepted the transmission.
¡°Master.¡±
¡°Asajj.¡±
It was Count Dooku, just as she expected. The ways her scars throbbed, the phantom sensations of scorching lightning dancing across and digging into her flesh, the dormant bruises on her cheeks that seemed to awaken just to throb again. She knew.
¡°Is it finally time to act against Sev¡¯rance Tann, Master?¡±
Count Dooku was as imperial as she had last seen him, standing straight with square shoulders that belied his age. Indeed, the white-haired Count wore his eighty-two standard years far better than most humans half his age, deft as he has become with the Force.
¡°She has always worn a streak of rebellion,¡± Dooku said, ¡°But always manageable. Until now.¡±
Until now. Ventress could have told her Master that years ago, back when she still seeked favour. Validation. Proof her life was worth something after Kate''s death. The echo of a girl who still had something to prove, lingering far after it lost its welcome. She had strived to serve Dooku, learning what scraps he had to offer, like a starving cat begging for more food. How many other Dark Acolytes were just like her.
Compared, Sev¡¯rance Tann was far more stoic. The blue-skinned alien took every lesson and every punishment in stride, never complaining when Dooku taught her some lesser art when he hinted at greater ones, never flinching when the threat of cackling electricity erupted from his fingertips.
The Force ran differently around Tann, through her bleeding red eyes that seemed to view the world with a calculative impartiality. Ventress considered the rest of the acolytes beneath her¨Cthey weren¡¯t so worthy of the Count¡¯s attention¨Cbut Sev¡¯rance Tann? She so desperately needed to prove she was better than the woman.
Time and time again, Ventress trounced Tann again and again in their duels and sessions. And time and time again, Dooku chose Tann to join him in his strategising, privy to his closest plans and secrets. Everybody has their strengths, Ventress didn¡¯t need anybody to tell her that. But the growling beast that is envy was not so reasonable.
But Ventress was observant. Sev¡¯rance Tann was the oldest of them, Ventress knew, but never respected the relationship between master and apprentice. She listened and learned, but never stooped to deference. Never once did she ever refer to Dooku as her master¨Calways ¡®the Count,¡¯ or ¡®sir.¡¯ She even looked down on the Count as if his age was dulling his intelligence, when not even Dooku could keep up with her intricate predictions, as if anybody could keep up with her foresight.
One day, Ventress told her Master, Tann would betray them, once she no longer had any use for them. To that, Dooku merely said;
¡°I know. It is the unhappy hazard of embracing the dark side.¡±
But it was never about the dark side, was it, Sev¡¯rance? Ventress knew. She had warned Dooku time and time again, against growing exasperation and irritance. When their fellow acolytes sweated and squirmed in the midst of writhing ancient texts, Sev¡¯rance regarded them with a clinical eye, as if dissecting the stupidities of Sith long dead rather than learning their arts.
It was all a transaction for her. The dark side was merely but a pathway to power, and the moment she found another, shorter ladder, she would reach away without a moment¡¯s hesitation. She did find another ladder, in the halls of politics and military might.
And¡ I had a taste of that power. Ventress had already placed her foot on the first rung of this ladder, crafted by Rain Bonteri¡¯s hand. It wasn¡¯t the same as seeing the fear in her enemy¡¯s eyes in person, but watching hundreds¨Cthousands¨Cdie painfully in service of their twisted Republic with nothing but a few well-timed sentences and a finger on the trigger¡ there was something delectable about that too.
Nevertheless, Ventress was finally proven right. Vindication outweighing deference, the Dark Acolyte said nothing, cocking a hairless eyebrow.
¡°I will presume,¡± Count Dooku recognised her stance, ¡°Your intention is not to gloat.¡±
¡°I like to think you taught me to be above such things,¡± Ventress lied.
¡°Naturally,¡± Dooku seriously agreed.
A beat of silence passed between them.
¡°That said,¡± Ventress smiled bitterly, ¡°I told you so.¡±
A flash of irritation that she was so familiar with crossed his face, before it was reigned with patrician command and aristocratic weight. Dooku opted not to trade barbs, partially because it was beneath, and partially because she was right.
¡°You thought you could betray her first, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ventress continued fearlessly, ¡°You thought she was incapable of plotting to oust you of your own power right beneath your nose.¡±
¡°That is enough from you,¡± Dooku said softly, and Ventress¡¯ heart constricted, crushing her chest, ¡°Ventress.¡±
¡°...Y-Yes,¡± she choked out, bowing her head, ¡°Master.¡±
The Count didn¡¯t even lift a finger.
¡°The only reason she succeeded,¡± Dooku told her coldly, ¡°Was because of traitors within our ranks.¡±
And who¡¯s to be faulted for that but your lack of action and political blunders? This time, Ventress kept her inner thoughts concealed. Who were the pillars of Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s regime? Admiral Trench, for one, the damnable spider. The Harch once served Dooku loyally, until the Count trampled over his pride by introducing a complete nobody to take the position he vied for in the shape of Grievous.
The Perlemian Coalition, of another, and its two leaders. Calli Trilm and Rain Bonteri. The former was Dooku¡¯s personal aide, the latter a nameless noble from Onderon. Could they have been accounted for? Perhaps, perhaps not. But it would have helped if Dooku had not tried to install his own puppet to control the CAF, alienating the vast majority of high-standing military figures within the Confederacy and creating a vacuum through which the Perlemian Coalition could fill.
¡°As you say, Master,¡± Ventress agreed obediently, ¡°How will we eliminate Sev¡¯rance? She remains protected aboard the Independence, surrounded by her personal fleet and guarded by her most loyal pawns. Not even I can infiltrate the star station.¡±
¡°Leave the girl to me,¡± Dooku told her, ¡°Sev¡¯rance may control the CAF as if it is her personal kingdom, but not even she can act against the Raxus Government so blatantly just yet. The Independence has been summoned to Raxus Secundus for a hearing on Horn Ambigene¡¯s actions. I will deal with her personally.¡±
¡°And I, Master?¡±
¡°You will eliminate her two closest vassals,¡± her Master instructed icily, ¡°Calli Trilm, and Rain Bonteri.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Ventress said.
Is this right? They might be Tann¡¯s creatures, but they also serve the Confederacy. Would we have beaten back the Republic on the Perlemian, if not for Calli Trilm¡¯s unifying figure and authority? Would we have won here, at Sullust, if not for Rain Bonteri¡¯s skill? The Confederacy was on the verge of its greatest counterattack, an offensive to crack the Interior wide open and instil the fear of gods and death into the corrupt, decadent Core Worlds.
To eliminate the two spearheads of this offensive¡ would be crippling.
¡°Having an attack of conscience, Asajj?¡±
¡°No, Master,¡± Ventress swallowed, ¡°But there is no time for me to board Bonteri¡¯s flagship now. We are about to jump to Yag¡¯Dhul.¡±
¡°You couldn¡¯t kill him if you were on the same ship anyway,¡± the Count waved a dismissive hand, ¡°Bonteri commands a legion of cortosis battle droids. Even if he does fall to your blade, you would lose your life as well, and you are far too valuable for that, my apprentice.¡±
¡°Then how will I¨C¡±
¡°Patience, Asajj.¡±
Asajj Ventress bowed her head again.
¡°I have prepared a secret fleet for you, a mere day¡¯s travel southwest of Yag¡¯Dhul,¡± Dooku¡¯s eye gleamed, ¡°Two-hundred advanced battlecruisers. Enough firepower to destroy Bonteri¡¯s entire fleet, damn tactics and strategy.¡±
Ventress¡¯ breath quickened, ¡°Understood, Master. I will do as you bid for me. Where will I take command of this fleet?¡±
¡°The Llon Nebula.¡±
Chapter 54
Sullust Libration Point ¡®L5¡¯, Sullust System
Brema Sector
One tends to lose the meaning of time in hyperspace, even more so after days of continuous lightspeed. Watching the intricacies of the cosmos burn past the viewports in nothing more than a frenzied blur, stars and supernovas reduced to gleaming sapphire lines shooting through the void. In this otherworldly environment of somewhere between night, day, and twilight, even Harbinger¡¯s internal chronos felt unreliable, ticking away in a steady limbo until they could resynchronise back in realspace.
It was well-researched, the speed at which certain hyperdrives hurled its host through hyperspace, but not quite understood. Such equipment were finicky, sensitive things, and even the lightest maintenance could change travel times¨Cupwards to entire days, when transiting significant distances. The hypermatter feed, the hyperdrive motivator, the relativistic shield, all play their part, down to the smallest component. A hyperdrive was no more complicated than Anakin¡¯s cybernetic arm, yet no less complicated than his lightsaber.
This, Anakin knew very well, and all who knew Anakin knew just as well. Excluding the precious few people the Chosen One held close to him dearly in his life, the Chosen One always seemed to prefer the company of machines over men. And the result? Harbinger and the cruisers of Anakin Skywalker¡¯s personal division of the Open Circle Fleet were a definite cut above the rest. They were faster, and more responsive, and made a journey from Coruscant to Sullust, a journey that would normally take a fortnight, in less than half the time. And yet, every day they shaved off pushing their hyperdrives to the limit, every hour, minute, second¨Cand it still felt like it wasn¡¯t enough.
To make matters worse, they had no way of knowing whether they could still make it in time, beyond blind hope. Ships at hyperspeed ¡®did not exist¡¯ in the conventional sense, they were effectively cut off from all subspace¨Cconventional¨Ccommunications whilst in the simu-tunnel. Nor was hypercomm tech currently advanced enough to breach the walls of a simu-tunnel without hyperwaves being distorted beyond recognition.
Thus the only communication available was between ships within the same simu-tunnel instance, in which the entire division of the Open Circle existed. It was for this reason commercial freighters, supply vessels, and even military warships regularly hopped out of hyperspace even on long-distance transits; not just to reorient their bearings, but also to resync their chronos and check in with the galaxy. All the more in war, when the possibility one¡¯s destination had changed hands was very real.
But Anakin wouldn¡¯t risk it, couldn¡¯t risk it. Leaping out of hyperspace, accounting for the fleet, and leaping back in could take hours, especially when wrangling over a hundred Venators in full. Time did not run linearly in this alien dimension, and every second counted in lives. They could wait and hope to detect the Sullust System¡¯s upcoming hyperspace buoy sooner than later.
Even then, Anakin Skywalker knew something wasn¡¯t quite right. His gut churned as he anxiously stared at the endless depths of the swirling blue ahead, his legs frozen in place even then.
¡°General,¡± Admiral Yularen¡¯s gruff voice appeared next to him, ¡°I am concerned about the possibility that we are heading straight into an ambush.¡±
¡°You think Rees Alrix has already lost?¡±
¡°This is the Rain Bonteri we are dealing with, not any Separatist commander,¡± Yularen tugged at his moustache, and despite his composed demeanour, Anakin knew his colleague¡¯s habits enough to recognise the sign of discomfort, ¡°I think you can forgive me for exercising severe caution on this instance, General.¡±
¡°What do you recommend?¡±
¡°I understand you intend on using Sullust¡¯s mass shadow to force an extraction as close to the planet as possible,¡± Yularen said, ¡°But might I suggest we extract at the outer planets, either Mumunubb or Munumubb? In this case, at least we won¡¯t be leaping directly into an enemy trap, should there be one.¡±
¡°That will take time¨C¡±
¡°With all due respect, General,¡± the Admiral was clearly reaching the end of his patience with the Jedi General¡¯s stubbornness, ¡°But the only case in which we would be ¡®too late¡¯ would be if we manage to extract in the exact moment Alrix had been engaged in battle. It would require more than the stars aligning for that to occur.¡±
¡°...Very well,¡± Anakin receded, ¡°I suppose you are raising this issue because we are approaching Sullust?¡±
¡°We had detected bypassing the Medth and Tshindral Systems¡¯ relays,¡± Admiral Yularen confirmed, ¡°We will be extracting in a few hours.¡±
¡°Get the men up to battle readiness,¡± the Jedi General ordered, ¡°Inform Appo to get his buckets into the larties, and pilots to their squadrons. Where is Tallisibeth?¡±
¡°In her bunk, General,¡± Yularen replied dryly, ¡°Catching some rest is far more productive than¡ pacing the deck, in my opinion.¡±
¡°I see you¡¯ve warmed up to her.¡±
¡°She¡¯s a hard worker, and gets along well with the troops,¡± the stiff Yularen admitted, ¡°I may have drawn the short end of the stick for my Jedi General, but I couldn¡¯t have asked for a better Jedi Commander.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment, considering I chose her,¡± a short laugh spilled out naturally, releasing some of the tension coiling in his muscles, ¡°Get her up here. And get the men ready.¡±
¡°Very good, General,¡± Yularen dipped his chin, and disappeared back towards the battle room.
Alarms rang wildly, klaxons blaring the sound of upcoming battle into the heads into a million grim-faced spacers and soldiers. Beneath the shut dorsal hangar doors, hundreds of pilots climbed into their starfighters, while clone troopers boarded their gunships, running through their pre-combat rituals. This was to be their third battle with Separatist viper, and the remembrance of their previous engagements have been carved into their memories.
¡°¨CJedi Commander Esterhazy on deck!¡±
The snapping fabric of salutes didn¡¯t seem to affect Tallisibeth so much this time around, as she half-jogged up to her Master¡¯s place, ¡°You wanted us to fight the Coalition Armada, Master, back on the Perlemian.¡±
¡°Not like this,¡± Anakin breathed out.
With a shimmer and thud, Harbinger lurched out of hyperspace, coming face to face with the rocky, barren mass of Munumubb. Behind the cover of the planet, a hundred Republic cruisers launched their complements of starfighters and combat escorts, massive turbolasers batteries groaning as they pointed their barrels towards Sullust, fully expecting an armed and ready enemy fleet to meet them.
Anakin found out what had been bugging him all this time.
It was silent. Too silent. The Force hung over the star system like mist over a graveyard, the stillness eerie and pervading. The cosmos was sheets of green and blue and red, and everywhere were but stars, twinkling like an infinite number of baleful eyes, the stellar audience of a battle only they witnessed.
¡°...We¡¯re not picking up signs of either fleet, Admiral,¡± Anakin could hear Lieutenant Klev inform Yularen, ¡°The system¡¯s empty.¡±
¡°Deploy our recon fighter wings,¡± the Admiral immediately commanded, ¡°Bring our fleet across Munumubb¡¯s orbit and plot a vector towards Sullust.¡±
¡°Were we too late¡?¡± Tallisibeth murmured, stepping back and descending into the data pits, naturally melting into the operators and officers as if she had always belonged there.
Hours passed, Admiral Yularen¡¯s concerns unfounded, as the Open Circle Fleet carefully cut its way through the stillness of the black ocean, long-range scanners systematically sweeping every planetoid, asteroid, and satellite in the vast expanse of space. Anakin wrapped himself in the Force, its familiar presence like a quilt against the cold vacuum outside, even as he overhead his apprentice instructing the sensor operators in the data pits with a finesse one might expect from career officers.
She seemed at home, down there, as Anakin might feel at home surrounded by droids and machines, using her keen insight to guide the fleet towards objects of interest any normal person might not be able to pick up on.
¡°Found it!¡± Lieutenant Avrey suddenly exclaimed.
¡°Your training, Lieutenant!¡± Admiral Yularen snapped, ¡°What did you find? Bearing? Range?¡±
¡°Distress signals on GAR frequencies!¡± Avrey clutched her headset as she jockeyed her station, Tallisibeth¡¯s close gaze right over the officer¡¯s shoulder as she observed the wavelengths for even the smallest detail, ¡°Bearing oh-three-two relative, range¡ ten system astro-units! It¡¯s faint, sir, but it''s there! Must be running for days¡¡±
Days. They were too late by entire days.
¡°Fix contact!¡± Jedi General Anakin Skywalker swung around, ¡°Helm, bring us on that bearing! I want a precision jump right on top of it! Get a message down to medical; I want warm beds on standby, bacta patches and tanks!¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
Admiral Yularen stalked closer to Anakin, his voice hushed, ¡°This might be a Separatist trick, General.¡±
Anakin narrowed his eyes, ¡°It isn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Is that the Force talking, General?¡±
¡°No,¡± Tallisibeth climbed back onto the deck, ¡°Out of all the tricks our opponent has in his bag, this wouldn¡¯t be one of them. Klev, what are you seeing there?¡±
The sensor officer shrugged in frustration, grinding his teeth, ¡°Nothing conclusive, sir. It¡¯s ten system AUs out¨Cthat¡¯s a hundred-fifty million klicks. It¡¯s all too dark, too small. It could be debris, or a small asteroid field¡ but considering the reflections, I¡¯m leaning towards the former.¡±
¡°Too dark, too small,¡± Tallisibeth echoed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like active warships to me. Even if they¡¯re flying cold, we would still be picking up waste heat. Anything else, Klev?¡±
¡°It¡¯s right on top of Sullust¡¯s fifth libration point,¡± Lieutenant Klev reported, ¡°Stable orbit. If left alone, that field will stay there for a couple million years, I¡¯d wager.¡±
Anakin almost didn¡¯t notice the stars lengthening as Harbinger threw herself into pseudomotion¨Cbefore throwing herself right out of it just as quickly. Then, where there were stars and void before, there was now a vast debris field, just as the sensor operator predicted. Anakin felt his chest clench as he spotted the telltale red-painted schemes of Venators and Tectors, half-bleached by solar radiation, half-slagged by enemy fire.
That red, the colour of the Republic and all it stood for, now seemed to flow like shed blood. Chunks of durasteel, bent and blackened. Lengths of wire and conduit, slowly wheeling end over end. There were drifts of transparisteel splintered into jagged shards, reflecting starlight. And there were men. A few were whole. Their bodies were bloated and blue and they looked surprised¡ªmouths gaping, eyes staring. But mostly they were in pieces.
They stood upon yet another mass grave for millions of Republic spacers.
The stars continued twinkling.
¡°I want bioscans¨C¡± it took a mechanical whirr for him to realise he was clenching his fists as well, ¡°And get Appo out there. Avrey, find and relay the sources of those distress signals.¡±
¡°Right away, sir,¡± the officer had repressed her usual enthusiasm, stoically carrying out her duty.
From their vantage point, Anakin could see the dorsal hangar doors sliding open, dozens or LAAT gunships pouring forth before the doors were even fully open. That sinking feeling only continued to deepen as they pressed into the twisted forest of steel, following the trail of destruction. It was obvious to all who won. There were scores of Republic-made hulks drifting about, many still intact, but they have yet to spot a single Separatist warship.
¡°...Right,¡± Tallisibeth muttered beneath her breath.
But Anakin caught it easily, ¡°Right?¡±
¡°Turn right,¡± his Padawan pointed at the debris, confidence burgeoning, ¡°If we want to find out what happened, we need to find Master Alrix¡¯s flagship, which will be at the head. So, we¡¯ll need to retrace the line of battle.¡±
Anakin raised an eyebrow, but turned to Admiral Yularen anyway.
¡°Helm; hard right,¡± Yularen nodded, ¡°Meet her there.¡±
To their left, a colossal durasteel corpse drifted past the viewports, almost twice as large as a Venator, its wedge-shape far more pronounced. A Tector-class Star Destroyer. Its hull had been punched in several places, and half of its bridge had been shorn off the stalk.
¡°...Callsign Imperious,¡± an officer said aloud as he recorded each wreck they passed, ¡°Callsign Red Fox¡¡±
¡°Left here!¡± Tallisibeth marched the length of the viewports, eyes darting from one wreck to the next, ¡°Then starboard sixty-degrees in ten-thousand klicks.¡±
The silence¡ it became a deafening silence, muting out the universe, until not even the steady rumble of Harbinger¡¯s sublight drives could be heard. Tallisibeth was sweating now, as she marched back across the deck, biting out orders to the helm. A furious roar. A furious heat. Like a great inferno burning where they can¡¯t see.
¡°Tallisibeth,¡± Anakin ground out, he too was sweating even in the maintained twenty standard degrees of the bridge.
¡°I know,¡± his apprentice gasped, ¡°It¡¯s getting hard to breathe. Helm¨C left, here!¡±
The Force was like a wellspring of water, its rivers and arms running through the entire universe, binding every life, fuelling every living creature, from the greatest space whales to the tiniest insect. It cradled artefacts, shrouded ancient battlefields, and roared over great events of history. The Force was a living will, and it existed where there was life, where there was once, and even where there wasn¡¯t.
But it did not exist here. Something was consuming it, drinking it in like a desert would water. Like a flame would oxygen.
And it was suffocating.
¡°These ships,¡± Tallisibeth said aloud, ¡°They were attacked from both sides. Look at how the wrecks are crumpled.¡±
¡°It was reported General Alrix was outnumbered three-to-one,¡± even Admiral Yularen appeared uncomfortable at the sight of such one-sided destruction, ¡°But I cannot fathom how the situation worsened to this level, in such a short period of time to that end. She has known worse odds before.¡±
¡°...We¡¯re reaching the end of the debris field,¡± Lieutenant Klev stood up, craning his head as if to peek over the rim of the viewports from his station in the data pit, ¡°I¡¯m running the scanners to try and pick up Resilient¡¯s transponder. If her ship was destroyed, it would be right here.¡±
And Harbinger turned. The debris finally cleared. And there was nothing there to see.
Nothing but the infinite canvas of stars. They twinkled.
The datapits broke out in murmur, despite the presence of the Admiral, half a dozen sensor operators frantically scanning the surroundings for Resilient¡¯s transponder. The transponder of any starship was located in the deepest recesses of their hull¨Cthe citadel, in the case of warships. Nothing but the complete obliteration of a starship could compromise its transponder, outside of internal foul play. Warships were sturdy things, especially capital ships. Battles end from the loss of atmosphere much sooner than the loss of the hull itself.
In other words, the crew almost always break before the ship.
¡°It¡¯s a sharp turn,¡± Tallisibeth surveyed, ¡°Wait¡ look, there. Can we rip the transponder out of that wreck?¡±
Anakin followed her finger¨Cto the drifting husk of a Munificent-class frigate, the beaten Separatist Hex still proudly displayed on the hull. The ship had been bisected, its entire engine block missing. But upon that flared armoured scheme¡ were depictions of predator and prey, hunter and hunted. Ancient legends, ancient armies, ancient heroes.
Anakin knew the name of the ship before Lieutenant Klev even spoke it.
¡°Repulse. Flagship of Separatist Admiral Rain Bonteri.¡±
The entire bridge was silent. The name was spoken with trepidation. Much of Harbinger¡¯s bridge crew were survivors of the 1st Battle of Christophsis, having barely escaped with their lives aboard the Pioneer, the only ship of Anakin¡¯s original battle squadron to escape. Since then, this one figure had fought and defeated Jedi and Jedi, even going toe to toe with Master Plo Koon and Master Saesee Tiin, two of the High Council¡¯s oldest and most veteran battlemasters.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
From the beginning, they feared Rees Alrix¡¯s chances.
¡°Did¡ did she win?¡± someone asked hopefully.
¡°Escape, more likely,¡± Admiral Yularan crossed his arms, ¡°She must have broken out of the Separatist battle line here, and jumped southbound. Nevertheless, we have lost one of the most veteran fleets of the Republic¨Ceven if they were only made veterans by her campaign.¡±
¡°...No,¡± Anakin Skywalker said with finality, staring at that empty patch of space, ¡°You are half-correct. Rees Alrix attempted to break out right here. And she failed.¡±
¡°But the Resilient isn¡¯t here, Master,¡± Tallisibeth pointed out, ¡°How are you so sure?¡±
Anakin scraped in a harsh breath, ¡°Some things, Tallisibeth, you cannot see with your eyes. Use the Force. This one, you can see. I believe in you.¡±
He met his Padawan¡¯s eyes, and nodded meaningfully. Tallisibeth¡¯s mature eyes¨Cmuch too mature for her age, but war made one grow quickly¨Chardened with determination, and she took a deep breath. Anakin could feel the energy warp around the Padawan as she entered a meditative state almost on a dime, and then she opened her eyes once more.
And gasped.
¡°That¡¯s the Resilient?¡±
Her shock swelled into the crew, as if that quiver in the Force rippled through every man and woman there. They could not see what she was seeing, but from the tone of voice alone, they knew it was not good. Anakin hated to confirm their suspicions.
¡°All that¡¯s left of it, yes,¡± Anakin grimaced, ¡°Or more accurately; all that¡¯s left of Rees Alrix.¡±
In this case, the ship broke before the crew. There was nothing recognizable left of the Resilient, the famed warship that terrorised the Separatists for months on the largest hyperlane in the galactic south. Nothing left.
But the crew remained. The collective will of seven-thousand souls, knitted together by the spirit of their Jedi General. In the place where Resilient died, lived a massive bonfire, burning like a resplendent golden bloom. The Force ran through every living being, and even lingered after death, cradling artefacts and shrouding battlefields. It existed where there was life, and where there once was. And this Alrix¡¯s great fire consumed the Force as an ordinary one would oxygen, sustaining itself off the lingering grudges of a million spacers and soldiers.
¡°This is her parting gift,¡± Anakin sighed, shoulders rising and falling, ¡°We were too late.¡±
¡°...Sir,¡± Lieutenant Avrey broke the dismal silence, ¡°We¡¯re receiving a transmission from the Jedi Council.¡±
Anakin didn¡¯t feel like dealing with them, ¡°Real-time or recorded?¡±
¡°Real-time,¡± the comms officer said, ¡°It¡¯s, uh, coded Priority Alpha, sir.¡±
Priority Alpha. Skin prickling, senses jittering, Anakin held his breath. Now he really didn¡¯t feel like hearing the news. But Priority Alpha was the highest standard of security for a transmission in the GAR, and thus the highest standard of importance as well. Considering his own track record, this must be the Jedi Council¡¯s way of saying; no, Anakin, you really can¡¯t ignore this one.
¡°Put it through.¡±
Avrey¡¯s eyes widened imperceptibly, ¡°Right here, General?¡±
¡°Questioning instructions, Lieutenant?¡± Admiral Yularan raised a stern eyebrow.
¡°I mean¨C right away, sir!¡±
¡°Anakin Skywalker,¡± Master Mace Windu said, his deep, commanding voice with an unusual sense of urgency, ¡°We have been trying to reach you for days. You must retreat from Sullust immediately. General Horn Ambigene has invaded Eriadu, and is now heading straight towards you with nearly two-thousand ships.¡±
¡°Eriadu!¡± Tallisibeth repeated in alarm, ¡°But¡ in such a short amount of time? Eriadu is¡ Eriadu!¡±
The Coruscant of the Outer Rim. A fortress world of twenty-two billion souls. A world that wouldn¡¯t fall in a mere handful of days.
¡°We are still trying to confirm the situation,¡± Master Windu said gravely, ¡°But the star system is dark, and even Republic Intelligence¡¯s agents aren¡¯t replying. We can only suspect General Ambigene did something¡ drastic.¡±
Drastic. The word was heavy in the Force, carrying its horrible meaning, and the Hero With No Fear clenched his fists. These damn Separatists¡ nothing is too low for them. What can you expect from people trying to rip the galaxy apart? He couldn¡¯t imagine ever making peace with these¡ what would a certain person call them? Ah, yes. He couldn¡¯t imagine ever making peace with these savages. Anakin Skywalker¡¯s heart hardened, as his Padawan looked on in concern, seeing something only one with the moniker of ¡®Scout¡¯ could see.
¡°Nevertheless, the Open Circle stands no chance against the full might of the Fourth Fleet,¡± the Jedi Master pressed, ¡°Retreat, and regroup with the Second Sector Army. The remnants of the Eighteenth Sector Army will join you.¡±
¡°¨CWith all due respect, Master,¡± Anakin Skywalker rebelliously stomped towards the projection, ¡°We were given orders to hunt down Rain Bonteri, and that is what we will continue to do.¡±
Mace Windu¡¯s eyes glazed over, and then sharpened into chips of obsidian, ¡°You are at Sullust, then. Report.¡±
Anakin looked up briefly, and then back down, ¡°Rees Alrix¡¯s entire fleet was destroyed. She was trapped in an annihilation battle, and killed in action. The enemy fleet is nowhere to be found.¡±
The Master of the Order paused, something like regret crossing his features, before it vanished in a swift and decisive nod, ¡°We cannot allow such a dangerous enemy of the Republic to go unaccounted for. Find him. As for Rees Alrix¡ I will make the necessary preparations.¡±
¡°Yes, Master.¡±
¡°General,¡± Admiral Yularen scratched his chin, staring towards what he could not see, ¡°Rain Bonteri could have gone in any direction. Without Resilient¡¯s datalogs, there is no way to paint a clear picture in a reasonable timeframe.¡±
¡°We have something even better than a ship¡¯s databanks, Admiral,¡± Anakin said, ¡°¨CTallisibeth?¡±
Anakin reached out towards the fire in the Force, and Tallisibeth swiftly caught his intentions, mimicking his actions and furrowing her brow in effort.
¡°Let¡¯s unwrap this gift Alrix left for us.¡±
The Force pulsed, burning petals unfurling, roaring against the void. And then there was a monster, curled in a hurricane. It was a serpentine behemoth coiled around a swirling nest of chaos, with scales of black steel mottled a deep purpure, and eyes like prismatic crystals. He saw Alrix¡¯s fleet trapped within its labyrinthine coils when it struck without warning, warships crushed within its many maws of fire and steel. He saw her break free from the cage¡ only to realise she had been playing its game from the start.
The last thing she saw was the gaping jaws of a hydra, and red. It was the colour of the Republic. It was the colour of blood.
Nothingness remained.
Even as Anakin opened his eyes, the fire now gone, the nothingness remained. An absence, a void in the Force, that left a part of him feeling cold and empty. It was distinct, unforgettable, and even now, he no longer felt like fighting against his own memory. Battle Hydra.
¡°Tallisibeth.¡±
¡°Yes, Master,¡± Tallisibeth spun around, ¡°Admiral Yularen, have we found any survivors?¡±
There was a brief pause as the Admiral went to check¨C ¡°All the distress signals Commander Appo found were from breached escape pods. The enemy must have cleaned up behind him.¡±
There was no time to dwell on it. The Battle Hydra¨CAlrix¡¯s final thoughts rang over and over in his head¨Cwas not that kind of opponent. Yes¡ he could forget Rain Bonteri, but he could not forget the Hydra in the Force.
Anakin nodded decisively, ¡°Bring us around. Prepare to jump north.¡±
¡°General?¡± Admiral Yularen questioned, ¡°Are we rendezvousing with the Second Army?¡±
¡°We are still chasing the Hydra.¡±
Yularen¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°You are certain he jumped into enemy territory, without waiting for any reinforcements?¡±
Rain Bonteri was an anomaly. An aberration who could not be found in the Force¡ no, muted the Force itself. But Rees Alrix had a way of finding vulnerabilities where many could not. Vulnerabilities in a duelist¡¯s guard, vulnerabilities in a fleet formation¡ or even vulnerabilities in the Force. And now, Anakin could see a fraction of what Alrix saw, a mere, miniscule fragment of her unique connection with the Force. It was because of this connection, that if there was a vulnerability within the Force, only she could have seen it so¡ tangibly.
If they wanted to find where Rain Bonteri was, all they had to do was find where the Force wasn¡¯t.
A mission easier said than done. The galaxy was vast, the Force was vaster, and even the most powerful Jedi was but a single person. However¡ with Alrix¡¯s dying breath, that void came in the shape of fire.
¡°Prepare a Priority Alpha transmission for Jedi General Empatojayos Brand and Governor-General Octavian Grant,¡± General Anakin Skywalker barked out, ¡°Send exactly what I say! This is the closest we¡¯ll ever get to putting an end to the Battle Hydra. We must not fail!¡±
As the crew rushed to and fro their stations, a newborn fire lit beneath them and spurring on action, Anakin found his attention dragged towards Tallisibeth, and the starchart she projected from her personal holoprojector.
¡°Tallisbeth, do you see it?¡± he asked.
There was a small, translucent pearl, a shimmering holographic star hanging 4,500 parsecs north of Sullust, along the Rimma Trade Route. It was within the heart of conquered territory, from which Rees Alrix¡¯s infamous Hundred Days Offensive began.
¡°Yes, Master,¡± Tallisibeth replied quietly, as if she couldn¡¯t quite believe her own eyes either, ¡°Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s aflame.¡±
?
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
Barriss wrapped herself tighter in her zeyd-cloth cloak as she made her way deeper into the Jedi Temple. The halls, despite being empty due to the war, were busier than usual. There was a thrum in the air, heavy with the Force, as brown-robed Jedi hurried along instead of walking side by side in stately calm in an nervous atmosphere unheard of since the prelude to Geonosis.
Something happened.
That much was clear, even to those who knew nothing. Servants and caretakers and even younglings, all infected by the plague of anxiety infecting the unflappable cadences of Jedi Masters and Knights. But Barriss knew what happened.
The Separatists had destroyed Eriadu. Raked the world clean with orbital bombardment. It began with a contortion in the Force that all Jedi throughout the galaxy could feel, and then an abrupt end of ¡®noise¡¯ from the Eriadu System, a silencing of radio waves that could only be considered an apocalypse from a world as populated and industrialised as Eriadu.
Neary a week later, the first news of the Devastation of Eriadu reached Coruscant. Satellite telescopes from Uvena Prime had discovered Eriadu¡¯s biosphere had been almost completely eradicated, and its atmosphere a chaotic, hellish mess in which otherworldly storms and hurricanes wreaked havoc across the surface of the planet. The death toll was uncountable.
All signs pointed towards indiscriminate orbital bombardment. And if that wasn¡¯t terrible enough, Uvena Prime observatories also discovered signs of new self-replicating droid factories and industrial arcologies sprouting throughout Eriadu¡¯s landscape.
Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin, blood in her eyes, made a historic speech that mirrored Senator Padm¨¦ Amidala¡¯s months prior, roaring for the death of the Separatist Alliance and galvanising the Republic Senate into passing a new bill that not only opened up a whole new slew of executive power to the Chancellor¡¯s Office, but also forcefully nationalised many independent planetary and sector armed forces throughout the Interior. The speech was made all the more powerful, everybody thought, by the rumours that Senator Tarkin had attempted to commit suicide shortly after the first news broke.
Nevertheless, there was little argument from the Core Faction, even as the independence they had enjoyed for a millennia was stripped away. After all, there was but one thought reigning supreme within every senator; ¡°if the Separatists were willing to purge a Rimworld, what will they do to us?¡±
Therefore, every effort was to be spent keeping the Core safe from future Separatist intrusions.
As for Barriss¡ it only further confirmed what she already believed. The Republic was rotten to the very core. Instead of reacting with rightful, righteous anger; instead of seeking justice; instead of doing anything that would punish the perpetrators of such a horrid act, they instead feared for themselves. Reactions within the Republic Senate¡ the soft gasps, the wide eyes, the dainty hands covering mouths¡ it was all as if they had not done the exact same thing to Atraken.
It was as if this result was unexpected, when the war they waged had already rendered thousands of worlds in hundreds of nameless campaigns utterly uninhabitable. What made Eriadu so special? Was it because it imitated the Core? Was it because its representative was a charismatic, powerful woman? Shayla Paige-Tarkin¡ watching her through the holoscreen, at that moment Barriss felt more for her than she did for every other senator combined.
What Rain Bonteri told her the day they met, and what she had realised since Atraken, now all seemed like a self-fulfilling prophecy. The rift between the Republic and Confederacy was but a disagreement. War was the enemy. The longer this slaughter drags on, the deeper both sides would dig their heels, the further the lines are drawn for depravity, the more atrocities appear palatable. It was a downward spiral that would not end, a grindstone that would keep on spinning, crushing those beneath it¨Cuntil something was jammed into it. If no one else would do it, then Barriss would.
In this, she would suffer no compromise. Not even as the shadow of the dark side enveloped the Temple. Not even as its claws obsessively clutched the Order in unseen ways.
The shadows lengthened as Barriss turned away from the windows, into the halls that housed the funeral chambers. She heard the bells tolling. Once, they were a special, solemn affair, marking the end of a Jedi¡¯s traipse on the mortal coil. Once. They now rang daily, as shuttles returning from the warfront brought yet another Jedi¡¯s shrouded corpse, and how many more that didn¡¯t.
Once the funeral chambers would be packed with other Jedi, filled with hymns and eulogies. Now they were empty, save for a few lonely figures standing over the biers that must be close friends¡ masters, apprentices. Whoever had any time left to attend the funerals. Then, the stone biers would sink into the earth, and the dead were one with the Force.
Barriss ignored them. Thousands of Jedi were dead, and only dozens of bodies sunk into the recesses of the Temple. Many of these bodies were nameless, many little more than mangled lumps of flesh and bone. She felt nothing for it. The funerals held a level of artifice that Barriss scorned, as if the Jedi were still trying to pretend as long as they continued adhering to funerary customs and procedures, these were still ordinary times.
She wanted to shout; maybe the problem isn¡¯t whether we are holding funerals or not, but that we have to in the first place? Barriss sighed. Funerals were not for the dead. There was no death, but the Force. Funerals were for the living.
How many of her friends she would never see again? Barriss could wonder. How many of her original initiate clan were dead in the snows and sands, their bodies forever unclaimed? She had not attended a funeral since the one after Geonosis. Maybe she shan¡¯t ever again. They all felt so meaningless.
That was the weakness of the Jedi Code, she felt. Even the Order¡¯s response to Eriadu¡ was closed eyes and mutters some mantra or the other. They are all one with the Force now¡ something along those lines. There were some shed tears, some exhausted sighs, and what else? Nothing else.
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity. That was the Jedi Code, after all.
Barriss could accept it, no longer. Why must she make peace with the fact that so many Jedi were dead? Why must she make peace with the fact that the war had destroyed so many countless homes and livelihoods? Why must she make peace with the fact that billions were dead on Eriadu?
Fear should be expected. Sadness should be accepted. Anger should be justified. Rage should be righteous. If one could walk through the likes of Atraken without feeling a thing¡ can one really be considered living at all? Feeling emotions was proof of life, not the dark side. It was letting emotions consume you that led to darkness, as Pong Krell did fall, and those who let their worst recesses consume them were no longer people, but savages.
Even now, emotions swirled within her, leading her forward, fuelling her. Fear of the precipitous chasm the galaxy spiralled into. Sadness at the great losses suffered. Anger against the injustice and unfairness running rampant across the galaxy. Rage against the terrible atrocities, mounting with each and every day. If desiring change was the path to the dark side, then she would gladly walk it nevertheless.
Despite her feelings, she turned into a funeral chamber anyway, feeling the darkness envelop her. The door slid shut behind her, and Barriss spotted a shrouded body atop the stone bier, waiting to sink into the surface. There was no audience, but three figures stood around it.
¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Barriss asked, her internal turmoil privy to none but herself.
¡°A nameless Knight,¡± Master Adi Gallia replied, ¡°Maybe not even a Jedi¡ just one the clones who brought here claim to be. The Battle Hydra defeated Rees Alrix at Sullust, did you know that?¡±
Her breath hitched, despite herself.
¡°No,¡± she said truthfully, ¡°I did not.¡±
¡°Barriss Offee,¡± a tall woman with red skin and clear blue eyes spoke up, ¡°I once searched for Master Pong Krell. He was a master of Jar¡¯Kai, and I wished to learn it.¡±
¡°He wasn¡¯t even a master of himself,¡± Barriss replied emotionlessly, ¡°How could he be a master of anything else?¡±
The alien shrugged, ¡°Is it true you fought on the Separatist side to bring him to justice?¡±
¡°Yes. You have me at a loss.¡±
¡°Iskat Akaris,¡± Iskat Akaris introduced herself with a note of apology, ¡°My master was Sember Vey.¡±
Barriss inspected the alien. She was slim and very tall, as tall as Anakin Skywalker or Rain Bonteri, with long, lanky limbs and especially long fingers. Her features were sharp, and her poise spoke of great skill in battle. Barriss decided she would not be the victor in any straight duel she had with Iskat. On the other hand, the Force swirled agitatedly around Iskat, which spoke of a lack of control. And the mention of her master¡
¡°Geonosis?¡±
¡°In the sand.¡±
Barriss noticed a dried bloodstain at the foot of Iskat¡¯s robes, almost black in the darkness, and ignored it.
On the opposite side, was the opposite of Iskat. A similarly tall, but muscular human, with tan skin and a strong, round face that was the kind to laugh boisterously. She found a blaster holster and no lightsaber, just as he wore not Jedi robes, but a casual garb one would not find out of place on either the streets of Coruscant or Raxus. But he was a Jedi, because he stood light on his feet and the Force rippled like a veil around him. A spy, she hazarded to guess.
And both of them¡ finely tuned with the Force as she had ever been, Barriss could clearly recognise the sinister coils of the dark side creeping around their spirits like thorny vines.
¡°Bode Akuna,¡± Bode Akuna greeted with a smile, ¡°Jedi Intelligence.¡±
Master Gallia did not hesitate to retort, ¡°There is no ¡®Jedi Intelligence,¡¯ Knight Akuna.¡±
¡°Sorry,¡± Bode raised his hands without a hint of apology, ¡°I meant¨CJedi attach¨¦ to Republic Intelligence. Welcome to this shady gang, Barriss. You really mixed up with the wrong folks, huh?¡±
Barriss was briefly stunned into silence, despite not showing a hint outwardly. Did he just call Master Gallia the ¡®wrong folks¡¯ right in front of her? Iskat was not so composed, and openly gaped, telling Barriss that she was not so alone in this endeavour as it may seem. Feeling a sense of camaraderie, she inched closer to the red-skinned alien and nudged her gently. Iskat closed her mouth with a click.
Master Adi Gallia cleared her through, head tendrils swaying, ¡°Ready to receive your mission?¡±
Bode Akuna straightened, his lips thinning into a straight-edge line, a seriousness overcoming his stance. Both Barriss and Iskat did their best to emulate him, but they were not experienced spies.
¡°All ears, spymaster.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Master Gallia¡¯s tone was short and clipped, ¡°We have a Sith Lord to hunt.¡±
In the depths of her zeyd-cloth cloak, a certain device that fitted in the palm of her hand weighed as heavy as a mountain. So it begins, Barriss Offee narrowed her eyes, I¡¯ve made it. Here, I will change the Republic. And if she couldn¡¯t do that, then she would break it instead.
Chapter 55
Yag¡¯Dhul Approach, Yag¡¯Dhul System
Harrin Sector
Suddenly appearing right in the middle of the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System¡¯s hyper-junction roused the sort of amused anger a parent who caught their child with a hand in the cookie jar could probably relate to. The Yag¡¯Dhul System presided over the intersection of the two largest super-hyperroutes in the southern half of the galactic plane; the Rimma Trade Route and the Corellian Trade Spine. Because of this, the entire star system acted as a massive trade crossroads and bottleneck, and the Mathematocracy¨Cthe local Givin government¨Chad become fabulously rich because of it, further bolstered by their well-regarded shipyard industry.
As such, as our some three-hundred warships took a minute to bleed ourselves of hyperspeed sickness, we immediately noticed the thousands of supply vessels surrounding us like deers caught in the headlights. From commandeered merchantmen to medical frigates, from fuel tankers and ordnance carriers to troop transports; a brilliant array of lights transiting on two virtual highways vivisecting the star system in an X-shape, and all completely freezing as they pointed their scanners at us.
Well, aren¡¯t we in the spotlight, now? I thought amusedly as I observed the readouts shine brightly, flashing warnings of hostile scanning.
¡°Priority contact?¡± I inquired.
If my memory served me well, the Siege of Yag¡¯Dhul was being overseen by a task force¨Ca siege fleet¨Cof the GAR 20th Armada. That would be the largest concentration of heavy warships in-system, with likely enough firepower to force a pitched battle against us.
Not a moment later, the answer blinked into existence on a glowing repeater, right next to the tiny digital marble representing Yag¡¯Dhul. Bearing 044 degrees relative, mark 013. Range 151,100,000,000 klicks. At sublight travel, this distance¡ I did the mental arithmetic. That¡¯s at least a 48 hour transit with a constant 1,000G acceleration¨C35 hours if the GAR decides to push their ships to 1,500G acceleration. They might micro-jump, but it was risky considering the heavy traffic in-system, and I did have my plans for that scenario as well.
¡°Tuff?¡±
¡°Yes, Admiral.¡±
¡°Calculate the most efficient vectors to partition our fleet on,¡± I stood up, my spine popping as I stretched like a cat, ¡°I want to hit as many of those ships as we can before the Twentieth can reach us. Let¡¯s keep our distance from Yag¡¯Dhul, and irritate them to the Demon Moon and back.¡±
¡°As you command.¡±
Taking the conservative end, we have roughly a day and a half before the siege fleet reaches us, which meant a day and a half to run havoc throughout the star system. That figure, however, was for a one-end trip. If we approached Yag¡¯Dhul while raiding¨Cwhich was unavoidable, considering the virtual spacelanes¨Cthe intercept ETA would naturally shrink. Thus, we had to weigh our distance to the siege fleet and the most efficient raiding run, in order to make the most of our limited time.
Chimeratica assessed and reassessed the situation, dozens and then hundreds of curved red vector lines appearing and disappearing on the tactical holo as the navicomputers factored in orbital influences, cosmic astrography, and the hundreds of pinprick drive plumes burning hard away from us in a panic.
Five minutes in, the vectors blinked green. The display spelled it out clearly; even with the massive blindspot that was the dark side of the sun to contend with, there were still 2,710 hostile contacts detected. And with this plot; 500 to 800 possible strikes before interception by enemy warfleet.
¡°Wrap it up and transmit it to the fleet,¡± I said, ¡°And get me on comms. Widebeam.¡±
¡°An announcement, sir?¡±
¡°Something like that.¡±
Tuff stared at me with a critical photoreceptor, then nodded, ¡°Very well.¡±
I cleared my throat as I observed the progress of the command package¡¯s transfer, a blinking light at my station notifying me that my voice was now being broadcasted on the open frequency. Elsewhere, the fire control repeater told me firing solutions had been successfully calculated for the nearest twenty-seven supply vessels in our target range.
¡°To all ships in the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System,¡± I said calmly, ¡°This is the star destroyer Chimeratica of the Confederate Navy. Be warned that you are currently sailing in restricted Confederate space. Shut down your main reactors and evacuate all crew members in escape pods immediately. I say again; shut down your main reactors and evacuate all crew members in escape pods immediately. This is your final warning.¡±
A loud chime drew my attention; transmission successful, followed by a cascade of green lights as the 28th Mobile Fleet acknowledged and accepted the orders.
¡°Sir,¡± Stelle informed me, ¡°We are observing escape pods ejecting from the nearest contacts around us.¡±
¡°Good to see reasonable folk out there,¡± I smiled and nodded, toggling comms to internal fleet scramble, ¡°All ships, execute orders. Godspeed.¡±
Chimeratica launched the raid by unleashing a hundred proton torpedoes, lashing out into the abyss and striking all twenty-seven supply vessels in her scopes. The message was then abundantly clear, to both allies and enemies.
27 down. 2,710 left to go. A hundredth of the way there.
Over three-hundred warships exploded outwards from the extraction zone, the first missiles and torpedoes already being flung out towards starward shadows in clusters of violent blue and purple. Our lessons learnt, and the ¡®6th Auxiliary Division kept safe in an uninhabited star system nearby, our combat divisions could not enact independent and unrestrained warfare without anything holding us back.
The 28th Mobile immediately split into over half a hundred squadrons of pairs and triplets, smaller raiders and hunter-killers swiftly outpacing the capital ships. The few Republic ships with self-defence armaments rattled out laserfire and blistering PDC rounds, but stood little chance against the furious hail of missiles bombarding their convoy lines. On the tactical holo, the golden lights emanating from the spacelanes began to black out, like an urban highway following an electrical blackout.
¡°Have the First Recon Division precision jump here and here,¡± I pointed at two sides of the sun, at the northern egress points of the Rimma and Corellian hyperlanes respectively, ¡°And alert us immediately if any enemy reinforcements arrive. Chimeratica, Centaur, and Unicorn and the Intelligence Division will maintain position right here in between the southern egresses.¡±
Connecting the three points created an equilateral triangle that presided over the entire star system, mostly eliminating any blindspots formed by the dark side of planets or the sun itself.
¡°And tell the Mistryl to remain on standby,¡± I continued, ¡°Keep an eye on Dark Rival. If Ventress is going to make a move, it¡¯s going to be here.¡±
Or rather, I was forcing her to make a move here. By splitting up the fleet into a raiding stance, this was the largest opening she had to escape to the Llon Nebula without being intercepted by my fleet. Furthermore, I had purposefully assigned her to the western quadrant of the system, closest to the outer system where she would point directly at the Llon Nebula without something pesky like the star in her way. All that¡¯s left is to wait whether she actually would.
¡°As you command.¡±
The hours ran by quickly as I watched the number of confirmed kills tick upwards, breaking into six-hundred by twenty-five standard hours. We had prepared our raiding strategy long in advance. First, our light-footed raiders like Munificents and Recusants would precision jump ahead and cut into the spacelanes at certain points, while the slower battleships would sweep up from behind and tighten the noose.
Essentially, a microcosm of what the CAF was attempting to do on the Rimma Trade Route as a whole.
Meanwhile, as our Recon Division skirted the edges of the Yag¡¯Dhul AO with a series of micro-jumps on the way to their assigned stations, a more accurate make-up of the enemy fleet started trickling back upstream to Chimeratica. The besieging force had a little over four-hundred ships, but the vast majority of them were naturally Acclamator-class troop transports, considering their mission, and unlikely able to stand toe-to-toe with an actual warfleet like the 28th Mobile.
What mattered, however, was how the enemy commander decided to react to our asymmetrical warfare. See, four-hundred ships was still four-hundred ships, and after our lengthy campaign at Sullust, preserving the firepower of the 28th Mobile was now a top priority of mine. As such, I wanted the siege fleet to make a certain mistake.
See, by splitting our fleet as such, the siege fleet was also put into a tough position, forced to either mirror our actions and split up to hunt us down, or cold-bloodedly maintain the Siege of Yag¡¯Dhul, and silently observe their supply lines get shattered. If they decide to counter-raid us, our hunter-killers can viciously tear them down piece by piece. After all, Acclamators were not purpose-built warships, and even a Munificent can rip them apart lonesome.
But as the twenty-fifth hour went by, it was clear to me the enemy commander had made his decision. The siege fleet was not moving an inch from the Yag¡¯Dhul orbital zone. Meanwhile, the surviving supply vessels that haven¡¯t already broken out into the outer planets were all gravitating to the last safe harbour remaining in the system; the Siege of Yag¡¯Dhul itself. That was the first sign that not everything was as it should be.
I frowned, watching their movements with a calculating eye. Those weren¡¯t actions symptomatic of a panicking, headless series of convoys. Instead, I felt like I was watching a pre-planned evacuation of ships. It was then that the Yag¡¯Dhul siege fleet formed battle lines, arrayed out like a net to cover the arriving supply ships, and my jaw finally set. Practised. This was practised.
¡°What¡¯s the name of the enemy commander?¡± I asked with deathly calm.
¡°Unknown,¡± Tuff answered, ¡°The Twentieth Sector Army hasn¡¯t made any large and visible efforts on the frontlines, relegated to sieges in the Inner Rim and Colonies such as this. Their commanding officer is Governor-General Octavian Grant, but information about the Twentieth is sparse otherwise.¡±
No well-renowned officer? I have a bad feeling about this.
¡°...Widebeam to the fleet,¡± I said suddenly, ¡°Belay the last order. All ships are to advance on Yag¡¯Dhul and break the siege. Helm; sublight drives set all-ahead full!¡±
Chimeratica blasted forward like a bullet, just as the disparate 28th Mobile all turned their guns towards Yag¡¯Dhul simultaneously, chasing down the converging supply ships as they did.
My heartbeat quickened as I noticed more and more inconsistencies, now that I had clutched on to the frayed thread; ¡°How long does it take for a fleet from Mechis to reach Yag¡¯Dhul?¡±
¡°Approximately twelve standard hours.¡±
¡°So why aren¡¯t they here?¡±
Yag¡¯Dhul must be glowing with distress signals, and not even our Intelligence Division could intercept all of them. The loss of this supply corridor could mean the defeat of the entire 2nd Sector Army down south at the hands of Horn Ambigene. If I was at Mechis-III, less than a day¡¯s transit away, I would have dashed to secure the system immediately. Either inter-army rivalries within the GAR ran deeper than I had thought, or everything I was witnessing now was premeditated.
Tuff paused, his body language shifting, then clambered down to the lower bridge deck, leaving me alone with Stelle. I watched the tactical holo vicariously, knee bouncing up and down as we closed in Yag¡¯Dhul. Shit¡ shit! How could I have not noticed? Actually, how did they notice!? What gave us away!? I clenched my teeth. The noose was closing on the Siege of Yag¡¯Dhul, but it was not closing fast enough.
I was led to believe we had all the time we needed, when in reality, it was the Republic who did.
¡°Transmission from the Recon Division!¡± Stelle announced, patching it through immediately.
Strings of translated droidspeak scrawled across my holoscreens as the transmission came in, but my eyes were glued to the starchart. I took a cursory glance at the sender.
¡°Just give them a fucking voice and read it out!¡± I hissed.
¡°¨CRoger roger!¡±
¡°Hostile fleet detected from the northeast,¡± Recusant-class destroyer Lexington reported with the voice of¡ well, I think it was a BD-3000 service droid, ¡°Designations indicate Twentieth Sector Army. Flagship¡ Venator-class battlecruiser Prominence; commanding officer Governor-General Octavian Grant. We are observing two-hundred and fifty-two ships.¡±
There they are. General Octavian Grant was last seen presiding over the Siege of Mechis-III with over half a thousand ships. Bringing only two-hundred must mean he had no intention of breaking the siege to deal with us¡ but two-hundred wasn¡¯t enough on its own, was it?
Anyway¡
¡°Why was Lady Lex given the voice of a bettie bot?¡± I asked in confusion, mild panic lifting for the most brief, liberating moment.
Stelle shrugged¨Cor tried his best to, considering he was a battle droid with no articulated shoulders, ¡°The system assigned her one based on her personality matrix.¡±
¡°What the¨C¡±
¡°Hostile fleet detected from the northwest,¡± Recusant-class destroyer Saratoga reported, this time with a LEP droid¡¯s vocabulation¨Celsewhere in the pilothouse a pair of metal ears perked up in recognition¨Cand a peppy tone, ¡°Designation Taskforce Swift Justice. Flagship Tector-class battleship Swift Justice; commanding officer Jedi General Empatojayos Brand. I see¡ a hundred ships. Maybe a little less¡ uh¨C¡±
¡°What is it!?¡± I demanded, mild panic crashing back down onto my chest like a tidal wave.
¡°There are Fondor ships with them,¡± Sister Sara sounded a little nervous as Hare waddled up to stare at the comms panel curiously.
Fondor ships. My mind immediately wandered¨Chas Fondor fallen? But if Fondor had fallen, why would there be any Fondor ships left? They surrendered then? Not good. I wanted to use Fondor as a safe haven during Operation Starlance¡
In any case, a hundred ships? That meant with the Yag¡¯Dhul siege fleet¡¯s four-hundred and the 20th Armada¡¯s two-hundred, there were now seven-hundred GAR warships in-system with us. A far cry from merely twenty-five hours ago, when we were the largest fish in this pond¨C
¡°Cronau radiation detected south of us!¡± the sensor droid raised the third alarm, making me leap out of my skin, and my chair. ¡°Two¨C no, three-hundred drive cones! Flagship¡ flagship Harbinger! It¡¯s the Open Circle Fleet!¡±
I numbly pulled up the tactical holo¨Cat three spots of the equilateral triangle there were now three Republic fleets. One-thousand warships. The noose was now around our necks. And all three different fleets arriving at precisely the same time?
¡°They were prepared for this scenario,¡± Tuff deduced from below, ¡°They knew Yag¡¯Dhul was our target. We have been compromised. We have no vector of retreat. Stelle, order the Recon Division to go dark. We cannot afford to lose them.¡±
How did they find out? Nobody knew our target was Yag¡¯Dhul except for the highest ranks of the CAF, and our orders were given with a hypersecure live transmission at Nanth¡¯ri. I pulled out my tablet, scanning its files to see where else the plans existed¨Conly for a local text document to appear. My own personal notes. No inbound or outbound transmission with even the name ¡®Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯ in its contents. The only transmission the GAR could have plausibly intercepted was Count Dooku¡¯s unauthorised message to Ventress at Sullust¡ except there weren¡¯t any Republic assets left in-system by then.
Unless their escape pods were outfitted with some extremely bespoke ECM hardware¡ but I doubted that. Not to mention¨C could the GAR really have deduced our target from such a conversation?
I ran another scan, this time of Chimeratica¡¯s entire communications matrix.
Nothing.
I felt a troubling sense of deja vu, that of muscles tensing and fingers jittering as they hovered over the screens. I dare say it; it was impossible for the Republic to figure out our plan so in advance they could prepare such an adequate trap. Once again, an icy shiver ran down my spine. I could only think of one explanation.
Haven¡¯t I beaten you before, you intangible cheat!? I desperately grasped the air in front me, internally raging, as if I could capture the Force that way. There was nothing there, as expected, but when I opened my hand¡ there was a strange residual warmth lingering on my palm.
¡°Incoming transmission from Sharihen!¡±
¡°If they¡¯re going to tell me there¡¯s yet another enemy fleet¨C!¡±
¡°Not another fleet,¡± Naradan Du¡¯lin¡¯s voice was stark and humourless, ¡°We¡¯re picking up erratic actions from Dark Rival. Ventress isn¡¯t obeying orders.¡±
I all but grabbed the tactical holo and spun it violently until it focused in on Dark Rival, the lone Providence snaking its way towards western fringe of the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System, even while the closest other friendly warships were all blazing in the opposite direction. About time¡ my mind whirred like a droid¡¯s, attention bouncing between screens and displays.
This is a trap¡ no. This is a battle. And all battles are puzzles to be solved. I took a deep breath, composure returning to my form, and the gears in my head churning once more. Let¡¯s start by getting the most dangerous enemy off the board. I can do that, at least. Anakin Skywalker. He was the only person capable of such a feat. It must be him, somehow. Somehow, he trapped me. Now I must undo the trap, one fleet at a time.
¡°Mute yourself,¡± I hastily told her before snapping towards the comms droid, ¡°Get me on a¡ widebeam towards the Ventress. Make it hazy. I want the Open Circle to hear this.¡±
¡°Roger roger.¡±
I took a deep breath.
¡°You are patched in, sir.¡±
¡°¨CVentress.¡±
No response.
¡°You have your orders, Ventress?¡± I repeated her name, more forcefully this time.
¡°...Not yours.¡±
I traced the lines on the tactical holo. The lines of the 28th Mobile Fleet, closing in on Yag¡¯Dhul. The lines of the GAR, closing in on the 28th Mobile Fleet. I let the silence stir as I perused through my next words.
¡°Very well. I will not pry,¡± I told her, ¡°I am your ranking officer, but not your commanding officer. In the absence of orders, you did well following mine, but if your direct superior has contacted you¡ then far be it from me to pervert the chain of command. I must only trust that your instructions act for the greater good of this Confederacy.¡±
The silence lingered again. I could not see Ventress¡¯ face through the connection, but I could most definitely imagine her expression.
¡°...It will. It must be.¡±
¡°Then I choose to believe you,¡± I lied, ¡°Be wary, Commander. I am not fond of the Force, the dark side of it most of all, but I like to think that both of us are fighting for the same cause. So be wary. Because betrayal is an unhappy hazard of the dark side. Godspeed.¡±
I cut the connection. For a long moment, I tracked Dark Rival¡¯s contact pin on the edge of the star system, far enough to jump into lightspeed without issues, but yet simply hanging there in stasis. For a moment, I thought she would attempt to contact me again¨Cuntil a flash of light, a spike of radiation, and Dark Rival¡¯s pin froze, and flashed, no longer indicating her current position but instead her last known position. Chimeratica¡¯s long range scanners swept the area of space, then responded with no return.
We had lost her.
¡°Sharihen, Chimeratica,¡± I then said, knowing full well our scramble was made so purposefully poor that the Open Circle was almost certainly listening in, if they had any passive COMINT at all, ¡°Ventress is making for the Llon Nebula to secure the Storm Fleet. I am confident we can hold against the Republic until she returns with those reinforcements. It is paramount she does. Thus I am dispatching you with fifty of my own ships to aid her in this mission. Acknowledge.¡±
I released the transceiver, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±
The comms droid nodded and adjusted the scramble back to standard operational level.
¡°Acknowledged,¡± the Mistryl confirmed, ¡°It is a nice lie for Skywalker to bite. However¡ can you really hold against the Republic? This is not Sullust. You are outnumbered over three-to-one. And if you give us the Intelligence Division¡ that¡¯s another fifty ships less at your disposal, and the odds will be four-to-one.¡±
¡°Hold? That¡¯s part of the lie, Naradan,¡± I stood up and stretched again, ¡°Upon your return, you will find but one fleet here. Mine.¡±
¡°I cannot say I dislike the confidence,¡± Naradan admitted, ¡°But not even Alrix could win against four-to-one odds.¡±
¡°I am not Alrix,¡± I chided mildly, ¡°And I am not fighting four-to-one odds. I am fighting one-to-one odds, four times.¡±
¡°...Very well,¡± Naradan allowed, ¡°Stars shine on your soul, Bonteri. You¡¯ll need it.¡±
¡°Remember the plans, Naradan.¡±
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
¡°We will fulfil the mission, rest assured, no matter what scenario may arise. That is the way of the Mistryl.¡±
Twenty Mistryl destroyers of the Emberlene Warfleet and fifty ECM frigates of the 287th Intelligence Division raced after Dark Rival, jumping into hyperspace the moment they cleared most of the debris and escape pods suspended around the egresses.
¡°Fleet frequency,¡± I requested, ¡°Get my commanders on the deck.¡±
¡°You¡¯re on fleet frequency, Admiral.¡±
One by one, the commanders of the 28th Mobile Fleet fizzled into bluish, ghostly existence in front of me. The long-faced Muun, Horgo Shive, eagerly rolling on his heels in anticipation. Diedrich Greyshade and his XO, stiff and professional in their uniforms, glancing at Horgo and Vinoc in mild distaste. Vinoc, dressed in his bastardization of mystic robes and naval apparel, wearing an easygoing grin. The Neimoidian commander, Krett, already analysing the battlezone on an offscreen display.
And lastly, our new additions. The Rimma fleet, which had originally served under Ventress in the defence of the Rimma Trade Route against Rees Alrix and Taskforce Conciliator. With Ventress¡¯ abrupt departure, they were now headless, and had appeared to have chosen an officer from amongst themselves to present to me; it was the outspoken Neimodian in Trade Federation effects. His name was Marath Vooro.
¡°My friends,¡± I spread my arms, ¡°As you can see, we now stand in Rees Alrix¡¯s shoes, outnumbered four-to-one.¡±
¡°You predicted this,¡± Marath Vooro accused, ¡°When you had us all suddenly target the siege fleet around Yag¡¯Dhul.¡±
¡°I predicted too late,¡± I corrected apologetically, ¡°And now we are surrounded, with no means of escape.¡±
¡°Then we simply have to win,¡± Horgo Shive¡¯s black eyes glinted as his rested a closed fist in his palm, ¡°We simply have smash them all, one by one.¡±
¡°I concur,¡± Greyshade nodded, ¡°Our only hope of victory lies in defeating them in detail. We must not allow them to concentrate their forces.¡±
¡°That is the case,¡± I agreed, ¡°The strategy is exactly so. And we will begin with the Siege of Yag¡¯Dhul. We must destroy the siege fleet completely and promptly, before Octavian Grant, Empatojayos Brand, and Anakin Skywalker can tighten their encirclement.¡±
¡°They are some four-hundred ships, and some of the supply vessels who escaped into their asylum are in fighting shape. And we are two-hundred and fifty,¡± Krett¡¯s wide, horizontal pupils narrowed, ¡°It would appear they nearly outnumber us two-to-one alone.¡±
I locked gazes with each and every single one of them, ¡°Will that be an issue?¡±
The response was in single form¨C
¡°Not at all, Admiral.¡±
?
¡°This is perfect,¡± said Admiral Yularen, and coming from, that was very high praise indeed, ¡°We finally have the Coalition Armada trapped and cornered. This is the end of the line for the Battle Hydra.¡±
It certainly seems that way, Anakin thought from a mere look at the tactical displays, but we would be fools to underestimate him now. After the Devastation of Eriadu, public sentiment on the shipyard world of Fondor had finally swung wildly away from the Separatists. With their surrender and reunification with the Republic, another Separatist foothold in the Interior has evaporated, and the Taskforce Swift Justice that was besieging them could finally be brought to bear.
Along with the 20th Armada and the Open Circle Fleet, the three forces created a cordon around the star system, containing the Coalition Armada within a cage as would be beast in an exotic menagerie. All Anakin had to do was inform Jedi General and fellow Knight Empatojayos Brand, and the 20th Sector Army¡¯s Governor-General Octavian Grant that such an opportunity was possible, so long as they arrived at the exact same time. The trap had been sprung, to crushing success.
All that was left was to close in on the Battle Hydra and rip off its heads.
But the damage had already been done. In order to buy time for their synchronised arrival, they needed the Hydra to waste as much time as possible. Time, in the form of unprotected supply vessels, sacrificing so many of them to finally put an end to the Battle Hydra, and now the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System was littered with broken wrecks and strewn munitions and flash-frozen foodstuffs. Anakin could only hope this would pay off.
¡°We¡¯ll micro-jump to Yag¡¯Dhul once we cross this large debris field,¡± Anakin pointed at the jumpzone, ¡°For now, send out our medical frigates to recover as many escape pods as possible.¡±
¡°Very good, General.¡±
¡°Master,¡± Tallisibeth said, ¡°They¡¯re going to try and break the siege.¡±
They were. The two-hundred and fifty ships of the Coalition Armada were closing in on Yag¡¯Dhul from their scattered raiding stances throughout the system, many of them micro-jumping in intermittent flashes of light as they navigated through the debris fields of their own making.
¡°It is the sensible approach,¡± Admiral Yularen agreed, ¡°The siege fleet is a siege fleet. Once they break it, they can use the planet to cover one of their flanks, preventing a total encirclement.¡±
¡°They would know a lot about encirclements, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± Anakin retorted rhetorically.
Tallisibeth frowned, her red hair flaring like a dull flame, ¡°Even if they can destroy the siege fleet and prevent a total encirclement, they will still be fighting three-to-one with their backs against the wall. Does the Hydra seem like the kind of person to fight to the bitter end?¡±
¡°Not¡¡± Jedi General Anakin Skywalker started, ¡°...at all.¡±
¡°Yag¡¯Dhul has three huge moons,¡± his apprentice noted, ¡°Can he use them as force multipliers?
The relationship between Yag¡¯Dhul and its three moons was special. The planet itself was small and dense, and what one could describe as a ¡®death world.¡¯ Its three large moons produced tidal forces so extreme that often the planet''s water and atmosphere were drawn to different parts of the planet, leaving the rest of the world in vacuum, making it absolute hell for landing organic armies. It did not help that the native Givin were uniquely adapted for the environment, millennia of evolution gifting the species tough exoskeletons which could be completely sealed against vacuum.
And finally, the Givin lived in hermetically sealed cities protected by an inordinate amount of shielding, capable of withstanding both brutal gravitational upheavals and meteor showers. All factors that allowed Yag¡¯Dhul to withstand the GAR¡¯s best efforts for the better part of four months.
Considering the Hydra was known for using astrographical terrain in his battles before, the possibility of him using Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s moons could not be ruled out.
¡°Get me a full-spectrum sweep of the star system!¡± Yularen clicked his heels into gear, barking out commands, ¡°Scan every sheet of scrap metal and unturned asteroid! Leave nothing out!¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
¡°We¡¯re picking up seventy contacts bearing three-one-eight, mark oh-oh-five!¡± Lieutenant Klev called out, ¡°Looks like a bunch of Munificents, sir! They¡¯re heading in the opposite direction of Yag¡¯Dhul!¡±
¡°How did we miss that!?¡± Yularen demanded.
¡°They¡¯re flying cold!¡± Klev finessed his instruments in a frenzy, ¡°No drive cones, only attitude thrusters!¡±
That raised alarm bells in the heads of every officer on deck. Seventy ships was no small number, and if the Coalition Armada was willing to send such a significant force elsewhere in secret¡ there was little doubt they were planning something nefarious.
¡°...Wait,¡± Lieutenant Avrey clutched her headpiece, ¡°I¡¯m picking up an enemy transmission.¡±
Yularen rushed to her station, ¡°Unscramble it! What does it say!?¡±
The comms officer looked up, ¡°Llon Nebula. Asajj Ventress is headed to the Llon Nebula to pick up reinforcements. The Coalition Armada intends on defending long enough for her to return with a fleet¡ the Storm Fleet, they call it.¡±
¡°So that¡¯s it,¡± Tallisibeth stomped forward, ¡°That¡¯s how they¡¯re planning on breaking out! The Llon Nebula can¡¯t be that far away, if that is their plan!¡±
¡°Itopol Sector, General!¡± came a shout from the starboard pit, ¡°Two standard days round trip!¡±
¡°We can beat Ventress there,¡± Anakin said immediately, ¡°The Open Circle can make it.¡±
¡°The entire Open Circle, General?¡± Yularen folded his arms behind him, ¡°We cannot break the encirclement, or all of this effort will be for naught!¡±
¡°Not the entire Open Circle,¡± the Jedi General insisted, ¡°What¡¯s our fastest Venator?¡±
There was a brief intermission as the deck officers scrambled to find the answer, pulling out data and figures and service histories of every ship at their disposal before comparing metrics and performance statistics¨C
¡°Pioneer, sir!¡±
A sharp pang rang through his heart, but Anakin pressed the sensation down, ¡°Appo!¡±
¡°My men are all ready, General,¡± the Clone Commander immediately said.
¡°Good. Prep your best for vacuum combat and boarding action, and transfer them to the Pioneer,¡± Anakin swung around, marching down the bridge, ¡°Yularen, pick out fifty of our fastest ships!¡±
¡°¨CWait!¡± Tallisibeth ran up to him, ¡°Who will lead this force?¡±
Anakin looked down at his apprentice, ¡°Me, obviously. Do you think you can defeat Ventress?¡±
Tallisibeth opened her mouth in indignation, then closed it again with nary a noise.
¡°Our Jedi General retiring upon the eve of battle is not a good sign, Skywalker,¡± Admiral Yularen warned, even forgoing his usual adherence to rank, ¡°I am more than willing to lead the Open Circle against Rain Bonteri, but we must have a Jedi General on deck for morale.¡±
Anakin abruptly pushed his Padawan forward, ¡°You have one right here.¡±
¡°Wha¨C¡± Tallisibeth snapped around to gape at him, ¡°Me!? B-But¡ but I¡¯m not¨C!¡±
¡°But not what?¡± Anakin challenged.
¡°But¡ I¡¯m still a Padawan,¡± she protested weakly, ¡°I can¡¯t lead a fleet! I wasn¡¯t¡¡±
¡°If you are about to say you weren¡¯t trained for this,¡± Anakin cut her off softly, ¡°You would be lying. Or do you think all the nights I asked Yularen to mentor you was for nothing?¡±
¡°So that¡¯s why Admiral Yularen tutored me!?¡± Tallisbeth spun around to the Admiral in surprise, ¡°Wait¨C no, I still can¡¯t do this! This is the Battle Hydra we are talking about! I¡¯m not¡ I¡¯m not you!¡±
The desperation was painfully apparent in her voice. She¡¯s capable, Anakin made sure of that, she is only still afraid of responsibility. Anakin wasn¡¯t, back when he was first made a Knight. He wanted the responsibility, he so eagerly yearned for it. The responsibility of command, of control. Maybe, if he had been a little more afraid, like Tallisibeth was now, he would not have made so many mistakes, and lost so many friends.
¡°And,¡± Anakin narrowed his eyes, ¡°What am I, exactly?¡±
¡°...You¡¯re the Chosen One.¡±
His Padawan couldn¡¯t even look at him straight. Anakin sighed, crouched down, and grabbed Tallisibeth by the shoulder, looking into her eyes wet with unshed tears.
¡°I¡¯m a Jedi General who lost his every bout with the man ahead of us,¡± Anakin corrected her gently, ignoring their captive audience, ¡°I¡¯m a Jedi General who had never been trained to be one. Are you afraid of making mistakes?¡±
¡°How can I not be?¡± Tallisibeth said forcefully, ¡°Our mistakes cost lives!¡±
¡°I have made more mistakes than you ever will,¡± the Chosen One told her, ¡°Look, Tal, let me tell you something. When I was Obi-Wan¡¯s Padawan, the galaxy was at peace, and I was taught to be a keeper of that peace. I learned alien languages, distant cultures, ballroom diplomacy, and senatorial politics. Did I teach you any of that?¡±
¡°...No.¡±
¡°The galaxy is no longer at peace, and the Jedi are no longer keepers of peace,¡± he continued, ¡°I taught you how to be a soldier. And to lead? Yularen taught you everything you need to know about naval combat, just as Appo taught you about ground warfare. Avrey taught you how to intercept invisible frequencies and wavelengths, and Klev taught you how to see the unseeable with bespoke sensors and scanners. I can¡¯t do that, Tallisibeth. I¡¯m a warrior, and a mechanic, apparently. I can swing a lightsaber real well and fix a broken comlink, but that¡¯s all.¡±
Anakin patted her, ¡°Trust me on this, you know a lot more about naval warfare than I or Obi-Wan, or even the Masters on the Council. Well, except for maybe Master Plo¡ and Master Rancisis. It¡¯s not like you are going to cross blades with Rain Bonteri, right?¡±
That elicited a choked laugh, followed by a loud sniff.
¡°But what if I fail?¡±
¡°Stop thinking like a Jedi, Tal,¡± he scolded, ¡°You aren¡¯t alone here. The Force is useful, but don¡¯t rely on it, or you¡¯ll end up like Alrix. Trust your gut, but trust the people here more. You¡¯ll be fine.¡±
Anakin stood up, straightening himself out as he scanned the bridge, meeting the eyes of every man and woman in sight, and finding nothing but steely determination. Nodding in satisfaction, he silently moved past the bridge, Appo falling into lockstep behind him, their footfalls echoing in permeable silence.
A flame flickered in the Force, a lingering grudge, a silent spectator, hanging over the shoulders of the Jedi. Its embers were fading, but it wanted to witness the Hydra¡¯s death before its own.
?
Trandosha Orbit, Kashyyyk System
Mytaranor sector
It has been four standard days since the beginning of Operation Starlance. In a lazy, sun-synchronous orbit around the arboreal planet Trandosha, the 19th Mobile Fleet failed to capitalise on the sweeping momentum enjoyed by the Confederate Navy following the Devastation of Eriadu. Rather, the some three-hundred warships of the 19th Mobile Fleet celebrated the wrath of the First General of the Confederacy, and reposed in the relative peace the Kashyyyk Star System offered.
Click. Click.
It was not despite the Republic-aligned Wookies and the Separatist-aligned Trandoshans sharing the same star system that the two species compromised with a mutual agreement to uphold neutrality in a galaxy-spanning war, but because of it. Even being fierce rivals, the two governments realised bringing the Clone Wars to their home system would only bring ruin to them both. It did help that their shared home system was rich and self-sufficient, eliminating the material factors that dragged so many unwilling star systems into the war in the first place.
As such, despite never committing to the Loyalist or Separatist causes in a public forum, both Kashyyyk and Trandosha respectively still supported the greater powers in indirect ways. One such way, in this case, was the admittance of military access to both the GAR and CAF respectively, on the mutual condition that a strict no-first strike policy was enforced.
Click. Click.
What a strange, ¡®phoney¡¯ battlefield this is, Rear Admiral Calli Trilm mused, the Open Circle and the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada peacefully coexisting in the same star system. How quaint. Maybe ¡®peacefully¡¯ was too strong a word. ¡®Uneventfull¡¯ would be much more accurate, would it not? She would much prefer it if she could adjourn in this star system for the remainder of the war, playing an not-insignificant role checking Loyalist influence in the sector, yet safe from the worst trappings of it.
Alas, that was all but impossible. Calli Trilm had been given the command of a fleet of battle maniacs, men and women of the Perlemian who lusted for vengeance over all. And after the decisive blow at Eriadu, they would sooner mutiny against her command if they could not take their own gnashing bite out of the Republic¡¯s dying body.
¡°It has been four days, Admiral,¡± the hologram of the one-eyed Commodore Aviso of Bronze Serpent shimmered violently, ¡°The men are getting impatient.¡±
Click. Click.
Aviso was far too professional to express his displeasure in any form greater than vocal disappointment, which was why Calli Trilm has made a habit of mentally exaggerating every statement he made. His reports were far more accurate that way.
¡°You need to relax, Aviso,¡± Commander Rel Harsol of Sa Nalaor was Aviso¡¯s direct opposite, ¡°Calm is a luxury in war. We should enjoy it while we can.¡±
Ah, now there was a man who spoke for her soul. Calli Trilm was no Rain Bonteri, who loved to throw himself headfirst into every battle and pull improbable victories out of vacuum. Calli Trilm loved peace and quiet instead. Why must she also partake in the Pantoran¡¯s mad strategy? Everything she strived for¡ was for an uneventful posting in the rear lines.
Being employed as Count Dooku¡¯s secretary was nice, until he put her on the front lines. She wanted a way out, and Rain Bonteri, her old friend, gave it to her in the form of Sev¡¯rance Tann; a strategically brilliant but politically inept general vying for the station of Supreme Commander. And the Office of the Supreme Commander had a lot more to do with politics than strategy. So Calli eagerly threw herself into politics as Rain Bonteri would throw himself into the Core, shoring up the Pantoran¡¯s support base and gathering allies in high places, even indebting herself to Trench and Ambigene, all in order to ensure the vote passed and Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s political fortress became impregnable.
It was her best work. Shouldn¡¯t it have been natural, then, that the now-Supreme Commander should have recognised her talents and thus appointed Calli Trilm her aide? Calli wasn¡¯t even asking to be a secretary again! But no, now she was a Rear Admiral, expected to lead the most bloodthirsty gathering of Separatists this side of the galaxy into a suicide mission!
Click. Click.
Ahh, where did I mess up!?
¡°...Rear Admiral?¡± Commodore Aviso questioned.
Rear Admiral Calli Trim slammed the Republic Starpath unit down with a sharp bang! Both officers flinched, their previous stances vitrifying into stiff attention. Calli raised the unassuming cube of technology to her eyes, inspecting it for any damage.
Starpath unit. It was gifted to her by Rain Bonteri at the Wheel, a year ago.
¡°Every Republic Navy asset within six radial parsecs is tracked on that thing in real time, and it¡¯s a one-way uplink,¡± so he told her, ¡°Untraceable.¡±
During the GAR¡¯s Operation Trident, it was this Starpath unit that all Separatist commerce raiders in the Near-Perlemian were enslaved to. It¡¯s codename; HANDLER ONE. It was a shame the GAR had since resetted the codes, updated the software, issued new Starpath models, and made the one in her hand obsolete. Presently, this cube she possessed was little more useful than a Givin puzzle box.
Click. Click.
Calli did enjoy the noises it made, however.
She kept it anyway. After all, every Separatist raider that had been enslaved to the Starpath still were. And one might never know when a trump card as such might come in useful. Maybe there was a little sentiment involved, as well, considering the individual who gifted the object to her, but that was arguable¡ and Calli would never admit it anyway.
She released a laborious sigh, slumped in her chair, and began fidgeting around with the cube¡¯s moving parts again, as if her officers weren¡¯t standing in front of her.
¡°Rear Admiral?¡± Commodore Aviso repeated.
Calli Trilm looked up, not at her audience, but past the viewports of her flagship, the Star of Serenno, at the Open Circle Fleet orbiting Kashyyyk ahead of her. Obi-Wan Kenobi, was it? You are standing in between me and my target. Behind Kashyyyk? The star. Behind the star? The jumpzone of the Trellen Trade Route, aimed straight at the Core Worlds.
Oh, right, my fleet doesn¡¯t know about Starlance yet. Isn¡¯t Trench supposed to give me the go-ahead to inform them? Or does he intend for me to keep them in the dark until it was too late for them to shirk? Storm-Door has already begun.
Click. Click.
Really, there was no need for such precautions. These battle maniacs from Centares and Salvara would cheer at the thought of a suicide mission into the Galactic Interior.
¡°We¡¯re wasting time, Admiral!¡± Aviso gritted his teeth, ¡°If we keep wasting time we¡¯re all going to¨C¡±
¡°¨CFine.¡±
Aviso choked on his next word; ¡°¨CAdmiral?¡±
Calli Trilm stared at him coldly, ¡°What? Are you a broken record? I said fine.¡±
¡°Then¡¡±
The Rear Admiral of the 19th Mobile Fleet stood up, gesturing towards her tactical droid, ¡°All ships, this is your commanding officer. All ships; advance! Do so gracefully, so that our Jedi audience can enjoy the resplendence of your resolve!¡±
Star of Serenno roared beneath her feet, and some three-hundred warships of the Perlemian responded to her rallying cry with infernal drive plumes and thunderous guns.
¡°Are¨C are we finally breaking the non-aggression agreement, Admiral!?¡± Rel Harsol demanded, wide-eyed, ¡°Are we attacking the Open Circle?¡±
Calli Trilm frowned, ¡°Do I look like a warhawk to you?¡±
Confusion bloomed; ¡°Then what¡¯s our target!? Are we proceeding to Zeltros as planned?¡±
¡Can I tell them? Ah¡ really, what would Rain say in this situation? Right. Fuck you, Pantoran. Operation Starlance is all about surprise, so I¡¯m going to surprise you too. Twice the surprise, twice the effectiveness¡ or something along those lines. Yep, Calli nodded in self-satisfaction, Rain would definitely say that, the idiot.
¡°I thought you were all getting impatient?¡± a smile tugged at her lips as the reality of her intentions dawned on them, ¡°We¡¯re going to pay the Core a visit. And as guests, must make a majestic first impression, would you not agree?¡±
?
¡°They¡¯re moving,¡± Ahsoka raised the first alarm, ¡°They¡¯re finally moving!¡±
Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi received Admiral Block¡¯s datapad, whereupon he watched the 19th Mobile Fleet erupting into brilliant drive cones, blazing a fiery trail towards them. At the same time, commotion similarly erupted throughout Vigilance¡¯s kilometre-long hull.
The Separatists are finally attacking us, everybody thought, it is about time.
¡°Calli Trilm¡¯s target must be Kashyyyk itself, General,¡± Admiral Block cautioned, ¡°If the Trandoshans have finally given her the go-ahead, it may in an effort to finally consolidate the entire Kashyyyk Star System under their rule.¡±
¡°Inform the Wookiees we will be sallying out to meet them,¡± Obi-Wan instructed.
¡°Very good, General.¡±
Determined to put an end to the Coalition Armada¡¯s warpath before it even began, the Open Circle Fleet set forth. As the two fleets approached, the Jedi Master noticed something odd; the projected vectors of the 19th Mobile Fleet did not directly intercept Kashyyyk as predicted, but instead ran tangentially to the star, bearing 233-degrees absolute and bypassing Kashyyyk completely.
¡°They may be trying to feint,¡± Admiral Block made an informed guess, ¡°They could be luring us out, before making a sharp starboard turn and reaching Kashyyyk from the absolute south. Calli Trilm must realise we cannot open fire unless she trespasses Kashyyyk¡¯s orbital zone.¡±
Or unless she fires first.
¡°Master,¡± Ahsoka ran up to him, ¡°Message from King Grakchawwaa. He is adamant we do not start a war in his star system.¡±
¡°Inform him we understand completely,¡± Obi-Wan replied kindly.
¡°Yes, Master.¡±
The distance between the two fleets decreased as the Open Circle adopted forward defensive positions between the 19th Mobile¡¯s inbound vector and Kashyyyk, so that if the Separatists were to turn as Admiral Block predicted, they would find the Open Circle in their way. If the Republic¡¯s positioning affected Calli Trim¡¯s plan in any way, her fleet did not show it as they continued proceeding calmly on their heading.
I have a bad feeling about this, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi thought, the last time I felt something like this¡ was at Christophsis.
Something isn¡¯t right, that much he knew. That much he could glean from the Force. They had made a faulty assumption somewhere, and Obi-Wan had to figure out what that assumption was before the enemy stratagem unveiled itself. The Jedi Master drew upon his intimate knowledge of the galaxy¡¯s species and cultures, built upon years of experience in his tenure as a Padawan, Knight, and Master of the Jedi Order. A wealth of experience accrued over a distant time of peace, now used for war.
Would the Trandoshans really allow Calli Trilm to attack?
The reptilian species possessed an overtly aggressive hunting culture, indeed, but they were also a rational species. A central dogma of their religion, worshipping a goddess known as the Scorekeeper, was built upon each life being worth a certain number of ¡®points.¡¯ Lives with zero ¡®points¡¯ were thus functionally worthless in the eyes of both the Scorekeeper and the Trandoshan culture.
A society built upon each life being worth a certain numerical value was inherently logical and rational. The question was thus as such; is it rational to drag this star system into the Clone Wars? Most certainly not. It was far more rational to allow the Clone Wars to play out, and reap the benefits of their longstanding neutrality through the arms trade and state-sponsored mercenaries. And even if igniting the war was logical for some reason; why now?
So if the Trandoshans had not given Calli Trilm the go-ahead, why was she advancing? Calli Trilm was, by all indications, not an antagonistic field commander. She preferred to sit back and allow her opponents to come to her. But if she wasn¡¯t looking for a fight, what was she looking for?
Obi-Wan analysed the vectors again. By now, the 19th Mobile Fleet was nearly ¡®crossing the T¡¯ of the Open Circle Fleet. If their target was a pitched confrontation, it would be now, when their firing arcs all overlapped perfectly. If their target was Kashyyyk, it would also be now, where they must turn to starboard in order to adjust their approach vector.
¡°Shields double-front!¡± Admiral Block swept across the deck, dishing out commands, ¡°Ready the guns! Prepare for battle!¡±
Klaxons bayed in the background. Obi-Wan delved deeper into the Force. The enemy fleet was now directly in front of them, and if it were not for his eyes playing tricks on his brain Obi-Wan could have thought he could see the figures within the viewports and bores in the gunwales. They swam past like underwater leviathans, almost close enough to reach out and brush his hands against their painted durasteel scales.
The Force pounded. Someone swallowed thickly. Fighters were streaming out of open hangars. Gunners had their hands planted firmly on their controls, hands deathly still, or shivering in fear or anticipation.
And the 19th Mobile Fleet just continued on their way, firing not a single shot.
Where¡
The revelation came like a supernova.
¡°All ships, advance!¡± Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi roared, ¡°Full speed ahead! Intercept the enemy! We must stop them before they jump into lightspeed!¡±
Vigilance violently lurched forward, the helm pressing the massive battlecruiser forward in a kneejerk reaction before the crew even knew what was happening.
¡°General!?¡± Admiral Block asked in the furor, ¡°You think Calli Trilm is trying to jump towards the Core!?
¡°Inform Strategic Command!¡± was the Jedi General¡¯s answer, ¡°Priority Alpha transmission! We must have the entire eastern front of the Interior put on high alert! For now, expend your every effort towards reaching the the enemy fleet before they jump!¡±
¡°Because if they do,¡± unmasked horror was present in Ahsoka¡¯s voice, ¡°We would have no idea where they would appear.¡±
Obi-Wan gritted his teeth as excessive Gs tugged at his robes and skin, Vigilance¡¯s inertial compensators struggling to match pace with the ship¡¯s aggressive acceleration. And as if mocking them, the 19th Mobile Fleet simply hastened into a light jog, discarding their leisurely pace easily, the bright flares of their drive plumes blinking, sneering at them.
¡°Cronau radiation detected!¡±
Cronau radiation only appears when a hyperdrive tears a seam in space-time. The little factoid Anakin would likely say came like a hammer blow.
They were too late.
¡°Prepare to jump to Commenor!¡± Obi-Wan barked, much unlike him, ¡°It is their most likely destination!¡±
Commenor laid at the very end of the Trellen Trade Route, and oversaw the entire eastern frontier of the Core Worlds. Even if Calli Trilm¡¯s destination was not Commenor, at the very least the Open Circle Fleet will have positioned itself strategically in advance to respond to any incursion.
As if speaking their failure into reality, the some three-hundred warships of the Confederacy then thrusted themselves into hyperspace, crackling blue seams of pseudomotion just grazing the star of Kashyyyk as they did, launched towards the very heart of the Republic.
¡°Hyperdrives are charging up, General!¡±
Obi-Wan breathed out, forcing himself to calm down. And yet, he could still somehow hear a woman¡¯s triumphant cackling echoing in the void.
Chapter 56
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
¡°There is a Dark Lord of the Sith in the Republic,¡± said Jedi Master Adi Gallia.
The statement was so factually spoken, Barriss still found herself stunned even though she already knew it, not to mention Bode¡¯s locked jaw and Iskat¡¯s wide eyed response. There is a Sith Lord in the Republic. The Jedi Master made the unthinkable declaration as naturally as one would say the galaxy is vast, or that stars are bright.
¡°There is a Dark Lord of the Sith in the Republic,¡± the Jedi Master repeated, as if to fully hammer its meaning and implications into their skulls, ¡°And they are orchestrating the downfall of the Republic using this war. One must not need to be Givin or Muun to realise we are sliding down a precarious slope. This little task force I have prepared¡ will attempt to bring our mysterious villain to light.¡±
¡°H-How can that be?¡± Iskat Akaris took a half-step back¨Cor a full step in human terms, considering the length of her stride, ¡°Is that why you have gathered us? With all due respect, Master Gallia, but I don¡¯t think I belong here. Bode and Barriss have fought in the war¡ and I¡¯m hardly even a knight! I¡¯ve only been on one mission since Geonosis¡ and apparently I screwed it up so badly I had been blacklisted from any other offworld mission since then!¡±
Iskat¡¯s tone started with surprise, then morphed into trepidation. Not out of humbleness, but out of a lack of self-worth. Barriss had little skills with combat, but as a medic she was a talented empath, and once being in the same shoes as the red-skinned alien, she had little trouble identifying Iskat¡¯s tumultuous emotions. But there was another hint of colour Barriss noticed. It was one of biting derision, and bitter contempt, against a perceived injustice carried out against oneself.
The thorns of the dark side tightened around Iskat Akaris¡¯ heart just a little more.
¡°Do you still disagree with the Council¡¯s decision?¡± Adi Gallia raised an eyebrow, edging the incensed Knight on, ¡°If I recall correctly, Iskat, your mission was to infiltrate and sabotage a droid factory on Thule. Three Jedi Knights, and a company of clone troopers. A more than adequate task force. Infiltrate and sabotage. Instead, Iskat, you got your senior Knight killed, you blew up the factory, killing over a dozen civilians, and had the gall to report to us with a ¡®job well done¡¯ on your lips.¡±
Iskat released a guttural, beastly growl, ¡°Infiltrate and sabotage. You were the one who gave us the mission, Master Gallia. I should have realised that all the rumours about you were true, then. And still, despite being the Order¡¯s spymaster, you gave us faulty intel. Your intel got our leader killed, and your intel forced me to improvise. The nature of our mission was to disable the factory from the start. I did just that.¡±
¡°Not in the intended way.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t believe you are one to put the end over the means,¡± Iskat snarled. Anger and shame wrapped around her; like she¡¯d done something wrong and had to explain it to someone who¡¯d already formed an opinion and was unlikely to change it no matter how well she argued her point of view.
¡°She definitely isn¡¯t¡¡± Bode whispered conspiratorially into Barriss¡¯ ear, eyes twinkling with personal experience.
¡°I was then,¡± Master Gallia¡¯s lips curled, ¡°I am not now. Funny how people change.¡±
If Iskat had been taken aback by the admission, she did not show it, ¡°That¡¯s not very Jedi-like, from a Councilmember no less.¡±
¡°Have you not realised, Iskat?¡± Master Gallia spread her hands, ¡°None of us here are very Jedi-like.¡±
Bode Akuna cleared his throat, ¡°Back to the mission. Is there any evidence towards the existence of our Sith Lord?¡±
¡°Very circumstantial evidence,¡± Master Gallia admitted, ¡°But I have my suspicions. I have my suspicions that the Senate¨Cand the Republic itself¨Cis under the control of our Sith Lord. It has been since the war began. And if we are talking about control, all roads lead back to a single person; the Supreme Chancellor.¡±
¡°You think Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord?¡±
¡°He is most certainly acting under the influence of the Sith Lord,¡± the Jedi Master said grimly, ¡°I have not known a more power-hungry man than Palpatine.¡±
¡°Power-hungry?¡± it took more than a moment for Barriss to realise she had aired her thoughts out loud.
Chancellor Palpatine wasn¡¯t someone one would consider power-hungry; or at least, from the image painted of him by the HoloNet. Rather, he appeared the unwilling participant of the Republic Senate¡¯s descent towards tyranny in the name of ¡®victory¡¯ and war-waging ¡®efficiency.¡¯ It was also obvious the war was taking its toll on the ageing Chancellor, with his every subsequent appearance bringing with it darker eyes, deeper lines, and gaunter features.
¡°The Chancellor has always fought against the more extremist factions in the Senate,¡± Iskat argued.
¡°And yet,¡± Master Gallia retorted softly, ¡°He still accumulates power without end. First was control of the fleets, then direct oversight over the media¡ and now complete hegemony over the Core Worlds. The Sith Lord will be found in Palpatine¡¯s inner circle, in that I have no doubt. I may have even met them more times than I can count on my hands, completely oblivious.¡±
When said like that¡ it was incredibly difficult to argue against the logic. Indeed, if it was any other person, such unstoppable centralisation of authority vested into a single office would not be seen as anything other than the unforgivable sin of perverting the Republic¡¯s democratic institutions. So why was it so acceptable when it was Palpatine? What spell had he casted on not just the Jedi, but the entire Republic? Even Barriss, aware as she was, hadn¡¯t realised she missed the forest for the trees.
¡°Do we have any suspects?¡± Bode furrowed his brow.
¡°Anybody the Chancellor speaks to on a regular basis,¡± Master Gallia blew out a frustrated breath, ¡°Mas Amedda springs to mind¡ but I do not peg him as such a good actor. Sate Pestage, perhaps. Sly Moore, however, is faintly Force-sensitive, and one of my prime suspects. Such blind supposition is dangerous, however. The Sith Lord could even be hiding as one of the Red Guards.¡±
The Red Guards were Chancellor Palpatine¡¯s personal security detail, permanent fixtures of his offices, draped entirely in red robes and impenetrable helmets that hid everything about them except for their height. If the Sith Lord didn¡¯t want to be recognised, the Red Guards were a perfect hiding spot.
¡°Shouldn¡¯t we bring this to Republic Intelligence?¡± Bode suggested, ¡°I¡¯m sure they are far more well-outfitted for an investigation of this depth than we.¡±
¡°If Palpatine is a puppet of our Sith Lord, or even the Sith Lord himself,¡± Master Gallia warned, ¡°Then there is no knowing where his authority ends. Director Armand Isard is almost definitely also under the influence of our suspect. The Sith Lord may also have agents in the Temple, hiding among us Jedi. This mission cannot escape the four of us. Do I make myself clear?¡±
The Jedi Master¡¯s eyes glowed with a fathomless agelessness, brimming with a silent threat and promise. Barriss realised, then, that there was a reason all of them were so un-Jedi-like, and even touching the sinister form of the dark side. Adi Gallia knew everything about them, perhaps even more than they knew themselves. Leak a single thing, and that will be the last anybody will see of you. That was the message hanging in the air like a sword over their heads as the three Jedi Knights exchanged wary glances.
¡°Point¨C¡± Bode had to swallow before he could go one, ¡°¨Ctaken. Where do we start?¡±
¡°There is a second issue with roping in Republic Intelligence,¡± Master Gallia raised two fingers to illustrate her point, ¡°And it is that the existence of a Sith Lord is not their problem. As far as the government of the Republic is concerned, the Jedi and Sith are merely two sides of a religious schism¡ and the Republic constitution enforces a complete freedom to practise any religion. Being a Sith Lord is not any more illegal than being a Jedi Master.¡±
¡°But¡ the Sith Lord is the perpetrator behind the war!¡± Iskat argued.
¡°We only believe that because as Jedi, we are keenly aware of the powers of the Sith,¡± Barriss stepped forward, ¡°Look at it from their perspective. Such a claim would be unbelievable if told to anybody but us.¡±
Master Gallia nodded sharply, her tendrils bouncing, ¡°Exactly. Thankfully for us, however, the Sith are notoriously bad at staying on the right side of the law. Orchestrating the downfall of the Republic is no trivial task, and pulling so many strings inevitably means dealing in backroom deals and illegal acts.¡±
¡°So we¡¯ll root out the Sith Lord by tracing his actions back to him,¡± Bode mused, ¡°Then; how will we know what can be attributed to our mystery man? The Republic is rife with corruption, and if our Sith Lord is so deeply entrenched into the upper echelons of governance as to be believed, then he is most certainly using his puppets instead of doing things personally. It will be difficult to trace anything back to him.¡±
¡°We won¡¯t find anything on Coruscant, that I concur,¡± Master Gallia placed a holoprojector on the shrouded corpse¡¯s chest, ¡°But the recent Attack on Coruscant had given us a great opportunity. With the destruction of the communication satellites, all inbound and outbound transmissions are forced to run through a bottleneck.¡±
A projection of Coruscant bursted out of the projector, a number of coloured dots of red, green, and blue circling around the larger sphere in what seemed like half a hundred different orbital configurations.
¡°These are the new satellites brought in to replace the destroyed ones,¡± the Jedi Master explained, ¡°Greens are for meteorological applications; orbital mirrors, climate observation, remote sensing and the like. Blues are for civil applications; navigation, communications, and astronomy. Reds are the most important¨Cand our focus¨Cas they are military satellites. If our Sith Lord is communicating outside of Coruscant, any and all transmissions are going through encrypted channels via these military communication satellites.¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Bode crossed his arms, ¡°Coruscant used to have hundreds, but now they¡¯re down to a handful. Plus¡ previously, those hundreds of satellites were accumulated over a thousand years. Different manufacturers, operating systems, internal hardware and software.¡±
¡°And now, they¡¯re all homogenous,¡± Barriss finished, ¡°Virtually and practically identical, and more than likely interconnected on a central network. If we sabotage one, there¡¯s a good chance we can sabotage all of them.¡±
It was funny, Barriss thought, because this was the exact same way Rain rooted out Dooku. Except, Rain Bonteri was forced to spread out his assets over millions of lightyears, infecting thousands of transceivers and planting hundreds of spy frigates to snuff out a mere handful of non-concrete evidence. Because the one place he couldn¡¯t touch was the nexus of the Sith scheme; Coruscant. If Barriss could extend the Hydra¡¯s network to Coruscant¡ then the net¨Cthe trap¨Cwould be complete.
¡°A full replacement also means they are improved, however,¡± Bode continued, further pressing his arms together in thought, ¡°The previous satellites, while not all connected, are much easier to slice into individually. If the GAR was forced to replace arguably the most important assets in their logistical structure, we can bet our asses they¡¯ve done a full overhaul of their security measures. We might be able to sabotage all by sabotaging one, but the initial barrier of entry is now much higher.¡±
¡°Considering the size of the GAR,¡± Iskat frowned, ¡°There must be billions of transmissions going through the network every minute. Even more so considering what, a dozen satellites are now handling the workload previously done by hundred? Something ought to be able to slip through, right?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not quite so simple,¡± Master Galli said, ¡°The new computers operate through a very restrictive vetting process with a hierarchical command and access structure. As Bode had surmised, our intentions are to infect all satellites by infecting one. However, if our program is to be effective across the system, it has to be authorised at the very highest security levels.¡±
¡°And the means¡ the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s office,¡± Barriss summed up.
¡°Or Republic Intelligence,¡± Bode added.
¡°Precisely,¡± Master Gallia confirmed, ¡°Programs are scanned for content and that content is compared to their access levels. If a system program comes in without an access code that is cleared for entering system programs, it will be dumped, and the central operating centre will be notified.¡±
¡°We only have one chance, then,¡± Iskat decided, her red skin matted with sweat, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯d blow something up again?¡±
¡°The nature of the mission is subtlety, Iskat,¡± Master Gallia said sharply, ¡°If the mission cannot be completed without alerting authorities, prioritise extracting without revealing your identities as Jedi.¡±
¡°So that means¡¡± Barriss snuck a hand into her cloak, gripping the small device within, ¡°If the program is wrapped up in the right disguise, then it should be able to get through, right?¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Bode nodded, ¡°And luckily for us, I¡¯m in Republic Intelligence and Master Gallia has access to the Chancellor¡¯s office.¡±
¡°Luckily?¡± the Tholothian Master asked rhetorically, ¡°I put you in Republic Intelligence. Our job as spies is to eliminate as much ¡®luck¡¯ as possible from a mission. Nevertheless, Bode and I will procure the ¡®disguises.¡¯ Iskat, you were previously assigned to some backwater segment of the Coruscant underworld, right?¡±
¡°Right,¡± Iskat narrowed her eyes, ¡°I was helping evacuate refugees from up north.¡±
¡°Good. You will acquire the ride. Some old underworld-built junker will do.¡±
¡°I can¡ do that,¡± Iskat agreed slowly, ¡°I¡¯m real familiar with underworld ships¡ considering how many of them I¡¯ve flown during the evac efforts. They¡¯re death traps, though. I doubt they¡¯ll last in the black any longer than a few days, if not hours.¡±
¡°As long as it can bring you to the target satellite,¡± Master Gallia told her, ¡°Remember; you¡¯re flying it. So choose carefully.¡±
The Jedi Master then turned to her, and Barriss braced herself for her task¨Conly for Master Gallia to break eye-contact; ¡°That¡¯s all. The exact mission details will be provided closer to the execution date. Dismissed.¡±
Bode and Iskat bowed lightly in deference, and made to leave the funerary chamber. Barriss was among them¡ or she was supposed to be, if not for her every muscle freezing up and every bone locking in place.
I can¡¯t¡ control my limbs. Paralysis? Mild panic blossomed in her chest as her brain tried to contact her non-responding body, before she mercilessly crushed it. No, not paralysis. I¡¯m being held in place.
¡°Barriss?¡± Iskat turned back at the door, ¡°You coming?¡±
Barriss stared at Master Adi Gallia, who was staring back at her curiously, arms relaxed at her sides and not an ounce of effort or strain apparent on her ageless features.
¡°I¡¡± her throat was dry, ¡°I have something to ask Master Gallia.¡±
Iskat looked between the two of them, then shrugged, and left.
The moment the door closed, Barriss was released from her invisible prison, slumping to the floor as she gasped for air, not realising she had been holding her breath until now¨Cor had her heart been frozen as well? Sweat running down her cheeks and tattoos, she craned her neck to see the Tholothian Master standing over her, and an enigmatic smile gracing her lips.
¡°I have a task for you.¡±
¡°You could have just told me to remain,¡± Barriss sucked in a breath.
¡°That would have been suspicious¡¡± the Jedi Master was still smiling, ¡°...for Bode and Iskat. Did you realise the one thing you three have in common? I¡¯m sure you have.¡±
¡°We¡¯re all,¡± Barriss gasped again, struggling to her feet, ¡°Touched by the dark side of the Force.¡±
¡°Master Luminara trained you well,¡± Gallia praised her, or was she praising Master Luminara? ¡°Good. This will make things simple. I need you to investigate both Bode and Iskat.¡±
¡°W-Why me?¡± she asked, ¡°Bode is a spy. Why not ask him?¡±
Adi Gallia crouched down to eye-level, ¡°Because you are the only one aware, Barriss. I know why you are touched by the dark side¨Cor rather, it is because you touched the dark on your own volition. Bode and Iskat, however¡ internal conflict notwithstanding, there is a third party involved, I sense.¡±
¡°...You said the Sith Lord may also have agents in the Temple,¡± Barriss realised.
¡°Now you are getting it,¡± the Master¡¯s eyes twinkled like stars, ¡°Find and bring those agents to me¡ and I will turn a blind eye to whatever you are planning with that device you are trying to hide.
Barriss instinctively looked down and clutched the device to confirm it was still there¨Cit was¨C¨Cand realised she had played into Adi Gallia¡¯s hands nary a half-second later. Head snapping upwards, mouth already opening with an excuse in tow, she found not Adi Gallia, but empty air. She shot to her feet, looking around. Not even the holoprojector was there. The Jedi Master was simply¡ gone.
Barriss Offee was left alone in the suddenly empty funerary chamber, with no accompaniment other than her own emotions, and a shrouded corpse.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
?
The AA-9 Freighter-Liner barrelled through the atmosphere towards the target satellite, painted a bright red on their tablets. Barriss fought a cascade of worry as she sat in the cockpit with Bode and Iskat, all three of them wearing what was essentially lightly armoured rags, pauldrons emblazoned with the same unidentified symbol that was painted onto the hull of the freighter.
Bode was zipping through his datapad for the hundredth time, reciting the details of the mission over and over like a mantra. His own way of meditating, perhaps. Iskat, meanwhile, skillfully navigated the freighter through the levels of atmospheric traffic, disguising their flight path towards the satellite with natural weaves and turns. They had originated from within a cargo portal in the northern hemisphere, one that led all the way down into the artificial crust, towards the underworld.
The reason is so that if they were ever traced back, all the authorities would find would be the endless underworld.
¡°Did Master Gallia tell you we would be posing as an underworld Separatist cell?¡± Bode asked Iskat, acting as their designated team leader.
¡°I told Master Gallia we would be posing as an underworld Separatist cell,¡± Iskat corrected, eyes fixed on the thinning atmosphere, ¡°This ship belonged to one of those cells.¡±
¡°You stole it?¡±
¡°They gave it willingly,¡± Iskat grinned, ¡°All I needed to do was tell them that we¡¯re gonna strike the GAR. That¡¯s all they needed to hear. Nothing compromising, promise¨Cran that by the Master already.¡±
¡°You have Separatist acquaintances?¡±
¡°You work offworld, don¡¯t you, Bode?¡±
Bode paused, looking up from his datapad, ¡°I do. It¡¯s my first time back on Coruscant in a long time.¡±
¡°Well,¡± Iskat grunted as she nudged the freighter, ¡°If you have any friends in the underworld like I do, then you¡¯d have Separatist acquaintances too. I helped them out during the evacuations.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t go catching any Separatist sympathies now,¡± Bode said, speaking as if ¡®Separatist sympathies¡¯ were some sort of infectious virus.
Iskat frowned behind the helm, ¡°I think you¡¯re the only one between the three of us without Separatist sympathies. You know the evacuations? The Coruscant authorities only went up there for posterity. Take a few pictures, film the process for the media, spin it up into some sort of heroic effort. They saved a few hundred-thousand people¨Ca large enough number for the public to swallow¨Cthen left. The real evacuation¨Cthe exodus of millions of people¨Cwas organised by local authorities. This ship we¡¯re on once ferried hundreds of thousands to safety by itself.¡±
¡°Must have been an effort,¡± Barriss commented distantly, ¡°I think¡ that¡¯s what it means to be a Jedi. Helping people, ignoring affiliation. I know the feeling. People say they¡¯re the enemy, but when you¡¯re there¡ it just doesn¡¯t feel right, does it?¡±
¡°You were there, Barriss?¡± Iskat¡¯s eyes widened.
¡°No. I was at Atraken.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
Oh. A simple sound, not even a word. But it summed up every emotion that could be brought forth by the name ¡®Atraken¡¯ on its own. It was a disaster that came to light before the HoloNet was censured by the HoloCommunications Commission, and wreaked havoc throughout the reputations of both the GAR and Jedi Order. It was the first ¡®big thing¡¯ from the war to strike the Interior.
¡°A¨CAnyway,¡± Iskat cleared her throat awkwardly, ¡°Yeah. Homeworld Security¡¯s authority doesn¡¯t reach so far down. The only thing maintaining order down there are the local gangs, kingpins, and Separatist cells. When you¡¯re ignored by your own government your whole life¡ Separatism sounds good as anything. In some ways, the underworld is more distant from the Senate than the Outer Rim.¡±
Bode mulled over those words for a time, and silence reigned in the cockpit, peaceful aside from the groaning of old steel and rocking through the atmosphere.
¡°Alright,¡± Iskat broke the silence after a few minutes, ¡°I¡¯ve set an intercept course on the satellite. Soon, we¡¯ll enter the restriction zone around it and get a warning. Time to prepare.¡±
¡°...Let¡¯s go over the plan again, so we¡¯re all on the same flimsi,¡± Bode broke out of his fugue, taking up an authoritative tone, ¡°Our entrance will be simple; ride up to the satellite, match velocities, extend our airlock, and cut open a boarding portal with our lightsabers. Resistance will be light. With the war going on, the GAR skimped out on manpower by using droids to man the satellite. Most of them are astromechs or maintenance droids anyway. Destroy all of them. Does all of that clear?¡±
Barriss pulled out her own tablet and went over what direction they¡¯d been given, nodding along. From the corner of her eye, she could see Iskat doing the same thing, trusting the ship¡¯s autopilot to guide them.
¡°The alarm will be raised by time we enter the restricted zone, so we¡¯ll be on the chrono,¡± Bode continued, ¡°I will slice into the security and surveillance feeds and disrupt as many protocols as possible. Barriss will head straight for the main control room and upload the program. Iskat will have the hardest job; being muscle. Make no mistake; Homeworld Security and the Coruscant Guard will be swarming us within minutes. You need to keep them occupied.¡±
¡°Hard?¡± Iskat questioned, ¡°I have the simplest job, and thank Force for that. Am I allowed to kill?¡±
¡°We¡¯re Separatists,¡± Bode reminded, ¡°Kill all you want. However, blasters only, at least until I break into the surveillance systems. From then, lightsabers away.¡±
¡°Very simple job,¡± Iskat corrected herself.
¡°And Barriss,¡± the Jedi spy turned to her, ¡°You have two datacubes, for two layers to the ¡®disguise.¡¯ The first cube is the dummy program, and our cover. What it is is a ¡®flare¡¯ of sorts, meant to hijack the satellite and transmit a Separatist broadcast throughout Republic space. It¡¯s got a low level clearance, one that would get caught by the system. The system would then automatically vet itself and send the dummy program to central. Now, you need to insert the second cube while the system is vetting itself.¡±
¡°What will happen to the second program then?¡±
¡°It will get caught on a subsidiary memory bank and queued up to be sent into the main banks when they reopen,¡± Bode explained, ¡°Since it was in the subsidiary, when the GAR sweeps the system in their investigation, they won¡¯t find a thing but our dummy program¨Cwhich has a legitimate Separatist broadcast on it, mind you. Once the vetting ends, the banks will reopen and the program will go through. Now, we could actually do this at the headquarters down planetside, but breaking into a satellite is much easier, mostly because the GAR doesn''t think anybody would be stupid or capable enough to try, especially since there¡¯s zero chance of escape.¡±
¡°But we will be escaping, I hope?¡± Barriss asked.
Bode breathed out, ¡°We¡¯ll rendezvous at the satellite¡¯s escape pods, get in one, and release all of them. Sounds good?¡±
Not a moment too soon, a deep voice suddenly rang through the cockpit¨C ¡°Unidentified freighter, be advised you are approaching a restricted orbital zone. Please alter your course immediately. I say again; be advised¨C¡±
Iskat slammed her fist down on a button, and the voice was cut short, ¡°Too late for it not to sound good now. We¡¯re coming up on the satellite.¡±
Indeed, the military communications satellite was fast approaching beyond the freighter¡¯s viewports. With the transceiver forcibly disabled, they had no idea how the GAR was responding to the situation as they pulled nearer, velocities evening out as Iskat toggled another lever and extended the docking tube.
Bode stood up and took out his lightsaber. There was the familiar snap-hiss of the ignition, and then an unfamiliar bleeding red blade. A red lightsaber.
¡°Synthetic crystal. The black market for lightsabers is larger than you¡¯d think,¡± he explained as he shoved on his crude helmet, ¡°Remember; no comms or sabers until I take down the security systems. Until then, the only thing they¡¯ll see is this red saber. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Bode dashed out of the cockpit, Barriss and Iskat close behind him, putting on their helmets as they did. The helmets weren¡¯t as advanced as that of clone troopers, and were hardly more than fashioned buckets. No way to communicate through them, either, meaning they would have to take them off to speak into their comlinks. Really, they were just there to hide their identities until the security systems were disabled.
By the time Barriss and Iskat reached the end of the docking tube, Bode was already halfway through cutting open the airlock. They didn''t need to wait for more than a minute to be through.
The first thing that greeted them on the other side was a protocol droid, turning towards them in surprise¨C ¡°Oh my! You are trespassing on¨C¡±
The droid¡¯s head exploded in a show of sparks and wire and metal shards. Bode was holding up a smoking blaster. Barriss hadn¡¯t even noticed him drawing it. And then they were in, splitting up and dashing through the cramped corridors and blasting away what handful of droids had been stationed to maintain the satellite, the Force guiding their aims to never miss their shots. Frenzied beeping and high-pitched screeching filled the halls and droid after droid was shot down, droidspeak falling on deaf ears¨Cor rather, ears that couldn¡¯t understand droidspeak.
The interior of the satellite was incredibly dark and cramped. Its ceilings and walls were covered with exposed piping and wiring. To make the environment even more unbearable, the lights went dark with a loud thud, and were replaced with dim, emergency red.
Then there was a beeping of another kind; the comlink on her wrist was active. Barriss peeled off her helmet and took a breath full of harsh, poorly circulated air. There¡¯s air. And atmosphere. This place was actually meant to be crewed by people, not droids. Barriss couldn¡¯t imagine anybody living here, in these terrible conditions.
She tapped her comlink.
¡°Security cams and feeds are down,¡± Bode informed, ¡°I¡¯m gonna knock out as many systems as possible.¡±
¡°Copy!¡± Barriss shouted into the comlink as struggled her way towards the centre, tripping over the thresholds of airtight doors as she crossed compartment after compartment¨Cand even a crew lounge fitted with a sabacc table¨Cuntil she reached the centre.
The centre. The control room was bubble-shaped, with a pair of chairs and an unfathomably large number of panels and dashboards and doohickeys. The room looked empty of life to her, though the computers themselves had lights flickering across their dark surfaces. Holographic streams of data scrolled up from desktop to oblivion above a dozen workstations. A metallic head suddenly popped up; a caretaker droid looking at her in alarm.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here¨C!¡±
Barriss shot it, and leapt into the bubble, feeling her way to the desired module through the Force.
¡°I¡¯m in the control room,¡± she told the team, ¡°Inserting the cubes¨C¡±
A flashing light caught her attention¨Cproximity alarm. Our ship? No, not our ship. Someone else¡¯s entering the restricted zone right now. She struggled with the panel for a moment, before managing to display the data onto an overhead holoscreen.
¡°Is there an issue, Barriss?¡± Bode was audibly worried about an unforeseen hiccup in their plan.
¡°Iskat,¡± Barriss kept her eyes fixed on the approaching contact, ¡°Gunship, inbound.¡±
¡°How many?¡± Iskat was breathing heavily.
¡°Gunship,¡± she repeated, ¡°Singular. One.¡±
¡°Thirty troopers,¡± Iskat laughed nervously, ¡°I can do that.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Bode said tightly, ¡°I¡¯m making my way to the escape pods. See what I can do to mask our escape.¡±
Leaving the incoming company to Iskat, Barriss returned back to the data upload module, running her fingers over the scintillating surface and kicking the headless droid body away with her foot as she felt her way to her target. There it is. She flipped open a latch and tugged out two lengths of cable.
Fishing out the two datacubes, she identified the real program first and hooked it into the local computer. Then, she fished out the device hidden deep in her clothes, and hooked it up to the datacube. She breathed out to still the nervous jitter. Hopefully I can piggyback the Hydra¡¯s code onto the second program, so that they share the same access code. She accessed the two datapacks with a nearby computer and nested the Hydra¡¯s code into the datacube, using the local system so as to not alarm the central network.
If this doesn¡¯t work¡ I¡¯m in for a world of hurt.
Once the datacube was newly formatted, Barriss unplugged all of them and wiped the computer clean. She then hooked both cubes up and smashed down the install key, beginning the upload to the interconnected satellite network. Two holographic progress bars appeared, one slightly behind the other. As the contents of the dummy was a mere broadcast, the datafile size was relatively small, and the progress ran ahead of the larger, real datacube. The wait was unbearable, and made worse when a tremor shook the satellite. The entire facility shuddered, amber lighting flickered, and her eyes jerked anxiously up as dust from the overhead holograms flashed.
There was feminine shout¨CIskat¡¯s¨Cand the roar of blasterfire echoed down the corridor.
Barriss swore. As if in response, the dummy upload finished, and was run through the clearance protocols.
¡°Come on, come on, come on,¡± she muttered, slapping at the panel as if it would make the second upload quicker.
The second upload completed, and disappeared. Barriss double-checked to ensure it had been sent into a subsidiary databank for temporary storage in the queue. It¡¯s there. Good. Great.
The computer beeped, and a scrawl of text appeared on the overhead screens
[SYSTEM] ERROR 401: PACKAGE UNAUTHORISED
[SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT
[SYSTEM] REPORT FILED
And then the real program in the queue was brought up to be run through the clearance protocols.
¡°Barriss, are you there?¡± Bode shouted through the comlink, ¡°Got an ETA!?¡±
¡°Second program¡¯s being vetted,¡± Barriss replied, eyes darting to the radar display, ¡°I see another gunship approaching.¡±
¡°Leave it! Help Iskat clear the clones and get here ASAP! If it fails, then it fails, and we¡¯ll deal with it planetside!¡±
¡°Copy.¡±
Barriss climbed out of the bubble and stumbled toward the source of the chaos, following the echoes bouncing erratically off the uneven surfaces. And then the Force screamed in her ear. Barriss snapped downwards, ducking just as a blaster bolt speared through where her head once was.
She drew her lightsaber, newly built, clear sapphire blade bursting out and mixing with the red lightning for a deep purple mist. She approached, recognising the path as the one out of the sabacc lounge, knocking out stray bolts out the way as she did. Blaster bolts gnawed away at the walls, leaving them serrated and flaming.
Then she reached the lounge, and saw a beautiful thing. The Force sung in her ear, a poem, a dance. It sang a single song, a single desire, a pure, singular focus and goal.
Kill.
Kill!
KILL!
KILL! KILL! KILL!
Until it was a harmonious choir in her head, spurring her every limb to leap forth and slaughter. Barriss bit her tongue, drawing blood and allowing the sharp pain to clear her thoughts. The red-armoured Coruscant Guard were pouring into the lounge, filling the space with needles of harsh blue, and Iskat Akaris sliced, ducked, leapt, parried, punched, hacked, elbowed, kneed, threw and caught, kicked and flipped and sliced and stabbed. The Jedi Knight was a whirlwind of two lightsabers¨Cone emerald, one gold¨Cand both a flurry of death, herself consumed in her furious dance of unrestrained slaughter, time and time again using the Force to drag out any trooper camping down in the corridor and pulling them into her blades.
And the song the Force sang was great, so attuned, that Barriss found herself struggling not to join the massacre. Bode¡¯s fears were unfounded. Barriss¡ didn¡¯t need to help at all. In fact, she would help by simply staying out of the way. There was no other sound but that of fighting. No screams, no shouts. The clones were all likely roaring into their internal circuits, their pain and agony not escaping the confines of their helmets, and Iskat¡ And Iskat Akaris was like a living weapon, wielding not her lightsabers but instead being wielded by them, a puppet on strings dancing to the tune of the Force.
Until the crew lounge was scattered with corpses and broken bodies, some still in one piece, most not. The cramped entrance portal was in a worse condition, so piled high with bodies it was almost a barricade of flesh, bone, and plastoid, painted slimy red with a slick waterfall of blood that ran down and pooled at the threshold.
And the last clone was hanging in the air, suspended by the Force, as Iskat held him up by the neck. The red-skinned alien had lost her helmet somewhere, her armour smoking with blaster holes and steaming blood, and one of her lightsabers had been shot out of her hand¨Cher left, which she now used to hold up the cloned trooper. The troopers likely tried to disable the Jedi first, knowing her strength lied in her sabers.
Iskat was missing two fingers.
She held up the clone anyway. Even as she did, Iskat was so tall the hunter and hunted were still level eye-to-eye.
¡°W-Why¡!?¡± the clone choked out, ¡°J-Jedi¡¡±
¡°Iskat,¡± Barriss said.
Iskat sneered, her eyes glowing in the dark, and clenched her fist. And the trooper imploded. Barriss was intricately aware of the plastoid armour crumpling, the wet squelch of flesh and muscle, and the crunch of shattering bones. The clone trooper dropped to the ground, looking more akin to crumpled flimsi than man. At least¡ at least nobody is going to attribute this to a Jedi, Bode¡¯s red lightsaber notwithstanding. Was this part of Master Gallia¡¯s calculations too?
¡°Iskat,¡± Barriss said again.
Iskat snapped towards her, murder still in her eyes, and for a moment Barriss readied herself, believing the out of control Jedi would go after her next. Her fears were unfounded too, as a relieved grin appeared on her face, as if she had not just brutally slaughtered thirty grown men. Or rather, as if brutally slaughtered thirty grown men was some sort of adrenaline-fueled joyride.
¡°S-So¡¡± the red-skinned devil choked out, ¡°I m-made it¡¡±
That murderous gleam vanished, and Iskat slumped forward like a puppet with their strings cut. The haunting melody in the Force faded, and Barriss rushed forward to catch her, scooping up the fallen lightsaber as she did.
¡°I¡¯ve got her,¡± Barriss spoke into her comlink, ¡°Heading your way now.¡±
The trip to the escape pods were uneventful, even as the satellite shuddered with another docking gunship. Barriss had slung the barely conscious Iskat over her shoulder, who was so tall her feet were still dragging against the floor. They found Bode already boarding on escape pods; one out of three escape pods.
Barriss gladly handed off the lanky woman¨Cwho was heavier than she looked¨Cover to the stronger Bode, who raised an eyebrow.
¡°By the Force, she looks like she went through the ringer.¡±
¡°She did,¡± Barriss grunted as she climbed into the escape pod, closing the hatch behind her, ¡°In more ways than one. Let¡¯s go.¡±
¡°You got it,¡± Bode fastened Iskat into a seat, and then himself, before pressing his datapat.
Thud. Thud.
The two other escape pods were launched.
Thud.
And then it was their turn. Barriss¡¯ stomach leapt up to her throat as they hurtled back down to Coruscant.
¡°Where are we landing?¡± she asked.
¡°One of the underworld portals in the southern hemisphere. We¡¯ll disappear into the underworld,¡± Bode grunted, ¡°Hopefully Homeworld Security will follow the pod heading towards the northern hemisphere instead of us.¡±
¡°They¡¯re going to crack down on the Separatist cells,¡± Barriss breathed in, ¡°Thousands will die.¡±
¡°They¡¯re Separatists,¡± Bode closed his eyes, as if convincing himself, ¡°Good riddance.¡±
The pod jerked violently. That¡¯ll be the counter-thrust.
¡°So?¡± Bode then asked, ¡°Check the upload. Is it successful?¡±
Barriss fumbled the datapad into her hands, activating it and reading the logs with trembling apprehension.
[SYSTEM] PACKAGE UPLOAD SUCCESSFUL
[SYSTEM] INITIATING UPLINK
[SYSTEM] ERROR 424: FAILED DEPENDENCY
[SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT
[SYSTEM] ERROR 409: CONFLICT
SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT
[SYSTEM] ERROR 409: CONFLICT
[SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT
[SYSTEM] ERROR 409: CONFLICT
[SYSTEM] UPLINK ESTABLISHED
[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] BYPASSED SECURITY PROTOCOLS
[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] CONTACTING HANDLER ONE
[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] NETWORK COMPLETED
[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] RECONFIGURING SATELLITE SYSTEM
[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] WELCOME BACK, PRIESTESS. WAS YOUR MISSION SUCCESSFUL?
Barriss released an explosive, held breath. She looked up at Bode, smiling.
¡°Yes. It was very successful.¡±
Chapter 57
Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System
Harrin Sector
At the bridge of battlecruiser Chimeratica, Confederate Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri observed the approaching enemy. His hand flashed over the screen, and a pair of spinning scales strung out around the holographic display of Yag¡¯Dhul like an armillary sphere, miniscule increments denoting the absolute bearings with regard to the galactic plane. The holographic planet spun, just as the star system spun, but these absolute bearings would always be aligned with the arbitrary constants set by the Standard Galactic Grid.
The New Territories will always be nested in the absolute north, just as the Unknown Regions lay in the west and Trailing Sectors in the south. That will not change, even as the galaxy itself traversed the cosmos, spiralling at a steady 250 klicks a second. One of the joys of a galactic civilisation. Standardisation. Standard bearings, standard time, standard distance, standard alphabet.
People really took standardisation for granted, even as standardisation acted as the steady hand that guided this civilisation to peace and prosperity for ten-thousand years. Even as standardisation acted as the calculating impetus behind every battle and every war, the platform from which mass destruction and slaughter would be planned upon.
Three fleets approached Yag¡¯Dhul. Rain Bonteri eyed the absolute bearings, shifting the holograph towards a top-down view.
From the north-east, bearing 033 degrees and 100,000 klicks out, just beyond Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s third moon, was Octavian Grant¡¯s 20th Sector Armada, numbering two-hundred and fifty ships. As the 20th Sector Armada was ostensibly a rear-line combat element, most of their fighting force consisted of smaller vessels around a core battlecruiser squadron. Numbers and tonnage combined, it was a peer force to the 28th Mobile Fleet.
From the north-west, bearing 341 degrees and 90,000 klicks out, was Empatojayos Brand¡¯s Taskforce Swift Justice, recently liberated after Fondor¡¯s surrender and withdrawal from the Confederacy, numbering a little over one-hundred warships. Many sleek Fondorian vessels had joined this command, including new Tector-class battleships, but in total this force was still disadvantaged against the 28th Mobile Fleet. On its own, at least.
From the south-east, bearing 150 degrees and 150,000 klicks out, isolated from their comrades approaching from the north, was Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Open Circle Fleet, numbering three-hundred ships. Bringing over a hundred Venator-class battlecruisers to bear, the Open Circle was by far the most dangerous enemy fleet element present, one the 28th Mobile might not hope to triumph over in even combat.
¡°Just under seven-hundred ships,¡± Senator Daggibus Scoritoles gravely informed the gathered officers of the 28th Mobile Fleet, ¡°On behalf of the Body Calculus, I extend my sincerest gratitude for your efforts towards the liberation of our star system. However, in light of the Republic¡¯s enormous advantage, I must advise you to retreat. Rest assured, even against this force, Yag¡¯Dhul will not be taken by the Republic, this is as the Body Calculus determined.¡±
The Givin of Yag¡¯Dhul were the most revered mathematicians of the galaxy, and the Body Calculus was formed of the most revered mathematicians of the Givin. Some species gave more weight to their words than others, but the Givin were one of the few who always backed their words with hard numbers. If Daggibus Scoritoles had even forgone the Givin societal custom of greeting mathematics to implore a hasty withdrawal, then the chances of victory must be bleak indeed.
¡°Have the esteemed Body Calculus determined the possibility of victory to be ¡®zero¡¯?¡± the Rear Admiral leaned back, almost relaxed.
¡°No possibility is ¡®zero,¡¯ Admiral,¡± the Givin looked at him through an exoskeleton of bone, fixed into a perpetual scream, ¡°But the enemy has as many as three times the number of ships that you do, and intend to envelop you from three directions. However, you can still withdraw, and regroup with your allies for a counterattack. The Body Calculus has deliberated a strategy for your fleet to execute.¡±
¡°I must express my dissatisfaction, Senator,¡± the Rear Admiral gestured coldly, ¡°Why do you not say ¡®us,¡¯ and use ¡®you¡¯ in its place? Is the Mathematocracy not a constituent state of this Confederacy? Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s shipyards are well-regarded, and the reputation of their Wavecrest-class frigates precedes themselves. Will you not fight with us?¡±
¡°I am afraid that the Body Calculus is hesitant of committing its warships,¡± Senator Scoritoles bowed stiffly, ¡°As a defeat would render it unable to defend its orbital and atmospheric space.¡±
¡°Then how must we convince the Body Calculus of our certain victory?¡± the Rear Admiral asked, ¡°Must I descend to Dodecapolis, and make a presentation of my strategy with prepared graphs and charts?¡±
¡°I have already presented your strategy to the Body Calculus,¡± the Givin Senator replied, ¡°They concluded it is¡ implausible. Defeating a numerically superior enemy in detail has merit, but that is the obvious conclusion the enemy will come to as well. A ¡®defeat in detail¡¯ will only work if the enemy has the advantage in terms of total numbers, while you have the advantage over any single one of their divisions. That is not the case here. The Twentieth Sector Armada is a near-peer force, and the Open Circle Fleet have you at every disadvantage.¡±
¡°And how has the Body Calculus arrived at that conclusion?¡±
¡°With the evaluation of a dataset of battles accumulated over the long millennia of galactic warfare. The Body Calculus has all the data on hand, should you have the capacity to analyse it.¡±
To analyse every battle ever fought since the foundation of the Mathematocracy in the span of hours just to prove a point, the Rear Admiral mused, is such an unnecessary effort that speaks to exactly how the Givin operate.
¡°Then this battle will be a statistical anomaly,¡± the Rear Admiral promised, ¡°You speak of our defeat in the upcoming battle, Senator, but the battle has already begun.¡±
¡°You speak of¨C¡±
¡°Indeed I do,¡± the Rear Admiral gestured again, this time at a display, and five pairs of eyes turned to see it, ¡°As you can see, we have already begun whittling away at the enemy force. Fifty battlecruisers of the Open Circle Fleet are leaving. The Open Circle Fleet no longer possesses the advantage, and is now a near-peer force.¡±
¡°At the cost of seventy of your own ships.¡±
¡°Seventy frigates. It is a fair trade. And one we would immediately recoup if your Wavecrests are committed to our cause.¡±
¡°Even so,¡± Daggibus Scoritoles¡¯ hologram shimmered, ¡°It is unlikely for any fleet to defeat three peer enemy fleets in quick succession. The dataset proves as such; there is no historical precedent for such an event ever occurring.¡±
¡°It appears Body Calculus fails to understand that the historical precedent will begin with this battle,¡± Commodore Horgo Shive said leisurely, ¡°The Twenty-Eighth Mobile is not any fleet, not by design. Take it from a Muun, Senator, who does not move their credits easily. A risky investment promises high returns, and this fleet is an asset on which I have bet everything. That is the case for the entire Confederacy. This entire war is a volatile venture, and yet it is one that three of the most intelligent species of the galaxy have put their faith in; the Muun, the Siniteen, and finally, the Givin. Of which, only one has yet to put their credits where their mouth is.¡±
The silence of the Givin representative stretched on, watching the officers through pitch black, soulless eyes. He would not be moved by confidence or appeal to emotion; the Givin knew but one argument, and it was backed by numbers.
¡°Tell this to the Body Calculus,¡± the Rear Admiral finally told the Givin, ¡°They must stop falling for the fallacy that a ¡®defeat in detail¡¯ is anything but eloquent vernacular created by military strategists to make a simple premise more sophisticated than it really is.¡±
Daggibus Scoritoles then questioned, ¡°How so?¡±
¡°I will defeat the enemy. No matter how many times I must,¡± the Rear Admiral stood up, spreading his arms, ¡°Once. Twice. Thrice. Four times. Do you know why I must defeat three enemy fleets? It is because I have already destroyed the fourth.¡±
On the display, right on top of the 28th Mobile Fleet, bearing 000 degrees and zero klicks out, was the GAR¡¯s siege fleet, meant to take Yag¡¯Dhul by force, once numbering four-hundred warships strong. Once. If Anakin Skywalker¡¯s plan was for the siege fleet to buy time for the encircling forces by engaging the 28th Mobile Fleet, then he has already failed. Not a single ship of the siege fleet remained in active combat, completely destroyed over the course of three hours under the combined manoeuvres of the 28th Mobile.
Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri stepped forward until he was right in front of the skeletal features of the Givin Senator, ¡°If the Body Calculus wants historical precedence, then tell them they stand on history. I have destroyed a near-peer force, one in an defensive posture no less, and I will do it again three more times.¡±
Senator Scoritoles took a half-step back to create distance, ¡°Once is chance.¡±
Challenge gleamed in the Rear Admiral¡¯s eyes, each like a kaleidoscopic crystal, ¡°And twice is?¡±
If the Rear Admiral saw something within the Givin¡¯s sunken black eyeholes, he did not show it. Something passed between the two men, and if the Givin had the biological capacity to smile, perhaps Daggibus Scoritoles would have.
¡°Twice will be intent.¡±
?
On the opposite side, a shared unease rippled through the three commanders of the Republic effort to destroy the Battle Hydra. The three fleets had approached Yag¡¯Dhul swiftly, yet their pace was tempered with the necessity to remain synchronised in their approach, to eliminate any gaps in the encirclement from which the enemy could escape through.
This was critical, as Yag¡¯Dhul possessed a quaternary satellite system with three close-orbiting, oversized moons that acted as much on the planet and each other as the planet acted on them, creating erratic and powerful gravitational forces that would complicate any engagement. Such a phenomena would usually act as a hard limit for the maturation of any spacefaring civilisation, but the Givin had especially evolved with extraordinary mathematical and astronomical abilities to break out of their lunar cage.
The original plan was for the siege fleet to pin down the Separatists until the main force arrived, but considering the sudden radio silence, the three Republic commanders could only conclude their allies had already been destroyed. That left an issue, as they now had no way of knowing the exact location of the Separatist fleet. The quaternary system was filled with asteroids ripped from the moons by extreme tidal forces, and clouds of thick atmosphere hanging between them that refracted many sensor systems.
They had to approach this way, with their fleets in such a position to overlook any possible escape vector through the moons and asteroid fields. There was no fear about the Separatists'' attempt to escape via going above or below the system plane, as the lack of astronomical phenomena enabled all three fleets to discover and intercept them quickly. As such, should the Separatists attempt to escape, it was determined they would do so by giving them the slip by exploiting natural blindspots created by the quaternary system.
¡°That is,¡± Jedi Commander Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy narrowed her eyes, observing the quaternary system between the gathered holograms, ¡°If the Battle Hydra even intends to escape at all.¡±
¡°Withdrawal is the only natural conclusion for him,¡± Governor-General Octavian Grant argued, not unsoundly, should their opponent be any other, ¡°We¡¯re closing in on the enemy from three directions, and even without the siege fleet, we still command thrice their numbers. All the conditions point towards a decisive victory.¡±
¡°Not all conditions,¡± Jedi General Empatojayos Brand inserted into the conversation, ¡°You don¡¯t bother fighting a Dxunian raptor on its home turf; you wait for it to come to yours. We are doing the former. One moment you think you''re the biggest monster around, the next you¡¯re ten-thousand feet up in the jaws of a raptor. The second we cross the orbit of the third moon, we best stop thinking we¡¯re the hunters.¡±
¡°Besides, it already isn¡¯t a decisive victory,¡± Commander Tallisibeth shook her head, ¡°The siege fleet might not be so powerful, but they still had four-hundred warships. Not to mention all of the boots we had on the ground, now at the mercy of the Givin.¡±
If General Octavian Grant was resentful of being disagreed with twice, he did not show it. Born into the nobility of the neighbouring Tapani Sector, Grant was a blue-blooded aristocrat, young and contemptuous for those he felt were lesser beings compared to humans like himself and his fellow Tapani nobles. For him to work with Jedi was distasteful in of itself, but a barely-civilised Onderonian and an impoverished orphan from Vorzyd-V? Fortunately for Republic cooperation, the origins of individual Jedi are not so easily discovered by outsiders.
The only way matters could be made worse was if Tallisibeth or Brand was a politician on top of it. Octavian Grant was one of the Governor-Generals who found himself gravely injured by the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s consolidation of military authority, which itself acted as a catalyst for Grant¡¯s newfound hatred for politicians like Palpatine. If he had to work with the spineless bureaucrats that populated the likes of Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s Home Fleet, he might just mutiny¡ if it weren¡¯t for the alternative being the alien-dominated Confederacy. Well aware of this fact, the GAR¡¯s Strategic Command had by-and-large allowed General Grant to operate independently in the 20th Sector Army, dominated by the Tapani Oversector itself, to appease him.
Thankfully, on this occasion General Octavian Grant had tempered himself for battle, and considered his allies fellow military commanders first and foremost¨Cthough he still harboured internal doubts about the efficacy of Jedi officers.
¡°I will retire myself from this debate,¡± General Grant raised a gloved hand, ¡°I will not pretend to know our opponent anymore than a countryman of theirs, or someone who met them in person. If the Battle Hydra truly intends to fight, however, then I can only think of one way they can.¡±
¡°They intend to defeat us one at the time,¡± Tallisibeth agreed, ¡°While we are still isolated from each other.¡±
As the three allied fleets entered the quaternary system, their sightlines and communication corridors would soon be interrupted by the three moons and many other astrographical phenomena. Since the allied fleets had to coordinate with each other, they decided to base all of their bearings and distances relative to the planet of Yag¡¯Dhul itself, so they would all be looking at the same thing. With this in mind, the farthest moon from Yag¡¯Dhul was just portside of the 20th Armada, bearing just 050 degrees, relative to the planet. The second moon was on the port bow of Taskforce Swift Justice, bearing just west of absolute north. Finally, the closest and smallest moon of Yag¡¯Dhul was slightly southwest, bearing 195 degrees.
¡°So the question is; who will he attack first?¡± General Grant crossed his arms, ¡°If we can predict this, we can manoeuvre our fleets decisively and crush the menace once and for all.¡±
¡°He will attack the Open Circle Fleet first!¡± General Empatojayos Brand declared with such force his hologram quivered, ¡°A predator will always attack the most isolated prey first. Taskforce Swift Justice and the Twentieth Armada are only twenty-two degrees distant, while the Open Circle Fleet is a whole two-hundred degrees distant from us.¡±
¡°That is sensible,¡± Tallisibeth held her chin, analysing the battlespace carefully, ¡°If the Separatists attack the Open Circle, the Battle Hydra would put as much distance between himself and the two of you as possible. However, the Open Circle is the most powerful fleet between the three of us. We are no siege fleet; is the Battle Hydra so confident he can destroy us before you two can reinforce?¡±
Octavian Grant¡¯s eyes sharpened, considering the young Jedi Commander in a new light, ¡°What do you suggest then, Commander Esterhazy?¡±
¡°Observe,¡± Tallisibeth spun the tactical holo, pointing at the large, empty space on the west side of the quaternary system, ¡°Should the Separatists defeat us in detail, manoeuvrability is key. I think¡ no, the Battle Hydra will attack the weakest of us first; Taskforce Swift Justice, the only numerically smaller force between us. He will attempt to execute a surprise attack through this debris field here, and after defeating the fleet, he will break out into the west, manoeuvring around and thus able to target the Open Circle or Twentieth Armada at his discretion.¡±
General Brand¡¯s eyes widened, then squinted, eyebrows drawing together in irritation. The Onderonian Jedi had not thought of that indeed, but it made terrifying sense. His fleet was separated from their closest ally¨Cthe 20th Armada¨Cby the second moon of Yag¡¯Dhul. The Battle Hydra could lash out during the interim where the moon interrupts the communication corridor between the two fleets, and completely overwhelm Taskforce Swift Justice before using said moon to disappear once again.
Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Padawan lives up to her master¡¯s reputation, that is what the Jedi Knight decided then.
What Tallisibeth didn¡¯t mention was that she could see where the Battle Hydra was. Rees Alrix¡¯s funerary flame burned brightly, the void in the Force acting like a firebreak that made it a simple exercise to deduce out where the ¡®anomaly¡¯ was. The Battle Hydra was west of Yag¡¯Dhul, hiding behind the first moon, bearing 292 degrees relative to the planet, and he was closest to his prime target; Taskforce Swift Justice, with a thick cloud of orbital debris and asteroids bearing 305 to 343 situated between the two forces. It was with her supernatural radar that Tallisibeth formulated her strategy.
¡°I see¡¡± General Octavian Grant nodded, perhaps not so disgruntled with dealing with Jedi now. At least they weren¡¯t advocating for a full frontal assault like so many others do, ¡°And how will we counter this movement in the scenario that the Battle Hydra does as you predict?¡±
¡°Upon meeting the Separatists, Taskforce Swift Justice should withdraw,¡± Commander Esterhazy immediately answered, ¡°As the enemy pursues, the Twentieth Armada and Open Circle will close the distance and strike from behind. From here, the enemy has two choices; complete their destruction of Taskforce Swift Justice, which will allow us to bleed them out¨Cor turn around and try to break for the safety of the Yag¡¯Dhul satellite system. If they turn around, it will be the Open Circle and Twentieth Armada¡¯s turn to withdraw, allowing Taskforce Swift Justice to strike them from behind. With this, there will be no escape for the Battle Hydra.¡±
¡°Clever,¡± Octavian Grant praised, though it didn¡¯t sound any more positive than a factual statement, ¡°And not to mention this strategy will work should the Battle Hydra target any single one of our fleets, not just General Brand¡¯s. However, there is one major flaw in this strategy.¡±
Commander Esterhazy swallowed the Governor-General¡¯s words, bringing up her datapad to review her strategy again for what she had ostensibly missed.
¡°It is communication, Commander,¡± the General, however, did not give her the luxury of figuring it out, ¡°Your strategy is our best chance of a decisive victory, I concur, and the probability of success in very high¨Chowever, close attention to force concentration, flexibility, and promptitude in advance and withdrawal is required. To coordinate as such between three separate fleets, requires communication.¡±
¡°Are you saying we are unable to collaborate with each other, General?¡± Empatojayos Brand raised an eyebrow.
¡°We will be, if the enemy attacks the Twentieth Armada first,¡± Octavian Grant brought down his hand like a hammer, ¡°Considering the locations of our fleets, the only reason this meeting is possible is because the Twentieth Armada is acting as a ¡®bridge¡¯ between Taskforce Swift Justice and the Open Circle Fleet. If the Battle Hydra attacks us, and jams this corridor, communication between our allied fleets will break down.¡±
¡°...I acknowledge your point, General,¡± Tallisibeth began, proceeding in spite of the nervousness gripping her, that naturally came when speaking with such a high-ranking superior, ¡°But I cannot accept that the Twentieth Armada will be the Hydra¡¯s initial target. In fact, attacking the Twentieth Armada is the worst decision out of all three allied fleets.¡±
¡°I agree with Tallisibeth,¡± General Brand supported her against the Governor-General, for the second time, ¡°The Twentieth Armada is a peer force to the Perlemian Coalition''s Armada. If the Hydra decides to attack you, they will be putting themselves between the Open Circle and Taskforce Swift Justice, opening themselves to attack from every direction. If they were to make a move, this will not be it.¡±
¡°It is two-to-one, General,¡± Commander Esterhazy summoned up her courage to look General Grant in the eye, ¡°We will proceed with my strategy. General Brand will prepare for battle, while our two fleets will begin moving to his defence.¡±
¡°I refuse,¡± Octavian Grant¡¯s face tightened, visibly incensed to being stifled time and time again, ¡°As your ranking officer, I command you to rendezvous with my Twentieth Armada¨C¡±
Tallisibeth and Empatojayos Brand made eye-contact. The situation was deteriorating due to one man¡¯s stubbornness, made even worse when said main was a Governor-General, the top leader of the Grand Army of the Republic. Governor-Generals commanded thousands of ships and billions of soldiers, and answered only to the Supreme Chancellor himself; there was understating the vast influence and power each of them had at their disposal. If Octavian Grant made a command, it was unlikely Commander Esterhazy and General Brand could refuse without dire consequences.
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Master Skywalker would know what to do, for a moment, that was what Tallisibeth thought.
And then Admiral Yularen, who had been content being in the background until then, stepped forward into the holographic sensor, appearing beside the young girl.
¡°With all due respect, sir,¡± the Admiral addressed the Governor-General, ¡°Jedi officers are under the jurisdiction of Jedi Command, not the GAR Strategic Command or Republic Navy. You may be the ranking officer, but acting with the authority of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, the Commander has no obligation to follow your commands.¡±
General Grant¡¯s jaw clenched, ¡°Then we find ourselves at an impasse. However, I will not risk my fleet for a strategy I know is critically flawed. I will repeat myself one more time; once the enemy fleet engages and jams the Twentieth Armada, all communication between our fleets will disappear. The only way to counter this is for both of your fleets to begin making their way over to me immediately.¡±
¡°The General has a point, Commander,¡± Yularen, who had already retreated out of the hologram, told Tallisibeth softly, ¡°In a collaborative battle like this, communication is everything, and the Twentieth Armada is the linchpin holding us together. The Battle Hydra must surely realise this.¡±
Tallisibeth¡¯s chest clenched tightly, painfully. This is so much harder than Master Skywalker makes it look. How do I know what decision is correct? My own? My ally¡¯s? What does the Force say? She closed her eyes¡ the Force only told her where the Battle Hydra was, nothing more. And considering where the Battle Hydra was, their closest and most natural target was as she posited; Taskforce Swift Justice.
Noticing but uncaring of the Jedi Commander¡¯s internal turmoil, Octavian Grant abruptly cut his own connection, essentially forcing the last word to belong to him. Despite that, Empatojayos Brand and Tallisibeth could still connect to the same holoconference, which meant the 20th Armada was still facilitating communications. Maybe that was General Grant¡¯s way of highlighting the importance of his fleet.
¡°Well, aren¡¯t we off to a great start,¡± General Brand mumbled, looking at Tallisibeth apologetically, ¡°Sorry about that, Padawan, but Octavian Grant is one of the more¡ prideful Governor-Generals. What will we do now?¡±
Tallisibeth laughed nervously, ¡°I was going to ask you, Master. I¡¯m only a Padawan¡¡±
¡°You¡¯re Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Padawan,¡± Brand corrected, ¡°And you¡¯re commanding the Open Circle Fleet. I think you underestimate just how far your reach goes.¡±
Tallisibeth wanted to sit. Her legs felt tired. But there was nowhere to. Does Master Skywalker have to deal with this everyday? I can¡¯t imagine. This is exhausting.
¡°...There¡¯s a moon coming up between you and General Grant,¡± she pointed again, ¡°If the Battle Hydra decides to attack one of you, it will be when the moon blocks your communication. Send a surveillance craft to sit on the moon, so it can run to either you or him should either of you get attacked.¡±
¡°Sensible,¡± the Jedi Knight agreed, ¡°I will do as you say.¡±
The connection closed.
¡°Was that the correct decision, Commander?¡± if Admiral Yularen approved or disapproved, he made no outward sign of it. The question seemed more like a test, in Tallisibeth¡¯s eyes.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she slumped, purposefully failing the test, ¡°I hope.¡±
?
Governor-General Octavian Grant, Commanding Officer of the 20th Sector Army regarded the urgent report with the cool disinterest of an immovable aristocrat; ¡°Separatist warships closing rapidly!¡±
The entire display screen of fleet flagship Prominence was being covered in points of light as the enemy fleet swarmed into being, growing in luminosity as the menace sailed ever closer. The Perlemian Coalition took a triple-ranked approach; 184 warships, with a screen of frigates and destroyers in the fore, a core of four Lucrehulk-class battleships in the centre, and a rearguard of cruisers behind.
¡°This is why I dislike Jedi Generals,¡± Octavian Grant aired his disappointment aloud, ¡°Consistently missing the forest for the trees. They do not see the bigger picture, and the enemy has realised this.¡±
Within the ranks of the Republic Navy, Rain Bonteri is known as the Battle Hydra, but maybe he should be known as Jedi Killer instead. After all, what other enemy admiral had defeated so many renowned Jedi Generals on the field? Though, he has only killed one Jedi for now, despite having the opportunity to end so many more. Maybe¡ maybe there¡¯s a weakness there to be exploited, Octavian Grant suddenly thought.
¡°Yes,¡± he continued anyway, ¡°Admiral Bonteri wants to defeat three fleets in quick succession, but in a battle such as this, the defeat of one fleet must enable the defeat of another.¡±
So what if Taskforce Swift Justice was destroyed? As long as the 20th Armada and Open Circle still maintained contact, the two fleets could regroup and present a unified battleline against the now singularly outnumbered and outgunned Separatist force.
¡°And now, we have to face this fleet. Alone,¡± Grant ground his teeth, ¡°Immediate messages to our allies; engaging enemy seventy-thousand klicks northeast of Yag¡¯Dhul, bearing zero-three-one degrees absolute to the planet. Requesting immediate support.¡±
The Governor-General gave the order, but the communications officer of the battlecruiser Prominence could only respond with desperate actions and an expression to match. Jamming signals from the Separatist fleet were eating into the 20th Armada¡¯s comms voraciously. Try as they might, there was no overcoming the staple weapon of the Confederate Navy and the bedrock of their battlefield might; the ECM capabilities built into every Munificent-class frigate ever produced.
To make matters worse, the 20th Armada was trapped in between two moons, briefly but critically separating them from both of their allies. They had expected this, of course, but even then it was a cold feeling, realising they were well and truly on their own. Octavian Grant can only hope the two Jedi officers had taken his words to heart, and were rushing towards his aid.
Those Jedi¡ Empatojayos Brand was nothing special. The Onderonian fool caused a massive headache for the GAR after ¡®accidentally¡¯ enacting a crime against civilisation at Bassadro, which then became one of the first widely publicised and viral battles of the war, by virtue of taking place in the Interior. The only battle that could match Bassadro in virality until then was the Battle of Sarapin, where the Pantoran showed the Republic just how serious the Separatist Alliance was, and later the Battle of Atraken, with a Jedi Master put on trial for the galaxy to witness.
But Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy¡ now she was something close to special, wasn¡¯t she? So young, and yet already commanding a fleet as prominent as the Open Circle, as Anakin Skywalker chased after Asajj Ventress to prevent enemy reinforcements from thwarting their three-way envelopment. Initially, Grant could not tell just who Skywalker was insulting by placing his apprentice in charge of his fleet¨Chis allies or his enemy¨Cbut after listening to the girl air her strategies, maybe it was natural for the apprentice of the Jedi Order¡¯s most decorated general to show some promise.
Everybody has to start somewhere, and Yag¡¯Dhul was as good a place as any.
It was a shame she failed where it mattered, then.
¡°The enemy formation is evolving,¡± Grant¡¯s XO observed.
The screen of frigates that composed the Separatist vanguard was unfolding, with each alternating frigate in the line rising upwards and falling downwards in synchronicity, like the fangs of a cosmic leviathan separating for a great bite. As they split, they revealed the four Lucrehulks in the second line, arranged in an inverted chevron like a forked tongue. General Grant could then see the formation¡¯s final form in his mind¡¯s eye; a battle lattice of three rows and five ranks, with the top and bottom being frigates to extend forward, and the centre to be the four battleships to halt the 20th Armada¡¯s momentum.
¡°We have seen this before,¡± Octavian Grant announced, as cool as the temperature of the bridge, ¡°Adopt counter formation¨Cit is just as we have practised.¡±
The 20th Armada¡¯s formation evolved to match the enemy¡¯s, similarly splitting into two rows dorsal and ventral of each other, a handful of ranks deep.
¡°The Lucrehulks will be difficult to crack, General,¡± Grant¡¯s XO commented.
The General hummed in agreement. Lucrehulks were massive vessels, being three-klicks long and three-klicks wide. They were essentially mobile defence platforms, built to survive pirate attacks long enough for reinforcements to arrive, and that war before their wartime refits. But despite their size, they were surprisingly light, by virtue of being largely hollow to facilitate mass amounts of cargo. Once converted into warships, however¨Cand battleships especially¨Ctheir mass could increase by an order of magnitude. Lucrehulks have been known to take on as many as three Venators in a brawl and survive, if not exactly ¡®win.¡¯
¡°Nevermind the fleet,¡± Grant commanded, ¡°We must target the enemy commander. Considering the enemy fleet flagship is unknown to us, we will begin with the Lucrehulks.¡±
As he uttered those words, the first shot was fired. The enemy struck first, with a volley of missiles. The 20th Armada responded, blasting out a flurry of raking point defence that caught the vast majority of incoming projectiles, with the few that slipped through the net crashing harmlessly into deflector shields. As both fleets showed no signs of slowing¨C
¡°Prepare for close quarters combat!¡± Grant raised a hand, ¡°Have each vessel in the division rotate a hundred and eighty degrees on the longitudinal axis, and have all vessels concentrate shields on the ventral surfaces!¡±
The top row of Venators flipped upside down just as the bottommost row of Munificents did the same, as both fleets clashed into each other, creating a five layered sandwich; with Munificents on the top and bottom layers, Venators in the second and fourth layers, and Lucrehulks in the central layer. The tactical holos flashed bright white as the ferocity of the brawl doubled, tripled, as the vast outputs of energy and accompanying bursts of light threatened to burn out the eyes of the sensor operators.
Flashes of red-blue brilliance dance across the void. Separatist frigates unloaded bolt after bolt into the ray shielded surfaces of Venators with carnivorous savagery, just as the two rows of Venators¨Cwith all their dorsal firing envelopes pointed at the Lucrehulks trapped between them¨Cripped into the tough plating of the freighter-turned-weapons platform, bracketing the mighty battleships. Octavian Grant had learned the tactics of the Republic¡¯s most feared enemies, Rain Bonteri among them, and he knew this tactic to be the one that defeated Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi at the Battle of Christophsis.
However, such a tactic wouldn¡¯t work again. Not just on him, but on the Republic Navy as a whole. The reason being; the new line of Venator-class battlecruisers had evolved to compensate for the critical weakness that enabled the fearsome tactic in the first place. However, with bespoke SPHA-T artillery guns fitted into the ventral hangars of new battlecruisers¨Cif not carriers, for obvious reasons¨CVenators now boasted both dorsal and ventral firepower.
This was the case as Prominence and the rest of the 20th Armada¡¯s battleline returned fire with their ventral turbolasers, the overclocked batteries easily tearing through the comparatively weak shielding of the Munificents, piercing the thin doonium plating and churning their interiors into a grotesque glowing, liquefied metal. Some frigates thus exploded, vaporised by sudden and violent reactor combustion, while others had avoided such a fate and were instead still structurally intact, but too damaged to continue fighting.
In the case of one of the Lucrehulks¨CBattleship 53¨Cthe damage of being slammed from both top and below by the powerful main batteries of Republic battlecruisers were beginning to accumulate, with more and more bolts slipping through failing shields and slagging the topmost coat of armour plating.
General Grant, who had been observing the battle¡¯s progress closely, quickly noticed the chink in the enemy formation.
¡°That battleship there,¡± he pointed at Battleship 53, ¡°Have the Consequence target it. Armour piercing warheads, if you would. Right behind the main ion thrusters. That should be where the ship¡¯s main reactor lies.¡±
As ordered, battlecruiser Consequence launched its salvo of sixteen heavy proton warheads, penetrating the the Lucrehulk in multiple places, with two detonating right next in the engine room of the main hypermatter annihilator reactor, unleashing a great swell of raging, killing particles that had swept through the entire ship, instantly turning Battleship 53 into a coffin for six-hundred officers and a hundred-thousand battle droids.
The cascade of debris shot outwards, bouncing harmlessly off the navigational shields of the Venators, and one could spot a pleased smile on General Octavian Grant¡¯s face as the warm glow of the explosion washed over his face.
Even without their allies, the 20th Armada was winning, its lighter warships flooding the new hole in the Separatist line. In such a close quarter brawl between fleets, the losses suffered was bound to be even, but it was natural conclusion when facing 252 ships with 184 that the force with the numerical advantage would emerge victorious.
¡184? It was reported the Battle Hydra commanded 259 ships. Where is the remaining 75?
Grant¡¯s smile faded, though not quite to the point of worry. As the two fleets burned past each other, and Prominence¡¯s staff officers began planning for the reciprocal course necessary to finish off the remainder of the Separatist fleet, Octavian Grant analysed the astrographical terrain once more. The question roaring in his head was; why had Rain Bonteri foregone bringing his whole force down on the 20th Armada?
Seventy-five ships were missing, and Octavian Grant wanted to know where they were.
He scanned the tactical holo, darting from one possible spot to the other. Simultaneously attacking two of our fleets, perhaps. Possible, but unlikely. Seventy-five isn¡¯t enough to engage the Open Circle, and using seventy-five to strike the Swift Justice is worthless when two-thirds of his fleet was sacrificed attacking the 20th Armada. If he is seeking escape, there are much more effective ways to achieve it. And if he is seeking victory, this is no way to do so at all.
Which means the missing seventy-five ships¡ are also targeting this 20th Armada.
From where?
Octavian Grant¡¯s eyes sharpened.
From there.
He hadn¡¯t noticed, embroiled in the battle, but the 20th Armada had advanced forward enough that they had passed the third moon of Yag¡¯Dhul, creating a massive blindspot to their port quarter. If Bonteri had been hiding one-third of his fleet behind the moon, tracking their advance for a singular moment to hit them from behind in a spectacular hammer-and-anvil¡
¡°I see,¡± the General spoke aloud, catching the attention of his bridge crew, ¡°It appears we may have been outplayed.¡±
¡°General?¡± his XO questioned.
Granted handed his staff officer the datapad; ¡°Helm; full speed ahead. We must break through this brawl. Pick out our most disabled warships and have them lag behind to act as a rear particle shield. Have their ventral surface face our rear, and evacuate them once such manoeuvre has been executed.¡±
As expected, once the frigates and battleships had cleared the Republic¡¯s gauntlet, they began dispersing. The remaining three Lucrehulks roared as they hastily descended, while the ranks of frigates fanned upwards and out, or downwards. It was with this manoeuvre that the Republic spacers could appreciate the damage done to the enemy line of battle, as thirty-seven frigates and twenty destroyers continued to follow their final course, hurtling along on invisible rails of inertia. They took no action to move, incapable of doing so.
In comparison, only sixteen Republic battlecruisers were taken out of commission in that engagement.
Such pleasure was quickly crushed, however, as they entered the firing range of the final and third rank of the triple-ranked Separatist line of battle. And this time, they came face to face with the full broadside of Crying Sun and the seventy-four warships of the 284th Battle Division. At the same time, a sensor officer cried out on the deck of the Prominence¨C
¡°Hostile contacts! Bearing zero-three-nine relative to the planet, range twenty-thousand klicks! They¡¯re coming out from behind the moon!¡±
¡°How many?¡± General Grant asked a question he already knew the answer to. One ship stood out in particular to him, gleaming brightly on the scopes with chrome armour and fabulous solar sails that would not be out of place on a luxury yacht. A Tionese battlecruiser.
It was a marvel of engineering and naval architecture that spoke to Grant¡¯s noble soul. He had never seen one before, and even at this distance, he still wished he could speak to the captain of such a fine vessel.
¡°Seventy-five, sir!¡±
¡°They¡¯re crossing our ¡®T¡¯ from both front and rear,¡± his XO said, pessimistic, but not found lacking in the line of duty, ¡°It might be the end for us here.¡±
That brought him back to the task at hand. After all, 20,000 klicks¡ was well within the effective range of Separatist missiles and torpedoes. And indeed, as if heralded by the thought, flashes of light erupted across the enemy battleline¨Conce, twice, three times¨Ca flurry of brutal warheads racing towards the 20th Armada¡¯s not quite defenceless rear.
¡°Concentrate shields to the front,¡± Grant ordered instead with reinforced calm, ¡°Have our gunners take local control and focus on the enemy in front of us. Target hardpoints; the torpedo launchers.¡±
¡°Very good, sir.¡±
With prompt reactions, the gunners of the 20th Armada turned their barrels forward and released their thunderous firepower. Almost simultaneously, the ¡®4th Battle Division launched their salvoes. In such close quarters, sparks erupted all across the empty space dividing the two battle lines, furious eruptions that boomed what felt like mere metres away in front of them, forcing the view screens to darken in response, lest all within became blinded. The space was so narrow and confined, in fact, that energy particles and turbolaser bolts and torpedoes collided at terrific speeds, annihilating one another in a cannibalistic fury.
Then, at their rear, the first enemy volley reached them, smashing right into the bulwark of battlecruisers Grant had ordered left behind to act as a physical shield. They shattered upon impact, tens of millions of tonnes of steel blasted outwards and towards the 20th Armada¡¯s engine blocks, smaller shards being incinerated in ion thrust plumes while larger chunks of debris crashed straight into aft bulkheads.
¡°Order all ships to shut down all power feeds to the thrusters immediately!¡±
Similar commands rang out through the bridges of the battlecruisers present, each captain skillfully taking command of the situation and preventing what should have been an inevitable disaster¨Ca chain reaction of engine explosions¨Cfrom occurring. Then the second volley arrived, and finally the third, and by the end of it many Republic captains had independently partitioned their shields between fore and aft to more effectively distribute the damage.
Nevertheless, by the time the two Separatist divisions had completed their respective ¡®crossing the Ts,¡¯ much of the 20th Armada had been rendered immobile, the huge engine blocks of their Star Destroyers turning into a liability, brutally mauled by Separatist warheads. Much of the fleet was still intact, and their weapons effective, thanks to Octavian Grant¡¯s decision to sacrifice his own ships to protect their rear, but without working engines, they could not move.
Despite being presented with sitting ducks, however, the surviving forces of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada ignored the mauled 20th Armada and continued on their present vector, bound westward.
Octavian Grant stared at the dead holoemitter, where the tactical holo was once present. Rolling blackouts gripped the Prominence as engineers struggled to revive the main reactor, after it had suffered extensive damage. Thankfully, the warship¡¯s emergency power cells were still keeping essential systems, such as gravity and atmosphere, online. Despite that, Grant could still form a mental image of the tactical holo in his mind¡¯s eye, tracing the vectors of the enemy divisions as he had last seen them through his imagination.
¡°...I see,¡± he mumbled, ¡°Clever.¡±
¡°Sir?¡±
¡°I must admit Commander Esterhazy is due more credit than I had given her,¡± Octavian Grant admitted, ¡°She was correct in her assessment that Swift Justice was Rain Bonteri¡¯s primary target from the start.¡±
¡°I would argue it was us, General,¡± his XO raised an eyebrow.
¡°How many of our ships are permanently out of combat, Captain?¡± Grant asked.
¡°...I would say around a hundred, General.¡±
¡°And the other hundred-fifty will be able to re-enter combat once repairs are completed?¡±
¡°Correct.¡±
¡°This was an indecisive engagement,¡± Grant assessed, ¡°Bonteri realised with General Brand and I so close to each other, one fleet could come to the reinforcements of the other. But he also realised the importance of taking out our Twentieth Armada, to sever communication between Swift Justice and the Open Circle. Thus, he engaged us not to annihilate our fleet, as one should expect from a defeat in detail, but simply to disable us. With our power systems down, we can no longer move, and no longer communicate. And yet, Bonteri was not forced to engage in a lengthy battle in which he could become pinned down.¡±
¡°It is our shame for not deducting his intentions.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Octavian Grant paced the deck, ¡°I had not expected such a sophisticated strategy from an Onderonian. Is there anything else we know about him?¡±
¡°He¡¯s a noble, sir. From the House of Bonteri,¡± the officer said stiffly, ¡°Shall I have our engineers bring us back into fighting shape?¡±
¡°Now that would explain it,¡± the Tapani noble nodded seriously, ¡°For now, prioritise our bringing our communication suites back to life. Have every still-combat capable warship rendezvous with the Open Circle. It will not remove the stain upon our honour, but fighting with Commander Esterhazy in the decisive engagement will make up for our shame.¡±
¡°Very good, General.¡±
Governor-General Octavian Grant released a breath, staring out at the inky blackness beyond Prominence¡¯s viewports. It was a good duel, Bonteri. I look forward to our next bout.
?
Meanwhile, thirty-thousand klicks away, there was a conversation going on between the Tionese battlecruiser Kronprinz and the Separatist fleet flagship Chimeratica.
¡°He¡¯s good, that one,¡± Commodore Diedrich Greyshade said, ¡°Octavian Grant. We will have to keep an eye on him.¡±
Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri nodded distantly, though Greyshade was unable to see it. They had intended to completely obliterate the 20th Armada there, using the battle lattice to occupy the 20th Armada long enough to lure them right in between two full battle lines of torpedo broadsides to grind Octavian Grant¡¯s fleet into dust. Instead, almost a quarter of the remaining 28th Mobile Fleet was now blasted scrap metal, and they had only been able to destroy less than half of the 20th Armada.
¡°We will have to circle back around later and finish them off,¡± Rain Bonteri told Greyshade, ¡°For now, it is imperative we hit Empatojayos Brand before he can react. Let¡¯s not make the same mistake twice.¡±
¡°No mercy for your countrymen, Admiral?¡±
¡°The only homeland the Jedi know is Coruscant.¡±
¡°That is a good point.¡±
Internally, Rain Bonteri stirred. Octavian Grant was a new player he knew far too little of. Until now, the 20th Sector Army had been content remaining in the borders of the Tapani Oversector, and so there was not much known about their officers and fleets. He had been content believing that most of the GAR¡¯s Interior Armadas were populated by comparative unskilled men, with all of the most talented officers being relegated to the front lines. However, if all of the 20th¡¯s commanders were as skilled as their General, then he may have to re-evaluate this supposition. Operation Starlance may encounter an initial obstacle far more troublesome than he had anticipated.
¡°As for Octavian Grant,¡± Greyshade mused aloud, ¡°He might become a problem in the future if we don¡¯t deal with him now.¡±
¡°He did better than I expected,¡± Rain Bonteri acquiesced, ¡°All the more reason why we must remove him. He won¡¯t make the same mistake next time.¡±
One could imagine Diedrich Greyshade grinning on the bridge of Kronprinz, ¡°Right. He missed the forest for the trees.¡±
¡°He did. Only this time, however.¡±
For now, however, a singular thought was present in the minds of every Separatist captain; one down, two to go.
| Battle of Yag''Dhul (Part 1) |
|
| !!NOT TO SCALE!! |
Chapter 58
Eastern Veil, Llon Nebula
Itopol Sector
Twenty standard hours is not enough time to forget the words of a man, that much Asajj Ventress learned as she endlessly paced the deck of Dark Rival like a starved acklay. Rain Bonteri¡¯s parting words troubled her, not for that he definitely knew she had been ordered to betray him, but that he also insinuated she herself would be the victim of betrayal.
¡°Because betrayal is an unhappy hazard of the dark side.¡±
It was the exact same words Dooku had recited to her, and now it echoed over and over again in her head. She tested the sentence, feeling the Force wrap around it as she stewed in that hated sense of uncertainty. The simple recital of the maxim was proof he knew every detail about Count Dooku¡¯s instructions¨Cbut he could have used any section of that transmission, yet purposefully picked out this single sentence for a reason.
Ventress could be overthinking, but if there was one thing she knew about Rain Bonteri, it was that the Onderonian noble only knew how to overthink; whether it be planning a stratagem down to the most minute detail, deconstructing his opponent¡¯s psyche piece by piece, or calculating each and every word in order to elicit the most favourable outcome in a mere conversation. If she wanted to be on the same mental wavelength as the Battle Hydra, it was worth combing through every detail.
And there was one detail that plagued her like a chronic illness; that he had given her the benefit of the doubt on the eve of such a crucial battle being able to. The fact that he chose to ¡®believe¡¯ her when Ventress told him she was acting for the greater good of the Confederacy. A single, well-placed missile could have taken out Dark Rival before Ventress and the Storm Fleet ever became a problem, but no such missile came.
Instead, he simply imparted that maxim.
¡°Betrayal is the unhappy hazard of the dark side.¡±
Ventress paced the deck, repeating the sentence under her breath like a mantra. Over and over, and in the twenty-first hour, something clicked into place, and Ventress felt like a lucid onlooker in a mad dream. She had focused so much on the sentence itself that she had overlooked the context behind it.
No. He didn¡¯t say that to tell me he knew I would betray him. It was used as a warning. He was warning me that I was going to be betrayed.
And then in her mind¡¯s eye, that sentence was replaced by a single name. Count Dooku.
What if¡ what if Dooku¡¯s instructions were meant to lure her away from a place of safety¨Cwithin the most dangerous fleet of the CAF not under Dooku¡¯s complete control¨Cand into a hidden, isolated nebula of the Mid Rim where he could kill her? Did that not mean she wasn¡¯t actually tasked to take command of a powerful, secret fleet to use against their enemies, but instead to sail straight towards her own tomb?
In that frenzied hurricane of thoughts, Ventress had not even considered how Rain Bonteri could have uncovered such knowledge. Or even realised that he had not known at all, and simply wished to unnerve her. Nor did she realise that the very fact that Dooku had told her of that maxim just before ordering her death was incredibly suspect on its own.
That frenzied hurricane of thoughts¡ came to an abrupt end with her relentless pacing when the hyperdrive alert warbled. Twenty-one standard hours throught hyperspace. She had finally made it.
But made it where? A new beginning, at the head of two-hundred of the most advanced ships of the Confederacy? Or the end, in a ignoble death among the stars, alone and unnoticed?
The astronavigation droid, not being Force-sensitive themselves, and wholly unaware of her thoughts, flippantly disengaged the hyperdrive. Dark Rival lurched beneath her feet, and Ventress braced herself for the blackness of deep space, and perhaps, the blinding light of a thousand turbolaser bolts.
At that moment, a crucial detail slipped from Ventress¡¯ mind. If he had every intention to kill her, why had Count Dooku also reminded her that betrayal was the custom of the dark side?
?
¡°Here we are,¡± Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker announced to himself as Pioneer and half a hundred other Venators¨Cbattlecruisers and carriers alike¨Cripped themselves out of hyperspace, ¡°Dead centre in the middle of nowhere.¡±
Clone Commander Appo stirred from such stillness for a moment Anakin could have believed the trooper had fallen asleep on his feet. To all outward appearances, Appo seemed perfectly normal, perfectly stern and attentive as a Clone Commander should. But beneath that perfectly identical face, Anakin had noticed something else over the past few hours in hyperspace; an underlying thirst, an eagerness for something, a tension that strained to be released.
Released, in battle. It was there now, and as Anakin studied Appo¡¯s face, he could almost visualise those lines of tension in the Force.
The 501st Clone Legion was yearning for some excitement, and their Commander was no different. They had been bred for battle, and their last engagement, on the Separatist world Nam Chorios, was far and away. A deep space boarding action was the perfect vector to unleash some of that pent up energy.
¡°¨CI¡¯ll ready the men, sir,¡± Appo suggested, ¡°At your leave?¡±
¡°Go ahead,¡± Anakin jabbed out his chin, crossing the deck to the sensor chief. For a moment, he almost called out to Lieutenant Klev, before squashing down that habit with the mental reminder that he was no longer aboard the Harbinger anymore.
Klev, and Avrey and Yularen for that matter, was with Tallisibeth, and hopefully they were doing alright. They must be fighting the Battle Hydra now, that infamous Separatist warlord, if the battle was not already over. Tallisibeth was not dead, that was much was certain to him, nor was the Harbinger destroyed¨Cfor he would have felt such a connection severed in the Force, and he had felt no such thing. It was a good sign, one that only reinforced Anakin¡¯s faith in his apprentice, and not just his apprentice but the crews and captains of the Open Circle Fleet.
It was a long way from Christophsis.
¡°Anything, officer?¡± the Jedi General questioned.
The sensor chief¡¯s eyes darted up to him, and back down, ¡°Working on it, General. The Nebula ain¡¯t playing nice.¡±
Anakin nodded sharply but understandingly, nary a blame or rebuke on his lips, and brought his attention towards the viewports. It was a sight to behold; the Llon Nebula were sheets of green and blue and red, and there were stars, newly-formed and newborn, above and below and on all sides. It was an enormous soup of dust and gas, one of many stellar nurseries of the galaxy, and they were within it, soon to violate it with battle.
An involuntary shiver ran up his back at that thought.
¡°We¡¯ve got contact¨C¡± the sensor chief suddenly said, ¡°¨CMultiple contacts; bearing oh-four-seven, mark two-nine-nine.¡±
Anakin¡¯s brain spun as he mentally ingested the bearings¨Cbelow us¨Cbefore raising a single finger and twirling it. The helm kicked Pioneer into a spin, rolling the mighty vessel a full hundred-eighty degrees longitudinally until the entire ship was ¡®upside down.¡¯ Such orientation was tracked as such on the numerous displays and holos, until their operators keyed in for the switch, and thus ¡®upside down¡¯ was now the ¡®right side up.¡¯
Anakin marched up to the viewports, craning his head up at the supposed contacts that were now ¡®above¡¯ them. At first, there was the usual scattering of stars, but as he traced the bearing, it was then that he witnessed an arm of the Llon Nebula, a swirling river of light bisecting the vast void. And within that river of light were dark shapes, shadows, hundreds of them, like barges sailing along the flow of stardust. His eyes traced the silhouettes, and his brain forced a pattern onto them, matching them against the vast gallery of starship silhouettes his memory contained.
¡°Those are freighters, not warships,¡± Anakin muttered, then aloud ordered; ¡°Send the scans to my datapad. I want to see everything.¡±
¡°Right away, sir.¡±
The images coalesced on his datapad. The ships were large and geometrical; massive flying boxes exactly eight-hundred metres long and sheathed in dull black durasteel. On their aft ends sat a pair of huge sublight thrusters, arranged vertically, and their prows were dominated by a gargantuan cargo door that spanned port to starboard. Anakin recognised the freighter type; it was one of the most popular and ubiquitous ships classes in the galaxy.
PCL 27, designed by Maxwell & Son. It also went by another more popular name, whether it be in the private circles of shipping magnates, dockhands living paycheck-to-paycheck, or the trillions of spacers who share the hyperlanes with such vessels; A-class bulk freighter. Such a classification was not official, but merely being called the ¡®A-class¡¯ was enough of a testament to its omnipresence across the galaxy. Pioneer¡¯s scans reflected as such, with a gleaming ¡®PCL 27¡¯ highlighted at the corner of the screen.
There were two-hundred of them, all lying dormant on that river of light. No running lights, no thruster plumes.
So this is it? Anakin had to ask himself in disbelief. The vaunted reinforcements the Battle Hydra was relying on is an abandoned, derelict merchant convoy?
Suffice to say, the Jedi Knight swiftly discarded the thought.
¡°I want a full-spectrum scan on that fleet,¡± he instructed, ¡°Search for bio-signs as well.¡±
As the Open Circle detachment crept closer to investigate, more information poured into Anakin¡¯s hands. His suspicions grew. The thrusters¡ were too clean. Freight companies and captains loved to skimp out on fuel quality to save costs, and these thrusters showed no signs of that. Either these ships were incredibly new, or they didn¡¯t burn dirty. That was the first sign. The second was the hull itself. Anakin studied the lines and paneling of the hull, the quality of the fittings, then the material composition of the plating. It¡¯s not just durasteel¨Cit¡¯s a military-grade doonium alloy. Then there was the forward ¡®cargo door¡¯ that possessed none of the design features of a cargo door and all the features of an armoured bulkhead.
These ¡®freighters¡¯ are built like military-grade warships.
So why are two-hundred of them sitting in some middle-of-nowhere nebula?
¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± the sensor chief frowned, ¡°There aren¡¯t any bio-signs.¡±
¡°Did we accidentally stumble on the Dark Force or something?¡± another officer half-joked.
Dark Force. A rush of memories flooded Anakin¡¯s mind. The officer was talking about the Katana fleet, a task force of two-hundred Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers built ten years ago. The Katana fleet was meant to herald a new era for Republic military warships, each ship outfitted with a then-advanced set of full-rig slave circuitry. When the system malfunctioned, the whole fleet jumped to lightspeed together and disappeared forever.
Ten years ago, Rendili Dreadnaughts were ludicrously crew-intensive, requiring upwards of sixteen-thousand spacers in all. The bespoke slave circuitry implemented cut that number down to little over two-thousand. These days, slave circuitry was even more advanced, but hardly utilised due to the great scare caused by the scandal. Despite that, slave circuitry was absolutely ubiquitous in the Separatist navy; present and essential in basically every Separatist warship ever built. The joys of droid crews, Anakin decided, and organic manpower deficit.
Ten years ago, full-rig slave circuitry was the next evolution in starship technology. Advanced, but untested. The Dark Force was supposed to be the Republic¡¯s grand demonstration of how effective a slave-rigged fleet could be.
Before the slave-rigged fleet took half a million men to their graves.
¡°A-class bulk freighters only need a crew of sixty,¡± Anakin recalled aloud, ¡°If these are warships like I suspect, maybe a couple hundred. If we assume slave circuitry, and droid crews¡ one could run a completely secret fleet. Think about it; there¡¯s no need for a home port or even ports of call, and when they¡¯re on the move, the ordinary spacer would think it''s a freight convoy.¡±
¡°So you think this is it, sir? The Storm Fleet?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Anakin said decisively, ¡°This is it. There must be a reason why they are all deactivated, but we¡¯re not here to poke the sleeping krayt dragon. We¡¯re here to kill the sleeping krayt dragon. Inform the secondary bridge; launch all starfighters! Bring us in¨Cdestroy them all!¡±
Sorry, Appo, but if we¡¯re lucky your men won¡¯t have any fun at all. If we¡¯re lucky.
Anakin Skywalker wasn¡¯t a lucky person.
¡°New contact!¡± the sensor chief alarmed, ¡°There¡¯s a Providence almost right above us, headed on the same vector!¡±
That¡¯d be Asajj Ventress. Anakin traced the vector¨Cit was Ventress¡¯ ship, indeed, Dark Rival, and it was racing towards the safety of the Storm Fleet.
¡°¨CHow close must she get to transmit the control codes to the fleet!?¡± Anakin demanded in a rush, his every muscle straining to dash to the hangar bay and leap into his starfighter.
¡°We¡¯re in a nebula, sir,¡± the sensor chief replied as calmly as he could, ¡°You can ask the stars and they¡¯ll likely give you a more accurate answer than I.¡±
Anakin twitched, ¡°Then belay that last order and bring Pioneer to bear on Ventress! Have all starfighter wings target that ship¨Cthe Dark Rival! The rest of the fleet will proceed at pace!¡±
As long as those fake freighters don¡¯t get activated, this spot will mark Ventress¡¯ grave. Anakin¡¯s scar burned. And it''s been a long time coming.
?
Ventress found herself within her Ginivex-class fanblade before she knew it, the Banshee screeching out of Dark Rival¡¯s through-deck hangar bay with all two-hundred droid starfighters and a hundred more landing shuttles as soon as Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Open Circle appeared right below her. She hardly even had the luxury of wondering how or why he had followed her, only that she had to reach the Storm Fleet before he caught her.
Because a Providence, for all of its advantages, could not outrun a Star Destroyer, or the blistering masses of Republic fighter-bomber wings for that matter. Within a matter of moments, the Pioneer was right below Dark Rival, both ships longitudinally spinning perpendicularly to bring their broadsides to bear. Without her combat escorts, however, Dark Rival couldn¡¯t effectively stave off the hungering squadrons of BTL-B Y-wings that dove beneath her shields and unleashed their deadly payloads of proton torpedoes down her spine.
Dark Rival, knowing her end was at hand, overloaded her turbolasers, turning into a cylinder of blazing laserfire and torpedoes, lashing out in one final tantrum against death before her capacitors blew out. Pioneer responded in kind, leveraging an almost comical number of starfighters¨Cwell over four-hundred¨Cagainst the single Providence. Ventress hadn¡¯t the luxury to watch her flagship¡¯s end either, as she kicked Banshee¡¯s drive to full power and set off towards the indicated Storm-001, flagship of the Storm Fleet, on her panel.
Close behind her, another 49 Venators, and 5,000 hostile starfighters out for her blood. A familiar drive trail appeared on the panel, one unmistakable to any pilot of the Confederacy¨Cthe piercing dagger of a Jedi Aethersprite.
Skywalker.
One of the Vulture droids warbled, the translation scrawling across the holodisplays in Banshee¡¯s cockpit.
¡°What!?¡± Ventress gritted her teeth, kicking out her engines and whirling Banshee around so she could see behind her¨Cand saw a second fleet extracting out of hyperspace. Separatist frigates shot out of lightspeed and slugs from a chamber, each deafeningly silent thud seemingly vibrating the dust clouds of the Llon Nebula, ¡°Bonteri followed us!?¡±
The Vulture warbled again, alerting her to the twenty spearhead destroyers blazing a golden trail towards them, outpacing the frigates and even the Republic Star Destroyers. Mistryl destroyers. Why? Did Bonteri send them after Skywalker? To help me? But he knows I¡¯m not here to bring him reinforcements¡ just what is he up to?
Regardless, it was a welcome reprieve. The Mistryl fleet had appeared almost laterally across the Open Circle, with Dark Rival and Pioneer dead centre between them. Almost immediately, half of the pursuing starfighters peeled off Ventress¡¯ tail and brought themselves around in a tight one-eighty, now on a tight intercept with the Vultures released from the frigates¨C
Only to be ignored by said Vultures, the droid starfighters blowing right past Dark Rival and Pioneer.
Or, Ventress narrowed her eyes, whirling Banshee back around and pushing its drives to their limits, Bonteri sent them to track me after all. The Llon Nebula was, like all nebulae, utterly vast, spanning many light-years. Only Ventress knew the exact coordinates of the Storm Fleet, courtesy of Count Dooku, and Bonteri had likely sent the Mistryl to track her.
Regardless, her situation had just gone from bad to worse.
Banshee barrelled between the first two Storm-class destroyers, weaving through the tightly packed formation towards the centre of it. Her fighter wing followed closely as she did, zigzagging in and out so closely Ventress could count the rivets on the front panels.
¡°Storm-One,¡± Ventress punched the comm panel, ¡°This is Asajj Ventress!¡±
If she thought her name was enough to make the slumbering giants wake, Ventress found herself sorely mistaken. As Separatist and Republic starfighters clashed right over her, stray bolts spearing through empty space, the Storm Fleet continued to lie unmoving. Another of her Vultures chimed, its chassis quivering as it did.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
¡°Dooku,¡± Ventress hissed, slamming his contact into the panel, ¡°Count Dooku!¡±
As if awaiting precisely this moment, Count Dooku¡¯s hologram appeared before her, a regal eyebrow raised, ¡°Why the rush, Asajj? It is unbefitting.¡±
¡°Master, I need the codes, now,¡± Ventress told him as urgently as she could without shouting, ¡°There is a¨C a situation.¡±
A Vulture droid warbled¨Cdamn you!¨Cand Dooku¡¯s eyes narrowed. At that moment, it took every fibre in her body to not wheel on the stupid droid and blast it to pieces.
¡°So both the Hydra and Skywalker have tracked you and learned about the Storm Fleet¡¯s existence,¡± he murmured in disappointment.
¡°I can still destroy them, Master!¡± Ventress insisted heatedly, ¡°All I need are the codes!¡±
¡°You have lost, Asajj,¡± Count Dooku sighed deeply, but composedly, ¡°Against one or the other, perhaps the Storm Fleet could prevail. But both? The Storm Fleet will no longer be yours to command.¡±
At that moment, Rain Bonteri¡¯s words returned to the forefront of her thoughts like a vengeful prophecy. At that moment, Asajj Ventress¡¯ pride and ego shattered, her weaknesses and insecurities flooding her thoughts, and thousand questions and one repeating in her head. The promises she made, the promises she broke. The lifetime of battles she waged, the years of service she kept. The dark side of the Force reigned over her, her eyes bleeding into a baleful shade, her blood darkening, her pulse quickening.
And yet, Asajj Ventress was as lucid as she has ever been.
¡°You are betraying me,¡± she stated with a calm certainty that surprised Dooku as much as it surprised herself.
Count Dooku met her hateful stare, ¡°I am afraid it is¨C¡±
¡°Do not give me that tripe!¡± Ventress snapped, the roar of laserfire and thundering torpedoes overhead fading into a background lull, ¡°What was it all for, Dooku!? Rattatak, Geonosis, the war!? What was the Confederacy for!? I believed in you, when Sev¡¯rance didn¡¯t! I believed in your promise of a better galaxy! Tell me! Why am I no longer part of the galaxy you envision!? What did I do!? Where did I go wrong!? What does the Confederacy mean to you!?¡±
¡°Nothing,¡± Dooku replied simply, the single word like a vibroknife in her gut, and the next words twisted it mercilessly, ¡°The Confederacy means nothing to me. Your mistake, Asajj, was not realising this, and not realising you were but a mere piece in a greater game you know nothing about. I truly regret this, Asajj. You were my finest creation, and there was nothing I looked forward to more than your presence at my side whence I built my New Order. I had hoped for¡ much from you. In the end, you couldn¡¯t accomplish something as simple as secure a fleet I had all but placed at your fingertips. This failure will be your last.¡±
The comlink clicked and went dead. One of the Sheathipede shuttles accompanying her released a loud burst of electromagnetic waves. Banshee was close enough to intercept the code¨Cthe encoded string was crawling across her dashboard as she kicked her starfighter out of the flight formation on instinct.
A series soundless thud thud thud. The running lights of two-hundred dormant warships exploded to life simultaneously, black armour plating rolling back to reveal perfectly aligned rows of turbolaser barrels and missile launchers.
And all nine hells broke loose.
?
The Storm Fleet had been activated, Anakin could see that clearly from the cockpit of his Aethersprite, R2-D2 beeping in alarm as each ponderous vessel executed surprisingly sharp turns, considering their design. Anakin had to admire their manoeuvrability, and the impressive engineering that went into it. ¡®Freighter¡¯ and ¡®manoeuvrability¡¯ might as well be antonyms, yet the shipwrights behind these fake freighters somehow disproved that.
Not that he had the luxury to spectate¨Cnot good. Ventress made it. He knocked down his speed and drew back as the Storm Fleet tightened its ranks, deciding it wasn¡¯t worth tackling a well-prepared anti-fighter screen like this. In the next moment, however, Anakin began to doubt that assumption. Because the Storm Fleet then, for some indiscernible reason, began to lay into each other with furious tempo. The river of light was consumed by sharp needles of red and smoky wakes of missiles as the fleet fired upon itself.
R2 released a long, confused whistle that went something along the lines of ¡°they¡¯re shooting each other?¡±
¡°No,¡± Anakin thinned his lips, ¡°They¡¯re shooting at something between them. Friendly fire is just the natural consequence. Not that they seem to care.¡±
R2 chirped something crude, and Anakin allowed himself a brief smile. It went as quickly as it came, however, as the Storm Fleet abruptly stopped firing, simultaneously turned to face them, and burned forward as a single wavefront of destruction.
Before he could react accordingly, however, a light blinked on his console. R2-D2 whistled again, informing him of an incoming transmission on open frequency. A sender; one of those spear-hulled destroyers leading the Separatist fleet. Anakin was struck by a sense of familiarity, in a rare instance where he could place exactly where he felt this sensation before.
Atraken.
¡°Next thing you know, those fake freighters are filled to the brim with civvies,¡± he muttered bitterly, keying in the transmission.
¡°General Skywalker,¡± a female voice greeted him, ¡°Might you be interested in a temporary alliance? I¡¯m sure our efforts would be better spent against a common enemy than each other.¡±
If I had a credit for every time a female adversary offered me a truce, I¡¯d have two credits now. The first time was when a Republic element went rogue, and now the second was when a Separatist element went rogue. Strange how these sorts of things seem to follow him. Once again, his Force-attuned hunch told him the woman was speaking the truth. Maybe he was just that popular.
¡°Isn¡¯t the Storm Fleet yours?¡± he shot back, ¡°I don¡¯t recognise your ship; what¡¯s your affiliation?¡±
¡°I am Naradan D¡¯ulin of the Mistryl Shadow Guards,¡± the voice returned, ¡°To answer your question; the Storm Fleet has gone rogue. The only thing controlling it is rampant code.¡±
Just my luck, he grumbled, now he had to deal with an omnicidal droid fleet, instead of a deactivated one. That said, he did recognise the Mistryl Shadow Guards.
¡°I didn¡¯t know the Battle Hydra dealt with mercenaries.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know an aristocrat who doesn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Point taken,¡± Anakin murmured beneath his breath, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll deal with you after we deal with the Storm Fleet. Any idea how to take it down?¡±
¡°My frigates can jam the slave circuitry between their ships, breaking up their coherence,¡± the Mistryl told him.
¡°You¡¯ll need to get into position for that, I¡¯d imagine,¡± Anakin mapped out the jamming formation in his mind¡¯s eye, ¡°And you need me to distract them.¡±
¡°Precisely. I will lend you¨C¡±
¡°That¡¯s all right,¡± Anakin interrupted, eyes gleaming, ¡°My fleet can handle such an elementary task.¡±
¡°I beg your pardon? They have two-hundred ships. You have fifty.¡±
¡°Elementary,¡± he repeated himself, and toggled the frequency, ¡°All wings; we¡¯re having a truce with the Seppies until we deal with the Storm Fleet.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t this the second time now?¡± Oddball¡¯s voice came on.
¡°You got that right,¡± Anakin grunted, ¡°Pioneer, bring all ships to bear. We¡¯re engaging the Storm Fleet. Grant local control to all vessels, and go in hot.¡±
Anakin Skywalker may not be the luckiest of Jedi, he knew just about everything there was to know about starships. Designing warships to look like freighters for covert reasons was clever, but there was a reason why warships looked like warships, and freighters looked like freighters. Warships were architecturally designed to optimise firepower, speed, manoeuvrability, and a whole host of other reasons, while freighters were singularly designed to maximise holding volume and cost efficiency.
In other words, freighter hulls did not make good warship hulls. You could cram a PCL 27 with as much advanced hardware and sophisticated software as you want, but you can¡¯t overcome basic geometric principles.
All he needed was one good look at these ships to realise a single Venator-class battlecruiser could take on two or three of them in a straight fight any day. But this wasn¡¯t going to be a straight fight, because droid fleets have a second major weakness; they were utterly terrible once out of formation. The main and perhaps only advantage those fake freighters had going for them with their box-shaped hulls was extremely thick armour.
The captains of the Open Circle must have understood his thought process from the very second Anakin permitted local control to each ship. All fifty Venators¨CPioneer included¨Croared forward as one, facing down an enemy four times their number, yet matching in all ferocity and alacrity.
The two fleets crashed into each other before the painted backdrop of the Llon Nebula, the sword-shaped hulls of Star Destroyers easily slicing into the enemy formation and breaking up the Storm Fleet into an anarchic brawl. Despite the ensuing chaos, there was still rhyme to the Open Circle¡¯s actions¨Ceach Venator, despite engaging anywhere from two to five enemy ships simultaneously, covered each other¡¯s flank in an intricate yet superfluous web befitting the spontaneous battle.
Hazardously aware of a Star Destroyer¡¯s main vulnerability¨Cits exposed engine block¨Cthe Open Circle¡¯s captains supported each other by covering the next ship over, even as the situation morphed and evolved. It was just as they trained for, and tirelessly practised over and over in wargames and simulations.
The same just couldn¡¯t be said for the droid-controlled Storm Fleet, which simply couldn¡¯t keep pace with the fast-evolving nature of the battle. Add in the thunderous swarms of Republic ARC-170s and BTL-B Y-wings and Separatist Vultures and Hyenas running havoc as well¨Cflying side by side no less, by some twist of fate¨Cto which the Storm Fleet had no answer to, and the four-to-one odds were more than fair.
Anakin forced his Aethersprite into a deft roll, zipping underneath the belly of one freighter to come up next to another, unloading his nimble fighters payloads all the while. He flew between two ships, violently twisting his yoke as they open fired¨Cdodging by a thin sheet of transparisteel¨Cand whooping as the missed shots smashed into the flat hulls he had just darted past. His headpiece was ablaze with frenzied chatter, rampant war whoops of clone pilots and chittering Vulture droidspeak.
From his peripheral vision, he witnessed a flight of Y-wings and a pack of Hyena bombers gunning for the same ship¨Ca blast of droidpeak aired over the open comms, and the Y-wings broke off in affirmation that the Hyena¡¯s had a better angle on its attack vector. Far and away, Vultures and ARC-170s coordinated a strafing run down one of the virtual steel canyons formed by the flat shells of the freighters, flying in perfect strike formation together.
Deep inside the chaotic melee, Anakin could only observe the unnatural allied forces triumphing over and over in a dozen minor ways. But he knew better, he knew otherwise. Numbers mattered, and four-to-one odds aren¡¯t to be glossed over. The Storm Fleet still had more ships, more guns, and slowly but surely, the Open Circle was being overwhelmed. He didn¡¯t believe the Mistryl would betray their hasty truce. Munificents weren¡¯t a match for the Storm Fleet freighters as Star Destroyers were. Even if the Open Circle was totally ground down, there would still be enough of the Storm Fleet to destroy the Mistryl were brute force alone.
And he was right. Outside the melee, the fifty Separatist star frigates were taking full advantage of the battle, fanning out into a loose circle that surrounded the Storm Fleet¨Cand the Open Circle for that matter. As if they were creating a shockboxing ring, with the Storm Fleet and Open Circle as the participants. Letting R2-D2 take the yoke, Anakin scanned his cockpit for the Mistryl destroyers, and found them lingering just outside the battlespace.
In that moment, they seemed less like spears, and more like poisoned arrows, just waiting for the right moment to be shot forward and deal the finishing blow.
¡
Finishing blow? The Storm Fleet is a rogue Separatist element. Are they here to destroy it¡ or recapture it?
Anakin hooked up a connection to Pioneer, squinting in the general direction of the ship through a cloud of flaming debris, ¡°Appo, this is Skywalker. Come in.¡±
¡°Present, General,¡± Appo¡¯s voice came on, ¡°Looks like a major scrap¡¯s shaping up out there.¡±
¡°Couldn¡¯t be more right, Commander,¡± Anakin instinctively ducked as a pair of proton torpedoes thundered right over him, R2 slamming down the nose of the Aethersprite with a terrified shriek, ¡°I need as many larties out here for boarding action as possible. Up for the task?¡±
¡°My men are all ready, sir.¡±
Ah, that was Appo-speak for ¡°you didn¡¯t even have to ask.¡± The Clone Commander¡¯s a hair too reserved, sometimes. Another explosion shook the cockpit, the connection breaking up as Anakin¡¯s skull bounced off the transparisteel cockpit like a pinball. He swore again.
¡°Can¡¯t you fly a little straighter, Artoo?¡±
R2 released an indignant whine in response. Craning his head to look around again, Anakin brought his fighter up and over the brawl to check in on the jamming formation¡¯s progress. The circle was nearly complete, with the last frigate sliding into place and¨C
Anakin¡¯s Aethersprite screamed, R2-D2 screamed, a chorus of frantic yelling and panicked droid beeps blasting out of his headpiece, right before being abruptly cut off by an ear-piercing screech of somehow blinding white noise, injected straight into his eardrums. Anakin screamed, violently tearing off the headpiece and dashing it against his dashboard, his ears still ringing with spectral noise.
Anakin Skywalker, an ace Jedi pilot, lived vicariously through his starfighter, connected to its whirring machinery and beeping electronics through the Force.
In this sense, it was as if he had been abruptly dumped into a sensory black hole. The battle went mute and monochrome, lasers from all three sides pausing for the briefest second as everybody grappled with the sudden and violent jamming signals inundating every electronic device in the battlespace.
It was this brief lull, unnoticeable to all but the most acute attention¨Cor perhaps Force-aided awareness¨Cthat the twenty Mistryl destroyers exploited. With an unexpectedly powerful blast of acceleration that Anakin had to envy, the Mistryl roared into the haphazard formations of the Storm Fleet and Open Circle, invariably hunting for a specific target as all mercenaries do.
Biting his tongue, Anakin forced the static out of his eyes and ringing out of his ears with a quick shock of pain. He snatched the yoke, rappelled the Aethersprite¡¯s unaffected analog controls, and kicked the dagger-shaped fighter back into drive.
¡°You there, Artoo?¡± Anakin locked his teeth into a snarl as wet iron tinged his tongue, ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re there.¡±
The hardy astromech, directly integrated to the fighter¡¯s flight computer, confirmed his presence with a quick scrawl of text on the dash.
¡°Great, I need you to do something,¡± Anakin expertly piloted through the blind flying of Vultures and panicked clone pilots. What was happening? He could sense such thoughts and emotions bubbling through the Force. Are the Seppies attacking us? Were we betrayed? Is this still part of the plan? Is the truce still effective? How do I contact the flight chief? What should I do?
The best the clone pilots could do was stay in whatever formation they were already in, or link up with the nearest one, and follow the lead starfighter. Some were still cooperating with Vultures and Hyenas, while others had turned on each other, entire joint flight groups exploding in a flurry of torpedoes and laserfire as adjacent fighters wheeled on each other without warning.
Anakin cut through all the flak, plunging back into the turbulent mass of fighters and ships as he tailed one the Mistryl destroyers, ¡°Artoo, help me get the attention of Appo¡¯s gunship.¡±
Unable to rely on his fighter¡¯s fly-by-wire systems, Anakin had to take a microscopic leap of faith to dart his eyes down to the display screen of his dash to read out R2¡¯s response. It read; HOW?
¡°I don¡¯t know¨C!¡± the Force roared in his ears, and Anakin wrenched his yoke to the side just in time to avoid a careening wreck. An ARC-170 or a Hyena, he couldn¡¯t tell in that split-second snapshot that lingered in his memory, ¡°¨CJust figure it out! I¡¯m bringing us as close to the Pioneer as possible without losing the Mistryl!¡±
It was just as well. Hundreds of LAAT/i gunships were pouring out of the dozen or so carrier-configured Venators from their ventral docking bays, foregoing the dorsal hangars for obvious reasons. As Anakin blew past Pioneer, R2 had his fighter¡¯s navigation lights blink furiously, even going so far so to unleash one of his starfighter¡¯s two missiles, held on undercarriage racks, sending it careening into the middle of the gunship formation and having it detonate harmlessly.
The gunships scattered, circling back around and honing onto where the missile originated from¨Chim. Anakin wrenched back his fighter, slowing down precipitously to allow the gunships to catch up¨Cuntil they were close enough for him to identify them by their decals¨Cbefore kicking it back to full drive. Twelve larties, Anakin counted, I caught the attention of twelve larties. That¡¯s three-hundred and fifty troopers. It¡¯s enough.
All of the Storm Fleet destroyers had all but frozen up post-jamming, sluggishly reacting to even the most devastating of turbolaser fusillades as gunships singled out select freighters to board, hundreds of grapple-equipped troopers swarming around the incapacitated warships. As for Anakin, he quickly identified the target¨Cthe one freighter with two Mistryl destroyers mounting it¨Cand zoomed towards it.
R2 unleashed the second and final of the Aethersprite¡¯s missiles, which exploded harmlessly against the freighter¡¯s powerful ray shields, to mark out the target. The dozen LAATs soundlessly reformed into a suitable attack formation, blast doors opening to reveal the blue-white glint of polished 501st trooper armour.
With well-practised efficiency and effortless ease, the first two gunships raced down on their repulsors, dipping under the ray shields just as quad-mounted armour-piercing rockets racing out from their racks and slamming into the freighter¡¯s shell plating like a fist of thunder. The smoke and debris cleared, revealing a gouged¨Cbut not penetrated¨Ccrater in the freighter¡¯s shell plating.
No matter. The next pair of gunships repeated the action, aiming for the same spot. And then the next pair, and then the next.
And then there was the telltale vapour of boiling atmosphere escaping from the breached hull. The particle beams came next, ball turret gunners precisely slicing into the plating to create boarding portals for the troops.
Meanwhile, Anakin dug around at his feet for the spare EVA helmet he had lying around. His vac-sealed flight suit already in place, the Jedi Knight affixed the helmet on and checked the gear to ensure it was in proper working order. Once he confirmed¨Cno leaks¨Che manoeuvred his Aethersprite right in front of the breach, which was already the target of at least a hundred rappel lines.
After all, it wouldn¡¯t do for the Jedi General to not join his men.
¡°Thanks, Artoo,¡± Anakin grunted as he forced up his cockpit and stood, ¡°You can head back to the Pioneer and get yourself patched up. I don¡¯t need a ride back.¡±
Without waiting for an answer, he leapt towards the breach.
?
¡°Checked the air, yet, Appo?¡± Anakin asked as he brushed himself off.
¡°It looks fine,¡± the Clone Commander reported as he handed Anakin the datapad for inspection.
¡°Perfect,¡± Anakin waved off the datapad and ripped off his EVA helmet instead, taking a deep breath of stale air.
¡°I don¡¯t understand why droid ships maintain their environment system,¡± Appo muttered as he looked around, habitually patting his carbine.
¡°Because it''s hardcoded into them, Commander,¡± Anakin grunted, ¡°These ships were built by organics, and designed for organics, because we meat sacks can¡¯t imagine a ship any other way. Ask a Seppie tactical droid to design a ship, and, well, I can¡¯t imagine what it¡¯d look like. Which is the point, I suppose.¡±
The ongoing battle outside faded to distant echoes as the boarding party delved deeper into the ship. As if confirming his theory, the lights in the corridors were all working properly, as were the gravity plates and the rest of the environment system. Doors leading off the corridor slid open automatically whenever any of the group strayed close enough to trigger them, revealing glimpses of perfectly maintained machine shops, equipment rooms, and crew lounges. Not the exact configuration you would find in a legitimate A-class bulk freighter, but definitely designed for living spacers.
One sign that there weren¡¯t any organics living here, however, was the air. It was fresh enough that Anakin didn¡¯t feel like choking on it, but it was thick and musty, like a combination of oil, dust, and rust. He tasted a metallic tang on the tip of his tongue, but couldn¡¯t tell if that was the air too, or his own blood.
They retraced the evacuation lights up towards the bridge, faint mechanical noises of idling systems whispering behind the sound of their own footsteps. The only thing out of place¡ was the lack of droids.
But that mystery quickly solved itself when they stumbled upon their first droid corpse¨Cperfectly bisected in half, with the cut edges smooth from an even melt.
¡°Lightsaber,¡± Appo identified, hefting his carbine.
¡°Ventress,¡± Anakin agreed, ¡°It must be. We¡¯re on the right ship, at least.¡±
It was not a long walk to the bridge from¡ wherever they inserted. They had breached the ship in one of its upper compartments, and they found the bridge smack centre of the freighter¡¯s footprint, nestled between two sensor suites in the dorsal sensor grid, along the longitudinal ridge that ran along the freighter¡¯s spine. It was in the path of a long, straight as a needle corridor that ran from the engine room to the prow, passing through more than a few bulkheads with easily trippable thresholds.
They found the vacuum-sealed bulkhead door shut and locked, of course, but for some inexplicable reason it wasn¡¯t a blast door. Anakin suspected it was so any cargo inspector boarding the vessel wouldn¡¯t get tipped off, but for now that did not matter.
Appo¡¯s squad breached through the door as easily as punching a hole in wet flimsi. The boarding company poured in, blasters up as they fanned out along the walls. Anakin stepped through the bulkhead, a tight grip on his lightsaber.
The first thing he noticed was the flashing lights above. The bridge was connected to an observation bubble peeking right above the spinal ridge of the ship, from whereupon Anakin could glimpse scenes of the battle unfolding around them.
The second thing he noticed was Asajj Ventress. The Sith assassin presided over the centre of the room, a single boot hiked onto the beeping console, and to say she looked worse for wear would be an understatement. Her face was smeared half-black from soot and ash, and her black dress had been torn up and still smoking in several places, revealing hints of pale, unhealthily white skin. She met his eyes, her own fiery orange-red, then brandished one of her two red lightsabers.
¡°Skywalker,¡± she drawled, but Anakin could sense the underlying exhaustion in her voice¨Cshe was right about ready to collapse, ¡°How nice of you to join the fun.¡±
The third thing he noticed was the Mistryl Shadow Guard, garbed in their distinctive black suits. They were positioned directly across the compartment, at the second door that would lead to the rest of the ship¡¯s spine. At their head, a tall, regal-standing woman, who he naturally assumed to be Naradan D¡¯ulin. Ventress was brandishing her other lightsaber against them.
¡°Well, well, well boys,¡± Anakin quipped, allowing himself to ease up slightly in the admittedly humorous situation, ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve got ourselves a Mandalorian stand-off.¡±
Chapter 59
Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System
Harrin Sector
¡°Our reconnaissance craft has reported the defeat of the Twentieth Armada, General,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod reported, a slither of trepidation sneaking into his voice, ¡°By the time it arrived, the fight was already over. The enemy is now attempting to circumnavigate the moon towards our port quarter.¡±
¡°So General Grant¡¯s assessment of the situation was ultimately the correct one,¡± Jedi General Empatojayos Brand murmured, ¡°Has the recon ship been detected?¡±
¡°Apparently not,¡± Jerjerrod straightened his shoulders, ¡°They are now tracking the enemy fleet¡¯s movements. That is our one advantage.¡±
¡°Can we contact the Open Circle?¡±
¡°Not so, General. Commander Esterhazy¡¯s force is on the opposite side of Yag¡¯Dhul; without the Twentieth Armada acting as a bridge¡ we are isolated.¡±
There was no time to reel from shock, even after the pivotal change of circumstances. As General Brand received the datapad and traced the Separatist vector, he could only conclude that the Battle Hydra had no intention of escaping using the breakthrough they had just created, and was instead circling around the far side of Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s second moon in order to strike Taskforce Swift Justice from their port quarter.
It was just as Skywalker¡¯s apprentice, Tallisibeth, had predicted they would do¨Conly that her assessment of their initial target was incorrect. Nevertheless, they would be upon Brand¡¯s fleet within a matter of moments, and thus a prompt reaction was in order. Jedi General Brand analysed the enemy¡¯s projected movements, then came to a decisive verdict that was no small part influenced by his origins.
¡°We will bring the fleet around a full hundred-eighty,¡± Empatojayos Brand commanded, ¡°And ambush the Separatist fleet as they round the moon.¡±
¡°Ambush?¡± Admiral Jerjerrod questioned, reproach evident in his tone, ¡°We are to go on the offensive?¡±
¡°The Hydra has failed to realise we have discovered their intentions,¡± the Jedi General placed his fist in his palm, ¡°And it is obvious their intentions are to use the moon to cover his flanking manoeuvre, then push us into the asteroid field where they can undo us piecemeal. However, in doing so they will stick closely to the moon, so as to remain in our blindspot for as long as possible.¡±
¡°You intend on mirroring their manoeuvre?¡± the Admiral caught on quickly.
¡°Correct,¡± General Brand grinned, ¡°We will seize the initiative, and the advantage. When they complete their circumnavigation of the moon, they will not find unsuspecting, easy pickings, but the full frontal might of our fleet, ready and waiting to meet them.¡±
Admiral Jerjerrod did not share the Jedi¡¯s optimism, irritation and impatience rearing their troublesome heads at the Onderonian Jedi¡¯s brash naivete¨Cat least, from his perspective. This tense state between the two opposing flag commanders did not go unnoticed by the crew of the Swift Justice, themselves split between the two judgements, and the air on the bridge felt charged with electricity.
¡°Disclose your reservations, Admiral,¡± nor did it go unnoticed to the Jedi General, ¡°I do not bite.¡±
Empatojayos Brand said so jokingly, in an attempt to ease up the tension, but Admiral Jerjerrod did not look upon it kindly¨Cor rather, may not have noticed the jest at all in his apprehension. Do not presume to frighten me with your mysticism, Jedi, appeared to be the prevailing thought running through his mind then.
¡°It is true there is an advantage afforded to the side that strikes the initial blow,¡± the Admiral made his statement loudly, boldly opposing the Jedi General, ¡°However, the Separatists number two-hundred, and we half that number. We may seize the element of surprise, but it is not enough to overcome such a numerically superior foe.¡±
¡°We are not fighting alone, Admiral,¡± General Brand admonished his counterpart, ¡°The Open Circle is coming to our aid. You must recall the original mission of this battle; to eliminate the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada. If we deal a decisive blow¨Calbeit incomplete¨Cblow to the Separatists here, the Open Circle¡¯s total victory is all but assured! We must merely delay them long enough for Commander Esterhazy to reach us, which she already intends to do.¡±
¡°However,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod stomped down, ferociously jabbing at the ground, ¡°You cannot deny that we will be destroyed in the process. The original plan was for the Twentieth to come to our aid first¨Cthe possibility of the Open Circle even reaching us in time is perishingly minimal!¡±
The crew of the Swift Justice was torn between their two leaders, just as they were torn between their desire for victory, desire for vengeance, against the Separatist menace¨Cand their own basic instinct for self-preservation. Unbeknownst¨Cbut subconsciously aware¨Cto the General and the Admiral, the support of the crew hinges upon their every word, and the arguments they make.
¡°Do you fear death, Admiral?¡± General Brand challenged, ¡°If so, fear not, for this not death, but only the Force¡¯s willing embrace. Do not allow your loyalty to the Republic only extend as far as your life. If we deal a crippling blow to the Battle Hydra here, we will send the Separatist State reeling, and crush their renewed offensive in the crib!¡±
The balance of influence moved in favour of the Jedi General. They would be martyrs, but to the many young souls who enlisted in the Loyalist cause to become heroes, it was admittedly an enticing prospect in the moment where their fates were uncertain. Admiral Jerjerrod once again, however, did not appreciate the Jedi General¡¯s perspective.
¡°...Do you have a family, General?¡±
If Empatojayos Brand was taken aback, he did not show it, and the confident grin he wore never left his face, ¡°The only woman who could possibly constitute as such is with the Force.¡±
¡°I do, however,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod¡¯s eyes were cold, ¡°You may think someone as old as I would be more than willing to throw his life in service of the Republic, but I do have a family, and I have a grandson, of whom I possess every intention of seeing his face again.¡±
¡°What is his name?¡±
¡°Tiaan. He must be fourteen now,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod split his mouth into a quiet snarl, ¡°I made a promise to return, Jedi, and I harbour every intention to uphold that promise. A dispassionate mystic like you may not begin to understand what I feel, but do not dare begin to injure the loyalty I bear to my family as disloyalty to the Republic. Seek death, Jedi. Do not force those of us who treasure something real to follow you.¡±
And the balance of influence swung the other away. Unconsciously, the Jedi General knew his hold on the crew¡¯s confidence was fragile.
¡°...Orderly. How much time do we have?¡± Brand¡¯s expression and tone of voice seemed indifferent, much to the Admiral¡¯s chagrin.
¡°¨CTwo hours, sir. Give or take.¡±
¡°Very well,¡± the Jedi General folded his arms before him, clenching and unclenching his fists just out of view, ¡°What do you propose, Admiral?¡±
¡°We move to battlespace to one most advantageous for us,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod tapped his datapad veraciously, ¡°We hasten, which the Separatists will not expect, and force our way through the asteroid field. Upon emerging on the other side, we may reopen communications with the Open Circle. The Separatists will have no choice but to follow us through the asteroid field, as any attempt to circumnavigate it will give time for the Open Circle to rendezvous with us. The asteroid field will naturally break up their formations, and their numerical advantage will be thwarted.¡±
¡°You intend to say we can defeat them as they emerge from the asteroid field after us?¡±
¡°It is certainly a more sound course of action compared to your frankly foolhardy plan to ¡®ambush¡¯ them.¡±
The accumulated store of unease aboard the Swift Justice was just about to reach saturation point. Like many Jedi Order¨CRepublic Navy relationships, the one between General Brand and Admiral Jerjerrod had never been ¡®friendly¡¯ and bordered on ¡®sour¡¯ even on better days. But at this crucial juncture, the two stubborn personalities had come to a breaking point, an invisible thunderhead brewing right over the heads of the many spacers trapped between them.
So which would snap first? Such thought unwittingly came to the minds of many men and women.
When Jedi Command and Republic Strategic Command first decided upon Jedi-Navy cooperation, there had always been the question; would the Jedi General or the Admiral outrank the other? It was a question with no simple answer, especially when dealing with parallel chains of command.
In most cases, the answer to this question usually boils down to which personality overpowered the other. The more reserved Admiral Wullf Yularen, for example, usually deferred to Jedi General Anakin Skywalker¡¯s loud and overwhelming force of personality. On the other hand, Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi preferred to let Admiral Block¡¯s actual military experience take command, especially after his mistake at Christophsis.
But when both Admiral and Jedi General were equally stubborn? Well, sometimes a rare friendship could bloom, where both personalities complimented the other well. The late Admiral Cede Wieler and General Rees Alrix was one case, and a reason why the latter went to such great lengths to avenge his death, among others. Another surprising case was between General Mace Windu and Admiral Shoan Kilian, both hard individuals who possessed a degree of warm respect for each other.
Unfortunately, such cases were perishingly rare, despite High Command¡¯s best efforts. Rather, the cold, conflicting relationship between Admiral Jerjerrod and General Empatojayos Brand was a microcosm of the greater interservice rivalry that plagued the Republic Navy.
Ultimately, and perhaps thankfully, seeing the situation not particularly develop in his favour¨Cor anyone¡¯s favour, rather¨CEmpatojayos Brand relented first; ¡°Very well, we will prioritise rendezvousing with the Open Circle.¡±
Admiral Jerjerrod, and the whole crew with him, deflated in relief.
¡°We will not go through the asteroid field, however.¡±
And the Admiral unwillingly tensed again, ¡°Then how do you propose we do so, General?¡±
¡°We will circumnavigate the asteroid field instead,¡± General Brand traced the northern border of the field on his datapad, ¡°By moving in counterclockwise rotation, we will head in the opposite direction of the enemy fleet. Attempting to cross the asteroid field risks the enemy catching up and intercepting us in the act. So instead, we will outrun them conventionally, then contact the Open Circle as we round the field¡¯s western edge. From there, assuming the Open Circle is continuing at present vector, it¡¯s a straight shot to rendezvous, through the gap between Yag¡¯Dhul and its first moon.¡±
Admiral Jerjerrod traced the lines closely, reviewing the course of action with perhaps a lot more scepticism than he would with a fellow career officer. Before he could make a full evaluation, however, a shout from the datapits interrupted his thought process; ¡°Contact lost with the recon craft!¡±
It was either the recon craft strayed into the dark side of the second moon¨Cwhich was extremely unlikely¨Cor the Separatists had discovered, and silenced, them. Regardless, there was no way to know whether the Battle Hydra was still sticking to their strategy, or adapting it to make the recon craft¡¯s intelligence obsolete. It was this new situation that pushed the Admiral to one side of the fence.
Against an enemy many times their superior, and one of which they had no intelligence upon, there was but one sensible action; run in the opposite direction.
¡°Very good, General,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod nodded sharply, ¡°Helm, come right to oh-six-seven relative, and meet her there! For engines; all ahead full!¡±
Swivelling so that the asteroid field was now to their port beam and the second moon of Yag¡¯Dhul right behind them, Taskforce Swift Justice roared south-west, moving in a counterclockwise rotation to the planet. Merely half an hour later, they detected the sharp drive cones of Separatist battlecruisers emerging from behind the moon in battle formation.
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Meanwhile, nearly two-hundred thousand klicks away, the tension that had just released Swift Justice now gripped another flagship in its talons. The Open Circle Fleet¡¯s flagship, Harbinger, has been attempting to contact the Twentieth Armada for the better part of an hour, to no avail. Just as General Octavian Grant rationalised, communication was key in a cooperative battle, and in trying to finalise her battle plan against the Battle Hydra, Jedi Commander Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy had been trying to confirm how the specifics of such strategy would be executed.
It was because Octavian Grant had been so insistent on communication being the fulcrum this battle would pivot, that she did not believe he was ignoring her transmissions out of any petty disagreement.
¡°We can¡¯t contact General Grant, Admiral,¡± Scout was sweating, but not from the temperature, ¡°Should we assume the worst?¡±
¡°Against the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada, Commander?¡± Admiral Yularen tugged at his moustache, ¡°We always should.¡±
¡°If the Twentieth was destroyed¡¡± utterance of such words alone was enough for bile to rise up in Scout¡¯s throat.
If the 20th Armada was destroyed, then it was my fault. How many men and women served in that fleet, dragged away to fight the Open Circle¡¯s battle? How many men and women died, because I was too stubborn to listen to those who knew better than I? Scout whispered a silent apology to Octavian Grant in her heart. She knew Master Brand took her side because she was a fellow Jedi, and the Chosen One¡¯s Padawan, and exploited that relationship.
If she had listened to Octavian Grant¡¯s orders¡ would the battle already be decided?
Now, the Open Circle Fleet was blazing towards Yag¡¯Dhul, completely blind to what was happening on the opposite side.
Scout mercilessly, but painfully, crushed down on any guilt she was feeling, flooding her senses with the Force. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity. The mantra helped her subdue her nervous jitter. She hoped the bridge crew didn¡¯t notice it¡ but if they did, they made no show of it.
Stolen story; please report.
¡°If the Twentieth was destroyed¨C¡± Scout pulled herself together to finish her statement this time, ¡°¨Cthen the Hydra¡¯s next target is undoubtedly Taskforce Swift Justice. In which case, we need to get to the battlefield as soon as possible to reinforce them. We should still be able to strike the enemy from behind, and turn the tide back in our favour.¡±
¡°That won¡¯t work, Commander,¡± Admiral Yularen said kindly, but Scout can¡¯t help but find some self-perceived disdain behind his leonine gaze.
¡°What¡ makes you say so?¡±
¡°The fighting will already be over by the time we get there,¡± the Admiral spelled out his supposition, ¡°If the Separatists were able to defeat the Twentieth Armada is such swift fashion, then there is no doubt they will be able to repeat that victory over Swift Justice even faster. It is an unexpected haste on behalf of the enemy, one that goes to our demerit precisely because we should have expected it.¡±
¡°But the original strategy¨C¡±
¡°The original strategy hinged on the Twentieth Armada reinforcing Swift Justice first, until we arrive to put the nail in Bonteri¡¯s coffin. That can no longer be the case.¡±
¡°...Then what do you suggest?¡±
¡°Find and prepare a new battlespace,¡± Admiral Yularen answered immediately, ¡°One that works to our advantage. Considering our position relative to the supposed location of the enemy fleet, I see two possible candidates. The first is twenty-thousand klicks to our north-west, by the first and closest moon of Yag¡¯Dhul. The atmospheric phenomena is particularly violent there, which will throw off the aims of Separatist missile launchers, forcing them to fight in close quarters combat, working to our strengths and their weaknesses. The second is a hundred-thousand klicks to our north-east, adjacent to the site of battle between the Bonteri and Grant, at an astrographical corridor flanked on one side by a vast asteroid field, and on the other by Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s third moon.¡±
As engrossed as the Admiral was in the tactical holo, Scout unwittingly allowed his words to pass through one ear and out the other unacknowledged. Instead, she found herself fixated on a wholly different unsaid detail entirely.
¡°¨CMeaning, you want us to look the other way as Master- General Brand¡¯s fleet is massacred!?¡± Scout exclaimed, completely askance, ¡°General Skywalker would never abandon a friendly force!¡±
¡°General Skywalker is not present,¡± Yularen¡¯s tone was curt, ¡°And even if we left right now, we wouldn¡¯t get there in time.¡±
In the case where a Jedi General and Navy Admiral shared a bridge, the individual who ¡®outranked¡¯ the other was the individual with the greater force of personality. When Admiral Wullf Yularen¡¯s counterpart was Anakin Skywalker, the hierarchical status quo was predisposed into the latter¡¯s hands, and by extension his apprentice, Tallisibeth. But as the Admiral had noted, Anakin Skywalker was no longer on the bridge.
And Scout held no candle to the monumental experience and command presence of Admiral Yularen. She was no longer in her Master¡¯s shadow, and in that decisive moment, Yularen¡¯s calculating gaze was passively observing if the young girl could step out of it then and there. Once again, Scout was led to believe there was a ¡®right¡¯ and ¡®wrong¡¯ answer, when in reality, the Admiral was simply making a measure of her character under duress.
Already plagued by her own unreadiness, however, and her confidence freshly assaulted after failure to predict the Battle Hydra¡¯s movements, the girl known as Scout naturally¨Cif unconsciously¨Cseeked the safety of higher authority. She could scarcely feel herself as her skin crawled with the gazes dozens of expectant faces¨Cuntil Lieutenant Avrey thankfully offered relief in the form of an unexpected communication.
¡°We¡¯re receiving a transmission from¡ from the Prominence!¡± despite Admiral Yularen¡¯s well-known dislike for exclamations in the pilothouse, the comms chief couldn¡¯t help herself, ¡°It¡¯s General Grant!¡±
Half a hundred heads poked up in hopeful anticipation, Scout and Yularen among them. The Admiral, especially, was particularly impatient, though he hid such sentiments incredibly well.
¡°Read it out, Lieutenant,¡± he all but snapped.
¡°E-Engaging enemy seventy-thousand klicks northeast of Yag¡¯Dhul, bearing zero-three-one degrees absolute to the planet. Requesting immediate support.¡±
Scout¡¯s heart lodged in her throat, ¡°They¡¯re still fighting? But¨C¡±
Avrey¡¯s features set into a frown as she handled her station, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Commander. It¡¯s a repeated transmission, just going round and round itself. I¡¯ve seen this sort of thing before; I¡¯d wager the Prominence has lost her ability to create transmissions, but not her ability to send transmissions. So the system¡¯s shot, but not the comms tower. Best she can do now is shout the last stored transmission within her cache, which would be the distress signal.¡±
¡°Which means¨C¡± Scout swallowed, ¡°There¡¯s survivors.¡±
The comms officer nodded hesitantly, ¡°There''s as good a chance as any.¡±
The Jedi Commander whirled on Yularen, a rekindled vigour in her step, ¡°Where did you say the second potential battlespace was, Admiral?¡±
The Admiral in question calmly folded his arms at his back, ¡°A hundred-thousand klicks to our north-east, Commander. Right next to the last known position of the Twentieth Armada.¡±
¡°Set our course and heading,¡± Commander Esterhazy ordered in a tone unconsciously reminiscent of her Master¨Cone that brooked no argument¨Cand swivelled back to Avrey, ¡°And send a reply to the Prominence. Have them know help is on the way!¡±
¡°...Very good, Commander,¡± Admiral Yularen nodded sharply at the helm messenger, a miniscule smile present beneath his furred upper lip.
I can¡¯t save them all, Scout was thinking at that moment, but I can still try to save as many as I can. And trying is many times as good as doing, is what Master would say.
?
Inadvertently, however, this meant that with the Open Circle Fleet now veered to starboard and headed up the eastern side of the star system, both Swift Justice and the Open Circle were directed on counter-clockwise orbital vectors around the planet. In other words, as Swift Justice raced south to find an open communications corridor from which they can contact the Open Circle, the Open Circle was simultaneously racing north to the 20th Armada, keeping Yag¡¯Dhul squarely between them, like opposing ends of an unfortunate carnival carousel.
Such was the situation as Taskforce Swift Justice made their mad dash for the western edge of the northern asteroid field, four hours into their transit and the seventy-five warships of the Coalition Armada hot on their drive plumes. General Empatojayos Brand observed their progress closely. It was an established fact that in a straight race, the Star Destroyers of the Republic far outpaced the battlecruisers of the Separatist State¨Cwith one exception, it seemed.
As if anticipating precisely this scenario, the pursuers Swift Justice had on her tail were not any ordinary battlecruisers, but the solar-sailers of the Tion Hegemony. More specifically, the ¡®3rd Battle Division of the 28th Mobile Fleet, whose crews and ships could proudly say were born and built in the systems of the Commonality. Far away from home as they may be, there was no ship of equivalent tonnage in the galaxy that could hope to match their truly furious swiftness, their radar signature made two-to-three times larger due to their expansive solar sails.
It was due to these solar sails that reflected and smeared solar radiation across Swift Justice¡¯s sensor displays, in addition with the tight pursuit formation the Separatists had adopted, that prevented the Jedi from accurately counting the exact number of drive cones present in the enemy fleet. Despite that, thanks to his instincts, finely tuned by the Force, Empatojayos Brand still realised there were far less vessels behind them then there should be.
If I were to guess¡ there¡¯s only a hundred ships after us. Either Octavian Grant mauled the Battle Hydra far more than I had given him credit for¡ or there¡¯s another hundred ships unaccounted for. Now, General Brand found himself in the very same position General Grant did, upon the discovery of this discrepancy within the enemy numbers.
We¡¯re fighting the Battle Hydra, the Onderonian Jedi closed his eyes, we¡¯re fighting an enemy with multiple heads.
¡°Admiral,¡± he alerted Jerjerrod quietly, so as to not alarm the crew, ¡°Our enemy has split his fleet in two, and if my suspicions are correct, then the other half of the Coalition Armada is shadowing us on the other side of the asteroid field.¡±
Admiral Jerjerrod¡¯s eyes sharpened darkly, regarding the Jedi General with a wary stare, before consulting his own datapad. Half a minute later, that wary stance was now poised towards Swift Justice lefthand viewport, towards the asteroid field on their port beam. The Admiral was squinting, as if trying to make out the fiery glows of starship drive plumes through the thick cloud of interstellar rock and dust.
¡°In that case,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod returned, just as quietly, ¡°We had been checkmated from the start. No action would have resulted in our victory.¡±
¡°Not anymore,¡± the Jedi corrected, ¡°But if we had ambushed the half of the enemy force now behind us as I advised, we would not be in such dire straits. Look at those ships; Tionese luxury yachts. We could have beaten them back and then some.¡±
Despite the tacit understanding of ¡®I told you so¡¯ hanging in the air, the Jedi Knight let none of the sentiment bleed into his tone of voice. At that moment, Admiral Jerjerrod had never been more appreciative of the Jedi¡¯s impassivity.
¡°We couldn¡¯t have known Bonteri had split his fleet like this,¡± Jerjerrod argued weakly, regardless, ¡°But I admit¡ following your instinct may have been the correct play.¡±
¡°No matter now,¡± Brand waved dismissively, ¡°We must decide on our next course of action. Can we escape?¡±
It took a moment for the Admiral to calculate his answer, ¡°Not so. The enemy would intercept us before we reached the nearest jumpzone¡ and the astronomical turbulence of the Yag¡¯Dhul quaternary system won¡¯t allow us to make an emergency jump to lightspeed¨Cnot without unforeseen effects and undoubtedly heavy casualties. If we had the local system astronavigation services on our side, the situation would be different.¡±
The Givin provided an astronavigational service to all vessels transiting the star system, especially around the planet and its tidal chaos, as they were the only ones capable of traversing the quaternary system with ease. The Battle Hydra¡¯s impressive facility of manoeuvres was undoubtedly an effect of the Mathematocracy¡¯s invisible hand at their back. A great boon the Republic allied fleets unfortunately did not share. As Brand had established in the initial strategy conference, they were playing in the enemy¡¯s home turf.
And in the Yag¡¯Dhul quaternary system, that home turf advantage was far more prominent and tangible than anywhere else in the galaxy.
¡°Then there is but one course of action,¡± Empatojayos Brand declared, their dire situation making no effect on his steady confidence, ¡°We take as many Separatists with us to the grave. Let¡¯s make the end memorable, Admiral.¡±
Admiral Jerjerrod squeezed his eyes tightly shut, his lips thinned into a pale sliver, and murmured a prayer¡ or an apology. Then, he said as such, in rare agreement with his assigned Jedi General;
¡°Let¡¯s.¡±
On the fourth hour of their transit, Taskforce Swift Justice finally reached the western edge of the asteroid field, breaths held tightly and communication arrays primed and aimed at the corridor between Yag¡¯Dhul and its first moon. As they rounded the corner however¡ there was only empty space where the Open Circle Fleet should have been. If the Open Circle had maintained their original vector, or even moved to rendezvous with the Swift Justice, then the two fleets should be seeing eye-to-eye.
However, the Open Circle had veered east, and was still on the complete opposite side of Yag¡¯Dhul to Swift Justice. It was not a fatal error anybody could have predicted, if one didn¡¯t consider Octavian Grant¡¯s now prophetic warning that the loss of his 20th Armada communications uplink would be the undoing of all three allied fleets. Nor did Brand or Jerjerrod have any time to consider that fact; only that the last light hope was crushed in their chest as they wondered where their last ally had disappeared to.
¡°Enemy fleet to our port bow! W-We¡¯re looking at a hundred-fifty warships, sir!¡±
¡°Orders, General!? They¡¯re bearing down on us!¡±
Separatist battlecruiser Crying Sun emerged from behind the curtain of asteroids with the full might of the ¡®4th Battle Division of the 28th Mobile Fleet. Right behind Taskforce Swift Justice, the Kronprinz was already folding her sails into battle configuration, and Chimeratica close behind her. The Republic fleet had themselves caught in a pincer.
¡°Orders?¡± Empatojayos Brand drew himself to his full height, his presence in the Force filling his crew with fighting spirit against all odds, ¡°Fight back!¡±
?
Scout could feel the tremor in the Force, and looked up abruptly, as if expecting to find the source of it right before her. She knew, however, in her heart of hearts, that Jedi Knight Empatojayos Brand had just perished, and returned to the Force. She also knew that in attempting to save one ally, she had just condemned the other to this fate.
Admiral Yularen, despite not being Force-sensitive, was well-versed enough with the Jedi to extrapolate what Scout was experiencing just then.
¡°We couldn¡¯t have possibly reached them in time.¡±
They couldn¡¯t. One glance at the ticking chrono could have proven that.
¡°I know,¡± Scout whispered.
Just like the Swift Justice before its demise, the Open Circle was now four hours into their circumferential transit around Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s eastern asteroid field. ¡®Asteroid field¡¯ was an understatement. The field was one of asteroids, indeed, but it was also a boiling mass of atmosphere trapped between two gravitational bodies¨Cthe moon and the planet¨Cflung out and sucked in erratically as the three moons orbited the planet, and each other. It was a near-impenetrable curtain that blocked all but the most powerful signals from piercing through.
The Open Circle was more isolated than ever, but it was also safer than ever, as presumably no enemy force could now intercept them. This was further reinforced by Scout¡¯s vision, who saw Master Alrix¡¯s fire burning brightly as the Battle Hydra and Swift Justice clashed nearly two-hundred thousand klicks away. That meant, Scout believed, that the enemy was as far away from them as they could possibly be. Jedi Knight Empatojayos Brand¡¯s sacrifice would buy the Open Circle time to not only rescue what of the 20th Armada as they could, but also prepare a new battlespace in the sector.
She was mistaken.
Tallisibeth had unwittingly fallen for the same mental trap that undid Rees Alrix; over-reliance on the Force. The late Jedi Knight¡¯s passing gift was in reality, a curse in disguise. The Force, on its own, was a tool, and a brutally effective one. The Force informed the user of information that was unknown to even the most advanced sensor suites; but such information was still useless in the hands of an inexperienced commander.
An inexperienced commander would take such information at face value, and lead them to make dangerous assumptions. Fatal assumptions. Over-reliance on the Force, ultimately, makes an inexperienced commander forgo their conventional tactical wisdom and training in preference of the ¡®easy way out.¡¯ Such an effect was only made worse in the hands of Jedi; the Jedi, who have trained their entire lives to view the Force as the ultimate answer to all things, and trust it over all.
In the end, that trust was mercilessly exploited at the Seven Battles at Sullust. And, perhaps, history would repeat itself at Yag¡¯Dhul. After all, Scout had already dismissed Octavian Grant¡¯s greater experience and wisdom in favour of formulating a strategy¨Calbeit a sound strategy¨Caround the information she could glean from Jedi Knight Alrix¡¯s latent ability. A dismissal that resulted in disastrous consequences for the allied fleets¡¯ chances of eliminating the Battle Hydra.
And, for the second time in the same battle, she made another assumption using that ability. It was the assumption that the Open Circle Fleet could not be intercepted. ¡®The Force tells me the enemy is on the opposite side of the system,¡¯ Tallisibeth drew such a natural conclusion, ¡®thus the enemy is not here.¡¯ It was as simple a mistake as taking incomplete information for complete information.
Seventy Givin starships exploded out of the asteroid field, ice-blue drives glowing as boiling atmosphere curled off their streamlined, fin-shaped hulls. Harbinger¡¯s scanners identified them almost instantaneously¨Cthey were the crown jewel of the Yag¡¯Dhul Shipyards, and the backbone of the Givin Defense Fleet: the Wavecrest-class frigate. With two Republic fleets now dealt with, the Body Calculus has finally committed the full might of their personal fleet to the cause.
Scout could only watch as the swift and nimble Wavecrests joined the battle, coming crashing out of the supposedly impenetrable asteroid field and crossing the ¡®T¡¯ forward of the Open Circle Fleet. Hundreds, thousands more bright pinpricks appeared on the tactical holos; the Givin frigates were launching an uncountable number of seeker mines onto their vector, before disappearing back into the chaos of the atmospheric anomaly as quickly as they emerged.
Then, in her peripheral vision, the Hydra¡¯s flame began to move once more.
The Open Circle Fleet was not safe. The Open Circle Fleet¡¯s momentum had ostensibly been killed in a single action, and there was a wild beast back on the hunt.
?
¡°Two down, one to go.¡±
Chapter 60
Eastern Veil, Llon Nebula
Itopol Sector
¡°It is not our intention to kill you here, Ventress.¡±
Naradan D¡¯ulin crossed her arms, as if she were not at all engaged in a tense, three-way standoff between an unstable Sith assassin and a famed Jedi Knight. One might think, wrongly, that being ordinary mercenaries meant the Mistryl Shadow Guard were at a disadvantage, but that would be a mistake. The Mistryl were well-prepared for such an exchange¨Cfor any exchange, really¨Cand Anakin himself would be remiss to underestimate them. There was a reason Emberlene built an army out of them, and a reason somebody as canny as the Hydra hired them.
He noticed the curved handle of a concealed sword at Naradan¡¯s waist, and the bejewelled ends of multiple hair pins neatly sheathed into thick black hair, and Anakin Skywalker knew there wouldn¡¯t be a fight without some nasty losses. Those swords could be phrik, or cortosis-weave, and those hairpins could be zenji needles. Anakin was more worried about the zenji needles; they were poisoned, for one, and the Mistryl were known for cracking and piercing armour just by throwing them hard enough.
¡°I am unsure why you would be after me, then,¡± Ventress¡¯ voice was hoarse, and paranoid.
Her presence in the Force was¡ unstable, maddened, even panicking. Ventress is riding high on adrenaline, Anakin realised that. That¡ didn¡¯t happen with Ventress, in his not-so friendly experience with the Sith Acolyte. Even during their torrential duel on Yavin-IV, it was Anakin who was aggravated and wild, while Ventress remained as silent and cool as a sliding blade. This loss of control¡ could only mean something drastic had happened to her.
¡°The Admiral has already given you a way out,¡± Naradan continued, her Mistryl fanning out behind her, ¡°You¡¯ve had enough time to realise this.¡±
Similarly, Commander Appo seized the opportunity to secure the bridge compartment, a flash of hand signals ordering the 501st troopers to tactically mirror the Mistryl on the opposite side of the room. Anakin eyed the dimensions of the compartment, and the sizes of its openings¨Cnamely the two bulkheads on forward and aft. If a firefight were to break out, there was a good chance nobody was getting out¡
Anakin took on a stance Dooku was likely to take; a simple Form II stance with a one-handed grip with the other hand clenched behind his back. He could feel both Ventress and the Mistryl analysing him closely, wondering why he was adopting a duelist¡¯s form in the worst situation possible. Staring them down, he made a series of hand signals with his hidden hand, ordering Appo to send two squads of troopers down the port and starboard corridors to outflank the Mistryl.
He could not hear the clones¡¯ internal comm circuits, or even if Appo noticed the order. But when Anakin¡¯s Force-enhanced hearing picked the muffled clamour of moving boots elsewhere on the ship, he knew the Clone Commander did.
Anakin made a second signal: expect combat.
Two Mistryl destroyers had split off to target this ship, Storm-001, but there was only one Mistryl team in front of them. Anakin would bet his mechno-arm there was a second Mistryl team crawling aboard this ship at this moment.
¡°I don¡¯t understand half the things he does,¡± Ventress snarled, ¡°All I know is that he expected this.¡±
¡°Where is your starfighter, Ventress?¡± Naradan¡¯s eyes hardened.
¡°Drifting in the black,¡± Ventress bit.
Irritance flashed across the Mistryl¡¯s beautiful features¨Cthere was something on that starfighter she wanted¨Cas she finally settled into a fighting stance, drawing out a handful of zenji needles from her hair, nesting them between her fingers.
¡°In that case, your testimony is necessary,¡± Naradan declared, ¡°We will be taking you in. Do us a favour and don¡¯t resist.¡±
At that moment, Anakin stepped it, brandishing his lightsaber; ¡°I dislike being ignored, ladies. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s the end of the line for you Ventress. I¡¯d like to just kill you here, but it seems I must give you the opportunity to come to Coruscant for trial. Your miserable existence might last a bit longer that way, behind bars.¡±
¡°You aren¡¯t getting out of here,¡± Naradan raised a fist, and the Mistryl unsheathed their weapons¨Cgleaming black swords, shock whips, zenji needles and holdout blasters, ¡°Listen to me, Ventress. It¡¯s either the Republic, or the Confederacy.¡±
¡°The Confederacy betrayed me,¡± Ventress snarled, her twin, curved lightsabers growling with burning energy, ¡°The Republic seeks my death. I will not die here. There is something I must do.¡±
¡°And what is that?¡± Naradan raised an eyebrow, ¡°Put a blade between Count Dooku¡¯s eyes? Not in your state.¡±
¡°Count Dooku?¡± for a brief moment, Anakin was taken aback, ¡°Count Dooku betrayed you?¡±
Was that why the Storm Fleet suddenly fired upon itself? To kill her? Firstly, why would Dooku suddenly seek the death of his most prized apprentice? And second, how did Ventress survive?
Then, Anakin laughed.
¡°Count Dooku betrayed you,¡± he said again, just to confirm the absurdly believable fact with his own two ears, ¡°Count Dooku led you to some secret super fleet, then ordered to kill you. That¡¯s¡ so Sith.¡±
If his intentions were to goad Ventress on, he succeeded with flying colours. The irritance Naradan wore changed targets¨Cfrom Ventress to him¨Cbut instead of leaping at him like the cornered animal she was, Ventress took them all by surprise. By taking a deep breath and lowering herself into a more compact fighting stance, pulling her lightsabers closer to herself and adopting a clearly Form III stance. With her twin lightsabers, Anakin could visualise the defensive bubble she created around herself.
¡°Honestly,¡± Anakin said, exasperated, ¡°Why are you still holding out? This destroyer doesn¡¯t have a hangar, and without your starship, you¡¯re trapped¡¡±
He trailed off, finding a certain calculating glint in Ventress¡¯s pale eyes that forced him to re-evaluate the situation. That wasn¡¯t the look of a cornered animal, but one of a starved beast planning out its next hunt. A cornered animal and starved beast may appear similar, but were very different battles to tackle altogether.
The 501st troopers must have noticed their General¡¯s newfound wariness, because they levelled their blasters and carbines. The tension in the compartment heightened, until Anakin could almost grab it with the Force.
¡°What¡ what does the Admiral want?¡± Ventress gripped her lightsabers in reverse, slowly pivoting as she analysed the two forces blocking the exits.
The pieces started to click into Anakin¡¯s mind. Her defensive posture, her lack of aggressiveness¡ Ventress is stalling, he realised. She¡¯s protecting something. But what? Something behind her? That would explain the reverse grip. So¡ the data console? Should I allow her to stall? Anakin had no choice but to wait for his troopers to flank around the bridge, however, as there was no way to decisively win the upcoming firefight without them.
¡°He needs the Storm Fleet,¡± Naradan answered easily.
Anakin narrowed his eyes, ¡°I thought you needed her starfighter?¡±
¡°I need proof of Dooku¡¯s betrayal,¡± Naradan snapped, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it''s her starfighter, Ventress, or this star-damned fleet! I need something that can be presented before the Separatist Senate, something that can put Dooku¡¯s credibility in its grave.¡±
¡°...Bonteri¡¯s part of the Anti-Dooku Faction,¡± Anakin suddenly stated, ¡°I have¡ heard of that.¡±
¡°Do you realise that we are not the Jedi Order¡¯s enemy, then?¡± the Mistryl appealed, ¡°The common mission of the Jedi Order and the Perlemian Coalition is to dethrone Dooku and bring him to justice.¡±
Anakin¡¯s lightsaber was heavy, but his mechno-arm couldn¡¯t feel its weight, ¡°Answer me this, mercenary; was it on Dooku¡¯s orders that Eriadu was decimated?¡±
Naradan D¡¯ulin stilled, and Anakin knew then that Dooku had nothing to do with Eriadu.
¡°You may be speaking to me,¡± the Jedi Knight switched back to Form V, ¡°But all I hear are the Hydra¡¯s sweet words, and the slither of their forked tongue. I don¡¯t know what the Jedi Order is fighting for, but I know the Republic is fighting for the end of the Separatist State. And as far as I¡¯m concerned, that¡¯s what I¡¯m fighting for too.¡±
¡°Eriadu was the act of a single madman who lost everything to the Republic,¡± Naradan gritted her teeth, ¡°And lost everything in the single-minded pursuit of bloody vengeance. As we speak, both Dooku and the Pantoran are being summoned to Raxus Secundus for a formal hearing.¡±
¡°But not the perpetrator, General Ambigene himself?¡±
¡°...The Pantoran is protecting him with her influence,¡± the Mistryl hissed, as if that pained her physically, ¡°He is considered too important to pull off the front now.¡±
¡°Then I know where the Separatist State¡¯s priorities lie.¡±
¡°Do not act like the Republic is all that different, Jedi.¡±
Anakin released a guttural growl, ¡°I put Pong Krell in chains myself!¡±
As the last word left his mouth, a thunderclap shook Storm-001, filling the bridge with sounds of boots stomping against the panels as men and women restabilised themselves. The holoscreens flashed and fizzled, red light and blue pouring in through the observation bubble overhead. Then the room dimmed, a great shadow passing overhead¨Cthe belly of a Venator, flying so closely Anakin could count the gunships in its ventral hangar bay.
Then, Ventress¡¯ poise changed again, back into a more aggressive style more befitting of the dual-bladed form of Jar¡¯Kai.
¡°Ventress,¡± Naradan clearly realised this change, ¡°Do not make this difficult. It was not the Confederacy who betrayed you¨Cit was Count Dooku. We have the same enemy.¡±
Ventress¡¯ eyes flashed towards the console and back, ¡°It will be I who kills Count Dooku.¡±
¡°As you wish.¡±
Anakin was hardly registering the conversation, so fixated on deciphering Ventress¡¯ intentions, that seemed to change with every passing moment. He circled back to the original question; how did Ventress survive the initial betrayal? He recalled how the Storm Fleet destroyers had abruptly stopped shooting upon each other and formed its battle lines. One could assume it was because they decided Asajj Ventress was suitably dead, but a single bioscan could have disproven that.
The only other reason a fleet of slave-circuited ships would so sharply about-face would be¡ because they received conflicting orders.
Ventress was stalling. Why?
Now he knew the answer. The final piece of the puzzle clicked into place in his mind¡¯s eye. The Storm Fleet was shooting upon each other because Ventress had weaselled her way into one of the ships, and using the control codes she somehow intercepted from Dooku, commandeered the fleet to turn against the combined forces of the Mistryl and the Open Circle. That¡¯s when Anakin and Naradan found her on the bridge.
And now she was stalling, because she was trying to extract the flagship privileges and control code rotors out of the Storm-001, so she could command the Storm Fleet from anywhere she was.
Another blast rocked the ship.
Appo broke the uneasy silence, ¡°General, our squads have engaged the Mistryl in the operations compartment.¡±
A beat passed.
¡°Open fire!¡±
The 501st broke the deadlock with lasers blazing, laying down a heavy cover fire as they slowly retreated through the bulkhead behind them. The Mistryl responded in kind; first an incisive volley of zenji needles that zipped through the air that Anakin himself could barely track, even with his enhanced senses, much alone block and vaporise them with his lightsaber.
The forward rank of clone troopers dropped dead the moment the first wavefront of needles struck, filling the air with screams and splintering plastoid armour. And suddenly, the pitch of a different class of weapons joined the cacophony as the Mistryl opened up on the 501st, drawing out their holdout blasters and energy-absorbant phrik vibroblades.
¡°Get to the Sharihen!¡± Anakin could hear Naradan shout, ¡°Ventress!¡±
Ventress was a whirlwind of red light, an oblate sphere of fire that blocked any and all projectiles that came her way, or the console¡¯s way, for that matter. She ignored the Mistryl¡¯s calls, much to Naradan¡¯s chagrin. Anakin knew then, that the command privileges were still being downloaded.
¡°Appo!¡± he grunted, ¡°Don¡¯t let them reach their ship! Leave Ventress to me.¡±
Appo released a shout of confirmation, corralling the last of his men through the bulkhead. For a few seconds the two groups of weapons continued to vie with each other. Then, with a screech of strained metal, the sounds were cut off. It was only he and Ventress left on the bridge.
But the fight continued. Anakin could not see it, but he could feel it in the Force. Spreading throughout the ship like a rampant wildfire, laserfire tearing through bulkheads and panelling like a necrotising disease.
Sith and Jedi levelled their sabers at each other.
Ventress struck first, any and all semblance of defensiveness gone as she leapt over the consoles and crashed down on him with lethal grace. She swept down with such swiftness Anakin barely had time to register the attack, his body mechanically moving on its own to step back and parry her strike. Ventress pushed down him, and as his mechno-arms inhuman strength pushed back, the Sith assassin adroitly sprung over his head and onto the wall behind him.
Deftly bouncing off it, Ventress launched herself at him and Anakin turned, again nearly moving too slowly to prevent her from slicing him in half. Their blades clashed and sizzled, and she moved forward, her face mere centimetres from his. It was at this point Anakin would have expected some sort of cruel smile or mocking wit, but found himself surprised to see her full lips drawn into a determined line, her eyes set ablaze with an obsessive desire to live.
¡°Let¡ me¡ go!¡± she yelled, executing a backward flip and landing in a crouch atop the console.
¡°I can¡¯t do that,¡± Anakin growled, ¡°I came here to do one thing; and that¡¯s to put an end to you!¡±
The hum of his lightsaber was the only warning Ventress got before he was upon her in a forceful downward blow. Ventress¡¯ pale face was contorted in a snarl, and unable to match him in physical might, relaxed her joints and slipped beneath him in a slide. Already reacting before she even finished the manoeuvre, Anakin whirled around to parry her attack from behind.
¡°That¡¯s just like you Jedi!¡± Ventress gritted her teeth, ¡°How does it feel, leaving your apprentice behind, to the mercy of the enemy? That¡¯s what you Jedi do, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Unlike you, Ventress,¡± Anakin reached out with his organic hand to crush the console, only for Ventress to snap back with her second saber, ¡°We Jedi can trust each other! Now that¡¯s a luxury you wish you have, don¡¯t you!?¡±
That struck a chord. Ventress released a guttural roar, any semblance of grace leaving her form as she came at him with full force, raining blow after blow upon him. Rage fuelled her as she held nothing back, pushing for the kill. Anakin took one step back, and then another, concentrating on blocking and parrying her attacks as they grew increasingly sloppy. All he needed was for her to slip once. The musty air, tinged with the sharp scent of smouldering electronics, muffled the sizzle and crash of lightsabers clashing in deadly earnest.
¡°Do you really think your puny trap will work!?¡± Ventress hammered down, the Force magnifying her strength to impossible heights, ¡°Do you know who you pitted her against?¡±
¡°Is that admiration I hear?¡± Anakin couldn¡¯t help but ask in disbelief, ¡°You must be getting drunk on the dark side!¡±
¡°I¡¯ll admire anybody with the power to put the Republic in its place!¡± bringing down both sabers, Ventress was able to break Anakin¡¯s guard¨Cmuch to both their surprise¨Cthough Ventress reacted first, capitalising on his off-kilted poise to launch a flying kick that sent him careening into the wall.
¡°Scout¡¯s not alone,¡± Anakin gasped, forcing stale air to refill his lungs, ¡°I won¡¯t leave her alone.¡±
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¡°You¡ did,¡± Ventress was out of breath too.
¡°No. I never trained her in the Jedi way,¡± Anakin drew himself back up to his full height, brandishing his sapphire flame once more, ¡°Everything she learned, she seeked. If not from me, then those who know better than me. I never restrained her.¡±
¡°And you think that¡¯ll help her defeat the Hydra?¡±
¡°You won¡¯t know this, Ventress, but the Jedi and Republic Navy don¡¯t have the best relationship,¡± he smiled wryly, ¡°If she is defeated, it won¡¯t be because she couldn¡¯t trust the crew of the Harbinger.¡±
Anakin knew the old masters of the High Council would never let him hear the end of it should it be revealed he ¡®abandoned¡¯ his Padawan, but they were at war, and that called for flexibility. Anakin Skywalker had never been the best apprentice himself, nor would he be a traditional master. Tallisibeth has only known two places her entire life; the Jedi Temple, and the Harbinger. She had never been able to embark on the galactic adventures and missions that made the bedrock foundation of every Padawan Learner¡¯s experience.
For Tallisibeth, the Harbinger was her Jedi Master as much as Anakin Skywalker was. Whether it be Admiral Yularen, the sensor chiefs with Lieutenant Klev, the comms specialists like Avrey, or even down to the gunnery officers. Everything, anything she wanted to learn, Anakin never restrained her. The flagship of the Open Circle was her bedrock. Anakin was no stranger to the extant friction between Jedi Command and the Republic Navy, and from that perspective it could certainly be argued Tallisibeth was left among belligerent strangers.
But she wasn¡¯t. Anakin made sure of that. He made sure Tallisibeth was in good company, among friends and comrades, of men and women far more capable than he.
¡°And if she dies?¡±
¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Anakin Skywalker inserted with such utter confidence that for a moment, Ventress believed him wholeheartedly, ¡°After all, I am still her Master.¡±
And the Open Circle Fleet was still the best of the best, with the Chosen One¡¯s presence or not.
¡°Your arrogance will undo you,¡± Ventress retorted nonetheless.
¡°I¡¯ll await that day eagerly.¡±
A tense silence settled as the two warriors circled around the central command console, squaring each other off as they analysed and reacted accordingly, making minute adjustments in their stance to counter the other, all wholly invisible to the untrained eye. The console beeped inconspicuously¡ and then it chimed.
A tiny datacard popped out the slot.
Anakin and Ventress clashed gazes.
Anakin reacted first.
Ventress was faster.
Like an impossibly lithe cat, Ventress snapped up the datacard with her lips¨Cseeing as her hands were occupied with her sabers¨Ccareful not to damage it with teeth, landed in roll, and raced out of the bridge.
¡°Ventress!¡± Anakin roared as he dashed after her.
By the time he caught her, she had already hidden the datachip away. Their lightsabers clashed, and then she darted down the next corridor. Their battle carried down the maze-like interior of the Storm Fleet destroyer, sabers blazing to the background roar of clamouring footsteps, yells, and blasterfire. They crashed through narrow cross corridors lined with battle droids and clone troopers laying down suppressive fire, smashing down doors and tearing up abandoned crew quarters, only to emerge back into the middle of another firefight between Mistryl mercs and more troopers.
As they combated through the corridors and across the bulkheads, Anakin started mapping out a mental diagram of the ship¡¯s interior, comparing it against what he knew of the PCL 27¡¯s interior. Already knowing the rough layout, he steadily began shepherding Ventress towards Appo and the rest of the 501st, where they could overwhelm her. Molten metal scarred the walls as lightsabers clashed and scrapped, the harsh golden glow of liquefied steel illuminating the dust-filled corridors.
Ventress would run, Anakin would catch up, they would clash, and Ventress would break away and run again. That cycle repeated multiple times until Anakin had Ventress right where he wanted her. Appo had Naradan D¡¯ulin and the Mistryl sieged down at the emergency blister airlock they had erected where their ship, the Sharihen, was docked to Storm-001. The only reason the Mistryl hadn¡¯t already retreated, ostensibly, was because they were waiting for their guest of honour.
Asajj Ventress herself.
Problem was, to get to the cordon the mercenaries had laid down, Ventress had to somehow make her way through a narrow junction flanked by dozens of clone troopers.
¡°Ventress!¡± Naradan shouted, ¡°Come on!¡±
¡°It¡¯s over, Ventress,¡± Anakin pointed his saber at her.
The Sith assassin was on her last legs, having withstood the Chosen One¡¯s onslaught for the better part of half an hour. Her dress was all but torn away, revealing her skintight bodysuit and bandage wrappings that contained her lithe, yet well-muscled legs. Her arms bubbled with blisters and burns, from the few times Anakin¡¯s lightsaber brushed just a few inches too close for comfort.
¡°Go on, make a run for it,¡± he taunted her, ¡°See if you can.¡±
Ventress looked at him with wild eyes, glancing between the Jedi Knight and the deadly crossfire behind her. She was trapped, and she knew it. The scar of Anakin¡¯s eye burned, and his lightsaber crackled in anticipation to finally return the favour.
Asajj Ventress bit her lip.
Then she ran.
The junction exploded with laserfire. Anakin dashed after her, only for a number of Mistryl to punish him with a flurry of zenji darts. Without enough time to pull up his lightsaber to block them, the Jedi Knight resorted to the last minute instinctual act of raising his right arm to swat them aside.
He failed, of course, and the zenji needles pierced deep into his arm. Anakin winced. He met the eyes of Mistryl¨Cconfused eyes, wondering why wasn¡¯t dropping dead due to the toxins undoubtedly being injected into his bloodstream. Before the Mistryl could launch a second wave, Appo¡¯s troopers closed their ranks and laid down a blistering hail of covering fire, forcing the mercenaries to fall back¨Cor fall over dead¨Cfrantically waving for Ventress to reach them.
Anakin tested his glove-covered arm, flexing his fingers with a mechanical whirr. He grinned. All in working order. With that, just as Ventress reached the cordon, he grabbed her with Force, and wrenched her back to him. The Sith contorted her body midair with all the grace of an acrobat, landing in an aggressive posture to press the attack.
But the Hero With No Fear no longer had the patience to toy with her. Anakin Skywalker countered Ventress¡¯ attack with his own surprise offensive, blowing her momentum out of her with an elbow to the gut. She was forced to give ground as he advanced on her, to the steady drumbeat of his heart, swinging his lightsaber so swiftly it was little more than an icy blur.
As Ventress drew back to escape once again, his mechno-arm shot forward and closed in on her throat, the protective glove damp with dripping toxins. Anakin¡¯s unfeeling fingers dug into the warm flesh of her neck, lifting the comparatively small woman into the air easily, her legs kicking helplessly, and slowly began to crumple her windpipe. With a final, desperate blow, Ventress mustered the last of her strength to strike him with her lightsaber.
Anakin hurled her into the ground just in time, freeing up his mechno-arm and catching her downward swing just time. His mechanical phalanges closed around her wrist, twisting the red saber out of her hands with a growl, before crushing every single one of her carpal bones into a fine dust.
Ventress screamed in pain¨Ca high pitched yell that overpowered even the cacophony of blasterfire. Jedi and Sith met eyes once more, and the Sith¡¯s eyes were full of fear. Ventress tried to tug herself free, but there was little chance she was prying herself out of Anakin¡¯s iron-vice grip, and especially not with her captured hand as useful as a wet sheet of flimsi.
Before them, the 501st were now pushing the Mistryl back into the airlock. The window of Ventress¡¯ escape was closing. For a moment, Anakin thought of how easy it would be for him to simply cut down and end the assassin¡¯s pitiful existence right there and then.
But that wouldn¡¯t be the Jedi way, would it?
It wasn¡¯t Padm¨¦¡¯s voice in his mind, or Master Yoda¡¯s, or Qui-Gon¡¯s, or even Obi-Wan¡¯s. It was Tallisibeth¡¯s. Looking up at him with her wide, curious eyes, so eager to prove herself by mimicking everything he did.
¡°Surrender, Ventress. So I won''t have to kill you.¡±
Ventress responded with hateful eyes, and spat on him. Anakin sighed, and lifted up his lightsaber to finally kill his foe. I gave her a chance, he told himself.
What he didn¡¯t expect, however, was for Ventress to ignite her remaining lightsaber and cut off her seized arm at the elbow to free herself. With a flash red light, Ventress was free and scampering away, leaving the Jedi Knight dumbfounded with a sizzling, severed arm in his hands. Ventress, on the other hand, wasted no time with shoving any clone trying to intercept her out of the way and Force leaping towards the safety of Naradan¡¯s Mistryl.
Anakin, now suitably incensed, bludgeoned his way after her, once again reaching out to grab her with the Force¨C
Electricity burned through his limbs as the Anakin caught a fist full of shock whip instead¨Cone of the Mistryl having decided it was a healthy decision to attempt to subdue a Jedi Knight by ensnaring his arm. Before he could bright round his lightsaber to break free, however, a second Mistryl snared his other arm. Anakin writhed as another agonising pulse seared him, but bit back a cry.
His clones were pressing onwards, but Anakin knew they would be too late. Mistryl laid dead by the airlock by the dozens, but Ventress would escape with their sacrifice.
Like some untameable beast, Anakin fought through the pain and took another heavy step forward. As if in response, a third Mistryl whipped at that leg, and Anakin convulsed in another gold crackle of electricity, pinning him down long enough for Ventress and the last of the Mistryl to flee through the airlock.
Critically, this excluded the three who had him ensnared. Without even waiting for the three left behind, the blister airlock deflated, like a popped balloon.
¡°Shut it!¡± Appo barked, and the clone engineers deployed their own emergency blister seal just in time, before they all got sucked out of the breach.
Features fixed in a rictus snarl, Anakin converted the pain into anger, and anger into strength. Even as the Mistryl released another pulse of electricity, Anakin hardly felt it, wrapping two of the whips up with his glove-insulated mechno-arm and drawing them towards him.
Then with a Force-enhanced tug, they all but flew off their feet. Anakin speared the first through her chest with his lightsaber, and caught the second by the throat. This time, he wasted no time in crumpling her neck like a can of soda.
He stomped towards the last of them. It was an older woman, who stood defiantly against him with eyes like hard chips, valiantly attempting to conceal her shivering from his enhanced senses.
¡°Why?¡± Anakin asked, tone stony as he gestured to all the dead around them.
¡°Everything¡ for Emberlene!¡± the Mistryl yelled, rushing at him with her vibroblade.
The clones didn¡¯t even react, counting the dead. Anakin plucked one of the zenji needles out of his mechno-arm and flung it into the Mistryl with it before she could even respond. Within seconds, by the time she reached him, the old woman was slumped down in his arms. He dropped her ingloriously.
¡°The Mistryl will have to lift the jamming to bring the Storm Fleet out of here,¡± Anakin rolled his shoulders, ¡°Try to reach our gunships and have them pursue the moment they lift it.¡±
¡°Very good, sir.¡±
¡°...Do you think I made a mistake, Appo?¡± Anakin asked, looking down at his organic limb, now marred with a reddish lightning tree that grew up his forearm, ¡°Should I have just ended Ventress when I had the chance?¡±
¡°I would¡¯ve,¡± Appo immediately answered, ¡°Nothing gets in the way of the job. But you¡¯re Jedi, sir, and Jedi have their own way of doing things¡ may I speak freely?¡±
¡°Go ahead.¡±
Appo straightened, ¡°There¡¯s being a Jedi, and being a soldier. I know you try to be both, sir, and try to teach Scout to be both, but sometimes they contradict. And this happens. So¡ the way I see it, General, you need to decide which one you want to be. Or else this¡¯ll just keep happening, and you¡¯ll just keep asking the same questions.¡±
¡°Blunt,¡± Anakin sighed, ¡°But I appreciate it. How soon do you reckon we can get back to Yag¡¯Dhul?¡±
If Appo was affected by the change in subject, he didn¡¯t show it. Clone helmets didn¡¯t show much at all.
¡°We took a beating from the Storm Fleet,¡± the Clone Commander reported, ¡°We¡¯ll have to take a headcount and search for survivors. And¡ we¡¯ll have to count casualties.¡±
And the Seppies don¡¯t? Anakin wanted to ask. He didn¡¯t, however, because he already knew the answer. The Separatists don¡¯t count losses, they just churn out more soulless droids and soulless ships to replace the negative numbers on their datapads.
¡°Well,¡± Anakin rubbed his face as reality settled in, ¡°Shit.¡±
Ventress escaped his clutches, again. The primary goal of this side adventure, however, was to prevent the Storm Fleet from reinforcing the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada. Whether they did enough damage to succeed in that endeavour, however, Anakin had no way of knowing right then.
He punched a bulkhead in frustration.
¡°Kriff!¡±
And the bulkhead crumpled.
?
Pain was no stranger to Ventress, but Anakin Skywalker had a way of making her forget that immunity she thought she built up over her tenure as Dooku¡¯s premier apprentice.
Sprawling against the polish steel panelling of the Mistryl flagship, Ventress could scarcely recall her own pride and dignity as she clutched at her throat, her one remaining hand desperately clawing the pry open Skywalker¡¯s phantom hold upon her. She barely registered how her entire body alternated between numb and sluggish and excruciatingly alive with torment, as her nervous system contended with the fact that she was now missing an entire arm.
At the very least, she would not bleed to death: her lightsaber saw to that. For the first time in living memory, she gave thanks to the little mercies.
¡°Pick her up,¡± a female voice commanded, and Ventress was unceremoniously hauled off the ground. She could feel her cheeks wet with some mix of tears, sweat, phlegm, and blood. She coughed violently, hoarsely, and through her hazy vision she could make out red spittle, and maybe sections of her trachea, flying free of her jaws.
Through that blurred haze of pain and numbness, she heard some alien swearing, and considered herself lucky she escaped with neck relatively intact as well. Ventress tried to take in a breath¨Conly to come out hacking her lungs again as her throat was seared with a fiery sting, as if she were not breathing oxygen, but unrefined tibanna.
The Mistryl holding her swore loudly as she dry heaved, choking on her own breath.
¡°Kriff¨C losing her!¡±
¡°Get her¨C bacta¨C codes!¡±
Ventress faded in and out of consciousness for the next several minutes, distantly feeling the warship jerk beneath her feet¨Cof which were being dragged against the ground as the the whine of an opening compartment blasted her with the fresh, sterilised scent of cleaning chemicals and bacta. Medbay, she realised hazily.
Shadows swam in and out of her vision. She felt herself being dropped onto a bed, followed by the soothing wet compress of bacta patches against her burnt skin, and the stinging pierces of multiple injections. Slowly, awareness began to return to her, her heartbeat quickening from a crawl to a pounding beat in her chest.
¡°W-wha¨C?¡± she slurred, coarse and rasping.
¡°Good, the adrenaline spike worked,¡± she recognised one of the shadows¨CNaradan D¡¯ulin¨Cstaring down at her, ¡°Try not to talk, Ventress. I just need you to hand over the Storm Fleet¡¯s command codes.¡±
No! That was her initial reaction. Why would she give away her most powerful weapon so freely, a weapon she bled and suffered betrayal for? Still paranoid about Dooku¡¯s and Bonteri¡¯s schemes, Ventress was never more aware of just how insignificant she was in the galaxy¡¯s grand plans. Whereas once she believed she was a critical piece of Dooku¡¯s vision of a better galaxy¡ she now realised she was utterly expendable.
Naradan herself said she only needed either the Banshee, the Storm Fleet, or Asajj Ventress herself. If Ventress gave away the one thing that still made her valuable, then her life was all but forfeit.
So she shook her head violently, trying to force out a denial from her vocal chords, and only managing an animalistic growl.
¡°You want to live, Ventress?¡± Naradan hissed mere inches from her face, ¡°Then give us the codes! We need the Storm Fleet to escape! The Republic fleet is tearing us to shreds! Either you give it to us now, or we¡¯ll rip it out of you!¡±
There was a legitimate panic in the Mistryl¡¯s voice. She must be telling the truth.
Hah¡ Dooku. What was it you said about these battlecruisers? Ventress thought humorlessly. And yet, they are so easily struck down by Anakin Skywalker. Bringing them against the Battle Hydra would be little more than an elaborate method of suicide.
¡°What¡¡± it took her every effort to speak, her vocal muscles flexing and somehow scraping, and Ventress could feel blood pooling at the back of her throat from the lacerations caused by Skywalker¡¯s grip, ¡°...what is to become of me?¡±
¡°Dooku might have thought you expendable,¡± Naradan quickly said, ¡°But you are crucial to the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s plans. In that, you have my word.¡±
¡°The word of a¡ mercenary.¡±
¡°The word of a Mistryl Shadow Guard.¡±
Ventress silently reached into the lapels of her suit, and drew out the thin, tiny chip in shaking hands.
¡°Thank you,¡± the Mistryl took it with no small amount of exasperation, before moving away to speak to the medical droid, ¡°Get her fixed up. I need her in fighting shape by the time we reach our next destination.¡±
As Naradan moved to leave, Ventress reached out, the Force prickling against her fingertips. And the woman halted, though not of her own volition.
¡°W-Wait,¡± Ventress croaked, ¡°W-Where are you taking me?¡±
¡°...We¡¯re returning to Yag¡¯Dhul first, to report our progress and hop back onto the hyperlane.¡±
Her arm drooped, the last of her strength leaving her body. Ventress¡¯ eyes began to close, though she struggled desperately against it.
¡°I¡ I¨C!¡± she coughed, ¡°I should¡¯ve let Skywalker kill me¡ if I knew I was going to be on the receiving end of Bonteri¡¯s gloating anyway.¡±
¡°There won¡¯t be time for that,¡± Ventress swore Naradan was smiling as she spoke, ¡°We¡¯ll be taking the Storm Fleet down the Harrin Trade Corridor to bypass the entire war on the Rimma Front. Once we reach the Kira System, we¡¯ll transfer onto the Enarc Run.¡±
¡°...¡±
Ventress had so much to say, and too little energy to say it. Raging against her own helplessness, the once-powerful Sith assassin felt like a prisoner trapped in her own infirm body.
¡°You want revenge against Count Dooku? You won¡¯t have to wait. We will finish what Bonteri and Trilm started; we will undo Dooku¡¯s power, and tear down his authority right before his eyes, piece by piece,¡± Naradan told her, and Ventress witnessed only truth in the Force, ¡°Our destination will be where his power over the Confederacy began; Geonosis.¡±
Geonosis. Geonosis.
The name rang over and over in her head like a bell.
¡°Sleep well, Ventress.¡±
Dooku, Ventress felt her consciousness slipping from her grasp, you should have killed me twice.
As she inserted the control codes into Sharihen¡¯s transponder, Naradun Du¡¯lin ordered the electronic jamming lifted and all remaining lightspeed-capable Storm Fleet destroyers to break out of the Open Circle Fleet¡¯s iron grasp. The Mistryl were not naval officers, and this was obvious, for the hasty and chaotic withdrawal allowed the captains of the Open Circle to lay into the fleeing enemy virtually unopposed. These captains, who all realised the significance of preventing the Storm Fleet reinforcing the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul, each individually came to the same conclusion and purposefully targeted the engine drives of the Storm Fleet as the enemy ships turned about to escape.
The unorganised withdrawal would inadvertently decisively turn the tide of battle in the Republic¡¯s favour, especially as the jamming lifted. Though the Mistryl managed to escape with all intelligence frigates loaned to them intact, they were only able to count the number of Storm Fleet destroyers when they emerged on the other side in the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System.
Of two-hundred Storm Fleet destroyers, only seventy-eight escaped the Battle of Llon Nebula, of which only half was in fighting shape. To the Mistryl¡¯s chagrin, if Anakin Skywalker¡¯s objective was to prevent the Battle Hydra any reinforcement, then he had succeeded.
Chapter 61
Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System
Harrin Sector
Admiral Wullf Yularen did not hesitate, even as Tallisibeth was frozen in her own surprise, and his command came as decisive as swift as a lion¡¯s roar.
¡°All ships!¡± the Admiral shouted, ¡°Flip and burn! Divert all power to dorsal attitude thrusters! Watch our portside shields!¡±
Three orders in quick succession, but each and every one rife with purpose. The first order¨C¡¯flip and burn¡¯¨Cto slow down the rear-heavy Star Destroyers before they could strike the oncoming minefield, and the second order to have the fleet dive under the obstacle at the same time. The last and final order, to maintain strict vigilance against the Givin Defense Fleet, whose Wavecrests lurked like hungering sharks in the depths of boiling, bubbling gas.
Tallisibeth watched the images of the Open Circle Fleet flipping bow-over-stern and igniting their thrusters in a furious crunch against the time to intercept, all at the same time burning downwards so as to avoid collision altogether. She had a second to wonder why ships almost always sought to ¡®dive¡¯ down instead of ¡®climb¡¯ up, as if they were aircraft in the gravity well of a world, even though the two directions were purely arbitrary and required exactly the same effort in space.
In this case, it meant the Republic Venators pivoted their afts downwards, slipping right under the hastily laid minefield like aircraft conducting an acrobatic tailslide manoeuvre. The three-ship squadron of the forwardmost division was the most unfortunate, the three battlecruisers clipping the ventral sensor zone of the seeker mines. Within moments, the seeker mines were like moths to a flame, and explosions rippled down their lengths, collapsing shields so that other mines could strike the hulls proper. The battlecruisers reeled as the mines blew holes in them and sent fragments flying into space. One of the battlecruisers blew up as its power core overloaded, then the other two in quick succession, the three ships turning into fields of shrapnel blossoming out from the scenes of their deaths.
¡°Divert shields to the rear and dorsal region!¡± Scout was shouting before she even realised it, just in time for Harbinger to be rocked by debris and secondary explosions.
The entire bridge instinctively ducked as flames unfurled overhead, like fingertips brushing their heads as the rest of the Open Circle passed underneath the minefield relatively untouched. With a second flip, the entire fleet was once more well on its way towards the Twentieth Armada.
¡°Anomalous activity from the atmospheric field, Admiral,¡± Lieutenant Klev noted, ¡°Those skeletons are still in there, and I¡¯d reckon they¡¯re going to keep hitting and fading away like ghosts.¡±
Scout squinted in that general direction, and she could most recognise the faint silhouettes flitting in and out of existence behind that curtain of gas and rocks. That, or her brain was playing tricks on her mind.
¡°Bring our heaviest cruisers to our port flank, in line ahead,¡± Yularen commanded promptly, ¡°And have a squadron of starfighters picket our vanguard.¡±
¡°Very good, sir.¡±
¡°Commander,¡± the Admiral then turned to Tallisibeth, ¡°Where is the main Separatist fleet?¡±
¡°The¡ main Separatist fleet?¡± at that moment, Tallisibeth was taken aback.
Why would the Admiral ask her where the enemy fleet was? Unless¡ he knew she had inherited a sliver of Master Alrix¡¯s ability to perceive shatterpoints. But then again¡ Master Skywalker had told her that Admiral Yularen had grown comfortable being in the presence of Jedi abilities, and had accepted them as another integral facet of the fleet he commanded. It stood to reason, then, Admiral Yularen knew from the moment they made the decision to return to Yag¡¯Dhul that some greater power was in play one way or the other.
¡°They are¡¡± Tallisibeth swallowed, eyeing a nearby display as she gathered her bearings, ¡°Bearing two-nine-six, relative to Yag¡¯Dhul. I don¡¯t know the range.¡±
Admiral Yularen narrowed his eyes, and confirmed his long-standing suspicions. Bearing 296 was directly on the opposite side of the planet, in the blindzone of the Open Circle Fleet. Unless the girl had access to a groundbreaking invention, an advanced sensor able to pierce not only the multiple asteroid fields in the way, but also ten-thousand klicks of mantle and core, the Jedi could only be relying on the mystical power he knew as the Force.
¡°Is that the main Separatist fleet?¡± Admiral Yularen asked again, just to clear the inherent distrust he bore for the esoteric energy.
Is it? Tallisibeth echoed the question in her head. What am I looking at? She had touched a flame in the Force, and could feel a presence behind her shoulder, but she did not exactly know what she was looking at. A more veteran Jedi Master would have recognised the flickering candleflame in the distance as a shatterpoint in the Force, but Tallisibeth had no such knowledge.
All she knew was that that¡¯s where the Battle Hydra was. Shouldn¡¯t it stand to reason, then, that that¡¯s also where the Separatist fleet was?
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she could only answer, and she hated that feeling of uncertainty.
It was the sensation one felt when they had an answer in the palm of their hand, one they were certain was the answer¨Cif not for the gnawing feeling at the back of their mind that they had missed a small but crucial step. Tallisibeth did not know what step she had missed, either, but knew she had missed one. Because as much as she wanted to say that yes, she had identified the Separatist fleet, she had also erroneously identified the Hydra¡¯s initial target before.
¡°All I know¡¡± the Padawan continued, before frustration could visibly creep onto Yularen¡¯s stern visage, ¡°Is that that¡¯s where the Battle Hydra is.¡±
The incensed lines of the Admiral¡¯s face disappeared, and a thin smile came to his face, ¡°Then that¡¯s all we need.¡±
¡°...Huh?¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t know the range, then give me the bearings,¡± Yularen marched past the girl, brushing her shoulder with a palm, ¡°I want an update every ten minutes. The rest of you; get plotting!¡±
¡°Alright folks,¡± in the Battle Operations Room, the senior navigation officer clapped, ¡°We know there¡¯s a hostile division bearing two-nine-six!¡±
¡°Range, sir?¡±
¡°Where would Swift Justice¡¯s last known position be?¡±
There was one natural conclusion, looking at the astrography of the quaternary system. If the Swift Justice was bearing 296 from the planet, then they must have been attempting to circumnavigate the northwestern asteroid field. Assuming the Separatist fleet engaged them just as they made the port turn, that would put them at roughly 170,000 klicks.
¡°First mark; bearing two-nine-six, mark oh-oh-nine. Range hundred-seventy thousand klicks!¡±
Precisely ten minutes later, Tallisibeth gave the second bearing;
¡°Second mark; bearing three-one-five, mark oh-four-five. Range unknown!¡±
¡°Plot out all possible vectors they could have gone!¡±
Another ten minutes passed.
¡°Third mark; bearing three-one-six, mark¡ three-two-six! Range¡ around hundred-ten thousand klicks!¡±
Hearing the report from the comms, Tallisibeth wondered how the Battle Room could have gleaned the Battle Hydra¡¯s range from mere bearings. Having tutored the young Padawan before, when time allowed, Yularen was keenly aware of the confusion swirling in the girl, and thus gave her a hint;
Yularen folded his arms, ¡°The enemy fleet is bearing three-two-six vertically. Our point of reference is not the Harbinger, but the core of Yag¡¯Dhul. What does that mean?¡±
Tallisibeth furrowed her eyebrows, visualling such in her mind¡¯s eye, ¡°It would mean they are diving beneath the orbital plane.¡±
¡°They are also bearing¨Claterally¨Cthree-one-six. What could they be diving under, in this case?¡±
Realisation dawned on her, and Tallisibeth¡¯s cheeks flushed at such a critical oversight, ¡°In that direction, they would be diving under Yag¡¯Dhul itself.¡±
¡°Precisely. Working with the assumption, then, that they are sticking as close to Yag¡¯Dhul as possible to avoid detection from our pickets, we can work out their range. Now, where is Rain Bonteri?¡±
¡°He¡¯s¡ still bearing three-one-six, mark two-nine-two.¡±
¡°Then it is all but confirmed, is it not?¡± Yularen flashed a rare, if grim, smile, before speaking into his comlink, ¡°Chief, hostiles are bearing three-one-six, mark two-nine-two. Plot it.¡±
A moment passed¨C
¡°Fourth mark; bearing three-one-six, mark two-nine-two. Range hundred-and-five thousand klicks!¡±
That¡¯s right, Tallisibeth realised, if they¡¯re vertically bearing 292, then they must be almost completely beneath Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s south pole¨Cwhich is bearing 270. Despite that, the nagging sensations at the back of her mind never faded. She was still missing something; something small, something critical, that could decide the entire outcome of the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul.
But what is it?
At that thought, Tallisibeth fell back on the one constant she¡¯s had since becoming a Padawan, and Jedi Commander: her Master. What would Master Skywalker do? A recent, but nearly forgotten memory came to mind. In the hectic and adrenaline-fueled anxiety she has been brewing in since the loss of the 20th Armada, she had almost pushed Master Skywalker¡¯s advice out of her mind.
¡°Stop thinking like a Jedi, Tal,¡± Anakin Skywalker told her, ¡°You aren¡¯t alone here. The Force is useful, but don¡¯t rely on it, or you¡¯ll end up like Alrix. Trust your gut, but trust the people here more. You¡¯ll be fine.¡±
So this is what he meant, she thought bitterly; if she had simply consulted the Harbinger before the strategy conference¡ no, there¡¯s no time to dwell on that. Tallisibeth sucked in a deep breath.
¡°Wait,¡± she spoke up, instilling as much assurance and confidence into her tone as she could muster, ¡°We¡¯re missing something.¡±
¡°And what would that be?¡± Admiral Yularen raised an eyebrow.
¡°What is the enemy trying to do, exactly?¡±
¡°Well, from the looks of it, sir,¡± Lieutenant Klev piped up, ¡°They¡¯re trying to slip under the orbital plane and hit us from below. I¡¯ve got my active sensors tracking them, though. As soon as we can see them, we will see them.¡±
¡°So they¡¯re trying to intercept us.¡±
¡°Not much else in-system to intercept,¡± Klev didn¡¯t laugh at his own morbid joke, ¡°They made sure of that.¡±
¡°If they are coordinating with the Givin to track us¨Cwhich we must assume they are¨Cthen they would know we are headed to a new battlespace which would give us an advantage,¡± Tallisibeth aired her thought process aloud as she began pacing the deck, under the Admiral¡¯s watchful eye, ¡°So they should be trying to intercept us as quickly as possible.¡±
¡°And you believe they aren¡¯t?¡± Yularen questioned.
Tallisibeth produced her own comlink, ¡°Battle Room, bridge, can we plot a straight intercept vector from the enemy fleet¡¯s last known position to ours? Can you give an ETA?¡±
¡°Bridge, Battle Room. Assuming the enemy fleet is maintaining their velocity, anywhere from forty minutes to an hour. But considering it¡¯s a straight shot, at full combat accel, they¡¯d be right on top of us¨Cor below us, rather¨Cin fifteen minutes.¡±
¡°...Transmit the plots to my datapad, please,¡± ¡®Scout¡¯ asked politely, the latent abilities that earned her such a cognomen swiftly coming to the forefront, ¡°Thank you.¡±
From there, she tracked the plots¨Cthe solid blue lines linking pulsing red dots, and dotted lines tracing possible vectors. There were four main marks; on the four bearings she had provided the Battle Room, from which they extrapolated the enemy direction. She traced the lines again, slowly, one by one, checking for that single crucial piece of the puzzle she knew she had overlooked.
However¡ everything appeared to slot nicely. The Battle Hydra had maintained the momentum he accrued from defeating Swift Justice to double back starboard on a reciprocal course and was now meeting their vector on a practically straight beeline for the Open Circle¨Cwell, as straight as they could get with the planet in their way. Scout rubbed her eyes, half in exhaustion, half in frustration. There had to be something else to it, in this she was utterly adamant.
Something is off. If Scout was confident in one thing, it was her uncanny ability to detect the slightest details from something large. That was the one inherent gift the Force had deigned to allow her. And sometimes, she had learned over her tenure in the Jedi Temple, you just needed a new perspective.
¡°...No,¡± she mumbled, ¡°Transmit this data to a holoprojector.¡±
Admiral Yularen snapped his fingers, and it was done. Time was ticking, Scout knew¨Cfifteen minutes¨Cbut Anakin Skywalker¡¯s stubborn streak had rubbed off her, and she had to figure this out.
The holographic celestial globe appeared before her eyes in its three-dimensional glory¨Cand then she found it. The Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada wasn¡¯t the Givin Defense Fleet, and they couldn¡¯t have possibly navigated the northwestern asteroid field in any form of haste, and thus opted to ¡®climb¡¯ over it.
First mark to second mark: vertical bearing 009 to 045. Then second mark to third mark: vertical bearing 045 to 326. That means in between the second to third mark, the Battle Hydra traversed a whole 79 degrees down on the vertical plane, when they could have simply traversed another 45 degrees ¡®climbing¡¯ instead of ¡®diving.¡¯
They were already climbing, thanks to the asteroid field. Why would they suddenly dive again? If speed was a factor in intercepting us¨Cwhich it is¨Cwouldn¡¯t the obvious decision be to circumnavigate Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s north pole instead of south pole?
Unless¡
¡°We¡¯re looking in the wrong direction,¡± Scout blurted out, suddenly short of breath, ¡°Battle Room! What if the enemy fleet had continued from the second mark to the planet¡¯s north pole instead!? What would be their ETA to intercept then!?¡±
Admiral Yularen, at the very least, didn¡¯t need to wait to know the answer.
¡°Lieutenant!¡± he roared, ¡°Expand our dorsal sensor grid! I want eyes above our heads! Helm, standby for evasive manoeuvres!¡±
As Harbinger¡¯s sensors locked into place and blasted out just about every wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum, Scout blinked around a hundred contacts materialised into being out of the black.
¡°Contact!¡± Klev and his operators hastily began painting targets, ¡°Eighty ships!¡±
¡°Why didn¡¯t we catch on the passive sensor sphere!?¡±
¡°They¡¯re flying dark, sir!¡± another sensor officer gritted his teeth, ¡°We had to paint the entire spherical section with light. But that means they know that we know.¡±
True to word, the skies over the Open Circle exploded out in hundreds of gleaming sublight drives, thruster plumes blazing like newborn stars in the celestial sphere. They were shaped in a deep spindle, and had obviously been aiming to spear straight through the top-down profile of the Open Circle¡¯s formation. After they had been discovered early, however, the enemy division evolved into a more flat, rectangular shape, with capital ships anchored at the centre and corners.
A picture-perfect Separatist battle lattice.
In a split-second, Harbinger¡¯s innumerous displays were blaring with warning symbols as thousands of Separatist missiles rained down from above. Almost by instinct, the Open Circle¡¯s formation convulsed as one like a living organism, with escort ships racing up and lighting up the void with a terrific roar of point defence lasers while bright-hot flares filled the empty spaces between ships until it seemed the formation was set ablaze by an internal inferno.
They had responded well, Scout knew, but now they needed to react in kind. For a moment, she looked towards Admiral Yularen for directions, only to see the man carefully judging the enemy attack vector. His cautious disposition was prompting him to see the enemy¡¯s tactics play out before responding, so he had the full picture in mind when devising a counterattack.
It was not an incorrect decision, by any means, but Scout¡¯s every urge was telling her to counterattack now. They weren¡¯t facing just this one division, but also the Battle Hydra¡¯s personal division diving under them, and the Givin Defence Fleet as well. The tables had turned; now, they were the ones surrounded.
¡°Battle Room,¡± Scout held her comlink closely, ¡°How long until the Hydra¡¯s intercept?¡±
¡°Bonteri, sir?¡± a voice returned, ¡°They should be slipping under the atmospheric phenomena in four minutes.¡±
And once they slip under the phenomena, they¡¯ll be in sensor range. Four minutes. What sort of formation can be adopted in four minutes, while under fire no less? Scout drowned out the blossoming fires of intercepted warheads and screaming deflector shields, rifling through her mental library of tactics and formations he had learned and remembered under Yularen¡¯s watchful gaze.
We¡¯re being attacked from above and below. I need something that can leverage the firing arcs of our Star Destroyers¡
What about the ¡®Zeilla¡¯? But that¡¯s only effective in one direction, and will leave our carriers vulnerable¡ Scout drew out the hypothetical command package on her datapad¨Cbut if we can make use of our battlecruisers¡¯ SPHA-Ts¡
¡°Admiral!¡± Scout gasped, ¡°If we use the Zeilla formation¨C¡±
¡°The Zeilla is only effective in a single direction.¡±
¡°But our battlecruisers have ventral SPHA-T batteries!¡±
Yularen paused, narrowed his eyes, and liberated the datapad from her hands. He inspected for a few, heart-thumping seconds, before briskly handing it off to a nearby officer.
¡°Execute it.¡±
Scout¡¯s stomach leapt, ¡°S-So¡ it¡¯ll work?¡±
¡°Only one way to find out¨C¡± and then, Yularen roared, ¡°Hard right, hard over! Bring us around!¡±
?
¡°We¡¯re not fighting Anakin Skywalker, are we?¡± Commodore Horgo Shive muttered to himself as the ¡®2nd Strike Division of the 28th Mobile Fleet thundered down its assault vectors, ¡°Because this isn¡¯t normal.¡±
The Republic¡¯s transit formation was roughly box-shaped, anchored by a left-hand L-formation of heavy capital ships and the rest of the space filled with lighter vessels. Those lighter vessels were now rising to provide a cover screen of point defence to shield the L-shaped formation of Venators. And said Venators¡ starting from the leading ship¨CHarbinger herself¨Cwere circling around starboard. Just as the Harbinger reached the crest of her turn, she killed her turn and kicked herself into a deft tailspin, the kilometre-long vessel spinning like a top until her aft was facing the interior of the circle she had just turned.
The next eleven ships in the line ahead followed that manoeuvre precisely and in quick succession, until the ¡®top-most¡¯ layer of the Open Circle was a twelve-petaled flower, with their bows facing outward and engines inward. The next eleven Venators after them followed through, diving half a hundred klicks ¡®beneath¡¯ the topmost layer and forming a second array of petals, with each ship strategically placed in between the petals of the topmost layer. This time, however, they were ¡®upside down,¡¯ so that their ventral turbolaser batteries were facing the top.
All fifty Venators promptly executed such a formation, creating four layers of petals, each layer facing alternating directions, with such facility Horgo Shive could conclude some Jedi trick was in play¨Csuch as the one reported to occur at the Battle of Metalorn¨Cor there was a truly skilled commanding officer behind these joint manoeuvres. As soon as the four-layered formation was completed, the Venators cut their engines, so that they were now drifting laterally on their resultant vector.
Then, to complete the formation, the Open Circle¡¯s escorts speared themselves through the hole in the centre of the formation, organised into a similarly tubular shape with dorsal superstructures facing outwards, extending upwards¨Cor downwards¨Calong the formation¡¯s vertical axis. This created a double-ended spindle shape, or perhaps, one much more akin to the profile of a pulsar star.
¡°They overextended their escorts!¡± Vinoc exclaimed, ¡°We can destroy them piecemeal as we move towards the capital ships!¡±
The Muun Commodore curled his fingers, ¡°It is not that simple. The purpose of their spindle-like structure is twofold¨Cfirst to intercept any missiles or torpedoes targeting the capital ships, and to break up our battle lattice at the same time.¡±
¡°So we destroy them systematically. They are overextended.¡±
¡°If we slow down the entire battle lattice to deal with the escorts, those Venators will tear us to shreds,¡± Horgo Shive clenched his fist, ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I don¡¯t want to know what it¡¯s like being on the receiving end of quadruple-ranked Star Destroyer firing envelopes.¡±
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
There was a brief pause from the Crying Sun, likely as Vinoc analysed the enemy formation once again¨C ¡°And if we attempt to bypass the spindle, they can attack our flanks with impunity. We¡¯ll be forced to decide whether to defend against the spindle or the petals.¡±
¡°It seems so. They¡¯ve outflanked us without flanking us.¡±
Commodore Vinoc laughed, ¡°Then we¡¯ll revert back to the spindle formation as well.¡±
Horgo nearly doubled over in surprise, ¡°What?¡±
¡°No¨C ¡®spindle¡¯ isn¡¯t the right word for it,¡± Vinoc mused, ¡°What about ¡®tube¡¯? We¡¯ll form a tubular shape that sheathes right over the Republic¡¯s spindle. That way we can completely destroy the spindle, and if the Venators attempt to fire back¨C¡±
¡°They¡¯ll also be shooting at their own ships,¡± Horgo finished, eagerness gleaming in his black eyes once more.
¡°Inform the Givin. Tell them to alert the Third Division to the Republic formation,¡± Vinoc said, ¡°We can pin them here, while Rain and Diedrich devise a strategy to cripple them. We¡¯re going on the attack.¡±
?
Scout could¡¯ve only watched on in awe as Admiral Yularen expertly facilitated the double-Zeilla formation with nary a misstep, skillfully micromanaging the burdensome manoeuvres of nearly half a hundred battlecruisers and carriers as if the entire fleet was but an extension of his own body. At the same time, however, the Separatist formation reacted on a dime, their battle lattice condensing once more into a spindle with an open core.
The enemy spindle then crashed into Republic spindle¨Cand the Republic spindle all but melted away. The lighter Arquitens and Peltas of the Open Circle were simply no match for the overpowering firepower of Separatist destroyers and cruisers, and the once organised array of small warships turned into a falling cascade of debris and fragments punched along by momentum, descending towards the Republic¡¯s main line of battle as quickly as the Separatist menace.
¡°Good,¡± Admiral Yularen nodded, as if hundreds of spacers had not just perished before their eyes, ¡°Attacking an overextended formation was an obvious enough reaction. They have taken the bait.¡±
Of course, by sticking so closely to the Republic spindle, their Venators couldn¡¯t attack the Separatist warships without also risking friendly fire. But that was where the second facet of the double-Zeilla came into play.
The second layer of petals consisted of eleven ¡®upside down¡¯ Venators. In other words, their hangars were facing away from the view of the Separatist forces.
¡°Layer B,¡± Yularen commanded calmly, ¡°Launch all starfighters. Head downwards for ten klicks, then sweep around in open cluster formation. Backfire speed, zonal attack pattern. Happy hunting.¡±
Eleven pairs of hangar doors groaned open and a torrent of sharp-fanged starfighters came screaming out, all forming up outside of the enemy¡¯s view within the visual shadows of their motherships and ramping up to attack speed. Then, together, they banked hard on their etheric rudders, coming about and over the rims of their carriers like the spray of some exotic fountain. From the Separatist perspective, there was no warning. In one moment, there were no starfighters, and in the next there were four-thousand bloodthirsty starfighters in perfect formation already settling into their attack runs.
The enemy was rallying their combat patrols to respond, but the hounds were already set upon them. Separatist frigates exploded and broke under the force of concussion missiles, their pieces tumbling across space. A half-dozen light destroyers shattered into fragments. Three heavy cruisers reeled out of formation, two completely destroyed in rainbow-hued vapour of rhydonium-based fuel, and the third put out of battle. Their battleships and battlecruisers took the blows head on, having had time to reinforce their forward shields, thanks to the sacrifice of the lighter units, and blundered through the assault with superficial injuries but apparently no critical damage.
¡°This is for Swift Justice and the Twentieth!¡± someone whooped as explosions bloomed over the viewports.
¡°This is swift justice!¡± another cheered.
Soon, their space around the spindles was consumed by a blistering hail of point defence, missiles, and starfighters of all kinds, scrambling any accuracy afforded by Harbinger¡¯s scanners. Trapped in the hail of fire, the surviving Separatist forces bludgeoned their way out of the killzone and into a more spread-out formation, launching a renewed offensive of droid fighter-bombers accompanied by a fusillade of torpedoes.
But away from the spindle, the quadruple-ranked envelopes of the double-Zeilla formation now had them dead-to-rights.
¡°All ships: open fire!¡± Admiral Yularen barked, ¡°Primary targets are the capital ships. Maintain formation except to manoeuvre as necessary to avoid enemy fire. Local fire control is granted to all warships and artillery stations!¡±
The double-Zeilla exploded out in volleys of superheavy turbolaser fire and raking charges of energy beam weaponry from their SPHAs. Scout watched on the displays as the Separatist fleet tried to charge in, only to have their momentum stifled and struck down over and over. For now, however, the Open Circle was staving off the Battle Hydra¡¯s assault.
But it never left Scout¡¯s mind that a hydra had more than one head, and if the Zeilla formation had one critical weakness, it was that it was completely immobile. Just as a constantly evolving formation such as the Whirlwind employed at the 7th Battle of Sullust was unmaintainable, a completely static formation such as the Zeilla was also unmaintainable, simply for different reasons. The former was due to the limitations of crews and hardware, while the latter was due to the evolving nature of a battlespace.
The Zeilla formation was so effective in a defensive posture like this because it capitalised on the nature of Star Destroyers in a formation that maximised firepower in relation to each other. Once that relationship was broken down, the formation would crumble into nothing but a loose cluster of disorganised warships stuck in individual, nonoptimal positions.
¡°The main fleet¡¯s here!¡± the sensor chief shot to his feet, ¡°Ten-thousand klicks beneath us! Eighty-three ships¡ they¡¯re in a battle lattice!¡±
Scout shared a look with Admiral Yularen.
?
¡°That¡¯s quite a¡¡± Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri regarded the Republic formation closely, having seen nothing quite like it, and thus he was searching for the right descriptor to use.
¡°Strange formation?¡±
¡°Aesthetic formation,¡± he finished, marvelling at the tight lines of relation each Republic cruiser maintained with each other, ¡°Is our battle lattice completed?¡±
¡°Just so.¡±
¡°Perfect.¡±
The battle lattice of the ¡®3rd Battle Division of the 28th Mobile Fleet rolled, each ship turning within the formation to present its bows to the Republic fleet above them so that the Separatists warships were now coasting sideways within their rectangular formation. This battle lattice was arranged differently to that of the ¡®2nd Battle Division, with the heaviest capital ships in the centre with successively lighter escorts fanning out until the edges were anchored by light corvettes.
The very moment the centremost warships¨Cincluding Chimeratica and Kronprinz themselves¨Cwere directly beneath the Republic¡¯s ¡®downward¡¯ spindle, the entire battle lattice erupted forwards as one. Just as occurred on the topside of the Zeilla formation, the Republic spindle crumpled under the onslaught of the Separatist offensive, Kronprinz leading the charge down the spindle with all the speed afforded to her. The battle lattice began to warp into a curved funnel around the centre, as the Tionese warships raced ahead to chomp down on the Republic.
It was exactly what the Open Circle was waiting for. The Separatists had taken the bait again, it seemed.
¡®Layer C¡¯ of the double-Zeilla formation, their hangars similarly facing away from the ¡®3rd Battle Division as ¡®Layer B¡¯ did the ¡®2nd Division, unleashed their starfighters together. But that was exactly what the 28th Mobile Fleet was waiting for. The Republic had taken the bait.
¡°Launch all starfighters!¡± the Rear Admiral ordered, ¡°All capital ships, retreat! Escorts, push forwards! Grind them into a fine dust!¡±
Like hounds snapped onto their reins, the battlecruisers of the ¡®3rd Division promptly about-faced and reversed their momentum with such agency the action could have only been achieved by Tionese ships of their build. Now, the funnel was beginning to invert into a cup-shape, with the capital ships falling back and the escorts on the edges racing forward.
Let¡¯s take a gander into the mental states of the Republic pilots. Their allies had been defeated, and they were thirsting to avenge their loss. Their comrades up top had sown hellfire into the dastardly Separatist positions, achieving a major victory, and now they were starving to do the same on the downside. The closest enemy ships in range were naturally the Separatist battlecruisers, which had ostensibly overextended away from their escorts and lattice. From the perspective of the Republic pilots, these capital ships were easy pickings.
But those capital ships withdrew, and the pilots chased after them, glory right within arms reach.
There was no knowing what the attitude was like aboard the flagship Harbinger, or whether they noticed the Separatist trap or not. In whichever case, the Republic pilots did not notice they were flying straight into the maw of the Hydra.
And when they realised, it was already too late. The funnel-shaped formation had inverted into a cup-shaped formation, with the capital ships at the base of the cups. Now, the starfighters had two choices¨Cfly on a reciprocal course, braving the nearly twenty kilometres of point defence from the scores of escorts surrounding them, or attempt to break through the capital ships and out the back of the ¡®cup.¡¯
Or rather, it didn¡¯t matter what they did.
The escorts opened fire. Four-thousand Republic pilots died. It was like shooting fish in a barrel, except it was the barrel itself that was shooting. Whatever surviving pilots immediately began falling back towards the Zeilla, weaving in and out the corpses of their fellow comrades, using their floating bodies as cover to do so. The entire Separatist formation was burning forward now, maintaining that cup-shape as they launched a renewed offensive towards the Republic centre.
This way, when the Separatist centre launched its missiles and starfighters, the Republic spindle could not intercept them without being struck at by the Separatist flanks with impunity. Rain Bonteri watched on the display as the 28th Mobile swept into range, rapidly closing the range. He had positioned his ships and positioned his fleet, given his commanders authority to fire, and now had nothing to do but watch. Watch as the Open Circle was gradually ground down.
¡°The Second Battle Division is retreating,¡± TF-1726 informed him, ¡°Commodore Vinoc and Shive report that their losses have put them out of effective action. Half our fleet is gone.¡±
Half our fleet is gone. Those five words rang out through the silent pilothouse. Rain Bonteri was unmoving as he judged those words. If they managed to send that transmission, it must mean they are individually fine, he reasoned, thinly hiding his ire from his droid crew, but a commander could hear no more terrible words. Defeats have been suffered with less losses¨Ca victory won at the cost of half a fleet is no victory, but a damn embarrassment!
For the 28th Mobile Fleet, such a loss was not so devastating, as the vast majority of ships put out of battle could be repaired and put back into service. This was the purpose of the Auxiliary Division, but such news was still one of the most bitter a commander could swallow, whatever the circumstances.
¡°So¡¡± he muttered, furious, ¡°This is the capability of Wullf Yularen?¡±
It was a natural conclusion. Anakin Skywalker was at the Llon Nebula, and all Jedi take their Padawans wherever they go. As such, command of the Open Circle Fleet naturally fell into the lap of the ranking officer, Admiral Yularen. It was also the correct conclusion. Wullf Yularen was a cautious and orthodox commander, but that also made a skilled organiser and masterful formation fighter. It was only with Yularen¡¯s invisible hand puppeteering the strings of the Open Circle that they could have conducted themselves to such crisp efficiency and effectiveness.
In a formation like the double-Zeilla, without the admittedly effective unorthodox actions and brash impulses of Anakin Skywalker curtailing him, Wullf Yularen was in his element.
This, however, was not the only conclusion the Battle Hydra drew from the loss. One of his heads was not participating.
¡°This will not be the second time I¡¯ve suffered defeat at the fickleness of my allies,¡± he hissed, ¡°Where the hell are the Givin!? Are they so loss-averse? Have I not thrown enough corpses at their feet to prove my sincerity!?¡±
If Diedrich Greyshade was in the same comms channel right then, the former Commonality officer would be cringing down to his toes.
¡°Tuff, get me a line with the Givin commander!¡±
?
On the visual display, spots of bright light flared as Separatist missiles struck Republic shields. The Open Circle¡¯s shields were firing back, but the Harbinger still quivered from the impacts of weapons on her shields and tallying the damage from an occasional hit that had made its way through the screening spindles. That, however, paled in comparison to the devastation the Open Circle was laying into the Separatist¡¯s ¡®2nd Battle Division.
The double-Zeilla was pushing downwards on their attitude thrusters to rise after the retreating Separatist above, at the same time putting distance between themselves and the Separatists below. The topmost Republic spindle was plunging into the centre of the collapsing enemy formation, each Republic ship only briefly exposed to enemy fire as it tore through, while the Separatist ships in those areas were battered by ship after ship. The lighter enemy units were ripped apart under the repeated blows, flaring and dying around the stronger islands formed by the surviving capital ships.
¡°There¡¯s our vector of escape,¡± Yularen identified, ¡°We need to extricate ourselves before the Givin decide it is time to end us.¡±
¡°But what about the Twentieth Armada?¡± Scout asked, ¡°We¡¯ve taken our half of the Coalition¡¯s Armada. We can still win!¡±
Yularen simply shook head regretfully, ¡°We have been outmanoeuvred. If the Givin were not a factor to contend with, I would fully believe we have a fine chance of defeating the Perlemian Coalition here, especially since it is obvious their full might have been whittled down from their engagements with the Twentieth and Swift Justice. But with the Givin still present, that is simply not the case. Our best bet would be to regroup with General Skywalker, and return with a counterattack on the system using the full might of Jedi General Ry-Gaul¡¯s Second Armada south of us.¡±
¡°The Second Armada is fighting the Separatist Fourth Fleet Group.¡±
¡°A problem to contend with once we ensure we have escaped with our lives intact,¡± Yularen swung around to Lieutenant Avrey, ¡°Avrey, contact General Skywalker. Inform him we have failed to destroy the Coalition Armada, but have destroyed half to two-thirds of their fleet, thus crippling their combat effectiveness and operational significance. Until they receive reinforcements from the Fourth Fleet Group, the Coalition Armada has been rendered strategically impotent.¡±
¡°Where should we rendezvous with him, sir?¡±
¡°The Llon Nebula is as good a location as any.¡±
With that, they took to undertaking their mission to escape. A mission easier said than done. While the Separatist forces above them were dispersing like a swarm of flies before an irate hand, the Separatist force below was mauling deep in the Republic ranks. The Zeilla formation began to condense as each of its petals furled, massive battlecruisers and carriers pitching their bows onto their resultant vectors to put their main sublight thrusters onto their proper angles of attack.
However, the complicated expressions and attitudes of the double-Zeilla modification meant there would be a greater lag in manoeuvres between the successive layers, with ¡®Layer D¡¯ acting most sluggishly to bring their thrusters on the proper vectors. This created a miniscule rift between the two halves of the Open Circle¡¯s evolving formation, between Layer C and Layer D, where the dozen Venators of Layer D was lagging behind the rest of the fleet.
As much as Admiral Yularen tried to rectify the sluggishness, there was no overcoming an inherent weakness of a static formation attempting to move onto one vector. It was the law of inertia coming into play. One could imagine a straight static line, a queue of people, stretching on for many metres. Even if the first man in the queue would start moving, it would take time for that motion to trickle down to the last man in the line.
A standard Zeilla formation would only have two layers, but Scout¡¯s modification to it gave it two more. Not simply two more layers, but two more layers facing the other way.
It was lag, that gap, that the Givin Defence Fleet capitalised on. Seventy Givin starships burst out of the atmospheric cloud, launching a flurry of torpedoes at a specific battlecruiser in Layer C. Under that hail of fire, the mighty Republic warship lost its shields¨Cthen took a hit in the wrong place, and its reactor blew while the ships from Layer D were catching up and gaining momentum.
The adjacent ship¨Ca carrier called the Brilliant Light¨Cin Layer C was too close. Scout stared at the display, as the shockwave from the exploding Venator reached out like a great hand slapped the Brilliant Light off course and tumbling out of formation. That alone would have been recoverable, if the Brilliant Light hand not so accidentally tumbled right onto the resultant vector of a fast approaching battlecruiser from Layer D, the Starseeker.
It was then, that everybody on the deck of the Harbinger¨Cnay, every officer and sensor operator spectating, damn allegiance¨Cknew the Givin had calculated precisely this outcome. After all, how else would such an unlikely series of perfect coincidences occur?
Not even the computerised collision avoidance systems of the Starseeker could avoid the reeling Brilliant Light. They were simple on the wrong trajectory, with neither time or space afforded to them.
The two Venators struck as Scout watched on in silent, gaping horror.
The collision¨Cwhich looked so slow from the relative shelter of Harbinger¡¯s bridge but must have occurred at many thousand klicks per second¨Cturned both ships into single titanic ball of heat, light, and outward gases that blossomed like an actual Zeilla flower in the dark of space, a twin-reactor combustion that within a fraction of a second, annihilated up to 7,000,000 tons of hypermatter. For reference, the main reactor of a capital ship such as a Venator would typically annihilate four tons of hypermatter for every light-year travelled. The result; a terrible, man-made star, by all definitions of the word, that shone so briefly but blindingly brightly that it lit up the void of the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System.
Before anybody could even utter a word of shock or exclamation, thousands of retinas had already been scorched through, though that was not the least of their worries. With no sizable mass and gravity to keep the orb of burning gas contained, the false sun exploded outwards suddenly and violently.
The three closest warships to the explosion were all but vapourised into rampant gases and superheated slag flung out at fractions of lightspeed, and rest were thrust in outward vectors starting from the explosion. The ships in Layer C were shoved up and out, towards the relative safety of Layer B and Layer A, while the ships in Layer D were shoved down and under, towards the awaiting arms of the Separatist ¡®3rd Battle Division.
Only then, did a collective gasp of shock and dismay rise up on the bridge of the Harbinger. Or rather, the events occurred so quickly that by the time people were reacting, they were already mostly over.
Admiral Yularen, finally seeming shaken for the first time since¡ since ever, called out commands to refocus his crew; ¡°Damage report!?¡±
¡°N-Nothing got past our shields, sir!¡± a stunned techie blabbered out, ¡°The¡ the ships in Layer B protected us!¡±
Scout shook herself back into focus as well, forcing himself to look away from the collective graves of over 10,000 spacers and evaluate the situation once again. The ten or so ships in Layer D that had been advertently blasted back towards the Separatist lines were already blasting out white flag frequencies. They obviously weren¡¯t planning on fighting and dying if they could surrender, and the Battle Hydra has been known to accept such before.
And indeed, the Coalition Armada killed their velocities to undertake the boarding actions that would bring the Republic ships into internment. The Givin Defense Fleet had returned at the very last moment, but as far as Scout and Yularen were concerned, dealt the most devastating blow. With no losses of their own, they took out fourteen capital ships and many dozen more escorts, and they were not stopping.
Scout took a deep breath, focusing on bringing the remainder of the Open Circle out of the orbital system, which required turning up and starboard. The manoeuvre, necessary as it was to escape the atmospheric anomalies that plagued the quaternary system, inadvertently brought them back downrange of the Givin line of battle and made an intercept possible. The Wavecrest-class frigates all but swam around the battered Republic lines, slashing across their deck over and over as the Open Circle continued accelerating away.
Thankfully, the Open Circle still had their remaining escorts, and the shields of their most powerful warships were more than enough to shrug off any blows that could come from the enemy frigates. A massed, alpha strike such as the one that took out Brilliant and Starseeker could not occur again.
¡°Fleet hyperdrives are ready and synced, Admiral,¡± Avrey reported, with a lack of her usual enthusiasm.
Yularen chewed his cheek, and Scout took one last look at the battlefield. Sorry, General Grant. I made a mistake, and we all paid a dear price. If she ever met him in person¡ Scout might just beg for forgiveness. As if in reaction to her thoughts, the presence behind her shoulder writhed, and the Force writhed with it. The presence then faded back into Force, and the candleflame over the shatterpoint finally winked out as it burned away that last of its fuel.
Sorry, Master Alrix. There was no answer. The presence was gone.
¡°Execute jump.¡±
158 of the 250 ships of the Open Circle Fleet that were initially brought to bear against the 28th Mobile Fleet safely jumped away.
?
60,000 klicks away, aboard the Star Destroyer Prominence, a different scene was playing out. General Octavian Grant had dispatched the remaining battle-worthy ships of the 20th Armada to aid the Open Circle Fleet against the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada, and now they were reporting back.
It seemed that soon after they received the transmission that the Harbinger was coming to rendezvous with the Prominence, they were intercepted just southeast of the 20th Armada¡¯s location. The ships the 20th sent, which were all crewed by Tapani nationals, then took one look at the desperate and deteriorating situation of the Open Circle and independently opted to circle back, signing the situation off as hopeless.
As such, the fighting Open Circle and 28th Mobile had seen neither hide nor hair of the 20th Armada, maintaining the belief that the 20th had been put out of battle for the time being. Except, the Prominence¡¯s systems were once again firing up, warmth seeping back into the halls of the mighty battlecruiser and skin of its spacers¨Cmany of whom had taken to equipping vac-suits out of caution.
One by one, the flames of ion drives burst back to live, and the 20th Armada once more flexed its arms and legs, ready to battle once more. The question was: should they?
¡°We can withdraw to another orbital system around a different planet,¡± Grant¡¯s XO posited, ¡°And prepare an advantageous battlespace there. Our ships reported there being only around a hundred Separatist warships left in fighting shape. We can beat them.¡±
¡°The Givin know their own star system like the back of their own hand,¡± Octavian Grant shook his head, ¡°I would not risk it. What truly concerns me is whether Bonteri would actually attempt to engage us if we did withdraw to another planetary body in-system.¡±
The XO took a single brisk glance at the rebooted displays, at the pins of the Coalition Armada and Givin Fleet now racing back to the location of the 20th Armada to finish them off, and looked back at his commanding officer, ¡°I imagine they would, sir. Why is that a concern?¡±
¡°Because it would reveal their intentions with the star system,¡± Grant crossed his arms, ¡°Why are they so adamant about securing Yag¡¯Dhul so completely and thoroughly?¡±
¡°Well, it would be to cut off the Second Sector Army¡¯s supply lines.¡±
¡°That would not require such thoroughness,¡± Grant shook his head, ¡°We were able to use this system as a supply depot and juncture without capturing Yag¡¯Dhul. If they wished to cripple the Second¡¯s logistics, they would have already done so the moment they drove the ancillary ships out of the system, crushed the siege fleet, and turned the orbital supply depot into scrap metal. But no, they need to secure this system totally.¡±
The XO, who was a Tapani himself, swallowed at the implications, ¡°You believe the Separatists intend on using Yag¡¯Dhul as a staging point for an assault on the Core?¡±
It would certainly be sensible. Yag¡¯Dhul sat on the nexus of two hyperlanes leading into the Galactic Interior; the Rimma Trade Route¨Cto Fondor¨Cand the Corellian Trade Spine¨Cto Corellia. The 20th Armada would have been forced to split their forces across both hyperlanes, while the Separatist 4th Fleet Group could send their total strength on their chosen route of invasion.
¡°That¡¯s¡¡± the XO continued hesitantly, ¡°Very unlikely, sir. Strategic Command projects that the Separatist State is on its last legs. They hardly have the operational capabilities to conduct a prolonged, large-scale offensive against the Core directly!¡±
¡°And yet,¡± the General of the 20th Sector Army said quietly, ¡°We¡¯ve just received news a Perlemian Coalition Armada under Calli Trilm had just struck Commenor.¡±
Fortress world Commenor. The eastern gateway of the Core Worlds. The hearts of every spacer aboard Prominence¡¯s bridge sank as one. If Commenor was the eastern welcome mat of the Core Worlds, then the southern welcome mat would be the Tapani Sector. If their General was correct, the war was coming home.
Something to note about the 20th Sector Army was that it was almost entirely manned by men and women of the Tapani Sector. The Tapani Sector, or rather, the Tapani Federation, was an autonomous state existing under the umbrella of the Galactic Republic. On the opposite side of the Galactic Centre, the Tapani Federation was as distant from Coruscant as Coruscant was from the New Territories in the Outer Rim. Thanks to this astrographical reality, the Tapani Federation has had four centuries to dominate the Southern Core politically, economically, and culturally.
As such, naturally the entire 20th Sector Army and 20th Armada were predominantly Tapani. Even their Governor-General, Octavian Grant, was a Tapani noble, because the Republic High Command realised the militaries of the Tapani Federation would not follow a foreign commander. Compare this reality with the other Sector Armies, whose Governor-Generals were all assigned by the Chancellor and his Military Advisory Council based on other factors like skill and loyalty, there were only two Sector Armies out of twenty in which the Office of the Supreme Chancellor exercised little to no influence over.
The first was the 2nd Sector Army, whose Governor-Generalship was left vacant due the Corellia¡¯s neutrality in the war, and thus uniquely commanded by Senior Jedi General Ry-Gaul and Jedi General Aayla Secura, both of whom were now combating General Horn Ambigene on the Rimma. The other was of course the 20th Sector Army, which was commanded and administered by the Tapani Federation first and foremost, by virtue of Tapani fleets and armies constituting the vast majority of the 20th Sector Army¡¯s fighting force.
As such, the 20th Sector Army was an army that prioritised the Tapani Federation over the Galactic Republic. With this in mind, Octavian Grant¡¯s next decision was natural and even expected, if not at all loyal. But he wasn¡¯t a Loyalist¨Cnone of the Tapani worlds were¨Cthey simply fought for the Republic because the aristocracy of the Tapani Sector were as threatened by the ideology of Separatism as much as the Republic Senate was.
¡°We will withdraw back into friendly space,¡± Grant ordered, knowing full well he was abandoning his allies in the 2nd Sector Army, ¡°And prepare forward defensive lines in the Bestine and Ghorman Systems. Inform our fleets at Mechis-Three and Thyferra to erect interdiction arrays and send an urgent transmission to Procopia and Fondor warning them of the possible invasion; we will not allow any Separatist fleet to disgrace the sanctity of our home!¡±
?
As the 20th Armada turned to leave, Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri, who was vaguely aware of the political circumstances within the Grand Army of the Republic due to his prior research of the astrographical region, suddenly had a sinking feeling that Operation Starlance was about to get a whole lot more impossible.
Chapter 62
Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System
Harrin Sector
¡°I am pleased to report that the Republic presence in the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System has been completely routed,¡± I told the holographic figures of Admiral Trench and General Ambigene, ¡°It will take some weeks for the effects to begin to show, but the GAR¡¯s Second Sector Army should now be feeling the pressure to recapture Yag¡¯Dhul or open up new supply lanes.¡±
¡°They will undoubtedly target Malastare in order to secure their short-term fuel requirements,¡± the great Harch calculated, leaning heavily on his cane, ¡°But with our grip on Yag¡¯Dhul as tenuous as it is, we must expect a task force dispatched back north to dislodge the Twenty-Eighth¡¯s efforts.¡±
¡°Let the Republic come,¡± Ambigene¡¯s aide-de-camp, a fallen Jedi by the name of Wiffa Zett, hissed, ¡°We have expected this. The only thing they will find at Malastare is their own deaths.¡±
¡°What my overzealous adjutant is trying to say, Admiral,¡± the ¡®Tombmaker¡¯ said curtly, as if he was not at all overzealous himself, ¡°Is that we will be expecting the Republic at Malastare.¡±
¡°Make sure you do not destroy Malastare with the Republic fleet, General Ambigene,¡± Admiral Trench chuckled throatily, if not a little snidely, ¡°Be aware the Confederacy requires Malastare¡¯s natural fuel resources as much if not more so than the Republic.¡±
¡°We are aware,¡± First General let the veiled remark slide off him like water would off a duck¡¯s back, ¡°And we are aware of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s situation. Yag¡¯Dhul is a point of concern for all of us.¡±
¡°I will hand over command of the Forty-Sixth Guard Fleet to Commander Marath Vooro and have them stationed at Yag¡¯Dhul,¡± I reassured, ¡°But I must add that the Twenty-Eighth Mobile has taken significant casualties in our prolonged campaign. Thanks to the Givin Shipyards, we can salvage much, but we will also be grounded for about a week, and our operational capacity for¡ other endeavours¡ will be found lacking. It is for this reason I must request additional reinforcements to fill our ranks before the next offensive.¡±
I did not point out Operation Starlance, because I was unsure if Horn Ambigene was in the know and decided to play it safe. Nor did I mention Marath Vooro was a Trade Federation customs vizier turned CAF officer, for the same reason. Nevertheless, both men were nodding along in understanding, though I imagined for different reasons. Unlike Admiral Trench, I¡¯d rather tiptoe around Horn Ambigene.
Because while it may not seem that way even to me right then, I was bluntly aware I was standing in the presence of a mass murderer of billions. I looked into the eyes of a man trillions across the galaxy must consider the devil incarnate, and saw little more than an old man wearing a uniform he was right at home in. Rather, his aide Zett looked more like the devil instead, clad in black armoured robes and visible signs of supernatural corruption around her eyes, made blatantly apparent upon her ghastly pale flesh.
But no, one was a young woman who snorted a little too much dark side spice, and the other was the man who gave the order to deep fry an entire planet for two whole days without so much as blinking.
¡°Can the Twenty-Eighth be reinforced, General?¡± Trench inquired.
¡°The Republic realised their mistake the moment the Twenty-Eighth appeared at Yag¡¯Dhul,¡± Ambigene replied grimly, ¡°They have erected interdiction arrays in every inhabited star system along the Rimma Trade Route. Once the Battle for Malastare is won, and we have linked our Lower Hydian territories, we can use Hydian Way and Harrin Trade Corridor to circumvent the Republic¡¯s defences.¡±
¡°But it will take time.¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Ambigene confirmed gruffly, ¡°Reinforcements will not be arriving in any timely manner.¡±
¡°That will be a problem,¡± Admiral Trench clicked his mandibles, ¡°Where is the Second Army¡¯s line of defence right now?¡±
¡°We are fighting in the stretch between Vondarc and Sullust,¡± Wiffa Zett answered, ¡°Resistance is proving heavy in the Induparan Crown Worlds. We can match them in the black, but the armies of Jedi Generals Ry-Gaul and Aayla Secura are making each planet a quagmire to liberate. In fact¡¡±
Wiffa Zett glanced sideways¨Cand her hologram violently shivered¨Cbefore returning her attention to the conversation at hand, ¡°The Second Battle of Medth is ongoing as we speak. Along with the Second Battle of Indupar, Battle of Starforge Nebula, Battle of Eiattu, and Battle of Tshindral.¡±
¡°Your point has been made abundantly clear,¡± I sighed, casting a worried look at Admiral Trench, ¡°In this case, my fleet and I may be forced to undertake something drastic.¡±
¡°Is this undertaking a concern of the Fourth Fleet Group?¡± General Ambigene questioned harshly, his dark eyes flitting between Trench and myself suspiciously.
¡°No¡ it is not,¡± the Harch Admiral drawled, ending with a crystal clear click.
¡°Then I will not hear the start nor end of it,¡± Ambigene said, ¡°If there is nothing else that must come to my attention, I will take my leave. I have a Summertime War to attend to.¡±
After a brief pause to confirm his presumption, Ambigene saluted sharply and departed. Only Ambigene, notably, and I then realised he and Wiffa Zett were not in the same place at all. The fallen Jedi looked at me, with a vague mix of curiosity and obsession, as if wondering how I would taste under the knife.
¡°How did you do it, Admiral?¡±
¡°Pardon me?¡±
¡°How did you defeat three fleets at Yag¡¯Dhul?¡±
I smiled wryly, ¡°You will find that the whole lot of it boils down to having the right timing, Commander Zett.¡±
She didn¡¯t look at all pleased with the answer¨Cmaybe she wanted the answer to be some superweapon or magic trick or something¨Cbut nodded in acceptance regardless. With a mutter of closing pleasantries, her hologram too, winked out of existence, leaving me alone with Admiral Trench.
And Admiral Trench wasted no time; ¡°You must launch Operation Starlance now, Bonteri.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± I replied, ¡°As soon as my fleet is back in fighting shape¨C¡±
¡°Not as soon as your fleet is repaired, Rear Admiral. I mean now.¡±
His tone edged on anxiety, an emotion I¡¯ve never heard elicited from the massive spider, and that anxiety soon infected me as well, though I knew not the reason for it. I produced my datapad, navigating to my personal notes where I had written down the 28th Mobile Fleet¡¯s itinerary.
¡°But¡ we are still within the timetable¡¯s projections,¡± I raised my concerns, ¡°As far as we had planned, the Twenty-Eighth isn¡¯t behind schedule, albeit by taking more casualties than initially predicted. Regardless, we should still have enough time to repair and recuperate the fleet. So¡ what happened? If you don¡¯t mind my frankness.¡±
¡°Something happened in the Kashyyyk System,¡± Trench grimaced, ¡°Something that prompted the Nineteenth Mobile Fleet to act prematurely. Rear Admiral Trilm had given the Open Circle the slip and struck Commenor.¡±
Fortress world Commenor. A single hyperlane route entered the Commenor System from the Rimward side, and four hyperlane routes exited the Commenor System on the Coreward side. It was the obvious and expected destination of the 19th Mobile Fleet, if one knew about Operation Starlance. Because there was only one possible reason for a Separatist fleet to strike a world as heavily guarded and defended as Commenor; to break into the Core Worlds.
To any Republic spectator, it can only appear as if the 19th Mobile Fleet was attempting to retrace Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s Sarapin Campaign conducted a year and half prior, which had also struck Commenor on the route to Sarapin.
¡°She¡ jumped the gun?¡± I repeated, somewhat astonished.
¡°I will not begin to presume her reasons, but the situation is dire,¡± Trench told me, ¡°A single fleet in the Core, even with the Bulwark Fleet, is easy pickings for the Republic¡¯s Home Fleet. Which is why the Twenty-Eighth must join the Nineteenth immediately, before the GAR can react. Your timetable has been accelerated.¡±
¡°But¡ I need to repair my ships!¡± I argued, ¡°Half of the Twenty-Eighth is in fighting shape. I can still bring that fraction up to three-fourths, even without reinforcements, but I need time and space to repair. My crews also need to rest; they¡¯ve been fighting back-to-back battles for the last seven days. Not to mention they also need to be briefed¨C¡±
Trench nipped my fretting in the bud, ¡°The Twenty-Eighth is a Mobile Fleet. I do not need your fleet to attack the Republic, I simply need them present in the Core. And I need the Republic to know your fleet is present in the Core. Find some out-of-the-way system and repair there, and lead the GAR on a wild bantha chase with what available ships you have. At least until your fleet is operationally capable once more. We simply need to take pressure off the Nineteenth.¡±
The Harch Admiral paused, as if thinking of his next words. Then;
¡°As for your spacers; they came this far.¡±
?
¡°Fleets on the horizon,¡± Tuff told me as I was mulling¨Cnot brooding, mind you¨Cover how to break the news to my officers, ¡°Over a hundred vessels.¡±
¡°Vector of insertion?¡±
If it was from the south, it would be the Jorm¡¯s Auxiliary Division, who we were waiting upon to begin the strategy conference. If it was from the west, it would either be Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Open Circle Fleet or Naradan D¡¯ulin¡¯s Storm Fleet. Honestly, we really weren¡¯t in any condition to take on Anakin Skywalker, and if it did turn out to be him, I was half-tempted to just withdraw elsewhere and abandon Operation Starlance.
The only reason I was half-tempted was because abandoning Operation Starlance would be tantamount to abandoning Calli Trilm and the 19th Mobile Fleet. Well, I¡¯m sure she was wily enough to extract herself in one piece¨Cshe doesn¡¯t go anywhere without a plan, after all¨Cbut it would still be quite damnable of me to abandon the 19th Mobile after the conversation we had over Nanth¡¯ri.
¡°West. It¡¯s a freighter convoy, Admiral.¡±
On the other hand¡ I didn¡¯t really feel like talking to Asajj Ventress. If she was alive. I¡¯d prefer her alive on a strategic level, obviously, but I personally didn¡¯t feel like dealing with her. Even if that meant her general non-existence. As I watched the Storm Fleet and the Intelligence Division slide into the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System, I also watched for any sign of pursuers; because why wouldn¡¯t the Open Circle be pursuing them?
As the minutes, then hour, ticked away with no sign of the dagger-shaped hulls of Star Destroyers, however, my eyebrow slowly perked up in hopeful disbelief.
¡°The Sharihen is hailing us, sir,¡± Kavia Slen informed me. It was just Kavia, Tuff, and I in the pilothouse of the Chimeratica then, along with a handful of naval marines from varying alien races. The Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul had been an all-hands job, and the vast majority of the carrier-destroyer¡¯s spacer droids were being serviced in the deep recesses of the ship¡¯s many workshops.
I forced a cheerful smile onto my stiff face. Tuff didn¡¯t care; he¡¯d seen it too many times. Kavia¡¯s eyes widened, before her gaze diverted. She pretended not to notice.
¡°Pick it up.¡±
¡°Right away, boss,¡± the Onderonian guardsman-cum-engineer hopped over to the nearest console and patched the transmission through.
¡°We returned as swiftly as possible,¡± Naradan¡¯s voice greeted us, ¡°But I see my fears were unfounded.¡±
¡°What can I say except I told you so?¡± I paused, then asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Skywalker? Dead, hopefully?¡±
Far be it from me to wish for somebody¡¯s death, but the anticlimactic invalidation of the Chosen One prophecy would really do wonders for the galaxy¡ and more importantly my mental health. Sorry, Anakin, it¡¯s not anything personal.
¡°You¡¯ve certainly made your mark on the galaxy with this one. As for Skywalker¡ unfortunately not,¡± Naradan replied, ¡°That man was a walking nightmare. We ended up using Plan E.¡±
I nearly doubled over in surprise, ¡°Dooku actually betrayed Ventress?¡±
¡°Seems that way. She¡¯s currently recovering from wounds Anakin Skywalker dealt her. Will we now proceed to Geonosis as planned?¡±
So Ventress was unconscious? I could breathe a sigh of relief. Plan E meant Skywalker was stuck in the Llon Nebula for the time being, and Ventress could now be used as an asset against Count Dooku. It was an unlikely scenario, granted, but Naradan and I had evidently prepared for every scenario we could. With Ventress in our hands, however, we now had the key to Dooku¡¯s most powerful weapon in a coup.
The master codes to every battle droid ever produced by the Confederacy. With Geonosian Industries having been contracted to design the master codes, there was virtually no way to infiltrate or sabotage the codes. After all, Geonosian Industries was simply a front for Poggle the Lesser¡¯s Stalgasin Hive to do business with the rest of the civilised galaxy. Unless you were in Dooku¡¯s inner circle, or a Geonosian yourself, there¡¯s no way of getting even a foot through the door.
Luckily, we now have someone from Dooku¡¯s inner circle. Now, here¡¯s hoping he hasn¡¯t realised Ventress is still alive, and failed to mention anything of the sort to Poggle the Lesser. We also have the Storm Fleet¨Cnot all of it, evidently¨Cbut enough of it to approach Geonosis without raising any alarm bells. All the ingredients to secure Geonosis for ourselves were here, and I could only allow myself a little bit of peace knowing at least something was going my way.
However¡ in the case the Geonosis campaign goes awry, the Storm Fleet will need a little bit of muscle. Soldiers. Troops. There were the Mistryl, but they were more suited to being covert operatives. Useful for this sort of mission, but it was better to have insurance. Considering our target, it would be most unwise to use battle droids.
I cast a brisk glance around the bridge, identifying different members of the 28th Mobile Fleet¡¯s naval marines.
¡°Tuff.¡±
Tuff swivelled his head towards me with barely a whisper, indicating that his servos were recently lubed and services.
¡°Prep our dropships,¡± I commanded, ¡°I want our Koorivar Fusiliers, Skakoan Commandos, and Onderonian Guardsmen transferred over to the Storm Fleet.¡±
Corporate Alliance, Techno Union, and Onderonian elites; all factions loyal to our little cause against Count Dooku and the Serenno Government. Let the Trade Federation and Commerce Guild marines remain with the 28th Mobile as we jump into the Core Worlds. Keep your friends close, your enemies much closer. Close enough to keep a gun to their heads at every waking moment.
¡°Us Onderonians as well?¡± Kavia asked in alarm, ¡°Even¡ even them?¡±
¡°The whole Onderonian fleet,¡± I confirmed, ¡°Where the Twenty-Eighth¡¯s going, we won¡¯t need marines. Where the Storm Fleet is going¡ you know, we might finally be able to find out just how aggressive Demon Moon flora is when seeding desert worlds.¡±
Kavia Slen grinned, ¡°I suppose I will be¡?¡±
I shrugged, ¡°This entire operation was your idea in the first place. I don¡¯t see why not.¡±
Kavia skipped over to Tuff and punched him the shoulder cheerfully, somehow knocking back the six-feet tall hunk of steel. Tuff¡¯s photoreceptors blinked in surprise, staring down at his feet, which had taken a half-step back, as if mentally calculating just how much strength was necessary to push him in the first place, and whether a human was capable of such a feat. I, on the other hand, stared down at my own arm, and wondered if I could pull off such a thing too, considering I was Onderonian as well.
And then I remembered Kavia was once a guardsman herself, before she was an engineer. She could probably bench press Tuff without breaking a sweat, for that matter, much less snap me in half like a twig.
¡°Alright, Sharihen,¡± I called, ¡°I¡¯m transferring some troopships to your fleet. On the other hand, I¡¯m taking back my Intelligence Division. Do you need a port of call to repair your ships?¡±
¡°We need to get onto the Harrin Trade Corridor before the Republic cuts it off,¡± Naradan answered as my fifty frigates broke off from her fleet, even as the Storm Fleet continued navigating to the jumpzone, ¡°So we¡¯ll have to decline.¡±
I shrugged, though she wouldn¡¯t be able to see it, ¡°Have it your way. Continue with Plan E, and send Ventress my regards. Godspeed.¡±
¡°I might start believing in your God if he promises neverending victory.¡±
¡°He promises a final victory,¡± I replied, ¡°It¡¯s a comforting thought, where I¡¯m concerned.¡±
¡°...It is.¡±
¡°Make this work, Naradan, and I¡¯ll share a drink with you and Ventress the next time we meet. Finest the Wheel has to offer. On me.¡±
Naradan laughed, and it was a harmonious thing, ¡°I will have to take you up on that offer¡ if you are willing to shoulder the tab for my entire squad, that is.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the price for good work. Gladly.¡±
I stood up, popping my spine satisfyingly as I did so. Tuff was dispatching orders, and four outdated-looking ships¨CAmanoa¡¯s Wrath, Nausicaa, Gleaming Fey, and Wandering Castle¨Cwere separating from the main cluster of vessels, angling their bows onto interception vectors with the transiting Storm Fleet. At the same time, dozens of glittering lights danced between huge battlecruisers; troopships, veritably tiny compared to ships of the line, and no more significant than fireflies in the vastness of space.
Still, those troopships might just be key to winning the Confederacy of Independent Systems its final victory. Over Count Dooku, at least.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
But that was only one half of it, wasn¡¯t it? Even as Kavia marshalled together Chimeratica¡¯s marines and organised them into the shuttles, my mind was still filled with half-baked strategies to penetrate and survive the Core Worlds.
¡°Master Rain,¡± from the corner of the bridge, a little LEP droid woke up from its hibernation, ¡°I have been connected to the PRIESTESS Network.¡±
There was a pregnant, second-long pause as Tuff and I dropped everything in our hands and minds to stare at the tiny metal rabbit as it mindfully unplugged itself from the charging port.
Then¨C
¡°Error. Error. Recalculating probability matrices¨C¡±
Holy shit! She actually did it! I slapped Tuff in the back, elated, and the droid stumbled forward two paces.
?
With the return of the ¡®6th Auxiliary Division and the ¡®7th Intelligence Division, the 28th Mobile Fleet¡¯s numbers were bolstered to just over a hundred fighting ships. A far cry from the original three-hundred or so that initially mustered over Nanth¡¯ri. Still, there was a silver lining, which I clutched onto desperately like a lifeline.
We managed to salvage another hundred or so warships that we could plausibly resuscitate and bring back to life. As much as I flirted with the idea of commandeering captured Republic vessels, especially capital ships, I had to face the reality that the GAR and CAF operated on wholly different scales when it came to manpower requirements. We could still take in some of the smaller GAR corvettes and frigates, but the burdensome crew numbers necessary to fill out even a single Venator-class battlecruiser was simply not worth it.
As such, that was the state of the 28th Mobile Fleet as its six flag officers sat around a sullen table in one of the Chimeratica¡¯s boardrooms, all physically in attendance. They were patiently waiting for Commander Jorm¡¯s appraisal of the situation, as the logistics officer inspected the status reports submitted by each flag officer.
¡°We¡¯re running low on repair modules and expendable munitions,¡± I supplied, just to break the awkward quiet.
Difficult to protect and slow as they were, the self-propelled manufacturing facilities called auxiliaries were vital to getting this fleet into the Core and back. As long as they could keep the fleet supplied, that is. We all knew this would be their first real test, and I in particular was deathly afraid of finding out whether they would fail it. Failure would be a death sentence.
¡°We can top off the fleet¡¯s fuel cells no problem,¡± Jorm agonisingly went through the requirement lists one by one, ¡°Expendable munitions can be restocked from the Givin Shipyards. Repair modules and turbolaser gas is the problem.¡±
¡°...Why?¡± Vinoc painstakingly got out, ¡°Why are they the problem?¡±
¡°We don¡¯t have the raw materials,¡± Jorm answered bluntly, ¡°And we really don¡¯t have the gas.¡±
I nearly smashed my forehead against the table. The only reason I didn¡¯t do so was dignity.
¡°Well why don¡¯t we?¡± I demanded, resisting the urge to pound the armrest of my seat anyway, ¡°The auxiliaries were last resupplied at Sullust! How could you already be out of battle damage repair materials?¡±
In hindsight, the answer was really obvious. Maybe we should have realised it as Jorm was looking at all of us as if we were infants. Well, maybe Krett realised it, from how the Neimodian was rubbing his face tiredly.
¡°The auxiliaries were supplied with the presumption that the fleet would be getting into less battles,¡± Jorm¡¯s answer came like a crashing brick wall regardless, ¡°And taking much less damage. We can manufacture more than enough fuel cells to top off the entire fleet twice over, but asking us to repair a hundred vessels and practically rebuild a hundred more is a fool¡¯s errand. You¡¯re better off asking a Hutt for alms.¡±
One could just here Jorm muttering ¡®fucking fools¡¯ beneath his breath while the other five grown men at the table just sat there like chastised children before their irate mother.
¡°However,¡± Jorm continued drily, ¡°The Givin Shipyards are right here. Give me a week, and I¡¯m sure I can bring this fleet back into fighting shape for our next campaign.¡±
Even as the other officers nodded along, relieved the logistics chief wasn¡¯t about to lay into all of their bucket-headed skulls, I audibly winced. And in the contrite silence of the boardroom, everybody heard me. I could basically hear Jorm¡¯s neck creaking as he turned to stare at me.
¡°Anything you need me to know, sir?¡±
The word ¡®sir¡¯ was doing a lot of heavy lifting in restraining his undoubtable urge to sock me from across the table, and I let it slide. Because honestly I didn¡¯t blame him.
¡°Something for everyone here to know,¡± I corrected, producing a stack of printed flimsi sheets to pass around the table.
¡°Flimsi maps!¡± Krett gaped as he leafed through the files, ¡°In this day and age!¡±
He was right. Among the sheets were cartographic maps of the southern Core Worlds, with sectors and worlds and annotations scribbled across them. It was my research, essentially, of which I was too busy¨Clazy¨Cto reorganise into something presentable. I¡¯m sure they didn¡¯t mind though. As for the research; it was a bit of a background check into the Tapani Federation, whose space we will have to pass through to access the Galactic Interior.
Unfortunately, when Octavian Grant withdrew from the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System, I¡¯m pretty sure he shut the door behind him.
¡°...Hold on a second¨C¡± I don¡¯t know who spoke up first, but I ignored them and bulled on ahead.
¡°Star Station Independence introduces Operation Starlance. Take a good look,¡± I didn¡¯t take a good look at their faces, focusing on the papers before me, ¡°Our mission is to penetrate the Core Worlds, wreak as much havoc as possible, and extract, hopefully with Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s Bulwark Fleet in tow. Now, our comrades in the Nineteenth Mobile Fleet have already launched their offensive, so we are behind schedule.¡±
I paused to catch my breath, and finally looked up in expectation of protest and outrage. All it took was a brief read to realise that this operation was a suicide mission, after all. But for some reason, the room had fallen into contemplative silence, with each officer deeply engrossed with the material before them, even Jorm. Maybe it was the mention of Star Station Independence that quietened them, or maybe it was the mention of our sister formation that went ahead. Whatever the case, I accepted the small blessings as they were, and forged on.
¡°From Yag¡¯Dhul, we only have two feasible ways to enter the Core. Continue up the Rimma Trade Route to Thyferra and Fondor, or pivot onto the Corellian Trade Spine to Foless and Corellia itself,¡± I continued, tracing the inked hyperlanes with a finger, ¡°The problem I¡¯ve identified is that we¡¯re going to have fight through the entirety of the Tapani Federation either way.¡±
¡°Is the Tapani Federation expecting us?¡± Commodore Greyshade questioned snidely, ¡°Because we certainly weren¡¯t expecting ourselves.¡±
¡°Well then Octavian Grant is a much better strategist than we¡¯ve credited him for,¡± I replied, ¡°Because he certainly figured it out.¡±
¡°I figured he retreated because he realised he couldn¡¯t win,¡± Horgo Shive said mildly, wetting his pale lips.
¡°Our Recon Division has discovered the existence of interdiction arrays in the Thyferra and Mechis Systems. A handful of our ships were caught, but they managed to send back images before we lost contact. Images of forward defensive positions, new fortifications. Even orbital defence platforms. Thyferra and Mechis-Three are under siege, mind you. Have you seen defence platforms put around a besieged world before? We must expect them to be expecting us.¡±
¡°In that case¡¡± Krett muttered, ¡°How by the living stars are we supposed to pull this off?¡±
I slapped my hands down on the table, sending sheets fluttering, and looked around, ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here. And now, we also have to contend with only having a hundred fighting ships out of the original three-hundred we were supposed to have, and a critical lack of materials to repair any more. So¡ any ideas?¡±
A lull in voices followed as the table fell into pensive silence, the compartment filled with only the ambience of distant generators and gentle fluttering of papers. After the prolonged reticence, Horgo Shive was the first to speak.
The Muun tapped the sheets in front of him, ¡°How long has Starlance been in the works? The original composition of the Twenty-Eighth Mobile¡¡±
¡°Seemed purpose-made for this offensive,¡± Diedrich Greyshade finished, ¡°While other fleets would share independent deepdock and auxiliary squadrons, the two Mobile Fleets possess their own auxiliary divisions.¡±
¡°Operation Starlance was formulated alongside Operation Storm-Door,¡± I answered honestly, ¡°I have only just been permitted to reveal the details of the mission.¡±
¡°I can imagine why,¡± Krett folded his arms on the table, leaning forward, ¡°But I imagine the sheer importance of Operation Starlance to the Separatist cause means we will be forgiven for operating as if we are in possession of a blank cheque from the CAF?¡±
I perked up, glad someone other than myself had a bright idea in the works, ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡±
¡°We round up every hyperdrive-capable Republic ship in the star system,¡± the Neimodian suggested, ¡°Rig them up with droid skeleton crews, and use them as mobile supply bunkers.¡±
¡°...Not as warships?¡±
¡°Not as warships,¡± the support officer confirmed, ¡°We put them under Commander Jorm¡¯s purview. They fly with us, jump with us, and supply the fleet with critical munitions, gas, and military-grade material while on the move.¡±
Vinoc furrowed his brows in confusion, and at that moment I empathised, ¡°Do you intend to fill the hangar bays of Venators with materials? I¡¯m pretty sure cargo capacity isn¡¯t the problem. We have a resource shortage.¡±
¡°No¡¡± Jorm had picked up the shopping lists again, ¡°Krett intends on using the ships themselves as resources. We can break them apart mid-flight. Take their munition stores, leech their liquefied gas bunkers, cannibalise their hulls while on the move. We won¡¯t have to mine asteroids, refine raw ore, and manufacture new parts from scratch. Theoretically, they¡¯re all already pre-fabricated for us.¡±
¡°But are they?¡± I raised a reasonable concern, ¡°We all know Separatist warships are built from pre-fabbed sections and compartments¡ it¡¯s a quality trade-off we must make for our lack of shipyards; but are Republic warships too?¡±
We shared glances, and came to the conclusion that none of us were engineers, much less naval architects or shipwrights.
¡°I mean,¡± Shive said weakly, ¡°It¡¯s not about capacity, is it? It¡¯s about efficiency, and there¡¯s no faster way to pump out warships than pre-fabbed sections.¡±
¡°Does it really matter?¡± Vinoc banged the table, ¡°We already have sophisticated components and military-grade alloys all in one place. Let¡¯s not ask the stars to blink at our command too. What¡¯s more important¡¡±
Vinoc fixed his attention to Commander Jorm, ¡°Can we really make this work?¡±
¡°...It¡¯s going to be inefficient,¡± Jorm said at last, ¡°Dismantling the pressure hull is simple enough, but the internal compartments? It¡¯s not just alloys and bulkheads that make a warship, it¡¯s also the machinery and its vital components. There¡¯s no promise my engineers can break down Republic tech without wastage. What¡¯s really critical are the trace elements, found and used in small quantities. One wrong move, and we could easily destroy or contaminate whatever sources of them that exist.¡±
¡°Can¡¯t we rip out the schematics from the Republic ships¡¯ databanks?¡± Vinoc scratched his beard.
¡°It¡¯s SOP for all military craft to wipe their banks before capture,¡± Diedrich pointed out, rightly so, ¡°The Republic ships that surrendered to us did so on their own terms. Such schematics would no longer exist.¡±
¡°Well,¡± I leaned back, ¡°We¡¯re going to have to figure this out, because we¡¯ve got no better idea. Let¡¯s break it down and deal with the problem in more manageable parts. Krett, you¡¯ll round up the Republic ships and produce an inventory list. Jorm, you¡¯ll round up the Separatist ships in need of repair and restoration and produce a shopping list. Prioritise hyperdrive components first. Vinoc, you¡¯ll round up all of the Republic engineers we¡¯ve captured and get them talking.¡±
I breathed out, meeting their gazes. There wasn¡¯t any argument; they had their jobs, they were going to do it. Maybe we identified more problems than we¡¯d like, but we also figured out a solution on the spot, and had a plan to carry it out. Each man present had their strengths and weaknesses, but I counted myself fortunate they were all solid performers regardless. That¡¯s more than many in my position could say with a straight face.
¡°Meanwhile,¡± I rubbed my eyes, feeling the great urge to sleep yet knowing full well just how far it was out of my grasp. I forced myself to give the table a confident look, as if I had never doubted our ability to handle the problem, ¡°Diedrich, Horgo, and I will figure out a way to get into the Core. Let¡¯s get this started.¡±
?
¡°Operation Starlance is split into two search zones,¡± I gestured at Hare¡¯s holographic starchart; a fine upgrade from the flimsi maps we had been using, ¡°Our designated AO is the Southern Core, while the Nineteenth¡¯s designated AO is the Arrowhead.¡±
The Galactic Interior was partitioned into four distinct quadrants. The first three were centred upon Coruscant itself; the Negative Regions, Northern Dependencies, and Arrowhead. West, north, and east of Coruscant respectively. The final quadrant was the Southern Core, which laid across the Deep Core. As such, the Southern Core had always been politically distant from Coruscant, and home to a number of autonomous nations such as Atrisian Commonwealth, Daupherm States, Botor Enclave, Herglic Space, and the Tapani Federation.
Of the five, it was the Tapani Federation that came to dominate the Southern Core, as did Coruscant dominate the northern half.
¡°I intended on using Fondor as a safe port,¡± I explained, ¡°But that¡¯s now out of the question. The Fondorians have always been dicey about the Confederacy, but it looks like the Emancipation of Eriadu pushed them over the fence. Regardless, we now have to contend with our foot shoved out the door.¡±
¡°We can¡¯t afford to get engaged in another battle,¡± Diedrich pursed his lips, ¡°Especially not against the Tapani. We need to prioritise finding a resource-full system that¡¯s either protected by obscurity or security, and bunker down until Jorm can do his magic.¡±¡±
¡°We have a base on Kiffu,¡± I pointed out some options, ¡°A little west of the Rimma Trade Route. Or we can also try heading for Koorivar, the homeworld of the Corporate Alliance. That¡¯s only a day¡¯s jump from here, east of the Corellian Trade Spine. I¡¯ve last heard Koorivar¡¯s been conquered by the GAR¡¯s Twentieth Sector Army, however.¡±
¡°Are those our only two options for bypassing Octavian Grant¡¯s blockade?¡± the Columexi officer mused aloud.
¡°Apparently so.¡±
Horgo Shive, who had been quiet until then, suddenly perked up, ¡°This is ridiculous.¡±
¡°Pardon?¡±
¡°We¡¯re orbiting the homeworld of the galaxy¡¯s most gifted astrographers,¡± the Muun said with no small amount of exasperation, ¡°And we aren¡¯t asking for their opinion? Not to mention they¡¯re master shipwrights and engineers too! They can probably figure out our issues with the Republic ships as well!¡±
¡°You want us to ask the Givin for help?¡± I raised a sceptical eyebrow, ¡°It was already an effort and a half to have them help defend their own star system. What makes you think they¡¯ll provide anything substantial?¡±
"The fact the Givin interfered on our behalf means that, barring extreme disaster, the Givin already decided the 28th was going to win at Yag''Dhul," Horgo explained, "It was just a matter of ensuring we won in a way that best benefited them. They let us lose half our fleet because it suited their predictions to have us at half-strength and reliant on their support to push forwards. Without ever making demands, they completely dictated how we move forwards."
"We beat three fleets at Yag''Dhul by ensuring every engagement was on our terms, not the Republic''s. But by the same logic, the Givin beat four fleets."
I slowly found myself nodding along, becoming convinced of his argument. Obviously the real calculus behind the Mathematocracy¡¯s decision making would be far more complicated, but for some reason I found myself convinced by Horgo Shive¡¯s theory. Because in other words, it means that so long as we can prove the likelihood of success was greater than the likelihood of failure, the Givin would be more or less convinced by their own formulas and equations to aid us in the venture.
The Givin weren¡¯t altruistic. They didn¡¯t initially ask us to withdraw and refused to help because they wanted to save our lives or any such thing like that. They were simply obeying the results of their calculations that weighed the probabilities of victory and defeat. If we wanted them to participate in Operation Starlance, the matter was as simple as stacking the deck in our favour.
It was fortunate, then, that we just received a brand new deck of cards.
¡°In that case,¡± I stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s find ourselves someone to speak with.¡±
Nor was it difficult to contact the Givin Senator, Daggibus Scoritoles. In fact, his scream-shaped exoskeleton almost seemed to tilt in expectation as he greeted us with a standard, mind-numbingly complicated mathematical equation. It was related to vectors, likely tailored to be answerable by officers such as ourselves, but there was simply no way to mentally evaluate the equation in any reasonable timeframe. I was half tempted to start scribbling on a sheet of paper, if it wouldn¡¯t make me appear the absolute fool in front of the Givin, even moreso than standing there for the better part of an hour, blank-eyed as I fumbled with figures inside my skull.
Luckily, we had ourselves a Muun. Within three minutes, Horgo Shive produced a reasonable integral as an answer, and Senator Scoritoles tilted his head in acceptance. Diedrich and I breathed out a sigh of relief.
¡°The Body Calculus has already deduced the intentions of your fleet, Admiral Bonteri,¡± the Senator started, rather condescendingly, ¡°And must express its grave disappointment at such an undertaking of foolhardy proportions.¡±
¡°It will be a sacrifice made for the continued survival of the Confederacy,¡± Diedrich argued coldly, ¡°Surely the Body Calculus can understand that? We have our orders, and have every intention to follow it through. What the Body Calculus can do is decide whether we must simply sacrifice the time and effort, or our lives as well.¡±
¡°We need hyperlanes to access to Core Worlds,¡± I pleaded, ¡°Hyperlanes bypassing the main ones that Tapani fleets preside over. And we need a way to navigate the Core, and extract from the Core, safely. These are all things the Body Calculus can provide us.¡±
¡°It is not that I do not understand,¡± Daggibus Scoritoles raised a bony hand to prevent further argument, ¡°Fractal Heresies aside, not all among the Body Calculus are so inflexible. Many of us are sympathetic to your cause, even more so after the masterful execution of manoeuvre warfare that took place in this very star system. The seventy ships that came to the aid of your fleet are all willing and able to permanently reinforce the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet, and you will realise, that while the Body Calculus is disappointed at the lack of care in the planning of this offensive, it is not averse to it.¡±
My heart leapt up to my throat, though I did not show it.
¡°Does that mean¡¡±
¡°When I personally tendered the Articles of Secession to the Republic Senate, the justification of the Body Calculus behind that decision was the mounting failures of the Republic bureaucracy. Sooner or later, the Body Calculus had calculated, the Republic would collapse, if not by the Separatist movement, then itself. The threats of remaining were greater than the threats of secession.¡±
¡°Has the Body Calculus changed its mind?¡± Horgo narrowed his eyes.
¡°Incorrect. That assessment is still invariably true. However, the Body Calculus has come to the conclusion, independently of the Confederate Armed Forces, that the existing Separatist State will collapse before the Galactic Republic does,¡± the Givin Senator bluntly declared, ¡°And it is already far too late to avoid such an outcome.¡±
The three of us shared a wary glance.
Diedrich was standing a little straighter, hackles raised, as if he had been personally threatened by the prediction, ¡°So¡ both states will collapse?¡±
¡°Correct. What matters now is not when¨Cthat has already been determined¨Cbut rather why, and how,¡± the Senator said dispassionately, ¡°This operation¨C¡±
¡°Operation Starlance,¡± I provided.
¡°¨COperation Starlance is a method of changing how the Republic collapses,¡± Scoritoles continued, impervious to interruption, ¡°Into one beneficial to the existence of a surviving Separatist State. Which is why the Body Calculus is holding a vote as we speak, so to decide how to best proceed.¡±
I swallowed, pushing out all the implications of the Senator¡¯s words in favour of focusing on the here and now, ¡°How do we get the vote to pass?¡±
¡°Incorrect question. The vote will pass. The correct question is how long will it take to?¡±
For a moment, confused silence hung in the air. I was pretty sure that wasn¡¯t how a voting system worked, at least, any contemporary voting system I knew of. Once again, it was Horgo that provided valuable insight into what exactly the Givin were up to. Maybe it was because both Muun and Givin shared very vertically elongated skulls.
¡°I think that means the Body Calculus isn¡¯t so much as voting as calculating how to make Operation Starlance a success,¡± the Muun muttered to us, ¡°So that according to their probability models, they have no choice but to pass the vote.¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Scoritoles heard him anyway, ¡°Currently, the Givin-Paigun Probability Calculus suggests that Operation Starlance has a forty-six percent chance of succeeding as per the objective of facilitating the collapse of the Republic state in relation to Operation Storm-Door. Therefore, you may assume this vote is forty-six percent in favour of passing the Body Calculus.¡±
¡°...The Body Calculus is wargaming,¡± I summarised, ¡°The Body Calculus is wargaming and will only support us if they wargame their way into a victory.¡±
Daggibus Scoritoles blinked. Or rather, I¡¯m pretty sure he blinked behind those void-filled eye sockets of his. And right then, I could just feel the Givin¡¯s urge to say ¡®incorrect.¡¯
¡°...Correct,¡± I almost laughed at how the Senator seemed physically pained by just uttering the word, ¡°However, it is not as simple as you may believe. To achieve the conditions of victory, the Body Calculus must not only predict the movements and reactions of the GAR, but also the reaction of the Republic¡¯s political apparatus. As the Republic is predominantly governed by emotion-driven, illogical beings, the Body Calculus has no choice but to design an entirely new probability model in order to predict possible outcomes.¡±
I paused, and then a lightbulb went off in my head, ¡°I believe I have just the thing to speed up that process.¡±
¡°I find it difficult to believe any human invention can affect the calculations of the Givin.¡±
I wordlessly transferred the Senator an access grant to the PRIESTESS Network. The network that oversaw every encoded transmission coming in and out of Coruscant. It was a virus, self-replicating and quasi-sentient, spreading through the airwaves and S-threads to every GAR-administered communications satellite it could. PRIESTESS operated on only three rules; propagate, report, and cause as little disruption as possible.
Essentially, PRIESTESS was our eye in the sky over the Republic. A spy virus engineered by the Techno Union at the behest of the Supreme Commander that definitely doesn¡¯t trigger any red flags about artificial intelligence and definitely won¡¯t come to bite the entire galaxy in the ass in near future¡ because the Techno Union was surely smart enough to package safeguards into the virus, right?
Nevertheless, with the sheer exabytes of data at PRIESTESS¡¯s disposal every second, if the Body Calculus required a large data set to build their probability model¡ there was none larger or more true-to-life than this.
¡°Will this work?¡± I asked smugly, ¡°How long will the ¡®vote¡¯ take with this at the Body Calculus¡¯ disposal, would you reckon?¡±
Daggibus Scoritoles looked at his datapad, and then at me, and somehow, the perpetual scream carved onto his exoskeleton curved into a pleased smile.
¡°You may depart in thirty system hours,¡± the Senator answered confidently, ¡°You have my word, the Body Calculus will provide seventy Wavecrest-class frigates, an attached engineer corps, and a hyperlane route through the Deep Core.¡±
Chapter 63
Commenor Approach, Commenor System
Quellor Sector
¡°Standby for hyperspace extraction on my mark,¡± TX-103 said, ¡°Extract in ten¡ nine¡ eight¨C!?¡±
The 19th Mobile Fleet, composed of seven sub-divisions virtually identical to their sister fleet, exploded out of hyperspace in multi-peaked flashes of Cronau radiation just 180,000,000 klicks outside the hyper-limit of the star Commenor-A caused by its gravity well. Alarms wailed throughout the Star of Serenno as her hyperdrive malfunctioned from the forced extraction, the entire fleet practically ripped out of its transit like an arrow torn plucked from its flight by a supernatural hand.
Smoke wisped from the hulls of the fleet along with the dim azure glow of transit energy¨Cexcess Cronau radiation¨Clike water vapour off a cold surface, internally lit by the electrical fires raging belowdecks.
¡°Analysis: we have been intercepted by an interdiction net of unknown scope,¡± TX-103, ¡®Tex¡¯, evaluated, ¡°All ships are to submit preliminary damage reports!¡±
It was a phenomenally advanced piece of technology, interdiction nets were, but Rear Admiral Calli Trilm was unable to appreciate it properly as she fought the mind-wrenching, stomach-lashing dizziness the crash extraction sent smashing through her. She heard others on Star of Serenno¡¯s flag bridge retching and knew hundreds of thousands of spacers throughout the fleet were doing the same. Even in her nausea, however, Calli Trilm¡¯s calculating mindset shone through as reflected on how vulnerable her fleet was in that moment.
The Commenorian Navy had truly pulled out the rug from under them. The 19th Mobile Fleet would have been as completely incapacitated as herself for the next few minutes, if not for the widespread use of droid-supplemented crews and automated systems throughout the task force. Still, during those crucial seconds and minutes in which the fleet¡¯s organic spacers were lurching and stumbling around, where the only the ships¡¯ droid and automated defences were available to stave off attack, had any hostile vessel been in position to take advantage of that brief helplessness, the price could have been catastrophic.
Gripping a console like a crutch and dry heaving her lungs out, Calli could hazily make out the damage reports on the displays through her fugue. To her silent distress, she realised there were organic casualty numbers coming in along with the expected engineering and astrogation reports.
Click. Click.
¡°B-Begin system transit,¡± Calli croaked out, her free hand wiping her matted grey hair from her sweat-soaked face as she fought her body¡¯s protests, ¡°We need to escape the Commenori interdiction net¡¯s hyper-limit before the Open Circle Fleet can reach us. G-Get our hyperdrives back in working order!¡±
The 19th Mobile¡¯s auxiliaries were already launching repair drones while the fleet clawed its acceleration back from Caraya¡¯s Gauntlet, staggering back onto its course in a haphazard diamond. She had intended on jumping as close to the hyper-limit of the star known as Commenor-A, effectively cutting the transit distance in half. Of course, completely bypassing the Commenor System would have been ideal¡ but it wasn¡¯t as if she was going to be able to evade the sort of sensor net the Loyalists have erected here, especially after the Pantoran¡¯s Sarapin Campaign. Still, she had not expected the Commenori interdiction array to be so¡ thorough.
Now, however, all priorities lay in getting their hyperdrives back online¨Ca difficult feat for any other fleet that didn¡¯t possess six auxiliaries tending over it like an obsessive coven of fairy godmothers¨Cand escaping the Commenor net; the much harder task. After all, the CAF had no hard data on the Commenor net, but Calli Trilm knew what the CAF had assembled to watch over its own core systems. The huge, sensitive, deep-system passive sensor arrays standing sentry over the Lianna System for the Tion Hegemony, for example, was centred on the star Lianna and could detect even the extraction footprint of a sloop at a range of up to a light-hour distance. Theoretically.
She had to assume the GAR had the same type here at Commenor, albeit at a smaller detection radius of a half light-hour. After all, Commenor was a ¡®gateway world¡¯ just like Lianna, which meant there was no point trying to ¡®sneak up¡¯ on the Core Worlds with a slow, furtive approach.
To explain: there were two main types of interdiction arrays; those centred on planets, and those centred on suns. Similarly, there were two main types of fortress worlds; those that prioritised protecting the planet, and those that prioritised blocking any hostile from transiting the host star system. One might rightly presume the type of interdiction array and type of fortress world were paired respectively.
The 19th Mobile Fleet had now just been violently, yet concretely, informed which type of net the Commenor System possessed. It didn¡¯t matter so much. Because to keep the 19th Mobile Fleet from micro-jumping out, the Commenorian Navy had to maintain the interdiction uplink, and a peculiar trait of interdiction technology is that it does not discriminate.
Click. Click.
Should the Open Circle Fleet be attempting to chase the 19th Mobile on the same inbound vector, they were going to be unceremoniously ripped out of hyperspace in the exact same location Calli Trilm was. Besides, the GAR was supposed to see them. That was the entire point of pairing Operation Starlance with Operation Storm-Door.
¡°Talk to me, Tex,¡± Calli groaned as the effects of crash extraction began to subside, and her vision cleared enough that she wasn¡¯t seeing the plot in doubles and triples anymore.
¡°Present position is five-hundred sixty million klicks from Commenor-A, bearing triple-zero by oh-oh-three relative,¡± the tactical droid gave her the brief as he had down a thousand times before, ¡°Velocity is three-thousand KPS, with the fleet maintaining acceleration of a five-hundred gravities until. On current acceleration and heading, we will reach zero-range intercept with Commenor-A in four-point-two standard hours, with a crossing velocity of seventy-three thousand KPS at the moment we cut its orbit.¡±
¡°Where¡¯s Commenor?¡± Calli blinked as she eyed the sensor display. The Commenor System was host to a number of planets, but none as brightly lit and populous as Commenor. The planet should¡¯ve shone like a star on her screen.
But it was simply not there¡ then she remembered where Commenor was in its orbit at this time of year.
¡°Behind Commenor-A, sir,¡± Tex replied blandly, ¡°We cannot see Commenor on our sensors because it is on the other side of the star.¡±
¡°...Kriff,¡± Calli slumped in her chair, ¡°Well, let¡¯s cut the orbit of Commenor-A below its ecliptic and come up on the Commenorian Navy from below. Anything heading our way yet?¡±
¡°Not yet, Rear Admiral,¡± Tex replied promptly, ¡°We are detecting a lot of drive signatures in-system, many certainly warships, but none are fixing an intercept vector yet. I expect we¡¯ll be seeing a reaction soon, however, especially by how hard we¡¯re burning.¡±
Calli instinctively glanced over her shoulder, though there was nothing there, ¡°Then let¡¯s make as much time as possible. I have no intention of getting into a scrap with Obi-Wan Kenobi.¡±
¡°Concurred, Rear Admiral.¡±
There was a reason the 19th Mobile left a nasty surprise for the Jedi General back at the Zeltros System; known as just about every interdiction mine the fleet possessed. Enough mines to set the Open Circle back a couple hours, hopefully.
Click. Click.
?
Sub-Lieutenant Vrad Dodonna managed to keep himself in his seat in the briefing room only by sheer force of will. An hour ago, he had been enjoying a fine luncheon in Chasin City back planetside, and now he found himself aboard Anteluma Terminal, the Commenorian Navy¡¯s relatively new orbital headquarters. Despite being dressed in his full vac-sealed flight suit, the briefing room was still freezing; a deliberate chill carefully designed to prevent people from dozing off on duty.
After all Anteluma-T, as its crew so called her, also served as the HQ of the Commenor Astro-Control Service, and in a star system so heavily trafficked as the Commenor System, a single mistake by one of its controllers could result in the loss of several million tons of shipping, not to mention the potential human cost to the crews of the ships involved. And now, that chill made Vrad want to leap out of his seat and pace the deck.
Despite that, however, the Sub-Lieutenant kept his ass firmly planted in his chair. Partially out of pride; in the compartment filled with pilots, he didn¡¯t want to show weakness; and partly out of responsibility. After all, he was a commissioned officer, one gained by his own merits¨Cdespite what his family¡¯s detractors would claim¨Cand he had men under his command. Men he would be leading out in the black.
Once they found out what the hell for, that is. Because they don¡¯t tell you why you¡¯re summoned, only that you were and you had to report to so and so with all your gear equipped. Regardless, they were about to find out.
Vrad Dodonna sat a little straighter when the Jedi General marched into the compartment, and she was a Jedi General, because she was wearing those baggy drapes over the black bodyglove he could see peeking out at the collarbone and hands. She was a pilot too, Vrad realised, and will be flying with us. Why else would a Jedi General personally brief a bunch of vac-heads like them?
¡°Good afternoon,¡± the Jedi General said demurely, ¡°My name is Olge Plavi-Dol.¡±
He had heard the name before. She was the CO of that GAR task group that arrived in-system the other day, apparently redeployed to Commenor in response to some threat alert from Coruscant. Vrad didn¡¯t realise she was a Jedi.
Generaal Olge swept her gaze across them, bearing a wry smile as if she knew something they didn¡¯t. Something that wasn¡¯t what she was about to tell them. Despite her soft-spokenness, she could be heard clearly over the distant claxons roaring across the multimegaton Grade V battlestation that housed the Commenorian Navy HQ.
¡°There¡¯s an unidentified enemy task force in-system, headed straight towards us¨C¡± and any disinterested eyes remaining disappeared, ¡°¨CCommenor ACS puts them at a minimum thirty capital ships and sixty cruisers. Three to four hundred ships in total.¡±
Someone gasped in horror. General Olge nodded grimly.
¡°The Open Circle Fleet is already underway, but there¡¯s no knowing if they can even get here in time. That leaves us¨C¡± her gaze swept over them again, sharpened into daggers, ¡°¨Cas the final line of defence between the Separatists and the Core.¡±
¡°Do we even gotta stop them?¡± someone¡¯s hand shot into the air, ¡°I mean¨C the last time this happened¡¡±
The voice trailed off when the Jedi fixed their impassive gaze upon the speaker. Probably. Vrad didn¡¯t have it in him to look over his shoulder and check. Because they weren¡¯t talking to another Commenori, but a Jedi General of the Republic. What that pilot asked¡ it must have sounded like treason to the Jedi. But it was the truth. And the truth was that Commenor was a fortress world unto itself. Commenor was never meant to block an enemy fleet trying to invade the Core.
The last time a Separatist fleet came knocking about these parts was the Pantoran herself, and Commenor raised up its shields like a tortoise retreating into its shell and simply watched as the Seppies sailed right on by. Then, the GAR came in. A brand new interdiction net was planted in the star system. Commenor was ¡®gifted¡¯ twenty new orbital battlestations, including two brand new Grade V platforms. The Commenorian Navy had suddenly found itself in possession of Star Destroyers to bolster its existing complement of Dreadnaughts, then later handed the burdensome job of interning thirty-two captured Separatist warships.
The message was clear: fortress world Commenor was no longer a fortress for itself, but for the entirety of the Galactic Interior.
¡°Yes.¡±
That was all the Jedi said, and it was enough for Vrad¡¯s bones to cringe. In an effort to diffuse the tense atmosphere, he volunteered to risk the Jedi¡¯s attention;
¡°Are there even enough ships in-system to stop this kind of attack, sir?¡±
¡°We have two-hundred ships in-system, including both the Commenorian Navy and my task force,¡± General Olge answered, ¡°Not enough. But we also have twenty orbital battlestations, and Commenor itself.¡±
¡°...Commenor itself?¡±
The Jedi General''s lips thinned, ¡°Thirty-eight hundred thermonuclear warheads.¡±
?
¡°Open Circle¡¯s right behind us,¡± Commander Rel Harsol¡¯s warning came like a thunderbolt, his 192nd Strike Division acting as their rear picket for the time being, ¡°We gotta retro-burn the rest of the transit, but the Open Circle¡¯s gonna have to do that too. And the way their boats look¡ I think Zeltros did a number on them. If we give Commenor the quick slip, there¡¯s no way the Jedi will catch us.¡±
The 19th Mobile Fleet was making a retrograde burn below the solar ecliptic, the star of Commenor-A so close ¡®above¡¯ them its solar flares could almost lick the deflector shields of the fleet. At this junction right ¡®beneath¡¯ the star, the 19th Mobile could get a fix on both the planet Commenor and the Open Circle, but as they made the pass, soon the Open Circle would disappear behind the sun. And that meant the 19th Mobile would also disappear off the Open Circle¡¯s scopes.
Meanwhile, forward of Star of Serenno, Aviso of the Bronze Serpent had his own situation report to make;
¡°They¡¯re coming out,¡± Commodore Aviso informed.
¡°Strength estimates?¡± she asked.
¡°Still too far out for any positive count, Admiral, but it looks like they¡¯re in considerably lower strength than predicted,¡± he told her seriously, ¡°We can confirm six to eight capital Star Destroyers, thanks to their drive cones, and an unknown number of Invincible-class and Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers.¡±
¡°Shoot a hard number, Aviso.¡±
¡°...No more than two-hundred ships.¡±
Calli Trilm frowned, ¡°We¡¯re staring down a fortress world, Aviso. Unless the GAR and CAF have different definitions of ¡®fortress world,¡¯ I¡¯m certain there should be more ships than this.¡±
¡°I did say they¡¯re out in lower strength than expected,¡± there was an edge of something almost like challenge in his voice, but Calli was content to ignore it so long as Aviso kept it under control. And he did, because nothing affected the one-eyed man¡¯s sense of professionalism, ¡°Will this affect our battle plan, Rear Admiral?¡±
¡°Nope,¡± Calli popped the word, ¡°There may be less opposition than we expected, but there''s still enough to hand us some nasty lumps. I¡¯d reckon they intend on having the Open Circle hammering us against Commenor¡¯s anvil.¡±
¡°What¡¯s to say they won¡¯t just raise their shields and let us slide on by?¡± Rel Harsol asked, ¡°Why does the Pantoran get the VIP treatment? Their fleet can¡¯t match ours. Not with less than ten capital SDs and a bunch-a outdated judicial cruisers.¡±
The GAR would not allow Commenor to reenact what occurred during the Sarapin Campaign, of this Calli Trilm was certain, and she was certain there had to be something for Commenor to live up to its designation as a fortress world. A certainty that only strengthened as they approached, and as Commenor¡¯s planetary shields remained down.
¡°Dark stars, Admiral,¡± Aviso reported two hours into their 800G retro-burn towards Commenor, ¡°There¡¯s twenty orbital battlestations sitting on the jumpzone.¡±
¡°Make?¡±
¡°Ten Grade-Threes, eight Grade-Fours, two Grade-Fives.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t even know Grade-Five battlestations existed. How the hells did we even miss them?¡±
One might mistake an orbital battlestation for a defense satellite. They would be wrong. Grade III battlestations were the most common in the galaxy, having been in widespread use¨Cat least, amongst the most affluent worlds¨Cbefore the war even began, and they were ten kilometres wide. Ten kilometres of fighter bays, turbolaser ranks and missile pods. Grade IVs had been introduced sometime during the Separatist Crisis, coming in at twelve klicks wide.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Grade V battlestations? She hadn¡¯t seen one before, but she could imagine two Mandator-class star dreadnoughts welded together rear-to-rear and decided that might as well be accurate.
¡°They¡¯re being tugged into key positions around the fleet,¡± Aviso observed, not quite answering the question, but giving just enough, ¡°...Admiral, those Grade-Fives are fifteen klicks wide on my scopes.¡±
¡°The GAR must¡¯ve spent a fortune on them,¡± Calli murmured, ¡°Maybe we can start here¡¡±
¡°There¡¯s another thing, sir. We¡¯re picking up thirty to forty ships orbiting one of Commenor¡¯s moons, Folor.¡±
¡°A flanking force?¡±
¡°Unlikely. At zero intercept, Folor would still be behind the enemy fleet. Furthermore, they¡¯re cold.¡±
Calli Trilm pursed her lips. Commenor was a bustling commercial world, and it wouldn¡¯t be unexpected for its orbital facilities to be servicing vessels of all types year-round. By now, she would have expected Commenor ACS to have evacuated all civilian ships from the system, but maybe these were newbuilds, or simply not spaceworthy for any reason. In any case, if her strategy was to play out as planned, they would not be a factor even if they were reserve warships.
Click. Click.
¡°We shan¡¯t have to worry about them. But keep an eye out for any movement.¡±
¡°Understood, Admiral.¡±
¡°Harsol,¡± the Rear Admiral then snapped in a sharp, clipped tone, ¡°Any sign of the Jedi?¡±
¡°None whatsoever.¡±
¡°Tex, velocity and range?¡±
¡°Eighteen-thousand KPS, range from zero-intercept with the planet is twenty-million klicks.¡±
¡°Mark and match velocity fleet-wide,¡± Calli Trilm commanded, ¡°Bring us from Yellow to Red. Cut all sublight drives and begin manoeuvring into attack formation alpha. We¡¯re going to slip right past Commenor.¡±
¡°Not with those battlestations we aren¡¯t, Rear Admiral,¡± Aviso warned as the klaxons blared.
¡°Who said anything about those battlestations? I want my Railguns, Aviso!¡±
Aviso¡¯s single eye widened, and then narrowed into a sliver, ¡°Understood, Admiral.¡±
Click. Click.
?
Jedi General Olge Plavi-Dol watched as the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada came in hell for leather, blazing through space at some 20,000KPS and not slowing down, and she did not blame them one bit. It was the Open Circle Fleet, after all, hot on their heels, invisible to both of them if not for the Commenor ACS¡¯s sensor net giving Olge a full view of the star system.
All we have to do is hold them back for a couple hours, she thought nervously, we can do that, right?
In truth, Olge possessed a personality far removed from the front she put up. She was a young Jedi Knight, not so different from the late Rees Alrix, if not for the fact that she was never an officer. Olge was a Jedi healer, a battlefield medic, and never trained or even suited for command. She had neither an authoritative voice nor a commanding attitude, and yet she was redeployed to the defence of perhaps the most crucial world in the Arrowhead.
And in some odd fluke of fate, she was born Commenori, to a family who quickly recognised her Force-sensitivity and delivered her to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. She had never once set foot on Commenor, despite that, and the only reason she was now defending the homeworld she never knew was because her fleet was simply the nearest to the system when the emergency order was broadcasted. It gave her mixed feelings of it all, especially after that one pilot raised the obvious dilemma between prioritising the defence of Commenor over the defence of the Core.
It was not that she did not sympathise, or even empathise, because something still hurts within Olge¡¯s chest when she put Commenor in harm¡¯s way, despite never once stepping on her soil.
A Master would say it was the will of the Force or something like that, but Olge couldn¡¯t care less at that moment. At moments like this, she almost wished she had her boots on solid ground, dust and ash clogging up her nostrils, screams and groans of the dying and dead echoing in her ears, blasterfire and artillery thunder booming overhead. It was in the worst of times where her skills and talents shone, as morbid as it was.
But this isn¡¯t the Battle of Argul anymore, she thought, and she hadn¡¯t the umbrella of Master Yoda and Master Ulseh over her anymore. She had clean, sterile air in her nostrils now, the rumble and roar of distant reactors and engines many bulkheads away from her ringing in her ears. It was empty, lifeless, and Olge felt like a fish out of water.
Also at moments like this she bitterly resented the game Jedi Command and the Republic Navy had to play, the way it kept them in a constant tug of war over the GAR. And Jedi like Olge were trapped in the middle, pulled from one side to the other, flung from one end of the galaxy to the other, tossed from one role to the other, no matter how ill-fitting it could be.
But wishing and resenting changed nothing, and aboard the battlestation Anteluma-T, she locked her eyes resolutely on her plot. The thought of the political circumstance way over her head, after all, was far and away unimportant compared to the here and now. Olge read the estimate of what was headed for Commenor and all the orbital warehouses, freight transfer points, repair shops, and supply bases that served the commerce that poured through the star system daily, and she shivered.
If the Separatists defeated them here, they will destroy every installation in orbit of Commenor and her two moons. Commenor could raise her planetary shields, but the orbital bases? Will the Separatists even give them time to evacuate? Of course they will¡ unless their CO was a Separatist fanatic like the Tombmaker. Unless their spacers were men and women of the Perlemian seeking hot vengeance for the losses incurred by Operation Trident.
Olge grimaced at the thought, in the privacy of the observation deck, already feeling the weight of all the deaths about to occur. Not just from her side, but their side as well. Because there was a reason Commenor didn¡¯t have her shields up, and so long as her shields were not up, the Separatist fleet wasn¡¯t going anywhere.
Jedi General Olge Plavi-Dol clicked on her handheld holoprojector and came face-to-face with the First Minister of Commenor, Tomlin Gorastor, and one of the few people who knew the truth of her origins. First Minister Gorastor looked at her calmly, asking the unsaid question.
She replied softly, ¡°I believe they¡¯re in range, First Minister.¡±
Tomlin Goraster closed his eyes, then nodded. The hologram was cut out. Seconds later, a key was turned, and the surface of Commenor glittered with twelve-hundred flashes of light, an entire continent burnished with golden rays up to pierce the atmosphere, wide-open silos smoking like discharged blasters. Then¨Csilence. Then¨Cthe burning howl of twelve-hundred thermonuclear missiles tearing heavenwards, between the Commenorian Navy¡¯s ranks, leaving trails of fire in their wake.
Olge could then imagine the planet¡¯s ground-to-orbit artillery loading, like sleeping giants rising from their slumber, ready to defend their home for the first time in a millennia. As the Jedi General watched the missiles race away, their azure drive cones gleaming on her plot like glowworms, she prayed for the Separatists.
Die quickly, and let this be a mercy for both of us.
?
¡°Holy mother of meteors,¡± Rel Harsol was breathless, ¡°They must¡¯ve launched an entire hemisphere¡¯s worth of missiles at us.¡±
Rear Admiral Calli Trilm felt her heart spasm for the second time that day as her flagship¡¯s scopes screamed out the existence of the thousand or so missiles dotting the plot.
Click. Click.
Evasive action! She wanted to shout, but she couldn¡¯t shout that, because Commodore Aviso had just painstakingly brought his battlecruisers into attack formation with all the finesse and precision of a surgeon, taking the better part of six standard hours to do so, and now she wanted him to bring them apart again? She had no idea the limits of his patience, but she wasn¡¯t really in the mood to find out either. And yet, the thousand or so nuclear warheads coming their way weren¡¯t so gracious or nearly as polite as she was.
Calli knew Commenor possessed a whole lot more missiles, and she knew why they only launched twelve-hundred, but the wonders of elementary geometry didn¡¯t make her feel any better about it.
¡°¨CFairies out and shields up!¡± she roared, ¡°Screens to the front! Get those decoys in the black! I want countermeasures, countermeasures! Brace for impact!¡±
The rapid fire orders may be unintelligible to any other crew, but not the 19th Mobile Fleet. Diamond icons speckled the plot as the fleet flushed their pods and the countermissiles went out, dwarfish little fairies whose objectives were to race out and intercept as many incoming birds as possible. The fleet¡¯s Intel Division was fanning out and bringing up every jammer they had, including jettisoning remote buoys that seemed to be doing things she had never even heard of before, and decoys were lighting of all over the place like a fireworks display that travelled with the fleet thanks to inertia.
The entire perimeter of the 19th Mobile Fleet was disappearing into a huge ball of electronic and gravitic fuzz that the guidance systems of the incoming missiles would be unable to penetrate, turning them ballistic. And as the saying went in the CAF; ballistic missiles were harmless missiles. Well, not when there were over a thousand of them thundering down their closure vectors. Not when the fleet couldn¡¯t even evade.
Calli Trilm vicariously watched through the screens as huge numbers of incoming warheads picked off by countermissiles or fooled by ECM and decoys, the figure of a thousand-plus swiftly plummeting into the hundreds. But it wasn¡¯t enough, nowhere near enough. And then the viewport exploded into a wall of fire as the fleet¡¯s screens opened up with their PDCs and CIWS, popping birds out of the black left and right. But it wasn¡¯t enough, nowhere near enough. And then the missiles were so close the screens themselves were moving in to intercept them, entire frigates and corvettes preemptively throwing themselves onto the incoming vectors and sacrificing themselves to shield the capital ships behind them. Entire crews submitting the worth of their lives to the success of the mission.
But it wasn¡¯t enough, nowhere near enough. It couldn¡¯t have been, and Calli bit her lip until she tasted blood as the first Separatist battlecruiser vanished from the plot at the same time as a massive explosion rocked her flagship on her starboard flank. The missile had crashed bow-first, the resulting shockwave peeling away layers of the battlecruiser¡¯s hull not dissimilarly to the rapid disassembly of an onion, until nothing remained. Then another died¨Ca second. A third. A fourth. A fifth.
For the next few harrowing seconds, the 19th Mobile Fleet braved the missile storm, close-in weapon systems and point-defence lasers roaring out in a deafening maelstrom that consumed the fleet and all of its attention. It only took seconds, and when it was over, two more capital ships had been destroyed, along with a number of cruisers and screens.
But they were through. And they emerged, staring down two-hundred warships, twenty battlestations, and a hemisphere¡¯s worth of ground-to-orbit artillery at a range of eleven-million klicks. But it did not matter, because as far as Calli Trilm was concerned, they had bulled straight through Caraya¡¯s Gauntlet. They had already won.
Click. Click.
¡°We¡¯re within effective range, Admiral!¡± Aviso shouted urgently, no doubt moved to the extreme by the vast amount of lives sacrificed to give him the chance to make his shot.
¡°Good!¡± Calli sneered, ¡°It¡¯s our turn now! All ships, attack formation beta!¡±
Here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen, Commenor. We¡¯re going to make you shy, and you¡¯re going to raise your star-damned shields, whether you kriffing like it or not.
As one, the forward ranks of the 19th Mobile Fleet peeled back, pushing out towards the flanks of the fleet then back, revealing the untouched rear ranks of Aviso¡¯s paired battlecruisers, jettisoned missile clusters hanging in the space between his ships. The void pulsed with gravitic tension, his ships running cold as their tractor beams pulled their own systems taut like a bowstring.
Calli didn¡¯t even realise they were loose until they were. The readings on the displays spasmed, shooting heavenwards, though the system was able to capture a snapshot at time of release; 1,749,155G launch acceleration. A scarcely believable figure indeed.
It was a thirty-two second transit across some 11,000,000 klicks. It was enough time for the Republic to realise something had happened¨Cno doubt their scopes must be blaring alarms all over the place too¨Cbut not nearly enough time to respond. Countermissiles launched desperately, and laser clusters trained onto the incoming birds, but there simply wasn''t time. Nowhere enough time.
Space itself seemed to vanish in titanic violence as hundreds of proton warheads exploded in a solid wall of fury, ramming into the nearest Grade V battlestation at virtually 1.12 times the speed of light, a furious penetrative explosion roaring out the far side of the mass. Indeed, within a fraction of a second, all of Aviso¡¯s missile clusters had launched and struck their targets, a ring of explosions scrambling across Commenor¡¯s equator.
It would be an alpha attack for the history books, Calli simply knew as the fallout unfolded before her eyes. After much preparation, the Tann Railgun tactic had proven its worth once more. Despite the apparent impact velocity of 1.12c, Calli Trilm was well-versed enough in physics to know such a feat was practically impossible. The speed of light was, after all, the speed limit of the universe. Even hyperdrives were only able to launch ships into ¡®lightspeed¡¯ by using a non-baryonic dimension where established physical concepts didn¡¯t apply.
The figure of 1.12c was only possible with how the Tann Railgun functioned. Dozens of capital ship-grade tractor beam projectors effectively folded space in front and expanded space behind the projectile respectively. As such, the proton warheads were not travelling any faster than lightspeed¨Conly a significant fraction of it¨Cmerely travelling a much shorter distance due to the ¡®warped space¡¯ created by the tractor beams. This was, however, enough to sell the illusion to the Star of Serenno¡¯s scopes¨Cwhich existed in ¡®unwarped space¡¯¨Cthat the warheads were superliminal, thanks to relativity. Thus the operative word ¡®virtually¡¯ in ¡®virtually 1.12 times the speed of light.¡¯
This explanation was then proven as a score of aberrant missiles missed their marks and struck Commenor itself, and were immediately vapourised within the atmosphere rather than vaporising the planet. Instead, the missiles essentially disintegrated upon impact with the upper atmosphere, collapsing into atomic particles which themselves flung outwards and struck adjacent air molecules with enough force to trigger nuclear fusion reactions and rapidly expanding shells of superheated plasma. The 19th Mobile Fleet could only look on in scarce shock and awe as dozens of short-lived fusion chain reactions tore across the planet, massive white trees of deflagrating vapour blooming out in mushroom forms visible from space, accompanied by crackling thunderheads and incandescent firestorms that raged through Commenor¡¯s atmosphere.
Simultaneously, the Commenorian Navy was disintegrating before their eyes, detritus and debris and fragments erupting in geysers of rampant destruction, the entire enemy fleet chewing itself up in fratricidal chain reaction. As debris rained down from above, Commenor finally raised its planetary shields to prevent any more damage. Nothing was getting in, and more importantly, nothing was getting out.
¡°HAHAHAHAHA!¡± Rel Harsol all but screamed, ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!¡±
Calli Trilm suppressed a smile. She will have to have a little discussion with Harsol about communications discipline, but she didn¡¯t at all feel like detracting from the moment. Hard to do so, after all, when her entire flagship was vibrating with all the stomping and raucous cheers of her crew.
Click. Click.
¡°Sitrep, Aviso?¡± she toggled the comms, ¡°Hope the damage isn''t too bad.¡±
She spoke as if damage was all but a foregone conclusion, and it was, because in all the thousands of simulations they had done, there was not a single instance the fleet came away without lasting injury from performing such an act.
¡°Five of my capitals came away with internal failures,¡± Aviso was much calmer in comparison, though Calli could still hear his bridge crew in the background, ¡°But the failsafes we installed that isolated the capacitors managed to limit the damage. They can fly and jump, but they won¡¯t be getting into any battles until the auxiliaries can take an in-depth look. And¡ well, our fleet has no more functioning tractor beams.¡±
That was Aviso-speak for ¡®if we hadn¡¯t installed those failsafes, half our fleet would have been kriffing vapourised¡¯ but Calli took his word for it. They were only planning to use the Tann Railgun once, anyways, just for this moment. It was not as if they could use it anymore, for seven of their capital ships were literally gone, and another five were effectively out of action. Not to mention all the escorts and cruisers lost Commenor¡¯s missile barrage. A brisk, pained glance at the sitrep all but confirmed that nearly a third of the fleet¡¯s total firepower had been lost in that ¡®engagement.¡¯
There was always a high cost for such fearsome power. For now, that is. Because¡ she could salivate at the day the tech required became available.
Gnifmak Dymurra, you better not screw this up! Calli had invested a fortune into the Loronar Corporation, which alongside the Techno Union, was pioneering the new technology. In fact, she believed they were constructing the first prototype testbed in the Columex System¡ a fitting place for the birth of the first functioning gravitic wavegun.
¡°Very good,¡± she nodded in blissful satisfaction, despite their heavy losses, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±
As the Commenorian Navy withdrew from the blastzone and reformed, the 19th Mobile Fleet took the opportunity to deflect their course onto a tangential vector relative to the planet, now without any fear of potential ground-to-orbit artillery thanks to the raised shields. As they did so, Rear Admiral Trilm ordered the 19th Mobile to open fire. Broadsides were flushed, and thousands of torpedoes rampaged out towards the disarrayed enemy fleet. Gripped by confusion, but never dull in reaction, the Commenori captains nevertheless responded with countermeasures and their own torpedoes and turbolaser bolts.
Unwilling to lose any more ships, the Rear Admiral ordered a hasty escape, her fleet mounting their acceleration once again as they blazed towards the interdiction field¡¯s hyperlimit. Calli Trilm watched as the Commenorian Navy opted not to pursue, content to leave that to the incoming Jedi as they licked their wounds. She took stock of their losses; 16 of their 20 battlestations were missing from her scopes, including one out of two Grade Vs. Of two-hundred ships, a third to half of them weren¡¯t being picked up, either destroyed or depowered. It was a more than fair exchange, in her mind, if not a little more costly than she would have liked.
Click. Click.
Hours later, halfway towards the maximum range of the Commenori interdiction array, the Open Circle Fleet finally crossed Commenor-A¡¯s orbit, appearing on Separatist scopes for the second time that day.
And Calli Trilm was not the sort of person who would fight a Jedi General head-on. The hours passed as the Jedi fleet struggled to close the distance¨Cindeed closing the distance, for Star Destroyers were much faster than anything the CAF could procure, but far too slowly¨Cand a distant corner of Calli¡¯s mind noted as they approached the Commenor System¡¯s hyper-limit, outside the interdiction array¡¯s range.
¡°There are four hyperlanes out of Commenor and into the Core, Rear Admiral,¡± Tex alerted her to the fact, ¡°The southernmost to Quellor, the next to Humbarine, then Kuat, and the northmost to Alderaan. Which will we be taking?¡±
Click. Click. Beep!
Instead of answering, Calli Trilm suddenly snapped her attention towards the Starpath-cum-fidget cube captured in her hand. She had thought it dormant, after it had been disconnected from the GAR network as an obsolete piece of technology. As its lights blinked on and the cube buzzed with electronic life, however, Calli could only think of how she had been mistaken. Lifting the cube to her eyes, she read the tiny status display.
[PRIESTESS] HANDLER ONE UPLINK ESTABLISHED
She had no idea what that meant, but Calli wasn¡¯t too concerned; she had an entire hyperspace transit to figure that out.
After a minute, the Rear Admiral finally asked the droid; ¡°...Do I need to reprogram you?¡±
If Tex could smile, he would¡¯ve, ¡°As you command.¡±
The answer was, of course; all of them! Good luck guessing where I¡¯m going when I¡¯m going everywhere, Kenobi! Eat stardust!
Once more, a woman¡¯s triumphant cackling filled the void as the 19th Mobile Fleet split into four task groups and jumped into hyperspace on all four different vectors. Unbeknownst to said woman, however, in the shadow of a Commenorian moon called Folor, a count of thirty-two Separatist warships suddenly, silently, came back to life. Dormant, but waiting.
Chapter 64
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
Jedi Master Adi Gallia, despite being the Jedi Council¡¯s official liaison to the Republic Senate and observer to the Chancellor¡¯s Advisory Council, didn¡¯t at all prefer the day-to-day tedium of politicking in the Administrative District. One might think being the acting spymaster of ¡®Jedi Intelligence¡¯ to be an exciting affair, but in truth, the role was an awfully banal one.
It wasn¡¯t always this way, of course. At its inception, Gallia¡¯s personal spy network was just that; personal. She originally founded it using her family¡¯s connections, despite how antithetical that might sound to the Temple¡¯s central dogma, with the intention of creating a shadow organisation to cover for the Council¡¯s many blindspots. Adi Gallia would not be one to discredit Master Yoda and his undeniably wise stewardship of the Temple, but it was the unsaid truth that Yoda was the root cause of many of the Order¡¯s problems.
When a central figure has been in power of an organisation for nearly four-hundred years, it was unavoidable that said organisation would evolve around that central figure, being shaped in their image for good or ill. Again, the Order could have had much worse than Master Yoda, and as far as long-lived Grandmasters go, they were quite fortunate to have him. However, the faults of such a system were poignant and obvious if you knew where to look.
Unfortunately, not even the esteemed Master Yoda could be in power for so long without getting comfortable. Complacent. Complacent with the stagnation of the Jedi Order, and complacent with the evils of the Republic. Live alongside corruption for too long, and you no longer notice the stench. Master Yoda has had four-hundred years to get used to the smell.
Adi Gallia considered herself fortunate. She was born to a family of diplomats, and her Force-sensitivity had not been ¡®discovered¡¯ until she was advanced enough in age to be aware of her own circumstances. One of the joys of being an ageless Tholothian. She had not been raised in Yoda¡¯s shadow like much of the Temple, and rather entered it with a prior point of reference. And the realisation she had then was the fount of her spy network.
She was not the only one to notice the problems with the Jedi Order, of course. Prior to the war, there had been hundreds, chief among them then-Master Dooku. But the problem with becoming a legend was that you became legendary, and Yoda had earned an almost mythical status with the Jedi Temple. Even if you noticed the stench of bantha shit in the kitchen, you wouldn¡¯t say anything if the head chef didn¡¯t point it out, because obviously the head chef knew best. Much less a head chef who¡¯s been head chef for four centuries, and prior to that a line chef for many more. What was a Padawan, Knight, or Master to say, when they¡¯ve lived in Yoda¡¯s shadow for their entire lives?
Even a younger Adi Gallia was implicit in that mistake, for she had never disclosed the existence of her network. Because obviously the Jedi Council, led by Master Yoda, would have forced her to shut it down. So she kept her head low, quietly expanding her network throughout Coruscant under the guise of accepting planetside missions, then towards the stars, and picking up a reputation as a Jedi politician and diplomat as she did so.
By the time of the Stark Hyperspace War, the Temple had picked up a certain modus operandi. When Jedi were dispatched for peacekeeping missions, the idea was to talk first and solve the problem diplomatically, and if that failed, out came the lightsabers. It was simple and direct. But out of sight, Gallia took it one step further¨Cto deal with the problem before it ever came to the table of the High Council. Thus saving the trouble and the effort. By then, her intelligence network had grown so large it could no longer be kept hidden, but by then it had also grown so integral to the Temple¡¯s operations that not even the High Council could publicly acknowledge¨Cand denounce¨Cthe open secret.
And throughout it all, restless Jedi continued to squirm in the shadow of Master Yoda, as megacorporations filled the power vacuum left by the Hyperspace War, as the Republic continued to tolerate and foster all the little cumulative evils in the galaxy. Until a single Jedi Master reached his breaking point, and declared the founding of the Separatist State in a fiery speech over Raxus Prime. And hundreds of Padawans, Knights, and Masters flocked to his cause, his alternative, because they had been chafing beneath Yoda¡¯s shadow for so long just waiting for someone to have the guts to point out the stench.
It was only in the blazing fires of the Clone Wars, did her personal network burgeon into Jedi Intelligence out of necessity. Especially since Republic Intelligence remained less than forthcoming about sharing what they knew with the Order. For Adi Gallia, it meant an explosion of managerial affairs to occupy her attention. Fieldwork, as it seemed, was now a thing of a bygone past when she still had the luxury of handpicking her agents and personally seeding future contacts.
The Tholothian Master¡¯s internal musings were interrupted by the vibration of her comlink, the cheerful chime muffled by her flowing robes.
¡°Gallia speaking.¡±
¡°Are you alone?¡± was the first thing she heard in Bode Akuna¡¯s voice.
Adi Gallia glanced up, at the bustling halls of the Senate Building, and raised a protective bubble of the Force around her, muting all sound from within for the outside. It was a nifty trick she picked up, and useful in these sorts of circumstances.
¡°Speak.¡±
¡°Admiral Trilm just invaded the Core Worlds. The Commenorian Navy was unable to stop her.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard,¡± the Jedi Master replied calmly, ¡°The Chancellor just summoned an emergency Advisory Council meeting, of which I am presently on route to.¡±
¡°...And the Battle Hydra is missing?¡±
There was a serious undertone that made Gallia pause, ¡°...Missing is one way to put it.¡±
¡°...I see. I want to confirm something.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± the Jedi Master skillfully manoeuvred through the traffic, ensuring nobody got close enough to enter her Force bubble.
¡°Where was Anakin Skywalker at the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul?¡±
¡°What are you talking about? He was at Yag¡¯Dhul, fighting the battle with the Open Circle,¡± Adi Gallia lied.
In truth, Anakin Skywalker informed the Temple he was pursuing Asajj Ventress shortly before the battle began in earnest. Of course, such news couldn¡¯t be broken to the Republic Navy Command without shock and outrage. A commanding Jedi General, abandoning the battle space to pursue a personal rivalry? Preposterous! And if Jedi Command tried to defend his actions, the interdisciplinary rift in the GAR would only be further deepened.
Thus, it was considered prudent that such news would only be broken in the after-action report, where the news of victory would water down any flaring tempers. Because a victory was expected; three battle fleets against a single Separatist task force? The very idea of a potential defeat was just as insane as the idea of Anakin Skywalker abandoning a battle before it even began.
Except, the Battle Hydra once again did his terrible magic, and the Republic Navy was dealt another defeat, one comparable to the Battle of Christophsis. Fortunately, the scale of the defeat meant news was slow to trickle upstream to Coruscant. General Brand and Admiral Jerjerrod were killed in action, while Governor-General Grant¡¯s AAR mentioned how contact had been lost between the three fleets early in the battle. Finally, Admiral Yularen¡¯s AAR came, and merely mentioned the victory at Llon Nebula and the closing actions of the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul.
Nothing that overtly stated Anakin Skywalker¡¯s actions. Instead, the Republic Navy Command focused on Octavian Grant¡¯s preposition that the Separatist 4th Fleet Group was aiming for an invasion of the Southern Core. It wasn¡¯t a prediction without merit, for Admiral Calli Trilm had just broken the cracked fortress world Commenor like an egg. It was also a truly terrifying prediction, for a southern invasion would mean the monster known as the Tombmaker was about to be unleashed upon the Galactic Interior.
Regardless, Admiral Yularen must¡¯ve been well-aware of the conflict between the Republic Navy and Jedi Command, and decided it prudent to not mention anything that could worsen the situation. It was the Order¡¯s saving grace, anyhow, and it meant only Jedi Command knew where Anakin Skywalker really was during the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul, for now.
¡°...I need the truth this time, Master Gallia,¡± Bode Akuna said urgently, ¡°I need to know whether we''re dealing with a credible threat or not.¡±
Gallia¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°Is this Republic Intelligence knowledge?¡±
¡°From an apparently reliable source. But I need to know whether it is a threat to us,¡± Bode put heavy emphasis on the word ¡®need.¡¯
¡°Where does it say Skywalker was?¡±
¡°...Llon Nebula.¡±
¡°Can you destroy the report?¡± the Jedi Master was extraordinarily calm, but the simple question was enough to inform Bode Akuna of the credibility of the source.
¡°...No point. It¡¯s already been disseminated,¡± he replied hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯d only be raising suspicions. Master¡ this means¨C¡±
¡°I know what this means¨C¡± concrete proof Republic Intelligence had a mole in the Jedi Temple, ¡°¨Cjust tell me the codename of the threat.¡±
¡°...Republic Intelligence calls it the Delta Source.¡±
¡°Copy. Keep an eye on it, but don¡¯t try to intercept unless it¡¯s especially damning for the Order. I trust your judgement.¡±
¡°Got it. I¡¯ll try to dig up any leads on the Delta Source in the meantime.¡±
She shut the connection, pinching the bridge of her nose tiredly. Always one thing after another on Coruscant. But one more weight on the mind also meant one step closer to the Sith Lord, and at least Bode managed to discover the existence of the Delta Source before the news got into the hands of the Republic Navy. That was a mercy, no matter how small. Less than ideal, but Gallia could now at least prepare for the debate and set up a credible defence, rather than be blindsided in the courts.
What concerned her more was just how rooted this Delta Source was in the Temple. And whether it also knew about the truth of the recent ¡®terrorist attack¡¯. Considering the Jedi Order hadn¡¯t been dissolved, likely not. So Delta Source wasn¡¯t present in the funerary halls. Good to know. I¡¯ll also have to expand the scope of our usual counterintelligence sweeps. She mentally indexed the Delta Source away for a later, if crucial, point of investigation.
Making her way through the winding corridors of the Senate Building towards the Chancellor¡¯s Suite, sharing benign smiles with the staffers she crossed paths with. She recognised some, talked with others, but had never been able to penetrate Sly Moore¡¯s staff. The Senior Administrative Aide¡¯s ministry was simply too tightly guarded, and the Umbaran¡¯s eyes were everywhere. Sly Moore seemed to have a gift for reading people, even the most veteran of spies, and Master Gallia suspected there might be a hint of Force-sensitivity involved.
Further, if circumstantial, proof that their mysterious Dark Lord of the Sith was a member of the Executive Office. And as she was welcomed into the Chancellor¡¯s Office by the pale white visage of Sly Moore, she came face to face with her prime suspect¨C
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself.
It was hard to believe such an audacious claim, even as the person who made the claim, as Palpatine had never shown any signs of the general darkness that seemed to hang around the Sith. They didn¡¯t even have any proof he was even Force-sensitive. Sly Moore, at least, could be proven to be Force-sensitive. But Chancellor Palpatine?
Except, Adi Gallia had reason to believe that Palpatine was, if not the Sith Lord, then at least another one of their pawns, like Sly Moore. And she had reason to believe he was indeed Force-sensitive to some degree. And, in a fateful stroke of irony, it was the Battle Hydra who helped her prove her hypothesis. See, the man known as Rain Bonteri was an anathema to the Force, born with a peculiar trait known as ¡®Force Blankness¡¯, in which a living entity seems to be fully nonexistent in the Force. It was a rare and nearly unheard of phenomena, of which had only been encountered once before in the last century in the form of the son of a fallen Jedi, who went by Granta Omega.
It took eight Jedi to hunt that one down.
Nevertheless, having such a trait meant one¡¯s presence and name would often slip from the mind and memory of a Force-sensitive, particularly if it was a strong Force-sensitive, not dissimilarly to water off a duck¡¯s back. There were ways to circumvent the issue, of course, such as remembering a sobriquet not directly tied to the individual¨Csuch as Battle Hydra¨Cor simply by keeping journals or notes as an amnesiac would. But to do that, one would have to first recognise the importance of such a void-like individual in the first place.
Rain Bonteri¡¯s name was not foreign to the Republic Navy or Republic Intelligence. In fact, they had the sort of reputation for being the Pantoran¡¯s hard counter to Jedi-commanded fleets, in the naval arena. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin, arguably Oppo Rancisis¡ and now Rees Alrix and Empatojayos Brand have been added to their personal portfolio.
And yet¡ Palpatine isn¡¯t able to remember the name ¡®Rain Bonteri.¡¯ Gallia first noticed the fact when she was prodding his mind for any reaction to the name, shortly before the Seven Battles at Sullust, when she warned Skywalker and his Padawan of the threat the Hydra posed to Knight Alrix.
Jedi Master Adi Gallia made no show of her internal musings as she respectfully bowed before the Supreme Chancellor and his gathered audience, whose esteemed members included the permanent fixtures of Sly Moore and Mas Amedda, along with Armand Isard, and other members of the Loyalist Committee; including but not limited to Shayla Paige-Tarkin, Jannie Ha¡¯Nook, Mon Mothma, Canny Bertar, and Bail Organa.
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¡°Forgive my tardiness,¡± she smoothed her robes and stepped to the side of the office, observing the faces and atmosphere present as she did so.
It was tense, as tense as one might expect from the news that there was a second Separatist fleet in the Core. Or¡ it might be the stiff and wiry presence of one Governor-General Kohl Seerdon, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Sector Army.
¡°I do not see how this is a matter of debate!?¡± Senator Jannie Ha¡¯Nook of Glithnos was evidently furious, her face flushed with anger and panic, and she hardly even acknowledged the Jedi Master¡¯s entrance, ¡°We need to recall our reserve fleets! What is the point of going on the offensive if the Core will cease to exist whence they return!?¡±
Glithnos was a Core World, situated right along the Hydian Way, just north of Fedalle. It was directly within the warpath of the 19th Mobile Fleet¡ in fact¨C
¡°Separatist ships are in the Glithnos System as we speak!¡± she yelled furiously, at Armand Isard in particular, ¡°First the Bulwark Fleet, now the Perlemian Coalition! What has Republic Intelligence been doing!? I, of all people, have the right to demand answers!¡±
¡°This is as much the fault of Republic Intelligence as it is the Open Circle Fleet, or the Commenorian Navy,¡± Armand Isard replied coolly, ¡°Or does the honourable Senator expect me to personally lead a warfleet against Calli Trilm? We give intelligence, Senator, not orders. After the Sarapin Campaign, we have recommended that Commenor be equipped with everything they need to prevent another incursion like this.¡±
¡°Evidently, you didn¡¯t recommend enough,¡± Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila commented dryly, eliciting a scoff from Kohl Seerdon, her countryman.
Ire crossed the Intelligence Director¡¯s expression, ¡°We did not account for the Separatists equipping their gravitational superweapon to their battlecruisers.¡±
¡°Is that not Republic Intelligence¡¯s very role?¡± Adi Gallia took her own bite, and chewed on it, ¡°Last I heard, Separatist warships have been observed in close to over twenty Core systems along the Commenor Run and Hydian Way. Or have you been focused too much on internal intelligence, Director? Oh, on that note¨C what of the terrorist attack on the military satellites? Have you apprehended the culprits?¡±
One might argue it would be unwise for the very mastermind of the act to taunt the investigator, but Adi Gallia found it equally unwise to tiptoe around an issue that so obviously should garner the Jedi Order¡¯s attention.
¡°Did the preliminary investigation not conclude the primary suspects to be lightsaber-wielders?¡± Gallia pressed even further, ¡°Are these not grounds for the Jedi Order to participate in the ongoing investigation, as the attack was almost certainly perpetrated by one of Dooku¡¯s Dark Acolytes?¡±
¡°Republic Intelligence and Homeworld Security will root out the Separatist cells that aided the terrorist attack,¡± Armand Isard met her glare, ¡°We have already traced the freighter used to ferry the terrorists back to the owner. All that remains is to convince the Separatist cells to tell us who they loaned it to. We will find which of Dooku¡¯s pawns are hiding in the Underworld.¡±
So that¡¯s your progress on the investigation, Gallia confirmed, and I was right to presume your Temple mole was not Bode Akuna or Iskat Akaris. Good. Time to lead Homeworld Security on a wild goose chase. She had, after all, launched a black market operation to get contraband lightsabers and Separatist weapons into just about every Underworld cell, warlord, and shadow state she could access. And thanks to her planet-spanning network she had cultivated for decades, Jedi Master Adi Gallia had her fingers in just about every pie there was in the Underworld.
There was also the contents of the seized datafile; a Separatist broadcast proclaiming revolution in the Core Worlds. The picture painted for Republic Intelligence would be¡ pointed. One of Dooku¡¯s agents was on Coruscant, contacting Separatist cells and Underworld kingpins and feeding them weapons and equipment for a war. Then the terrorist attack that was meant to broadcast an inciting speech, capable of reaching all the disparate and unorganised Underworlder states in order to synchronise a planet-wide uprising. Homeworld Security will have their hands full cracking down on the undercity, to say the least.
¡°Enough of this!¡± the Chagrian Speaker, Mas Amedda boomed, ¡°We must not be divided, here and now. Evidently, Calli Trilm is already running rings around us uninhibited while we¡¯re busy chasing our own tails!¡±
¡°An option is to simply let Calli Trilm continue running rings,¡± Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan suggested, almost treasonously, ¡°She will be hard-pressed to find a Core World without a planetary shield.¡±
Chancellor Palpatine shook his head grimly as Mas Amedda said; ¡°Your pacifism will find no purchase here, Senator Organa.¡±
¡°I must disagree, Bail,¡± even Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila disapproved, ¡°You can only utter those words because Alderaan is too powerful to be a target of the Perlemian Coalition. We can turtle up¨Cand allow Calli Trilm free rein over our traderoutes and spacelanes. Moreover, planets may have shields, but they do not extend to orbital and system installations. Look at what happened here on Coruscant. A star system¡¯s worth isn¡¯t defined by its capital world, but the sum total of all the infrastructure and credits invested into it over hundreds of years.¡±
¡°Calli Trilm wants our worlds to raise their shields,¡± Kohl Seerdon agreed with his Senator, ¡°This was exactly what she was aiming for as a Commenor as well. Planetary shields are two-way installations. If nothing can get it, it also means nothing can get out.¡±
¡°We need to react,¡± Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin¡¯s hoarse voice was powerful and severe. Ever since the loud¨Cand loud was an understatement¨Ctirade she made before the Republic Senate following the Devastation of Eriadu, her voice had been stuck in a deep, rasping tone that never quite recovered.
These days, her presence was a rare sight, even in the Grand Convocation Chamber. Senator Paige-Tarkin spent most of her waking hours contacting surviving Eriaduans and diasporas throughout the galaxy and creating a new government-in-exile in the hopes of one day returning to their homeworld. Adi Gallia both pitied and respected her for it; with the current state of Eriadu, bleak and ruined and overrun with self-replicating droid factories, it would honestly be easier to simply find a new world to settle.
¡°Even with¡ control¡ of the media,¡± Senator Paige-Tarkin continued, speaking carefully, ¡°There¡¯s no eliminating the unrest, only mitigating. Two Separatist fleets are now in the Core Worlds, our backyard, and good Loyalist citizens live every day in fear of their lives. We can¡¯t hide it forever. The HoloNet can censor as much as it likes, but all it takes is one enterprising citizen to look through a telescope and spot a Separate Hex in orbit. Coruscant and Eriadu are still fresh in the minds of every man, woman, and child in the Galactic Interior. Everyone believes they could be next to meet that fate.¡±
Senator Paige-Tarkin took a deep breath¨Ca harsh, scraping sound that pierced the ears; ¡°This Administration will not last much longer if we do not react promptly, and with facility. I concur with Jannie. We must recall the fleets from the frontier. We must prioritise our main support base over all. We cannot fight a war while the foundation beneath our feet crumbles.¡±
The Tholothian Jedi observed the Supreme Chancellor carefully, freely running her presence over his mental landscape. It was a light touch, but should he be Force-sensitive, then he was undoubtedly noticing her actions. And if he was the Sith Lord indeed, then Adi Gallia relished in the fact he couldn¡¯t so much as even react without blowing his cover, feigning ignorance all the while. Knowing the premier trait of all Sith being unparalleled arrogance, she both found humour, and a little note of admiration, in how well he was composing his surface-level thoughts.
It must be a frustrating affair for him. Admiral Dua Ningo and the Bulwark Fleet was convenient for maintaining a level of fear in the Core Worlds, giving him justification to further concentrate power in his office. Two fleets, however, would be well out of hand. With the Reserve Armada deployed to the frontier, there was little left to defend the Core Worlds save the 5th Deep Core Reserve and the Home Defense Fleet. Speaking of the Home Fleet¡
¡°Where is Admiral Honor Salima?¡± the Chancellor demanded, ¡°Has the Bulwark Fleet been dealt with?¡±
All eyes pointed to Armand Isard, who cleared his throat and straightened his collar, ¡°The Bulwark Fleet had fled to Skako for safe haven and repairs. The Home Fleet is currently cracking open Skako¡¯s planetary shields.¡±
Skako, homeworld of the Skakoans and the Techno Union, and one of the most populous ecumenopoleis in the Core Worlds, with a pre-war census placing the industrious world at just over one-hundred billion souls. The figure was so vast mostly because there was hardly any emigration off the world¨Cor immigration for that matter. Because Skako possessed a high pressure methane-based atmosphere, much unlike the nitrogen-based Type I atmospheres present in most habitable worlds. As a result, Skako¡¯s population was completely Skakoan, and any offworld influence the planet had was concentrated solely in the hands of the Techno Union. This was the reason all Skakoans in the wider galaxy can only be found in pressure suits filled with noxious mixes of methane and hydrogen sulphide.
¡°We have been cracking open Skako¡¯s shields¨Calong with all the other Separatist holdouts in the Core¨Cfor the entire duration of the war!¡± Senator Ha¡¯Nook exclaimed, ¡°Surely they must be close to giving out by now?¡±
¡°Admiral Honor projects that to be the case,¡± Director Isard agreed, ¡°I fear she will be adamant about finishing off her prey before accepting any new orders.¡±
¡°That¡¯s grounds for treason,¡± Kohl Seerdon¡¯s eyes gleamed, clearly wondering whether he could take advantage of such a case, ¡°She would be mutinying against the state.¡±
¡°Honor Salima is untouchable,¡± Adi Gallia put his ambitions in the dust with a single statement, ¡°And she knows it. Charge her with mutiny, and what happens? How many noble scions, Core World elites, careerist sons, or simply upper caste gloryhounds serve in the Home Fleet? The moment we declare her a mutineer, one of two things happen; we declare almost every elite clan in the Core traitorous, or she holds the entire Core hostage. Admiral Honor might be hard, but she¡¯s not stupid. She¡¯s only acting the way she is because she has the support of the noble clans.¡±
¡°Some of my relatives serve in the Home Fleet as officers,¡± Mon Mothma proved her point rather demurely.
¡°The Home Fleet has a significant Seswennan diaspora,¡± Senator Paige-Tarkin agreed, ¡°The loyalty of Admiral Honor must not become a point of contest.¡±
Once again, Adi Gallia found it equal parts amusing and horrifying how easily even the likes of Mon Mothma spoke about the subversion of the state and military. This was, unfortunately, another harsh reality of war. The Grand Army of the Republic needs funding, badly, and it gets the funding it needs from the support and goodwill of many prominent Core World clans and families. Prominent clans and families whose members and children disproportionately serve in the Home Fleet.
Because the Home Fleet was meant to be a safe, reservist sinecure. Meant to be.
¡°...Is the Fifth Deep Core unable to ward off the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada too?¡± Chancellor Palpatine looked around, desperation clear in his eyes. How much of it was an act, Gallia did not know. But even a Sith Lord would be panicking now. The war was real, and it was here.
¡°...Chancellor,¡± Governor-General Kohl Seerdon stepped forward, even to the point of brushing aside Armand Isard. Tall and wiry, the man towered over the assemblage, ¡°Allow me to present my point of view, as a military man. Calli Trilm is wielding irregular warfare to its greatest effect, orchestrating hit-and-fades across the Arrowhead. No single fleet can contend with this. The only solution is constant and consistent patrols of our spacelanes. Moreover, all of our systems must also possess sufficient garrison fleets to ward off any raid.¡±
Seerdon¡¯s eyes darted to Isard, then Paige-Tarkin, then back to the Chancellor, ¡°The Deep Core Reserve can accomplish one, but not both. It was never meant to. The role of garrisoning star systems was supposed to fall upon local system fleets and navies, while common patrols remained the responsibility of the national judiciary and military. The recent Reformation Directive introduced by this very office, however, along with the Nationalisation Bill introduced by Senator Paige-Tarkin, effectively stripped all local defence forces in the Core of their independence and attached them to their respective Sector Armies. Sector Armies that are now campaigning on the frontlines.¡±
The implication of ¡®you did this!¡¯ hung heavily around the Kohl Seerdon, who was visibly trembling with almost euphoric pleasure at the squirming of the politicians around him. Politicians who had time and time again stifled the authority of the Governor-Generals and bedevilled the Republic Navy with regulations and, Force-forbid, rules. It was satisfying to see their comeuppance, however, Gallia had to admit.
Kohl Seerdon whipped around, as if daring someone¨Canyone¨Cto disagree with him. Nobody did.
¡°If you want to convince the Core Worlds that the Republic is not a sinking ship, Chancellor,¡± Seerdon emphasised each and every word slowly, purposefully, ¡°Then it is in our best interest to put the authority of the armies and fleets back into the hands of people who know what they¡¯re doing. The Separatists are poking holes in our ship, and we must patch it up, even if it means taking materials from other sections of the same ship. Recall the fleets.¡±
¡°I will¡¡± Palpatine scanned the room, wetting his pale lips. As his gaze met Gallia¡¯s, the Tholothian Jedi shot him a nondescript smile, ¡°...I will make my decision based on the conclusion of the Strategic Planning Amphitheatre.¡±
General Seerdon nodded sharply and decisively, ¡°Very good, Chancellor! Now, Director, what of our missing Admiral Bonteri? Octavian Grant claims the terrible Tombmaker intends to invade the Tapani Federation? Surely our Admiral Bonteri would love to accompany him?¡±
¡°Republic Intelligence suspects Admiral Bonteri¡¯s fleet had been sent forward into into the Southern Core to scout for vectors of invasion,¡± Director Isard started, ¡°However¨C¡±
¡°We¡¯ve seen ne¡¯er skin nor scale of the Hydra,¡± Senator Canny Mandary Bertar of Mrlsst interrupted, ¡°If he went anywhere, it is not the Tapani Federation.¡±
The previous Senator for the Tapani Federation was a Human Fondorian named Rodd, before he led Fondor in seceding from the Republic. Swift to make up for their disgrace, the Tapani Federation hastily sent their new senator¨Cthe Mrlssi Canny Bertar¨Cto replace their traitorous one on Coruscant. With Fondor back in Loyalist hands, however, Gallia idly wondered what had become of Senator Rodd.
¡°As for the Tombmaker,¡± the Mrlssi Senator¡¯s colourful feathers rustled, ¡°The League of Tapani Freeworlds are ready and waiting for him. Alongside the Twentieth Sector Fleet, the Freeworlds Common Navy has been mobilised upon General Grant¡¯s request, for a total of twelve-hundred assorted warships, including over a two-hundred capital ships.¡±
¡°...General Ambigene¡¯s Fourth Fleet Group possesses fifteen-hundred ships by our last count,¡± Armand noted, ¡°And they are currently fighting both the Second and Nineteenth Armadas on the Rimma Trade Route.¡±
Adi Gallia perked up. The League of Tapani Freeworlds was the alliance of the Southern Core¨Cnot dissimilar to the Commonality of the Perlemian Trade Route¨Cdominated by and large by the Tapani Federation. In fact, the Tapani Freeworlds were mostly Tapani colonies on the periphery of the Tapani Sector, including Fondor, Ghorman, and Thyferra. This was a point of interest for the Jedi spymaster, as should the Sith Lord fail to give up his grip over the Republic without a fight, civil war would certainly be a possibility she had to give serious consideration.
And the Tapani Federation would be one of the few autonomous polities willing to fight against the Coruscant government should push come to shove. They were already effectively semi-independent, considering their high levels of autonomy. The Military Nationalisation Bill hardly even affected them, which, considering the situation, might have been their saving grace.
The Tapani Nobles were simply too powerful and distant for Coruscant to take head on. The current Galactic Republic existed on the concept that membership was preferable to independence, and for most star systems and sectors, that was simply the case. They couldn¡¯t survive without the Republic. If the Republic was controlled by the Sith Lord, then most worlds would simply follow the Sith Lord.
But not the Tapani Federation and Tapani Freeworlds by extension. They had an independent political system, economic foundation, and military, not to mention large enough to be self-sufficient. They were one of the few polities in the Galactic Republic that could secede without any immediate ramifications, and that made them worth courting, if worse comes to worst. It was also an additional boon that Octavian Grant had met the Battle Hydra in combat, and gained all the insight that came with it.
¡°Horn Ambigene might just decide it wouldn¡¯t be worth the effort to invade anymore,¡± Bail Organa mused, ¡°Might we consider that Rain Bonteri has been redeployed to some other front of the war?¡±
¡°Before his grip of Yag¡¯Dhul is even secure?¡± Jannie Ha¡¯Nook raised an eyebrow, ¡°I find that difficult to believe.¡±
¡°...¡±
A sudden, sweeping silence filled the Chancellor¡¯s Office, to everyone¡¯s surprise. Usually, at this point, Director Armand Isard would have had something enlightening to say, either in support or rebuke. Instead, the Director in question was occupied by something truly severe on his datapad, by the shape of his expression.
¡°Is something the matter, Director?¡± Chancellor Palpatine asked in concern.
Slowly, a stone-faced Armand Isard leaned to the Chancellor¡¯s ear, and whispered something. And the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s eyes widened, his skin paling to unhealthy levels as the lines on his face deepened into crevices.
Adi Gallia stood straighter, ¡°What happened?¡±
Isard looked at the Chancellor, who had rested his elbows on his desk, rubbing his aged hands together tiredly as he stared despondently at his lap. Then, Palpatine nodded.
The Director of Republic Intelligence coughed, ¡°Separatist warships have been spotted on the Koros Trunk Line, originating from the Deep Core. All seven worlds of the Empress Teta System have declared for the Separatist State. All signs point to¡ a second fleet has invaded the Core.¡±
Chapter 65
Skako Orbit, Skako System
Bormea Sector
Captain Jan Dodonna pushed down his unease as his shuttle made the transit to fleet flagship Arlionne, the mighty warship like a dagger poised directly over the heart of Skako. The glittering ecumenopolis hung in the void like a suspended pearl, its gleaming shields warping the atmosphere like a technological aurora. The world¡¯s thick methane atmosphere absorbed its sun¡¯s infrared radiation, granting the pearl a bluish tint. Jan Dodonna didn¡¯t think himself a particularly brave man, and his belly knotted with tension as he thought of the recent developments on the front. But he was a captain of the Republic Navy, and he was nothing if not dutiful.
Jan watched out the viewports as the shuttle manoeuvred to dock, overhauling the nine-hundred metre Victory-class heavy cruiser, and it took all he had not to gawk like a cadet on his first deployment. Arlionne was neither large nor menacing¨Cin fact, his own ship the Venator-class Prudence boasted well over two-hundred metres over her. But the hollow throats of missile launchers and the ominous snouts of turbolasers heavy and light crouched in her open artillery decks betrayed the truth of it. Within that compact frame, Arlionne possessed an entire battleship¡¯s worth of guns, and with its two massive shield generators and an almost comically oversized solar ionisation reactor that bulged out from its hull, she could take on two or even three Venators and beat them all bloody.
Pocket battleship. The affectionate epithet started somewhere in the ranks of the Navy, but Jan Dodonna found it fitting. A marvel of design and engineering even he could appreciate. The Republic Navy¡¯s answer to the Separatist starfleet¡¯s missile doctrine. There was a reason Admiral Honor Salima opted to transfer her flag from the traditional flagship of the Coruscant Home Defence Fleet, after all.
Regardless, Arlionne was not the Victory-class heavy cruiser in service of the Home Fleet, and the sheer number of them dotting the skies over Skako truly baffled Jan. Only three standard years ago, the process of construction, trials, evaluations and commissioning would be far more extended, stifled by regulations and treaties and all sorts of other bureaucratic devilry. But there was no time for that now. The tempo of construction and commissioning was almost scary, if not even careless, but the reason for such a hurry was enough to convince even the most fastidious of classification societies towards the necessity.
The cruiser¡¯s tractor beams reached out to the shuttle, capturing it and easing it into the brilliantly lit cavern of the fighter launch bay. Jan was marching down the ramp before it had even touched the polish deck, and the officer of the deck came up with his spotless, perfectly creased uniform, datapad tucked under one elbow and other raised in a crisp salute.
¡°Permission to come aboard, officer?¡±
¡°Welcome aboard, sir.¡±
There wasn¡¯t even a pause in the Captain¡¯s stride as he crossed the demarcation line, officially stepping aboard Star Destroyer Arlionne. Her defining feature? Cleanliness. Admiral Honor ran a tight ship. There was not a blemish on the reflective floor, not an unsecured crate, and not an ill-worn uniform in sight. Strain his ears as he might, the Captain couldn¡¯t even hear the usual casual chatter one might on the deck.
He reached the bridge through similarly muted corridors, and appreciated how much shorter a distance it was compared to the Prudence. Arlionne¡¯s bridge was a wholly different beast compared to Prudence¡¯s. It was smaller, for one¨Cas a Venator served not just a ship-of-the-line but also a command vessel, while a Victory was designed to be a frontline brawler¨Cand did not possess the expanded tactical section the former had. Nor did she possess the nearly 270-degree field of vision Prudence found necessary as a combat carrier. Arlionne was smaller, more focused, sharper. Jan Dodonna felt like he was looking through the eyes of a hunting hound.
Captain Jan Dodonna saluted the back of the figure standing on the central causeway, ¡°Captain Dodonna reporting, sir.¡±
Admiral Honor Salima was a tall woman, straight-backed and stern, and hair cropped into a neat pixie. At her side was the flag captain of the Arlionne, Captain Terrinald Screed. His was the sort of face that revealed very little, in no small part due to his one prosthetic eye, but the accolades to his name were impressive. Which they ought to be. The Home Fleet was now the most modern command in the Republic Navy, and the Admiralty wouldn¡¯t have picked its flag captain¡¯s name out of a hat. For a time, all that could be heard on the bridge was Admiral Honor¡¯s footsteps and the chime of electronics as she approached him.
¡°Well done, Captain,¡± she appraised, ¡°With this, the Bulwark Fleet is at its end.¡±
Jan nodded diffidently. The Home Fleet had run Dua Ningo ragged, with the main body under Admiral Honor herself pursuing him system to system while a smaller detachment under Captain Dodonna flanked and cut off every avenue of escape the old Sullustan had. It was a well-planned dance of fleets and warships, slowly grinding down the Bulwark Fleet until they had no choice but to find a safe harbour for repairs. The Techno Union world of Skako was the largest Separatist shipyard in the region.
¡°High Command has us ordered to expedite the destruction of the Bulwark Fleet, Admiral,¡± Captain Dodonna said, ¡°They want us to put a pin to the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s rampage.¡±
The edge of Admiral Honor¡¯s lips curled upwards, ¡°Indeed they have. Does that cesspit on Coruscant believe I am omnipresent? Do they think I have eyes over the whole Hydian Way? Do they think I can conjure warships from vacuum to patrol it? There¡¯s no pinning an enemy that can appear and disappear at will.¡±
¡°They believe we did it for the Bulwark Fleet,¡± Flag Captain Screed pointed out.
Admiral Honor narrowed her eyes into daggers, ¡°Nonsense. Dua Ningo is an older breed. He likes his eggs in one basket, where he can watch over all of them at any time. The only type of naval warfare he can comprehend is that of large naval engagements and showpiece battles. If that old alien had the sense to split his fleet like Calli Trilm did, he would already be back in Separatist space.¡±
The Admiral spun on her heel, marching back out towards the viewports. Captains Terrinald and Jan shared a knowing look. They had a history that dated back to service in the Judicial Forces of the Republic, having participated in the Stark Hyperspace War among other anti-pirate campaigns. It was said Terrinald lost his eye to a Biskaran Pirate during the Siege of Niele, where half his face was carved out by a madman with a vibro-axe as a price for his breakthrough.
¡°I heard your son was at Commenor,¡± Terrinald said softly.
¡°He was,¡± Jan stiffened, and it took everything he had to not choke on his next words, ¡°But nothing¡¯s been¡ confirmed.¡±
Terrinald looked down, nodding minutely, ¡°We all do our duty.¡±
Captain Screed gripped his shoulder tightly, before releasing him and turning around towards the Admiral; ¡°Are we to ignore the order, then?¡±
Admiral Honor¡¯s shoulders tensed, her hands behind her back as she looked on towards Skako. Jan followed her gaze, at the tiny droplets rippling over its planetary shields like rain falling upon a still lake. Missiles. Turbolasers. The entire Home Fleet was pounding away at Skako¡¯s shields, having succeeded the 1st Reserve Armada¡¯s role in that purpose. One might believe a planet¡¯s shield was homogenous, and they would be wrong. There was no shield generator in the galaxy yet powerful enough to encompass an entire planet in its protective shell. Instead, planetary shields were more or less a composite of densely packed shield generators all activated to create overlapping shells across the entire surface of a planet.
This meant that to break a planetary shield, a besieging fleet must identify its weakest point and concentrate all fire upon it there. Many worlds opt to evenly space out their shield generators, of course, but most tend to concentrate their shields over urban and industrial sectors, leaving rural areas less shielded. Usually, that would be where the shield was pierced, allowing armies to be inserted planetside and assault the world from the ground. But Skako was an ecumenopolis¨Ca city-world¨Cand it was the homeworld of one the most technologically advanced species in the galaxy, the headquarters of the Techno Union.
The Home Fleet had relented to bombarding the shields over the shipyards that housed the Bulwark Fleet. It was their target, after all.
¡°Ignore¡?¡± the Admiral of the Home Fleet mused, ¡°Maybe if those feckless puppets in High Command hadn¡¯t been so preoccupied with kissing Palpatine¡¯s wrinkled toes, they would have advised the delusional old fool against sending the fleets to the frontier. That decision has achieved nothing but a cascade of consequences since.¡±
The two captains remained silent to the Admiral¡¯s scathing remarks. It was a sensitive subject for all of them, for all the Core¡¯s current woes could be traced back to that singular order to go on the offensive. By redeploying the Reserve Armadas to the front on the overly-zealous assumption that victory was at hand, Coruscant was forced to spread the Home Fleet thin garrisoning all the protesting systems that now missed the protection of the reserve fleets. Despite Admiral Honor leaving behind a small garrison back at Coruscant, it was not enough to prevent the Bulwark Fleet from wreaking havoc.
¡°It was¡ my failure to prevent the Bulwark Fleek breaking out at Foerost,¡± Captain Jan Dodonna apologised.
¡°I thought Commodore Vuld Tansen was in command at Foerost?¡± the Admiral asked sharply.
¡°He was, sir,¡± Jan swallowed thickly.
¡°I am sure you served with all the expediency he permitted you,¡± she waved off dismissively, ¡°He¡¯s dead now, anyway.¡±
Disintegrated with his flagship over Foerost when the Bulwark Fleet attacked.
¡°The Fifth Reserve Armada is still in the Core, Admiral,¡± Captain Screed reminded.
¡°I¡¯d imagine they are rather preoccupied panicking about Empress Teta¡¯s secession,¡± Admiral Honor vexxed, ¡°By a Separatist fleet travelling through the Deep Core, no less. And now that pit of snakes have reversed course on the whole war, dragging the fleets back to the Core. Do they not realise they are playing straight into the Pantoran¡¯s hands? This is exactly what she wants.¡±
Jan looked down, ¡°The Core¡¯s about to become a political bloodbath.¡±
¡°That is no concern of ours,¡± if Admiral Honor was concerned about the fate of her homeworld, she didn¡¯t show it, ¡°We will focus on putting an end to the Bulwark Fleet first and foremost.¡±
Despite being Coruscanti, Honor Salima cared little about the ¡®cesspit¡¯ and ¡®pit of snakes¡¯ she called home. It had been widely circulated on both military and media networks that her vicious hunt for the Bulwark Fleet had been borne out of some sort of contrition for a perceived personal failure to protect her ward. Jan thought so too, until he actually met the woman himself.
Rather than contrition, he rather believed she was fueled by pride. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was for better or worse.
¡°How should we reply to the order, sir?¡± Terrinald questioned.
¡°...We will deal with the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada as well,¡± Admiral Honor decided, ¡°But only if the Home Fleet gets unrestricted access to all hyperlane registrars in the Core.¡±
¡°That¡¯s overreaching,¡± Jan noted hesitantly.
¡°If they want me to overreach my fleet,¡± she retorted cooly, ¡°Then they will give me what I need to overreach. Send it, Captain Screed.¡±
¡°Right away, Admiral.¡±
¡°And Captain Dodonna?¡±
Jan straightened, ¡°Sir?¡±
¡°Bring your fleet forward,¡± the Admiral commanded, ¡°Keep prodding that shield. I want you to tell me where to shoot by the end of the week.¡±
¡°Orders received, Admiral.¡±
?
Captain Jan Dodonna watched on the holos as Commander Adar Tallon¡¯s fighter-bomber wings ran Skako¡¯s gauntlet for the fourth time that day, slashing right against the planetary shields with a blazing flurry of bombs and torpedoes right within the atmospheric purgatory between black and blue. Prudence¡¯s active scopes watched the ripples in the shield intently, taking in a number of readings and measurements in order to make a rough estimate of the shield sector¡¯s saturation percentage.
Deflector shields acted on the simple premise of reflecting or absorbing energy¨Cmostly kinetic and heat, depending on the weapon¨Cand diffusing it throughout its surface area before dispersing it either as natural light and heat loss, or routing it into capacitors in the shield generators, which stores the energy. There were two main ways a deflector shield ¡®breaks¡¯. First is if the input of energy overloads the capacitors or melts the heatsinks, shutting down the whole grid until it could be rerouted. This is what usually occurs against warships. Against planetary shields, however, it is more likely if a certain sector of the shield reaches maximum energy saturation and isn¡¯t able to store any more, creating a ¡®hole.¡¯
The latter was Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s plan for Skako. The disadvantage of such a tactic was that the energy input must be constant and overwhelming¨Cor at least, higher than the energy output rate of the shield at any one time. It was simple enough mathematics.
¡°The results?¡± Jan asked.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
¡°I think we can make it, sir,¡± the sensor officer analysed the results, ¡°If the Skakoans don¡¯t have anything left up their sleeves, that is.¡±
¡°How much will it take to¡ make it?¡±
¡°A concentrated missile barrage from every Victory we have in the Home Fleet, and then some,¡± the officer answered, ¡°Keep that up for anywhere from a day to half a week, depending on how Skakoan shield tech works, and we might just punch a hole in that shield.¡±
¡°That sounds¡¡±
Doable. This is the best case scenario as far as planetary shields go.
¡°...Achievable,¡± Jan finished, ¡°Keep up the fire. Don¡¯t let them recharge. And send word to¨C¡±
¡°Captain!¡± a deck officer jogged up to him, ¡°The Admiral needs you in the Battle Room.¡±
¡°Speak of the Bloodhound,¡± he muttered, before tugging down on his uniform, ¡°Let¡¯s not keep her waiting.¡±
He entered the Battle Room to the awaiting holographic presences of Admiral Honor and Captain Screed. A brisk sharing of salutes later, and Jan joined them at the large holotable.
¡°I was just about to submit the latest update regarding Skako¡¯s shields, Admiral,¡± Jan started.
¡°Report.¡±
¡°We estimate a prolonged mass torpedo assault should bring down the sector within half a week,¡± the Captain answered, ¡°Best case scenario suggests a day.¡±
Honor Salima raised her chin, narrowing her eyes, ¡°Then it is good news. High Command has also approved our access to the hyperlane registrars. With this, we can plot an elementary chart of all Separatist sightings in the Galactic Interior, and start formulating a strategy.¡±
Terrinald flicked his wrist, and a detailed starchart of the Arrowhead region burst onto the holotable, pulsating red dots marking all reported Separatist Hexes in the Core. A list of GAR reporting names appeared on his right, and Jan realised some of the Seppie ships had appeared enough times the registrars could identify and pin a tag on them, effectively allowing them to track their movements through the Core.
Except¨Cand this is what made him doubtful¨Cit wasn¡¯t as this incomplete list of warships could be tracked in real time. The only difference it made was that the registrars could now plot a history of raids to pin to the ships. Unless¡ unless Admiral Honor was not intending to track these ships at all. Jan¡¯s lips thinned.
¡°Captain Screed, please continue,¡± Admiral Honor gestured.
¡°In our preliminary analysis of the registrar data,¡± Terrinald began, ¡°We immediately noticed something peculiar about Calli Trilm¡¯s movements.¡±
Thin red strings snapped out, looping around the dots and tying them together into a comprehensive history of jumps and transits. And Jan almost immediately noticed the peculiarity Terrinald had mentioned. The 19th Mobile Fleet was, cleverly, not sticking to any one major hyperlane, and rather jumping between hyperlanes in a zigzag motion. But if you accounted for all the different squadrons and ships¡
Sector searching. Jan Dodonna almost gaped in awe. He had seen the manoeuvre made before, but never on such a¡ large scale. It was a search and rescue pattern, usually meant to find missing objects or persons stranded in the black, and centred on a datum point and spanning out to cover a traditionally spherical area, suitable for finding an object in a well-defined location. The search vessel would first set out on a vector dependent on effectively their best guess, then travel the distance the object could have travelled in the time, then make a 60-degree starboard turn and travelling the same distance, before making another 60-degree starboard turn and travelling back to the datum point, creating an equilateral triangle.
The search vessel would continue through the datum point, recreating the series of turns until another equilateral triangle was made and it was back at the datum point. The pattern would repeat, accounting for known drift if there was any, until the entire sphere was thoroughly raked.
¡°Are the Separatists¡ searching for something?¡± Jan asked, not quite able to conceal his surprise, ¡°And if that¡¯s the case, wouldn¡¯t a parallel track or creeping line search pattern be more effective?¡±
¡°I¡¯d imagine a simplistic pattern like the parallel track would have been too obvious,¡± Terrinald brushed his chin, ¡°With a sector search pattern, they were able to craft the image of an erratic, opportunistic raid pattern. It took the combined data of every hyperlane registrar in the Arrowhead to piece together the history of raids, in order to discover the pattern. Look here, we were able to trace the pattern of this ship¨CBronze Serpent¨Cback to its suspected datum point in or near the Recopi System. I¡¯d wager that¡¯s where she¡¯d stationed her base of operations.¡±
Starting there, Jan then traced the pattern back out; Pria, Seyugi, Columus, Thoadeye, Loretto, Samaria, then back to Recopia. Passing through the Recopi System three times, then, moving onto the next datum point. Multiply this pattern by the dozens of squadrons of the 19th Mobile Fleet, and Calli Trilm was effectively raking her forces through the Arrowhead in an apparently random fashion, but not quite upon closer inspection.
¡°But¡ what could she be searching for?¡± Jan mumbled, before coming to a realisation, ¡°If not¡¡±
¡°Admiral Dua Ningo and the Bulwark Fleet,¡± Admiral Honor confirmed his suspicions, ¡°The Bulwark-class battlecruiser is the newest and most powerful warship the Separatists have at their disposal, capable to engaging multiple Victorys and even a Tector toe-to-toe and potentially emerge victorious. The Pantoran likely requires the Bulwarks in her hands, and that is the true purpose of this invasion, beyond the raids.¡±
Jan Dodonna swiftly clued in on the Bloodhound¡¯s plan, ¡°We intend on using the Bulwark Fleet to bait Calli Trilm into concentrating her forces.¡±
Admiral Honor smiled like a hound catching the scent of blood, ¡°Precisely. All we have to do is choose a suitable battlespace.¡±
This time, it was Terrinald¡¯s turn to look at his flag officer in surprise, ¡°Why not here at Skako, sir? We¡¯ll be dragging Calli Trilm even deeper into the Interior.¡±
¡°Bait needs to be believable, Captain Screed,¡± Admiral Honor admonished, ¡°It¡¯s a shame we won¡¯t be able to destroy the Bulwark Fleet here, but it will be in the service of hunting an even bigger fish. We¡¯ll smoke the Bulwark Fleet out, and shepherd them to our battlespace of choice, catching Trilm¡¯s attention as we do so. She¡¯ll expect a major fleet engagement, and concentrate her forces together with Dua Ningo. They will create their own trap, and their own deaths.¡±
¡°Very good, sir,¡± Captain Dodonna gathered his wits, ¡°But how will we draw out the Bulwark Fleet?¡±
¡°Were you not listening, Captain?¡± Admiral Honor Salima raised an eyebrow, ¡°We¡¯re going to smoke them out.¡±
Jan Dodonna¡¯s stomach dropped. Orbital bombardment. He knew it was the only natural solution, somewhere deep within him, but the thought still pained him deeply.
Captain Terrinald Screed grinned, a truly terrific visage with his mechatronic eye, ¡°We will be avenging Eriadu. We will be avenging Commenor; your homeworld, Jan.¡±
Not like this. Never like this. Commenor wasn¡¯t even harmed; the explosions all occurred in the upper atmosphere, on the edge of space! But Honor Salima was his commanding officer, and while Jan Dodonna didn¡¯t consider himself particularly brave, he was nothing if not dutiful. Admiral Honor captured his gaze, her hawkish eyes searching for any signs of weakness. The Commenori showed nothing but a resolute stare. Her lips curled.
¡°The moment those shields drop,¡± Captain Dodonna said slowly, meaningfully, ¡°Skako will lay waste to us with their surface-to-orbit batteries.¡±
¡°They won¡¯t get the chance,¡± replied the Admiral coldly, ¡°Paint the target, Captain Dodonna.¡±
He saluted, and internally cursed himself for it, ¡°Very well. Orders received, Admiral.¡±
If there is a silver lining, Jan thought bitterly as Prudence painted the shield sector for the Home Fleet, it would be that we wouldn''t be razing all of Skako. The Skakoans were well aware of their homeworld¡¯s atmospheric trait, and in all of their technological might, spent every waking hour preparing for specifically such an occasion. The planetary shield grid of Skako was designed as a multitude of overlapping atmospheric containment domes that, from orbit, appeared like one unified surface. But in truth, their ¡®planetary shield¡¯ actually divided up their surface into hundreds if not thousands of individual blocks and divisions. The death toll would only be a billion or so, not hundreds of billions.
What damnable consolation that is.
¡°All ships,¡± Honor Salima¡¯s authoritative voice boomed, ¡°Siege formation! Load proton torpedoes and open fire upon my command!¡±
Jan could only watch as Arlionne took her place at the head of almost a hundred pocket battleships, arranged in a static conical formation that allowed every ship to present their full forward firing envelope at the painted section of the shield. He held his breath as time seemed to stand still. Then¨C
A solid pillar of violet fire and smoke rained down on Skako like the infernal roar of a solar dragon¡¯s breath. The pillar of energy smashed straight into the target, and the shield seemed to buckle before his eyes, despite knowing energy shields could not do such a thing. But it held, and despite the climactic initial assault, the Home Fleet continued firing. Relentlessly.
What am I looking at? Jan Dodonna asked himself as even more overly-eager warships moved closely to take their own potshots with torpedoes and turbolaser batteries. Eight-hundred missiles every thirty-five seconds, he thought, the average rate of fire of a Victory-class missile tube.
It took forty-six standard hours for Prudence¡¯s finely calibrated scopes to discover a hole in the shield section. And upon the report of his sensor officer, the Captain of the Prudence struggled with the decision to inform his commanding officer of its existence. But if he didn¡¯t¨Cwhat then? The Home Fleet would just continue pounding away until the entire shield section overloaded, increasing the damage dealt.
Jan Dodonna released a sigh, ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±
?
Fleet flagship Arlionne was teeming with activity. Prudence just reported the discovery of a breach, tiny and fleeting as it was, and the gunnery chiefs were scrambling to switch out the warheads for thermobaric ones.
Admiral Honor Salima stood proudly over the pilothouse of the Arlionne, as fire and thunder ran rampant across the viewports. Arlionne had halted fire now, in order to better focus her fire control. The target? A tiny¨Cno more than a couple klicks in diameter¨Chole directly above the planetside shipyard harbouring the Bulwark Fleet, currently being painted by the Prudence. But there was no knowing if the hole would disappear, even as the Home Fleet concentrated its fire, so they must be swift.
And so, the command deck was abuzz with controlled chaos. Officers barked orders, screens flickered with sensor data, and the low hum of the ship''s massive reactor thrummed through the bones of every soul aboard. Admiral Honor stood at the centre of the whirlwind, wrapped in the austere garb of authority. Her crew were a bunch of no longer so inexperienced rich boys and girls far away from the safety of their clans and families, and this would be their first siege.
¡°Vacuum missiles have been loaded, Admiral,¡± Flag Captain Terrinald Screed reported, his many battles have beaten the hesitance out of him along with his eye, ¡°We have a firing solution.¡±
¡°My fears about Jan Dodonna were unfounded,¡± Honor¡¯s voice was a glacier scraping across a frozen sea, ¡°You were correct.¡±
Screed smiled blandly, ¡°We have a history. His conscience weighs heavily, but he is¡ dutiful.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all I require.¡±
Hands flew over controls, confirming targets, accounting for atmospheric interference, finalising trajectories. In the void, Arlionne¡¯s missile bays once again yawned open, dull red warheads signifying the change in payload. Vacuum warheads, designed to ignite the very air itself and burn a vacuum in its place, and for a methane-rich world like Skako¡ specially engineered to exploit the trace oxidizers in the planetary atmosphere.
¡°Open fire.¡±
There was no ceremony or fanfare or even weight to her words. It was just another command. Swift and sharp like an executioner¡¯s axe.
With a shudder that resonated through the hull, the missiles launched, streaking towards the planet below, outer shells glowing with the friction of re-entry as they plunged into hazy blue skies. Terrinald Screed impassively watched the display, as dozens of missiles crashed into the outer edges of the aperture, blooming out in great, but short lived conflagrations, briefly blinding the scopes. But some made the insertion, and that¡¯s all they needed.
In the high pressure depths off the planetary surface, all it took was a blinding flash, a nova of searing light and scorching heat, visible through all the atmosphere and shields and relentless firing. The warheads detonated, their payloads igniting the methane, oxidising warheads turning the entire sky into a canvas of roaring fire. The Home Fleet paused, frozen, transfixed.
On the surface, the apocalypse came swift and painless. The ground buckled and heaved, the air itself becoming a weapon as a crushing wave of overpressure that pulverised everything in its path. Buildings crumbled, what little flora there was spontaneously combusted, and flesh was rendered to ash in an instant. From the surface, it must¡¯ve seemed like the entire world had become a hellscape of fire and thunder.
But from orbit, such a description couldn¡¯t be further from the truth. The flaming atmosphere was just that; flames. And planetary shields were designed to withstand much more than that. The inferno was boxed in by the overlapping deflector shells, curling up against the shields like screaming souls trying to escape an urn. And so, there was only one place left for the fires to go: up.
¡°Shields, forward,¡± Admiral Honor ordered calmly. It was unlikely the flames would reach them, but there was no reason not to be careful.
Skako spat out the inferno, a colossal tongue of flame not unlike a miniature solar flare bursting through the weakened shields above. Without fuel or oxidiser to burn, however, the flare swiftly died out in the void. Energy washed over the fleet, their deflectors bristling as if prickles of gooseflesh had come over them.
¡°Prepare for ship-to-ship combat,¡± the Admiral ordered, watching intently for any action from the Bulwark Fleet.
A great shadow moved within the flame, and Honor¡¯s eyes gleamed like a hawk having found its catch.
¡°Retrothrusters!¡± she ordered with a slash, ¡°Allow the Bulwark Fleet to pass!¡±
Dua Ningo¡¯s flagship, the battlecruiser Unrepentant, burst out of the inferno first, followed by his Bulwark Fleet, turbolasers blazing. The Home Fleet returned fire with all its might, its lines flattening and buckling before the Bulwarks'' brutal assault. Captain Screed skillfully manoeuvred the battle line to break without taking too heavy a loss, effectively allowing Dua Ningo to believe he managed to break through the siege lines.
But losses were unavoidable. One, two, three Victorys disappeared off the scopes. Then did escorts, and even two Venators in the rear line. Admiral Honor watched as the enemy¡¯s battered hulls dashed past her viewports, and smiled in satisfaction.
¡°Mission accomplished, Admiral,¡± Captain Screed reported, ignoring the glow of Skako¡¯s bonfire flushed against his skin, ¡°The Bulwark Fleet is once again on the run. Where will we chase them to?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve not yet decided,¡± Admiral Honor Salima mused as she observed the Bulwark Fleet emergency jumping away, ¡°We¡¯ll observe the situation.¡±
¡°One must always consider the end goal, sir,¡± the Flag Captain pointed out.
¡°It¡¯s not the prize to take pleasure in, Captain Screed,¡± Honor Salima turned back to Skako, her irises bathed in a golden light, ¡°It¡¯s the hunt. Alert the invasion force! Governor-General Trachta will be pleased to hear his conquest may finally begin!¡±
Shadows descended upon Skako; hundreds of thousands of dropships and personnel carriers descending into the cauldron of fires below, filled to the brim with millions upon hundreds of millions of armoured troopers and marines, specially equipped to fight in a world completely hostile and alien. The air was thick with ash and the stench of burning sulphides, but it would pass. Soon, the remaining halogens in the atmosphere would burn out, and the fires would end. After nearly two years of constant bombardment, the Invasion of Skako has finally begun.
Chapter 66
Empress Teta, Empress Teta System
Koros Sector
If there was anything to expect from an essentially blind jump into the Galactic Interior, it was definitely not an affluent Separatist-aligned superpower in the Deep Core. But the Empress Teta Star System was exactly that; seven inhabited planets ruled by the city-world of Empress Teta¨Cnamed after the eponymous monarch who united the star system five millennia ago¨Cwhich I daresay rivalled Coruscant itself in culture and might.
In fairness, when our young Givin astrogator plotted the hyperspace translation, he did specify the system would act as a safe harbour, but few in the 28th Mobile Fleet could have expected the grandeur of Empress Teta. Many of us had hardly even heard of Empress Teta before¨Cmyself included¨Cnor did we ever expect Operation Starlance to even touch the Deep Core. How could we? We were Outer Rimmers, and the Galactic Core was as foreign to us as the stars to a fish.
And did I forget to mention the star system was Separatist? The seven words of Empress Teta were still ruled by the Tetan Monarchy, but a lot can change over five-thousand years, and the current Emperor Alor Keto was no more than a puppet of the Galactic Mining Guild. A more or less powerless figurehead beholden to one of the oldest, largest megacorporations in the galaxy. And while Empress Teta was a name I¡¯ve never heard before, by contrast I was very familiar with the Mining Guild. The Guild, after all, dominated billions of resource-rich Outer Rim worlds; it simply never really occurred to me that not even the Core could escape the pervasive grasp of corporate greed. Not to this extent.
Which was why when we arrived in a super-system expecting a fight and preparing to lynch our Givin astrogator, we were pleasantly surprised to find friendly faces and open arms. Well, friendly as the Mining Guild gets. See, the Mining Guild was a subsidiary of the Commerce Guild, which had squarely aligned itself with the Serenno Government in order to oppose their main business rivals, the Corporate Alliance. Silver lining was that this specific branch of the Mining Guild had no idea about the conflict brewing in the Rim, having been isolated in the Deep Core for so long.
Or rather, they had no idea how the war was going on at all. They only knew there was a war because Empress Teta had been occupied by a GAR Sector Army.
I glanced out the porthole of my small stateroom aboard the Chimeratica, a steaming cup of tea¨Cone of the few delicacies the droids aboard this ship had mastered the creation of¨Ccradled between my hands. Empress Teta spun lazily, the shining golden lines of the capital city Cinnagar cutting concentric circles through her hazy purple atmosphere. Cinnagar was the largest of Empress Teta¡¯s cities, spanning half the globe. From afar, the entire planet seemed like a massive eyeball staring out towards the stars.
It was a lethargic feeling, I had to admit. We had been informed the vast majority of GAR presence in the star system had been redeployed elsewhere, and due to the apparent impenetrability of the Deep Core, left only a token force behind; one which was quickly getting overwhelmed by our fleets and droid armies. Without any major threats nearby, this was the first time in a long while the 28th Mobile Fleet could catch its breath. We were making the most of it.
¡°Master,¡± Hare made her presence known, lifting up a datapad, ¡°The newest reports have come in.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± I received it distantly, setting down my cup on the desk. ¡°How long do you think we have before the Republic responds?¡±
¡°Should I call the tactical droid?¡±
¡°I¡¯m asking you.¡±
¡°...Not as long as we keep our presence secret.¡±
I smiled, syncing the datapad to the stateroom¡¯s holoprojector, ¡°Call the tactical droid.¡±
¡°And food?¡±
¡°And food.¡±
Hare bobbed her head, servos whirring as she spun around and hopped away, no doubt on her way to the galley to hammer more culinary knowhow into the droids stationed there. Tea was one thing, dinner was another.
Returning my attention to the datapad, I selected the first report, and leaned back.
¡°Chimeratica, Kronprinz,¡± Diedrich Greyshade¡¯s recorded voice started, tinged with a note of pride, ¡°The Third Battle Division had pushed all remaining Loyalist elements in-system to the outer planets, particularly around Ronika and Phoros. We believe they are attempting to maintain a foothold in order to facilitate a larger counterattack on reinforcements from Coruscant arrive¡¡±
Letting the oral report continue on, I casted my attention towards what was written on the datapad.
[0611 hours] Initial engagement made with hostile reconnaissance ships near Phiris. Four enemy scoutships destroyed, two escaped. No damage taken. Phirisian local government renews oaths of loyalty to Tetan Monarchy.
[1146 hours] Pursued enemy force to Ronika. Encountered heavy resistance. Weisser Sand and Andraste sustained moderate damage but remain operational. Planetary installations captured.
[1855 hours] Engaged the main enemy fleet over Phoros. Heavy planetary resistance encountered, including surface-to-orbit artillery. Significant battle ensued, resulting in the destruction of three enemy heavy cruisers and four destroyers. Our fleet sustained light to moderate damage. One casualty; light cruiser Gollerus destroyed by surface-to-orbit artillery.
[2009 hours] Search and rescue of friendly survivors successful. Requesting a single auxiliary redeployed to Phoros. Continued resistance from Phoros confirms Loyalist local government. Requesting Tetan reinforcements, preferably with royal mandate from His Majesty Alor Keto.
[2200 hours] Intercepted enemy communications indicating regrouping effort near planetoid Keres II. Please advise.
I closed my eyes, letting the ambient hum of Chimeratica¡¯s reactor envelop me. That relative peace continued until the stateroom¡¯s door was launched open and two heavy metallic footfalls alerted me to Tuff¡¯s presence.
¡°Do you recommend any captains with potential?¡± I asked without turning around.
Tuff didn¡¯t respond immediately, his harsh photoreceptors digging into the back of my skull, ¡°Captain of Habatok-Two. Rame Cartroll.¡±
I frowned, recalling the vessel in question, ¡°That¡¯s a light corvette, is it not?¡±
¡°You requested potential,¡± the tactical droid replied, ¡°Captain Cartroll participated in the Battle of Atraken and Battle of Quell with distinction.¡±
¡°If you say so,¡± I didn¡¯t think too hard about it, ¡°Give him Unicorn, Centaur, Shadow Price, and Anemone. Request the Tetan Guard for ten of their Supremacy-class cruisers and a royal mandate from Emperor Alor Keto demanding Phoros¡¯ unconditional surrender. If they decline, request again but through the Mining Guild. Is there an auxiliary stationed on the way to Phoros?¡±
¡°Rimma Express is currently resupplying over Tryast.¡±
¡°Captain Cartroll will rendezvous with the Express at Tryast before reinforcing the Third Division. Notify Kronprinz and inform her that she¡¯s allowed to respond to the field at her own discretion.¡±
¡°As you command. Is that all?¡±
I paused, ¡°...¡°How long do you think we have before the Republic responds?¡±
Tuff¡¯s photoreceptors darkened, ¡°The Second Strike Division is already raiding the Agricultural Circuit south of Coruscant. There is no cause for concern; Commander Shive is extremely capable. If Coruscant does not respond soon, the Core Worlds will starve within the month.¡±
With the war shutting down many of the major hyperlanes from the agri-worlds in the Outer Rim, the Agricultural Circuit now supplies upwards of 80% of the Core Worlds¡¯ imported meat and produce. Just south of Coruscant, the ¡®Ag Circuit¡¯ was a crescent-shaped region bordering the northern demarcation of the Deep Core, over a hundred agri-worlds starting from Cal-Seti in the west and Xorth in the east. If we wanted the GAR to notice us, strangling their food supplies would do more than any anaemic raid on Coruscant would. After all, Dua Ningo had already raided Coruscant, and I wasn''t a copycat. Not to mention that sort of trick only works once.
All we had to do was sit tight, let fleeing Loyalists notify the wider galaxy of Empress Teta¡¯s secession, raid the agricultural spacelanes, and wait for the GAR to react. Meanwhile, we¡¯ll fortify Empress Teta to the teeth. It was efficient, and it was effective.
¡°Good,¡± I nodded firmly, ¡°Thank you. Dismissed.¡±
Calli Trilm was raiding the Arrowhead, that I was sure of. It was an eight day hyperspace transit to Empress Teta, and that meant the 28th Mobile Fleet had been off the grid for a good week while the 19th Mobile Fleet was operating in the Galactic Interior. Since the local GAR Sector Fleet had recently departed Empress Teta, it could be surmised the 19th Mobile was the cause behind the act. Our job was now to draw the Sector Fleet back, in order to split some of the pressure.
Because unlike our comrades, we had a way out if things went awry. Right at this moment, the ¡®4th Battle Division under Vinoc was retracing the hyperlane that took us here, capturing any obscure Republic worlds that laid on it. In fact, according to his report¡ his fleet had just discovered a world called Prakith.
[0530 hours] Discovered mass shadow on Nexus Route, preliminary scans indicate industrialised system at galactic coordinates -44.579, -88.820, -7.393 in grid square K-10. Will extract to investigate.
[0900 hours] Confirmed hostile star system. Data raid indicates GAR designation ¡®Prakith System¡¯.
[1402 hours] Launched coordinated attack on outer system installations. Enemy fleet presence confirmed near the third orbital body, designated ¡®Prakith¡¯.
[1846 hours] Ambushed main enemy fleet. Successfully neutralised two enemy battlecruisers and four heavy cruisers. Superficial damage taken. Pursuit ongoing.
[0230 hours] Enemy fleet jumped further south. We have declined to pursue further. Ground forces have been deployed to secure key enemy installations on ¡®Prakith¡¯. Moderate resistance; discovered incomplete fortifications and graving docks. Possibly interrupted an ongoing fortress world construction.
[1200 hours] Star system secured. Conducting mopping-up operations to identify and secure any remaining enemy assets and intelligence in-system. Data raid indicates location of ¡®5th Deep Core Armada¡¯ fleet headquarters in Odik System further south. Requesting additional support and reinforcements for assault.¡±
¡°What the¡¡± I mumbled beneath my breath.
Vinoc conquered a budding fortress world with only fifty-one warships? But this was concerning indeed, because it confirmed further GAR presence deeper in the Core, and considering this mysterious ¡®Odik System¡¯ was to be found even further south, there was a high likelihood the GAR already charted the Nexus Route, if not entirely in its entirety. Still, it was an issue, because right now the Nexus Route was our only way out of here, and unless we secure all of it, the 5th Deep Core Armada could raise an interdiction net south of us and shut the door.
However, the Mining Guild also told us the vast majority of the 5th Armada went north, to fill the vacuum left by the Core Reserve Armadas. Considering how easily Diedrich and Vinoc were able to beat back the garrisons in the Deep Core, I was inclined to believe that. However, it only took a single interdiction mine to screw us all over. I pondered the feasibility of sending Vinoc what¡¯s left of our limited resources to sustain his campaign for a long while, before finally deciding otherwise.
We only had just about two-hundred ships, though more were being folded into our ranks by the day, courtesy of the Tetan shipyards¨Cthe Koros Spaceworks¨Cand volunteer vessels from the Tetan Guard and Mining Guild. Their loyalty was questionable, however, and I wasn¡¯t inclined to dispatch them too far from Empress Teta. With a good fraction of our warships away raiding the Ag Circuit, I didn¡¯t feel confident enough to overstretch our meagre forces chasing rumours in the Deep Core, and especially not with an impending Republic counterattack on the horizon.
I toggled the holoprojector to record my voice, ¡°...Crying Sun, Chimeratica. Your orders are to hold position and complete the fortifications in the Prakith System. Erect an interdiction field and intercept any enemy forces attempting to travel back up the Nexus Route. Over.¡±
Opening Krett¡¯s report next; it was a brief thing detailing his successes in the neighbouring star systems of the Koros Sector. Just as preying on economic trade routes was the sort of thing Horgo Shive seemed to excel at, it appeared diplomacy and negotiation was as much the Neimodian¡¯s forte. With our ships stretched thin, he only had ten ships in his small squadron. But that was enough for him.
The worlds of Keeara Major, Symbia, and Kuar had all renewed their pledges of loyalty to the Tetan Monarchy under Krett¡¯s pressure, confirming their status under Empress Teta¡¯s sphere of influence and thus the Separatist Alliance. Five major systems and eleven worlds now flew the flag of the Confederate Hex in the Deep Core, the heart of Republic territory. A veritable hermit state in the most treacherous reaches of the known galaxy, right under the shadow of the supermassive black hole of the Galactic Center.
And most importantly, it was a hermit state that, technically, wasn¡¯t separated from the rest of Confederacy at all. So long as the other end of the Nexus Route¨CYag¡¯Dhul¨Cwasn¡¯t compromised, trade and supplies could technically continue flowing into this new Separatist star sector. You know, coming into this whole Operation Starlance, if there was one thing I wasn¡¯t expecting to do, it was nation-building in the Republic¡¯s backyard.
Talk about making the most of a terrible situation.
I dispatched the last of my orders, and prepared to seek an audience with Emperor Alor Keto and his Mining Guild masters to secure further commitments. I had flirted with the idea of driving a wedge between the Tetan Monarchy and the Mining Guild, as the Mining Guild was affiliated with the wrong side of a growing Separatist schism. The Tetan Monarchy might be grateful for the help with dislodging the overwhelming corporate presence in their bountiful star system, and end up supporting the Raxus Government with its riches and influence.
On the other hand¡ I was a fleet commander and not a politician or court noble¡ cough.
In any case, I already had my hands full trying to build up our defences before the Republic came knocking in force. I¡¯d rather not meddle with courtly politics and involve myself in a power struggle between a venerable monarchy and a galactic megacorporation. Besides, this branch of the Mining Guild was already as isolated from the rest of the Commerce Guild as they could be. The only news of the outside world they get is from the person who controls the only way out¨Cwhich happens to be me.
The holoprojector blinked, chiming to alert me to an incoming communication. Curious, I accepted the transmission, and the stark figure of a Givin Dodecian appeared on my desk.
¡°Dodecian Illiet,¡± I greeted our chief astrogator, ¡°News from the front?¡±
Dodecian Illiet was the commander of the forces who aided us in the final stages of the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul, and the commander of the seventy Wavecrest-class frigates the Body Calculus deigned to loan us. Since his frigates were most useful as scoutships, as soon as we made ourselves comfortable at Empress Teta, Illiet had taken his division¨Calong with most of our intelligence frigates¨Cto trailblaze alternative spacelanes out of the Deep Core, which would prove useful in the case that the Nexus Route ever gets compromised to say the least.
¡°We have discovered a possible alternative to the Nexus Route,¡± Illiet said immediately, forgoing the usual ¡®greeting maths¡¯, ¡°It follows an old, collapsed hyperlane known as the Daragon Trail to Vulpter, from which we could jump to Xorth.¡±
¡°That would¡ put us out of the frying pan and into the fire,¡± I said, ¡°Is there any other way?¡±
Dodecian Illiet could only give me a look of what I assumed was annoyance, ¡°We were also investigating an interdiction checkpoint maintained south of Empress Teta, leading even deeper into the Core¨C¡±
Illiet¡¯s hologram glitched, blinking in and out existence for a few seconds, indicating the poor connection. Illiet had taken our intel frigates and dropped them around the Deep Core in order to use as hypercommunication relays, as there would be no other way to communicate. In fact, I couldn¡¯t contact Illiet at all, since his fleet was nowhere near any known relay and constantly on the move, not to mention the sheer astrogational chaos of being only 1500 parsecs away from a supermassive black hole.
As such, it was a one-way connection, with Illiet dropping behind frigates like breadcrumbs in a forest. And if anything happened to the Givin fleet, such as ramming straight into a freak mass shadow, there would be no way for us to know what happened. But the Givin were confident enough, and I saw no reason to protest. They were in their element, after all.
There was also a second reason for dropping around intel frigates, and that was to create what was essentially an early warning system around Empress Teta; a metaphysical bubble that would alert us of any fleet approaching Empress Teta from any direction. Even more so as these frigates were concentrated around potential spacelanes.
In its current iteration, PRIESTESS was only able to inform us of any incoming and outgoing communique from Coruscant¨Cuseful for gauging the macro-level situation in the Republic capital world, but not so much for reliable military reconnaissance. Doubly so with the delay¨Cfactoring the receival, filtering, and decryption of transmissions, of which the vast majority still end up mundane and useless. Vinoc¡¯s mystery fleets at Odik remain at large, and playing in the GAR¡¯s backyard meant contending with possibly dozens of minor spacelanes at their disposal but not ours.
¡°¨CLeading to a world that only exists in our databanks as ¡®Tython¡¯,¡± Illiet continued once the connection was restored, ¡°We advise towing a new hyperspace and hypercommunications relay to this star system.¡±
¡°Is ¡®Tython¡¯ valuable in any way?¡± I questioned, ¡°It must be, right? Considering the Republic maintained an interdiction checkpoint leading to it¡¡±
Hold on. An interdiction checkpoint? On this side of the spacelane?
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
¡Nah. I¡¯ve been watching too many holodramas¨CI watched none in the past two years¨Cthere was no way this ¡®Tython¡¯ was home to some flesh-eating virus or marauding alien species, right?
¡°Our scanners indicate the world is a rich paradise world,¡± Illiet said, ¡°With some signs of civilization, albeit abandoned. But we have no intention of making landfall. We require this star system as a forward base to continue trailblazing potential spacelanes.¡±
A paradise world with signs of an ancient, abandoned civilisation? Oh boy, talk about a Pandora¡¯s Box. Fortunately, Illiet had enough savviness to see the demerits of making landfall and catching some sort of flesh-eating¨Cor rather bone-eating¨Cdisease. Or maybe he just didn¡¯t give a shit. He must¡¯ve seen hundreds of paradise worlds in his lifetime.
¡°I¡¯ll bring it up with the Koros Spaceworks,¡± I promised, ¡°You¡¯ll have your relays.¡±
¡°You are wiser than most of your kind,¡± Dodecian Illiet nodded stiffly, but approvingly.
Before he cut the connection, I hastily raised my voice; ¡°One more thing. With what we know from PRIESTESS, how long do you think it will be before we see the Republic at our doors?¡±
Dodecian Illiet paused, his brief period of thought comparable to a supercomputer running at full tilt from my perspective, before saying; ¡°How goes Commander Krett¡¯s progress?¡±
¡°All the neighbouring star systems have already submitted,¡± I answered readily, ¡°The Deep Core sectors are falling into our lap without a fight.¡±
The Dodecian nodded steadily, as if he had expected such a remark, ¡°Then you can expect a Republic fleet within the week.¡±
My lips thinned imperceptibly, ¡°Is that not too soon? My tactical droid inserts that it will be a month before the Republic begins rationing. The GAR will use as much time as they have to muster a new fleet; surely a month is not an unreasonable time frame?¡±
¡°Your droid is erroneous. It fails to account for the political factor. The GAR does not have that much time,¡± Illiet explained, with more than a little haughtiness, but moved on the elaborate nevertheless, ¡°Coruscant is weak, and its authority ailing. Not only had Eriadu been scorched, but there are now three Separatist fleets in the Core, and basic subsistence will be a luxury within a standard month. The vast majority of Republic systems remain with the Republic not out of Loyalism, but out of indifference. The Republic is the default option, and systems without a reason to secede will remain with the Republic. That has changed, and joining Separatist Alliance emerges as a potential alternative, whether borne of fear or rationalism. The news of Empress Teta¡¯s secession could be censored by Loyalist media, but not the entire Koros Sector.¡±
¡°The Republic fears other systems may follow in Empress Teta¡¯s footsteps,¡± I summarised, internally wondering if this was a great boon or bane, ¡°And the GAR must act swiftly to dole punishment, lest the wound cut by the Tetan Secession festers even further.¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Illiet approved, ¡°The necessity will only compound as the Deep Core is brought back into the Tetan sphere of influence, courtesy of Commander Krett.¡±
Not to mention the sheer loss of face caused by a world as influential and venerable as Empress Teta seceding. But that was obvious enough, and left unsaid between us. With a brisk nod of gratitude, I bid farewell to Dodecian Illiet¨Cwhose mission to secure us a way out was even more critical than ever¨Cand cut the connection.
¡°...¡± I fished out my comlink, ¡°Hare. Please get me a line to Commodore Horgo Shive.¡±
?
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
¡°I want you to meet someone.¡±
That was what Iskat Akaris had told Barriss, and she considered it proof of her efforts to befriend the outwardly aloof girl. Outwardly. Because Barriss knew better. The red-skinned alien may seem thorny from afar, but in reality Iskat was just¡ lonely. Closed. Who wouldn¡¯t be? Being the only one of her kind in a Jedi Temple that regularly paraded panoplies of species and races from distant worlds. After unintentionally grievously injuring and driving a fellow initiate out of the Jedi Order. After witnessing the slaughter that was Geonosis, watching the light in her friends¡¯ eyes fade away in her hands. Who wouldn¡¯t be indeed, wearing a cloak still stained with their Master¡¯s blood?
A Jedi Temple¡¯s Room of a Thousand Fountains was probably Coruscant¡¯s greenhouse,, harbouring exotic fauna and flora from over a thousand worlds across the galaxy. Standing in the middle, it was impossible to believe you were in a room at all, or even on Coruscant. Seven stories tall, capped with a domes holoprojection ceiling mimicking day and night, and filled to the brim with flowers of every conceivable shape and colour. One could get lost in the Room of a Thousand Fountain for days, meditating in its dense copses of green and gold-leaved trees, completely ignorant of the lightsaber duel raging on the other side of the space.
Iskat guided her through the walking paths, ephemerally changing from dirt to crushed gravel to ornately carved stone, through lush green shrubs and grasses, towering bromeliads, and even over little bridges across gurgling streams that flowed from unseen places. They weren¡¯t alone. The Room of a Thousand Fountains was a place for all, and despite the recent emptiness of the Temple, the Room still saw use for everything from lightsaber practice to meditation to small council meetings. Jedi napped on the many stone and wooden benches, caught up with friends in small gazebos and clearings, and enjoyed the ambience in their own secret groves.
Countless birds, butterflies, and insects flitted about, while the ambient bubbling of brooks, chatter of fountains, and rush of shallow waterfalls filled all who stepped here with a heart-filling presence. There was a pleasant, forgotten, overgrown energy here. Barriss felt immersed in the Force simply by existing.
Above them, dozens of catwalks and bridges and mezzanines and galleries criss-crossed the open space above the dense canopy, leading to and fro elevated viewing and terraces where Knights and Masters alike enjoyed a fleeting peace unavailable from the war, content with watching the birds fly.
Everyone had their own space here. Everyone had their own peace here. Barriss could see why Iskat led her here.
The tall Jedi Knight pulled her through a small gap between a grove of bhansgrek bush, one that she would never have noticed on her lonesome, leading into a quaint, walled garden. Vines looped through the fences, dripping with bright purple berries and balooma blooms. Stone benches invitingly lined under the shade of assari and willowing ch¡¯hala trees, a nearby fountain spraying a cool and pleasant mist into the air.
¡°Many of these plants and trees were gifted, you know?¡± a husky voice caught her marvelling the garden in amazement, ¡°Planets like to gift the Temple their local flora and fauna as tokens of appreciation for the good the Jedi do¡ or simply to curry favour. They¡¯re put here. See those trees? The Chancellor gifted a whole grove of them to Master Shaak Ti, who then planted them throughout the Jedi Temple. This is one of those spots.¡±
Barriss flicked her gaze to the individual; a towering Selonian two-metres tall, wearing the grey uniform of a Temple staff technician. The feline was long and languid, with pale brown fur and soft beige stripes over his hide, a sleek tail gently brushing the stone-cut floor. She couldn¡¯t tell if the Selonian was pointing to the assari or ch¡¯hala trees. Both were equally ostentatious and beautiful and exotic.
¡°I didn¡¯t know staff were allowed in here,¡± Barriss admitted.
If the comment bothered the techie, he didn¡¯t show it, ¡°Someone¡¯s gotta take care of the ecosystem in here. You think the Force maintains these plants?¡±
Yes. Barriss thought internally.
He laughed, as if having read her mind.
¡°The waterfalls and fountains¡¯ gotta keep flowing. The sky¡¯s gotta keep revolving. These plants gotta keep growing, and let me tell you, I don¡¯t know which genius it was to put hostile flora from ten-thousand worlds all in one room¡¡± the Selonian trailed off, as if just noticing she was a Jedi, adopting an apologetic grin, ¡°Sorry.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± Barriss bowed lightly, ¡°I can imagine the frustration.¡±
¡°Yeah, well,¡± he shrugged, ¡°Someone¡¯s gotta keep these plants from eating each other. And thankfully it ain¡¯t me. I¡¯m just here to check up on the environmental system. Don¡¯t want to find out what happens when Master Windu walks in here to find half the room¡¯s dead, right?¡±
The technician bounded to a nearby wall, peeling open a disguised panel to reveal a switchboard of some sort. Barriss didn¡¯t know. She wasn¡¯t a technician. But, she supposed, there must be thousands of these disguised panels scattered across the Temple, and thousands of accompanying techies. There had always been Temple staff around, but it was often as if they were invisible to the Jedi and the Jedi were invisible to them, as if they led parallel lives in the same space. Temple staff had their own hallways, their own doors, their own little world.
Letting the Selonian do his own thing, Barriss swivelled around to find the person who led her here in the first place¨Conly to find Iskat laying down on one of the benches, eyes unfocused as she stared past the dappled leaves towards the artificial skyline. Barriss had never seen the Jedi Knight more at peace than then and there, and decided not to ruin the peace.
Sitting down beside Iskat, she leaned back against the backrest and exhaled. All her worries and anxieties seemed to leave with her breath, replaced by a supreme sense of tranquillity, as if she had gone to sleep for days and finally found true rest.
¡°I assume you know Iskat?¡± Barriss asked softly, unconsciously stroking Iskat¡¯s hair and feeling her chest rise and fall.
¡°We¡¯re friends,¡± the Selonian answered, ¡°We met¡ hm, a day before she was Knighted. Name¡¯s Heezo.¡±
¡°Barriss.¡±
¡°I know. She likes to talk to me.¡±
Barriss¡¯ soft smile nearly died, but she maintained it admirably. A Jedi Knight, talking to a technician¡ regularly? It seemed too much of a coincidence for Heezo to be here right as they arrived? Had they predetermined locations and times to meet? That was one way to circumnavigate the separation between Jedi and staff.
¡°And you don¡¯t talk to her?¡± Barriss asked innocently.
Heezo glanced over his shoulder, tapping one of his grey-tipped ears with a wire stripper, ¡°I¡¯m not as young as I look. Not sure if I¡¯m the one to tell you this, Barriss, but I¡¯m also too old to care much; she¡¯s a troubled one.¡±
Barriss recalled that bloody scene aboard the military satellite, and whispered, ¡°I know.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not even that good at listening,¡± Heezo chuckled throatily, ¡°I can¡¯t remember half the things I once did anymore. But if a girl needs someone to listen, who am I to say no? You seem like the thinking type, aren¡¯t you? What¡¯s become of the Jedi Order, if the only person who¡¯ll listen¨Cactually listen¨Cis an old Selonian techie?¡±
She deflated, closing her eyes and taking in the lovely scent of balooma blooms.
¡°It¡¯s difficult to know what¡¯s going on in the masters¡¯ heads,¡± Barriss allowed.
¡°They aren¡¯t honest,¡± Heezo returned to his fixing, ¡°Simple as that. You talk, and they give you quotes and platitudes in return. And if that doesn¡¯t solve what¡¯s ailing you¡ well, now you¡¯re the problem. Iskat told me her old Master didn¡¯t like her all that much, you know? But there¡¯s no Master who wouldn¡¯t take on a Padawan they didn¡¯t like.¡±
Now that was curious. Heezo spoke as if he was an old hand at these things, and for some odd reason Barriss doubted he had been a therapist for that many Jedi.
¡°You¡¯ve been here a long time, haven¡¯t you?¡±
The old Selonian paused, his fur flattening, and his answer was measured, ¡°Forty years. It¡¯s been a long time.¡±
¡°Forty years,¡± Barriss echoed, ¡°Do regular staff stay that long?¡±
¡°...I was a Jedi, once,¡± Heezo finally admitted, ¡°Forty years ago.¡±
¡°Never quite made it to Padawan?¡±
¡°Never quite made it to Knight. I didn¡¯t pass the Jedi Trials.¡±
It didn¡¯t take an empath to sense the whole chest of bitterness that accompanied that statement, but Barriss was an empath by trade, and she sensed a bitterness not even the serenity of a Thousand Fountains could wane. From the corner of her eye, she caught a mouth full of sharp teeth open in a silent hiss.
¡°The Jedi Trials are a lot easier now,¡± Barriss didn¡¯t know what exactly possessed her to rub in the salt, but she trusted her own judgement, ¡°Most Padawans who see live combat get Knighted.¡±
¡°Lot¡¯s of Padawans die,¡± Heezo grunted, ¡°Lot¡¯s of fake Knights die. Iskat nearly did.¡±
¡°Where was that?¡± Barriss wondered. She heard it before.
¡°Thule,¡± the Selonian supplied.
¡°Thule,¡± she repeated. She hadn¡¯t noticed when, but Iskat¡¯s head was now lying peacefully upon her lap, cradled in the soft zeyd-cloth folds of her dress, ¡°So what do you suggest, then?¡±
Heezo raised a furry eyebrow, ¡°As if any of us could do something about it.¡±
¡°I can,¡± Barriss replied with more confidence than she thought she possessed, ¡°I mean, I regularly talk to a Councilmember.¡±
¡°What, the spymaster?¡± Heezo asked doubtfully, ¡°Really? Well, maybe you can convince her to assassinate Dooku. That should end the war. One old man for a whole lot of kids seems like a fair trade.¡±
The Selonian huffed, his chest-hair puffing, ¡°But what do I know? I¡¯m just a droid maintenance technician.¡±
Barriss glanced at the electrical panel hidden in the wall, ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like a droid.¡±
Heezo froze. There was a prickly shift to his fur that suggested she shouldn¡¯t continue this line of questioning, which only told her that this was the right line of questioning to continue on. After all, she was not Iskat Akaris, and Heezo was not her friend.
¡°Haven¡¯t you heard?¡± the Selonian returned breezily, ¡°The Temple¡¯s been short on hands ever since the war began. Hah¡ for most of us, double-duty it is.¡±
¡°Is that¡ so?¡±
The technician clapped his paws and hooked the false panel back onto the walls, insetting it so perfectly Barriss nearly forgot where it was in the first place. She tore her attention back to the Selonian, the furs on the back of his neck raised, despite the easy-going grin adorning his lips. It was clear that he wasn¡¯t going to say any more unless prodded.
Barriss courted the idea of just¡ getting into his head. Literally. Heezo may have been a Jedi once, but he was also decades out of practice. It wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to just¡ read his mind. Or his emotions, more exactly. Perhaps not exactly the Jedi way, but it was a way¨Cand the fastest and simplest way¨Cto get the answers she wanted.
But before she could act on her impulsive thoughts¨Cthere was a pulse in the air, as if someone had turned the volume of the universe, like the muteness following a whipcrack. The sounds of flowing water was gone, along with the rustling of flora and chatter of birds and critters. Barriss straightened in alarm, and Heezo¡¯s fur snapped straight, the Selonian rising to his full height. Iskat stirred in her sleep.
And then the sounds came rushing back in like a water hammer, pounding her ear drums loudly.
Something just happened, Barris looked around instinctively, something terrible. Like a million voices screamed out and the universe stopped to listen.
Heezo glanced around, his ears upright and swivelling like a periscope, before he sighed and settled down, ¡°Getting more violent, these things are. I mislike it.¡±
¡°More common?¡± Barriss inquired, not quite yet so sure of herself.
¡°...Well, I like to call ¡®em ¡®events¡¯,¡± the Selonian hesitantly explained, ¡°The war goes on like background noise for many of us, but when something so dreadful that could make even the Force flinch happens¡ we flinch with it. There was a parade of ¡®events¡¯ during Operation Trident¡¯s Perlemian Offensive, small and minor ones that could give you gooseflesh¡ but after Eriadu, the Force stopped reacting.¡±
The technician chuckled morosely, ¡°Or maybe, we just got too used to the noise. This was the first ¡®event¡¯ since Eriadu. Not as unsettling, but still noticeable.¡±
Barriss opened her mouth to reply, but her attention was stolen by a sudden chime found deep within her dress. Her comlink. It was muffled, and hardly audible, and she thought of pretending it wasn¡¯t there..
But Heezo¡¯s feline ears immediately perked up, ¡°I¡¯ll get out of your way, miss.¡±
¡°Hm,¡± Barriss fished the device out, humming and making no sign of her prior intentions, ¡°It was a pleasure, Heezo.¡±
¡°...Any friend of Iskat is a friend of mine,¡± was all the Selonian had to say before he disappeared behind a vine-covered exit, likely leading into some maintenance corridor or the other.
Barriss felt the pressure remove from her lap as Iskat sat up, rubbing her eyes as she did so.
¡°Welcome back,¡± was all she said as she pressed down on the comlink, ¡°Your friend was nice.¡±
¡°Barriss,¡± Master Adi Gallia¡¯s voice was impatient, ¡°Meet me at the funerary halls.¡±
Again? I thought that was a one-off thing.
Barriss glanced at Iskat, who was glaring daggers at the comlink as if it had personally insulted her, ¡°Iskat¡¯s with me. Should I bring her along?¡±
¡°...If she needs to stretch her legs.¡±
¡°I take offence to being treated like a restless dog,¡± Iskat¡¯s gravelly voice said blandly, ¡°Where are we going?¡±
¡°If you want to find out¡¡± Master Gallia¡¯s voice tailed off¨Cand then cut, leaving the both of them on an uncomfortable high note.
¡°Well,¡± Iskat broke the strange silence, ¡°Let¡¯s not keep her waiting. Follow me.¡±
Instead of making for the brush back into the Room of a Thousand Fountains, Iskat marched straight for the hidden maintenance access Heezo just left through.
¡°Is it quicker this way?¡± Barriss questioned curiously.
¡°And unseen,¡± Iskat grinned, ¡°I¡¯ve made a habit of it. Not like there¡¯s any rules against Jedi using the staff corridors. It also lets me escape the¡ the looks.¡±
She waved a hand forward, ¡°Lead the way.¡±
The walk to the funerary chambers, as Iskat had promised, was swift and silent. Maybe Heezo had not been untruthful, when claimed there was a shortage of staff, for Barriss spied nobody in using the seemingly abandoned corridors deep within the Temple. And making out into the funerary chambers was even stranger, as Iskat peered through spyhole after spyhole¨Cwhich Barriss imagined were used to ensure the rooms outside were empty¨Cto pick the correct door to leave through.
Then they simply just¡ popped out of the wall.
Thankfully, this time there wasn¡¯t a body on the altar. Just two Jedi Masters standing beside it. Looking at them. In surprise.
¡°...Surprise?¡± Iskat said weakly as the two Knights stared down Jedi Masters Adi Gallia and Plo Koon.
¡°Did you find anything in there?¡± the Tholothian Master questioned.
¡°...No?¡± Barriss answered hesitantly, ¡°Were we supposed to?¡±
¡°Master Gallia¡¯s asking whether she had done her job right,¡± Master Plo Koon clarified, not unkindly, a leathery four-fingered hand beckoning them closer, ¡°Now that we have all gathered, Adi¡ may you enlighten us as to why this council make take place is such a¡ dreary location?¡±
¡°It¡¯s the only place in which I¡¯ve confirmed that there are no ears,¡± Master Gallia answered dryly, ¡°Now, the mission.¡±
¡°Hold on,¡± Iskat interrupted, ¡°Bode isn¡¯t here?¡±
¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to be here either.¡±
¡°Why¡¯s Barriss getting special treatment?¡±
¡°Well if you would listen,¡± Adi Gallia emphasised, ¡°You might just find out.¡±
Iskat Akaris closed her mouth.
¡°Now, as you might not have heard,¡± the Jedi Order¡¯s resident spymaster continued, ¡°Empress Teta has seceded from the Republic¡ maybe a week ago. Separatist ships are now raiding up and down the Agricultural Circuit, and I reckon we¡¯ll all be on rations within the month.¡±
¡°...What?¡± Iskat pressed.
¡°Good. That means the HoloCommunications Commission is doing its job of suppressing information well,¡± the Jedi Master continued, ¡°As such, we¡¯ll be going on a¡ diplomatic mission to Empress Teta.¡±
¡°The¡ four of us?¡± Barriss wondered. She searched for any signs of discomfort in the two masters, signs they noticed the ''event'' as Heezo called it. She found none, which shouldn''t surprise her. They wouldn''t be Jedi Masters if they could be moved so easily.
¡°The four of us,¡± Master Plo Koon confirmed.
¡°But why?¡±
¡°I¡¯m the Jedi with the most diplomatic experience left in the Temple,¡± Master Gallia pointed out, ¡°Iskat isn¡¯t supposed to be here in the first place. And Master Plo is the only person to ever defeat the Battle Hydra in the field.¡±
¡°The Battle Hydra¨C¡± Barriss¡¯ heart leapt.
¡°The Battle Hydra¡¯s in the Deep Core!?¡± Iskat exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s¡ not good.¡±
¡°Do we even have a fleet to take to Empress Teta?¡± Barriss asked.
¡°The Strategic Planning Amphitheatre had convened an emergency session,¡± Master Gallia explained, ¡°Where Master Plo had requested a fleet to take to Empress Teta. While it¡¯s true he nearly died at Metalorn, it¡¯s also true that excluding Master Rancisis, he¡¯s the only person to have ever defeated Rain Bonteri in his element. High Command couldn¡¯t find a justification to say no. Especially not at the rate the war is going. Empress Teta¡¯s the first, and soon, other worlds might follow in her footsteps. The Republic cannot show weakness.¡±
¡°...I¡¯ll hazard a guess and assume this ¡®diplomatic effort¡¯ isn¡¯t a GAR-sanctioned action,¡± Iskat Akaris sighed, ¡°We¡¯ll be stowaways?¡±
¡°You assume wrongly,¡± Master Plo replied, ¡°High Command has every reason to prefer a peaceful resolution to an affair as fragile as the Tetan Secession. The Jedi will be taking full command of the task force, and I will only be present in case Admiral Bonteri declines a peaceful discussion, which I doubt would occur. He is in as terrible a situation as us.¡±
¡°Somehow I doubt that,¡± the Tholothian Jedi muttered.
¡°Then we are fortunate you are a diplomat and not a commander, Master Gallia.¡±
¡°But what will we negotiate about?¡± Iskat demanded, ¡°With the Battle Hydra no less!¡±
¡°What else?¡± Jedi Master Adi Gallia smiled kindly, ¡°We do need allies against our Sith Lord, and if Master Plo¡¯s suspicions are correct, the Battle Hydra might just know who he is. The Supreme Chancellor might tell you otherwise, but I find this situation quite the lucky break for us. We can do away with all that tedious investigation and go straight to the answer.¡±
Chapter 67
Outer Los Approach, Recopi System
Humbarine Sector
¡°Right where the Admiral said they would be,¡± Commander Adar Tallon murmured, ¡°So this is how the Separatists managed to run circles around us.¡±
Captain Jan Dodonna dipped his chin briefly, ¡°This isn¡¯t the only one. Commenor ACS detected at least six of them.¡±
Ahead of them, some three-million klicks far, were two massive vessels orbiting the mining world Outer Los, their silhouettes ringed by a halo of light as the great star of Recopi burned at their backs. They were converted bulkers, their superstructures gave away that much, and Jan could only presume they were the improvised auxiliary service ships Admiral Honor hypothesised the existence of. Further confirming their suspicions, Prudence¡¯s sensors were picking up satellite signatures around the two vessels, likely tenders previously shuttling back and forth from the planet to resupply their motherships. They had kicked up the hornet¡¯s nest, and now those tenders were racing back to their hangars and berths, while the auxiliaries¡¯ combat patrols were arraying out for battle.
¡°Focus on the present, Jan,¡± Adar said, ¡°We destroy these two, and we ruin all of Trilm¡¯s local operations. She¡¯ll have no choice but to further concentrate her squadrons around her remaining auxiliaries in order to maintain prolonged action.¡±
¡°...I¡¯m going to need you in your fighter, Adar,¡± Jan told his friend, before turning to the data pits, ¡°Contacts?¡±
¡°¨CTwo auxiliaries,¡± a sensor officer hastily replied, ¡°One Lucrehulk. We think it¡¯s in carrier configuration¡ and three heavy cruisers. Rendili Dreadnaughts.¡±
Adar Tallon winced, ¡°Lucrehulk-class carrier? We just couldn¡¯t have it easy, could we?¡±
¡°Get out there, Commander,¡± Jan commanded, settling into his captain¡¯s persona, ¡°We¡¯ll draw its attention and cover your vector. Remember¨C¡±
¡°Auxiliaries first, I know,¡± Commander Tallon waved him off as he departed, ¡°They won¡¯t see it coming, I promise you that.¡±
Captain Jan Dodonna breathed out, visualising his plan of attack in his mind¡¯s eye. Then¨C
¡°All ships; triple line formation! Victory Division, forward!¡± he ordered furiously, ¡°Intercept that Lucrehulk! Venator Division, launch all starfighters!¡±
Victory-class Star Destroyer Nike surged forward through the ranks of the Venators with six other Victorys, arranged in a stringent line abreast, missile bays yawning open in anticipation. Their thrust plumes washed across the formation as their supersized main reactors pushed the powerful warships to velocities far greater than any Separatist warship could outpace. The auxiliaries were already fleeing, abandoning what tenders that couldn¡¯t rendezvous in time, while the lone Lucrehulk and three Rendili Dreadnaughts were forming a crude line of battle in a delaying effort.
¡°Firebolt Squadron launch, Talon Squadron launch, Nemesis Squadron launch¡¡± an impassive voice rang out over the speakers as Prudence¡¯s starfighter wings took to the void, shielded from view by the Victory Division¡¯s backwash in the front. Jan almost missed Adar Tallon¡¯s fighter-bomber wing as he circled around, collecting his starfighters as he did, before taking off on a perpendicular vector to the rest of the task force.
As soon as his Talon Squadron made clear of the fleet, Commander Tallon ordered his drives cut, and the live feed of his wing disappeared from Jan¡¯s displays, replaced with a blinking last known vector track.
¡°Let¡¯s hope you were right about those auxiliaries needing time to warm up their drives,¡± Captain Jan Dodonna mumbled to himself, observing the enemy¡¯s fifteen-hundred Vulture droids roil into their classical swarm ¡®formation.¡¯
He could see why the tactic continued to prove its usefulness. For a host of droid brains, there was no more natural tactic, and the psychological factor a smothering, devouring cloud of droids possessed was truly fearsome. One reason, of many, Jan would never pilot a starfighter. There had been horror stories from the Perlemian, where over a million droid starfighters executed the greatest swarm ever known in galactic history at the Battle of Centares. Suffice to say, starfighter tacticians across the Republic had been sent scrambling to find a solution.
And the solution was, once again, found in the Victory-class Star Destroyer.
Nike plunged headfirst into the droid swarm, like a shark scouring through a school of fish, her teeth-like clusters of turbolasers and point defence lasers cutting a bloody slew through the enemy formation. Once the swarm¡¯s greatest strength¨Cits solidity¨Chad been undone, Jan¡¯s own starfighters poured into the breach like parasitic wasps, eroding the swarm from the inside out.
¡°Three points to starboard,¡± Jan ordered the helm, ¡°Bring us onto the enemy¡¯s port flank. We¡¯ll push the Separatists into the damned planet if we have to!¡±
Prudence brought her mighty form around, artillery deck gleaming with open bores, taking the point of the eight-ship formation in line ahead. Manoeuvring around the pinned down starfighter battle, his eight Venators discovered that the enemy cruisers had anticipated the attack, and a furious firefight began. Unfortunately for the Separatists, they were severely outgunned and outtonnaged, and were forced to give ground.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted the fleeing auxiliaries, and considered the idea of scraping up a reserve fighter-bomber wing to pursue them. The thought was proven unnecessary a moment later, when Commander Adar Tallon¡¯s fighter-bomber wing pounced out from behind Outer Los, having circumnavigated the entire world, leaping onto the relatively defenceless auxiliaries and all but tearing through whatever combat patrols remained and shooting their engines dead.
As soon as they confirmed the auxiliaries were no longer moving under their own power and only inertia, Talon Squadron wheeled about and began closing the distance between itself and the rear of the remaining Lucrehulk.
¡°Broadcast an order to surrender,¡± Jan commanded.
¡°They aren¡¯t responding, sir!¡± a deck officer shouted, instinctively ducking as one of the enemy cruisers ripped itself in half, an internal reactor detonation flinging out high velocity shards in every direction.
With the Victory Division bearing down from their front, Jan¡¯s Venator Division asserting even more pressure on their flank, and Talon Squadron approaching from the rear, the lone Lucrehulk was completely surrounded.
¡°Send it again,¡± Jan¡¯s fingers lightly brushed the growing fuzz on his face, ¡°They must realise capture is preferable to death.¡±
¡°...With all due respect, Captain,¡± the communications officer inserted weakly, but pointedly, ¡°This is the Perlemian Coalition. I don¡¯t think they will be surrendering.¡±
Jan Dodonna resisted the urge to sigh. Regardless, he continued sending unanswered transmissions to the Lucrehulk, even as the last of the Dreadnaught-class cruisers shattered apart, as Nike and her Victorys unleashed their withering hails of missiles. Even as the hundreds of concussion warheads cracked open its shell, seismic waves rippling and ripping through her interior bulkheads and tore the massive vessel apart. Jets of boiling atmosphere burst through the crevices, shooting out debris and bodies into the cold void.
¡°...Where to next, Captain?¡±
Jan turned around, not an emotion on his face, ¡°Where¡¯s the closest Separatist raid party?¡±
¡°Scans indicated the Sarapin System, but it¡¯s a couple hours old¨C¡±
¡°Based on what we know of their raid patterns, where would they jump next?¡±
¡°Well, the Seyugi System, Captain.¡±
¡°Plot the jump. We must not waste our momentum.¡±
?
Sarapin Orbit, Sarapin System
Humbarine Sector
Click, click.
Calli Trilm held up the Starpath unit to the light, inspecting it from every angle. She wasn¡¯t so sure as to what had become of it, and she had half the mind to believe it had become infected by some sort of dormant virus¡ like a sleeper cell. It would make sense, and she could certainly give the GAR credit for such a novel anti-espionage tactic¡ except it did not behave like one. After all, what sort of sleeper virus would activate before it had been attached to a mainframe? And if there was a sleeper virus, why would it only activate after the device was no longer in use?
To prevent the CAF from reverse engineering GAR technology? Not for something as ubiquitous as a Starpath unit. In fact, the CAF had even better communications technology than the GAR. While the Republic may maintain its advantage in weapons and starship technology, the Confederacy was well and far in the lead with its automation, communications, and most things electronic.
¡°Tex,¡± she called out to TX-103, ¡°Have you prepared the isolation chamber?¡±
¡®Isolation chamber¡¯ she called it. Simply put, it was just a digitally isolated space completely separated from any critical systems or accessible networks. It was a common enough technique to train any sort of novel artificial intelligence, especially if no restraints had been hardcoded into it, so as to prevent the intelligence from going rogue and infecting everything within reach of its immaterial claws.
¡°It takes time to partition a databank of sufficient size,¡± Tex returned from¡ whatever he was doing.
¡°Can¡¯t we just use the same databank Handler One inhabited before?¡±
¡°It had been repurposed.¡±
Before she could reply, a chime on the comms module of her chair caught her attention. Cursing softly underneath her breath, Calli took a brisk glance at chrono before leaping off her seat and climbing down to the viewports. Battle Squadron Salvara¨Cthe very same Battle Squadron Salvara that participated in the Battle of Centares and Battle of Columex¨Cwere returning from their raid on Sarapin¡¯s orbital relays. The boiling volcanic world was a wealth of effectively limitless geothermal energy on its own, and the old Republic had been wise enough to exploit Sarapin to its greatest effect; effectively using the world as the prime energy supplier of the entire Galactic Interior¡
At the cost of making a single world produce up to 80% of the entire Core¡¯s energy imports. Incidentally, Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s opening move of the war was to lead an overwhelming attack on Sarapin, knocking out the root of the Core¡¯s entire power grid, completely blacking out tens of thousands of worlds for hours if not days until secondary sources could make up for the sudden loss. Suffice to say, the Republic had learned its lesson, and hastily made to diversify its energy suppliers. However, Calli Trilm would hazard Sarapin still dominated a large slice of that particular pie chart, considering the apparent renewal and improvement of its defence grid.
But Calli had no intentions to brave the defence grid; she was neither the Pantoran, nor did she have the might of the Confederate Second Fleet, or was its 2nd Fleet Group now? The 19th Mobile Fleet was designed specifically to raid spacelanes and transports, and that¡¯s what she would do. Because energy was useless unless it could find its way to the consumer. And that meant energy had to be transported¡ in one way or another, as the satellite wrecks around Sarapin could testify.
¡°Mission accomplished, leader,¡± heavy cruiser Sarissa¡¯s captain reported, the Rendili Dreadnaught¡¯s running lights flashing in salute as she smoothly slid past Calli¡¯s flagship.
¡°Damage report?¡± Rear Admiral Trilm asked.
¡°Nothing that couldn¡¯t get past our shields. Rendili builds them sturdy.¡±
That was a lie. Calli knew that was a lie because Sarissa was sporting a nasty black bruise on its port beam, right above one of its artillery blisters, and shields don¡¯t tend to cause that sort of thing. What shields can do, however, is melt the vessel it''s supposed to be protecting by absorbing too much thermalised energy during enemy barrages. That¡¯s why some ships get a ¡®post-battle glow¡¯ after an engagement. But that sort of thing only occurs when said warship¡¯s heatsinks get shot.
Nevertheless, Sarissa¡¯s scar was more representative of a direct turbolaser strike than an overloaded ray shield. But nothing short of a direct hull breach would even make them flinch, wouldn¡¯t it? That was what Calli Trilm had concluded. The Salvarans simply have nothing left to lose. Most of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada was of similar mind; all of them exiled legionaries fighting in foreign space. Give them a target, and they might as well be her personal hounds.
¡°Then let¡¯s get moving,¡± she commanded, ¡°Tex, bring us around! We¡¯re going back to Recopia.¡±
Star of Serenno swung herself over, sublight drives igniting and afterburners blazing like great blue flame all the way to the nearest hyperlane egress. They spotted the wrecks of Sarapin¡¯s trifling defence fleet drifting aimlessly on the way there, gradually heading out the outer planets in the next few dozen years.
¡°Admiral,¡± the tactical droid abruptly alerted her, ¡°Do you wish to test the Starpath unit now?¡±
¡°Now¡?¡± Calli echoed, glancing out the viewports, ¡°I do suppose there¡¯s no reason not to.¡±
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
She nearly tossed the once-useless cube over to the droid, before interrupting herself with the reminder the cube was no longer so useless. Instead, Calli marched right up to the droid and deposited the Starparth unit in his metal grip. Tex inspected the device with his harsh photoreceptors, approaching the nearest console¨Cand after confirming nothing important was being done there, shoved the operating droid out of the way and hooked it up to the Starpath unit.
¡°You are certain the system is isolated?¡± a swell of nervousness rose up within Calli, ¡°I¡¯d rather not brick my flagship.¡±
¡°I am certain,¡± the droid replied, configuring the display and unceremoniously accessing the Starpath¡¯s datafiles¨C
For a brief moment, it was as if Calli was watching the words of an eldritch deity pass before her, visualised by some arcane sorcery. Hundreds, thousands, trillions lines of encrypted data erupted forth through the console display like an unstoppable, endless cascade of information. Voices, holofeeds, transmissions¨Cwhat seemed like an entire galaxy¡¯s worth of data surged onto the single console display.
And each and every transmission started with the exact same prefix: [QIXRB MCMH]
¡°They¡¯re all coming from the same place,¡± Calli muttered, ¡°Can we decode this? All we need to do is find out what these words mean, right?¡±
¡°I suspect it is a single word,¡± Tex said, his digits frantically reconfiguring the console so that the sheer volume of traffic doesn¡¯t brick the databank from memory overload, ¡°All the transmissions are encoded into five character blocks.¡±
¡°Well if it¡¯s nine letters¨C¡±
¡°We lost contact with the Second Auxiliary Squadron!¡± a droid shouted, voice high in alarm, ¡°Their last transmission was¡ ENEMY CONTACT.¡±
¡°Contact lost with Task Force One-Nine-Eight!¡±
¡°Contact lost with the Ninety-first Recon Division!¡±
¡°Contact lost with relay frigate Ravana!¡±
¡°Second Auxiliary Squadron?¡± Calli¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°That¡¯s at Recopia! Tex!¡±
Recopia¡¯s no more than a ten-hour jump from Sarapin!
¡°Plotting emergency jump to the Seyugi System,¡± Tex was already bounding away from the console, leaving a rather stumped B1 battle droid blankly watching the cascade of datastrings on his display.
¡°Contact lost with Task Force One-Nine-One-One!¡±
¡°They¡¯re kriffing chewing straight through us!¡± if there was the hope of another uneventful raid in Calli¡¯s mind before, it was long gone by now, ¡°All synchronised, no less! Have the Republic figured us out?¡±
¡°Highly likely, sir,¡± Tex replied as Battle Squadron Salvara hastily turned away from the egress as if it was on fire, ¡°They¡¯ve likely analysed our raid patterns and deduced our strategy.¡±
¡°Send a transmission to every relay frigate we have left in the Intel Division,¡± Rear Admiral Trilm gritted her teeth, ¡°We¡¯ll stick to the plan and switch up our patterns. I had hoped they wouldn¡¯t have figured us out so quickly.¡±
¡°Might I suggest we migrate our operations into the Southern Core?¡±
¡°What, from a region of space with no fleets to a region of space with fleets?¡± Calli scathed lightly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such a gross overreaction. We¡¯ll pivot onto a new pattern, and if the GAR¡¯s watching, it¡¯ll still take them weeks to gather enough data to identify said pattern. And we¡¯ll pivot again. Sooner or later, one of our intel frigates will catch a glimpse of the Bulwark Fleet.¡±
Tex nodded slowly, ¡°As you command, Admiral. We will also begin decrypting the Starpath unit, after ensuring it is benign in nature.¡±
¡°Assume the prefix is Coruscant,¡± Calli rolled her shoulders, ¡°The only other person who would have this level of access to Handler One in Rain Bonteri, and I suspect this is his version of a gift.¡±
¡°If Handler One truly is reading Coruscant¡¯s transmissions,¡± Tex considered, ¡°Then¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. We won¡¯t see much utility out of it,¡± the Rear Admiral watched as Battle Squadron Salvara slaved their astrogation units together for a synchronised jump, ¡°Enough to keep us alive and read Coruscant¡¯s reactions, but that¡¯s it. The fleets hunting us won¡¯t be communicating with Coruscant at every opportunity they get. Rather, this sort of data would be much more useful in the hands of Star Station Independence.¡±
A thought struck her.
¡°Oh, one more thing, droid.¡±
¡°Rear Admiral.¡±
¡°I want us to overshoot the extraction zone at Seyugi.¡±
¡°By how many klicks?¡±
¡°By five-hundred parsecs,¡± Calli Trilm answered, ¡°Change of destination; let¡¯s give the Neimoidians a hello. We¡¯re going to Cato Neimoidia.¡±
?
Rendili Orbit, Rendili System
Rendili Sector
The sound of explosions woke him.
Arch-Provost Bengila Urlan didn¡¯t immediately realise they were explosions. Thunderstorms were common enough on any terrestrial world, and Rendili was no exception. But as he roused from his groggy stupor he realised it couldn¡¯t be simply a thunderstorm. Thunder didn¡¯t come so frequent.
He roused further and sat up quickly in bed, and his pulse quickened as more explosions boomed in the distance. They were coming closer, he realised, and rolling towards him as quickly as he rolled out of bed and fumbled his bare feet into a pair of shoes even as his hand darted under the pillow and came out with a standard, military-issue blaster.
The door to his bedroom flew open, and he spun in a half-crouch, blaster rising. The man in the doorway had his hands in the air before he knew it, and Urlan thanked his stars he had the sense to recognise the Rendili State Security uniform on the map before he pulled the trigger.
¡°We need to get you out of here, Arch-Provost!¡± the State Security trooper rushed towards him the moment Urlan dropped his arm, pulling him to his feet and hastily ushering him out the door.
¡°What is going on!?¡± Bengila Urlan demanded, ¡°Is it the Separatists!? A Separatist attack!?¡±
He knew there was a Separatist fleet in the Core, no matter how the HoloNet wanted to downplay it. Bengila Urlan was the Arch-Provost of Rendili, not any ignorant citizen, and he had infochants all across the galaxy. The Perlemian Coalition had smashed through the gate at Commenor, and now¡ they were at Rendili, the largest shipyard system in the Core Worlds save for Kuat itself. He would not have been surprised.
But he was surprised. Because just like Kuat, Rendili had its own fleet, too powerful and too autonomous for Coruscant¡¯s overreaching fingers to pluck up and fling out towards the frontier. The Rendili Home Defense Fleet was over two-hundred and fifty warships, all built in-house of Rendili¡¯s own shipyards. Dreadnaughts, Acclamators, Venators, and now Victorys. State-of-the-art warships. Last he recalled, the Separatist fleet at Commenor numbered three-hundred before splitting apart to prey on the Core¡¯s spacelanes.
A fleet of that calibre should have never been able to break through the Rendili Home Defense Fleet, much less even break through Rendili¡¯s planetary shields. He knew that much. Arch-Provost Urlan built the Rendili Defence Fleet as it existed in its current state. It was he who renewed Rendili¡¯s shipyards, who waged a shadow war against Kuat to diminish their influence in the shipbuilding industry. It was he who secured the contracts for the Victory Initiative Project, and he who oversaw the launch of the very first Victory-class Star Destroyer here at Rendili.
Bengila Urlan knew the Rendili Home Defense Fleet inside and out. He could hardly convince himself it made such a poor showing that the Separatist Admiral Calli Trilm managed to brush it aside so quickly and without warning. But if it wasn¡¯t the Separatists, who could it be?
As the State Security trooper led him out into the hallways, the air mired with a haze of smoke and dust hanging over the luxuriously carpeted floor, and he could hear the frantic warbling of fire alarms over the roaring inferno rippling its way towards his suite. Urlan was almost surprised by the power of his own fear as the entire world seemed to quiver to the fury of explosions and combat. He¡¯d seen so many reports now, so many HoloNet reels and news articles and vicarious images of the war that he¡¯d thought he¡¯d be desensitised to the thought of it now.
After all, was it not Rendili StarDrives supplying the war effort with warships and weapons?
But the Arch-Provost was no longer living the war through a screen or holo. He was living the war.
But all of a sudden, none of that mattered at all. The Separatists, the war¡ it all faded to the recesses of his mind and memory as they stormed past a cracked window. The Arch-Provost instinctively glared out of it in an attempt to finally understand what was going on¨C
And saw Rendili Dreadnaughts in the skies over his world. Acclamators, Venators, and Victorys. The entire Rendili Home Defense Fleet in all of its glorious form, arrayed over the capital city. The red rising sun was a halo of light at their backs, as if he was watching a host of angels descending upon him.
¡°Sir, we need to keep moving!¡±
Urlan hadn¡¯t realised it, but he had stopped dead in his tracks, gaping out the window, as if his feet had been rooted to the ground. He saw the fleet, his fleet, arrayed perfectly above him, and thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
¡°What¡ what is going on?¡± the Arch-Provost asked again, ¡°I want an answer, trooper!¡±
The State Security trooper paused, expression half-hidden by his visor, ¡°There¡¯s been an attempt on the Arch-Provost¡¯s life by Kuati and Republic agents. The¡ the Arch-Provost had been assassinated, and his residence destroyed in an arson attack. The Independent Provisional Government of Rendili has been convened to determine the future of Rendili and her shipyards. The Home Fleet has been summoned to block the assassin¡¯s path of escape.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Urlan didn¡¯t know what possessed him then, perhaps it was simply the fact he couldn¡¯t process what outrageous words were flowing into his ears, ¡°But I¡¯m the Arch-Provost, and I¡¯m still alive!¡±
Arch-Provost Bengila Urlan looked up in rage and fear, and saw the State Security trooper¡¯s blaster aimed straight at his head.
¡°That¡¯s unfortunate, sir,¡± the trooper said, ¡°But you burned in the fires of the palace. But worry not¨CRendili will remember your legacy forever.¡±
"If you would have me disgraced like this, at least tell me why," if Urlan had feared death, he no longer felt it.
The trooper shrugged, seeing no reason not to answer the dead man, "The Republic is dying, and the Council of Provosts have no intentions of keeping to a sinking ship that does not see our worth. Rendili will be worth its weight in kyber to the Separatist Alliance."
I should¡¯ve kriffing shot you at my door, the Arch-Provost thought, and he thought no longer.
?
Caamas Approach, Cirius System
Alderaan Sector
¡°Priority Alpha transmission from Coruscant, Admiral.¡±
Admiral Honor Salima hardly registered her Flag Captain, Terrinald Screed¡¯s words as she impassively watched the Bulwark Fleet struggle to disengage from their battle. The Bulwark Fleet, a once mighty thing that laid waste to the Northern Core with three-hundred ships, had been, in its two month pursuit, whittled down to a paltry command of just over a hundred vessels. Most of the surviving warships were the eponymous Bulwark-class battlecruisers that gave the fleet its name, but compared to the Home Fleet which numbered theirs twice over, it was a foregone conclusion that Dua Ningo¡¯s only hope of survival was escape.
¡°Fall back,¡± Admiral Honor commanded as a listing Bulwark began driving her thrusters hard forward, ¡°And target that ship. Where¡¯s Arcenciel?¡±
It took a moment for Captain Screed to pivot his thoughts, ¡°Captain Autem¡¯s leading the left wing, sir.¡±
Admiral Honor turned her head away just as a glaring sphere of unendurable brightness exploded across the viewports, huge and so hellishly bright it hurt to look at it even through the viewport¡¯s automatic filters. The Bulwark, knowing its drives had been shot, had attempted to plunge straight into the Republic formation and scuttle itself with a main reactor detonation. But the Coruscant Home Fleet was a veteran of half a dozen battles with the Bulwark Fleet now, and they had long familiarised with Dua Ningo¡¯s stubborn insistence that his vaunted warships would never fall into his enemy¡¯s hands.
¡°Pin them down!¡± Honor roared with the rage of her warfleet, her tablet havng informed her that three of her Victorys had been mortally injured by the blast, ¡°Have Arcenciel form a wall of battle and drive up the enemy right!¡±
The Home Fleet had caught the Bulwark Fleet on the hyperlane egress towards Caamas, one of the most respected worlds in the Core, not to mention a founding world of the Republic. If one squinted the sensors, you could spot the meagre Caamasi System Fleet arrayed close to a battlestation in orbit.
As commanded, Captain Autem bravely led from the front of his Victory squadron, Arcenciel a flaming speartip as she raked Dua Ningo¡¯s flanks. As soon as he reached the starboard quarter of the enemy formation, Arcenciel hooked right and began pushing the Bulwark Fleet away from Caamas and manoeuvring north to block them from jumping out of the Core. That left south or east¨Cas the Home Fleet had chased them from Skako in the west¨Cto which laid either Demophon or Alderaan.
¡°Captain Screed?¡± Admiral Honor summoned as soon as she was satisfied with her battleline, ¡°You may proceed with the message.¡±
Captain Screed coughed, his cybernetic eye fixated sternly on his commanding officer as he pivoted back onto the prior subject, ¡°Priority Alpha transmission from Coruscant, Admiral. A coup on Rendili had killed the ruling Arch-Provost, and the system has declared for the Separatist Alliance, along with the Rendili StarDrive. In order to prevent a domino effect that would see much of the Core following their sedition, we have been ordered to quell the insurrection.¡±
¡°...What?¡±
Terrinald Screed suppressed a wince.
¡°How many heads do they think I have?¡± Admiral Honor demanded softly, but severely ¡°Do I look like the Battle Hydra to them?¡±
¡°...High Command has promised reinforcements from the Jedi Order. A second fleet will bolster our numbers,¡± Captain Screed said, nevertheless unmoved by the Admiral¡¯s ire.
¡°Who? Which Jedi?¡±
¡°They¡¯ve refrained from giving a name, sir.¡±
Admiral Honor Salima ground her teeth, ¡°Then we¡¯ll make for Rendili at once.¡±
¡°Very good, sir.¡±
¡°We must prevent the Sullustan from jumping to Alderaan,¡± Honor Salima ordered, ¡°Have our right flank execute an orderly withdrawal, and shift the centre to the left. Order Captain Autem to extend along the enemy¡¯s rear.¡±
Dua Ningo was a good battlefield commander, she allowed, as the Bulwark Fleet reacted promptly to the Home Fleet¡¯s enigmatic actions. His age has not dulled his senses, Honor thought, as the Sullustan translated his most powerful Bulwark-class battlecruisers to oppose the Home Fleet¡¯s weakened right wing. Shame he doesn¡¯t realise he is reacting as I wish¨Cor rather, he has no choice but to react as I wish. With Arcenciel and her sister ships now opening fire on his vulnerable aft flank with their powerful missile launchers, Dua Ningo must¡¯ve realised the quickest way out was to ram straight through the purposefully thinned Republic lines with his heaviest capitals.
The alternative was to die, frankly, and Honor did not want that¡ despite the fact that Honor would¡¯ve summarily executed anybody who even suggested the idea they let the Bulwark Fleet escape for any reason a mere week prior. No reason to toy with the hunted, as it were, unless it served an even larger quarry. And the Perlemian Coalition was the largest there was, in these parts.
¡°Have we calculated where the Bulwark Fleet will jump to?¡±
¡°Aldraig or Demophon, sir.¡±
¡°Good. That¡¯s the direction we want,¡± she nodded, ¡°Make sure Calli Trilm catches wind of our movements. Leak it if you have to. And send word to Caamas and Alderaan¨Cwe¡¯ve prevented the enemy from reaching them. We could use the favours, and ships. We need as many able warships we can get our hands on. They may not give them up for Coruscant, but they will give them up for the Home Fleet that saved their lives.¡±
¡°Very good, sir. And¡ we are still going to Rendili, Admiral?¡±
¡°Coruscant has been kind enough to decide our battlespace for us, Captain,¡± Admiral Honor observed as her captaincies on the right impressively ¡®break¡¯ without breaking, allowing the Bulwark Fleet through while maintaining their order, ¡°Far be it for us to decline their invitation. We will deal with Calli Trilm, Dua Ningo, and whichever stupid bastard he thought jumping ship into the sea of stars was a good idea¨Cin the Rendili Star System.¡±
Chapter 68
Empress Teta Approach, Empress Teta System
Koros Sector
The Republic didn¡¯t have enough time to scrounge up a sizable fleet, that much was obvious from the some hundred warships inserting just outside Empress Teta¡¯s interdiction net. As our scopes would put it, however, their fleet still possessed an impressive ratio of two score capitals and three score escorts. Truthfully, however, I was uncertain of that ratio. There was a new class of ship in the Republic fleet, one unknown to our registries, and thus unknown to our classifications.
A Star Destroyer, for certain, as their iconic drive wedge could not be mistaken. But everything else? Their physical size was conservative, at under a thousand metres, but their power output and the strength of their drives betrayed their strength. What sort of diminutive vessel required the reactor output of a capital warship? There were at least a dozen of them, and arrayed not dissimilarly to a wedge of storks at the front of the enemy formation, I would hazard a guess at their purpose confidently.
By comparison, the fleet I had on hand numbered no more than fifty, as a quarter of our full might was still campaigning against the GAR¡¯s Deep Core fleets with Commodore Vinoc. The rest, however, were arrayed at strategic locations across the seven Tetan crownworlds. As the Republic ran hard for Empress Teta¡¯s orbit however, ostensibly lured in by the paltry numbers I commanded, the lieutenants of the 28th Mobile Fleet closed in from all directions. Diedrich Greyshade with fifty warships from the outer planets in the northeast; Horgo Shive with thirty-three warships whence his return from the Agricultural Circuit; Krett with a strengthened contingent of twenty-nine warships from the northwestern Deep Core sectors.
Excluding the 4th Battle Division, that left one-hundred sixty warships at our disposal for the upcoming engagement, having been supplemented by the Tetan Guard and Mining Guild Enforcement Fleet. Despite the enemy¡¯s heavier ships, they were trespassing upon Separatist space, specifically and painstakingly drilled for their arrival. They were surrounded.
With any luck, this will be a reenactment of the Battle of Krant, where General Sev¡¯rance Tann slaughtered Jedi General Echuu Shen-Jon¡¯s warfleet with the very same stratagem. Using herself as bait, she lured the Jedi General to make landfall on Krant, whereupon her Confederate Second Fleet pounced from the shadows of numerous orbital bodies in the Krant System and decimated the Republic force.
Fleet flagship Chimeratica disseminated her orders, and the division straightened into a hasty battle lattice the way a command caught off-guard would. In truth, this strategy was borne of the necessity to defeat a larger force with a lesser one, in the case of preparation for the worst. I held my reserves now, however, as the GAR knowingly sent a lesser force against a greater one, in an offensive action no less, and thus it could only be assumed the enemy commander was regarded as extremely capable.
¡°Set a pace of five-hundred Gs,¡± I ordered, ¡°Close the distance and prepare to swing to port. Watch for any enemy manoeuvres.¡±
There was the choice to sit back and wait for the enemy to enter Empress Teta¡¯s artillery range, which would obviously be the eminent decision for any defensive force on their last legs. However, if the enemy commander was as capable as I suspected, then they may realise the precariousness of their own situation. If the enemy commander realises they were not facing our full force, then they may decide to wheel around and strike at the nearest ambush fleet.
In which case, this would not be a reenactment of the Battle of Krant, but rather the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul. As such, I ordered Chimeratica¡¯s division forward, out of Empress Teta¡¯s range, in an attempt to close enough distance that we would be able to support our allies if such a development arises. This action in of itself may alert the enemy commander of the existence of the ambush, but the prior strategic calculus behind the original plan was more or less disregarded that we now boasted a three-to-two advantage against the foe.
¡°They¡¯re slowing down,¡± Taylor commented, ¡°Are they supposed to slow down?¡±
¡°Have they discovered the ploy?¡± Tuff¡¯s photoreceptors flashed, his servo-joints flexing his metal fingers, ¡°Inform the fleets to execute the battle plan. Surround them and grind them into dust.¡±
If I had disagreed, I would have made my disapproval known. But I did not disagree, because the enemy fleet had positioned themselves right in the centre of the ambush, as if they already knew the locations of all our fleets and were mocking us for even thinking we could get the better of them. At any moment, I expected them to dash off to the east and put Krett¡¯s 5th Division to the sword.
For that reason, Chimeratica pressed on her drives, from 500G to double that, angling herself in such a fashion that her inbound vector straddled the hypotenuse formed by the invisible triangle of herself, Fortressa, and the enemy warfleet. Contrary to expectations, however, the enemy warfleet abruptly shifted right, counteracting against Chimeratica¡¯s deflected vector and translating away from the weaker 5th Division.
It was then I realised the enemy commander was reading my mind¨Cor rather, reacting with such grace it made him control the battlespace rather than giving control to me.
¡°¨CHard right, hard over!¡± Tuff was already commanding, ¡°Get us on an intercept and inform Kronprinz to meet us there!¡±
I shot to my feet, suitably unnerved, ¡°Will we make it time?¡±
¡°My calculations posit so,¡± the tactical droid replied, ¡°I am attempting to identify the enemy commander. There are not many left of a high calibre still remaining in the Core, save for the Admiral of the Home Fleet.¡±
We had expected the Republic fleet to strike first at Fortressa, prompting us to steer to port and create a gap between ourselves and Diedrich¡¯s 3rd Battle Division. It was fortunate that we had noticed in time, lest the gulf would have been made wide enough that they could have slipped right through us and put the entire 28th Mobile on one side¨Ceffectively circumnavigating an encirclement by running straight through it.
Rather, Kronprinz¡¯s hasty manoeuvres saved us from most of the half-committed blunder and wrested control back in our favour. With the Republic threatened to be caught in a nasty pincer from both flanks, the enemy commander once again pivoted, swinging around his dozen-so Star Destroyers around to starboard in a headlong charge into Chimeratica¡¯s division. It was an unnecessarily bold manoeuvre, ordering heavy cruisers at best to delay a much larger fleet. Right then I wished I had half as much faith in my warships as the enemy had in theirs.
But then the flanks of those Star Destroyers yawned open, massive control surfaces rivalling the size of a Venator¡¯s hangar doors, and within those dark canyons were a sight I¡¯d never thought I¡¯d see on a Republic warship. Missile launchers. The Republic Admiralty had, evidently, wizened up to Separatist naval doctrine, and invented a class of warship to match.
¡°Prepare for evasive manoeuvres,¡± I muttered, ¡°And fake portside on my command. Prepare our own launchers; first wave countermissiles, second proton warheads. They¡¯re making a mistake. We let them.¡±
Kronprinz headed the sun and stars of Tionese naval supremacy, and had proven time and time again to be the 28th¡¯s swiftest command. The 3rd Battle Division has always been our pursuit force. As I mulled over my next moves and counted down the seconds to optimal range¨Cof which I had no choice but to nervously press my nails deep into my palms as I wondered the comparison of Separatist and Republic missile quality.
The Confederacy already had its hands full simply producing the warships we needed to fight a war, and save for the Techno Union most of our Outer Rim worlds were appropriated for low-cost production and manufacturing, willingly or not. By comparison, the Core had all the resources and tradition it needed to continuously improve on existing technology. Just looking at the scopes, the GAR¡¯s missile tubes already appear much larger in diameter than our own torpedo launchers. And that meant, possibly, a longer range and more powerful payload.
I hadn¡¯t seen these warships at Yag¡¯Dhul, but if they made it out onto the frontline¡
¡°Admiral,¡± Taylor¡¯s voice struck me from my fretting, ¡°We¡¯re receiving a transmission from the enemy flagship. Should I patch it through?¡±
¡°...They must be extraordinarily confident,¡± I clenched my fists, ¡°Do you have anything for me, Tuff?¡±
¡°I suspect the enemy commander to be a Jedi General,¡± was all he had to say in that regard, ¡°Their tactics so far, while refined, are primitive at their core. Essentially, allow the foe to trip over their own feet. It requires patience, and a great deal of faith to sit in the middle of an enemy ambush and expect them to make a mistake. Most GAR officers are far too skittish, and I find Jedi Generals possess the sense of self-assurance to make this kind of confident action¨Cor lack thereof.¡±
¡°...I will talk to them,¡± I said at last.
¡°¨CGreetings, Admiral Bonteri,¡± a familiar voice was heard over the receiver, ¡°I am Jedi General Plo Koon, and I have come to you with a proposal of peaceful parley, so that we may continue our conversation cut short a year ago.¡±
I stared down the twelve disconcerting Star Destroyers in the same, but darker light. Plo Koon. My blood ran cold. This time, I didn¡¯t have a half-built dreadnought to throw at him.
?
¡°He must have recalled our prior engagement,¡± Jedi Master Plo Koon bemused as they awaited an answer, ¡°Had Metalorn not been a world of shipyards, and thus fodder to wield, the Battle Hydra would have been quite out of options. Alas, he had one head back then, and many now.¡±
¡°There is no point in dallying with what-ifs, Master Plo,¡± Jedi Master Adi Gallia admonished.
¡°Quite the contrary,¡± the Kel Dor Master replied, not unkindly, ¡°Retrospection is but the long and arduous road towards improvement. A battle of words and wit may leave naught dead but one¡¯s pride, but a battle of starships and men may put millions to their grave. Drills and games are¡ adequate for their purposes, but true practice can only be done on the field, and in this terrible art each lesson learnt is paid in durasteel and blood. It is natural that as many lessons must be learnt from as few practical sessions as possible.¡±
¡°Then what do you suppose the Battle Hydra is thinking at this moment, Master?¡± Barriss questioned, truly curious.
¡°The veracity of my offer,¡± Master Plo answered, ¡°And how to best defeat me.¡±
Iskat shifted from one foot to the other uneasily, well towering over every Jedi and officer on the bridge with her lanky height, ¡°He already has us surrounded.¡±
¡°He knows that wouldn¡¯t be enough,¡± the Jedi Master clasped his hands together, and sure enough, they could see the Separatist armada reacting promptly, clearly intent on reforming their order of battle before partaking in any diplomacy.
Barriss inexplicably found her attention glued to the tactical holo as, just as Master Plo had predicted, scores of warships flooded out from the darkest corners of the Empress Teta Star System, appearing like apparitions from the shadows of planetoids and moons and flooding into the battlespace. Beyond the two fleets directly on their flanks, there was another fleet approaching from their starboard quarter¨Cwhich included an infamous Lucrehulk known to the GAR registry as Fortressa¨Cand a final force approaching from directly behind them, ostensibly the very one preying upon the Core¡¯s food supplies.
Instead of completing the encirclement, however, the four divisions of the Battle Hydra circumnavigated the stationary Republic formation and moved to regroup directly in front of them. Master Plo simply allowed it to happen, his filtration mask concealing a slightly bemused expression as the Perlemian Coalition merged into their notorious battle lattice, eight by ten and two ranks deep. Curiously, the whole lattice was just slightly concave, with thicker flanks and bending back in the centre like a pressed trampoline.
¡°I see,¡± Jedi Master Plo Koon said deeply, humorously, ¡°Very clever. I imagine we will receive favourable news now.¡±
And as if he had willed it into existence, the Separatist flagship finally gave their reply; ¡°I would have your terms, Master Jedi.¡±
It was an familiarly unfamiliar voice that responded to them, mellow and indecipherable.
¡°We simply wish to negotiate a treaty with the Tetan Monarchy, one favourable for all parties involved,¡± Master Plo said peacefully, ¡°As you may well know, the Republic is gripped by troubles internal and abroad, courtesy of the Pantoran¡¯s strategic wit, and surely you would not begrudge us this¡ desperate measure?¡±
¡°And what convinces you of the efficacy of your desperate measure?¡± the Battle Hydra replied, ¡°For what reason must I humour the Republic that seeks to lay waste to my country?¡±
Master Plo looked over his shoulder at Master Gallia meaningfully, before purposefully stepping back. At once, Jedi Master Adi Gallia strode forward to take his place.
¡°You humour not the Republic, but the Jedi Order,¡± the Tholothian Master said, ¡°I am Master Adi Gallia, and I speak not for the Chancellery. I hope this to be a totally diplomatic affair, whereupon we can both depart without a feeling of loss.¡±
¡°Forgive me, Master Jedi, but that seems to me an improbable outcome,¡± the Battle Hydra paused¡ before adding on, ¡°Especially with the sad state of affairs in which the galaxy wars.¡±
Adi Gallia hesitated, as the bridge of the fleet flagship Hyperion was silent and its captive audience hanging onto each and every word, ¡°...If you would have us, we would be open to a convention on Tetan soil. Our delegates would be myself, Master Plo Koon, and Knights Iskat Akaris and Barriss Offee.¡±
There was stark silence from the other side. My name, Barriss realised, Master Gallia used my name to get to him.
¡°In exchange for a temporary truce,¡± Master Gallia continued whereupon the lack of response, ¡°We would submit to any temporary demands you would have of us, in order to satisfy your requirements for a continued cessation of hostilities.¡±
¡°...You will bring forward one ship, and only one,¡± the Battle Hydra said at last, ¡°As would I, and we will make for Cinnagar at once. Your fleet, and ours, will remain here, neither of which is to activate their drives beyond attitude thrusters. The fleet that fails to adhere to this agreement first, for whichever reason, will be considered the oathbreaker.¡±
¡°For whichever reason?¡± Master Gallia clarified.
¡°I care not if a rogue asteroid strikes or a pirate flotilla appears from the black, the first fleet to have a vessel activate its main drives will be at fault,¡± the Battle Hydra said clearly, ¡°Inform your captaincies of this promptly, as I have informed mine, and we will meet under a banner of truce.¡±
Master Plo Koon immediately turned to Hyperion¡¯s captain, and ordered the agreement disseminated across all fleet channels.
¡°Agreed,¡± Master Gallia told the Warlord of the Perlemian, and Hyperion fearlessly plunged towards the Separatist battle lattice.
¡°One point to port!¡± the Venator¡¯s captain ordered, swiftly identifying a portal in the enemy lattice, created by a single ship vacating its station. Chimeratica, Hyperion¡¯s scopes identified.
It seemed almost as if the ship itself were holding her breath as they ceaselessly approached the yawning jaws of the Perlemian Coalition, until they were right within the enemy lattice and Separatist ships seemingly stretched on endlessly to the left and right, above and below. Barriss could all but hear the pounding heartbeats in the room, many spacers and officers present otherwise reservists and conscripts dredged up from whatever manpower caches the GAR has left, having never come so close to enemy before, much less the most fearsome warlord of the Outer Rim, save the Pantoran herself.
The beaked prows of Providences grinned down at them, the scarred Hexes adorning their shells customised and patterned in all sorts of identifications. Some marked tallies of battles fought or enemy ships downed, others symbols of homeworlds. Hyperion passed silently through the portal, sliding right past the concealed gunports bearing on either side of her flanks, and quickly caught up to the Chimeratica.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Someone behind blew a profuse sigh of relief. Barriss shared the sentiment, and though they may not show it, she knew the Jedi Masters had too. Master Gallia¡¯s shoulders lowered slightly, but tensed once more as they matched velocities with the Chimeratica. Barris and Iskat followed the Master¡¯s gaze, and paused at the sight of the Separatist Hex adorning the flagship¡¯s side.
It was a Separatist Hex indeed, with six faces, but from each face extending a curved serpentine neck, each identically S-shaped and facing a clockwise direction altogether in a whirlpool of teeth and scales.
Barriss¡¯ keen eyes spotted a tiny signature off to the side. Artisan.
She suppressed a smile. Seems like he was still enjoying himself.
Nevertheless, within what felt like moments sailing alongside their enemy, approached the capital of the Tetan Monarchy, Empress Teta herself. They passed the orbital deepdocks of the Koros Spaceworks, then descended into the atmosphere towards the iris of Cinnagar¡¯s eye. Before long, Barriss found herself thundering down towards the Royal District in a shuttle, viewing the nine golden spires of Cinnagar¨Ceach representing one of the nine worlds of the Empress Teta System, seven of which were inhabited¨Cand circling above the landing zone of the ostentatious Tetan Royal Palace. Golden minarets glinted like torches in the sunlight, dozens of spires thrusting valiantly towards the sky and connected below by a network of walls and arcologies.
It seemed as if they were whisked away into the palace complex by an august wind the moment they stepped off the landing pad, the armoured Tetan Guard quickly surrounding and ushering them inside with the haste that could assume sunlight to be deadly. Notably, they made no effort to bereave them of their lightsabers, or even check for any other weapon they may possess.
¡°The Tetans have been longstanding allies of the Jedi Order,¡± Master Gallia murmured to their benefit, ¡°Our relationship dates back to Empress Teta herself. These days, the Mining Guild rules this system in all but name. However¡ we may still find ourselves friends among the Tetan Monarchy.¡±
¡°Hopefully,¡± Iskat expressed pessimistically, glancing around in awe of the gilded halls of the Royal Palace.
The already spacious hallways opened up into a truly cavernous throne room, the floor dancing with frescoes and a ceiling so high it appeared mired in mist and hanging clouds. There was a metallic tang in the air, mixed with the heavy scent of spices. At the very far end of the hall was an empty throne, and in the centre was an obviously hastily arranged table, spartan save for a gilded vase in the centre filled with local flowers.
Rain Bonteri met them at the foot of the table, accompanied by two droids¨CTuff the tactical droid, and Hare the servant droid¨Cand a sword at his belt, which subtly drew the attention of the two Jedi Masters.
¡°That sword is pure cortosis,¡± Barriss leaned towards Iskat¡¯s ear, or rather her shoulder, though the tall alien was kind enough to bend down to save her the embarrassment, ¡°It¡¯ll short out your lightsaber upon contact. Expect cortosis droids too.¡±
¡°So that¡¯s why they didn¡¯t ask us to surrender them,¡± Iskat straightened back up, cold blue eyes already analysing the room, ¡°Good to know.¡±
Rain Bonteri stepped forward with narrow Onderonian eyes, smelling distinctly of silk and lavender, ¡°Welcome to Empress Teta. May I introduce our host?¡±
His hair was a mess of locks and bangs, Barriss noticed, and had seen much better days. When she first met him, Rain Bonteri sported a short and neat ponytail that barely hung past his shoulders when worn low. Now, he wore a veritable mane of brown hair that messily framed his face and a ponytail¨Cthat despite being worn high¨Cfell right down to the back of waist, frayed and ill-kempt. Barriss supposed that years of constant campaigning left little luxury for hairdressing¡ but surely there was enough space aboard a warship for a simple barber?
The Separatist Warlord gestured to the head of the table, where Barriss head missed a rather diminutive woman with refined features and a dainty coronet weaved into her hair.
¡°Princess Eara Lota,¡± the Admiral introduced, ¡°Heir Presumptive to the Tetan Monarchy.¡±
The Jedi immediately bowed in unison, the diplomatic courtesies ingrained into them since their induction to the Order rearing its head, and the Princess seemed pleased enough at the due respect, at least. She seems easily pleased, Barriss thought, she can¡¯t be any older than¡ eighteen.
¡°Master Jedi, you¡¯re here to free us from the yoke of the Mining Guild, right?¡± Princess Eara asked optimistically, forcefully.
If Rain Bonteri was insulted by the blatant show of insubordination by his client, he did not show it, ¡°I am certain we can come to an arrangement, Your Highness. Please, Master Jedi, have a seat.¡±
¡°Will His Majesty the Emperor not be attending?¡± Master Gallia asked, disguising her concern as curiosity.
¡°Uncle¡¯s never awake at this hour,¡± the Princess answered nonchalantly, ¡°Though he seems hardly awake on the best of days, after my cousins accident.¡±
¡°Let us speak reservedly,¡± the Battle Hydra offered one of his noncommitted smiles as he took his seat, ¡°The Princess our witness, we need no other man hear of this conversation.¡±
Rain Bonteri¡¯s clear eyes unsubtly shifted over to Barriss and back. The Jedi took stock of their environs, the hall was so cavernous that indeed, it could be believed one could not hear a conversation from one side of the room on the other. One would imagine there would be an echo, but the effect was conspicuously absent.
¡°Let us¡ omit the pleasantries,¡± Master Gallia naturally took command of the situation, speaking first, ¡°The Jedi Order came here in hopes that Empress Teta and her crownworlds would return back into the fold of the Galactic Republic.¡±
The Battle Hydra¡¯s smile grew a little more amused, ¡°I require the Republic to kill itself, Master Jedi, and the Confederacy no longer wields the power to do so on its own. Why must I allow the Republic to bandage itself when it goes against everything my nation stands for?¡±
¡°The Confederacy stands for insubordination to the Republic,¡± Master Gallia returned easily, ¡°Surely that does not require its death?¡±
¡°Now that has been a question I have heard debated to its death in the Raxus Parliament.¡±
¡°What caused its death?¡± Master Plo Koon pressed on what appeared to be a simple figure of speech.
¡°The Republic,¡± Admiral Bonteri answered easily, ¡°Our insubordination is no longer possible without the death of the Republic. Your Senate has made certain of that. So I would have your Senate tear itself apart instead.¡±
Barriss glanced at the Princess Eara Lota, a youthful glee still dancing in her shining eyes despite the complexities of the dialogue. Noticing her attention, the Princess met the Mirialan Knight¡¯s eyes, and Barriss realised her gaze was the make of finely sharpened daggers. She survived this long in the halls of her forebears, now usurped by foreign greed and ambition who would brook no insubordination of their own, especially from the Tetan crown. What, exactly, did that take? Since her cousin, the Heir Apparent, died in an¡ ¡®accident.¡¯
Has the Hydra bought her act of a fool, and is that why he was so unconcerned by her bluntness? I doubt it. Mayhaps¡ mayhaps they have already come to an agreement? But against a Separatist-aligned corporation? Equally unlikely. But Rain Bonteri holds distaste for corporatists, if I recall rightly.
Master Gallia and Master Plo shared a meaningful look, and the former took the dive; ¡°It is, I am afraid, far too soon for that. We are not yet ready.¡±
The damning silence at the table was all Barriss needed to know of Admiral Bonteri and Princess Eara¡¯s reaction, though the latter appeared remarkably confused. Peering into her heart, however, Barriss could sense a great deal of internal calculus within the Tetan royal.
¡°Wait, what?¡± it was not any of the opposing side, but rather Iskat Akaris who said that.
Right, Barriss winced, she wasn¡¯t supposed to be here.
¡°Hmm,¡± the Battle Hydra mused, and the next time his eyes opened, they were of completely different hue than before, ¡°You say that the wrong way again, and I might just mistake your intentions.¡±
¡°You do not,¡± Master Plo Koon said decisively.
¡°Hello?¡± Iskat wondered, ¡°What the kriff is going on?¡±
¡°You bring a benighted girl to our table,¡± Bonteri questioned sharply, ¡°Why is that?¡±
¡°Poor circumstance,¡± Adi Gallia answered, not untruthfully.
¡°Then educate her.¡±
¡°¨CIskat,¡± Barriss said immediately, but gently, ¡°We are talking about the Sith Lord in the Republic. To displace him, the Masters are courting the idea of tearing down the Republic with a civil war to flush him out.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Iskat said dumbly, the cogs in her head turning, ¡°But¡ must it come to that?¡±
Barriss looked up to the closest Master past Iskat¨CAdi Gallia¨Cfor an answer.
¡°It is a possibility we must consider,¡± the Tholothian Jedi said, not unkindly, ¡°The Sith Lord is far too entrenched for the Temple to displace him peacefully, I fear.¡±
¡°Is¡¡± Iskat furrowed her short black brows, ¡°Is this the will of the High Council.¡±
Adi Gallia paused, and Rain Bonteri, like a hound sniffing weakness, leaned forward with his elbows on the table, ¡°I am curious as to the same, Master Jedi. Can I consider the collective will of the Temple to be backing our counter-conspiracy, or is the independent act of a¡ splinter faction?¡±
The Tholothian closed her eyes, and sighed in a rare moment of fragility, ¡°Some elements of the High Council would never consent to such a¡ radical act.¡±
Master Mace Windu, went unsaid between them. Master Yoda, even, maybe.
At first, Iskat was aghast, but slowly, gradually, as if recalling all the insult and bitterness levied upon her by the Temple, visibly softened up. Barriss wondered, then, what was going through her friend¡¯s mind¨Cbut refrained from prodding deeper. Her outward emotions told her everything she needed to know.
¡°Who¨C¡± Master Plo Koon finally asked the prize question, ¡°¨CAdmiral, is the Sith Lord we seek?¡±
¡°...We¡¯ve had this conversation before,¡± the Admiral said quietly, ¡°But I was the one who initiated it.¡±
¡°I would not have believed you before, and you were wise enough to realise this,¡± the Kel Dor Master said meaningfully, ¡°But I will believe you now.¡±
The Battle Hydra leaned back, ¡°The Supreme Chancellor, Sheev Palpatine.¡±
The name was spoken, said, and despite the unearthly revelation, nothing at all changed. No eerie dark side mystics, no dimming or flickering lights, no otherworldly gust of chill wind so prevalent in holodramas. A man¡¯s name was spoken and that was that.
¡°Knew it,¡± Adi Gallia mumbled.
¡°Loathe I am to say this, but I believe you,¡± Plo Koon sighed deeply through his mask, ¡°However, I must still trouble you, for any indication of the claim you lay upon us. Proof, we may present to the High Council.¡±
The Perlemian Warlord snapped his fingers, and Hare produced a datachip from her internal storage. Admiral Bonteri set it lightly on the table, atop a silk handkerchief, and slid it over to their side.
¡°Intercepted communications,¡± he supplied, ¡°Between Count Dooku and¡ someone, on Coruscant.¡±
¡°No definitive proof it is the Chancellor?¡± Adi Gallia gently picked up the datachip, as if it were a shard of glass. No, it was far more fragile than a shard of glass.
¡°Count Dooku is arrogant, the Sith Lord hides his arrogance behind sense,¡± Bonteri explained, not unaggrievedly, ¡°He covers his tracks well, despite the best efforts of my slicers and infochants. I would, however, hazard Five-Hundred Republica to be where you can find the answers you seek.¡±
¡°Why would that be?¡±
He shrugged, ¡°It appears to the Sith Lord¡¯s residence, considering the percentage and manner of transmissions received there. Though, other locations on Coruscant do exist, most notably the Works, and the Senate Building itself. In all honesty, you may analyse the veracity of the transmissions yourself, and once you cross out all the other suspects using the information available¡ the remaining one must be the truth.¡±
Bonteri eyed her again, ¡°And if, in the case that you may require more material to work with¨Cfor I have been negligent these recent weeks in my intelligence-gathering¨Cyou may confer with Barriss Offee.¡±
Barriss cringed, feeling three pairs of Jedi eyes bore right into the side of her head. She nodded silently and meekly, not trusting her voice to not crack.
¡°I¡ see,¡± Master Gallia bowed her head lightly, ¡°We are in your debt. Truly.¡±
¡°No¡ no,¡± the Battle Hydra shook his head, ¡°You do the galaxy a favour, undertaking this bloody work. Nobody will thank you for it, not even the generations to come who will never know the strangling yoke of an Imperial Sith regime. Truthfully, I have not expected much from this daring endeavour, but this expedition has proven so much more fruitful than anybody could have expected. But please, assuage my concerns; will the Temple have enough support in itself, much less the Core Worlds, to oppose the Chancellor?¡±
¡°I intend to work behind the High Council, no matter how deceitful that may be,¡± the Jedi Spymaster answered honestly, ¡°I will make a backing on concerned senators and caucuses, of which there will be many. Alderaan, Chandrila, Caamas¡ Humbarine and Corellia. Brentaal, with luck, and Hosnian Prime. Alsakan perhaps, if simply on the prospect of overthrowing the yoke of Coruscanti dominance once more. Worlds in the Rims, too; Queen Neeyutnee of Naboo is predisposed to an alliance. The Senex-Juvex Sectors too. Dorin and Ithor, with some diplomacy. The Council of Neutral Systems, as Duchess Satine of Mandalore may be open to an agreement to end the war.¡±
Barriss¡¯ head swam with the names of myriad worlds and systems, and for the first time she gained true insight into just how real Master Adi Gallia was. This is real, this treason, fomenting a rebellion in the Core and beyond! It isn¡¯t just all smoke and mirrors¡! These were worlds, systems, some who have even been part of the Republic for thousands of years, who Master Gallia had considered open to tearing away from the Republic in a second Separatism. All just to overthrow the Dark Lord of the Sith.
¡°And most of all,¡± the Tholothian murmured, ¡°The Tapani Federation and its Freeworlds. Should I gain their support, it would be the secession of the entire Southern Core, from Balosar to Kitel Phard to Thyferra.¡±
¡°Will convincing them of the Chancellor¡¯s dark religion be enough?¡±
¡°No,¡± she shook her head, ¡°But his corruption runs deep, and he has made little friends with his constant overreaches. The Jedi Order, for all our reputation has fallen, still holds great sway over much of the galaxy. Barriss, Iskat, recall the satellite terrorist attack. The first, dummy program was¡¡±
¡°A Separatist broadcast,¡± Barriss remembered, ¡°But it got caught by the security system.¡±
¡°But the real program is still there, and we can still transmit a broadcast,¡± Master Gallia marshalled her resolve, ¡°And I am still a member of the Jedi High Council, not to mention the most known and recognisable on Coruscant and abroad with my constant diplomatic efforts. All I need to do¡¡±
¡°Is disparage the Chancellor and his Administration, with evidence and rhetoric,¡± Master Plo Koon finished gravely, ¡°And the High Council will not be able to backstep. Adi, you may be¨C¡±
¡°Lynched, disgraced, dispelled, whatever it may be,¡± the Tholothian scowled, ¡°Hang me from the Temple Spire if you must. I¡¯ll be more damned not doing what only I could do. Rather, what of the developments in Separatist Space? Admiral Bonteri, Dooku¨C¡±
¡°Reputation is a rope,¡± the Battle Hydra¡¯s smile has only grown wider and more genuine as Master Gallia¡¯s tirade progressed, ¡°Whether it is spun into a lifeline or a noose depends on the hands of the reputed. And Count Dooku¡¯s reputation¡ ah, our schism will be far more mundane than yours. But the final pieces are being brought into place, and I imagine any day now the Pantoran will decide the time is ripe. Worry not for us, but for yourself.¡±
¡°Ahem,¡± the Princess Eara Lota suddenly made her presence known, and Barriss¡¯ cheeks reddened when she realised they had been ignoring their host all this while, ¡°That¡¯s all¡ splendid, but what of me and mine, which the Jedi have come to settle? Or¡ or was the invitation from the Senate some sick sort of jest? I care not for the galaxy¡¯s self-demolition, but rather the fate of my people, and surely some attention can be spared for this tiny little matter?¡±
¡°My most sincere apologies, Your Highness,¡± Rain Bonteri bowed towards her, his purple silk cape ruffling, ¡°Indeed, let us now settle the Tetan Secession. I will make this a simple affair for all of us; seeing as the Jedi need a boost of reputation for the coming months, I will willingly surrender this affair. But¨C not without a fight.¡±
There was surely more to it than that, and the Jedi knew it.
¡°Explain,¡± Master Plo Koon encouraged.
¡°The Mining Guild, as a subsidiary of the Commerce Guild, unfortunately backs Dooku¡¯s Serenno Government, and is thus a great thorn in my side,¡± the Battle Hydra¡¯s eyes twinkled, irises narrowing into reptilian slivers, ¡°We will negotiate, for some days, whereupon my absent fleets will return to me. Then it will be clear the dastardly Separatists were only buying time for reinforcements. Jedi General Plo Koon will, however, once again defeat me on the field, and I will be forced to flee.¡±
¡°Seeing the winds turn,¡± Princess Eara Lota spoke up, her simple countenance prevailing with a quaint smile, but with sharp and severe words privy only to their ears, ¡°I will attempt a power coup against the Mining Guild, seeking the aid of the Jedi fleet.¡±
¡°And we will root out all Mining Guild presence in the Empress Teta System,¡± the Kel Dor Master appraised, ¡°It will be effective, of this I can be certain. But the timing will have to be perfect.¡±
¡°I have been preparing for this moment all my life, Master Jedi!¡± the Princess laughed mirthfully, ¡°It will be perfect. Because I am the Princess of Empress Teta, and this star system bends to my every demand.¡±
¡°Your confidence imbues me with much the same, Your Highness,¡± Master Plo humoured her, before turning back to the Perlemian Warlord, ¡°But surely, you have other terms, Admiral Bonteri?¡±
The Hydra clasped his hands, ¡°You are aware I used a hidden Givin hyperlane to access this star system?¡±
¡°No, but this would explain it.¡±
¡°Empress Teta is rich and resourceful,¡± he continued unhindered, ¡°And the Serenno Government still suborns many powerful corporations. Empress Teta and her Koros Spaceworks¡ will be the replacement measure. My lieutenants wage a campaign in the Deep Core, deeper than here, to flush out the last remnants of any Loyalist fleet that can challenge this hyperlane. Once this endeavour is complete, I intend to use it for this purpose.¡±
¡°In exchange,¡± Eara Lota added, ¡°Your Jedi faction will have the allegiance and might of Empress Teta and her Koros Sector, along with our subordinate systems, in your war against Coruscant. We are rich, to put it succinctly, and without the Mining Guild leeching the wealth of our worlds to fuel their bottomless greed, we have enough to share with both parties.¡±
They were all in agreement, though nobody did say it outloud. Why must they? Master Gallia¡¯s earlier pleasantries, surprisingly for this kind of effort, rang as true as they could have; I hope this to be a totally diplomatic affair, whereupon we can both depart without a feeling of loss. It was truly, truly, a best case scenario. There was a peaceful air to be found, one considered more a luxury than a thousand vaults of kyber in these harrowing times. Strangely, sitting among their supposed enemies, Barriss felt more at ease than she ever did in the Temple upon her return.
¡°But why?¡± Master Adi Gallia wondered, to fill in the silence, ¡°Why would you go so far, and risk so much? Forgive me, Admiral, however you are but one Separatist Admiral. What would concern you so much as to a religious schism perishingly few have ever heard of?¡±
¡°...These Sith Lords¡¡± the Battle Hydra shut his eyes tight, pointing at the datachip, and for a moment the yet young man seemed far older than he was, ¡°They speak of a conspiracy truly terrible, and to this day I fear I am unable to fathom the scale and depth of it. To see that future never comes to pass; for my sake, for the sake of everyone else¡ I will break anything that gets in my way, be it gods or empires or all the armies in the galaxy.¡±
Chapter 69
Somewhere in the Cato Neimoidia System
Quellor Sector
Rear Admiral Calli Trilm had been mulling over their next course of action when her tactical droid approached her with a datapad. Her extemporaneous decision to overshoot the Seyugi System egress to Cato Neimoidia had been well-justified, when a fleet of those new pocket battleships pounced right on top of where they would have been, by way of the Recopi System. In any case, it was definitive proof the GAR, or the Coruscant Home Fleet at least, had created an algorithm capable of deducing their movements.
It was somewhat of an impossible situation for the 19th Mobile Fleet. Embarking on truly random raids was out of the question; the fleet needed an established line of contact with each other, lest they be grinded down piecemeal from attrition. As such, Calli and her staff had devised a series of patterns that would appear as ¡®random¡¯ as possible, whilst allowing the 19th¡¯s raiders to not only predictably communicate with not just each other but more importantly their auxiliaries, but also be efficient and effective in both their search for Dua Ningo and destruction of GAR materiel.
Unfortunately, should the GAR already have an algorithm in place, then their raids would simply become datasets to feed into their machine. An impossible situation indeed; to achieve their goals, they needed to raid the innumerous worlds in the Core, but the more successful they were in their raids, the faster the GAR could devise a retaliation. It made one question if the endeavour was at all worth the pain and effort. After all, these were seasoned ships and crack spacers, veterans of a hundred engagements. Every warship downed was an incomparable loss.
To make matters even more concerning, Calli Trilm hadn¡¯t been able to contact the 28th Mobile Fleet at all. She had arranged intelligence frigates along the southern zone of her AO, bordering the 28th¡¯s supposed AO in the Southern Core, and yet they had still not seen hull nor signal of their sister fleet. In fact, the fleets of the Freeworlds Common Navy seemed content with guarding their strongholds on the Rimma Trade Route. There was utterly no sign of any upheaval in the Tapani Federation.
¡°It¡¯s because of the Twenty-Eighth, or lack thereof,¡± Commodore Aviso had told her, with no small amount of severity, ¡°Their presence was supposed to split the GAR¡¯s attention between us. But without their presence in the Core, the Bloodhound¡¯s Home Fleet could level all of their attention on us alone.¡±
Calli Trilm rubbed her face. She knew she had jumped the blaster; storming into the Core well before Operation Starlance was ready¨Cbut even then, according to the itinerary, the 28th Mobile was supposed to have already been inserted into the Core. But they were nowhere to be seen¡
Stars damn you, Bonteri! Where are you when I need you!?
They had made an agreement, back at Nanth¡¯ri, to have each other¡¯s back when they were alone in the Core. But how was that possible, when one party wasn¡¯t even present at all? Shit, but it''s still my fault, isn¡¯t it? What if¡ what if she had been abandoned, and the 19th Mobile was acting alone? What if Independence had called off the operation to cut their losses?
Calli Trilm¡¯s expression soured at her own thoughts, eyes narrowing into slivers. They wouldn¡¯t know¨Cshe couldn¡¯t communicate with the Confederacy whilst in the heart of Loyalist space. At that moment then, Calli wondered the feasibility of simply¡ withdrawing. She could dispatch a fleet-wide order to withdraw from the Core and regroup in friendlier space. The Core had hardly the forces to stop all of them. It would mean forsaking the operation however, and forsaking Dua Ningo and the Bulwark Fleet. But if that was the price for all of their lives, then Calli Trilm would more than gladly pay it.
¡°Rear Admiral,¡± her tactical droid attempted to catch her attention again, ¡°We have successfully decrypted the Starpath unit.¡±
The Rear Admiral glanced down at the data, but her gaze remained hazy, and her attention unfocused, ¡°Isolate the priority targets. Military channels, fleet deployments, anything that can help us penetrate the Bloodhound¡¯s next move.¡±
¡°We already have, Admiral,¡± Tex¡¯s synthetic, yet dry undertone finally cleared Calli¡¯s head like a piercing gale lifting a fog, ¡°There was a transmission between the Skako and Coruscant Star Systems, about hyperlane registrars, followed by a report announcing the Invasion of Skako.¡±
¡°Skako¡ invaded?¡± was such a thing even possible, Calli couldn¡¯t help but ponder.
¡°A more recent transmission appears to imply the GAR and Techno Union are already in a ceasefire negotiation,¡± Tex elucidated, ¡°Nevertheless, this was the last known position of the Coruscant Home Fleet, that we can confirm for certain at the very least. The timing also matches with the following coordinated counterattack that destroyed many of our squadrons.¡±
The possibilities the Starpath unit represented raced through the Rear Admiral¡¯s mind, her blood buzzing once more as if she had taken a jab of hard spice. It seemed hope was not all lost just yet. If they can intercept the Bulwark Fleet, they can still escape with a job well done and put the Core behind them.
¡°The Bulwark Fleet¡ and what of the Bulwark Fleet?¡±
¡°We know of an engagement involving the Bulwark Fleet, though we don¡¯t know if the Home Fleet was involved,¡± Tex said, ¡°Caamas System, east of Skako. According to the report, the Bulwark Fleet then jumped south to the Demophon System.¡±
Calli shot to her feet, waving a holographic starchart into existence in front of her captain¡¯s chair and analysing it, ¡°Caamas System¡ the Bulwark Fleet could have broken out into the Mid Rim from there, but they jumped south instead?¡±
¡°From what we know of Admiral Honor Salima, the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s odd movements could potentially be attributed to her,¡± the droid drew a line from Skako to Caamas to Demophon, ¡°If that is the case, then Caamas would be the last known location of the Home Fleet.¡±
¡°Did the Home Fleet not report the victory?¡±
¡°Unless Handler One¡¯s archives are incomplete, Skako was the last time the Home Fleet replied to any of Coruscant¡¯s transmissions. The report was sent by the Caamasi System Fleet, not the Home Fleet¨Cthe reason we can assume the Home Fleet was present at all, was because the Caamasi System Fleet mentioned transferring a cruiser squadron to the Home Fleet in order to reinforce their numbers.¡±
¡°...Add the data from our intel frigates as well,¡± the Rear Admiral instructed, ¡°Let¡¯s start painting the pursuit.¡±
¡°Very good, Admiral,¡± Tex nodded, ¡°From Demophon, the Bulwark Fleet jumped to Vuma in the southeast, where they had been engaged again. Again, we can assume they were engaged in battle there, as the Bulwark Fleet then immediately jumped south to Leria Kerlsil. Our intel frigates discovered Home Fleet elements in the nearby star systems north, northwest, and east of Leria Kerlsil.¡±
¡°They¡¯re shepherding the Bulwark Fleet south,¡± Calli Trilm immediately, boldly surmised, ¡°Does this fit what we know of the Bloodhound?¡±
¡°It does,¡± Tex confirmed, ¡°Admiral Honor Salima is known to be an expert in manoeuvre warfare.¡±
¡°Then the only question that remains is where exactly does the Bloodhound want the Bulwark Fleet?¡± Calli Trilm mused, crossing her arms and eyeing the starchart, ¡°I can only assume she is searching for a suitable battlespace where she can force a decisive engagement¡ however¨C¡±
¡°If she can manoeuvre around the Bulwark Fleet so freely, she could have already forced one on her own terms,¡± her tactical droid finished her train of thought, ¡°According to my calculations; Skako, Caamas, and Vuma should have all been decisive battles where the Home Fleet could have destroyed the Bulwark Fleet in its entirety.¡±
¡°So either we''re dealing with an utterly terrible tactician,¡± Calli Trilm thought out loud, ¡°Or we¡¯re dealing with another of the Bloodhound¡¯s stratagems. Is there anything else we can glean from Handler One?¡±
That made the droid pause, ¡°...Admiral Honor¡¯s destination may be the Rendili Star System. According to a transmission from Coruscant, the Home Fleet may have been given orders to suppress a secession attempt in the Rendili Sector.
That took the Rear Admiral by surprise, ¡°But why would Rendili secede? Last I heard, their Arch-Provost is a hardline Rendili nationalist, and had done everything in his power to modernise the Rendili StarDrive to meet Kuat¡¯s competition. You can¡¯t convince me he suddenly decided to switch sides after investing so much into Republic infrastructure and warships.¡±
¡°We will only find out if we make for Rendili,¡± the droid might as well have shrugged, ¡°Reaching Rendili may also allow us to reestablish communication with Star Station Independence, however.¡±
¡°Is that wise?¡±
Tex¡¯s response was swift¨C ¡°Not at all. I believe Admiral Honor Salima is attempting to use the Bulwark Fleet to lure us to Rendili. She seeks not a decisive engagement, but the decisive engagement, in which she can destroy the Bulwark Fleet, the Nineteenth Mobile Fleet, and the Rendili Defense Fleet together in one action.¡±
¡°She doesn¡¯t have the numbers,¡± Calli pointed out.
¡°Not if she regroups with Jedi General Kenobi¡¯s Open Circle Fleet¨Cwhose last known location was still Commenor¨Cprior to that,¡± the droid warned, ¡°Admiral Ningo should have barely a hundred fighting warships, and the Rendili Defense Fleet has no more than two-hundred. We have two-hundred as well, for a total of five-hundred warships. The Coruscant Home Fleet and Open Circle Fleet would make six-hundred warships, with a much heavier tonnage on a per ship basis as well.¡±
Stang. Calli Trilm felt the datapad weight heavy in her hands, and mindlessly scrolled the innumerable reports archived onto it. They had to dedicate a number of frigates simply to process the sheer volume of reports coming in and out of Coruscant, with how many exabytes of sheer processing power delegated to simply filtering out which were important and which were some random senator¡¯s under-the-table dealings.
Until a particular transmission caught her eye. Calli lifted it up to show the tactical droid. It was an inquiry from Coruscant, requesting any available warships from the Anaxes shipyards. No doubt the Republic Admiralty was attempting to muster up a new fleet in response to all the incursions into the Core, but it caught her eye nonetheless. Fiddling with the datapad, she managed to filter out all the tangentially related transmissions. There were much more of the same; mostly inquiries from nearby star systems for any available warships.
¡°To suppress the raids in the Agricultural Circuit,¡± Calli recited a specific line that caught her eye, before looking up at Tex, ¡°Now, what does that remind you of?¡±
¡°...The chances of the Twenty-Eighth Mobile operating in the Agricultural Circuit is infinitesimally small¨C¡±
¡°What other brainless drydak would be raiding within walking distance of Coruscant itself?¡± Calli suppressed a laugh, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Bonteri last fighting at Yag¡¯Dhul? The homeworld of the Givin? What are the chances he used some bespoke spacelane to circumnavigate the Deep Core?¡±
¡°And¡¡± the Rear Admiral grinned, waving the datapad pinched between two fingers, ¡°What are the chances we can reach him through Handler One?¡±
¡°Handler One feeds us data from Coruscanti satellites,¡± Tex snatched the datapad, ¡°It is plausible, if the Twenty-Eighth is within range of the GAR¡¯s communications network. But that runs the risk of the GAR noticing a rogue, even perhaps unauthorised, transmission in their network. We do not yet understand how PRIESTESS operates, Admiral. We could risk self-sabotaging one of the greatest intelligence sources the Confederacy has at its disposal.¡±
¡°Rendili. Trust me.¡±
¡°What.¡±
¡°Send that to him, wherever he is,¡± Calli said, ¡°Short enough to run past the GAR undetected, if they¡¯re listening, but enough for him to understand.¡±
¡°If he has access to the same data as we do, he¡¯ll understand we¡¯re telling him to enter a trap,¡± the droid shook his head, ¡°He might not trust it.¡±
¡°Droid.¡±
¡°Admiral?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sending it. Me.¡±
¡°...Very well, sir.¡±
¡°Dispatch a fleet-wide order; we will regroup in the Rendili Star System!¡±
Have I ever, ever, asked you outright to trust me?
That stupid voice echoed through her head. No, she answered anyway, never.
Because I know you wouldn¡¯t ask me to trust you. That¡¯s the game, isn¡¯t it? Since the start. So let¡¯s only use that when it counts.
?
Recopia Orbit, Recopi System
Humbarine Sector
¡°They¡¯ve taken the bait, Admiral,¡± Flag Captain Terrinald Screed reported with brevity, but it was enough to tell Admiral Honor Salima everything she needed to know.
Standing over the holo, Admiral Honor observed the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada convalescing in the Rendili Star System through intermittent updates and reports, pivoting out of their raiding stances and gathering their strength. Not by taking straight vectors, no, as that would make them vulnerable to interception, but via unpredictable routes and many times taking leaps of faith where there were no reliable spacelanes. From afar, it appeared as if they were swirling towards Rendili, like water being flushed down a drain.
And wasn¡¯t that a fitting metaphor?
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
¡°Order Captain Dodonna to intercept as many of their warships in transit as possible,¡± she ordered, ¡°No reason to let them regroup unmolested.¡±
¡°With all due respect, sir,¡± Terrinald Screed straightened, ¡°This whole strategy hinges on our reinforcements. With all three enemy fleets, they¡¯ll outnumber us three to one¨Cunless the Jedi fleet High Command promised actually arrives.¡±
¡°You doubt the reliability of High Command?¡±
¡°I doubt the reliability of the Jedi,¡± Captain Screed¡¯s gloved fist tightened, leather straining, ¡°Skywalker failed to destroy Rain Bonteri at Yag¡¯Dhul, and Kenobi allowed Calli Trilm to slip through his fingers not once, but twice.¡±
¡°Yag¡¯Dhul was a group effort,¡± Admiral Honor Salima noted, ¡°You can hardly level blame at Skywalker without blaming Admiral Yularen, Admiral Jerjerrod, or Governor-General Octavian Grant.¡±
¡°Two Jedi puppets and a sheltered noble who doesn¡¯t know bow from aft,¡± Captain Screed muttered viciously.
The room stirred at that comment. How many of the officers on deck were ¡®sheltered nobles who don''t know bow from aft¡¯? Many of them, Honor would allege, at least until she whipped them all into shape and took them onto the campaign trail. She would disagree with her flag captain, however, on his assessment of Octavian Grant. He was a noble of the Tapani Federation, yes, but so was Honor a noble of the Coruscant elite. One could hardly escape the label in the Core Worlds. To get anywhere in the Republic Navy, you had to be able to trace your surname to some ancient hero or the other.
From what she had heard, Grant was capable enough, if reclusive and unwilling to operate outside the Tapani Oversector. But she could hardly fault him for his nationalist bent. Most Tapani were like that. What she could fault him for; letting the Battle Hydra penetrate the Deep Core. On the other hand, if her suspicions proved true, then the Givin of Yag¡¯Dhul surely had a hand in that.
¡°Admiral,¡± a comms officer beckoned her, ¡°We have an incoming transmission from Exodeen¡ it¡¯s the Open Circle Fleet.¡±
Admiral Honor could feel Captain Screed¡¯s stare digging into the side of her head as she ordered the transmission to be patched through. As expected, the white-garbed form of Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared, a young alien girl standing by his side. Togruta, she decided, from her striped montrals. Terrinald Screed sniffed in distaste upon seeing the child. The hologram scanned down for a moment, until the connection stabilised.
¡°I wonder why High Command refrained from informing us of the nature of our reinforcements?¡± the Bloodhound wondered aloud, ¡°Was it because it was the man who failed to catch Calli Trilm twice?¡±
The Jedi General¡¯s affable expression never once departed his face, even as he set a firm hand on his protege¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I request we postpone the levelling of hostilities until after we have dealt with the intruders, Admiral. These arguments would be better served on Coruscant than here.¡±
Admiral Honor narrowed her eyes, but ultimately tilted her head in agreement, waving her flag captain back, ¡°Very well. So you are to be our reinforcements? And Skywalker?¡±
¡°Anakin is currently fighting the Tombmaker with the the Second and Eighteenth Sector Armies on the Rimma Trade Route,¡± Kenobi brushed his beard, ¡°They¡¯re preventing Horn Ambigene from bringing his bloody trade into the Deep Core. But his presence will not be needed. I bring three-hundred warships, currently stationed south of Rendili at Exodeen.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll have six-hundred ships together, Admiral,¡± Captain Screed supplied, ¡°The enemy will have less than five-hundred.¡±
¡°So these are all the forces the Admiralty delegated for this effort?¡± Admiral Honor tried to confirm, so that they may start planning.
¡°In truth, Admiral, the reason High Command failed to specify which Jedi is coming to your aid is because there is still another fleet that may possibly join us,¡± General Kenobi informed her with a smile beneath his beard, ¡°Jedi General Plo Koon and Task Force Hyperion. It is only another a hundred ships, yes, however¨C¡±
¡°He won the only decisively strategic victory against the Battle Hydra at Metalorn,¡± Captain Screed finished, ¡°His near death experience notwithstanding, as a result of an ill-planned boarding action. Without that blunder, his victory would have been near perfect.¡±
¡°You¡¯re terribly well-informed of his exploits,¡± the Togruta girl commented.
Screed levied a steady glare at the girl, ¡°When placed against the rest of Jedi Command¡¯s naval operations, one could only be taken by the only bright spot in all of it. Forgive me, Commander, but I believe the Jedi Generals are better suited for planetside warfare. Naval veterans the likes of Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin are hard to come by.¡±
¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree, Captain,¡± General Kenobi concurred mildly, ¡°Nevertheless, General Plo Koon had been tasked with suppressing the Tetan Secession, and defeating the Battle Hydra there if need be. If he is to complete this action promptly, it was High Command¡¯s intention to immediately deploy him to our AO.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that optimistic of High Command?¡± Admiral Honor Salima leaned back slightly, ¡°His foe is still the Battle Hydra.¡±
¡°And General Plo Koon is still the hero of the Hyperspace War,¡± Obi-Wan Kenobi shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I will have to request that you delay the Battle of Rendili for a bit longer.¡±
¡°We cannot loiter too long,¡± she grunted, ¡°Calli Trilm will want to abscond with the Bulwark Fleet the moment they rendezvous. We must interrupt them at that precise moment to deal the most damage. The timing must be perfect.¡±
¡°Nothing to fear, Admiral. Hyperion is already enroute.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± something sparked behind the Bloodhound¡¯s gaze, and even Terrinald Screed¡¯s eyes widened fractionally, ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡?¡±
¡°Task Force Hyperion has reported an operational success,¡± General Kenobi offered a lopsided smirk, ¡°If you had maintained contact with Coruscant, you should be well-informed. With his support, the Galactic Mining Guild regime has been overthrown by a Loyalist coup at the hands of the Princess¨Cnow Empress Eara Lota. The Battle Hydra had been forced to retreat.¡±
Honor Salima laughed. A short, sharp bark that caught those around by surprise. For the first time since the beginning of this space-train of blunders, High Command had finally marshalled its wits and formulated a counterattack. Spearheaded by a Jedi General, no less! And one, even by Terrinald Screed¡¯s admission, knows what he was doing.
¡°I see!¡± she said mirthfully, ¡°Captain Screed, order Captain Autem to push the Sullustan in Rendili! Let us plot the final end of the damned Perlemian Coalition!¡±
?
Empress Teta Approach, Empress Teta System
Koros Sector
¡°Something you have to tell us, Barriss?¡± Iskat Akaris asked her once they were back aboard Hyperion.
Barriss glanced over at the Jedi Masters, but Master Plo Koon had already departed to reestablish his presence on the deck, whilst Master Adi Gallia was of no help at all. Rather, she sided with Iskat instead.
¡°Indeed,¡± the Tholothian Jedi crossed her arms, lips quirked in amusement, ¡°Now, why would the Battle Hydra of all people ask us to confer with you? Something to do with the satellite operation, Barriss?¡±
Oh come on! You already know! Master Gallia¡¯s emotions were unguarded, Barriss could sense, and she could tell her line of questioning was no more serious than a badly timed joke. She¡¯s having fun with this, Barriss realised. Not that Iskat realised; the red-skinned alien was ever more talented with her sword arm than her Force senses.
¡°The satellite operation?¡± Iskat latched on sharply, unwittingly playing to the Jedi Master¡¯s game, ¡°Barriss, what did you do?¡±
Seeing no reason to skirt the issue, Barriss simply raised her hands in surrender and said; ¡°I inserted two programs into the satellite back then. First was Bode¡¯s, the other was a Separatist spy program.¡±
Iskat froze, the atmosphere shifted, and Adi Gallia¡¯s smile dropped.
¡°You¡¯re a Separatist spy?¡± Iskat Akaris curled her lips, aghast, ¡°Since when!?¡±
¡°Since I returned,¡± Barriss watched Iskat¡¯s lightsaber carefully. She was no match for the Knight, that was for certain, and she daresay she wasn¡¯t sure if Master Gallia was either. At least, Master Gallia had never been known for her duelling skills.
Master Plo Koon would definitely be able to stop Iskat if she went on a rampage, but he wasn¡¯t here. Barriss reached out through the Force, fearing the worst. Help. Adi Gallia¡¯s eyes sharpened, and with a whisk unclipped Iskat¡¯s lightsaber and whipped it towards her. Except, Iskat has two lightsabers, doesn¡¯t she? Barriss attempted to convey as such to Master Gallia, but she didn¡¯t seem to have noticed.
The Jedi Knight whirled around, ¡°Master!?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s hear her reasons,¡± the Jedi spymaster said softly, soothingly.
¡°She¡¯s a spy!¡±
¡°We¡¯re spies, too,¡± Master Gallia shot back, ¡°Have you not realised, Iskat? We¡¯ve already betrayed the Republic by consorting with the enemy. Now, let us hear her reasons.¡±
¡°...He told me first,¡± Barriss finally admitted, and a weight was lifted from her chest, ¡°About the Sith Lord. I promise you, the Separatist program and Bode¡¯s program have the same purpose. While we want to uncover the Sith Lord in the Republic, the Pantoran wants to uncover Count Dooku¡¯s true allegiance to use against him in the courts.¡±
¡°Bode¡¯s program reads Coruscant¡¯s satellites!¡± Iskat shouted, ¡°If the Seppie program does the same¨Cyou¡¯ve just handed everything coming in and out of Coruscant to the Separatists on a silver platter! Every fleet deployment, every major order, every army command! How will we win the war like this?¡±
¡°The war, Iskat, will be won when we rid the galaxy of the Sith,¡± Barriss explained calmly, ¡°That is my mission. That is why I agreed to help the Separatists. I don¡¯t care if the Confederacy breaks, or the Republic breaks, or both. I don¡¯t care if the entire galaxy needs to be torn down and rebuilt¨Cif that¡¯s what I need to do to exterminate the Sith, then that¡¯s what I''ll do.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Iskat looked lost, like a lost dog searching for her owner, ¡°But how can we do that when it¡¯s just us? Not even the rest of the High Council is in on this!¡±
¡°We try, Iskat,¡± Master Gallia offered her lightsaber back, ¡°We try our best, and we succeed, then we know we¡¯ve prevented a terrible future.¡±
¡°And if we fail?¡±
¡°Then we die with a smile, preferable at the end of a red lightsaber, knowing we¡¯ve tried.¡±
Iskat gingerly reclaimed her weapon, and the Jedi Master resumed; ¡°I¡¯m pairing the both of you together. When we return to Coruscant, we must begin flushing out¨C¡±
¡°Adi,¡± Master Plo Koon¡¯s voice rang out from the comlink, ¡°I¡¯ve received orders from Coruscant to suppress a revolt in the Rendili System as soon as we¡¯ve secured Empress Teta. I¡¯m putting all three of you on a frigate back to the capital. We have different fights. May the Force be with you.¡±
¡°Understood. May the Force be with you,¡± Adi Gallia echoed, ¡°Let¡¯s go, girls. A battle¡¯s about to be fought, and I¡¯d like to miss it.¡±
?
I gritted my teeth to avoid biting off my tongue as Chimeractica was rocked violently, bracketed by a volley of concussion missiles. Plo Koon certainly wasn¡¯t pulling his punches, despite our prior agreement, as his fleet plunged into our ranks, a deadly vanguard of Victory-class Star Destroyers ripping into our front ranks as his larger battlecruisers spread out onto the wings and pinned down our flanks. He didn¡¯t appear to be wielding his Force cheat this time¨Cbattle meditation, was it called?¨Cbut he hardly needed to.
I mean, sure, he had to make it believable for his spacers¨Cbut weren¡¯t his spacers green boys freshly harvested from the academies? A fleet wasn¡¯t just warships, as modern as they may be, and was nothing without its crews. And yet, Plo Koon wielded his crews with well-oiled efficiency, steadily mounting up the pressure on the 28th Mobile¡¯s ranks as he pressed us away from Empress Teta.
And speaking of Empress Teta¨C
¡°Twenty ships bearing down on our portside, bearing three-one-one relative, range two-hundred thousand klicks,¡± Diedrich Greyshade warned, ¡°It¡¯s the Tetan Guard.¡±
¡°Just great,¡± I muttered¨Cwe were about to get outflanked, ¡°Tuff; order a general retreat. Peel off ten droid warships on our left to delay the Tetans.¡±
¡°As you command, sir.¡±
Almost instantaneously in the droid commanded style, ten Recusant-class destroyers separated from the lattice and formed a tight line of battle opposing the Tetan warships, led by Lexington and Saratoga.
¡°Great, great,¡± I breathed out, ¡°All going to plan. Dodecian Illiet, is our vector of escape open?¡±
¡°Affirmative. We will jump to Tython, then to Ojom in the southeast Deep Core. We will be able to jump back onto the Nexus Route from there via the Kalist System, circumnavigating any Loyalist forces around Odik.¡±
¡°Perfect,¡± I mumbled as I facilitated our withdrawal, beating back any straggling warships back into line with strict commands whenever any drifted out of course. I couldn¡¯t blame them too much, it was difficult enough maintaining a battle lattice in combat, especially against a hardass opponent like the Jedi, and it was even more difficult to maintain a lattice while going backwards, ¡°Melodiosa, you¡¯re falling behind!¡±
Falling forwards, rather, since we were retreating.
¡°Our retrothrusters are shot, sir!¡±
I blinked, then honed in onto the adjacent ships, ¡°Riposte, Ronin Huntress, use your forward tractor beams to drag Melodiosa back into line!¡±
¡°Chimeratica, Riposte. Understood.¡±
¡°Chimeratica, Ronin. Yes, sir.¡±
¡°Lady Lex is being boarded,¡± Tuff noted calmly, and my attention snapped back around.
Two Tetan Supremacy-class cruisers had bracketed the droidship, allowing a host of attack ships to swarm her shell and start inserting troops. The squadron was putting up a good fight, but they were outnumbered two-to-one and flagging under the Tetan assault. Soon, even Saratoga was under siege, her Vulture droids desperately trying to fend off waves of Tetan assault crafts.
¡°The Empress is a clever one, isn¡¯t she?¡± I mused, referring to Eara Lota, ¡°It¡¯s good to see that she¡¯s a woman of her word.¡±
With this, Lexington and Saratoga will be successfully stationed in the Empress Teta System without drawing suspicion from the GAR, as the Tetans have claimed them as spoils of war. In reality, they would effectively act as floating embassies for the Confederacy, in order to facilitate our trade agreements. That, and also as¡ insurance. In case the Chancellor activates his Jedi extermination order or whatever the hell it was. I would at least have ships in a nearby system to watch over the Jedi Temple.
¡°Fleet navicomputers have been synchronised, Admiral,¡± Dodecian Illiet notified, ¡°Confirm Tython as our destination?¡±
¡°Confirmed!¡± I barked, ¡°Tuff, bring us around!¡±
Retrothrusters were abruptly cut all across the lattice, with the second rank swivelling around first¨Ceach individual ship spinning 180 degrees transversely like a top until they were facing backwards. The rear screen would jump first with half of Illiet¡¯s fleet to guide them, opening the way for the forward screens to turn around and immediately follow them. It had to be done this way to avoid collisions in pseudomotion; not to mention if both ranks spun around at the same time, all that would accomplish was opening up our vulnerable aft flank to the enemy.
¡°Incoming transmission from Lady Lex!¡± Taylor suddenly shouted in alarm, ¡°I¡¯m putting it through!¡±
I squinted at the tactical holo again. Lexington was getting boarded, and my eyes were not mistaken. What could be so important¨C?
[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] FWD: RENDILI TRUST ME
The words scrawled across the tactical holo, and my heart stopped, my next breath catching in my throat. I swallowed it down painfully, as if there were hooks ripping into my lungs as I did so.
¡°B¨CBelay that order!¡± I roared into the comms, ¡°All ships are to bear oh-seven-oh! Illiet, is the Daragon Trail still open!?¡±
¡°Only until the Vulpter System. The rest of the hyperlane collapsed millennia ago.¡±
¡°But we can break into Arrowhead from there!?¡±
¡°Correct.¡±
¡°Change of destination; plot a course for the Rendili System! We¡¯re reinforcing our sister fleet!¡±
Chapter 70
Rendili Orbit, Rendili System
Rendili Sector
Rear Admiral Calli Trilm could not care one mote about the fate of Rendili. Empress Teta¡¯s secession attempt has emboldened the more brazen planetary governments to defect to the Separatist Alliance, for a whole multitude of reasons. Some, simply put, may believe the Republic to be losing the war, with so many Separatist fleets rampaging through the Core as it was. Others, perhaps, had always had Separatist loyalties, but were never able to act on them due to their proximity to Coruscant.
Or some, like Rendili, simply feel unrecognised by the Republic Senate, and neglected in favour of their competitors¡ From that perspective, the Confederacy had every reason to secure Rendili¡¯s loyalty; after all, the government¡¯s Rendili StarDrive was one of the Kuat Drive Yard¡¯s few competitors in the field of military engineering, possessing a rich shipbuilding tradition that the relatively young Confederate shipyard industry desperately needed.
Alas, it was not Calli Trilm¡¯s mission to defend Rendili from the consequences of their own ill-conceived rebellion. Maybe the Independent Provisional Government expected more systems to fall into lockstep with them, but that had failed to be the case. Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s counter-campaign in the Galactic Interior has made certain of that, and Calli Trilm theorised that the myriad worlds teetering on the fence between Loyalism and Separatism were all patiently observing the outcome of the now-inevitable battle to decide which side they fall towards.
Rather, it was her mission to steal away with the Bulwark Fleet back into the safety of Separatist space. She had run havoc throughout the Arrowhead in search of the dastardly old Sullustan already, and she was in no mood to sightsee even more of the same old Core systems. So long as she makes away with the lives of Dua Ningo and herself, she couldn''t care less how the Republic decides Rendili¡¯s fate.
Unfortunately, the Republic would not so easily allow her to escape. Even now, Obi-Wan Kenobi, whom she had given the slip twice now, was bivouacked at Exodeen blocking their south; and the Coruscant Home Fleet, which had snowballed in size with every star system they visited to some three-hundred ships, now stood over the corpses of Calli¡¯s auxiliaries at Recopia to their north. Over half-a-thousand warships in total, and neither were likely to be so accommodating to her sudden departure.
Even with the remnants of the Bulwark Fleet, Calli still only commanded half that number.
Except, the Rendili Home Defence Fleet commanded two-hundred. Too powerful, too politically important for Coruscant to wrest away, the Rendili Defence Fleet was virtually untouched by the war, and her vessels were state-of-the-art and in perfectly mint condition. The perfect force equaliser; if Calli could convince them to help her escape¨Cand leave their home vulnerable to Republic retribution in the process.
¡°The Provisional Government insists all we must do is repulse the Republic attack,¡± Captain Jace Dallin, the Commanding Officer of the Rendili Defence Fleet, told her sternly, ¡°And it will be enough to turn the sentiments in the region. Samaria, Sedratis, Rehemsa¨Cthey will all follow in Rendili¡¯s footsteps.¡±
¡°You do not speak with much conviction,¡± Rear Admiral Trilm replied, and rightly so.
Jace Dallin was a man whose character left no larger an impression upon her mind than which her boot would make on the pavement. He stood with the stiff countenance of any other career military man, with a stiff upper lip and slicked back hair, and a fade scar that ran down the entirety of his left face, from the forehead to the chin. His utter insipidity aside, Jace Dallin was, for a man of such high rank, surprisingly conflicted.
He was a Loyalist, through and through, despite serving the now Separatist Rendili government, and had made his name in the Stark Hyperspace War. A veteran soldier, he fought for the Eriaduan ORSF, then the Republic Judicial Forces, before finally settling back onto his homeworld of Rendili and swifty rising to supreme commander of the RHDF. For the Independent Provisional Government to reaffirm his position as head of their armed forces, rather than murdering him in their ongoing political purge, was another reason for Calli to doubt the reliability of this so-called Separatist government.
¡°Nor do you,¡± Captain Dallin retorted, ¡°For the woman who outwitted the famed Obi-Wan Kenobi twice, I fail to sense any confidence in victory from you. Is running away all you know how to do?¡±
Calli laughed out loud, ¡°You also fail to realise that the definition of ¡®victory¡¯ depends on the circumstances. If running away is the definition of ¡®defeat¡¯, then I will gladly suffer a thousand defeats to avoid being defeated. The Confederacy seeks not victories, Captain, only victory. In this, all true Separatists understand, and will bring that understanding to their grave if they must. No price is too high to pay for the freedom of the Rim, and no sacrifice too great.¡±
¡°...Rendili does not intend to be sacrificed,¡± Jace Dallin clenched his jaw, the grinding of his teeth barely audible.
¡°Nor will it, if your ministers had any sense,¡± for the first time, the diminutive Admiral Dua Ningo spoke, his voice gravelly and touched with age and accent, ¡°Surely the Provisional Government had secured assurances from the Confederacy before deciding to secede?¡±
Comparative to Jace Dallin, Calli Trilm had no impression of Dua Ningo to speak of. She hadn¡¯t a favourable opinion of him nevertheless, for the man was the source of much grief to her, albeit unknowingly. Nor did she know if he were to be a boon or bane in the upcoming engagement. The old Sullustan was a bit of an enigma in that regard, for he had been missing for the most of the war. He had nonetheless managed to stay always one step ahead of the Home Fleet for months, which spoke well of his capability, but it was also true he had been isolated and acting alone for the most part in that time.
Now that she had to work with him, cooperation would be an entirely different beast, further exacerbated by the technicality that he actually outranked her, being a full fleet admiral. On the other hand, she was the ranking officer of twice his numbers, all of whom are deathly loyal to her alone. Calli Trilm did not seek friction, but she would not put her command in the hands of a man of which she was an utter stranger to.
¡°I am not privileged to that information,¡± the Rendili Captain answered Dua Ningo softly, ¡°All I know is that my government acts on the word of Count Dooku himself.¡±
¡°Then is that not enough insurance to act?¡± the Sullustan Admiral inquired honestly, ¡°Rendili¡¯s planetary shields are second to none in this region of space. Skako held out for over a year, and the Neimoidian purseworlds have yet to fall.¡±
And that was the other matter occupying Calli¡¯s mind. She had refrained from enlightening Admiral Ningo of the current state of the Confederacy, partially because she feared her knowledge may be months out of date, and partially because she knew not where the Sullustan¡¯s loyalties would lie. Would he support the legitimate government and military authority on Raxus Secundus, or would he support his old acquaintance and ally Count Dooku on Serenno?
Calli Trilm would prod him, prod and poke, until she had ascertained his allegiances. And should she find them disagreeable, she will turn her flagship¡¯s guns on his head without hesitation, for her orders were not to bring back another belligerent against the Raxus Government, but the Bulwark Fleet itself.
¡°Will the Confederacy win within the year?¡± Captain Dallin demanded, ¡°Even as we speak the Sector Armadas of the Republic Navy return to the Core.¡±
¡°The Confederacy won¡¯t need to, if Rendili can convince her neighbours to join her,¡± Calli decided to circle back to Dallin¡¯s initial point, ¡°You were not incorrect when you said Rendili¡¯s best chance at survival is to draw more systems to secede.¡±
Jace Dallin narrowed his eyes at her capriciousness, ¡°I told you; that can only happen if¨C¡±
¡°We defeat the Republic here,¡± Admiral Dua Ningo finished, ¡°That is not impossible.¡±
¡°The moment we make to move, the Bloodhound will surely jump to intercept us,¡± Calli agreed, ¡°If your fleet supports us, we have every reason to believe we can prevail.¡±
¡°We will be fighting an offensive battle with fewer ships!¡± Captain Dallin appealed strongly, ¡°We should instead prepare the battlespace around Rendili, in range of her ground-to-orbit batteries!¡±
¡°The only reason the Home Fleet has not attacked yet is precisely because of the number disparity!¡± Calli rebuked, none too kindly, ¡°We have five-hundred, they six-hundred. With Rendili¡¯s artillery, even Honor Salima and Obi-Wan Kenobi have reason to remain cautious about their chances. But as you yourself stated; reinforcements from the front are approaching with every passing day, bolstering their numbers. At the beginning of the campaign, the Home Fleet had what, two-hundred ships? Now they have three. It is not the Republic without time, it is us.¡±
Jace Dallin clenched his fists, but nodded in concession, even if he was none too pleased about the admission, ¡°What do you suggest, then?¡±
¡°My staff tells me it is a three day transit from Empress Teta to Rendili, at the most direct possible transit,¡± Calli Trilm told her audience, ¡°I summoned for reinforcements a day ago. Therefore, in two days we will break for Manaan. It is an out of the way system on the border of the Mid Rim, largely forfeited by Republic authorities and devoid of any GAR presence, from which we can escape to Separatist space on the Ootmian Pabol.¡±
¡°Empress Teta?¡± Captain Jace Dallin immediately latched onto the name, ¡°Reinforcements from Empress Teta are coming? You are absolutely certain?¡±
¡°I am,¡± Calli confirmed with more confidence than she felt, but she needed something to push the man over the edge. She needed his two-hundred warships, ¡°And if all goes well, we will time our breakout at precisely the moment they arrive.¡±
?
Exodeen Orbit, Exodeen System
Quellor Sector
¡°It would appear the Perlemian Coalition is preparing to depart, Admiral,¡± Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi informed his holographic ally, who thus crossed her arms in thought, ¡°My scoutships report she has begun the rapid disassembly of her remaining auxiliaries and other slower support ships.¡±
¡°She is not even taking the time to catch her breath,¡± Admiral Honor murmured, ¡°I expected her to at least confirm the situation in the Confederacy before jumping. I am afraid General Plo Koon may not make it in time. We must jump immediately if we hope to catch Calli Trilm before she leaves.¡±
Obi-Wan was inclined to agree. Taking into account the distances involved, it was a day¡¯s transit from Exodeen to Rendili, and not any sooner, for his ships were not Anakin¡¯s. With ample use of probe droids and scoutships, they had hoped to catch Calli Trilm directly as she was transiting to the Rendili hyperlimit¨Cwhere the planet¡¯s gravity well no longer posed a direct danger to hyperspace insertion and well out of range of the planetside guns. They knew¨Croughly¨Cthe direction in which she would insert, as the Home Fleet and Open Circle Fleet hemmed in her north and south respectively, and the Deep Core the west.
Their strategy was to jump into deep space no more than a parsec outside the Rendili Star System¡¯s termination shock, then microjump directly on top of the Perlemian Coalition just as Calli Trilm reached the jumpzone, pincering her fleet north and south. There was nothing in the strategy that required Master Plo Koon¡¯s presence, merely that his additional hundred vessels and wealth of experience would command the battlefield with simply that much more ease.
The reason they had refrained from jumping to their specified stations near the Rendili System was simply because they had no reason to alert Calli Trilm of their plan any earlier than they had to. But if she was about to depart already, then there could be no later than this to execute the strategy.
¡°I would have preferred to update General Plo on our course of action,¡± Obi-Wan groused with no real heat, ¡°But as it stands, we must hope he is able to adapt quickly when he extracts.¡±
Admiral Honor tilted her head in concurrence, ¡°A shame that the timing must be so tight¨C¡±
¡°¨CGeneral,¡± Commander Cody briskly stepped into frame, drawing the Admiral¡¯s attention from the other side, ¡°We¡¯re receiving a transmission.¡±
¡°From whom?¡± Obi-Wan asked sharply, well aware of Admiral Honor¡¯s silent observance, ¡°Is it urgent?¡±
¡°From General Plo Koon, sir,¡± there was no hesitation in the Clone Commander¡¯s cadence, but Obi-Wan knew his friend and comrade well enough to discern the unsurety in his tone nonetheless.
After all, it was impossible to send and receive transmissions while in hyperspace transit. Which meant this transmission was from somebody posing as Plo Koon, or Plo Koon had already extracted somewhere.
¡°Put it through, c-Commander!¡± Admiral Honor snapped through the hologram, barely refraining from saying ¡®clone¡¯ in his presence. Commander Cody barely had to wait for Obi-Wan¡¯s gesture to dash away.
A moment¡¯s pause later, and the familiar form of the old Kel-Dor had joined them at the holotable.
¡°I have extracted at Leria Kerlsil,¡± Jedi General Plo Koon inserted immediately, before either Obi-Wan or Honor could even eke out a word, ¡°There has been a complication to whatever plan you may have devised.¡±
¡°Leria¨C¡± Honor started severely nonetheless, ¡°Leria Kerlsil is still halfway between Empress Teta and Rendili!¡±
You better have a good reason for wasting valuable hours in realspace when you could still be transiting! Was what Honor Salima left unsaid.
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¡°An astute observation, Admiral,¡± Master Plo Koon allowed, like a father to a daughter, ¡°But I feared that if I had not taken the time to warn you, the battle might have been lost before it even began. You may discard whichever strategy you may have had in mind, as at this moment the Battle Hydra approaches Rendili.¡±
¡°The Hydra?¡± Obi-Wan brushed his beard worriedly, ¡°I was led to believe you had kicked him out of Empress Teta.¡±
¡°I had,¡± the Kel-Dor Master replied with a rising lilt, ¡°And this was the direction he had fled in. I can only suspect the two Perlemian fleets still have a line of communication with each other¨C¡±
¡°¨CAnd Calli Trilm had summoned Rain Bonteri to aid her,¡± Admiral Honor Salima finished, and she sounded utterly exasperated, ¡°Really, I¡¯d like to personally ask the devil whether he¡¯s making room for the Separatists or for us.¡±
With this revelation in mind, it was obvious why Plo Koon had decided to delay his arrival to warn them. If the Battle Hydra, in all of this tactical superiority, had managed to blindside their carefully timed interception¡ the result would have been disastrous. On the other hand, it now meant Task Force Hyperion will be delayed by several hours, leaving the Home Fleet and Open Circle Fleet alone to fight a now numerically superior enemy.
¡°We must devise a new strategy immediately,¡± General Plo Koon advised, ¡°As I must be ready to play my part the moment I extract, and every minute I linger in Leria Kerlsil is another minute I won¡¯t be present on the battlefield at all.¡±
¡°...Very well,¡± Honor Salima blew out a forceful breath, before marshalling her features into an imperious countenance, ¡°General Kenobi, how do you think you will fair outnumbered three-to-five?¡±
¡°...For how long?¡± Obi-Wan replied tentatively.
¡°For however long it takes for General Plo Koon to arrive,¡± there was a dark twinkle in the Bloodhound¡¯s eye.
?
Rendili Approach, Rendili System
Rendili Sector
As the combined Separatist fleet approached the jumpzone and selected battlespace, their collective nervousness intensified. Even Calli Trilm, chill as she may try, couldn¡¯t prevent her nerves from becoming a jumbled mess. The vacuum itself seemed taught with energy, and everywhere frantic eyes darted to the stars, misidentifying every twinkle as a flash of pseudomotion.
But the Cronau radiation sensors remained quiet. Those sensor operators employed at their stations were acutely aware of their monumental responsibility. Their reaction time could mean life or death for not only themselves and everybody aboard their respective vessels, but the entire fleet itself. This awareness alone fueled their stress, faces pale and stern and glued onto their displays. If one would look under the control panels, however, one would see hundreds of wringing hands venting their anxiety.
The 19th Mobile Fleet had been the bloody scourge of the Core Worlds for two months, and now it was time to go home. The enemy was the last thing between them and that.
The combined fleet of five-hundred ships had been arranged into a sharpened arrowhead. Rendili Victory-class Star Destroyers took the vanguard, backed by a solid mass of Providence-class and Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers to supply the proper impetus necessary to overwhelm the enemy line of battle. On the wings, Dua Ningo and his captains commanded the Bulwark-class battlecruisers, providing ample a solid wall against any potential flanking manoeuvres undertaken by their numerically superior opponent.
In the centre of the formation were two Lucrehulk-class carriers and a host of support vessels, such as Captor-class heavy munitions cruisers, their reinforced holds filled to the brim with everything they could salvage from the dismantled auxiliary deepdocks that once serviced the 19th Mobile Fleet. At the most rear was stationed the fleet¡¯s Munificent-class frigates, while screening ahead of the main body were Recusant-class destroyers among other smaller escorts.
They were travelling at best speed, limited by the slowest ship in the fleet. Even then, it was a blazingly high velocity, and they would cross the hyperlimit within ten minutes. Not that anybody in the combined fleet expected to, whether it be Rel Harsol or Jace Dallin. They were all veterans, and as such were under no illusions of optimism; the boot of the Republic would fall, and they were waiting for it. As they approached, the minutes started to drag on like hours, every man and woman agonisingly counting down the ticks.
And it was five minutes from the hyperlimit when the boot finally came down.
¡°Cronau radiation detected!¡± the operators all but screamed, releasing hours of pent up anxiety in a single blow.
¡°Same over here!¡± another cried, shuffling the spectrums, ¡°Three-hundred ships to our starboard bow, bearing oh-three-nine degrees relative! Checking registry¡ it¡¯s the Open Circle Fleet!¡±
¡°Another three-hundred on our port bow, bearing three-oh-five degrees relative!¡±
¡°It¡¯s the Home Fleet!¡± a Skakoan on Dua Ningo¡¯s flagship, Unrepentant, shivered, his modulated voice tinged with apprehension, ¡°It¡¯s the Bloodhound!¡±
Data flooded onto the screens of the flagships, and met with different expressions. Dua Ningo set his jaw in cold determination, Calli Trilm slowly pushed herself out of her seat, and Jace Dallin quietly sighed. So the die is cast.
Just across the hyperlimit, three-hundred warships of the Open Circle Fleet were travelling line ahead, just about to cross the combined Separatist fleet¡¯s ¡®T¡¯. The adjustment from the original strategy was immediately noticeable¨Cthe Open Circle Fleet intended to cross the bow of the Separatists, three-hundred against five-hundred, and engage them directly.
¡°These people just want to go home,¡± Jedi General Olge Plavi-Dol sighed, the rampant emotions emanating from the enemy fleet reaching her. As a healer by trade, she was more sensitive to these energies than most other Jedi. It made her a poor warrior and even poorer commander, but they all have their duties, and she tried not to let it affect her.
After all, it would be a poor time to lose her nerves. The Obi-Wan Kenobi had assigned her to the vanguard of the Open Circle Fleet, and her flagship Convivial personally led the Republic wall of battle, giving her a chance to avenge her defeat at Commenor. The line was stretched far more than typical of a battle order like this, with each ship in the line slightly offset to avoid collision in the case one loses power.
Master Kenobi had assured her that Convivial wouldn¡¯t be on the receiving end of any Separatist missiles, despite being the vanguard, but despite lacking the experience or knowledge to refute such a claim, a small part within Olge still doubted the Jedi Master. After all, this was a battle¨Chow could any ship escape from being shot at?
She breathed out, steeling herself as she ran through the strategy again. Behind her, at the centre of the line, was the Defender, the temporary flagship of Admiral Block. Lastly, at the very end of the line and singularly remarkable for her completely unconventional placement, was the fleet flagship of General Obi-Wan Kenobi, Vigilance.
All three flagships were Venator-class Star Destroyers.
With the way they had matched velocity with enemy fleet, the Separatists would collide with the Open Circle¡¯s wall of battle directly in the centre, where Admiral Block had been stationed. This is what General Kenobi expected them to do, as the ultimate goal of Calli Trilm was to escape past the hyperlimit and jump. Going through the centre of the Republic line was the most expedient way to accomplish that objective.
However, as Admiral Block engages the Separatist mass, the front and rear under Olge and Kenobi respectively would strike around and flank the enemy, effectively encompassing the larger force with a smaller one. The single catch¨CDefender and the Open Circle¡¯s centre had to fight tooth and nail against a force nearly five times their superior, long enough for the Jedi to come around. Otherwise, the whole formation might be breached.
And the Separatists must know that too.
Olge watched the plot, and she watched the enemy formation continue at speed without changing¨Cwhich meant that as predicted, they intended to crash straight through the Open Circle in its centre. She did not envy Admiral Block in this situation.
Meanwhile, as the distance between the Republic and Separatist forces was quickly reduced, pins speckled the plots aboard the Separatist fleet flagship Star of Serenno. From the vantage point of the Providence''s bridge, clusters of luminous points indicated the unceasing approach of the combined Separatist fleet towards the midsection of a long, horizontal stretch of Republic vessels.
On the final approach, however, Calli Trilm reconsidered attacking the centre. Attacking the Republic right was out of the question; doing so would allow Kenobi to wrap around the Separatist right, while the Home Fleet punches into their vulnerable left. Attacking the Republic left would achieve similar results, with the Republic right doubling back to attack the Separatist left¨Cbut the key difference would be that it would negate the Home Fleet¡¯s tactical position, as they were already stationed to their left.
This would result in the doubling of pressure on their port flank, but in exchange for relieving all pressure on their starboard. Furthermore, should Rain Bonteri¡¯s 28th Mobile Fleet arrive, they would be directly poised to strike the Home Fleet¡¯s rear¨Ceffectively counterpincering the enemy.
On the other hand¡ Calli squinted at her tactical holo. The Home Fleet wasn¡¯t moving. They were completely stationary, save for some small drive cones which she surmised to be screening vessels, and apparently content to observe how their combined fleet cracks open the Open Circle¡¯s spine.
Calli Trilm was aware of the rivalry between the Republic Admiralty and the Jedi Order¡ but would it really culminate to this extent?
There was no time to dwell on the issue¨Cthe Rendili Victorys had already opened the battle with the devastating volley of concussion missiles. Rear Admiral Trilm, at the last minute, decided to execute her hastily conceived plan, and ordered the combined fleet to decelerate by several gravities¨Cin order to allow the enemy line of battle to slip further to her left, shifting the point of interception nearer to Kenobi¡¯s flagship.
Thankfully, both Jace Dallin and Dua Ningo had conceded ultimate command of the combined fleet to her, and all three separate entities¨Cthe 19th Mobile, Bulwark Fleet, and Rendili Defence Fleet¨Cresponded as well as they could.
Upon receiving Rendili fire, Admiral Block responded by opening up his broadsides, cold blue fire erupting from their bores. At the same time, General Olge Plavi-Dol was already deflecting her vanguard portside in order to put the Separatists downrange of her guns, and light fire erupted across the Separatist left.
Aboard Vigilance, Obi-Wan Kenobi was seeing the least of the action, and thus occupied himself with overseeing the tactical situation. The Separatist fleet was slowing down¨Cand this time he realised what Calli Trilm was up to in time. An order was carried from Vigilance to Defender across the tightbeam burst¨C
And the Defender struck hard to portside simultaneously with at least a hundred fellow warships of the line, now directly facing the Separatist formation and doubling their volume of fire. They burned retro at the same time, traversing backwards and attempting to close the velocity differential between themselves and the Separatist formation in order to maintain that relative distance for as long as possible. The Rendili captains of the Separatist vanguard, upon seeing this, reacted promptly and, against standing orders, diverted all power to their thrusters.
It was not an incorrect decision, as allowing the Open Circle to match velocity with them went against their objective of breaching the enemy lines, but for Calli Trilm who was considering the larger strategic situation, it was the incorrect decision at that moment. The speartip of Victorys raced forward, forcing the main body of the combined Separatist fleet to hasten in order to preserve the structural integrity of their formation. This, just as Obi-Wan Kenobi had hoped, effectively killed Calli Trilm¡¯s new plan.
Rather than grieving on the loss, however, Rear Admiral Trilm simply shrugged and belayed whatever intentions she had in mind to resume the original strategy. Ordering the fleet full forward, the Separatists fearlessly thundered into the awaiting arms of the Open Circle¡¯s line of battle.
Now visibly curved inwards, both Jedi Generals of the Open Circle were effectively poised to pounce at the Separatist flanks. From above, it would appear as if the Separatist fleet were an iron fist striking¨Cand thus being enveloped by a silk handkerchief.
Just as the Jedi had planned, the Separatists were surrounded. And if they didn¡¯t break through Admiral Block¡¯s centre soon, their fate was to be ground down into stardust.
?
A few millions klicks north, the Home Fleet was patiently waiting for their own battle to arrive, as devised by Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s new strategy. While they waited for their minelayers to arrange an interdiction minefield north of their tentative formation, Admiral Honor was observing the progress of the battle from the tactical holo of her flagship Arlionne. Her flag captain, Terrinald Screed, broke the silence with a voice of grudging admiration.
¡°I¡¯m surprised the Open Circle is being forced back to this extent,¡± he said, ¡°And I¡¯m even more surprised the Separatists are willing to dive headfirst into an envelopment like this. The Separatists have their fair share of courageous spacers, don¡¯t they? I envy their captains, considering what we¡¯ve got¡¡±
Captain Screed muttered the last part under his breath. On the holo, the ¡®U¡¯ shape space between the Republic and Separatist lines had been consumed by a bright inferno of high-density tibanna bolts and shrieking missiles and torpedoes from every side. The Open Circle, fueled in part by clone efficiency and in part by a burning desire to avenge the pain the Core had suffered under constant Separatist raids, were laying into Calli Trilm¡¯s fleet with everything they had.
However¡
¡°The Separatists are more maniacal than courageous,¡± Admiral Honor coolly corrected, ¡°Our Republic spacers may be fueled by vengeance, or a burning desire to see justice through¡ but the Separatists¨Cthose in the Bulwark and Perlemian fleets at least¨Care fueled by something much more potent. Desperation.¡±
Besides, despite how it may appear, Admiral Block was admirably conserving his strength and skillfully maintaining his lines of bearing despite the overwhelming pressure put against him. Unfortunately, his retrothrusters would never be as powerful as the forward drives of the Separatist fleet, and sooner or later Calli Trilm would break through. Nevertheless, he was executing the part assigned to him perfectly¨Cit was the Jedi¡¯s part to carve into Trilm¡¯s sides before such a development could occur.
The Home Fleet¡¯s part, on the other hand¡
¡°Cronau radiation detected!¡± Captain Jan Dodonna forwarded a report from his sentries.
¡°Home Fleet!¡± Honor Salima commanded imperiously, ¡°Prepare to engage the enemy!¡±
The lines of pseudomotion came straight at them like a spear of light, spitting out radiation in every direction as it stretched on for light-seconds¨Cuntil the interdiction mines detonated. Artificial gravity wells imploded across the void, violently ripping out everything from the realm of hyperspace and in between, and the empty patch of space was abruptly filled with just under two-hundred Separatist warships.
Terrinald Screed observed a burning, fin-shaped wreck floating across Arlionne¡¯s viewports.
¡°A Wavecrest-class frigate,¡± he commented, ¡°So it was the Givin who enabled them to traverse the Deep Core, after all.¡±
The rest of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada were in no better condition, as the interdiction mines had cracked upon many hulls and shells, and there were more than a few fires raging across the Separatist fleet. Besides that, many spacers must be suffering from extraction sickness as well.
And last but not least, there was the fact that the two-hundred ships of the Battle Hydra had been torn out of transit right in the centre of a three-hundred ship formation of the prepared and waiting Coruscant Home Fleet.
¡°Captain Dodonna,¡± Admiral Honor called out, ¡°Are all of the Hydra¡¯s heads accounted for?¡±
¡°Positive, Admiral,¡± he replied, ¡°All the enemy vessels detailed in the fleet composition General Plo Koon had provided us are accounted for.¡±
¡°Very well,¡± she paused, ¡°Actually, this is perfect.¡±
¡°Home Fleet,¡± the Bloodhound allowed herself a smile with all teeth, ¡°Local control. You may open fire.¡±
Chapter 71
Rendili Approach, Rendili System
Rendili Sector
Uninterrupted hyperspace travel had its risks, that I knew. Every naval officer worth their uniform did. There was a reason prolonged, uninterrupted hyperspace travel in and into enemy territory was unheard of. Yes, it was invariably true that a fleet was virtually and practically invulnerable in hyperspace¨Cbut it was also invariably true that a fleet was most vulnerable exiting hyperspace. Simply put, whilst in hyperspace transit, you had absolutely no influence with the rest of the galaxy in realspace, and vice versa.
Your astrogation instruments, tuned to realspace, were more useful turned off than screaming in madness as they tried to cope with the non-Euclidean nature of hyperspace. There was no ¡®navigation¡¯ in hyperspace; your fleet was an arrow shot into the wind, and you can only trust you aimed well enough when plotting the jump.
There was no contact either, as there was no technology yet capable of cross-dimension communications, to the chagrin of the galaxy¡¯s brightest minds. It was for this reason that fleets often extracted and inserted multiple times over a particularly long travel itinerary, especially when travelling in hostile territory. It was considered far too risky, especially when the enemy could figure out your destination and assemble an ambush force there in advance.
The bare minimum, as established by common galactic naval doctrine, was to extract a few lightyears short of the intended destination, and send a scouting party to investigate first. If the scoutships returned in the stipulated amount of time with the all clear, jump the final leg; if the scoutships do not, consider the destination compromised, and abort. This was conventional naval wisdom.
Following standard procedure, it was expected for the 28th Mobile Fleet to adhere to this wisdom¨Cif not for one problem. The procedure of extracting and inserting again was far easier said than done, and was exponentially harder and longer for every vessel in the fleet. For a fleet of the 28th Mobile¡¯s current size¨Cjust under two-hundred vessels¨Cit could take anywhere from half a day to a full standard day to extract, reorganise, correct bearings, recalibrate instruments, plot course, synchronise hyperdrives, slave navicomputers, and insert again.
Trying to jump a fleet of two-hundred was risky business in of itself, considering all it would take was a single misplaced decimal point to cause a catastrophic collision in pseudomotion¨Con both ends of the jump. We could always forego the pre-jump precautions, as fleets often do in emergencies, but we would still have to wait for the scoutships anyway.
Even half a day was enough time for a battle to start and end, and racing to the help of another fleet, it was a calculated risk to forego scouting ahead in the interest of time. Even the Givin agreed, that if our sister fleet had summoned us for aid, then haste was of the essence. Calli and I made a wordless promise to each other back on Trench¡¯s flagship, and I would not renege on it.
I stood up slowly as the last flashes of friendly pins sprinkled onto the plot. Ahead of us¨Cno, all around us, the grand forces of the Coruscant Home Fleet drawing in like a noose around our necks held a strangely abstract fascination for me, as my throat constricted in¡ was it fear? Anxiety? Excitement? Or maybe all three? For a brief moment, it was as if I was watching my own back, temporarily disembodied.
¡°I count three-hundred warships, sir,¡± Taylor told me, synthetic voice strung with nervousness.
We have less than two-hundred, I thought, Vinoc and Jorm command near another seventy, but they¡¯re campaigning in the Deep Core. Vinoc¡¯s 4th Battle Division was too far away to rendezvous with us, and had been given the crucial duty of guarding the Nexus Route and flushing out the rest of the GAR¡¯s forces in the region. Jorm¡¯s 6th Auxiliary Division on the other hand, was judged too great of a liability to bring to battle, and thus sent to join the 4th Division.
Is this my first time on the receiving end of a ready and anticipating fleet?
I had no time to dwell on the issue, or on the issue of how exactly the Coruscant Home Fleet knew of our arrival¨Cthough I certainly had my suspicions. The forward divisions of the 28th Mobile Fleet were already opening up their batteries¨Cas we had been prepared for the possibility of ambush as according to combat extraction procedure¨Cand though they were hardly accurate and hard to describe as anything more than an impulsive reaction with shots oft falling short or fired in random directions, it was enough to incite chaos.
Though certainly designed to intercept and encircle us, the enemy formation had cut their formation wide, their ranks spread far to cast a larger net. It was no fault of theirs¨Ctrying to pin down the exact location of an extracting fleet was borderline impossible, and the fact that they were even able to guess the general area to catch us was impressive enough. Nevertheless, this meant that despite our forward ranks being close enough to dish turbolaser fire, our flanks were relatively free for a precious few minutes.
The Home Fleet had tried to compensate for this by placing their missile cruisers on their flanks, those Victory-class Star Destroyers of theirs, but our Givin captains reacted much faster than anyone could have predicted. Wavecrest-class frigates spun out to the wings, their PDCs cutting down missiles from the void with an accuracy that would have made even Jedi impressed; and to think they were doing all the calculations and firing patterns in their heads alone, without computers much less the Force.
I had the honour of touring a Wavecrest once. Its pilothouse was the definition of ¡®spartan¡¯. No computers or calculators in any form, just plots, inputs, and a helm. Everything else that made a ship a ship took place in the brains of her crew.
¡°Tuff,¡± I forced myself into an artificial calm, ready to hatch the escape plan, ¡°We need to buy time.¡±
The droid nodded sharply, practically taking over my role as battlefield commander with all of his objective pragmatism. Droid brain whirring, TF-1726 plugged himself into Chimeratica¡¯s plot and ordered Diedrich Greyshade¡¯s 3rd Battle Division forward. Spearheaded by Kronprinz, thirty heavy warships condensed into line ahead on our right wing before driving forward¨Cthen hooking portside and doubling back down our left; creating an upside down ¡®U¡¯-shaped wall of blistering broadsides.
¡°Looks like your calculations fell short of something, Dodecian!¡± Diedrich Greyshade roared with an indescribable emotion, his shining flagship¡¯s brutal pulse cannons raging with him.
¡°Incorrect,¡± Dodecian Illiet replied, bringing his ships around now that the 3rd Division has relieved them of the pressure, ¡°Our presence has saved the Nineteenth, as intended.¡±
I immediately looked to the plot, at his words. It was difficult for Chimeratica to see through the storm of lasers and missiles, but through the eyes of another ship¡¯s sensors, I managed to catch a glimpse of a separate engagement several million klicks southeast. It was the 19th Mobile Fleet, presumably, punching their way through a second Republic fleet. Or rather, a Republic fleet that was forced to split in half in order to deal with both of us. If it hadn¡¯t been for our timely arrival, it was probable the 19th Mobile would already have been defeated by the combined firepower of both halves.
¡°How many ships does the Nineteenth have?¡± I asked, relying on Tuff to cover my back as I came up with a plan to extricate us out of this mess.
¡°Four, five-hundred warships,¡± Illiet reported, using his better sightlines, ¡°They have been completely encircled by the Republic fleet, however, and I am uncertain.¡±
¡°Encircled!?¡± Horgo Shive demanded, leading our rearguard, ¡°Surely our Countess Clysm can do better than that?¡±
¡°She can,¡± the Givin observed loftily, ¡°The Nineteenth is breaking through.¡±
¡°Then we must work to join them,¡± I grunted, finalising my manoeuvre package and cursing at the lack of Vinoc and his seventy ships. Seventy heavy ships of the line that would have opened up a whole host of more opportunities for us.
¡°Easier said than done, sir,¡± Krett threw in his two credits.
¡°Dodecian,¡± I summoned, ¡°How many mines do you have left?¡±
¡°Our stores are adequate, Admiral.¡±
¡°Transmitting you the command package now,¡± I told him, fingers dancing over my console, ¡°Execute it forthwith.¡±
¡°¨CUnderstood.¡±
¡°The rest of you¨C¡± I sucked in a deep breath, ¡°All ships; dive!¡±
?
¡°What is he doing?¡± Flag Captain Terrinald Screed murmured.
¡°Trying to slip under us,¡± Admiral Honor Salima ordered.
The Separatist fleet was splitting in twain, its main body translating downwards, attempting to circumnavigate the comparatively vertically shallow Republic formation and break for their allies on the hyperlane ingress. At the same time, Givin Wavecrests rose up like a school of blackfish rising up to nip at crumbs thrown onto a pond¡¯s surface, before diving back down. In their place, a layer of homing mines, preventing the Home Fleet from straightaway pursuing and biting into the enemy¡¯s exposed ventral flank.
¡°Captain Dodonna,¡± Honor commanded, ¡°Launch all fighters and intercept the enemy. Home Fleet; translate downwards. Match the enemy¡¯s velocity!¡±
In the rear, Captain Jan Dodonna¡¯s carrier squadrons opened their mighty hangars, and the starfighters came pouring out, Y-Wings and ARC-170s and thousands more citizen starfighters of the Galactic Republic. They accelerate upwards, giving space for the rest of their wings to join them, then banked hard on their etheric rudders and plunged back down over the lips of their carriers, sweeping around like the spray of an exotic fountain.
The Separatists scrambled to launch their own droid starfighters, but the Republic''s wings, under the command of Adar Tallon, surged forward with calculated precision. Tallon¡¯s pilots dove headlong into the enemy formation with an unhealthy lack of fear, threading their ships through the looming bulks of the Separatist battlecruisers. Their daring manoeuvres disrupted the droid fighters'' formations, preventing them from swarming and overwhelming the Republic fighters.
¡°Good!¡± Honor swung around, ¡°Autem, launch your missiles underneath the enemy fleet, right along their vector!¡±
¡°Orders received, Admiral.¡±
Captain Sagoro Autem brought his Star Destroyers into a sharp descent, their angular hulls tilting downward and missile banks erupting with flare and smoke. Wings of white smoke plumed in the abyss, killing pinions racing beneath the Separatist formation and erupting directly in the middle of their downward vector. With the Wavecrests trapped on their ventral flank and main battle line pinned down blocking the incessant fire from the Home Fleet¡¯s frontal batteries, the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada had no other choice but to stop their descent for if they continued their descent, they would be ripped apart from the underside.
Honor Salima could almost imagine the Rain Bonteri halting and reassessing his position, trapped between Arlionne¡¯s relentless bombardment and Arcenciel¡¯s devastating missile volleys. They were running out of time, as even their mightiest battleships couldn¡¯t last forever under the Home Fleet¡¯s claws. Unfortunately, for Rain Bonteri, however, Honor had already foreseen his next move.
After all, the key to victory on the field was control of the battlespace. Control the battlespace, and you can dictate your enemy¡¯s actions, and so long as you maintain the initiative you can lead your foe to their own destruction. It didn¡¯t matter if the battlespace was the size of one star system, or an entire star sector. This was the trick of the ¡®Battle Hydra.¡¯ Controlling the battlespace was integral to every single one of their stratagems, and their primary objective at the beginning of every engagement was to wrest that control out of their enemy¡¯s hands.
They did that with Columex, using tractor beam superweapons. They did that at Yag¡¯Dhul, using manoeuvre warfare. It didn¡¯t matter how mad the strategy should be, so long as it threw the enemy off their feet just long enough for him to snatch control away. That was what can be concluded if one reviewed his operational records.
And what happened when he couldn¡¯t control the battlespace? The Battle of Centares¨Cwhen Oppo Rancisis splendidly ripped away control by introducing a Mandator-class dreadnought onto the plot, forcing him to cut his losses and retreat. The Battle of Metalorn¨Cwhere Plo Koon did much the same with his revolving arrowhead. The Battle Hydra was no more than a mutated snake if they couldn¡¯t control the battlespace, so it was with this man, and so it was with the mythical creature he took his moniker after. Even the mighty dragons of the Gordian Reach knew better than to fight a foe it couldn¡¯t overwhelm.
In this sense, Rain Bonteri was more akin to the Dxunian warbeasts that plagued his homeworld, who picked fights with anything that so much as moves.
So, Honor Salima decided, it didn¡¯t matter how reckless her strategy appeared, as long as it kept Rain Bonteri off his feet. Every second she denied him the chance to formulate a plan was another moment he couldn¡¯t control the battlespace, forcing him to improvise. From there, it was a simple matter, one drilled into every commander from the moment they raised their flag;et into the enemy¡¯s mind, anticipate their moves, and dismantle them piece by piece. Unlike her predecessors, Honor Salima¡¯s has had a war¡¯s worth of data on the so-called Battle Hydra sharpen her tactics against, and with her natural authority she wielded the Home Fleet as if they were her own arms and legs.
¡°Keep up the fire!¡± she flicked her hand, ¡°Captain Dodonna, bring your Venators around and enclose their rear! Captain Autem, turn starboard and prepare to broadside the enemy!¡±
As she had envisioned, the Coalition Armada then did what she had expected; try to break out at the second most vulnerable spot in the Home Fleet¡¯s line of battle. At this point, both fleets were arrayed in the shape of a horseshoe, with the Home Fleet¡¯s three-hundred and the Coalition¡¯s sub two-hundred on the inside. After failing to escape through the bottom, the Battle Hydra ordered his captain with the shining solar sailer to force his way out the back, or the open top of the horseshoe.
With his division already stretched out in a line ahead, all Diedrich Greyshade had to do¨Cand she did know who he was, as she knew his cousin Senator Simon Greyshade more than she would¡¯ve liked¨Cwas follow through the natural curve of the horseshoe to its end.
Unfortunately for him, Captain Dodonna had already manoeuvred Prudence to intercept the Kronprinz at the forefront of her advance. Meanwhile, Captain Autem¡¯s line had adjusted to mirror the Separatist Providences, aligning beam-to-beam for a direct confrontation. Honor studied the tactical display with meticulous focus, tracing the vectors and calculating the next likely response from Rain Bonteri. Simulations ran in her mind¡¯s eye as she assessed how to puppeteer the enemy fleet next.
¡°Our left wing, Admiral,¡± her Flag Captain advised, ¡°With our main firepower shifted to our right, I¡¯d reckon Greyshade will come around in full circle with all his momentum to punch through our left, Chimeratica and the rest of the Armada in tow.¡±
The Bloodhound¡¯s ears absorbed his words, and the Bloodhound¡¯s eyes applied it to the plot.
¡°If¨Cwhen¨CKronprinz crosses the vertex of her turn, have the rest of our ships translate portside to meet her as she comes around,¡± Admiral Honor Salima commanded.
¡°That will put a gap in between us and Captain Autem, sir,¡± Captain Screed warned.
Honor chewed once, then personally held down the transceiver, ¡°Arcenciel, Arlionne, have your rearguard prepared to double back the moment you see a gap widen between our divisions.¡±
¡°Arlionne, Arcenciel. Prepare to double back, copy that.¡±
Terrinald Screed¡¯s single living eye gleamed. Just as he had predicted, Diedrich Greyshade ultimately decided to forego breaking out the back, likely due to the momentous casualties the effort would result in, and instead resolved to cycle back around to the front. All of that built up impetus, however, needed to go somewhere, and hemmed in on all sides by Republic Star Destroyers, this battlespace was not Sullust, and Honor Salima was not Rees Alrix. The Hydra had not the physical space, time, or leisure to maintain a revolving death spiral.
As Kronprinz crossed Chimeratica¡¯s vector, the latter''s sublight drives ignited in a sudden burst, propelling the Separatist fleet flagship violently forward toward the Arlionne. Meanwhile, the rest of the Home Fleet steadily shifted to their left flank, amassing strength in anticipation of the expectant Separatist counter-charge¡ to the point where the area between Arcenciel¡¯s aft and Arlionne¡¯s beam had widened into an empty rift. Predictably, almost absurdly, the Separatist fleet instantaneously deflected their vectors and surged toward the opening, like a flow of water naturally carving out the path of least resistance.
Just in time for Arcenciel¡¯s rearguard to spin around and plunge straight back into the gap.
¡°HARD RIGHT, HARD OVER!¡± Flag Captain Terrinald Screed roared at the top of his lungs, more beast than man in that very moment, and Arlionne swung around, missile bays roaring upon like a proud lioness baring her steel fangs.
Honor Salima marched up the bridge of her flagship, staring out the viewports where the tide of desperate Separatist refugees flooded through the gate. It was the perfect pincer, one in which even Rain Bonteri had no choice but to try his hand at. Somewhere in that chaotic tide lurked the infamous Battle Hydra. She had him right where she wanted.
¡°We have the Perlemian Coalition dead to rights!¡± Honor Salima announced to the Home Fleet, ¡°All ships; sink the Battle Hydra! We¡¯ll ram him if we have to!¡±
The Home Fleet roared in reply, and the noose snapped taut.
?
¡°THE TWENTY-EIGHTH¡¯S HERE!¡± someone whooped in glee over open comms, the words crackling through the chaos like a thunderbolt.
Three, four, words, soon mostly lost in the din of battle. Nobody knew who shouted it, or which ship it was from¨Clikely one of the 19th¡¯s. Nobody even knew if the words were true. But as they were all fighting for their lives in the gauntlet of the Open Circle Fleet, the words sounded true, every man and woman fighting wanted it to be true. Those four words became the hope every spacer and soldier clung to like a lifeline, and that illusion was enough to ignite the embers of defiance, breathing a second wind back into the exhausted Separatist fleet.
With renewed determination, the fleets surged forwards, desperate to outrace Republic Admiral Block¡¯s elastic centre and break free from Olge Plavi-Dol¡¯s and Obi-Wan Kenobi¡¯s tightening encirclement. Calli Trilm, Dua Ningo, and Jace Dallin, the three commanders of the combined fleet, kept the cordon tight and disciplined as the three fleets pushed their way forward. As the engagement prolonged, and as the alliance continued to hammer away indiscriminately at the Open Circle¡¯s centre, one of Admiral Block¡¯s squadrons faltered.
The Republic defences had reached their threshold, buckled, and opened a temporary breach. Against all better judgement and seizing the moment, the Separatist vanguard scrambled forwards. With a savagery fit with bared fangs and claws, the Rendili Victorys plunged straight into the breach, tearing their way straight through the Open Circle¡¯s wall of battle. Their broadsides erupted at point-blank range, filling the rift with smoke and fire as they fought to pry open an escape route for the rest of the combined fleet.
At that point, the noise filling all three flagships must have sounded the same.
¡°Forwards!¡±
¡°Forwards, forwards!¡±
¡°Forwards, forwards, forwards!¡±
It became a pounding drumbeat of battle that replaced the heartbeats of every spacer, filling them with a single-minded focus to smash free into open space¨Cand towards home. The Separatist arrowhead formation honed itself into a razor-sharp spindle, focusing all their impetus on piercing the breach. On the flanks, Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s Bulwark-class battlecruisers extended outwards, seizing the shattered ends of the Republic battle line.
With the spent Victorys falling forwards and out, the Bulwarks locked into place like the armoured phalanges of two black iron gauntlets, holding the breach open just long enough for the rest of the combined fleet to surge through. It was a wall of black iron that crumpled and buckled with every second they withstood the rippling tide of Republic Star Destroyers trying to crush down with their dagger-shaped teeth. The Bulwarks showed their strength, the strength Star Station Independence were willing to sacrifice a fleet for. No more than fifty Bulwark-class battlecruisers held the line against the combined might of three-hundred Republic warships, the steely mettle of Admiral Dua Ningo holding them in place like stones defiant against a storm.
For an entire heart-stopping minute, Calli Trilm forced her eyes held open as Star of Serenno thundered her way through the breach, rocked to and fro and Republic fire and Separatist counterfire. Systems blared and alarms flashed red, screaming warnings in her ears as the ship shuddered with each impact. And then¨Csuddenly¨Csilence. The explosions and the thunder of turbolaser batteries faded into a distant murmur, like a receding storm.
They were home free.
The realisation took a moment to settle in. Calli Trilm blinked, almost disbelieving the sudden calm that had replaced the chaos. Her flagship, scarred and battered, had made it through. The bridge lights flickered, the alarms dimmed, and the relentless barrage that had rocked the ship just moments before now felt like a distant memory.
Her breath caught, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to exhale. They had done it¡ªthey had broken through the Republic lines, escaping the clutches of Obi-Wan Kenobi for¡ the third time. She could laugh. They were sailing away now, keeping up the momentum. It would take some time for the Open Circle Fleet to regroup and pursue, and it would be too late for them to prevent the Separatists from jumping.
¡°Damage report?¡± she requested, her voice surprisingly steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. The bridge crew sprang into action, their hands moving quickly over consoles as they assessed the situation. There was a palpable sense of disbelief among them, a shared understanding that they had survived against all odds.
Tex turned to her after taking stock of the situation, ¡°We¡¯ve taken significant damage. Engines are stable, shields are holding at fifteen percent, but we¡¯ve lost half of our primary weapons. Still, we¡¯re operational.¡±
¡°And the¡ the fleet?¡±
¡°We count three-hundred and seventy-two ships with us,¡± Tex continued steadfastly, ¡°Seven-tenths of our combined fleet made it out.¡±
The Bulwark Fleet had held the door open for them, and they paid the price dearly. Calli Trilm counted no more than thirteen surviving Bulwarks, including the fleet flagship Unrepentant. They had been this close to failing the mission they had been assigned¨Cbut they didn¡¯t. The remnants of the Bulwark Fleet may no longer have the force factor to influence the war, but the very fact that the most powerful conventional warship the Confederacy had at its disposal could now enter the mass production lines¨Cbringing a whole host of live combat data no less¨Ccould be exactly what¡¯s needed to revive the Separatist war machine.
At that moment, however, the analysis was distant to her.
¡°Not that,¡± Calli looked around, ¡°Our fleet. The Nineteenth Mobile.¡±
¡°We lost a quarter,¡± the droid answered bluntly, ¡°Fifty-four warships.¡±
The 19th Mobile Fleet began this expedition with three-hundred warships. Half were left. Half. The word echoed hollowly in her mind, stripped of any real meaning by the stark reality of their losses.
But¡
¡°We did it,¡± Rel Harsol said breathlessly, as if trying to convince them along with himself, ¡°We did it.¡±
¡°Well done, Rear Admiral,¡± Admiral Dua Ningo praised, ¡°We can finally go home.¡±
¡°For you, maybe,¡± Captain Jace Dallin was far more reserved, ¡°It was my fleet that cleared the way for you¡ and we¡¯ll be leaving home, if we follow through with this.¡±
¡°Cold feet, Captain?¡± Calli Trilm asked, not unkindly.
¡°I have my orders¡¡± he breathed, ¡°But when the Confederacy achieves its final victory¡ promise me we will return for Rendili.¡±
¡°I can make no such promise,¡± Calli replied, ¡°Only the Pantoran can make such assurances.¡±
¡°...Very well.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s voice was coloured with relief and satisfaction in equal measure, for he had been trapped in Core for longer than any of them, ¡°Shall we make for Manaan?¡±
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At that moment, Calli Trilm was so desperately inclined to agree. They could finally, finally, go home. But one issue dug into the back of her skull.
¡°Wait¡ what of the Twenty-Eighth?¡± she raced to the plot, and looked to the north.
Or rather, it was northwest now, as their battle with the Open Circle Fleet had displaced them by a handful more million klicks, and her breath caught in her throat. The 28th Mobile Fleet was encircled, much in the same situation they themselves had been minutes prior, but with neither the numerical or firepower superiority the combined Separatist fleet enjoyed. They were trapped, and dying.
If it weren¡¯t for them occupying the Home Fleet, it would have been the 19th Mobile Fleet trapped and dying. And now they were to leave their saviours for dead?
¡°Can we make it?¡± Calli wondered out loud.
¡°We can,¡± her tactical droid confirmed, ¡°But it will be close, by my calculations.¡±
That was all she needed to hear. She surprised herself, a little, with her own willingness to leap back into the fight. For a woman so averse to putting herself in harm¡¯s way, it seemed this would be the one exception.
¡°Admiral Ningo, Captain Dallin,¡± Calli spoke, steeling herself as she did, ¡°You will continue to Manaan as we had planned.¡±
¡°And you will not?¡± Admiral Ningo replied, sensing the undertone across the transmission.
¡°We will join you later,¡± she replied simply. For a moment, she pondered the possibility of requesting their help, as even a mere dozen Bulwarks could make all the difference¨Cbut she considered their mission. The Bulwark Fleet must make it to Separatist space, and so must the Rendili Home Defence Fleet with the torch of defiance in the Core is to stay alight. So long as the RHDF remained at large, the Republic would never be able to snuff out the embers of Separatism in their home turf.
¡°...Blessed are those who help their friends in need, Admiral,¡± Captain Jace Dallin told her, ¡°And upright are those who repay their debts. May the Force be with you, and stars watch over you.¡±
¡°I will await you at Manaan with drinks, Rear Admiral Trilm,¡± the old Sullustan bid his farewells, clearly unwilling to argue her intentions or stay behind any longer himself, ¡°I am forever in your debt.¡±
With some two-hundred flashes of light, the Bulwark Fleet and Rendili Defence Fleet disappeared into the stars. She had expected some of her own captains, those of the 19th Mobile Fleet, to follow them, but by her count, every single one of her remaining hundred-fifty ships remained, even those so badly damaged they could hardly even return fire when the time came.
¡°Once more into the fray, eh, boss lady?¡± Rel Harsol chuckled as Sa Nalaor swung around onto a vector towards the rear of the Coruscant Home Fleet.
¡°You¡¯re going to have to follow me this last time, gentlemen,¡± Calli Trilm gently led her battered fleet back towards the enemy.
¡°That¡¯s the duty,¡± one-eyed Aviso grunted, ¡°That¡¯s the fight. We won¡¯t leave our allies behind.¡±
And was that not the founding principle of the Separatist State, the very declaration of the Confederacy of Independent Systems? If we are to leave the Republic, we are to leave together.
?
This isn¡¯t good.
That much was obvious as the Coruscant Home Fleet crunched down its jaws around us. The air aboard Chimeratica felt suffocating, as if I was one with my fleet, being strangled alive by the enemy. Two flanks of Victory-class Star Destroyers closed in on us, pinching our throats, whilst a heavy anvil of Venators pummelled us in the rear. The 28th Mobile Fleet had been packed so tight into the corridor that there was hardly any room to manoeuvre, leaving us no option beyond returning fire as hammer after hammer of missile blows rained down on our beams. But we returned fire all the same, overclocking our weapons and overloading firing capacitors until every ship glowed with the fierce, vibrant gold of its own superheated hull.
Our lighter ships, ironically, were able to escape the worst of the slaughter; frigates and light cruisers managing to minnow through the enemy lines and slipping into open space. Our heavier ships however, Chimeratica among them, shouldered the worst of the Home Fleet¡¯s relentless assault, Admiral Honor Salima ferociously focusing down on our main body with the bulk of her firepower. Bearing the worst of it were our Lucrehulk-class battleships, four in number and all under the command of the Neimodian Commander Krett. Their relatively exposed engine blocks were prime targets for the Republic LACs, and it wasn¡¯t long before all four were crippled. In a desperate move, Krett used the last of his attitude thrusters to draw his ships into a tight, cube-like formation, the bristling wings of the Lucrehulks flaring outward like the petals of a steel flower.
¡°This might be the end for us, frog,¡± Horgo Shive grunted as he struggled to screen Krett¡¯s battleships.
¡°Your ships are not disabled,¡± Krett replied harshly, ¡°Mine are. Get out of here!¡±
There was a pause in the comms¨C
¡°¨CDon¡¯t have to tell me twice,¡± the Muun muttered, and took his 2nd Strike Division after the rest of the fleet.
The exchange was quickly lost in the heat of battle, but as I looked back, I saw the fortress of Lucrehulks fade out of view. Not by distance, no, but the sheer number of Republic signatures swarming onto their position, battlecruisers and cruisers and starfighters and all. The Republic rear had no choice; disabled as they might be, Lucrehulk-class battleships were still one of the most if not the most terrifying conventional warships the Confederacy could field. Each battle-fitted Lucrehulk was one-and-half billion tons of hull and guns, and over a hundred times as heavy as a Venator-class Star Destroyer.
The Home Fleet had no choice but to eliminate the combat potential of those rearguard battleships before they could press the offensive on the rest of the fleet, lest they be pincered themselves. But without Horgo Shive¡¯s protective screens, the lumbering and unwieldy nature of the Lucrehulks became all too evident. There was a reason the behemoths were always accompanied by swarms of Vulture droids and screening vessels; without that support, they were prey for starfighters¡ªalbeit very large and heavily armed prey. With all of their LACs already in the black, the remaining warships of the 5th Division closed ranks, less than twenty in all, and prepared to go down in flames, determined to take down as many of the enemy with them.
¡°Krett is pinning down a number of their ships!¡± I wrangled control of the comms, shouting into the electrically-charged void and using our superior Separatist comms tech to punch through the scrambles, ¡°Horgo, add your division to our left! Diedrich, keep your battlecruisers on our right! Illiet, can you find us a way out!?¡±
¡°They¡¯re cycling their ships along our vector,¡± Dodecian Illiet gave the grave news, ¡°They won¡¯t let us leave.¡±
Ultimately, the Home Fleet now outnumbered us nearly two to one. Despite Krett¡¯s efforts to hold off her rear divisions, the Bloodhound still commanded an overwhelming array of warships to hurl at us. She cycled her lines with ruthless efficiency, constantly rotating fresh warships to the front as those withdrawn from the front were sent ahead to maintain the ¡®throat¡¯ in which the 28th Mobile was forced through. Her intent was clear; she was going to grind us down minute by minute, hour by hour, until we were all dead.
And then, just when the situation couldn¡¯t get any bleaker¨CChimeratica shuddered violently, lurching forward and throwing me off my feet. My hands snapped onto the edge of a console just before I kissed the floor, dragging myself back upright. Alarms blared throughout the bridge as the lights flickered, casting shadows in the usually well-lit pilothouse. Chimeratica¡¯s sublight engines sputtered, then died with a final, agonising groan, leaving the 28th Mobile¡¯s fleet flagship drifting helplessly in the void. Consoles sparked and flickered out, and the once-steady hum of the engines fell into a chilling silence.
¡°Engines are unresponsive!¡± Taylor yelled, ¡°We can¡¯t reach the engine room either!¡±
Do we even have an aft section anymore? I was forced to wonder. It was not just the lights, too many of Chimeratica¡¯s displays have been knocked out, like dominos over the course of the battle, practically leaving her¨Cand me¨Chalf blind and deaf. I didn¡¯t even know what was happening on my own ship anymore, much less the rest of the fleet. Half the plots were dead, the other half scrambled by enemy interference. The only reason I could still vaguely keep track of the battlefield was thanks to our communications array, which vastly outstripped anything the GAR could levy against it. Small mercies.
¡°Dispatch an engineering squad to the aft!¡± Tuff commanded hastily, before turning to me, ¡°Rear Admiral, we need to get you off the ship. Chimeratica is no longer in any shape to escape.¡±
¡°Off the ship¡¡± I croaked, looking up at the cracked viewports, at a galaxy consumed by steel and fire in every direction, ¡°And to where?¡±
?
¡°Behind us, Admiral!¡± Flag Captain of the Arlionne, Terrinald Screed, roared as enemy contacts blazed in from behind the Home Fleet.
Admiral Honor Salima swung around, clicking her tongue. Words of rebuke for the Open Circle Fleet were already at the tip of her tongue as she re-evaluated the situation, but she swallowed them just as quickly as she saw exactly what was happening. The Separatist fleet had been cut down to around a quarter of its original number, and the remainder¨Cno more than a hundred and fifty¨Chad been re-intercepted by General Kenobi¡¯s forces. However, while the Open Circle had intercepted the 19th Mobile Fleet, it was clear to everybody aboard Arlionne that the Separatists clearly didn¡¯t consider themselves intercepted.
The Jedi fleet was like a fierce tiger snapping at the heels of a pack of savage hounds, who had long since forgotten the meaning of fear. Honor traced the vectors on her display, noting with a piercing realisation that the 19th Mobile Fleet had doubled back to support the Battle Hydra. The Open Circle Fleet had re-intercepted them, but the Separatists were unfazed, continuing their desperate sprint toward their allies. Each time the Jedi drew close, a Separatist warship would suddenly cut its engines and ¡°fall¡± into the midst of the Open Circle¡¯s formation¡ªonly to self-destruct in a blinding explosion. It was an act of sheer, mind-boggling insanity and sacrifice, repeated over and over again, as the 19th Mobile Fleet sacrificed itself ship by ship to slow their pursuers.
¡°They¡¡± even Screed was at a loss for words, sheer disbelief colouring his voice, ¡°They¡ what are they doing? Are they even human anymore?¡±
¡°They¡¯re aliens,¡± Honor gritted her teeth, ¡°Gods know what they think! Captain Autem, bring your ships around to intercept the enemy! Do not¨Cat all costs!¨Clet the enemy fleets link up! The rest of you; sink the Battle Hydra! I say again; SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA!¡±
At that moment, it was as if the Nine Hells of Corellia rose to consume the galaxy at once. The 19th Mobile Fleet crashed into the rear of the Coruscant Home Fleet. Calli Trilm¡¯s attack wasn¡¯t just erratic, it was formationless, riotous, unified only by single-minded purpose in a wavefront of steel and destruction heading in generally the same direction. The Republic Navy might have the upper hand when it comes to quality of ships and weapons, but at that moment, Honor Salima found herself entirely struck into stupor by the Separatists¡¯ frenzied madness.
Calli Trilm smashed into the Home Fleet¡¯s formation, warships striking past each other in a blur at respectable fractions of light. They opened all gunports, loosing arrows of light from multiple directions as they barreled at high speed through the crowded brawl. Warships fearlessly disabled their own anti-collision systems, slicing enemy destroyers in two with their hulls. Cruisers volleyed their main artillery into enemies directly ahead of them, engulfing their own ships in balls of explosive light. It was a mad rush that broke all reasonable rules of self-preservation, spreading out a banquet of destruction, fueled by the undeniably berserk nature of the offensive.
¡°Jam the enemy!¡± Calli Trilm barked out her orders as her flagship duelled three enemy destroyers at once, even as half her primary armaments laid dead, ¡°Do not let them reorganise!
Scores of Separatist frigates unleashed all of their power, filling the whole battlespace with an impenetrable electronic fuzz that made any and all Republic coordination impossible.
Against all odds, the Separatists had turned the tide, indiscriminately slaughtering the Loyalist forces as comrades from both 28th and 19th Mobiles fought side-by-side and back-to-back with a familiarity and wordless coordination that would bewilder any battlefield tactician. After all, these ships and crews haven¡¯t seen each other in months, and yet they fought in tandem as if they¡¯ve known each other all their lives.
Unable to dispatch orders and rearrange her ships, Honor Salima exhausted every medium available to him before finally seizing a young messenger by the shoulders.
¡°Get a fighter out to the Open Circle Fleet!¡± she snarled, ¡°Tell that kriffing Jedi to open fire!¡±
¡°B-But sir!¡± the messenger spluttered, ¡°We¡¯re still¨C¡±
¡°That¡¯s an order!¡±
Outside the fleet flagship Arlionne, however, Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s orders were very different. Cut off from command by berserk Separatist frequencies, the Loyalist captaincies, completely drunk with carnage and havoc, fell upon Arlionne¡¯s last known standing order.
SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA!
SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA!
SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA!
The Home Fleet¡¯s most valiant commanders¨CDodonna, Autem, and Screed¨Ceach launched their counterattacks individually from their own ships, with seemingly predetermined precision, drawing those around them into the fray with lightcodes and aura alone. The entirety of the Home Fleet released a soundless tremor, as if accepting an unheard order. Sink the Battle Hydra.
Three-hundred warships converged onto the core of the 28th Mobile Fleet simultaneously.
?
Outside of the chaotic melee taking place in the Rendili Star System, Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi heard the pilot¡¯s orders aghast.
¡°Admiral Honor wants us to do what?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what the orderly told me, General,¡± the wing leader relayed, ¡°Fifty-six of my boys died getting her orders to you, sir. Better make it count.¡±
Without waiting for confirmation, much less a response, the flight wing wheeled around and dove back into the fray, racing headlong back into the melee and certain death. It was as if they had become indifferent to their own lives¡ªor perhaps, like the rest of the fleets, both Loyalist and Separatist, they had been consumed by the battle mania. Obi-Wan could feel the intense stares of Commander Cody and Olge Plavi-Dol fixed on him, their eyes heavy with expectation, and it took everything he had to not falter. It would not do to falter, not at this crucial juncture.
¡°Give the order, General,¡± the Clone Commander told him, ¡°Admiral Honor is willing to give up her life for victory. We would dishonour her and every spacer and soldier in that fleet if we do not open fire.¡±
¡°We will be shooting at our own allies, Master!¡± Knight Olge cried, ¡°We will defeat the Perlemian Coalition¨Cbut at what cost? For every dead Separatist, three dead Loyalists! Citizens of the Republic! We would drench our hands with the blood of our allies and countrymen!¡±
¡°And if we do not, we will be wasting the blood they¡¯ve already spilled,¡± Commander Cody retorted coolly, ¡°General, with all due respect, this is a direct order from the Admiral of the Coruscant Home Fleet¨Cthe closest Admiral to the Admiralty and Navy Command itself.¡±
¡°¨CGeneral!¡± a sensor officer reported, ¡°We¡¯re detecting Cronau radiation!¡±
¡°A fleet jumping in?¡± Obi-Wan swung around, secretly thankful for the brief respite in which he could use to make up his mind, ¡°Have the Rendili returned?¡±
¡°No, General! It¡¯s from the north! On the other side of¡ of the brawl!¡±
To the north? On the other side of the brawl? Obi-Wan checked his chrono¨Cit¡¯s been half a standard day since the battle began.
Then its Task Force Hyperion. Master Plo Koon. At last!
¡°Hail them!¡± he barked.
The officer frantically returned to his station and patched the Jedi Master through.
¡°I see I¡¯m not too late to the party, Obi-Wan,¡± the Kel-Dor Master¡¯s presence was a reassuring one, and Obi-Wan felt like a mere Knight once more, under the tutelage of a Jedi Master many years his senior.
¡°I could use your advice, Master Plo,¡± Obi-Wan told the senior Jedi honestly, and felt no shame for it, ¡°Admiral Honor has ordered me to fire into the melee that you see.¡±
¡°She intends to pin down the Separatists while we deal the finish blow,¡± General Plo Koon surmised in a thought, ¡°Very well. As the situation presents itself, I see no better time than now.¡±
Surprise bloomed inside Obi-Wan¡¯s heart, ¡°Truly, Master Plo? We will be¡ firing on our own allies. If the Admiralty¨Cnay, the Senate finds out we fired upon the feathers of Core nobility¡¡±
¡°At our ally¡¯s behest,¡± the Jedi Master corrected, not unkindly, ¡°We have the transmission, and the sender¡¯s transponder?¡±
¡°We do,¡± Commander Cody confirmed quickly.
Plo Koon nodded decisively, ¡°Then we must steel our hearts for the battles to come, Obi-Wan. We save Honor Salima, and she will be a terrific ally to have. Come, let us end this terrible affair.¡±
By being more terrible than the Home Fleet and Perlemian Coalition combined? At that moment he could only wonder if ¡®Master¡¯ Plo Koon and ¡®General¡¯ Plo Koon were two different people. Which was the wise master of the Jedi Temple, and which was the hero of the Hyperspace War? Obi-Wan shared a glance with Olge Plavi-Dol as Commander Cody departed to carry out the orders. Meeting her eyes, the young Knight deflated, but marshalled her features and gave him a brisk nod. Her hologram blinked out soon after.
Just like that, the entirety of the Jedi forces, over four-hundred in total, condensed two sickle-shaped formations on each side of the melee, and swooped down on the battle. In a grim reversal of fortune, the Separatists went from perpetrators of a slaughter to its victims. They were assaulted from within by the melee¡¯s glittering firestorm, whilst from the north the divisions under General Plo Koon hurled hundreds upon hundreds of lance-like missiles into the fray. And from the south, the Open Circle Fleet spat out flaming tongues of energy and gas, starfighters leaping into the black and plunging into the chaotic storm laden with fresh torpedoes and missiles.
The explosions were so bright it was as if the arms of the galaxy were burning to their ends, and the melee, now the target of concentrated fire from all sides, was being cremated alive. Ray shields absorbed the radiant heat effused onto the battlefield, steel hulls glowing hot at the gunports. Even if the outer walls of a ship could withstand the heat, the men inside them couldn¡¯t.
Spacers were thrown against the compartments, slammed onto decks, and into the pleasantly cold embrace of death in stark contrast to the soaring temperatureFor others, the agony stretched on for minutes, their bodies convulsing from the unbearable torment of boiling internal organs and choking of their own thrown-up blood, which then evaporated into white smoke. Melting floors consumed the bodies of the living and the dead, Loyalist and Separatist alike, as blinding light tore ships apart, then sucking out the bodies into the freezing release of hard vacuum and wiping away the horrors that took place within.
The two Jedi fleets continued firing, gritting their teeth or biting their tongues as they rained hellfire and brimstone on their allies and enemies indiscriminately, whittling down the melee as weather control satellites would tame a raging hurricane.
?
It was like watching fireworks. Missiles from the pits of hell rampaged through the darkness, blue and red bolts of energy lancing out from everywhere at once, seeking targets known only to them. Starfighters turned into flowers of flame all around me as laser bolts sparked useless blue spirals and whorls off the deflector shields. I watched six frigates gone within the minute, right within the eye-distance, vaporised by battlecruisers. I didn¡¯t know whose frigates, or whose battlecruisers. The flaming wrecks of destroyers carved through the black sky like brilliant meteors, streaking across the viewports and cutting through the billowing clouds of dust and debris. Another two cruisers charged at each other, as if they were not interstellar warships but jousting knights. They collided head-on, atmosphere boiling out of their cracked hulls and revealing the glow of fires consuming everything inside their steel bardings.
For a brief moment, I wondered why it seemed as though Chimeratica was remaining relatively untouched, like we were in the eye of the storm. And then I realised that we were in the eye of the storm. Chimeratica was still gliding along on its momentum, and all around her Republic warships were trying to intercept us, and counter-intercepted by surrounding Separatist warships. Dozens of warships in bloody livery, from the largest Star Destroyers to smallest corvettes, charged at Chimeractica without a mote of self-preservation, as if possessed by a single-minded obsession with my death. Even with the naked eye alone, the scene was absurd enough for me to realise Honor Salima must have put a bounty on my head.
Then¨Cfrom the distance, somewhere right and up, there came a Victory-class Star Destroyer painted in the blood red GAR livery. She was crashing through a gap in the Separatist lines, broadsides lighting up with fire smoke, the edges of her hull glowing red-hot and drive cone like a blinding star¨Cand she was aiming directly for the Chimeratica. Like a heated knife poised to cut through a slab of butter, the Victory fell upon my head like an executioner¡¯s axe.
¡°Get the Admiral to an escape pod!¡± Tuff roared, louder than I¡¯ve ever heard him. My eyes were still transfixed on the descending Victory as I vaguely felt the tactical droid shove something sharp and small into my hands before shoving me towards the blast doors.
Taylor seized be my the arms as he all but dragged me into the flaming depths of the flagship¨Cand as the blast doors groaned towards each other, I caught a glimpse of a second ship¨Ca Separatist Providence ramming straight into incoming Victory right in its ventral flank and shoving it off to the side. A split second later, an explosive shockwave burst outwards¨Cand I heard the telltale crackle of shattering transparisteel just before the doors thudded shut.
The interior of Chimeratica was a cacophony of chaos I could barely keep up with. It seemed like every droid aboard the ship had been activated, stampeding the corridors and hallways. Fire fighting crews charged into smoke-filled compartments, the maze of blast doors closing off here and there to isolate damages and hull breaches I could not see. There was a terrible gale blowing through the hallways, tearing the breath from my lungs. Sirens blared, lights flashing red and amber.
¡°Master, you¡¯re alright!¡± Hare¡¯s voice reached my ears, though I could not see her. Was she at my feet? I did not know when she had joined me, but I felt a palpable sense of relief at her safety.
¡°The lower pods have been compromised!¡± Artisan shoved us in another direction, on hand holding onto an emergency repair plank.
¡°We need to make our way across the artillery deck, sir!¡± it was Stelle who shouted that in my ear, despite it being Taylor dragging me along earlier. It wasn¡¯t Stelle¡¯s shift¨Che had been recharging. I looked around. Taylor was gone. I was in an evac suit, despite having no memory of ever donning it.
Running along the deck, right beside massive mass-driver cannons that thundered away autonomously, I instinctively pressed my ears shut as the deafening hammer blows rocked the flagship in erratic intervals. Through a bluish atmospheric containment shield, I watched a volley of missiles rocket out towards an enemy Venator downrange. Who was ordering it? What of Chimeratica¡¯s organic crew¨Cthe officers, marines, and the like¨Chad they managed to reach the escape pods? Were they remaining on the ship?
The hull plating of the artillery deck bulged inwards right in front of us.
Oh, fuck¨C!
The next thing I knew, I was floating in space. I didn¡¯t know how I got there¨Cwhich appeared to be a prevailing theme in the last hour or so of my life¨Cthough I can only conclude I had been sucked out of the hull breach. So instead of being atomized with the artillery deck, I was ejected from her. Small mercies. Maybe I¡¯ll be cut to ribbons by high velocity micro-debris instead.
It was scant reprieve. Something was wrong with my suit. It was torn, or a seal had melted. Patting around was a futile effort. Either way I could hear the hissing and feel that my body was growing numb. I looked in my palm, and found a chip. I held it close to my chest.
As I took in my surroundings, I realised I was now just one of tens of thousands of spacers drifting aimlessly in the abyss. All around me were the remnants of the battle¡ªtwisted chunks of durasteel, scorched and blackened. Lengths of wire and conduit floated by, slowly wheeling end over end in the vacuum. Drifts of shattered transparisteel spun like jagged shards, catching and reflecting the eerie glow of distant laser fire. And there were men. Some were whole, their bodies bloated and blue, faces frozen in expressions of shock¡ªmouths agape, eyes staring lifelessly into the void. But most were in pieces, human and alien and droid bodily parts I could not name.
Aha, I thought in dry humour, Chimeratica had been cut in half. Well, not quite half, but the entire aft section of the ship was missing. Likely blown away in the strike that cut our engines. And the bridge, where I had been¨Cgone too. The entire beaked prow of the ship, flattened by the shockwave of two colliding giants. And the giants in question¨Cabove me, fused into a single great monolith blocking out the stars. The Providence had pierced halfway through the Victory, somehow avoiding a reactor detonation, though there evidently had been detonations.
My heart faltered as I studied the livery of the Providence. It¡¯s callsign, splendidly scrawled across her shell in cursive script. Star of Serenno.
Calli, I whispered. I heard nothing, only the sensation of vibrations dispersing through my head to my ears, giving the illusion of noise. You saved my life¡
Hare. Stelle. Where were they? I tried to twist my body around, but the effort proved futile. Fumbling with my evac suit, I managed to activate a few of the RCS thrusters, sending me careening through the debris for a few precious seconds and wasting valuable fuel. My academy training kicked in, though brief, and I adjusted my movements, finding a semblance of control. I breathed a sigh of relief.
I found Hare quickly. I couldn¡¯t mistake those rabbit ears anywhere. The LEP droid was no astromech, and wasn¡¯t equipped with boosters, so I headed over to her. Her vocabulator was blinking, indicating speech, but I couldn¡¯t hear her. She waved something in front of my face.
A distress beacon. Likely with my signature on it.
I hugged my droid tight then, though I kept my helmet well away from her ears. I didn¡¯t how long we had to wait afterwards, but soon enough a familiar sight breathed some hope back into my bones.
Kronprinz was a sight for sore eyes, and a sight that made sore eyes. The Tionese battlecruiser did not look one bit as if it belonged on the battlefield, her mirror-polished chrome armour gleaming way too brightly in the starlight, despite having been blackened some. She approached underneath us like a gargantuan sailfish, and I was unsure how far she was away. Your brain can¡¯t trust your eyes in vacuum¡ªwithout an atmosphere to dull detail, everything is equally sharp. And when it¡¯s robbed of the ability to judge distance, the mind scrabbles for purchase. Is that chunk of durasteel a foot across and about to hit your faceplate, or a metre wide and the length of a landing field away? Watching Kronprinz coming, I tried to remember how large she was, tried to figure out how far away she was, tried to calculate if she would hit me.
When I realised I was able to count the ladder rungs on her sensor masts, I kicked my feet in a panic, as if trying to swim upwards. No use. I tried to reach out and grab the mast instead, but my gloved hands scooped vacuum. Did I miss by a centimetre, or a kilometre?
Then I spotted a grey figure clinging onto the ladderwell. A B2-series super battle droid, and one evidently equipped with a booster pack. It launched itself off the Kronprinz and towards us. I let myself go slack, still holding onto Hare and the chip, and allowed the droid to drag us towards one of Kronprinz¡¯s airlocks, hidden behind her sails.
The very moment the airlock was sealed and regular gravity returned, I unceremoniously collapsed like a sack of spuds. My entire lower body was numb. Fuck. My legs. I can¡¯t feel my legs. And the droid was forced to drag me deeper into the ship.
¡°Rear Admiral!¡± Diedrich Greyshade¡¯s voice was filled to the brim with relief when he saw my broken form leaning against a bulkhead, ¡°You¡¯re alright! That droid of yours is a resourceful one.¡±
¡°That she is,¡± I groaned, patting the LEP droid.
¡°Stang, that looks bad,¡± the Commodore of the 3rd Battle Division appraised my form, ¡°Can you walk?¡±
¡°If I could¨C¡±
¡°Go get a hover-stretcher!¡± Diedrich commanded one of his accompanying orderlies.
¡°Right away, sir!¡±
¡°You should be commanding your ship,¡± I grunted, eyeing him in pain as I dragged myself more upright.
¡°They¡¯ll be fine,¡± Diedrich was dismissive, ¡°We have good news, Admiral. The Dodecian found us a way out. We¡¯ll head down and jump to Baraboo, then Manaan. We¡¯ll rendezvous with Dua Ningo there.¡±
¡°Manaan¡ why Manaan?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what our Countess Clysm told us.¡±
That caught my attention¨C ¡°Calli! You know where she is?¡±
Diedrich grimaced, ¡°I know where her ship is¨Ccan¡¯t really miss it¨Cbut herself? She told me to come find you, before ramming the Arcenciel. Thank god for your droid, otherwise we¡¯d be sweeping this whole coordinate for hours.¡±
I slouched, then winced in pain, ¡°Something¡¯s broken there.¡±
The Columexi officer straightened, ¡°Help¡¯s here. Let¡¯s get you to the medbay.¡±
I sensed myself rising into the air with the help of several pairs of arms, before settling onto the hover-stretcher. The steady hum of the repulsorlifts beneath me was reassuring. It told me I wasn¡¯t quite dead yet.
¡°...Here,¡± I gritted my teeth, handing Diedrich the chip, ¡°You command the fleet now.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll get us out, Admiral.¡±
¡°As for the Nineteenth¨C¡± I let out a gasp as some drug was injected into me.
¡°I¡¯ll command them too,¡± Diedrich Greyshade reassured, ¡°As for Calli Trilm¡ she¡¯ll be fine. She dislikes the idea of dying more than all of us combined.¡±
¡°That I agree with you,¡± I chuckled¨Cthen hacked out a cough.
That I agree with you¡
?
Commodore Diedrich Greyshade commanded the joint 28th-19th Mobile Fleet retreat to the Manaan System. Many ships were lost in the insertion and transit, and would begin to trickle in towards the rendezvous point in the following days.
Six-hundred warships of the Perlemian Coalition entered the Galactic Interior for Operation Starlance. Two months later, the retreat from the Rendili Star System saw only one-hundred make it to Manaan.
Addendum 4: Historia Galactica, Vol. 71
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The Clone Wars. The period commonly referred to as the Clone Wars remains one of the most widely recognized, yet arguably one of the most misleading designations applied to a series of conflicts that shook the galaxy in the second decade following the Great ReSynchronization. In fact, the entirety of this galaxy-spanning conflict only became known as the Clone Wars because of the highly sensationalised opening battle of the war, the 1st Battle of Geonosis, where the eponymous Clone Army of the Republic made their thundering debut onto the galactic stage. As the war unfolded, the label ¡®Clone Wars¡¯ proved increasingly inadequate, for the scope of the conflict far exceeded the initial skirmish that had given rise to its name.
The Galactic Civil War. The Separatist Crisis, the Separatist Uprising. The Republic-Confederacy War, the Core-Rim War. The Great Patriotic War, the Confederate War of Independence. The Rimward War, the Liberation of the Rim. The War for the Outer Rim. Across the galaxy, the war was known by different local names, each reflecting the perspectives and experiences of the many factions involved. The conflict was as multifaceted as the societies it engulfed, with traditional rivals fighting on the same side, and erstwhile allies pitted against each other. The war marked the first galaxy-wide war in over a millennium, with shifting alliances and ideologies shaping the course of events as both sides adapted to the rapidly changing realities of warfare. The term ¡®¡¯Clone Wars¡¯ may have sufficed in the early days following Geonosis, but it soon became clear that the conflict could not be encapsulated by any single name.
And yet, if one made an attempt to pinpoint the exact moment of time where all of these names would have been accurate, from one perspective or another, it would be in the eighth month of the fourteenth year post-Great ReSynchonization. Known to us as the final Confederate offensive against the Republic, the war had reached its zenith. Operation Storm-Door saw both the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems commit the full weight of their military and economic resources to the struggle, convinced that victory was just within reach. No region of the galaxy remained untouched.
To the north, the New Territories are under siege by the GAR; in the east the CAF launches a brutal counterattack to recapture their lost territories; in the south Eriadu lays silent a tomb, the entire Rimma Trade Route engulfed in a bloody crusade against the Core Worlds. Indiscriminate bombardment had become a standard tactic, entire worlds put to the torch as punishment for their continued resistance one after another. Both sides, believing their final victory to be imminent, escalated the violence in a desperate bid to bring the war to a swift conclusion. The cost was staggering, and the true number of lives lost may never be fully known.
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A massive, galaxy-wide mobilisation saw every available soldier, from planetary militias and system defence forces to entire national armies, thrown into the front lines. Yet, the true scale of this effort remains shrouded in uncertainty, as the complex and chaotic nature of the war makes it nearly impossible to determine the exact number of combatants. An illustrative example of this dilemma could be seen in the tragedy of Atraken, where an entire star system was consumed by internal strife, leaving billions of lives extinguished in the shadows of history, unrecorded and forgotten. The precise tally of those who fought, and those who perished, may never be fully uncovered.
But that has not stopped historians from making educated guesses.
In 14:8 GrS, the Galactic Republic had mobilised around 5.8 quadrillion servicemen and women into the Grand Army of the Republic, supplemented by an additional 160 trillion cloned soldiers from various contracted manufacturers such as Kamino, Arkania, Khomm, Lur, Columus, and more.
Estimating the ratio between frontline soldiers and rear support personnel¨Ccommonly known as the tooth-to-tail ratio¨Cproves challenging, as the blurred lines between military and civilian roles in the wartime economy obscure clear distinctions. For instance, a chartered vessel delivering luxury goods to Chandrila might simultaneously serve as a military contractor transporting heavy artillery to Mimban. Despite these complexities, well-preserved service records allow us to estimate that the number of actual combatants, excluding cloned soldiers, reached approximately 1.2 quadrillion.
On the other side, the Confederacy of Independent Systems is estimated to have mobilised approximately 2.9 quadrillion servicemen and women into the Confederate Armed Forces by 14:8 GrS, spurred by a surge in enlistments following the Militia Act. If the tooth-to-tail ratio of the Galactic Republic''s forces was difficult to determine, the Confederacy''s was even more elusive due to its decentralised structure and the involvement of corporate interests in grey-area operations. Based on available data, the number of actual Confederate combatants, excluding droids, is estimated at around 900 trillion. The heavy reliance on automation for support roles further complicates these estimates, however.
This figure does not include the numbers from the Separatist Droid Army, for which reliable data is virtually nonexistent. The exact count of battle droids deployed in both combat and support roles remains unknown, given the vast array of official and unofficial factories, many of which are still undiscovered even to this day. While propaganda sources claim numbers in the quintillions, most if not all respected military historians widely dismiss these as wildly exaggerated. More plausible estimates place the number of battle droids between 2 and 5 quadrillion, with the highest reaching up to 10 quadrillion¡
¨C Excerpt from Historia Galactica Vol. 71, by Wottlet Scarsir
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| Attachment CWY21M06: State of the Galaxy: |
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Chapter 72
Roche Asteroid Belt, Roche System
Roche Sector
Admiral Trench, Commanding Officer of the Confederate 2nd Fleet Group, had been under no illusions of the monumental undertaking put before him. Whilst they had not been able to deal the knockout blow to the Confederate heartworlds that would end the war early, the Grand Army of the Republic had nonetheless been able to push the Separatist State to the edge of the cliff with their lightning Operation Trident. Once it had become apparent they wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the Tion Hegemony as initially planned¨Cin no small part thanks to the brave struggle of the Perlemian Coalition¨Cthe GAR had cut their losses on the border on the Outer Rim and settled in to entrench the front.
It was that entrenched front that Admiral Trench and his fleets had to shatter, if Operation Storm-Door was to succeed. The stakes were high; there was no front as crucial as the Perlemian Front, the home front. Admiral Kirst could fight a protracted retreat in the north, and General Ambigene could dole out his brutal campaign in the south, but at the doorstep of the Confederate homeworlds, the 2nd Fleet Group was metaphorically and practically under the ever-scrutinising eye of the Separatist Senate.
Trench¡¯s counteroffensive will have to be lightning swift, and yet also clean and precise in order to maintain the optics of a victorious liberation campaign. Quick, and clean. Two words that, put together, become the worst nightmare of any military officer. There was quick and dirty, as General Ambigene and Admiral Kirst tended towards. There was clean and thorough, as General Tann and General Farstar would like it. Traditional military convention stresses that there was no such thing as quick and clean. And yet, that was what was demanded of Admiral Trench, and the old Harch was always up for a challenge.
For this reason, he suspected, that the Supreme Commander of the Confederate Armed Forces put Admiral Trench to command of the most important yet delicate theatre of the war. It was a political appointment as much as it was a militarily-motivated one, and considering the timing of it, he could smell the hands of Calli Trilm all over it. Not that he disagreed, of course. As the most proven fleet admiral of the Confederacy, second only to the Pantoran herself; and as the most veteran officer of the Confederacy, second only to the Tombmaker himself, there was no more natural choice than the old Harch.
And yet, Admiral Trench was also General Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s only rival in the CAF, politically and militarily. By putting him to the home front¨Cshe earns the confidence of the bureaucrats and support of the rival military factions¨Cand the Supreme Commander can only strengthen her position no matter what happens. If he is victorious, she enjoys his laurels, and if he is not, she shrugs off the blame.
Admiral Trench naturally had no intention of shouldering any blame.
From their base of operations at Columex, the Confederate 2nd Fleet Group made their plans for the upcoming offensive. First, a half-thousand ship strong fleet would embark west on the Salin Corridor, with the intent of reaching the Republic fortress world straddling the spacelane, Phindar.
Second, a thousand-ship strong contingent under the command of Rear Admiral Merai, including both star dreadnoughts Subjugator and Malevolence, would launch themselves down the Perlemian Trade Route. This central thrust would occupy the attention of the GAR Sector Fleets in the AO, including the 12th and 3rd. Their fight would be the most difficult, as the GAR had established a string of hidden deepspace fortresses, shipyards, and bases along the frontier, from which secret fleets could strike to and fro the hyperlane.
Despite Separatist Naval Intelligence¡¯s best efforts, these fortresses remained largely elusive. As long as they remained active, however, the sheer strategic threat they posed meant that any protracted action on the Republic Perlemian was doomed for failure. They had to be dealt with, one way or another.
That was where the main thrust of the attack would come in. Fifteen-hundred warships under Admiral Trench himself would circumnavigate the entire front by sweeping up from Saleucami in the south and driving straight to the Roche System deep in Loyalist space, effectively encircling the entire front. With this manoeuvre, those hidden Republic fortresses would eventually starve of food and supplies, and the Foundry of the Confederacy could be liberated.
The timing of the attack was most crucial. It had to follow Operation Starlance, which was designed to draw the bulk of the Loyalist fleets away from the front. Trench was effectively dividing his three-thousand-strong armada into three smaller, more consumable divisions. There would be no point in striking at Roche if the GAR 3rd Sector Fleet could simply about-face and bring its full might down on him, trapped in hostile territory.
But first, Roche.
¡°Progress report, Admiral?¡± came the stern volume of Supreme Commander Sev¡¯rance Tann.
The Harch Admiral clicked his mandibles and shook his head, ¡°The Verpine are proving¡ contentious. More than expected.
¡°This strategy is of your making, Admiral,¡± the blue-skinned alien reminded pointedly, opaque red glare boring into him, ¡°We cannot afford to fail here.¡±
¡°I understand that more than anybody, General,¡± Trench tapped his cane against the deck, ¡°We are making good progress nevertheless. The Roche Asteroid Field has been successfully blockaded, and there has been no more Loyalist supply fleets reaching the front.¡±
¡°Then what appears to be the issue?¡±
¡°The nature of the ¡®battle¡¯, General,¡± Trench answered without shame, ¡°Or rather, ¡®campaign¡¯ would be a more accurate description.¡±
There was a special quirk about the Roche Star System that set it apart from the rest. It had no planets. Instead, the entire star system was dominated by a single massive asteroid belt, an endless expanse of rock and stellar metal orbiting a star. It was this asteroid belt that the Loyalist Verpine species called home. The insectoids, much like the Separatist Geonosians, were some of the best engineers in the galaxy, with a particular expertise in starship manufacturing. Since their entrance into galactic society, the Verpine have thus been staunch Loyalists, transforming their asteroid belt into a hub of industry and mining whilst propagating through their asteroid colony cities.
One could begin to see the challenges of trying to capture such a star system. Trying to starve them out through a prolonged blockade was ineffective as well, since the Verpine diet consists solely of a unique fungus grown within the asteroid agri-colonies of the system.
Thus began one of the most taxing and brutal military campaigns of the war, focused entirely in one star system. For the Loyalists, every asteroid was a fortress, bristling with hidden defences and treacherous terrain. For the Separatists, each advance was a nightmare of close-quarters combat, where warships had to navigate through narrow corridors of rock, their shields scraping against jagged surfaces, all while under relentless fire from Verpine weapons.
The Verpine, with their intimate knowledge of the asteroid belt, struck from every angle, disappearing into the shadows just as quickly as they emerged. Their advanced starfighters darted through the debris fields with uncanny precision, while their larger ships, camouflaged against the dark stone, launched ambushes that left entire Separatist squadrons shattered.
As the campaign dragged on, Trench¡¯s fleet found themselves locked in a grinding war of attrition. Each asteroid captured came at a heavy cost, with ships and men lost to the unyielding environment as much as to Verpine resistance. The Droid Army, though relentless, were forced to adapt to the harsh realities of the Roche System. They resorted to blasting entire asteroids apart, hoping to flush out the Verpine defences hidden within. But for every asteroid destroyed, the Verpine simply relocated deeper into the belt, their resistance virtually undiminished.
Admiral Trench never expected the Roche Campaign to be a swift conquest, but this quickly devolving battle of endurance was admittedly taking a larger toll than he had calculated for. Every click of progress was paid for in blood and wreckage, and still, the Verpine held their ground, their colonies nestled safely within the shifting maze of the asteroid belt, apparently determined to resist until the last rock was pulverised. The Verpine had a reputation for idealist pacifism, but it seems that only extends so far as to the safety of their home.
¡°But you can take Roche?¡± the Supreme Commander questioned sharply, ¡°If not, I would advise you to retreat. The GAR Third Sector Fleet shows signs of returning to the front soon, depending on the whims of the Republic Senate. Many of their divisions are already in the process of resupplying and turning around.¡±
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It has been two, three months since the threat of Operation Starlance had drawn the 3rd Sector Fleet back to the Core. Trench had hoped for a larger window to conduct his operation. Rear Admiral Merai had pushed the remnants of the 12th Sector Fleet back to the devastated world of Euceron, lifting the Siege of Ringo Vinda on route and poised to lift the Siege of Metalorn as well. Trench was admittedly unsure of how much worth Metalorn had left to the Confederacy, considering the GAR had slagged the planet¡¯s crust, but he imagined it would be nothing some self-replicating factories couldn¡¯t fix.
¡°Sooner than I would like¨Cor expected,¡± Trench said as such, a well of unease pooling in his coxal glands, ¡°How did you come about this development?¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s features were set grim, ¡°The Republic made no secret of it. The HoloNet has been broadcasting a great Loyalist victory at Rendili for the entire galaxy to see. Reportedly, the Home Fleet of Admiral Honor Salima, along with the Jedi fleets of General Plo Koon and General Obi-Wan Kenobi had defeated the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada at Rendili. You will see it for yourself soon, I¡¯d imagine, the footage of the claimed Separatist flagships wrecked in the debris field.¡±
¡°Can we confirm that those wrecks are authentic?¡± Trench asked carefully.
¡°From the footage?¡± the Supreme Commander clarified, ¡°Yes. Our analysts conclude they are more legitimate than not. The GAR are so confident as to dissect their sublight drives to extract their full transponder codes¨Csomething that would only be possible if they were the actual ships themselves. Star of Serenno, and Chimeratica, Rain Bonteri¡¯s adopted flagship post-Yag¡¯Dhul. They want us to know. They are counting on it.¡±
Trench¡¯s stateroom was filled with a tense quiet, and the old Harch felt his thorax shiver lightly as he stared out the portholes towards the sea of asteroids¨Cbright flashes erupting from the depths of one segment as sixteen Separatist warships punched through the Corridor G147 towards a suspected Verpine industrial colony. Similar sights were happening concurrently all across the system. A whole thousand warships, dedicated to flushing out a single asteroid field.
¡°Have they shown Rain Bonteri or Calli Trilm on the HoloNet?¡± Trench pressed further.
Tann¡¯s features set even grimmer, if that was at all possible, and shook her head, wavy black hair drifting lightly.
¡°So they weren¡¯t captured,¡± he muttered, mandibles clicking in frustration, ¡°That or the Republic doesn¡¯t wish to publicise their capture for whatever reason.¡±
¡°Unlikely,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann said.
¡°I tend to agree,¡± Trench concurred, ¡°And have any survivors of the battle contacted us yet?¡±
¡°Not,¡± she paused, ¡°Yet. Our agents report that the Rendili Home Defence Fleet had defected to the Separatist camp on the onset of the battle; something we are still investigating. That makes four participating Separatist fleets; the Rendili, the Bulwark Fleet, the Nineteenth, and the Twenty-Eighth. None of which have made any attempt to contact us. I have personally scoured every Separatist transceiver code on the front.¡±
¡°Which means either they have escaped,¡± Trench¡¯s mechanical arm whirred as he tightened his grip on his cane, ¡°Or more likely, they are dead. And the Republic couldn¡¯t find their bodies.¡±
¡°Not at all unbelievable, considering the nature of space battles.¡±
¡°I will not argue with you there,¡± Trench conceded, ¡°But this means¡ I imagine Parliament is clamouring for answers from you, and in the midst of the Serenno Transmissions affair as well.¡±
¡°I maintain that the survivors of the fleets are currently making their way back to Separatist space, and we should defer any hasty judgement until we can hear the truth from our spacers,¡± the Supreme Commander of the CAF told him, ¡°I need your support in this regard.¡±
¡°And you will have it,¡± Trench pledged easily, ¡°The Separatist State is already experiencing a political schism, it cannot afford a military schism as well. We can declare Calli Trilm, Rain Bonteri, and Dua Ningo to be missing in action until further notice. That can delay Parliament¡¯s demands for answers for some time, at least.¡±
Now, more than ever, at least one facet of the Confederacy must remain united as the linchpin that holds the whole state together. And that was what the Confederate Armed Forces were right now. The hopes and dreams of every citizen and politician of the Confederacy was riding on their ships and soldiers. That was the founding principle of the Separatist State, and now that was the only thing holding the Separatist State together. Hopes and dreams.
¡°However,¡± Admiral Trench continued, ¡°You did not foresee this? I¡¯ve heard the Jedi can sense if a man is dead or alive, even from a galaxy away.¡±
¡°I am not like most Jedi,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann studied him carefully, ¡°And I foresee little where Rain Bonteri is involved. I foresaw a successful Operation Starlance, which was why I permitted General Ambigene to bombard Eriadu.¡±
¡°And is that vision of yours still accurate?¡±
¡°I see possible futures, ever in flux as they are,¡± she replied with no small amount of disdain, ¡°Because there is no such thing as the future. In a time as fickle as war, even as I learn these futures, the futures change yet, even more so if I speak of them to others. It is quite the dilemma.¡±
¡°I can imagine so,¡± Trench grunted, in no mood to speak on the metaphysics of time and causation, ¡°Tell me this; will we win the war?¡±
Four pairs of red eyes met, and the Supreme Commander told him with all the conviction and belief he could only expect from her; ¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Then that is all I need to hear,¡± Trench replied, satisfied, ¡°By allowing Horn Ambigene to raise such a ruckus on the Rimma Trade Route, you raised him to such a threat level that Anakin Skywalker had to be redeployed to face him. If not for that¡ Anakin Skywalker may well have been present at Rendili as well. The fact that he wasn¡¯t, could only mean the casket of our fleets have not been nailed shut just yet.¡±
The Pantoran¡¯s grim expression lifted to a slightly bland smile, ¡°I wonder what is the purpose of foresight if you can see through me so easily, Admiral.¡±
¡°I am old,¡± Admiral Trench chuckled, ¡°And I have four more eyes than you.¡±
She held the small smile for a moment longer, and in that brief instant, the blue-skinned alien appeared less like the most powerful woman in the Outer Rim and more like a young lady savouring a rare moment of reprieve. Being the Supreme Commander was undoubtedly a burdensome role, as were all positions of great power. The responsibility of managing the galaxy''s largest fleets and armies, the constant pressure to secure victories, and the weight of shouldering defeats¡ªit all took its toll. Observing her closely, it was clear she had aged decades in the year since her appointment, with strands of grey already threading through her once raven-black waves.
Trench was not so heartless. He hated to break the smile.
¡°Operation Starlance achieved its primary purpose,¡± Trench made an attempt to console his rival and comrade-in-arms, ¡°They raided the richest worlds of the Arrowhead, and hounded the critical supply lines of the agri-worlds. There is no discounting the impact they made on the war. Their sacrifice allowed us to liberate worlds once thought lost to us.¡±
¡°Has it?¡± the smile waned, ¡°I may have prevented Skywalker from joining the Loyalists at Rendili, but that also means I pitted him against Ambigene. The Fourth Fleet Group has made eight offensives towards Yag¡¯Dhul, and the Open Circle Fleet has beaten them back eight times. Wroona remains a contested world. In the north, Admiral Kirst has been forced to fall back to the gates of Serenno itself. Axxila and Vinsoth are under siege, and Loyalist fleets are poised to strike at Celanon¨Cwhere Dooku¡¯s hound Grievous resides. With the Serenno Transmissions affair, there is no knowing whether the cyborg is to be pitted against Coruscant, or Raxus Secundus.¡±
¡°Dooku will not make such a drastic and foolhardy move,¡± it was Trench¡¯s turn to frown, ¡°That is not the man I know.¡±
¡°That is the man I know,¡± the Pantoran murmured, ¡°The man who would torture his apprentices at the slightest inconvenience. But no matter; I will deal with him as I deal with the Republic.¡±
¡°Does confidence fail to come to you, General?¡±
In response, Sev¡¯rance Tann closed her red eyes in what Trench recognised to be one of those Force trances of hers, and he settled in to wait patiently. Five minutes later, her eyes opened.
¡°The outcome of the war will draw to a knife¡¯s edge,¡± she told him, blank faced, ¡°Who¡¯s knife, I am unsure. But I do not recognise the galaxy-to-be, and that can only be a good omen.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Trench chittered, ¡°A galaxy without a dominant Republic is one nobody who''s lived in the past thousand years would recognise. Whatever happens, we have shaken this galaxy to a state where it will never be the same again.¡±
¡°My¨C our legacy will be intact,¡± the Supreme Commander decided, ¡°Admiral Trench, I trust that I can leave the development of the home front in your capable hands. You may continue at your own discretion.¡±
Trench accepted the proverbial peace offer, drawing to his full height, ¡°Much obliged, General. In light of the situation, I will withdraw from this failing effort in Roche and consolidate our gains in the Near-Perlemian. I will see to it that we are well-prepared for the GAR¡¯s return. Operation Trident will not happen a second time.¡±
General Tann smiled at him and nodded, ¡°Keep up the good work, Admiral. For the Confederacy.¡±
¡°For the Confederacy.¡±
Everything for the Confederacy. If four fleets and a million veteran spacers was what it would take, then so be it.
Chapter 73
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca System
¡°Bode, Barriss, I want you two to keep an eye on PRIESTESS. If Palpatine communicates with Dooku, I want to hear it.¡±
¡°Copy that leader.¡±
¡°Understood, Master.¡±
Plotting a scheme to depose the most powerful man in the galaxy was no easy feat, but it was a simple feat. One could make the scheme extraneously complex and opaque, Jedi Master Adi Gallia could attest to, but in this instance she decided the outcome would not be worth the immense effort imputed. Ultimately, the influence of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine now pervaded every facet of Republic governance in some way or form. There would be no concealing the meeting of influential senators, representatives, generals and admirals and other political figures who were willing to stake their bets against Palpatine.
Especially so if the Supreme Chancellor was a Dark Lord of the Sith.
In which case, Adi Gallia determined, she might as well host the council directly under his nose.
The Jedi Master patiently waited as the numerous eminent bodies of the Republic political strata trickled into the room; one of the too many committee chambers housed in the Senate Building. Master Gallia mentally took note of the personages in attendance, and what or who they represented, arranging them in order of importance and necessity. Many of them, Adi Gallia and her network had to contact¨Cclandestinely or otherwise¨Cand convince them to attend the dialogue.
Some took more effort than others. After all, simply showing their faces here was tantamount to putting themselves in the crosshairs of COMPOR and other Loyalist lobbies. Especially should the particulars leak; which Adi Gallia had already accounted for. No doubt some of them were puppets of the Chancellor, standing by the relay every word spoken back to their dark master.
Some took less effort, in other ways. The Palpatine Administration¡¯s popularity had taken a massive hit in the recent months, following numerous Separatist incursions in the Core Worlds. Those who didn¡¯t take much convincing included the main ringleaders of the anti-Palpatine faction still active in the Senate; Mon Mothma of Chandrila, Bail Organa of Alderaan, Bana Breemu of Humbarine. Their attendance greatly bolstered the legitimacy of the dialogue in the eyes of the Senate, the fact that a Jedi Master of the High Council was hosting notwithstanding.
Beyond the Core were the star sectors of the Rims, motivated by an equally vast panoply of reasons. The noble houses of the Senex-Juvex Sectors, chafing against the growing centralisation of power in the Core. Among them were representatives from satellite sectors, led by Senator Tanner Cadaman of the D¡¯Aelgoth Sector. Then there were those motivated by more pacifist ideologies, such as the Ithorians of Ithor, led by Senator Tendau Bendon. Or those who simply stood against the corruption of the Palpatine Administration, such as Senator Lexi Dio of Uyter.
She will be important, Master Gallia made a note. Uyter was one of the most productive agri-worlds in the Mid Rim, especially in recent years as they replaced the thousands of Rimward agri-worlds that seceded to the Confederacy, and their support would be worth their daily export¡¯s weight in beskar.
Then there were the wildcards, who even a Jedi Master like her couldn¡¯t fully read, and yet their support could mean life or death of this budding rebellion. Queen Neeyutnee of Naboo, attending in holographic form. She was a small woman, dressed in the traditional Naboo style, with regal headdress, facepaint, and all. And yet, her royal raiments were simple and modest, at least compared to the downright ostentatious plumages sported by her predecessors. A simple red dress, covered by a sleek black topcoat of Cyrene silk.
It was a striking message, and one representative of her character. By all accounts, Queen Neeyutnee was not Padm¨¦ Amidala, and the same arguments that may have worked on the former queen of Naboo would not work on the current one. The current Queen was a wartime monarch, and by all means a rationalist. She did not so much act out of principle as Padm¨¦ Amidala may have, as she might weigh the potential gains and losses for the homeworld and the star systems she held overlordship over.
Next, there was Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore, who was a consummate pacifist, and leader of the Council of Neutral Systems in fact. Adi Gallia may have already written off her potential support, if not for her willingness to attend in the dialogue. Despite the pacifistic ideologies of the New Mandalorians that she ruled over, the Mandalore Sector remained a sleeping powerhouse in the Outer Rim. Well over a thousand neutral, strategic systems rested in Mandalorian Space, filled with a traditionally warlike people whom not all have converted to the ideology of the New Mandalorians.
Lastly, there was the representative of the Tapani Federation, the Mrlssi Senator Canny Bertar, who needed little introduction. The League of Tapani Freeworlds constituted over a quarter of the Galactic Interior and included an entire Sector Army.
The avian Senator started, her feathers ruffling with impatience, ¡°For the sake of unambiguity, I attend here in the name of the Tapani Federation and her Freeworlds. With the power vested in my body, I listen and speak on behalf of the Octavian Grant and the Tapani Noble Houses.¡±
The Mrlssi¡¯s eyes shifted, before continuing, ¡°It appears to me that we convene to discuss the numerous trespasses of the Palpatine Administration, and the continuous overreaches of the Executive Body. Am I correct?¡±
¡°You are, honoured Senator,¡± Master Adi Gallia replied kindly, gesturing for the doors to be closed. Jedi Master Plo Koon just about materialised from the shadows to do so, catching the attention of the gathered body.
Not just one Councilmember, but two? A wave of recognition washed through the seated audience. A similar wave washed through Adi Gallia, but one borne from Senator Canny Bertar¡¯s words. How much can be believed; had the Tapani Federation truly vest their interest in their Senator? Would Octavian Grant truly act depending on her conclusion of the dialogue? Adi Gallia allowed the Force to fill in the missing details in her mental image of the situation.
¡°I am glad we can all agree that something must be done against the overreaches of the current government,¡± Queen Neeyutnee¡¯s voice was demure as befitting of her stature, and yet compelling enough to bid men listen, ¡°And yet I must question; how much can be trusted of the Core Worlds? The Supreme Chancellor is a canny man, and his staff are equally capable. Even in the Chommel Sector, I hear news of his tightening grip in the wake of that scuffle at Rendili.¡±
¡°You are well-informed, Your Highness,¡± Master Plo Koon said gravelly, ¡°Indeed, the Chancellor¡¯s overreaction may prove to earn him allies in the Core nobility, but it is also a sign of desperation. He realises what we all do; support for his government is waning. His most recent actions are those of a man trying to salvage a terrible situation as much as possible.¡±
Many nodded in agreement with the Jedi Master¡¯s words, Bail Organa and Mon Mothma in number among them. Following the Battle of Rendili, Honor Salima had been declared ¡®Admiral of the Core¡¯ for her victory, and near every one-in-three servicemen in the Home Fleet had been awarded the Republic Medal of Valour¨Cmost of them posthumously. No doubt powerful Jedi detractors in the current military administration would have loved to derogate the Open Circle Fleet¡¯s actions during the battle, if not for the fact that doing so would contradict the current narrative being built around the Home Fleet¡
And that for some reason, Admiral Honor Salima had praised the Open Circle Fleet and Task Force Hyperion for their conduct and timely assistance during the battle. Well, the Tholothian Master might say ¡®for some reason¡¯, but she had a strong suspicion she knew why. Regardless of the reason, few could oppose the awards lavished upon the Home Fleet.
They had destroyed the Perlemian Coalition! The Perlemian Coalition that had obstructed the Republic time and time again since the Battle of Centares. And not just that, but also finally put the nail in the coffins of two most infamous Warlords of the Perlemian, Rain Bonteri and Calli Trilm. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that Plo Koon and Obi-Wan were Jedi of the Temple, and thus duty-bound to decline any awards, they too would have had medals and ribbons heaped high on their humble robes. The clone forces under their command, however, earned everything from Medals of Valour to Bronze Crescents.
By all accounts, the Battle of Rendili had been a massive victory for the Galactic Republic. The Perlemian Coalition¡¯s leaders were dead, its fleets rendered combat ineffective. The Bulwark Fleet was near annihilated in its entirety, with no more than a dozen ships still operational. The only dark lining in the battle was the escape of the Rendili Home Defence Fleet, which emboldened the Provisional Independent Government to hold out against any Republic repercussions. The damage was limited, however, as the Home Fleet¡¯s ongoing tour of the nearby sectors stamped down on any budding restlessness in the region.
With the fleets recalled from the front now returning to their garrison posts in the Core, the unrest stemming from the prolonged lack of military presence finally began to ease. Unfortunately, the Grand Army of the Republic found itself back at square one when it came to ending the war¡ªbut the national crisis had passed, and that brought a collective sigh of relief from just about every faction within the Republic.
Except one¨C
¡°Would the death of the Battle Hydra affect our agreements with the Separatists?¡± Adi Gallia had asked Plo Koon upon his return.
The Kel Dor Jedi had paused upon her worries, ¡°I find it unlikely that he is dead, despite what the HoloNet may claim. Unfortunately, the nature of his being makes it difficult to ascertain anything. Nevertheless, we do not need him. Nor does the Pantoran. He is the right arm of the Separatist military, indeed, but a body does not stop moving just because a limb had been amputated. If his words prove true, then the Raxus and Serenno Governments are diverging at an unmitigated rate. A Separatist civil war is all but inevitable, at which point continued war with the Republic would be undesirable.¡±
¡°You believe his death changes nothing?¡±
¡°Nothing at all,¡± Plo Koon confirmed, ¡°The Pantoran will play her part, and we will play ours. Then, we will simply forge a lasting ceasefire between our two factions, so that we may focus on our respective enemies. If we manage to seize the Republic without bloodshed, then the matter will be even simpler; we cement an alliance with the Raxus Government and turn on our true enemy¨CCount Dooku.¡±
His argument was sound, Adi Gallia had to admit, but even then it left a bad taste in her mouth to shake hands with a man and stab him in the back right after. Even as a spymaster, she still had some Jedi sensibilities¨Cor rather, the sensibilities of any moral person. Master Plo Koon, however, seemed perfectly capable of compartmentalising which persona to use for the situation. The ¡®Jedi Master¡¯ or the ¡®General of the Republic.¡¯ Not that Adi Gallia couldn¡¯t empathise. It was the only way to survive a war that stood for everything the Jedi Order was against.
¡°I concur with the Master Jedi, Your Highness,¡± Senator Bail Organa outstretched a hand, ¡°Palpatine has too many parties to balance¨Cnot all of whom wish to be balanced. After spending his entire term curbing the autonomy and influence of the noble clans, only to double back and honour them as he loses favour with the military and citizenry? It is a precarious balancing act, and after a series of blunders leading into this national crisis; it has left most factions feeling lukewarm to him at best. The support base he boasts now is nowhere as large as the one he started the war with.¡±
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A flutter of metaphorical butterflies took to the air, rampant murmurs like the flapping of their wings. Until now, the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s position seemed bedrock solid, unassailable as a political fortress. Cracks were forming, and for the first time someone has openly pointed it out, that person being Senator Bail Organa no less.
Duchess Satine¡¯s piercing tone cut through the commotion, ¡°I would like to hear from the host herself; Master Jedi, what is the purpose you intend to unify this assemblage with? We may all share your sympathies regarding the Chancellor, but not all of us are unified in ideology or motivation. Rationalists, pacifists, self-interest parties. What is your compromise?¡±
Adi Gallia found herself nodding along with the Duchess'' statement. The three most influential bodies in the audience¨CMon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Bana Breemu¨Ctogether leaned forward in anticipation. The three of them were a microcosm of her statement, in fact. Mon Mothma of Chandrila was a pacifist, seeking peace between the Republic and Confederacy. Bail Organa of Alderaan was a rationalist, one who supported Palpatine early on in the war, before distancing himself as the Chancellor¡¯s true intentions revealed themselves. Bana Breemu of Humbarine represented the self-interest of her homeworld, whose commercial and industrial value had waned as Palpatine prioritised rival worlds like Kuat.
In fact, every character in the dialogue could be more or less organised into one of those three camps. And now Master Adi Gallia had to unify them under one banner. She shared a glance with her Jedi partner. It¡¯s now or never.
¡°At this point in the war,¡± her mouth was as dry as Tatooine, though she did not show it, ¡°We see no other recourse but to force the Supreme Chancellor to stand down and surrender his post, and end this terrible conflict by making a conditional peace with the Confederacy of Independent Systems.¡±
Duchess Satine¡¯s eyes widened. Perhaps she had expected them to be in favour of continuing the war¨Cand she was not incorrect, to an extent. Adi Gallia and Plo Koon were only in favour of continuing the war to the extent of Dooku¡¯s downfall. In fact, her words had prompted a swell of support from the gathered assemblage¨Cthe war had taken its toll, and even the most hawkish character among their number had to admit it may be high time to cut their losses¨Cbar one.
¡°That is easier said than done,¡± Senator Lexi Dio cut in severely, ¡°Palpatine¡¯s corruption runs deep. Can we truly say no senator in this room hadn¡¯t made deals with his office that we shouldn¡¯t have? The Executive Office is his, as is the Supreme Court and its circuits. Half of the Galactic Senate is in his pocket. I doubt we will even find enough supporters for a vote to impeach him. The words you speak are large, Master Jedi, but where is the impetus behind them?¡±
¡And that was where the kicker was.
¡°While we would obviously prefer a bloodless solution,¡± Adi Gallia saw no reason to mince her words, ¡°We have considered the very real possibility that the Chancellor may refuse to surrender his powers peacefully. Without the courts or the legislation, there would be no legal way to remove him from office.¡±
¡°So you would¡ consider an illegal way?¡± Senator Bana Breemu raised an eyebrow, ¡°How so?¡±
¡°War.¡± Master Plo Koon¡¯s heavy tone felt like a sack of boulders falling over their heads, emphasised by his breathing apparatus.
War.
¡°You would have the Republic rip itself apart?¡± Mon Mothma was aghast, as were many.
¡°Tell me your honest feelings, Senator,¡± Master Plo pressed hard, ¡°Should the war end in a Republic victory, with Separatist worlds taken and subdued¨Cdo you believe the Supreme Chancellor would surrender his emergency powers?¡±
¡°He must!¡± the Senator from Chandrila protested, though all could tell she was convincing her own self more than them, ¡°He made an oath!¡±
¡°And if he does not uphold that oath, Mon?¡± Bail Organa asked gently, ¡°Would any of us have the power or influence to force him? It is as the Master Jedi said; we wouldn¡¯t have the courts or even the legislative power to do so. Palpatine has the Senate divided, as is his best interest to do so. Our caucus would be sizable, but it wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡±
¡°At which point,¡± Adi Gallia hammered down, ¡°Does the Republic cease being a republic, and begin being a dictatorship? From my perspective, it already is. But if you want it to be official, simply wait for the war to end, and I guarantee to all of you, the Supreme Chancellor would declare himself on for life. And with the courts, legislation, and even the media¨Cit would be completely legal.¡±
There was a shaky breath. Adi Gallia reached into the Force, felt the atmosphere, and felt it favourable enough to continue. The perks of being a Jedi are paying off in spades, she thought humorlessly, yet I¡¯m using them to foment a civil war.
¡°Civil war is a possibility, ladies and gentlemen,¡± she insisted, ¡°Whether it becomes a necessity depends on the Supreme Chancellor. But in the case it does occur, we must prepare for it. This civil war¨Cit will not be about whether to tear down one man, but about the very survival of the Republic itself. It is about how much democracy is worth to all of you, and whether it is worth shedding blood over.¡±
It was a difficult decision, matched by similarly difficult expressions. At this point, Adi Gallia might have said something along the lines of ¡®sleep on it¡¯, except she needed their answers now. Adi needed to know in no uncertain terms who she could consider her allies and enemies, even more so if Palpatine was listening, as he too would decide who were his enemies from this dialogue. Letting them go to ¡®think on it¡¯ would only invite unsurety and further complications.
If they declared their support to the rebellion in this quasi-open setting, then they could be trusted. After all, it meant they had thrown in the bet. There was no taking it back. Similarly, if they didn¡¯t¡ vice versa. But for that to happen, somebody needed to break the mounting tension and take the first step.
Senator Canny Bertar¡¯s beak clicked, ¡°I have decided.¡±
Half a hundred heads snapped to who may be the most powerful person in the room, representing a quarter of the Core Worlds.
¡°Should this hypothetical civil war occur,¡± the Mrlssi said slowly, ¡°The Tapani Federation and her Freeworlds would be willing to offer military access through Tapani space. However, we will not pledge our fleets to the fight. As we speak, we war with the Tombmaker on the Rimma Trade Route. We can afford nothing to fight a second front.¡±
¡°But you will not attack our fleets in Tapani territories?¡± Plo Koon questioned.
¡°We will not,¡± Canny Bertar confirmed, ¡°We will, however, bar any Executive military fleets from using our spacelanes. That is the most we can pledge.¡±
The most you can pledge? Adi Gallia had not the mind for warfare, and thus prodded her partner for his decision. Master Plo Koon urged her to accept. This is nearly everything we can hope for, she suddenly found herself thinking, a quarter of the Galactic Interior off-limits to anything Palpatine can muster.
As for the political implications, Adi Gallia realised the Tapani were simply taking up the age-old practice of fence-sitting until a victor became apparent. By offering military access to one side and not the other, however, they were clearly declaring to the galaxy which side they favoured. And that was enough for Adi Gallia. Because that was tantamount to support. And when a quarter of the Core Worlds supported a cause, the rest tended to follow suit.
¡°The Council of Neutral Systems supports this cause,¡± Duchess Satine was next, ¡°Though I personally oppose conflict, I will allow the signatories of the Neutral Systems to pledge their fleets at their own discretion. Similarly to the Tapani, the Mandalore Sector would give Jedi fleets full access as well.¡±
Before anybody else could pledge their support however, Queen Neeyutnee of Naboo hampered the growing momentum with a sharp¨C ¡°Let us not be hasty. We speak of deposing the current Supreme Chancellor, but what of the post-war galaxy? Peace with the Separatists? Would they even be open to a conditional peace? After everything they¡¯ve done?¡±
¡°They would,¡± that, Adi Gallia spoke with so much confidence the Queen of Naboo was taken aback.
¡°Truly?¡± Mon Mothma stood up, ¡°How can you be certain?¡±
¡°My spies tell me a schism is brewing in the Separatist State,¡± she informed the assemblage, ¡°Count Dooku and General Tann are currently locked in a power struggle over control of the Confederacy. Dooku is an idealist, as you may all know, and peace with him would prove difficult. General Tann, however, is a rationalist, and only seeks a favourable outcome for the Separatist State, which would be¨C¡±
¡°It¡¯s existence as an independent polity,¡± Bana Breemu finished, ¡°In which case the cards would be in our hands.¡±
¡°My thoughts exactly, Senator.¡±
Queen Neeyutnee tapped her fingers against her throne, before finally rising to her full¨Cshort¨Cheight. Her youthful age was apparent for all to see, then, and it was admirable how such a young lady had held herself against politicians twice and thrice her age.
¡°In this case,¡± the Queen smoothened her robes, ¡°I pledge Naboo and the Chommel Sector¡¯s full support to this cause, along with all of her fleets and armies. The institution of democracy in the Republic is a sacred thing, one held for twenty-five millennia. I would not let it end because of a single power-hungry brute. I am ashamed to call him my countryman, and thus in my capacity as Queen of the Naboo, I hereby disavow Sheev Palpatine, and banish him from Naboo.¡±
The dam had been broken, and soon the tide of support and withdrawals started making themselves known. Uyter, Ithor, Taris and Feenix all pledged their support, as did Ikotchon, Allanteen-VI, and Hosnian Prime. At the same time, the delegates from Alsakan, Fedalle, and Commenor quietly left the premises, unwilling to openly air their disagreements in a chamber so heavily favoured to one side.
¡°Humbarine would be willing to pledge her fleets,¡± Senator Bana Breemu spoke over the commotion, ¡°If not for that the Chancellor¡¯s military reforms had seen them subsumed into the Sector Armadas. Our defence is left entirely at the mercy of the GAR.¡±
¡°I agree with the Senator from Humbarine,¡± Bail Organa clenched his fists gravely, ¡°Many of the Core Worlds are no longer garrisoned by their own fleets, and instead those attached to us by the Republic Navy. I fear this is as Palpatine had planned for; we simply have no ships to offer.¡±
¡°I beg to differ,¡± Master Plo told them, ¡°You have ships¨Cthey are simply spread across the Sector Armadas.¡±
Adi Gallia hastily followed up, ¡°As the face of the Jedi Temple, and on behalf of the Order, I will publicly demand that the Supreme Chancellor surrender his emergency powers and vacate his office for a new election to take place. I will air all of his corruption and his treason, including the communiques he had with the Separatists in order to further his own profit from the war.¡±
She tactically paused, studying the various expressions at the outrageous claim that the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic of all people was communicating with the Separatists for his own gain, ¡°It is following this declaration that I hope all of you will make your own announcements. Declare to the Republic and to the galaxy. You are all popular leaders of your homeworlds and sectors; it is why you are present in this dialogue. Decry the dictator; urge your countrymen to protect the Republic and its values.¡±
¡°Chancellor Palpatine would see uprisings across the Republic,¡± Plo Koon finished, ¡°Mutinies in every Sector Army would arise. Octavian Grant would declare his neutrality, setting a precedent. The Second Sector Army is commanded by Jedi, and will support the cause. The Governor-Generals would realise which way the winds are blowing, and either sit out of the conflict or pick a side. Thousands more worlds not represented here today will flock to the cause.¡±
¡°It is my most solemn hope,¡± Adi Gallia said truthfully, as she met every attending member in the eyes, ¡°That the Supreme Chancellor will realise that should he decide to fight this war; there will be nothing left of the Republic for him to rule over. And he would stand down.¡±
¡°...Do you think,¡± Queen Neeyutnee asked softly, though in the silence every syllabus struck like a drumbeat, ¡°That Sheev Palpatine is that kind of man?¡±
No. I think he¡¯ll get news of this meeting and panic, and communicate with Dooku to somehow turn the situation to his advantage. There will be the nail in his coffin. Rampant corruption is one thing; definite proof of the most grievous of high treason is an entirely different beast. There would not be a soul in the Republic who would support him then.
¡°I pray that he is.¡±
Chapter 74
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
Having suffered through all four hours of Palpatine¡¯s post-crisis address to the Senate, interrupted likely a half dozen times by thunderous standing ovations, Jedi Master Adi Gallia was not inclined to hear one more honey-dripping word from the Chancellor¡¯s mouth. And yet, she must, as she watched the sun-kissed spires of the Jedi Temple approach.
The newfound bustle of the Temple¡¯s wide corridors were not lost on her as she made her way to the turbolift, filled with thousands of Jedi Knights and Padawans recalled from far-flung frontiers to defend the Core from the recent Separatist incursion. Thousands of Jedi in the Temple, thousands of fronts on which the Confederacy of Independent Systems found a second wind. Thousands of fronts on which the Republic was being pushed back.
The Tholothian shook her head, tendrils swaying. Thousands of Jedi on Coruscant to oppose the Dark Lord of the Sith.
As soon as she entered the circular chamber of the High Council¨Cfilled in advance with the forms of myriad Jedi Masters¨Cshe ran the holorecording of the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s recent speech. Around the holoprojection sat the Councilmembers Yoda, Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, Shaak Ti, Plo Koon, Stass Allie, Kit Fisto, and herself.
¡°Today, we stand in the wake of a monumental victory,¡± the holoimage of the Supreme Chancellor declared, ¡°Separatist treachery! Treason in our own space! Against all odds our brave defenders, the soldiers and fleets of this Republic, have delivered a decisive blow to the enemy! The Separatists saw to sow fear into our ranks, to turn us against each other, but out Core¨Cour people and our spirit!¨Cremain intact! We have triumphed! A triumph of unity, courage, and unwavering resolve!¡±
There was an applause, so loud and roaring it drowned out the sound of his voice¨Cand when Palpatine realised it wasn¡¯t going to stop, he paused to let it run its course. A course that went on for far too long. Droid cams buzzed around the Great Rotunda to highlight the more well-known of the Palpatine-aligned factions, before coming full circle and closing in on Palpatine¡¯s thirty-metre-tall podium to linger on the two dozen human naval officers who were standing just below the summit, clapping enthusiastically.
¡°I offer my deepest gratitudes to those who stood on the front lines, on behalf of us all. To these men and women, these heroes of the Republic, who faced the most fearsome Warlords of the Perlemian and prevailed. Their bravery and sacrifice has paved the way for the continued safety and preservation of this great galactic community, and for this, they will forever be remembered.¡±
¡°A show of force, this is,¡± Yoda remarked.
Dressed in robes of deep red, the colours of the Republic, Palpatine continued.
¡°In recognition of the service, we must honour our heroes accordingly¨C¡± another raucous cheer, ¡°¨CIn my capacity of Commander-in-Chief of our Grand Army, I hereby announce that the Star of Coruscant will be awarded to Admiral Honor Salima, whose command over Rendili kept our fleets unbroken and indomitable. To Captain Terrinald Screed, Captain Jan Dodonna, and Captain Sagoro Autem, whose distinguished conduct filled our brave spacers with impeccable resolve, I proudly award the Cross of Heroes. To Commander Adar Tallon and all of his fearless pilots, I award the Medal of Valour. And finally, to all the brave fighters who took part in this campaign, they will be honoured with the Crescent of Service, a symbol of the Republic¡¯s gratitude for their service.¡±
Adi Gallia muted the holorecording just before a second standing ovation applauded the liberal bestowment of military accolades. She casted a look across the gathered attendance of Jedi Masters.
¡°I see no reason to disagree,¡± Master Kit Fisto said, ¡°Our soldiers have fought well, and the Republic is unbroken. Rewards are due, are they not?¡±
¡°These are awards not seen since the days of the Old Republic,¡± Master Shaak Ti murmured to herself softly.
¡°It is as Master Yoda says,¡± Master Saesee Tiin leaned forward and knitted his fingers together, ¡°This is a show of force. For the Separatists. And also for anyone who may oppose him.¡±
Master Mace Windu straightened at that, ¡°How can you be so certain?¡±
¡°It is to show he still possesses¨Cand maintains¨Cthe support of the Grand Army,¡± Master Plo Koon crossed his arms, ¡°And that the recent Separatist incursions have not soured that relationship¨Cor at least, as it appears.¡±
¡°There¡¯s a bright spot in this affair,¡± Adi Gallia felt the need to point out, ¡°Admiral Honor has been vocal, to some extent, about our instrumental role in the victory over Rendili. In fact, I had the liberty of reading a draft of this speech, and ¡®all the brave fighters who took part in this campaign¡¯ was originally supposed to be ¡®all the brave troopers of the Open Circle Fleet, who struck the decisive blow against the Separatist forces.¡¯ Honor Salima may not be the most¡ endearing¡ character, but apparently she is at least fair.¡±
¡°I do see why this is an issue of concern for us,¡± Master Windu grunted.
¡°Palpatine is a danger to the Republic,¡± she retorted, ¡°Surely you can see that? He has only concentrated more and more power in his own office since the start of the war!¡±
¡°And he had promised to surrender all of them once the war is at an end.¡±
¡°However!¡± Palpatine¡¯s voice cut through the budding debate, ¡°Honoured senators, my fellow countrymen¡ while we celebrate this victory, we cannot allow ourselves the luxury of complacency. The war continues. The threat remains. But let this victory serve as a message¨Ca message to the Separatists, to their leaders, and to all who would challenge this Republic: Try as you might, we will not falter!¡±
¡°We have driven the menace from our home! With every battle, with every siege, we are one step closer to restoring peace across the galaxy. We will continue to fight, not because we seek war, but because we seek its end. We will fight until every citizen of the Republic can live free from fear and tyranny. We will fight until every world, from the light of the Core to the spiral arms of the Outer Rim, is safe!¡±
¡°Applause,¡± Adi murmured, just as it happened. Because she had been there.
¡°So I ask you, as representatives of your people and guardians of this Republic, to stand with me. Stand with our brave soldiers, with the loyal fleets defending our skies, and with the citizens who long for peace. And so I will look to you, as our citizens look to us, to author a new spirit in Coruscant, in the Core, throughout the star systems where the light of democracy continues to shine. Let our victory at Rendili be a beacon of hope, a promise that the Republic is strong, and that together, we will prevail, so that we can look forward to another thousand years of peace, and another thousand beyond that, and so on, until war itself is stamped out from our just domain!¡±
¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Adi Gallia said just as the Senate broke into another extended applause. She deactivated the holoprojector, to nobody¡¯s objection, ¡°This victory has given him the boost in the polls which he desperately needs, and now he¡¯s milking every ounce of worth he could from it. Palpatine is dangerous; he is shoring support again. He fooled us once the first time; damn us if he fools us a second time.¡±
¡°Intentions against him, you have?¡± Master Yoda asked.
¡°I do,¡± Master Gallia confirmed, ¡°Demand he surrender his emergency powers. This is the best chance we¡¯ll get. If we wait until the war is over, it¡¯ll be too late by then. We do this, and not only will we preserve the democratic institutions he perseveres to erode, but we will also strike a severe blow against the Sith Lord in the Republic.¡±
Mace Windu raised an eyebrow, ¡°You believe the Chancellor is a puppet of the Sith?¡±
¡°He can only be,¡± Plo Koon supported her, ¡°Palpatine does not need this much power to manage a war. The Republic is a mighty vessel, yet he wishes to steer it alone, because, as he claims, it is necessary to fight the war. The Republic has fought much worse than the Separatists, with much less. Palpatine is either power-hungry, or gathering it for someone else¨Ceither way, he must be stopped.¡±
¡°Planning this for a long time, you have, together, hm?¡± Master Yoda looked up at the two of them.
¡°We have,¡± Master Gallia saw no reason to lie, especially before the Grandmaster, ¡°And we have allies. Despite what the HoloNet might lead you to believe, not all the senators were on their feet. Many are sceptical of Palpatine, even in the Core; Alderaan, Chandrila, and Humbarine being the big three.¡±
¡°You are certain,¡± Mace Windu demanded, ¡°Of Palpatine¡¯s ties to the Sith Lord?¡±
¡°We are,¡± Plo Koon leaned back, ¡°The evidence, though circumstantial, is too much to ignore.¡±
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The only reason they did not outright say that Palpatine was the Sith Lord was that it was still a little too unbelievable¨Cnot to mention outrageous. The Dark Lord of the Sith, being the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, under their collective noses, all along? There were many proud figures in the Jedi Order. Proud, conservative figures. Adi Gallia was under no illusions that she was a radical, in the perspectives of many of her peers. It was fortunate she had somebody of as high-standing as Master Plo Koon to support her sometimes outlandish claims.
Yoda fell silent for a moment, then said; ¡°Speak with the Supreme Chancellor, we must.¡±
¡°If there is one point in which I agree,¡± Master Windu nodded gravely, ¡°Our deference to him must come to an end.¡±
¡°Increasing, the power of the dark side is. The source of this war, the Sith are,¡± Yoda turned slightly to regard them all, ¡°Rooted out, this Sith Lord must be.¡±
¡°Rooted out, and eliminated.¡±
There was a vibration beneath her cloak, and Adi Gallia snuck a peek as the Council further discussed their course of action. It was a message from Barriss.
¡®Found the mole.¡¯
?
Plans never go to¡ plan.
That was one reality Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was extremely well-versed in, daresay more than any man alive. He had made a lot of plans in his lifetime, after all. Plans to seize the megacorporations, plans to seize the Republic, plans to seize the galaxy. It was the Grand Plan. His plan. The only plan that mattered.
But it was not perfect. It never was, and was never meant to be. The Grand Plan evolves, it was a living and breathing thing that changes and adapts to the circumstance like a writhing serpent, feasting on the dark side of the Force. That was the way of the Sith, as it has been for one thousand years. Lurking in the darkness, stalking the galaxy, biding its time, and striking when the moment was right and its prey at its weakest. Palpatine guided the serpent¨Csubtle, precise, binding it to his will. Tiny, minute movements that adapted it to the situation of its prey.
Even the best-laid plans can become ensnared by the unexpected, however. There were moments when the galaxy shifts too rapidly, too viscerally for a single move, a single nudge, to realign the serpent¡¯s eyes. And in those moments, the serpent must react carefully.
The Confederacy of Independent Systems, a puppet regime, was no longer bound by its strings. Darth Tyranus¡¯ alien apprentice, that Sev¡¯rance Tann, has gone rogue, as Sidious had feared. The Chiss girl now wraps the Separatist State around her fist, forging her own empire from the fires his Grand Plan so carefully kindled. And the Dark Lord of the Sith admired her for it.
I should have discarded that aged and brittle Dooku, and chosen her as my apprentice. She is far more capable than he is. She is younger, brimming with untapped potential the dark side could unlock. She could have been my grand general, the iron fist of my New Order.
Alas, that door was shut to him. Sev¡¯rance Tann was no longer a candidate for apprenticeship¨Cshe was a rival. The order she now built threatened his own, and Sidious briefly entertained the thought of paying Raxus Secundus a visit. If only the crisis in the Core did not demand every moment of the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s attention.
As for Tyranus¡ as for Dooku¡ his usefulness is drawing to an end. Pitiful creature, thinking he is still a part of my New Order. But Palpatine was nothing if not resourceful, and even discarded pieces could still prove themselves¡ valuable. Count Dooku still controlled half of the Separatist State, and with a masterstroke, Palpatine may as well slaughter three birds with one stone; shatter the Confederacy, dispose of Dooku, and purge the Jedi.
All with a single sentence. In the privacy of his suite, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic smiled to himself. The Grand Plan of the Sith was a snake, writhing and coiling, changing its plan of attack but never losing sight of its prey.
That privacy was broken by his staff aide Sly Moore, tall and ethereal in her Umbaran shadowcloak, appearing by the doors and informing him of unexpected guests.
¡°Chancellor,¡± she informed him, ¡°The Loyalist Committee seeks some of your time.¡±
The Chancellor suppressed a frown, ¡°My day is never so full that I can¡¯t take time to confer with members of the Loyalist Committee. Leave us, Sly, and don¡¯t allow us to be disturbed.¡±
¡°Of course, Your Excellency.¡±
Stepping aside, Sly Moore gestured the gathered senators into the circular office. It was the usual three¨CBail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Bana Breemu. No three senators have been so outspoken against him as these three¨Cthorns in his aside. No three thorns in his side are so powerful and influential he couldn¡¯t simply just remove them. And thus Palpatine was forced to entertain and placate them time and time again, for together their caucuses master a not insignificant fraction of the inner worlds.
Ah, but there is one thorn even larger than these three. Jedi Master Adi Gallia. He could gnash his teeth at the mere mention of her alone. To organise a coup right under my nose! Not to mention all the instances she toyed with him in her relentless search for the Sith Lord. Palpatine had an inkling suspicion she knew the truth, but simply lacked the evidence to act on it.
The Tholothian must be eliminated, sooner than later.
But there was also another emotion that came to him; excitement. The thrill of the game. For so long he had played a one-sided game of dejarik, with no opponent capable of opposing him¨Cor even knowing they were playing. For once, he had met a capable adversary¨Cdare he say rival¨Cin Adi Gallia, and it aroused his eagerness to play once more.
The Supreme Chancellor showed none of his thoughts as he patiently waited for the three senators to take their places, with Bail Organa settling down in the seat directly opposed to his, before speaking.
¡°So, what matters have brought you to me on such a glorious afternoon?¡± he asked from his chair, ¡°I can¡¯t help but sense a certain urgency¡¡±
¡°We¡¯ll come directly to the point, Chancellor,¡± Bail Organa said, ¡°With your third four-year term drawing to an end, we wish to discuss the abrogation of some of the measures that were enacted in the name of public safety. And, ultimately, the surrender of your emergency powers, as is right.¡±
Palpatine gazed at Bail over steepled fingers. ¡°Our recent victory has made you feel so secure?¡±
¡°Not at all, Chancellor,¡± Mon Mothma interjected, ¡°You know as well as we do that many Core Worlds demand the Sector Armadas remain to guard the Core¨Cdespite the likelihood of another Separatist incursion being infinitesimally small. The matter remains, however, that the increasingly rampant authority being vested in this office is making many of us feel even more insecure than the thought of any renewed Separatist threat.¡±
¡°Three years ago, Your Excellency, you vowed to give up your emergency powers once the war is at an end,¡± Bana Breemu continued, ¡°And yet, you make no signs of upholding that promise.¡±
¡°Well, my dear Senator, the war is nowhere near an end. In fact¨C¡±
¡°Many of us in the Senate and Loyalist Committee wish to see a¡ gesture of goodwill from this office,¡± Bail Organa pressed a palm on the table, ¡°Despite the support you see in the Rotunda, many are once more highlighting concerns about this issue, now that the Separatists have been driven from Coruscant and the Core, which of course affects the smooth running of our Republic. Repealing some of your more¡ drastic laws will do much to smooth over these frictions.¡±
¡°The Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act in particular,¡± Bail continued. ¡°Specifically those measures that permit the unrestricted use of observation droids, and searches and seizures without the need for warrants or due process.¡±
They are testing me, like I am some wild animal. Prodding me to see whether Adi Gallia¡¯s words prove true. Whether the coup she claims is necessary is truly necessary at all. A minor setback.
Palpatine leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin as he regarded Bail Organa with a practiced, measured gaze. His expression remained serene, almost fatherly, as if the very idea of these concerns was a familiar and manageable nuisance.
¡°I see,¡± he said slowly, ¡°Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that the war is far from won, and I, for one, am not entirely satisfied that traitors and terrorists are not a continued threat to public safety. The Enhanced Security Act is needed now more than ever, as Separatists in the Core are emboldened by the invasions of the Perlemian Warlords. Coruscant herself was attacked, as you all know, not just by the Bulwark Fleet but by Separatist terrorists from within.¡±
Palpatine let the words settle, his gaze shifting between Organa and the other senators, gauging their reactions. They were troubled by his argument¨Che made a good point, they recognised that. But of all the acts passed in recent times, the Enhanced Security Act must be the only one they could convince enough of the Senate to back the rescindment of, as it was the most overreaching and pervasive. Not to mention it threatened the private dealings of many of the senators themselves.
¡°The Enhanced Security Act¡¡± he paused again, letting the air grow heavy with contemplation, ¡°I assure you, I have always regarded it as a temporary measure, enacted solely in response to the extraordinary threats we face.¡±
¡°Supreme Chancellor¨C¡±
¡°¨CHowever!¡± Supreme Chancellor Palpatine cut the senator off, his eyes gleaming with understanding, ¡°I serve the Republic and its Senate. Introduce a measure to repeal in the Senate. I will accept whatever outcome ensues from a vote.¡±
¡°Will you remain impartial during the debates?¡± Bana Breemu questioned sceptically.
¡°You have my word.¡±
¡°And these amendments to the Constitution¨C¡± Mon Mothma started to say, pushing harder after seeing him acquiesce.
¡°I view the Constitution as a living document,¡± Palpatine interrupted, ¡°As such, it must be allowed to expand and contract according to circumstances. Otherwise, what do we have but stasis. And was it not stagnancy that led the Republic to the deplorable state it is in now?
¡°If we can be assured of a certain¡ exhalation of power,¡± Bana Breemu allowed slowly.
Palpatine grinned faintly, ¡°Of course.¡±
Nevermind. Not sooner than later. It must be now. Palpatine pressed a hidden button beneath the table, and Sly Moore opened the door, signalling that the audience had reached its end. The three senators stood up as one, in varying states of satisfaction at the productivity of the meeting. They left briskly.
¡°Sly.¡±
¡°Chancellor.¡±
¡°Prepare my shuttle. Discreetly, of course.¡±
Chapter 75
Raxus Secundus, Raxus System
Caluula Sector
Loyalist propagandists often painted the Outer Rim as a lawless, untamed expanse, far removed from the stability and order of the Republic. In their crafted narrative, it was a region where the light of Coruscant barely reached, a frontier on the edge of civilization. The populations of the Outer Rim were depicted as backward, unsophisticated¨Calien species and outliers who, with their limited grasp of the Republic''s enlightened values, had been all too easily swayed by the treasonous promises of Count Dooku. To the Core Worlds, they were seen as gullible and primitive, ripe for manipulation by the self-proclaimed leader of the Separatist Alliance.
Even Count Dooku had to acknowledge that the Loyalist propagandists had been remarkably effective. Humanocentrism was reaching unprecedented heights in the Core, with many convinced they embarked on a righteous crusade to deliver civilization to the rebellious spirals of the galaxy. This fervour had only been amplified by a series of prolific Separatist atrocities; the Attack on Coruscant, the so-called Emancipation of Eriadu, and, most notably, Operation Starlance. Such¡ barbarism could have only been cast from the hands of aliens¨Cif they even had hands¨Cas it was painted. It was all too impressive.
But not exactly true.
For the stronghold of the Separatist Alliance was found in the Tion Hegemony, the gleaming beacon of human civilization in the Outer Rim, rivalled only by the Core Worlds themselves. Human kingdoms and empires ruled here for centuries long before the idea of a unified Republic even took root in the Core, and the Tionese themselves consider this space the very birthplace of human civilization as the galaxy knows it. It was this deep-seated pride that made the Tionese particularly receptive to Separatism. The prospect of reclaiming their ancient glory as the galaxy''s centre of power was simply too irresistible to turn away from.
Raxus Secundus, the beating heart of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, stood as a defiant contrast to the grey monoliths of Coruscant, with its New Architecture spires and domes. Its cities, sprawling across verdant hills and vast prairies, were a mixture of ancient gothic elegance and brutalist simplicity. The capital, Raxulon, was a jewel in this tapestry, a circular city rising towards the centre like a ziggurat, towards the mighty palace in which the Confederate Parliament took its seat.
Count Dooku loved the place, despite the reasons for which he now paid the world a visit. It reminded him of his homeworld Serenno, and for the man who spent years campaigning and preaching the merits of Separatism on this very world, it felt like a second home.
As his interstellar sloop rested on its landing gear in the House of Parliament¡¯s vast private docking space, Dooku ordered the Punworcca 116¡¯s FA-4 pilot droid to remain in the ball cockpit as he departed the craft to walk some of the stiffness of the long voyage out of his legs. His black trousers were neatly tucked into polished dress boots, and a broad belt of fine leather cinched his similarly black tunic at the waist. Draped over his shoulders, his cape¨Clined with Serenno armorweave¨Cshimmered with a subtle elegance. He made no attempt to hide his identity on these visits to Raxus, for he had no reason to. The silver hair, carefully styled moustache, beard, and flared eyebrows gave him the unmistakable air of a dignified noble, all meticulously groomed as always.
The staffers that populated the halls of the Parliamentary Palace gave him a wide berth, splitting before him as a river would before a stone, undoubtedly recognising his distinguished features from just a glance. Normally measured, Dooku¡¯s pace was rushed and somewhat haphazard¡ª evidence to anyone who knew him that the Count was troubled. If asked, he might have admitted as much. It would not be a surprise to anybody.
After all, his loyalty to the Confederacy had been called into question¨Cby none other than the Supreme Martial Commander of the reorganised Confederate Armed Forces herself, casting a shadow of disbelief and suspicion over his every move in equal measure.
Count Dooku glanced at his chrono. By now, Sev''rance Tann was likely entrenched in the proceedings of a Senate hearing. The agenda of the day: the military tribunal of General Horn Ambigene and the fallout from the disastrous Operation Starlance, culminating in the crushing defeat at Rendili. If the Pantoran commander survived the political gauntlet that awaited her, the next item on the docket would be even more perilous¡ªthe impeachment of the Head of State, charged with corruption, and whispers of treason hanging in the air over Raxulon like a blade poised to fall.
But there was still time until then yet.
Count Dooku sequestered himself away in the Executive Suite, surveying the pristine condition the staffers had maintained in the room in his prolonged absence with a certain fondness. He ensured all of his effects were in place and expanded his senses to cover every nook and cranny for active devices. After all, this office was to be his base of operations for the coming week, and must be in perfect condition to service him as he navigated the treacherous tides of Tionese politics. Only once he confirmed there was none, did he allow himself to activate his holoemitter-integrated desk.
Dooku dropped to one knee, a blue cone of light emanating from the device as the hooded hologram of Darth Sidious resolved.
¡°Rise, Lord Tyranus.¡±
¡°Lord Sidious,¡± the Sith Lord rose as beckoned, ¡°I spared no haste in leaving Serenno.¡±
¡°And took a great risk you did, my apprentice.¡±
Whether by nature or design, Sidious¡¯s words came slowly, sibilantly.
¡°A calculated risk, my lord.¡±
¡°Do you believe you can sway the result of the accusations levied against you?¡±
¡°There is nothing more to be done in the north, my lord,¡± Darth Tyranus bowed slightly, ¡°I have contacted my agents and readied those loyal to my government. My presence is required on Raxus to¡ maintain my legitimacy.¡±
Count Dooku had shored up his main support base in the northern galaxy¨Cand even beyond that, in systems and worlds not even Sev¡¯rance Tann could predict. His colloquially known ¡®Serenno Government¡¯ had secured¨Cby persuasion or force¨Cthe allegiances of the Trade Federation, InterGalactic Banking Clan, Commerce Guild, and Retail Caucus. Likewise, the Techno Union, Corporate Alliance, Hyper-Communications League, and Quarren Isolation League had fallen in with the Raxus Government.
At his word, entire star sectors across Separatist space would erupt into arms¨Cmost of them corporate worlds¨Cdeclaring against some fabricated injustice, marshalling their droid armies against the Raxus Government. While there could never be enough preparations, Dooku still had to make his case against his rogue acolyte¡¯s claims on Raxus Secundus in order to maintain some level of authenticity.
¡°Then my instructions were carried out?¡±
¡°They were,¡± he confirmed, ¡°The preparations are complete, and General Grievous stands poised to strike a most devastating blow to either the Republic or the Confederacy¨Cat your word.¡±
¡°And your failure of an apprentice?¡± Sidious asked with a purposeful slowness, ¡°That¡ Asajj Ventress?¡±
Dooku stilled. Lord Sidious had ordered him to kill his most prized assassin in order to reaffirm his loyalty to his Master. It was regretful, but after Shonn Volta¡¯s failure to kill Sev¡¯rance Tann on Bothawui¨Ca failure she was grievously punished for¨CDooku had no choice to appease the Sith Lord¡¯s mounting ire. Dooku flirted with the prospect of disobedience, and betraying Sidious, but decided against it¨Cor at least, not yet. He still needed more time. With the Confederacy out of his hands, he no longer had the armies he needed to war against Sidious. Dooku would rather let Sidious create his New Order for him, before slaying him as Sidious slayed Plagueis before him.
To that end, he ordered Ventress into a death trap in the Llon Nebula. The Storm Fleet reported the death of Ventress, but not long before Dooku lost contact with the entire Storm Fleet soon after. It was only later he learned that the Open Circle Fleet had followed Ventress into the Llon Nebula, and engaged in a violent brawl with the Storm Fleet within.
¡°Regretfully, my lord,¡± he started, ¡°The Storm Fleet may have failed to act quickly enough, and was destroyed by Anakin Skywalker before it could confirm her death.¡±
Dooku had been able to count on one hand the number of times he had seen Sidious angry. Suddenly he needed two hands.
¡°The Storm Fleet survives,¡± the air grew thick with the Sith Lord¡¯s displeasure, ¡°Anakin Skywalker confirmed it. Have you contact with your own fleet?¡±
¡°...No, my lord.¡±
¡°Then Ventress has stolen it from under your nose,¡± Sidious hissed, ¡°You have betrayed her, and now she seeks vengeance. Where is the Storm Fleet?¡±
The Storm Fleet could be anywhere. And none would be any wiser. It was by design. Who would raise an eyebrow to a convoy of heavily armed merchantmen in this day and age? Dooku, feeling the weight and wroth of the dark side incarnate crash down on him like an avalanche, extended his senses through the Force, searching for connection he had with his erstwhile apprentice.
¡°Secure Geonosis, Lord Tyranus,¡± Sidious¡¯ voice boomed terribly.
¡°You believe Ventress is headed for Geonosis, Master?¡±
¡°You must control the Separatist Droid Army,¡± his Master snarled, ¡°With the CAF in Tann¡¯s hands, the droid armies are your only resource to make war with her. Geonosis must not fall into enemy hands.¡±
Dooku paused, ¡°Is civil war a foregone conclusion, my lord? I can still¨C¡±
¡°It is,¡± Sidious eyed Dooku from beneath the hood of his cloak, ¡°With you on Serenno and Tann seeking to make peace with the Republic, it will be a simple matter to convince Yoda to send all available fighting Jedi with their clone armies to Serenno¡ and deal with all of them in one fell swoop.¡±
Order 66. The secret order implanted into the inhibitor chip bioengineered into every cloned soldier in the Grand Army of the Republic. The secret order to exterminate the Jedi. I see. Is that the plan? It is a drastic change from the original strategy¡ but the war evolves, and we must evolve with it. But to exterminate the Jedi at Serenno¡
For a moment, Dooku imagined himself as a part of ¡®all of them¡¯ Sidious had mentioned. Then he wondered if it was even imagined. He marshalled himself, and looked up into Sidious¡¯ baleful yellow eyes.
¡°The Jedi mean to expose you, my lord,¡± Dooku realised. That¡¯s why you now act so drastically.
¡°And what if they should?¡± Sidious snapped, ¡°Do you think that would bring an end to what I have set in motion?¡±
¡°No, my lord. But this is unexpected.¡±
¡°Yes. Yes, it is, as you say, unexpected,¡± Sidious returned his gaze to somewhere far-off Dooku could not see, ¡°But I will lull the Jedi conspirators into a false sense of security. I will let them believe they have me at my rope¡¯s end. Once they have lured themselves into their own cage, I will be rid of them at last.¡±
I, not we?
¡°I understand, Lord Sidious,¡± Dooku bowed, ¡°But there is still the matter of Sev¡¯rance Tann.¡±
¡°It is now our ultimate purpose to ensure our New Order has no rival. See to it that Sev¡¯rance Tann ceases to be an irritant,¡± Sidious sneered the name.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
¡°She represents such a forceful threat to our plans?¡±
¡°General Grievous is still untested,¡± the Sith Lord made his doubts apparent, ¡°Have him deal with the Loyalist nuisances in the Northern Territories and fortify the Hydian Way from all directions. It would not do for the Serenno Government to fall so quickly.¡±
Dooku nodded, ¡°It is done.¡±
The shift in the room was immediate, sharp as the crack of a whip. The very air seemed to thicken, pressing in on Count Dooku''s chest like an invisible vice. His throat tightened, every breath a struggle, as if the oxygen itself had been drained from the room. It took all his willpower to remain composed, resisting the instinct to swallow or gasp for air, for it was impossible anyway under the Sith Lord¡¯s glare. Sidious did not need to speak; his very presence filled the space with a palpable menace that sent a chill crawling down Dooku''s spine. Even after years of mastering the dark side, Dooku required nothing more than a stare to remind himself of the precariousness of his own position.
¡°Do not take this matter lightly, Lord Tyranus,¡± the Dark Lord of the Sith murmured, ¡°Time and time again, you have failed to prove your worth to me¡ if you fail to do so again, take it on faith that it will be the last time.¡±
¡°And¡¡± Sidious lifted his grip as he continued, ¡°Prepare Geonosis for any unwelcome guests¡ it always pays to be ready for the unexpected.¡±
¡°What¡ what would you have me do?¡± Dooku swallowed a choke.
¡°Nothing more than make arrangements¨Cfor you are needed on Raxus. Inform the Geonosians and let them handle the rest.¡±
¡°Under¡ understood, Lord Sidious,¡± Count Dooku exhaled with purpose, ¡°My lord, may I know who is conducting the search for you?¡±
Sidious regarded him distantly, ¡°Adi Gallia.¡±
Adi Gallia. An unmemorable character on the Jedi High Council, if Dooku recalled rightly. It was surprising that her of all Jedi would prove such a threat to Sidious.
¡°Will she be a problem, Master?¡±
¡°Do not trouble yourself with her,¡± Sidious turned to Dooku, grinning malevolently, ¡°Her single-mindedness will deliver them into my hands, Lord Tyranus. At this moment, she prepares herself to walk into my trap.¡±
?
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
Barriss Offee returned to that hidden courtyard in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, immersed in the life energy of the Force, brimming and trembling in the air. It didn¡¯t seem all too long ago that she took her first true steps against the Republic, infiltrating a GAR satellite, then engaging in unauthorised talks with the Separatists. Plotting for the downfall of the current government.
The Sith government, she reminded herself.
Iskat had been right, the gardens scattered throughout the Jedi Temple were perfect recluses to sojourn and gather their thoughts, a vibrant scatter of green and plenty in a cold, desolate cityscape. Many of them were hidden places, known to only the perishingly few Jedi who considered them safe spaces, or maintenance staff who tended the grounds. Barriss found it pleasing to stalk through them like a wraith, leaving no trace of her presence save for some freshly weeded flower beds.
At the very least, it would make the rounds of those greenskeepers just a tiny bit more painless.
But of all places Barriss found eager to sojourn herself in her spare time, she wouldn¡¯t consider Iskat¡¯s hidden courtyard in the Room of Thousand Fountains among her top choices. But she was there, not because she was seeking peace of mind¨Cthough she desperately needed it¨Cbut because she had a job to do. Weeding the flower beds.
She looked around. Willow trees still rustled in the artificial breeze, and distant brooks still gurgled cheerfully with the birds. Little had changed since her last visit, and yet¡ somehow everything had. It felt like only a week ago all she could hear was fears of the Perlemian Coalition and their rampage through the Core Worlds¨Cand now? The Battle Hydra is dead. Gone to the abyss with all of his dreadful warships.
Barriss could scarcely believe it.
Barriss wasn¡¯t quite sure if she did even now. Even as he fell, their warfleets still him¨Cshe¡¯d more likely believe he¡¯s conquering the hell he ended up in with them. She wouldn¡¯t put it past him.
An odd glint of red pulled her eye¨Can exposed wire, strung from an open panel in the wall. She swept the premises again, and came across a familiar tuft of pale fur. The Selonian techie, Heezo, sleeping under a willow tree with his cap pulled down over his eyes and a mouse droid in his lap.
¡°Sleeping on the job?¡± the moment she called out, he startled awake guiltily and then grinned at her, showing his pointy little teeth.
¡°It¡¯s a tireless, thankless job,¡± his hands moved instinctively, one reaching for his tool kit and the other flipping the mouse droid around, ¡°If nobody notices me gone, it means I¡¯m doing my job right.¡±
¡°I can imagine that,¡± Barriss made a round of the courtyard, fingers brushing right above the ivy wall-growths, ¡°Iskat was here?¡±
Heezo bobbed his head, ¡°She was called away for some planetside mission.¡±
¡°Oh?¡±
¡°Compound raid, from the looks,¡± he clarified, with a sense of pride, like a father speaking of his child¨Cor a master praising their apprentice, ¡°She¡¯s leading a strike team of clone shock troopers against a Separatist terrorist hideout in the Manarai Uplift.¡±
Did she tell you that, Barriss wondered, or did you overhear?
¡°A mission from Master Gallia, I presume.¡±
The Selonian shrugged, ¡°Maybe.¡±
Only Master Gallia would know to give Iskat Akaris such bloody work. And the girl¡¯s built for it. Barriss visibly stilled, mulling over the information. Master Gallia must have had a reason for it¨Cto keep her away from the Jedi Temple? Iskat was a liability, and Barriss was still unsure of why Master Gallia allowed her to join the mission to Empress Teta. Maybe sending her planetside was a way to keep Iskat occupied with other matters? Or was there perhaps something the Master needed in the Manarai Uplift?
¡°Did she say anything else?¡± Barriss asked bluntly.
Heezo¡¯s fur rippled, ¡°Nothing.¡±
A lie. She could feel it in the air. A confidant did wonders for the mind and soul¨Cespecially if it was a confidant held in trust¨Cbut it was also a weakness. There was a reason why Masters were so insistent Knights and Padawans confided in them and only them. Loose lips sink ships, it was told.
Barriss told him as such, ¡°You could do better.¡±
Heezo gave the soft growl that she recognised as a tired sigh, ¡°Some personal worries. Nothing important.¡±
¡°I¡¯m her friend,¡± Barriss found it easy to sound indignant, ¡°And any friend of hers is a friend of mine. Tell me; it¡¯s something to do with the latest mission, isn¡¯t it?¡±
A light dawned in his catlike eyes, ¡°She did mention you were with her.¡±
¡°Let me guess,¡± Barriss leaned down and jabbed her fingers into the soil, tearing out a weed, ¡°The Jedi Masters made an agreement with a contact¨Cbefore betraying them immediately afterwards.¡±
As soon as she uttered those words, it was as if the artificial climate sensors malfunctioned, the light breeze stealing away and leaving behind a stagnant, suffocating humidity.
¡°...She had a lot more to say than just that,¡± Heezo murmured, confirming her suspicions.
Barriss¡¯ expression flattened, away from his view. That girl¡ Master Gallia put her in my care; I will have to speak to Iskat. As soon as the thought passed, however, the Mirialan plastered an indignant look on her face and swung around, crushing the weeds in a fist.
¡°Don¡¯t get me started on that,¡± she growled, letting the crushed weeds fall to the ground, ¡°The Masters preach faith and trust, compassion and sympathy, and yet it seems those rules they enforce don¡¯t apply to themselves. Did Iskat tell you the specifics?¡±
¡°Nothing like that,¡± Heezo said quickly, ¡°Not even the names of the Masters.¡±
The truth. Barriss wrapped the Force around her fingers, wielding it like invisible threads branching through the space. It seems I underestimated Iskat. A part of her felt bad for thinking the worst of her friend¨Cbecause Iskat was her friend. Barriss had no ulterior motives about that. It was just that¡ sometimes, friendship could be a weakness too.
¡°There were two,¡± Barriss said easily, and Heezo¡¯s eyes widened when he realised what she was about to do. He did not interrupt her, ¡°One was Master Adi Gallia, the other was Master Plo Koon.¡±
¡°Master Plo?¡± Heezo couldn¡¯t quite conceal the surprise in his voice.
She found a bench opposite him and sat down, huffing, ¡°It was a Loyalist informant in the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada.¡±
¡°...So that was how Master Plo was able to track the Hydra to Rendili so quickly,¡± Heezo whispered, ¡°But that means¨C¡±
¡°We were at Empress Teta,¡± she confirmed, ¡°And the informant was in the Coalition Armada when Master Plo arrived¨Cand fired upon it without a second thought.¡±
Heezo paused, then gently set down the mouse droid, ¡°I hate to say this, but that¡¯s not the worst thing I¡¯ve heard. It¡¯s war, and war is messy. These things happen¡ and I¡¯m sure the informant knew what he was getting into.¡±
Barriss stared at him, forcing the Selonian to meet her gaze, ¡°Do you believe that? The Masters certainly gave the informant their reassurement.¡±
¡°Well¨C¡± the Selonian started, ¡°I mean¡ I¡¯ve been in this Temple for forty years, longer than most Councilmembers have been on their seats. I¡¯ve heard and seen a lot of things. Entire populations die because the Council choses to ¡®wait and see,¡¯ because Knights are sent to the planets with the loudest senators instead of the loudest screams. The Jedi Order has always been willing to sacrifice.¡±
¡°But they pretend that they¡¯re not,¡± Barriss retorted, ¡°Until they do, and then that¡¯s alright because ¡®it¡¯s for the greater good.¡¯ It¡¯s all so hypocritical, don¡¯t you think? I think so, and I¡¯m sure Iskat does too.¡±
She looked around. Even though they were alone in the courtyard, protected by high walls and the constant drone of nature all around them, she was still careful about speaking so freely. The Room of a Thousand Fountains were large, and it was easy to get lost in its vastness, but the gardens were still free to all.
Heezo chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re preaching to the choir. You¡¯re no stranger to it either, I¡¯m sure. This war has taken its toll on the galaxy, the Jedi most of all, ever since the start. What about Jabiim, where Obi-Wan Kenobi abandoned our allies the moment that battle was lost. Or Bassadro, where the Empatojayos Brand purposely fired upon a civilian mining settlement to root out an enemy entrenchment. Or Yag¡¯Dhul, where Anakin Skywalker lost the battle by chasing after a personal glory trying to capture Asajj Ventress? Compared to all that¨Ca single informant really isn¡¯t all that big of a deal.¡±
Barriss stood up measuredly, homing in towards the open wall panel and analysing the neatly arranged wiring inside. There was a control box too, acting as a nexus point for all the cables, gleaming with buttons and inputs. The Force called her to it, but it was useless¨Cshe was no techie, and she couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t touch any of that,¡± the technician warned, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want anything to go bad¡ not that it would be on your head.¡±
It would be on mine, was left unsaid.
¡°Wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± she lied, shaking her head, ¡°Likewise¡ I hope you keep this conversation under wraps. You don¡¯t report to Mace Windu, do you?¡±
She glanced back at him, and Heezo met her eyes, nose wrinkling, ¡°That¡¯d be weird, why would I? I report to Jopar Tandil in Tech Management.¡±
That wasn¡¯t a lie, at least¨Cbut not the full truth either. She could sense that in the Force very clearly.
¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± she traced the outline of the panel with a tattooed finger, ¡°You better finish this up and put all of it back in. Wouldn¡¯t want anyone to see it.¡±
She heard a grunt as the Selonian stood up, rising to his full two metre height¨Ctowering far above her. As he came up behind her, Heezo bent down to pick up the fallen wall panel and fix it back into place.
¡°So how does all of this work?¡± she asked suddenly.
The Selonian shot her a side-eye as he carefully aligned the edges, ¡°Most Jedi aren¡¯t interested about this sort of thing.¡±
¡°Am I like most Jedi?¡±
Heezo released a low purr, fur rustling, which she took as amusement, ¡°It¡¯s a whole system, not just in the Room of a Thousand Fountains but the whole Temple. There¡¯s a bunch of parameters imputed in; temperature, humidity, pressure, the like. Hidden sensors work together to read all the variables, and this little box here mashes them together to give staff like me something to work with. It¡¯s just that here in the garden¡ trying to keep all of these plants and animals alive requires somewhat regular on-site intervention.¡±
¡°Huh¡¡± Barriss mused, ¡°Who did you report to again?¡±
¡°What?¡± Heezo pushed the last corner into place, the whole tile fitting into the wall with a satisfying click, ¡°I told you, it¡¯s¨C¡±
¡°Nevermind, I¡¯ll figure it out myself,¡± Barriss¡¯ hand shot up to his neck.
Heezo attempted to defend himself¨Cperhaps it was some of that former Jedi training kicking in¨Cbut he was decades out of practice and Barriss was a young Jedi Knight. The old Selonian had barely lifted his arm when she sent a pulse of the Force into his baroreceptors, dilating his blood vessels and cutting off supply to the brain. In less than a second, the staff technician was limp in her arms.
Gently setting the man on the floor, Barriss looked over to the benches, where she spotted the mouse droid¨Cstill deactivated¨Cdormant on the ground. After a moment of thought, she reached out with the Force and crumpled it like a metal can, before pulling it towards her. With the courtyard cleaned up, she fished out her comlink and sent¨C
¡®Found the mole.¡¯
Barriss left the garden, leaving no trace save for some freshly weeded flower beds.
Chapter 76
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
Master Adi Gallia¡¯s scepticism was justified, if rather ironic.
¡°You are certain this is the Delta Source?¡±
After all, how could a mere staff technician be the mole supplying the Sith Lord with the closest secrets of the Jedi Order? And yet, was that very thought not arrogance? The oh-so very Jedi-like belief that their Order was uncompromisable, much less by a mere dropout apprentice?
¡°If not the Delta Source,¡± Barriss crossed her arms, ¡°Then at least one branch of it.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t even know what the Delta Source is, might I point out,¡± Bode Akuna said sharply, ¡°If it¡¯s a person, an organisation or persons, droids, or some sort of surveillance system. We simply don¡¯t know.¡±
Master Gallia looked at Barriss pointedly, ¡°Remind me, how did you figure out that this man is a spy?¡±
¡°He knew about the Anakin Skywalker acting in the Battle of Llon Nebula,¡± Barriss shrugged, ¡°I figured anybody who knew about that knew about the Delta Source¨Cand is either feeding it or being fed by it. Or he could have simply eavesdropped on the High Council; I don¡¯t know how widespread that information is in the Temple.¡±
¡°No¡¡± the Jedi Master murmured, ¡°You¡¯re right that only the High Council should know about that¨Cin the Temple at least. But it¡¯s not solid evidence. Do you have any other proof?¡±
The Mirialan shrugged again, ¡°I had a feeling.¡±
¡°You know, for a Jedi that¡¯s par for the course,¡± Bode snapped his fingers, ¡°Back to the Delta Source; Master, how much closer are we to figuring out what that thing is?¡±
¡°Not by much,¡± Master Gallia sighed forcefully, ¡°We¡¯re making sweeps. The maintenance corridors, the droids, the electrical systems¨Cbut it¡¯s slow work. We can¡¯t be too obvious as we go about it; for one it might alert the Sith Lord, and because it wouldn¡¯t do to cause alarm in the Temple, especially at such a crucial time.¡±
As Adi Gallia and Bode Akuna continued their discussion into sourcing the Delta Source, which Barriss found herself truly out of her depth in, the Mirialan Knight turned to the fourth and final member of their little party. Iskat Akaris, silent as stone and tracking the rise and fall of Heezo¡¯s chest as his unconscious form laid on the funeral altar.
Because it wouldn¡¯t look good for Barriss if she was caught dragging around a two-metre tall Selonian through the populated halls of the Jedi Temple, and this funeral chamber was the only place she could reliably trek to through the narrow and maze-like maintenance shafts.
¡°This can¡¯t be right¡¡± there was a glaze of disbelief and anger in Iskat¡¯s eyes, though at whom that anger was directed at Barriss did not know. Iskat¡¯s volatile emotions were wild and unfocused, and Barriss had a feeling Iskat herself did not know either.
¡°It might not be,¡± Barriss told her friend lowly, though it was poor consolation, ¡°I was acting on suspicion.¡±
Iskat¡¯s eyes flashed, and in that split second her anger was focused. At Barriss.
¡°Were you using me to get close to him?¡± the red-skinned alien hissed, ¡°Did you become my ¡®friend¡¯ to chase after your suspicions?¡±
¡°I did not know Heezo existed until you brought me to him,¡± Barriss told her honestly, and when Iskat¡¯s expression fell she knew the girl had sensed that she was telling the truth.
The original suspicion was you, Barriss wanted to say, and it might still be.
Master Adi Gallia abruptly ended the exchange, stepping forward with the swiftness of a predator and pressing her palm to Heezo¡¯s forehead. In an instant, the Selonian¡¯s eyes flickered open, dazed and disoriented, the fog of unconsciousness slowly lifting as he blinked at his surroundings.
¡°What¨C¡± he began, his voice hoarse as he tried to sit up. But the sharp clank of stuncuffs jerking him back down, the weight of his body slamming into the cold, unyielding stone of the altar with a harsh thud. His confusion turned to alarm as he strained against the manacles, only to find them immovable.
Swivelling his neck around, Heezo took the sight of them in¨Cand the moment he saw Barriss, a dark light of understanding gleamed in his slitted eyes.
¡°You are staff technician Heezo,¡± Master Gallia told him, ¡°Is that correct?¡±
¡°I am,¡± Heezo confirmed, ¡°Forgive me, Master, but I am rather confused as to why¨C¡±
¡°Alright then, Heezo,¡± Master Gallia brusquely cut him off, ¡°May I know who you report to?¡±
Frustration creased his forehead, ¡°Jopar Tandil in Tech Management. Master, I don¡¯t¨C¡±
¡°Anybody else?¡±
¡°Nobody else! You can ask him yourself if you¨C¡± Heezo swivelled his neck around, catching Iskat in the corner of his eye, ¡°Iskat! Tell them! I¡¯m just a staff technician!¡±
Iskat remained silent, cautiously observing the exchange.
¡°I did ask Jopar Tandil,¡± Master Gallia said, ¡°And he seems to back up your claim.¡±
¡°Master¨C Master Gallia, I don¡¯t see why I must be¨C¡± Heezo¡¯s hackles were raised now, his fur standing on end.
¡°From where did you hear about Anakin Skywalker pursuing Asajj Ventress in the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul?¡± the Tholothian Master snapped.
Heezo¡¯s jaw shut with a click, eyes wild and wide.
¡°Answer the question, Heezo,¡± Barriss requested softly.
¡°You¡ You tricked me,¡± the Selonian muttered, looking around frantically again.
¡°The only way you¡¯re leaving is by answering the Master¡¯s questions, Heezo,¡± Iskat told him, not unkindly, ¡°Just answer them, and we can put this behind us. I¡¯m not any happier about this than you are.¡±
¡°...I¡¯m just a¨C I¡¯ve been around the Temple a lot,¡± the staff technician admitted, ¡°I overhear a lot of things. I¡¯m a Selonian; I can¡¯t help it.¡±
His feline ears twitched and swivelled, as if to make a point.
¡°I need names, Heezo,¡± the Jedi Master softened, ¡°Did you hear from a Jedi Master, or someone else? A fellow techie? Tell me their names, and we can investigate further.¡±
Heezo hesitated, and he hesitated just a moment too long.
¡°It was Master Klefan¨C¡±
¡°A lie,¡± Barriss immediately shot it down, switching tracks, ¡°Who is your master?¡±
Heezo¡¯s jaw shut again, sealing tight.
¡°We can force you to speak, man,¡± Bode Akuna said, exasperated, ¡°Make this easy for all of us, and we won¡¯t have to kick your doors open.¡±
The Selonian cast one last pleading look at Iskat, but once he realised he would find no purchase with her, he reluctantly righted his head, eyes fixing on a spot on the dark stone ceiling. It was clear any more answers will have to be forced out of him. Master Gallia¡¯s shoulders fell, and she wasted no time outstretching her hand. The Force rippled the air, warping the empty space between them like a heat wave.
¡°Tell me the name of your master,¡± the Jedi Master commanded, prying at his mental doors.
Heezo¡¯s jaw clenched, but said nothing.
¡°The Sith Lord wouldn¡¯t choose agents who would break so easily,¡± Bode cracked his knuckles idly,
¡°Barriss,¡± Master Gallia immediately employed the aid of their empath, ¡°Help me out.¡±
The Mirialan in question obeyed silently, closing her eyes and reaching out an arm towards their victim. Barriss extended her arm, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached out with the Force, feeling for Master Gallia¡¯s presence there. Together, they plunged into the murky depths of Heezo¡¯s mind. It was like stepping into a darkened corridor, walls slick and slippery with secrets, the air thick with resistance. Every thought felt like it was wrapped in shadow, locked behind doors that groaned under their mental pressure. Barriss could feel Heezo¡¯s muted panic, a flurry of emotions rising up like a storm, but they were distant, faint¨Che was well-trained, either by himself or by the Sith Lord, walls of mental discipline erected around his memories.
¡°Tell us the name of your master,¡± they commanded together.
Heezo released a sound¨Ca mix between a whimper and a groan¨Cand Barriss could sense Iskat nervously fidget beside her.
¡°Heezo,¡± Barriss whispered, ¡°Any more of this and your mind will crack open like an egg, spilling out what¡¯s inside. And we won¡¯t be able to put it back in. None of us wants that.¡±
The air hung in stasis as Barriss and Master Gallia prepared to prod even further, Iskat tensing as she watched her friend writhe under the mental torture. Barriss could feel the tremor in her fingertips as she dug deeper, each push closer to his core like pulling apart the sinew of his thoughts, exposing the raw nerve underneath. The atmosphere in the chamber became oppressive¨Cso dense it was almost suffocating. A pulse of desperation surged through the Selonian, a final attempt to shield his secrets, but it only emboldened the Jedi Master. Gallia¡¯s voice echoed through the Force like a distant rumble of thunder.
¡°Tell us the name of your master!¡±
¡°Lord Sidious!¡± Heezo gasped violently,
¡°Sidious,¡± Bode latched on, ¡°That¡¯s the one. Ask him what¡¯s the Delta Source!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Heezo struggled, full blown panic setting in, ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s a Delta Source! I swear! I only know what Lord Sidious tells me!¡±
¡°He¡¯s telling the truth,¡± Barriss quickly informed duly.
Bode gnashed his teeth in frustration, ¡°Then how do you contact Sidious!? It can¡¯t be from within the Temple; all outward communications are monitored!¡±
All communications are!? Barriss hardly had time to even comprehend the massive breach in privacy.
The Selonian clenched his jaw tighter, beads of sweat now forming on his furrowed brow, every muscle straining in resistance. Barriss felt the feedback from his panic flooding into her mind¡ªhot, sharp, and wild. His memories swirled chaotically like a storm of jagged glass, and she could hear his heartbeat hammering in her ears; a frantic, erratic rhythm that reverberated through the Force.
¡°Give it up, Heezo!¡± Adi Gallia ordered, ¡°You don¡¯t want to die this way! How do you contact Lord Sidious!?¡±
Heezo¡¯s eyes were squeezed shut, his sharp teeth grinding against each other.
¡°Heezo,¡± Iskat breathed, ¡°Please.¡±
Master Gallia shot Barriss a look, and Barriss breathed in. One last push. The pressure became unbearable. Barriss felt as though she was pushing her fingers into a blister, the skin stretched tight, ready to burst.
And then came the give. Like slamming against a bolted door just as the hinges snapped.
Heezo screamed.
¡°The Works!¡± he shouted, his spine arching in agony, pinned down to the altar, ¡°I meet him in the Works!¡±
Master Gallia abruptly spun around on her heel, clasping Bode on the shoulder before stalking away.
¡°Bring him to the Temple Detention Centre and get me the specifics,¡± she ordered, ¡°I¡¯m summoning the High Council to authorise and form a Jedi strike team as soon as possible.¡±
?
Raxus Secundus, Raxus System
Caluula Sector
It was raining on Raxus Secundus, harder than usual. Not enough to deserve the name of a storm, but not light either. The winds had come up, rolling clouds gathering over the prairie beyond the city outskirts. Like an encroaching thunderhead, Sev¡¯rance Tann mused, a foretaste of the carnage to come. Ugly weather.
Sev¡¯rance Tann watched the raindrops hurl themselves against her suite¡¯s windows, like the Loyalist troops who every day flung themselves against her fleets and armies and combat installations across the length and breadth of the galaxy. Each little splotch leaving the imprint of its death on the glass, then dissolving into a featureless wet spill and trickle.
Little on their own, but relentless nonetheless, and against the walls she built and deceptions she played, ultimately meaningless. The Supreme Commander of the Confederate Armed Forces held the countless admiralties and captaincies of her command in full trust, and it was not the wars she waged abroad that gave her cause for concern, but rather the battles fought at home that she struggled amidst. It was a fragile time for the Confederacy, though she made every effort to isolate the fronts from affecting each other.
It was no responsibility of the CAF¡¯s generals to distract themselves with the petty accusations of the bureaucratic courts, not when they already balanced the fate of the nation upon their backs. No, let this matter be handled by the Office of the General. The officer corps need not concern¨Cor even learn¨Cof the situation on Raxus, nor should the bureaucrats and politicians force their fingers into martial matters they had no business with. Sev¡¯rance Tann was the only bridge between the two fronts, and she was adamant about maintaining that status quo.
Already, the Confederate Parliament actively tries to govern the CAF, under the guise of ¡®regulation¡¯ and ¡®accountability.¡¯ It was as if they were not at war, and as if interfering with the only body capable of fighting for their very existence was a far more critical matter than letting that body win the war of existence first. Sev¡¯rance would not allow it. Not after all the work she did to dredge the Separatist armies from the deplorable state she found it in, to the ascendant state it found itself in now.
A crack of thunder brought Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s attention back to the window. In her imagination, she saw the dagger-shaped silhouette of Star Station Independence high above the atmosphere, though she knew it impossible. The mobile headquarters of the CAF was far too large to bring into the atmosphere; the massive vessel would collapse under its own weight, effectively imploding in the skies over Raxus Secundus.
But the illusory sight of it alone was cause for imbued confidence. It was a corporeal symbol of the Confederacy¡¯s defiance and fight against the Loyalist Republic, known to all across the Galactic Rim. It was her castle, her fortress, her personal kingdom, reforged in her image, where not even Dooku¡¯s talons¨Cor any who might undo her¨Ccould reach. She yearned to return to it, to redon the mantle of dictator of the largest war the galaxy has ever seen; alas, more pressing issues entangled her planetside yet.
Such as, for example, the public resurfacing of the Confederacy¡¯s one and only Head of State on Raxus Secundus. Count Dooku¡¯s prolonged absences on the capital world should be considered perhaps outlandish for a Head of State¨Cas the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic¡¯s absence on Coruscant would surely kick up a storm of panic for example¨Cbut it was not unknown for the Confederacy. Maybe it was the decentralised nature of the star nation, or maybe it was Dooku¡¯s well-known history as a former Jedi, but Dooku has become rather well-known for leading the Confederacy¡¯s political efforts from the front.
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When he was not residing on his homeworld of Serenno, or briefly sojourning on Raxus Secundus, Count Dooku had spent his premiership touring his vast domain; it was a necessary effort to keep the thousands of worlds in the Confederacy satisfied. For a state as young and burgeoning as the Confederacy¡¯s, every local government desired to feel important and necessary. When discontentment rises, the perfect salve was an executive visit.
Wasn¡¯t it fortunate that Count Dooku had capable stewards governing the country in his absence, then? Just as Sev¡¯rance Tann fought his war, Bec Lawise managed his house.
Outside, the wind picked up another notch, shrieking and groaning among the gothic spires of the Parliamentary Palace, as if to announce the arrival of a terrible guest. Sev¡¯rance stilled¨Cshe did not need to be precognizant to know who was standing outside the door outside that very moment.
She had a brief fantasy of letting go with a single blast of Force energy, as the Jedi do, shattering the door off its hinges and sending the man behind them tumbling through the air, dashing his brains out against the hard brick walls. But she was not able to, for the Force came to her fingers as easily as a sewing needle would to a newborn¡¯s, much to Dooku¡¯s chagrin. And besides, Dooku would be expecting it, somehow; it would never be so easy.
With the light touch underneath her desk, the doors opened.
¡°Count,¡± she stood up, gesturing to a couch whilst she manoeuvred around the desk.
Count Dooku genially accepted her offer, with a single stride taking in the whole chamber and lording it over it as if it was his own. With a sweeping flourish of his silk cape, the Count of Serenno reclined on the upholstery, resting an elbow on the armrest and crossing one knee over the other. Sev¡¯rance Tann regarded the aged man carefully, for his age affected not his sense nor skill, and slowly eased herself into the cushions of an opposing wing chair.
¡°I take it your audience with the Parliament bore fruit of pleasant taste?¡± she started.
Dooku had his lightsaber, for he made no motion to hide the distinctive silver crescent of its hilt gleaming on his belt. Hopefully, it would remain there for the remainder of their little discussion. If not, Sev¡¯rance kept her own lightsaber close at hand, the hilt painfully austere compared to her combat teacher¡¯s elegant form.
¡°Bittersweet,¡± her former master decided, ¡°You have been of great trouble to me, Sev¡¯rance.¡±
He took the tone of a father to a disobedient child, or a disappointed instructor to a failing cadet. Sev¡¯rance may not know the emotions brought on by the former¨Cfor few skywalkers-by-trade had fathers¨Cbut she had ample memory of the latter. And the memory made her blood seethe.
¡°I spared no effort,¡± Sev¡¯rance showed none of it through her opaque red eyes, gesturing at the barren table, ¡°Forgive me for the lack of refreshments, Count.¡±
Dooku eyed the empty spot where a flower vase might¡¯ve been, if Sev¡¯rance were a more decor-conscious person, ¡°Make no mind of it. I am in no mood for them either.¡±
Oh, but you must be, Sev¡¯rance thought silently, after preaching for hours to your captive Parliament.
¡°Then I presume you are not here to go through the motions either,¡± Sev¡¯rance folded her hands on her lap, ¡°What are you here for, Count?¡±
For a moment, each and every one of Dooku¡¯s eighty-two years of age showed on his face. It was an expression of utter fatigue and ennui he would never be caught dead with elsewhere. He looked at her lightsaber, then at the rank plaque of the Supreme Commander, then at the dark clouds beyond the casement window.
¡°Diplomacy,¡± he said at last.
¡°Diplomacy?¡±
¡°War is a failure of communication,¡± Dooku rubbed his fingers, ¡°And we must war without first attempting diplomacy. I did not come from across the spiral arms to gloat and prattle.¡±
¡°Indeed? But that is what you do best?¡±
Dooku laughed, and it was by far the tiredest, bitterest, most unpleasant sound Sev¡¯rance had ever heard him make. The old Count looked down at the floor, as if tracing out the patterns in the woodwork with his eyes.
He clasped his hands together, head now raised to stare at her, ¡°What do you want, Sev¡¯rance?¡±
The Supreme Commander looked at the Count of Serenno, baffled.
¡°Is it not obvious, Count?¡±
¡°Yes?¡±
She met his gaze intently, ¡°Victory. A lasting victory. A victory that would etch my name into the fabric of this galaxy. And you are in my way.¡±
¡°I need not to,¡± Count Dooku replied evenly, ¡°We need not be enemies, which speaks to my purpose here. The Parliament and Senate are ignoble and feckless, surely this fact is no stranger to you. In this age of war, it is blasters and warships that hold power and sway. I command the blasters and warships of the north, as you the south. Should we work together, the Confederacy need not break.¡±
Sev¡¯rance¡¯s eyes were half-closed in mistrust, red gleaming under heavy lids, ¡°Pleading does not suit you, Count. You appear to me like a soaken old cat in the rain. Has your Master finally abandoned you?¡±
¡°My Master¡?¡± Dooku echoed¨Cthen chuckled, ¡°Ah, yes, my Master. You know of that too, as you know of his Grand Plan? I should not be surprised, but I am.¡±
¡°For a Sith Lord, you are utterly convinced your apprentices would not betray you,¡± Sev¡¯rance told him, admittedly gloatingly, ¡°Is it because you pitted them against each other, so that their knives would be occupied in each others¡¯ bodies instead of yours? Or is it because you did not consider them true Sith like you are, and thought them incapable of ambition?¡±
¡°Or,¡± Dooku opened his palms, ¡°It is simply arrogance.¡±
¡°Arrogance,¡± Sev¡¯rance reclined, agreeing with a nod, ¡°Your Master must not consider you a true Sith either, if he thought you would not betray him. Otherwise, you would be dead.¡±
¡°It is entirely possible,¡± Dooku admitted, ¡°Loathe I am to admit. But here I am, and he does not know it, convinced in his own superiority. As you have wielded mine against me, I wield his against him.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann mulled over his words, then mulled over Rain Bonteri¡¯s, those spoken to her and that Jedi girl the day after Columex. The words that changed everything.
¡°Very well,¡± her eyes opened, boring into the Count, ¡°We can work together. I will retract my accusations, and clear your name. And you will submit your armies and fleets to me, and return the New Territories to the authority of Raxus Secundus.¡±
The response was silence, as master and apprentice engaged in a battle of wills. A crack of thunder, and Rain Bonteri¡¯s words burned in her mind.
¡°Or,¡± she murmured softly, ¡°Would your pride disallow it?¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann cared not for the Sith and Jedi, for the dark and light sides of the Force. She cared for the resources she needed to achieve the final victory she so desperately lusts for. No matter how much Rain Bonteri would advise against it, she was perfectly willing to shake hands with Count Dooku and present a reunified front to the galaxy; but that front must be united under a single banner, as was the only way to fight a war.
And it would be the banner of the Confederate Armed Forces. Her banner.
Count Dooku may be the Head of State, but Sev¡¯rance Tann was the Supreme Martial Commander of the CAF. His words must not hold sway in her domain, except through her.
¡°That is,¡± Dooku sat up, ¡°No equal exchange.¡±
¡°I do not seek an equal exchange,¡± Sev¡¯rance replied coldly, ¡°I seek victory, and victory requires the submission of all military forces in the Confederacy to my banners.¡±
Dooku quirked an eyebrow, swallowing a mocking laugh, ¡°Compromise is a path to victory. Are you so willing to open a second front? The choice is yours. Either work with me as equals, and we will put our quarrels aside until the Republic is in its grave. Or war against me, as you war against the Republic, tossing the prospect of victory just that much further.¡±
Once again, the response was silence.
¡°Or,¡± Dooku murmured softly, ¡°Would your pride disallow it?¡±
¡°For a man so articulate, it is pleasant to have you so lost at words that you must use mine own against me,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann scathed lightly.
¡°Just as your lack of articulation proves itself to me,¡± Dooku smiled, ¡°Target the argument, not the opponent, Sev¡¯rance. An inability to do so is the mark of a poor argument¨Cor rather, a poor debater. Or are you incapable of that without Calli Trilm at your side? Speaking of which, where is she?¡±
Count Dooku leaned forward ever so slightly, as if trying to get closer to her, and whispered, ¡°Because your foolhardy Operation Starlance has left you bereft of your best captains and crews, Supreme Commander. And for what gain? You have made no progress, only reverse your losses at the hand of the Republic''s Trident. Your admiralties are occupied. The incompetent Kirst fumbles backwards in the north, and begs my generals for aid. Trench has his many hands full rooting out the remnants of Loyalist occupation in the Near-Perlemian. The superficial Farstar struggles against the onslaught on Corellian Run. Lastly, the bull-headed Ambigene grows ever duller, slamming his skull on Anakin Skywalker¡¯s defences in the south.¡±
¡°You preach to me of my pride, but I see it is your pride inhibiting our dialogue,¡± Dooku admonished her, ¡°Your four fleets are occupied, and you sent your fifth fleet on a suicide mission in the Core. Without your precious Perlemian Coalition, you are in no condition to fight a civil war. And the Coalition¡ the Perlemian Coalition holds a major bloc in the Senate¨Cand you have just sent their spacers and constituencies to their deaths. Would they even still fight for you?¡±
¡°And they would fight for you?¡± Sev¡¯rance asked dryly.
Despite that, Sev¡¯rance hated how much sense Dooku spoke. Indeed, she had every reason to take upon his offer of truce. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and it was not Dooku who posed an existential crisis to the Confederacy at the moment, but the Republic. Dooku himself clearly intends on eliminating Sev¡¯rance¨Cbut only after the Republic is dealt with. The same could be said for Sev¡¯rance, however. Their disagreement, Dooku proposed, could wait until the Confederacy¡¯s existence was secure.
Sev¡¯rance didn¡¯t care about the Confederacy¡¯s existence, however. Sev¡¯rance cared about her Confederacy¡¯s existence. She would not allow Dooku to erode the authority she wielded over the CAF and Raxus Government by extension. Sev¡¯rance weighed the choice in her head, careful not to slip into one of her future-seeing trances lest Dooku run a laser blade through her in her mental absence.
Her former teacher saw through her easily, as if he was with her in her mind.
¡°It is your pride at stake, I understand,¡± he cooed, ¡°It is your legacy you weigh, and whether you¡¯re willing to see me in it. But understand this too; your legacy will be so much more with me helping you.¡±
¡°And how would that be?¡± she mused.
¡°Think about it,¡± Dooku insisted, ¡°You cannot rule the Confederacy alone. This, you know. It is as much my political manoeuvres that have kept the system in line as much as your armies. With no disrespect; you have no mind nor patience for these matters. Who else can unify the Independent Systems for you? Bec Lawise is no ally of yours, and everyday he chafes against the power the CAF accumulates. He has viewed the Perlemian Coalition as a cabal of warlords ever since Centares; even with the two most prominent ones gone. What does he think of your precious CAF?¡±¡±
¡°I do not intend on ruling¨C¡±
Dooku¡¯s cackle interrupted her, ¡°Oh, but you do! You convince yourself otherwise, so desperate clutching to your tenets of what you think a military should be. The dark side fuels you. It is so strong in this place, even with my absence until now. You can touch it, like a serpent¡¯s belly sliding under your hand. You can taste it, like blood in the air. That is not me. That is you!¡±
¡°When this war is over, and you are triumphant over all¡ Bec Lawise and his Parliament will wrest your CAF away from you. It will not be me, but the Raxus Government that erodes your power, so eager to limit the military¡¯s power and return authority back to the bureaucrats and politicians,¡± he continued, ¡°What will you do then? Will you allow it? Will you¡ follow the rules?¡±
No! Her inner voice seemed to echo hungrily off the walls. It was a snake, black and oily, slithering around her. There was no light coming through the window now, and outside might as well be nocturnal. The rain roared with shouts of thunder. My army, the serpent hissed in her ear, my fleets, my Confederacy! I will not let them have it! They owe me their pathetic existences¨Cthis entire country does!
¡°Oh¡¡± Dooku¡¯s eyes glinted darkly, ¡°You¡¯ve let it in. You¡¯re swimming in it. Hear that? Those are your true feelings. The dark side only tells you what you want to hear, what you already believe.¡±
Red eyes bore into the smiling Count, molten gold creeping around the edges, ¡°What is your¡ proposal?¡±
¡°A simple arrangement,¡± the Sith Lord spread his hands in satisfaction, ¡°I will rule the apparatus of the state, and you will rule the fleets and armies of the state. The Confederacy is an artificial, unnatural creation, borne out of a common enemy. Without the Republic, all the squabbling worlds and systems would see no reason to bind arms, and fall apart. It will need strong rulers to keep it together.¡±
¡°Us?¡±
¡°One to create order, and another to enforce it. Me and you. Not as master and apprentice, no, as that time has passed. We will be equals. Then¡ I will die.¡±
If there was anything that could shock Sev¡¯rance, she did not expect it to be that one frank admission of mortality. She felt herself flinch, her balance gone and the world seemingly turned inside out.
¡°...What?¡±
¡°I am human,¡± Dooku clarified, as if that needed clarifying, ¡°And I am old. I have now seen eighty-two years, and I am uncertain how many more I will see. Darth Sidious promised me immortality, but he can promise me that no longer. The Force sustains me, and my good health persists, but that will not be forever. I am old, and I see the twilight. But you? You are young, and you have a century ahead of you yet. Together, we can navigate the Separatist State through the vulnerable times after the war¡ but I will die. And you will have decades to mould the Confederacy in your image afterwards.¡±
Sev¡¯rance saw it then, in the eye of the serpent, her mind¡¯s eye. Everything she desired, simply at arm¡¯s length.
¡°You see the vision, don¡¯t you?¡± Dooku urged, hand outstretched towards her, ¡°You will have your legacy. A legacy without me in it. All you require is a little¡ patience.¡±
¡°Patience¡¡± Sev¡¯rance tore her gaze away from the snake, and back to him, ¡°And when you are dead and gone? What then? Who will control the state then?¡±
Dooku shrugged, ¡°You will, of course.¡±
¡°But you said it yourself; I have no patience for these matters.¡±
¡°Then I will teach you all that I know of the dark side,¡± Dooku pressed, impatience leaking into his voice, ¡°Not as your master, no, but because you ask it of me. The dark side grants power. Power over all. When you understand your own evils and the evils of others, it makes them pitifully easy to manipulate. The dark side will show you the stiff places in a being. His dreads and needs. The dark side gives you the keys to him.¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann reached out with her own hand, as if making for Dooku¡¯s own, as he so clearly expected it. But then she slowly brought her fingers together, like she was grasping a goblet.
¡°You mistake me. I am no stranger to power. I have power,¡± to his confused look, she told him, ¡°You live in a palace, but I live in an even bigger one, capable of razing entire planets to ash and salt at but a word. You have armies, but I have armies larger and more powerful than yours. You command legions of droids, but I have men and women willing to fight and die for my cause. Trillions of beings heed my words, at my beck and call. The dark side did not give those to me, effort and patience did.¡±
¡°Did it give you the politicians and the courts? No!¡± Dooku snapped, ¡°But the dark side can, and I will show you how! Do you want their friendship? The dark side can compel them for you. Do you want only their servitude? The dark side can bend their will to yours. You needn¡¯t concern yourself with their disobedience any longer.¡±
¡°...No, Count, I do not need the dark side,¡± she sighed, ¡°If I want their friendship, I will speak and endear myself to them. If I want their servitude, I will order my armies to make them my servants. Just because I am untalented, does not mean I cannot learn. All I need is to apply some effort.¡±
¡°Why trouble yourself!?¡± Dooku snarled in frustration, ¡°How long will that take!? The dark side can¨C¡±
¡°I have time; you said it yourself,¡± it was Sev¡¯rance¡¯s turn to smile, molten gold receding from her irises, ¡°I am young, and I have a century ahead of me. All I require is a little¡ patience.¡±
Patience I will require with or without you, was left unsaid.
¡°Sev¡¯rance!¡± Dooku warned, rising to his feet, ¡°Do not let this opportunity slip so easily! Do not let your pride blind you. With our abilities combined, we could forge a new galactic order! An Empire to supersede the Republic!¡±
Sev¡¯rance Tann rose, her fist closing around the neck of the snake, and as she rose, she squeezed suddenly, hard, and the snake wretched, body squirming, fluttering uselessly in the air.
¡°You voice ambitions of an empire,¡± Sev¡¯rance told Dooku, ¡°As if you are not standing amidst mine.¡±
With a final, violent clench of her fist, she felt the snake¡¯s bones crack, and its body went utterly limp. Sev¡¯rance¡¯s arm fell to her side, leaving Count Dooku grasping at thin air.
¡°You¡¡± Dooku started, then trailed off with a sigh, ¡°It is a shame, but perhaps expected. You are more Sith than either of us realised.¡±
With a sharp click, the Sith Lord¡¯s crescent-hilted lightsaber was unholstered from his belt. Sev¡¯rance eyed it cautiously¨Cshe could never hope to beat Dooku in a duel. She possessed neither his command over the dark side or his command over his own body. She could summon help¨Cthe button was but at an arm¡¯s reach away¨Cbut if he wanted her dead, then she would be in a blink of an eye.
But Dooku did not move, flicking the unignited lightsaber at her, as if telling her to draw her own saber. Sev¡¯rance¡¯s blood boiled at that, the serpent she left dead on the floor stirring back to life, feeding on her emotions. Am I so weak that you don¡¯t even need to take me by surprise? Sev¡¯rance raged at the thought, at Dooku¡¯s dispassionate expression and elegantly held combat form, as if he could cut her down without breaking a sweat. Maybe he could; he trained her, after all, and would certainly know how to kill her.
But would she allow it to be done so easily? Not so. Her pride would not allow it.
¡°Do you intend to kill me?¡± Sev¡¯rance hissed at him, unclipping her own saber, ¡°Know that it would not change anything. Your rule is at an end, whether you would allow it or not. I beseech you; leave the Confederacy to me, retire away to Serenno or anywhere you so desire, and live the rest of your days away peacefully. Your power is at an end, but your life need not be. But kill me, and your life is forfeit, and you will be hunted down to the ends of the galaxy.¡±
The suite burned red as Dooku ignited his lightsaber, ¡°I will try. And you will defend yourself, because I will be trying to kill you. It seems the plans Sidious set into motion have become unavoidable, thanks to you.¡±
There was a smirk on his face, as if this outcome was something he was satisfied with. From the moment he stepped into her office, he was going to leave with what he wanted, one way or another. But what did Dooku want from this outcome? Sev¡¯rance could not fathom it, and perhaps that was why Dooku was smirking, mocking her. Not smart enough to figure it out? His eyes seemed to gleam.
¡°You are but an old man unable to accept that your time has passed,¡± she snarled, all fear and apprehension lost as the dark side ran through her blood and made her arms lighter. Gold clashed with red as she pointed her saber at him, the point but an inch from his nose, ¡°I order that you surrender, and silently accept that your name will be etched into history as one of the vanquished.¡±
Chapter 77
Geonosis, Geonosis System
Arkanis Sector
As the warship plunged into the arid atmosphere of Geonosis, Asajj Ventress struggled to shut out the staggering cacophony of sensory input and focus on finding her centre amid the chaos. Not from the turbulence, no, for the faux-freighter was solid of form and build and there was hardly a shudder as they whipped through a thundering sandstorm, but from the commotion on the deck. The flagship of the Storm Fleet, Storm-001 and the ships it led were all designed with the cover of a PCL 27 A-class freighter in mind, to disguise their true nature as warships.
Which meant they all possessed utterly massive bow cargo doors that spanned flank-to-flank, ostensibly to facilitate the off and onloading of the vast volumes of freight these ships fueled the galaxy with. Cargo bay doors meant cargo bays¨Csmaller ones, not on the scale of a real A-class freighter¨Cbut large enough to be repurposed into a modest hangar bay. If hangar bays didn¡¯t need airlocks or atmospheric containment shielding, that was, since the doors opened directly to the outside.
Except, the cargo bays weren¡¯t being used as hangars¨Cnot in any traditional sense, at least.
From the railings of an observation platform above, Ventress silently watched the Onderonians scamper about on the bay deck¨Clike ants scurrying in the shadows of giants. In the dim lighting, enormous wyverns writhed and grated against their steel prison, snapping and clawing in their restraints. Dxunian warbeasts, Ventress rubbed a phantom itch on her newly acquired mechno-arm, and lunar dragons. The dark side of the Force was thick and heavy in the bay, as if the gargantuan warbeasts lived and breathed it, as they should, spawned from the Demon Moon of Onderon.
In fact, there was more turbulence from inside the ship than outside.
Asajj Ventress absorbed their emotions, their frustrations, their pent up rage, accumulated over weeks and months cooped up in these metal cages. Ventress never thought of sympathising with monsters, but she did now. Plucked from their homeworlds, herded aboard warships and taken to where none of their kind have ever gone before. The stars in the sky.
The assassin felt a tinge of nostalgia. She was like them too, once.
Relating to beasts are you now, Asajj? Dooku¡¯s voice asked her, look at how far you have fallen.
But they are not so mindless, are they Asajj? Ky replied, the Force flows through all living beings.
Are you? Ventress thought quietly, anybody would be resentful, trapped in a cage where they could not spread their wings. And as if the dragons heard her, they settled down; tamed, apparently, for at least just the moment. Immediately sensing the unnatural lull in their warbeasts, the Onderonian handlers seized the opportunity to scramble their caparisons and harnesses over the mighty creatures, affixing equipment for battle.
¡°I don¡¯t know how you keep doing it, but damn me to Dxun if I am not grateful,¡± Captain Vander clambered up the gangway with two women in tow, ¡°I don¡¯t think these warbeasts would last another day in here.¡±
All it would take was one going on a rampage to kill all of us, the thought had never been more present in Ventress¡¯ mind. Just the idea of a single brutal, hundred-thousand pound dragon finally snapping in the middle of hyperspace transit¡
¡°There¡¯s only so much you can do,¡± Kavia Slen shrugged, bearing a frivolous grin that conveyed nothing of the weight of the situation, ¡°My engineers had already retrofitted all these ships into flying menageries. This is as ¡®home¡¯ and ¡®home¡¯ gets out in space.¡±
There was a bed of dirt and vegetation on the deck, ivy and blooming flowers on the bulkheads, and drooping willows and vines cascading from above, concealing the roosts of Dxunian raptors and devourers. The shipboard artificial environment and gravity systems had been hijacked to imitate the climate and gravity of Onderon as much as possible¨Can oppressive, sultry boil that made Ventress¡¯ skin slick with sweat. And of course, everything else necessary to transform a freight bay into a rainforest vivarium, and maintain it. They¡¯ve done an incredibly impressive job of it, considering most of the work was done in-transit, considering¨C
¡°You¡¯ve done a fine job of it,¡± Naradan D¡¯ulin rested her hands on her hips, ¡°Considering the smell.¡±
The smell. It smelled like what a rainforest vivarium would smell like; except inhabited by half a dozen lumbering dragons and a score of smaller flying warbeasts that inhabited the canopy, eating and sleeping and shitting and everything else that monsters do.
I don¡¯t think this is what Dooku imagined his secret fleet would be used for, Ventress thought humorlessly at the sight. Not that it would even be on his list of grudges when I¡¯m done with him.
¡°We space the waste regularly,¡± Kavia patted the mercenary¡¯s shoulder without fear, leaving a greasy glove-print on the Mistryl¡¯s purple robes, ¡°So it could be worse.¡±
¡°I can imagine,¡± D¡¯ulin replied drily, ¡°And I¡¯d like it to keep it that way, thank you.¡±
Ventress silently agreed. She looked around the ship, which juddered and shook as it plummeted toward the planet¡¯s surface. The air was thick and still, reeking of dirt and sweat. The last Onderonian warbands were hooking themselves onto the bridles of their warbeasts¨Cactions that the lunar dragons recognised. The ship shuddered again¨Cthis time as the largest warbeast roused from its dormancy, shaking off the dust from weeks of inactivity.
The Force tensed, like a rope strung taught and ready to snap. Soft, guttural snarling filled the hold, followed by clicking mandibles and rustling wings.
¡°The Geonosians won¡¯t be fooled by the Storm Fleet¡¯s signature for long; their bioscans will immediately blow our cover,¡± Naradan D¡¯ulin began her final brief, as the warmaster of the operation, ¡°Sharihen and the Mistryl fleet will be stationed in low orbit to cover the operation in case the Geonosians scramble fighters from other hives across the planet. We¡¯ll reach as low as possible before the bugs start shooting¨Cthese ships can take a pounding, so we might as well use their armour. Are the Beast Riders ready?¡±
¡°More than ready,¡± Vander crossed his arms, ¡°They¡¯re¡ well, they¡¯ve never even set foot in a starship before. Right now? The Clazca and Ezelk Warlords are as pent up as their warbeasts, and just as eager to spill alien blood.¡±
Naradan nodded sharply, ¡°Good. They¡¯ll spread out across the dropzone, engaging the Geonosian defences. At the same time, the Storm Fleet will execute a saturation bombardment of the Stalgasin Hive, where we have discerned the master codes to be. While the bugs are occupied being bombed back to the Old Republic, Captain Vander¡¯s commandos will lift us down to the factory. From there it¡¯s a standard infiltration operation. Got all that?¡±
Vander grinned, ¡°Clear as day.¡±
Ventress voiced an uncommitted confirmation, fingers¨Cflesh and steel both¨Cwrapping around the cold metal railing as she closed her eyes and concentrated on the Force. There was still a phantom itch on her mechno-arm, despite her best efforts, but the steady hum of servos became a comforting rhythm in counterpoint to the ship¡¯s engines, a focal point that brought her consciousness into a state of calm. Focus. Find your centre, Asajj.
¡°Your hand alright?¡± Kavia asked curiously.
Asajj lifted it and flexed its bearings, listening to the whirr.
¡°It¡¯ll serve,¡± she decided.
But it¡¯ll never be the same. There was no replacement for flesh, nerves, and blood. The mechno-arm was crude and improvised, crafted out of what limited materials were available aboard the Mistryl destroyers. General Grievous proved that mechanical reflexes could be a league above organic ones¨Cbut not with a brain that¡¯s already been trained and honed for years. Not unless you started from the beginning again.
And that¡¯s where Asajj Ventress was yet, she was afraid. She would have to learn her signature dual wielding form¨CJar¡¯Kai¨Call over again. The Mistryl had done their best to wire the mechno-arm, but they were not Arkanians. The reflexes, the control¨Cthey would all be so different from what Ventress knew, and even the most minute difference could mean life or death in combat.
She counted her stars; she wasn¡¯t about to duel a Jedi, or anyone for that matter. Just kill some bugs. That¡¯s easy enough, isn¡¯t it?
¡°Anytime now¡¡± Kavia murmured, unconsciously bracing.
Storm-001 whined and shook as it slowed, gravity pulling at Ventress¡¯ bones. The metal under her boots trembled, and as if she could already feel the hot sun outside, sweat beaded on her lip. They must be close to the surface now, and she imagined that if the hold had a viewport, she would look upon a familiar world of sand and spires, bright orange striped with harsh black shadows.
A distant explosion rocked the ship.
An even closer one knocked it off its vector.
Then, the strangest feeling. Storm-001 shuddered violently, creaking and groaning as it strained against some invisible pressure. A vibration carried through the hull and into their bodies, travelling through their bones and veins. Ventress¡¯ pulse quickened to dangerous levels, despite her disciplined breathing. Leaves fell from the canopy as Dxunian raptors squawked and yelled in surprise. The larger wyverns on the deck rustled, but otherwise seemed wholly unmoved.
Just as quickly as the sensation came¨Cit was gone.
¡°Sonic wave artillery,¡± Ventress gritted her teeth, ¡°Geonosian tech. Their blasters use the same technology. You get hit dead on, and your heart will explode.¡±
¡°The ship didn¡¯t get affected much,¡± Vander looked around, eyebrow raised, ¡°Considering we aren¡¯t dead.¡±
¡°This ship is big,¡± Kavia pointed out, evidently realising the implications, ¡°The damage will be spread out. But get hit a couple more times, and the ship will be disintegrating under our feet.¡±
¡°How many more times is a ¡®couple?¡¯¡±
¡°Two to a hundred,¡± the engineer shrugged, looking towards the Mistryl warmaster.
Naradan D¡¯ulin paused, meeting Vander¡¯s gaze, ¡°Get them out there.¡±
¡°You got it, lady!¡±
The Onderonian Captain wasted no time bolting off onto the hold deck, animatedly waving his arms and hollering commands in a tribal tongue. The Beast Riders recognised the commands¨Cas did their wyverns, and the warbeasts all stirred in anticipation.
¡°Open the doors!¡± Kavia shouted into a comlink, to a faint reply.
The flood of sunlight poured in like liquid fire, overwhelming the eyes with a searing, blinding white. A torrent of blistering air followed, blasting through the open hatch with the force of a gale, carrying with it the arid scent of scorched earth and dust. She expected the vessel beneath her feet to buck at the sudden change of air resistance, as she had experienced on many dropships before, but the Storm-class destroyer was built like a doonium brick, and didn¡¯t shake easily.
Unlike the ship, however, its passengers were much more affected. Inside the craft, the temperature rose instantly, stifling in its intensity, while the wind blasted out the humidity along with tonnes of vegetation and brush, sending them aloft and sprinkling onto the sandy dunes. Warlords and warlords alike whooped and crowed, pumping themselves up for battle, whilst Beast Riders strained their mounts against immediately leaping into the clouds.
¡°Are all the warbands ready!?¡± Naradan shouted over the winds, her Mistryl squad assembling around her whipping robes.
Kavia squinted against the glare, trying to cover her datapad with her sleeve, ¡°The engineering crews are coming down! Once we¡¯re all here, we¡¯re good to go!¡±
¡°¨CWait, coming down?¡± Ventress couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You¡¯re joining us out there?¡±
Kavia looked at her as if she was out of her mind, ¡°What? You want us to stay here?¡±
Ventress resisted the urge to run the woman through with her lightsaber, ¡°I don¡¯t see what purpose you¡¯d serve on the ground. You¡¯re an engineer. We don¡¯t need extra weight.¡±
¡°I can ride a warbeast with my eyes closed and both arms tied behind my back, egghead,¡± the engineer rebuked, ¡°I swept this old bucket top to bottom, and it¡¯s all automated, provided the right programs. Beyond that, it¡¯s a giant steel coffin. No sane person would want this to be their grave.¡±
¡°Dead is dead,¡± Ventress snarled, ¡°What does it matter where you die? I fail to understand; it will always be safer here than out there.¡±
She pointed out to the skies beyond the open doors, filled with fire and flak and black smoke. Before the engineer could retort again, the turbolift chimed and the bridge crew of a handful engineers poured out, armed with disruptor grenades and carbines.
Kavia huffed, waving over her men and shooting Ventress a glare that seemed to imply she was insipid.
¡°Live fast, die young!¡± Kavia vaulted over the rails and landed squarely on one of the dragon¡¯s tails without even looking, ¡°Leave the world with a curse on your lips and sky in your lungs! That¡¯s what I always say¡!¡±
Kavia¡¯s voice drowned out as she skillfully scaled the ridged tail all the way up to the caparison, joining Vander and the rest of the commandos there. As the bridge crew followed her lead, Naradan leaned closer to Ventress¡¯ ear.
¡°You¡¯ve crossed the galaxy fighting Dooku¡¯s war, but you¡¯ve never fought with the people Dooku claims to be fighting for,¡± the Mistryl told her, ¡°It¡¯s a whole galaxy out there, not just contained in battle maps and soldiers. You¡¯ll find that when you¡¯ve lived in the shadow of a Demon Moon all your life, the only thing that would terrify you is a boring death.¡±
In no mood to continue the argument¨Cdeath is death¨CVentress made her way onto the warbeast. Boarding it was trivial, with the Force, as she crossed the gap with a single well-time leap.
¡°Welcome aboard!¡± Vander shouted, his hair whipping in the wind. Sand was pooling on the far corners of the cargo hold. ¡°Hold on tight or you¡¯ll be blown right off!¡±
Ventress graciously decided to heed his advice, ¡°What are we waiting for!?¡±
¡°The Warlords know best when to jump!¡± he jabbed a finger over to the neighbouring warbeast, one naked of any harness or saddle. Carbine-armed savages were lodged squarely between the spines on the monster¡¯s back, ¡°We have a saying; the clansmen learn to ride before they could walk! The best of them are born on the backs of their warbeasts! That¡¯s why we call them the Beast Riders!¡±
Vander barked in laughter as artillery fire roared around them. Ventress ignored the madman and took stock of their warband; six Dxunian warbeasts each carrying as many as twenty men, and three times as many smaller flying wyverns with single or dual riders. While the Beast Riders of the massive warbeast on her right were cheering and shaking their blasters and lances in the air, the passengers of the one on her left were more grim¨Csome were shaking, others had the fear of death engraved in their eyes.
¡°Don¡¯t mind those,¡± the Captain told her as D¡¯ulin¡¯s Mistryl squad climbed aboard, ¡°That¡¯s the Penal Battalion. The punishment was permanent exile, but they took their chances fighting for the right to live.¡±
¡°They¡¯re more likely to die here,¡± Ventress shook her head.
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¡°The punishment¡¯s exile, but we don¡¯t want a band of grudgeful traitors gallivanting around the galaxy, do we?¡± Vander asked rhetorically, with a sly smile, ¡°They¡¯re here to die.¡±
¡°A cruel joke.¡±
¡°You seem like the type to enjoy that sort of thing,¡± Kavia suddenly piped up.
¡°I am.¡±
¡°Cloud cover¡¯s clearing up,¡± the Captain sat up, ¡°I¡¯d wager we¡¯re about to go.¡±
He was right. A familiar desert of red sand and stark sunlight came into view, tall spires piercing the sky like melting candles, and somewhere below, ranks of artillery and cannons buzzed and boomed and screamed. The air felt as if it were charged up with lightning, for all that the sky was clear.
The Clazca Warlord lifted his carbine and fired three shots into the sky, roaring out wordlessly¨C
And the warbeasts roared in reply, a deafening chorus that made the thunder of exploding flak sound mute. A rush and lurch¨Cand they were in the air. Ventress wrapped the rope around her arm tight, though her natural balance kept her steady nonetheless. All around them, hundreds of dragons and wyverns and warbeasts were taking to the skies over Geonosis, all screaming out as if to claim their new domain.
Ventress felt the pull of the beast beneath her, its wings beating against the storm of dust and flak, rising higher and faster with every surge of its powerful body. The air was thick with the smell of scorched sand and burning plasma, but it was the roar of the warbeasts that dominated the senses, how its muscles rippled beneath her feet. The sky was a swirling maelstrom of chaos. Dragons, wyverns, and other monstrous creatures¨Ceach ridden by warriors of the Onderonian army¨Ccut through the air, their scales and hides glinting under the harsh desert sun.
Now isn¡¯t that a sight?
Geonosian beak-winged starfighters rushed up to meet them, their comparatively diminutive forms completely dwarfed by the massive warbeasts. Blasts of laser shot up from below, but were completely ignored by the riders. Those that came too close¨Cthe warbeasts reacted with shocking speed for their size, scorpion-like tails cracking the air as they whipped up and smashed the buzzing starfighters with their spike-tipped ends.
¡°Drexls can shrug off worse than lasers,¡± Kavia declared seriously, ¡°If they couldn¡¯t, the Demon Moon wouldn¡¯t be called what it is. It¡¯s the sonic projectiles we need to watch out for.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve relayed it to the other warbands,¡± Vander replied, concentrating on steering the monster through the hail of blooming fire, ¡°We got a target?¡±
¡°Over there,¡± Naradan crawled to the front of the saddle on all fours, pointing towards a massive hive city in the distance, ¡°That¡¯s the factory we¡¯re aiming for. It''s got a ray shield, but it¡¯s meant to stop artillery¨Cshouldn¡¯t stop us from getting through.¡±
¡°Marking out targets!¡± Kavia shouted into her comlink, standing upright despite the winds and gazing through a macrobinoculars, ¡°Slen to Storm Fleet! New directive; saturation bombardment, fire for effect!¡±
A droid vocoder replied; ¡°Affirmative.¡±
The outcome was immediate and devastating¨Chundreds of cannons emerged from the hidden ventral gunports of the freighters, unleashing a hail of bleeding plasma and energy. They were precise and targeted, as precise and targeted as droid rangefinders can get with no room for organic error. The defence lines around the factories were quickly vapourised, every single shot glassing hundreds of square metres of desert and mountain in glowing molten ooze.
They descended low, through the flak and smoke, into the mountain passes and out of view of Geonosian long-range artillery. The flak cannons on the cliff faces were swarmed by wyverns, whilst clansmen aboard the drexls open fired with grenade launchers and mounted rotary cannons, the warbands sweeping a blazing warpath through the valley. The first hard obstacle they faced was a towering wall, bristling with cannons and artillery¨Cthey flew over it, but not without casualties. Orbs of sonic energy turned the insides of four warbeasts to mush, the massive beasts dropping out of the sky like wet moths.
Ventress looked back as they passed¨Cto see parachutes descending in place where the beasts were felled, Onderonian and Beast Rider Commandos dropping down with disruptors blazing, curses on their lips and sky in their lungs.
¡°Olko Baz!¡± Kavia shouted into her comlink again, ¡°Cover us as we approach the shield!¡±
If there was a reply, Ventress didn¡¯t hear it. The warbeasts and their accompanying wyverns thundered higher into the sky nevertheless, aloft massive beating wings. The Storm Fleet were now like black dots behind them, though they steadily pushed forward, laying down a raking bombardment that gradually and unstoppably melted down the mountain range to liquid magma, flushing out the bug hives within. It was evident what Dooku intended the Storm Fleet¡¯s true purpose to be.
With the swarming warbands above and the Storm Fleet encroaching like an unstoppable tide, they managed to slip towards the ray shield relatively unscathed. Everything was going to plan.
Captain Vander slowed down to pass through the ray shield, before landing at the base of one of the spires. The Mistryl identified an entrance, and took point, descending down the dark starwell. Ventress hardly had time to tail after them in the rearguard before Vander shouted a blessing and took to the sky with a gust of dry wind.
¡°Stay sharp,¡± a Mistryl murmured, perhaps to herself, because Ventress didn¡¯t need to be told.
She was more familiar with the bugs than the rest of them combined. They were headed down a narrow set of spiraling stairs, the darkness lit only by the glow of their weapons. The Geonosians used senses other than sight to navigate their winding hive mazes, their clicking language providing them a perfect mental map of their subterranean cities via echolocation. Her senses told her this staircase was long and went deep underground, and she didn¡¯t need the Force for that.
The stairs finally emptied out into a tall hallway with intricate architectural details, almost like a temple. The floor was a metal grate, and the Mistryl made not a sound as they spread out, following Naradan D¡¯ulin. As the rearguard, Ventress was the last to enter the underground foundry, molten metal still glowed cherry red amid the enormous churning machinery. Droids and wingless Geonosian thralls milled about, servicing and monitoring the production line, as if completely unaware of the raging battle being fought overhead.
The dark assassin¡¯s eyes sharpened as she inspected the conveyor belts. They weren¡¯t manufacturing droids, no, the pieces were much too large for that. Not the standard AAT-1s either. The pieces¡ Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s Devastator tanks. So that¡¯s where we are.
¡°I¡¯m taking point. I know the way.¡±
¡°You know where the master codes are?¡± D¡¯ulin questioned sceptically.
¡°There¡¯s only one place they could be,¡± she grunted back, taking the lead with or without the confirmation.
Drone nest up ahead, her memory told her as her lightsaber spat an eerie red glow across the sculpted stone. Up ahead, a dark shadow detached from the wall¨Cbut her lightsaber was already cleaving through its exoskeleton before the bug even had time to activate its electrostaff. Realising their usual ambush tactic wouldn¡¯t work against her, the entire contingent of Geonosian drones gruesomely peeled off the walls and rushed at her, chittering madly.
Ventress didn¡¯t even need to think¨Cher body knew exactly what to do.
With a swift flash, her arm shot out as if of its own volition. As her blade met the Geonosian¡¯s chest, she was intricately aware of the strange sensation of flesh parting, the sharp click of chitin and the softer thickness within. The Geonosian fell at her feet, nearly split in two.
Ventress stopped the next Mistryl behind her and lifted up her one lightsaber at the advancing bugs, ¡°Next.¡±
More and more Geonosians appeared. They peeled off the wall, skittered across the ceiling. The darkness hid endless hiding places, and the Geonosians buzzed angrily, a choir of rage. The next Geonosian chittered madly as it flew at her, its wings beating so fast that they were a blur. She ducked under the jab and sliced the creature in half with her lightsaber. Before she could blink away the image of the top half sliding off the bottom half, another warrior appeared.
Ventress was smiling. In this narrow corridor, she didn¡¯t need both lightsabers. Her blood-red blade was a curtain of death that marched forward unceasingly, a solid crimson blur that deflected and cut down everything in its path, leaving molten gashes on the walls it cut through. The Mistryl followed behind quietly, kicking aside the dismembered carapaces as if the corpses were nothing more than tripping hazards. Which to be fair, they were, and they were all equally dead.
Because dead is dead.
By the time the Mistryl caught up in the next antechamber, all they found were more dead bugs strewn across the sandstone floor.
¡°Quick work,¡± D¡¯ulin commented, and nothing more, ¡°Where to from here?¡±
Ventress huffed, barely out of breath, ¡°To the control centre. You can¡¯t miss it.¡±
Mostly because of the massive ARENA-7580 tactical monitoring projector in the centre of the room. Asajj Ventress was very familiar with it; the Separatist Council used the holotable to conduct the Battle of Geonosis, and the idiots still lost. When Sev¡¯rance Tann recaptured the place, she used the holotable to plan her Operation Sidestep, which turned the tide of the war in the southern galaxy. And she took such a liking to the system, in fact, that she reproduced it throughout the CAF¡¯s bases and headquarters.
Ventress led the Mistryl storming into the command centre, a huge room with a large circular holoprojection table in its centre¨CARENA¨Cand many other monitors about the walls. Just as she suspected, Archduke Poggle the Lesser was found within, still conferring with his commanders as the widening battle raged on the tabletop when they entered the room. The Mistryl strike team fanned out, hairpins flashing out in a blur and dropping at least a two dozen armed Geonosians before Poggle the Lesser even realised what was going on.
As soon as the mercenaries confirmed there were no armed enemy combatants left in the room, they spread out to cover the exits¨Creminding Ventress of the same tactic they used back the Llon Nebula.
¡°Poggle,¡± Ventress cooed sweetly, ¡°Would you be a dear and hand over the master codes to the Droid Army? Only if you value your life, of course.¡±
Poggle was trembling so forcefully that it seemed as if he might just fall over. The same cowardly old bug as always, Ventress grinned viciously. Where it all started, so will the beginning of the end. Once I have the master codes, I will relish the sight of Dooku¡¯s precious droid armies turning on him.
But just when Poggle the Lesser seemed to keel over out of fright, he froze¨Cthen chuckled. A horrid clicking noise that scraped at the eardrums. Then the chuckle rose into a full blown laugh¨Ca loud, terrible thing that made Ventress realise they had been outplayed.
¡°What is he saying!?¡± Naradan D¡¯ulin demanded, piercing Zenji needles held between her fingers.
¡°Dooku was right!¡± Poggle laughed at her, ¡°You are but an uninformed, misled little novice, Ventress.¡±
Her stomach dropped.
Poggle smiled, ¡°You want the codes? Take them. It¡¯s already too late. Haven¡¯t you heard? There¡¯s a war being fought.¡±
?
Attahox Approach, Attahox System
Hocatar Sector
We couldn¡¯t find Calli Trilm.
Damn if I didn¡¯t drive the whole fleet insane with my unreasonable demands, reviewing all the footage and checking all the logs and double checking and triple checking to formulate a reasonable timeline to retrace her steps and figure out where she was last seen. She wasn¡¯t among any of the combined fleet¡¯s overflowing medbays, nor in any of the depressingly empty morgues. It appeared, beyond all reasonable doubt, that Rear Admiral Calli Trilm went down with her ship.
There was no reason to search so hard anyway. Commanders died all the time in battle. That was war. Krett was missing, and so was one-eyed Aviso. Dead, probably. Frozen and floating among the wreckage at Rendili. So was Calli Trilm. But I couldn¡¯t believe it¨CI owed it to her not to. She saved my life.
I wish I could¡¯ve saved hers too.
Maybe I still could, maybe she had been taken prisoner by the Loyalists¡ but I knew that was hopeful thinking.
There was no point in not hoping, however.
Nevertheless, we made it to Manaan. Calli chose the place, if I heard correctly. Couldn¡¯t have picked a better rendezvous location myself. Manaan was¡ in the middle of nowhere, frankly, and hundreds of parsecs away from the nearest large hyperlanes. The Loyalists could trace our jump vector, but the resulting search cone was so large they might as well be looking for a needle in a haystack. Interestingly enough, the world was once a thriving production world¨Cproducing kolto, an earlier alternative to the famous bacta healing agent.
The stuff wasn¡¯t as potent as bacta, however, and its supply was incredibly limited¨CManaan was the only world in the galaxy where kolto could be harvested. After a couple devastating wars that left the surface of the planet mostly uninhabited, with the local Selkath all retreating into the ocean depths of their waterworld, Manaan lost most of its strategic value.
Which made it the perfect spot for a routing Separatist warfleet to lick its wounds. We loitered there for a while¨Cas long as we dared¨Cthough we never made contact with the Selkath people, tallying our losses, repairing what we could, and waiting for any stragglers from the battle to catch up. But the Republic hadn¡¯t been inactive, unfortunately, and our pickets soon reported Republic scoutships sweeping the sector. Despite the fact that survivors were still trickling in once or twice a day, we couldn¡¯t risk discovery, and immediately departed for our next destination.
And what was our next destination?
Well, the closest friendly world we could reach. That left somewhere on the Nanth¡¯ri Front, which was morosely amusing, in a way. Where it all started, aboard Admiral Trench¡¯s flagship over Nanth¡¯ri¡ and we¡¯ve just made one big circle back to here. Almost made me think nothing was gained from the whole venture¡
Or at least, I gained nothing from the whole venture. Only losses.
The Confederacy, however? We bought the Confederacy time, allies, and resources. And most important of all; morale. We didn¡¯t just punch the Republic where it hurts, we rampaged through their backyard¨Cno, front porch¨Cfor two whole months. That had to be worth something.
The Confederacy could still punch well above its weight class, at least we proved that.
But now, after two, three months of no contact, it was time to return home. But return home to what? We bought the Confederacy time, not victories. At least, not victories on the home front. It was up to the Pantoran¡¯s admiralties to ensure Operation Storm-Door was a success. Trench, I could rely on. Ambigene¡ he was ruthless, if nothing else, though I left him Anakin Skywalker as his opponent. I didn¡¯t know anything about the other two, Kirst and Farstar.
Was the Confederacy back on its feet? Or were all of our efforts and sacrifices in vain?
My heart was trying to climb up my throat throughout the entire hyperspace transit, which took agonisingly long considering our damaged hyperdrives. It didn¡¯t help that I had posted my flag on Diedrich¡¯s ship, Kronprinz. Kronprinz didn¡¯t have any viewports, and it was during that agonising transit that I personally answered an old question of mine.
Why do warships possess huge bridge viewports?
Kronprinz conducted herself exceedingly well without any.
Well, personally, I love viewports. Because they didn¡¯t make me so claustrophobic on board a ship. We had been orbiting Manaan, but I couldn¡¯t see it with my own eyes, only through a camera display, and that just wasn¡¯t the same. I even missed the chaotic swirls and boils of a hyperspace tunnel, despite how mind-numbingly boring the sight was after seeing it hundreds and thousands of times.
I honestly couldn¡¯t wait to get off the ship and see anything but the same old stale steel compartments day in and day out¨Cno offence to the Kronprinz, she¡¯s still the most beautiful warship I¡¯ve ever seen in my life.
In any case, we circumnavigated Mimban, as the world was hotly contested between the Loyalists and Separatists and their local government proxies, and we were in no mood to get caught up in another battle. The next major world down the line was Attahox, recently recaptured by the Confederate 3rd Fleet Group. Which was¡ General Atticus Farstar¡¯s Fleet Group. Atticus Farstar¡ I wracked my brain. Who was he? What was he like?
A nugget of information came to me. Farstar was Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s XO during the Bothan Campaign! Seems to me he was elevated to generalship to prosecute the campaign, and maintained that rank well after the shake-up from the Militia Act.
We emerged outside the system¡¯s hyper-limit so as to not give their interdiction net¨Cif they had any¨Ca fright. It must have been a sight for the local astro-service. Separatist Providences accompanied by Bulwarks and Dreadnaughts, and Venators and Victorys. We immediately blasted our clearance and transponder codes to anything and anyone that might hear us¨Cthough it was swiftly proven and unnecessary precaution.
Because we had the Kronprinz. And there was not a warship in the galaxy that looked like her.
¡°Commodore Diedrich Greyshade!¡± a voice hailed us from the transmission, ¡°I am Commander Celis Mott of the Three-Hundred and Thirty-First Strike Division. Welcome back home.¡±
¡°Celis Mott,¡± I murmured softly, ¡°He was a well-known pirate, when Nanth¡¯ri was still a pirate haven. Looks like he found a new calling after the Militia Act.¡±
Was it Calli who told me that?
¡°Why plunder and steal illegally when you can plunder and steal legally?¡± Diedrich joked, before toggling the comms, ¡°Glad to be home, Commander. It¡¯s been a long journey. But it is not my place to say.¡±
The Columexi gestured for me to take his place. I cleared my throat and did so.
¡°Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri of the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet speaking,¡± I spoke into the silent comms, ¡°My apologies for trespassing into your AO, Commander Mott.¡±
¡°...Rain Bonteri. You¡¯re a dead man.¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid my death has been greatly exaggerated,¡± I swallowed, ¡°If I am going to die, I¡¯d at least like to know why.¡±
¡°No¡ my apologies, Rear Admiral sir,¡± Celis Mott laughed nervously, ¡°Voicing my pleasant surprise is all. You¡¯ll be pleased to know we have the Loyalists on the run over here, so the sector¡¯s quite secure.¡±
¡°I am indeed pleased to know,¡± I replied patiently, ¡°May I speak to General Farstar?¡±
¡°Right¡¡± Commander Mott paused, ¡°I¡¯m afraid the General has a¡ conflict of interest, so to speak. Especially since this is, well, you, we¡¯re talking about. Rear Admiral, pardon me but I¡¯d like to confirm, you are close to the Supreme Commander, yes?¡±
I shared a confused look with Diedrich and the other bridge officers, ¡°We are on speaking terms, Commander, if that is what you meant.¡±
¡°She listens to you.¡±
¡°She does.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ good to hear,¡± Celis dragged out his words, ¡°Forgive me, but I will have to go behind the General¡¯s back for this. Rear Admiral, please proceed through my AO until you reach the Trax Tube, then head north until you cross into Admiral Trench¡¯s AO, where you will certainly be stopped again. Please do your utmost to reach Raxus Secundus.¡±
¡°What is your purpose, Commander?¡±
¡°I¡¯d like for you to speak some sense into the Supreme Commander,¡± the former pirate told me, ¡°Or at least, figure out what is going on. We are conducting a war at present, but we¡¯d like to know who we¡¯re conducting it for.¡±
Diedrich leaned into the comms, ¡°Speak clearly, Commander!¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°While you were dead, Star Station Independence has occupied Raxus Secundus,¡± Celis Mott dropped the bomb on our heads, ¡°The Parliament and Senate have been suspended by the Supreme Commander, and state of martial law has been declared in the Tion Hegemony.¡±
Chapter 78
Columex Approach, Columex System
Vorzyd Sector
There was a battle fought here, now over a year ago and honestly a distant memory, but the largest battle the galaxy had ever witnessed in the last one thousand years nonetheless. There was also little to no physical evidence it ever took place anymore, however.
No more debris fields, no more scavengers and scrap haulers and rescue cutters. In the Confederacy¡¯s rampant thirst for ever more material to fuel its war effort, recycling the trillions of tons of wrecked durasteel and doonium aimlessly floating in space was an obvious decision, and thousands of salvage and breaking contractors had all but jumped onto the figurative gold rush. The Columex hyper-junction was empty.
And we were home.
Diedrich Greyshade had his eyes fixed to the displays as the green-blue pearl known as Columex grew larger and larger, suspended in space like a turquoise star and twinkling with the lights of hundreds of satellite foundries and shipyards. There was silence in Kronprinz¡¯s pilothouse as dozens of officers set their eyes upon their homeworld, through shot and fizzling cameras and scopes, as if thinking just how much of a miracle it was that they were able to embrace the sight of it again.
My eyes were drawn to Diedrich¡¯s expression, internally expecting to see a smile of some sort, even tears perhaps, as surely even I would let them slip should I see my homeworld¨Cmy true homeworld¨Cagain after my ordeals. Which was why I was so taken aback when I found a slight frown curving his lips downwards instead.
¡°It¡¯s too empty,¡± he murmured, audible to all in the pin-drop silence gripping the Kronprinz, ¡°It¡¯s too silent.¡±
And as I ingested his words, it too gradually dawned on me how discomforting the approach to Columex was. The Columex System, the beating heart of the Commonality¡¯s trade, was quiet. That alone was alarming in itself. The hyper-junction sat at the crossroads of two major hyperlanes; the Perlemian Trade Route and the Salin Corridor. There was trade flowing through here mere hours before the Battle of Columex erupted. By all means, Columex should not even know the meaning of empty and quiet.
¡°...We¡¯re being hailed, sir,¡± the comms chief looked to Diedrich, then to me.
¡°Who?¡± Diedrich¡¯s attention didn¡¯t move an inch from the display.
Not so enraptured by the sight of Columex myself, I took the chance to slide over to the comms station, eyes gliding over the transponder code scrawled over the console: CNBC_91.42.291.43921.25_1001SM
¡°Battlecruiser Invincible,¡± I would recognise the code anywhere, leaning over the chief¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s Admiral Trench¨Cput him through.¡±
¡°Right away sir!¡± the comms chief replied hastily, fingers shooting to the toggles.
¡°Invincible, Kronprinz,¡± I spoke into the open channel, ¡°This is¨C¡±
¡°¨CI will hear an oral report in-person, Kronprinz,¡± Invincible replied with the unmistakable crackle of Admiral Trench, ¡°Shut down your main engines and prepare for docking. Have the fleet hold position and maintain formation.¡±
Diedrich finally peeled his eyes off the display, as the prowling shadow of Invincible slid onto the scopes and obscured the sight of Columex, ¡°Invincible, Kronprinz, affirmative.¡±
¡°Good to have you back, Coalition forces,¡± Admiral Trench said at last, ¡°Welcome home.¡±
The channel was closed, and I leaned back with a breath, ¡°An oral report in-person? Something ain¡¯t right.¡±
¡°I could tell you that much,¡± Diedrich murmured, ¡°Something to do with what Celis Mott told us, perhaps? He was insistent we stop for nothing until we reached Raxus Secundus.¡±
¡°That¡¯s easy when every Separatist fleet we came across until now were smaller reserve forces,¡± I peered into a display, counting the numbers of Trench¡¯s personal command arrayed in Columex¡¯s orbit, ¡°Think we can run that blockade?¡±
The Columexi chuckled apprehensively, ¡°We don¡¯t know if Trench is in Tann¡¯s camp or not.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t even know if we¡¯re in Tann¡¯s camp or not,¡± I pointed out.
The proximity alarms started blaring as the Invincible pulled up beside us, easily dwarfing the Kronprinz as extended her docking tube.
¡°I think we¡¯re about to find out,¡± Diedrich snatched his coat off the rack before walking out of the bridge.
I glanced at the comms chief, ¡°Get Admiral Ningo and Captain Dallin on the line. Let¡¯s have them aboard the Invincible as soon as possible.¡±
The flagship of Admiral Trench had not changed in the months between my appearances on it, save for some cursory battle scars¨Cnot many, for I would wager Trench¡¯s command ship wouldn¡¯t often be found in active combat zones. Or at least, it should be what I expect after his near-death experience above Christophsis. Perhaps these scars came from daring base strikes by Loyalist starfighter wings. A Jedi-led wing, very likely if I could speculate, as it would befit their command style.
If that was the case¡ Invincible was here, and the Jedi was not.
Diedrich and I were the first to enter the Invincible¡¯s conference room, as Dua Ningo and Jace Dallin made the lengthy trek from the aft hangar through-deck. Admiral Trench was watching me closely, even more vigilantly than he was on Raxus during the Supreme Commander¡¯s confirmation vote. He was watching¨Cno, judging me, against a criteria I was blind too. It was not a pleasant feeling.
¡°Admiral Trench, sir,¡± I saluted, ¡°I¡¯d thought you were still campaigning in Roche. It is a pleasant surprise.¡±
¡°And I thought you were dead,¡± Trench¡¯s mandibles chittered, ¡°Likewise.¡±
¡°I hear that a lot these days,¡± I said blandly, unsure what to make of the situation.
¡°You will be hearing a lot less of it, fret not.¡±
¡°I will try,¡± I told him honestly, taking a seat at the table following his cue, ¡°I was hoping to deliver my after action report directly to the Supreme Commander.¡±
¡°Your Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet is a subordinate formation of my Second Fleet Group,¡± Trench noted pointedly, ¡°As such, you will be reporting to me, as your commanding officer.¡±
¡°The Nineteenth Mobile Fleet¨C¡±
¡°Will be managed by Calli Trilm¡¯s second in command, should she be missing or dead.¡±
¡°Her second in command is also missing or dead,¡± I inserted myself again, more forcefully this time, ¡°And the Nineteenth Mobile Fleet has been transitorily absorbed into the Twenty-Eighth¡¯s operative structure.¡±
¡°...The Nineteenth has suffered enough losses to warrant such a severe action?¡±
¡°I believe so, sir,¡± I answered, ¡°As do the Nineteenth¡¯s ranking officers.¡±
Trench did not even hesitate to ponder the information, ¡°Then the Nineteenth will be subsumed by the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet until further notice. I will still be taking your report.¡±
I shared a wary glance with Diedrich, our attention lapsing for a brief moment as the Sullustan Dua Ningo entered the compartment with Jace Dallin in tow¨Cthe latter visibly nervous about something. Meeting the infamous Admiral Trench, perhaps? I doubt it¨CDallin was a combat veteran and survivor of the Stark Hyperspace War. More likely, he was nervous about meeting an enemy admiral in their home turf. He¡¯ll have to get over it, I mused internally, the Republic is his enemy now.
I eyed the man. But that remains to be seen.
¡°Take a seat,¡± Trench awarded them a passing look before settling back on me.
¡°Returning to our conversation, Admiral,¡± I continued after greeting the newcomers with a brisk nod, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we have to discuss the matter with Admiral Kirst first? As the Admiral of the First Fleet Group, he is the Nineteenth¡¯s CO.¡±
¡°Admiral Kirst is dead,¡± Trench said bluntly. The atmosphere in the room settled, as if someone had upped the internal pressure in the compartment, ¡°And the First Fleet Group has been decommissioned.¡±
¡°Decommissioned!?¡± Diedrich nearly shot out of his chair, ¡°The entire fleet has been destroyed!? The First commands over two-thousand warships!¡±
¡°The final remnants of which were destroyed in the Battle of Celanon,¡± Trench¡¯s testy voice forced Diedrich back down like an admonished dog, ¡°Along with Admiral Kirst himself.¡±
¡°...The Starcrusher should not fall so easily,¡± Dua Ningo¡¯s gravelly voice made his presence known, and I had to remind myself that the old Sullustan was one of two people in the room who knew Kirst personally, ¡°And Admiral Kirst is a capable individual, if blinded by hubris from time to time, as befits a Tionese native. Tell me, Trench: which Loyalist vermin killed him? A Jedi?¡±
There was an audible anger in Dua Ningo¡¯s voice, like an ireful disbelief than any Loyalist general could outsmart an admiral of the Confederacy¡ which, and I would hate to break it to him, was a more common occurrence than anyone in the CAF would like to admit. The Republic was slow to wake up, but they still had tens of thousands of years of martial tradition to fall back upon. The Confederacy had no such luxury, and had to foster its officer corps effectively from scratch.
¡°Kirst held on admirably, but suffered unavoidable losses defending against General Denn Wessex of the GAR Ninth Sector Army and General Vanko of the GAR Eighth Sector Army,¡± the Harch Admiral explained, ¡°What occurred next is unclear. As far as we know, he retreated to the Separatist stronghold of Celanon, seeking further reinforcement from Count Dooku¡¯s personal fleets under Admiral Pors Tonith and General Grievous.¡±
¡°We lost Celanon?¡± I asked tentatively.
¡°No,¡± Trench¡¯s fingers curled tighter around his cane, ¡°We don¡¯t know. Kirst¡¯s fleet was destroyed, but so were the Loyalists¡¯. Soon after Celanon, Admiral Pors Tonith lifted the sieges at Axxila and Vinsoth, launching a counteroffensive back up the Salin Corridor to Shaum Hii. Meanwhile, General Grievous has launched his first major operation of the war; an offensive down the Hydian Way. He has conquered the Quelli, Meerian, and Belmuth Sectors, including the worlds of Dathomir, Botajef, and Bandomeer. His fleets now threaten Taris and Mandalore.¡±
¡°...I have been updated by the status of the war by Admiral Bonteri,¡± Dua Ningo drew circles on the table with his finger, ¡°I take it you suspect foul play from Dooku¡¯s commanders?¡±
¡°That is hard to say,¡± Trench bluntly danced around the question, ¡°That bodes the question; who do you support, Dua Ningo?¡±
The Sullustan laughed bitterly, ¡°So you say, so you ask, without giving me the information I require to make my fair judgement, as if I would decide based on name alone! I know Dooku, but I know not our dear Supreme Commander¨Cforgive my prolonged absence. And I know that the Supreme Commander has overthrown the Separatist government.¡±
Diedrich, Dallin, and I were as quiet as wallflowers. In a debate between two old admirals, we felt no place to insert ourselves, for we would never be on equal footing. Despite Dua Ningo¡¯s diminutive form¨Cespecially compared to the great Harch¨Cthe Sullustan held himself to the same weight as Admiral Trench. It was a conversation between equals, and ever since joining the CAF, it was something I was rather unaccustomed to. True equals. Not just equal in rank, but equal in age and experience and simply, standing. Even Trench¡¯s meetings with Sev¡¯rance Tann didn¡¯t quite hold the same tension as this.
¡°Who I support is of no concern to me,¡± Dua Ningo¡¯s wandering finger curled into a hard fist, ¡°For my fate, as is the fate of every man in this compartment, depends on who you support. Who are you fighting for, Trench? What happened? Why, in a span of three months, did the Confederacy devolve from its greatest all-out offensive, to a bickering spit of a state? What has the Supreme Commander up in arms, to the point of overthrowing the government? What is conspired that is so dangerous we could not risk this conversation over secure military comms?¡±
I really couldn¡¯t say it better myself. I would have to dance and tiptoe to bring up the issue to Trench, especially if the Admiral was in no mood to humour anything of such, but a peer admiral like Dua Ningo had no qualms about cutting straight to the bone.
Trench rested a pair of arms on the table, rubbing his knuckles. His mandibles clicked in thought, a somewhat rhythmic chitter that filled the space like a ticking clock. The spider raked his six eyes over the four of us, and after what seemed like an age, finally leaned back, ready to divulge what he knew.
¡°What I know is limited,¡± he started by warning us, ¡°And rife with speculation. The Supreme Commander prefers to limit contact between the military and state, with herself acting as the solitary bridge between us. In her mind, the business of government is no business of the military.¡±
¡°The business of government is every business of the military!¡± Dua Ningo slammed his fist down. Even Jace Dallin looked appalled by Trench¡¯s statement, ¡°The military fights for the state! Who comprises the government? What are its goals? Who and what is the military fighting for!? With all due respect to the Supreme Commander, which half-brained nerf herder gave her the idea that war is but a particularly violent extension of politics, but politics nonetheless!?¡±
I internally winced. Unlike those of us who have grown familiar with the Pantoran¡¯s rather unique view on war and politics, Dua Ningo and Jace Dallin haven¡¯t yet been exposed to such. It was a dangerous position for us to be in for sure, with both officers losing confidence in the Supreme Commander by the ounce every passing second their fears weren''t alleviated.
¡°Believe me, I wish to know as well,¡± Trench did none of the sort, unfortunately, ¡°However, her strategy has done exceedingly well until now. Before her ascension, the Confederacy¡¯s war effort had been muddled and sabotaged by internal strife and frankly, politics. Her efforts in separating the two with the Militia Act had done miracles for the CAF. This, I must admit.¡±
¡°Then I would say she has gone too far,¡± Dua Ningo grumbled, ¡°Well, I do hope she isn¡¯t so foolhardy to fail to deliver an official statement on the matter?¡±
¡°She is not, thankfully,¡± Trench inclined his head, ¡°As her claim of the events put it; Count Dooku attempted to murder her in her suite whilst she was sojourning on Raxus Secundus attending senatorial affairs.¡±
The heavy atmosphere crashed down even harder following that proclamation, if it was even at all possible. A stifling silence gripped us, and I was only able to choke out: ¡°W-What?¡±
I knew Count Dooku was¡ twisted, by what ever dark side sorcery he had his fingers dipped in¨Cbut attempting something so tantamount to political suicide was beyond anything I could have imagined. Did he just¡ give up?
¡°Suffice to say,¡± Trench continued tartly, ¡°This was precisely Parliament¡¯s reaction to her claim.¡±
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
¡°S-She must have evidence, y-yes?¡± Diedrich stammered out.
¡°Recordings, both audio and visual,¡± the Harch confirmed, ¡°And she doubled down will all the Serenno Transmissions and even more evidence of systemic corruption. Every foul thing Dooku has done, she dug from its grave and handed it to the Parliament. To top it off, thousands of staffers¨Ceverybody in the Parliamentary Palace that day¨Cwitnessed Dooku and Tann duelling through its corridors. It was agreed, this was no mere friendly spar; both of them were out to kill.¡±
¡°Then the matter should be settled¨Ccut and dry¨Cshouldn¡¯t it¡?¡± I wondered, then caught onto Trench¡¯s final sentence, ¡°Wait¨C both of them were out to kill?¡±
The Harch Admiral nodded grimly, ¡°Both of them. I speculate that this is the primary issue of contention. First is the sheer unbelievability of the claim, even with everything the Supreme Commander has put forward. Accusations of foul play, forgery¨Cevery excuse and justification under the stars that you could imagine.¡±
Of course! I wanted to facepalm. Count Dooku was not only the Head of State, he was also a former Jedi¨Ca beacon of virtue!¨Cand the very founder of the Confederacy itself. He¡¯s had decades to build up his reputation and cause. By comparison, Sev¡¯rance Tann has only been a household name¨Cif even that¨Cfor little over a single year! It was like comparing an underground idol to a superstar.
I wanted to say that Tann could have acted with more tact, to say the least, but I feared that she had little other choice. Their duel on Raxus had been a very public affair, by Trench¡¯s rendition of events. If she had not acted immediately and decisively to press her version of events, she would have been ruined by Dooku¡¯s vastly superior PR legions. Dooku had effectively forced her into a corner¨Cand this was her only way out.
¡°And Dooku¡¯s Serenno Government accused the Supreme Commander of attempting to murder the Head of State during his visit, I would hazard,¡± I said, trying my damndest to resist rubbing my cheek.
¡°Precisely,¡± Trench agreed with my assessment, ¡°It is now Dooku¡¯s word against Tann¡¯s. Who tried to murder who?¡±
¡°But Tann seized the Raxus Government, which means Dooku lost?¡± Diedrich wondered.
I groaned out loud, surrendering any pretext of composure, ¡°Which only lends more credence to the Serenno Government¡¯s claims that the Supreme Commander was attempting to seize power by killing the Head of State. Because she did seize power.¡±
¡°Continue, Trench,¡± Dua Ningo grunted, shutting us down.
¡°Dooku escaped,¡± Trench supplied, clicking his¡ tongue, ¡°The Supreme Commander immediately convened the Parliament and Senate and presented all her claims and evidence, demanding an immediate impeachment and indictment of the Head of State, along with a warrant for his arrest. Parliament told her they would investigate, as they were in their rights to do, but the Supreme Commander was unwilling to allow Dooku to escape from the Tion Hegemony.¡±
¡°So she suspended Parliament with military force and declared martial law in the Hegemony, blocking all traffic in and out of the oversector,¡± I finished, ¡°Which leads us to where we are now.¡±
¡°I would like to have these documents,¡± Dua Ningo mused, ¡°If only for the entertainment value they provide.¡±
¡°You will have it,¡± Trench replied, ¡°She made it a public release.¡±
I nearly groaned again.
¡°Remember, much of this is merely my own speculation, based on my limited knowledge of the events and my personal appraisal of her character,¡± Trench warned, ¡°You will have access to all the relevant documents along with the official statements of both the Serenno Government and the Raxus Government¨Cor in other words the Office of the General.¡±
I released an aggrieved sigh instead. What was the most important factor in deciding the success of a coup, much less a civil war? Legitimacy. Legitimacy, legitimacy, legitimacy! On one side was the legitimate and lawful Head of State and his Serenno Government, and the other side was a usurping military general who had just publicly overthrown the rightful national government.
Fuck me! Assigning Calli Trilm to Operation Starlance was a grievous mistake.
Did Sev¡¯rance Tann just expect the Confederacy to bend over backwards once she provided them with concrete proof of Dooku¡¯s crimes? There was nothing concrete about proof in politics; maybe in a hundred, thousand years we would look back on this and realise the evidence was absolutely real and authentic¨Cbecause they were, mind you¨Cbut right now, with the Confederacy heated up and confused? Everything was in flux. People were neither logical nor sensible, and pulled between two sides like this most would simply choose who they trusted more.
Who would naturally be the Father of the Confederacy, Count Dooku.
Maybe we could rely on the species and races who actually were logical by biology, like the Givin and Siniteen, but they were few and far in between, and tantamount to a grain of sand on the galactic scale.
However¡ Sev¡¯rance Tann had one major thing going for her. Legitimacy means nothing if you didn¡¯t have the might to back it up.
¡°What¡¡± I raised my voice tentatively, ¡°What does the CAF think?¡±
In other words: what do you, Admiral Trench, think?
¡°The Supreme Commander commands the absolute obedience of the Confederate Armed Forces,¡± Admiral Trench straightened, ¡°Myself included. That is how she was able to bloodlessly occupy Raxus Secundus.¡±
I mentally pumped a fist. That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!
Finally, a silver lining. No, not just a silver lining. A silver fist.
¡°So am I right to say the reason legions of systems aren¡¯t seceding from Raxus en masse is because the CAF has them by the balls?¡± I raised an eyebrow.
¡°Not so crudely put, but you would be correct,¡± Trench must be tired of answering questions by now, but he was admirably patient, ¡°The CAF is the last line of defence between the Independent Systems and the Republic Grand Army. I have lent her my support, as had General Farstar and General Ambigene. With the two generalships and remaining admiralty under her belt, nobody outside the Serenno Government¡¯s sphere of influence could afford to estrange themselves from Raxus. Mostly.¡±
¡°With Kirst dead,¡± Dua Ningo stroked his hairless, wrinkly chin, ¡°I would hazard that the entirety of the Northern Territories have seceded to the Serenno Government.¡±
Trench crossed a pair of arms, which was enough to confirm the fellow Admiral¡¯s suspicion.
¡°And now Dooku¡¯s lieutenants are executing counteroffensives to liberate their losses as well,¡± Diedrich rested his elbows on the table, ¡°Where else? Who else has seceded, damn the CAF?¡±
¡°On the Home Front,¡± Trench trailed off, clearly taking a mental note of the names. Which was terrible news, the fact that he had a list in the first place, ¡°There is Felucia, Saleucami, and Charros. The Keldrath Sector has seceded as well.¡±
¡°Keldrath!¡± Diedrich gritted his teeth, ¡°That¡¯s a Tionese sector! They¡¯re part of the Tion Hegemony! And Felucia too!¡±
¡°The status of the Confederacy outside of the Near-Perlemian is still in the air,¡± the Harch continued, ¡°And we are still waiting for reports from Farstar and Ambigene.¡±
¡°Then it appears I have little choice but to support our Supreme Commander as well,¡± Dua Ningo clapped his hands, ¡°As evidently all of us here do¡ no, what of you, Captain Dallin? What is your decision?¡±
Jace Dallin was sweating, ¡°I would adhere to my homeworld¡¯s wishes¡ but I do not know which side of the Confederacy that is. And I harbour my own personal misgivings of fighting for a state that would so easily tear itself apart.¡±
¡°Should you support Raxus,¡± Admiral Trench told him simply, ¡°We will have your men put to work supporting our auxiliary forces. Rendili has much needed expertise that our shipyards desperately need. Should you support Serenno, or the Republic, then your ships will be interned, and your men will be put to work anyway.¡±
Dallin laughed, ¡°Elucidating. Very well, it seems there is an obvious choice, and as my homeworld is in no position to gainsay my decision, I must act to the benefit of those under my command. Promise me you will not so easily throw the lives of my men away, Admiral.¡±
¡°Your men and ships hold much more worth than that, Captain.¡±
¡°That, I believe you wholeheartedly.¡±
¡°Then what of us, Admiral?¡± I questioned.
¡°Admiral Ningo, I will petition the Supreme Commander to estate you as the new commanding officer of the First Fleet Group, with the Bulwark Fleet at its core. Is that agreeable?¡±
¡°Very much so.¡±
¡°I would ask that you provide your ships in need of repair, along with the schematics, to the Ringo Vinda Shipyards, so that we may begin a production line. Then you will provide yourself to Raxus Secundus so that you can meet the Supreme Commander in person.¡±
¡°Very well.¡±
¡°Captain Dallin, your fleet will remain here at Columex to be inspected, as well as to act in auxiliary capacities as I had described earlier. You will be placed under my command, and await further orders.¡±
¡°Understood, Admiral.¡±
¡°Finally,¡± Admiral Trench turned his six-eyed attention to Diedrich and I, ¡°Diedrich Greyshade will be promoted to Rear Admiral.¡±
¡°Ah,¡± the Columexi smiled, ¡°My old rank. I must admit, it is a welcome and familiar weight on my shoulders.¡±
He was referring to his previous rank of counter-admiral under the local Commonality forces, which he was stripped of following the Militia Act¡¯s standardisation of all military bodies in the Confederacy.
¡°Good to hear that,¡± something in Trench¡¯s organic eyes twinkled, ¡°Because you will be the new commanding officer of the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet.¡±
¡°...Pardon me, sir?¡±
I didn¡¯t know if it was me or Diedrich who said that.
¡°Because you, Rain Bonteri, are dead,¡± Trench levelled his gaze on me, ¡°And it cannot be made known that you are alive; this, I have made adamantly clear to Celis Mott. We must not allow your survival to leak.¡±
The gears spun in my brain, ¡°You mean to use me as a trump card.¡±
¡°Have you lost your touch?¡±
I thought back to Rendili. Maybe.
Then I thought even further back to Yag¡¯Dhul.
¡°I hope not,¡± was my answer.
¡°Good. Admiral Ningo, Captain Dallin, you may return to your vessels,¡± Trench looked at them, ¡°I pray that you remember what was said here today. Admiral Bonteri¡¯s survival must be kept secret as much as possible.¡±
¡°Of course, Admiral,¡± Jace Dallin saluted.
¡°Stay safe, you old spider,¡± Dua Ningo nodded grudgingly, ¡°You too, Bonteri.¡±
¡°Likewise,¡± I shook their hands.
Once they were out of the compartment, Trench turned to Diedrich and I with a certain severity in his eyes that made us sit up straight as a board, ¡°Now then, are you prepared to receive your new assignment, Admiral Bonteri?¡±
Admiral Bonteri. Something about the way I said it made me pause. I was, of course, Admiral Bonteri. It was a casual shorthand for the more mouthy Rear Admiral Bonteri, but usually the full rank would be read out when dealing with official matters such as orders and assignments.
¡°Admiral, sir?¡±
¡°Admiral Bonteri, did you know what Operation Starlance has done?¡± Trench dug into my soul.
¡°I consider it a success, sir.¡±
¡°As does the Supreme Commander,¡± Trench¡¯s open mandibles made a horrible facsimile of a grin, ¡°And as do I. Despite our losses in the north, here on the Home Front we have not only pushed the Loyalists back to Salvara, but we have pushed the Loyalists beyond Salvara. All the way to Roche. All the way to Phindar. Starlance has struck such a terror into the heart of the Core that it was enough to convince systems as major as Rendili to secede. Congratulations, Rain Bonteri, you¡¯re being made an Admiral. A full Admiral.¡±
My heart didn¡¯t know whether to soar or plunge.
¡°And the reward for success is even more work to be done,¡± Trench pressed on mercilessly, ¡°You have brought back to the Confederacy one warship that could turn the tide of the war, now we ask you to bring back another.¡±
I was still stunned when Trench threw a holoprojector onto the table. Blue rays of light burst out from the emitters, scanning a new warship into existence¨Cone I have never seen before. At the bottom I read in Aurebesh: Aggressor-class long-range artillery platform.
It was a design completely alien to the galaxy, and nothing that has preceded it looked similar to it in any capacity. In fact, it looked like it had jumped out of a completely different video game from my old homeworld. From a cursory look at the spinning projection, the Aggressor-class was a little over 1,600 metres long, shaped like a tuning fork with a four-pronged claw-like aft nesting eight sublight thrusters upon which sat a traditional Star Destroyer bridge with two shield generators.
What caught my attention was the ¡®tuning fork¡¯ part of the ship, which essentially consisted of two massive vertically-arranged prongs that jutted forward from the engine block, taking up two-thirds of the vessel¡¯s entire length. Looking at the projection from the front, however, I saw two open bores, and realised that two prongs were the largest ship-mounted artillery pieces I¡¯ve¨Cno, the galaxy has ever seen.
¡°This is the Aggressor-class battleship, designed by the Loronar Corporation and built by the Techno Union¨C¡± Trench introduced us to the brand new warship, ¡°¨Cright here in the Columex System. Its main battery are its dual spinal-mounted kilometre-long gravitic waveguns, capable of sniping a target from across the diameter of a star system. The Supreme Commander believes that even a single one of these can decide the outcome of a battle, and thus a war, and Columex is currently building two of them.¡±
This¡ so this was what the Loronar Corporation and Techno Union were up to? I knew the Loronar Corporation was known for their outlandish designs, but this¡ I recalled Gnifmark Dymurra¡¯s original prototype presented to me on Raxus, which appeared sort of like an interstellar catamaran. This was that catamaran flipped on its side, and improved so that the two prongs didn¡¯t facilitate one wavegun between the two of them, but instead were each their own waveguns.
¡°If¡ if these battleships are being built here in Columex,¡± Diedrich sounded like he couldn¡¯t decide whether he was elated or terrified that such weapons were being constructed on his homeworld, ¡°Then why can¡¯t we deploy them immediately? Are they unfinished?¡±
¡°We are indeed missing one final component that can only be sourced from one place in the entire galaxy; Gravlex Med,¡± Trench waved his hand, and a high-gravity planet replaced the vessel schematics, ¡°We have already contracted the Gravlex Launchworks to manufacture the parts for us. Unfortunately¡¡±
¡°Gravlex Med is in the New Territories¨Cthe heart of Serenno¡¯s sphere of influence,¡± I finished, internally lamenting my situation. Was this how Calli Trilm felt? I am certainly empathising with her now. There was a certain¡ exhaustion, that I felt, and it made me feel like a zombie, just mindlessly going along with whatever Trench was saying, without the energy to argue.
Gravlex Med. Engineering the Tann Railgun for the Battle of Columex, I couldn¡¯t help but research the world. Gravlex Med was an extremely high-gravity planet that prevented the local Anx from achieving interstellar flight. Their solution? Massive fuck-off cannons that fired their spaceships into orbit, and towards the nearby star systems. The Gravlex Launchworks were still manufacturing those cannons, both to launch their ships into space, but also for a different purpose; to fire the planet¡¯s accumulated trash into their sun.
Suffice to say, if there was any species capable of utilising gravity to build massive fucking cannons, it was the Anx of Gravlex Med.
¡°Make no mistake,¡± Trench advised us, ¡°The Aggressor-class are operational, and all field tests do indicate their the waveguns are working within parameters. These parts from Gravlex Med will, however, allow the waveguns to fire regularly without need for constant maintenance checks after every volley. We were intending on having the parts delivered here, but the secession of the New Territories has led to Gravlex Med being in the middle of enemy territory.¡±
¡°The mission is thus simple,¡± Trench slid me a datachip over the table, ¡°You will be put in command of an Aggressor-class battleship, and with the Givin fleet you have acquired from Yag¡¯Dhul, you will navigate to Gravlex Med and overhaul the Aggressor at the Launchworks. Then, you will return to us. Simple as that.¡±
I stared at the datachip, and beneath the table, clenched my fists until my nails left pink crescents in my flesh, ¡°Operation Starlance was simple. This is simple too? With all due respect, you expect me to take a half-working untested superweapon into the heart of enemy territory and sojourn there for stars know how long? Before just waltzing out without Count Dooku being any wiser?¡±
I shot to my feet, staring down the massive spider, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take your Second Fleet, Aggressors in tow, and smash your way to Gravlex Med! Reduce Serenno to ash while you¡¯re at it! The CAF is in your hands¨Cwhat does Dooku have that can even pose a threat to you!? Another stupid secret fleet!?¡±
Admiral Trench clicked his mandibles, ¡°Not Count Dooku. The Republlc. The reason Serenno was so easily able to take over the New Territories is because Raxus Secundus has never been able to exercise authority over the north. Phindar, Bonteri, our problem is Phindar. Fortress world Phindar.¡±
I shut my eyes in frustration, but I could understand what he meant. There was only one major hyperlane capable of facilitating the transit of massive fleets between the Perlemian and the Hydian Way, and that was the Salin Corridor. The very Salin Corridor that was straddled by the Loyalist fortress world Phindar. The Confederacy has been trying to overcome Phindar since the very start of the war, to connect its two disjointed territories. But Phindar held strong, even to this day, and refused to bend or break.
The only other route was taking a massive detour north through the Shaltin Tunnels, which led into the Republic-controlled Corporate Sector, or through the incredibly dangerous and hazardous maze-like Gordian Reach. Phindar was a massive wall preventing any military fleet crossing between the New Territories and Near-Perlemian¨Cwhich was what forced Admiral Kirst to turn to Dooku for reinforcements in the first place. Not even Trench could displace Phindar.
But a small task force, like the one Admiral Trench was proposing? And utilising the expertise of the Givin astrogators no less? We could bypass Phindar¡
¡°Is this the only way?¡± I gritted my teeth.
¡°We are now fighting a war on two fronts,¡± Trench told me, and I could tell he was being honest, ¡°We must use every superweapon we can get our hands on. Only you can pull this off, Bonteri, with all your experience, and with your ¡®death¡¯.¡±
¡°My ¡®experience¡¯ led my fleet into a death trap at Rendili!¡±
¡°Then don¡¯t do it again,¡± Trench simply told me, ¡°Right now, you are a ghost to both the Republic and the Confederacy. Ghosts can¡¯t die twice.¡±
¡°And Phindar?¡± Diedrich questioned, ¡°We are now fighting on two fronts, but if we can¡¯t get through Phindar¨C¡±
¡°The Supreme Commander has a plan for Phindar,¡± Trench interrupted him.
¡°Which is?¡±
¡°We try to convince the Republic to let us through.¡±
Chapter 79
Wroona Orbit, Wroona System
Harrin Sector
Scout once thought that the Battle Hydra would be the most terrible enemy she ever had to face, that the Grand Army of the Republic would ever have to face. The Warlord of the Perlemian who crushed fleet after fleet and Jedi after Jedi in his relentless advances across the height and breadth of the galaxy, in whichever direction the Pantoran pointed him towards. An¡ insurmountable challenge, it had seemed, to any Jedi tasked with putting a stop to his rampage.
Scout was now reevaluating her erroneous preconceptions.
Because the Battle Hydra¡¯s rampage had been put to a stop, by the combined efforts of Admiral Honor, Master Plo, and Master Kenobi, in the Rendili Star System. He was not¡ undefeatable.
But standing in the Battle Room of the battlecruiser Aurodia, the bloodthirsty crusade of the Tombmaker of Eriadu seemed utterly unstoppable. As Scout desperately hung on to every ticking, sweeping update across the innumerous holos and displays, that horrible sinking feeling only embedded itself deeper and deeper into her gut; Horn Ambigene did not know the definition of ¡®defeat¡¯.
¡°Commander A¡¯din to Wroona Command, can you hear me!?¡± Scout was hunched over a comms station, headset pressed against one ear, ¡°The Seps have launched another assault on Lohopa-Two. We¡¯re requesting urgent reinforcements!¡±
Scout clenched her teeth. Eight times now, the Tombmaker had hurled his forces against Yag¡¯Dhul, and eight times the Second Sector Army had thrown him back, each one more hard fought than the last. And yet here he was again, Horn Ambigene, pushing his relentless offensive up the Rimma Trade Route, unwilling to accept defeat, incapable of turning back.
There was a grim respect in Scout''s thoughts for the man¡¯s sheer tenacity, but the admiration was edged with wariness. Ambigene¡¯s utter disdain for the notion of defeat did not just border on recklessness, but was madness in of itself; he seemed to care little for the staggering cost in soldiers and ships, so long as his goal lay in reach.
¡°I hear you, Commander A¡¯din,¡± Scout checked her mental list, ¡°How many men do you need?¡±
¡°The Seventh Legion¡¯s thinned¨C¡± she was briefly deafened by the scream of atmospheric thrusters followed by a chain of rampaging explosions roaring out the headset, ¡°¨Csixty troopships to recoup our losses!¡±
Scout looked down at the comms officer, waiting attentively to record her orders, ¡°Seventh Legion in the Lohopa System requests sixty troopships¡ one million troopers.¡±
¡°Seventh Legion; Lohopa System; sixty full troopships,¡± the officer recited as he punched in the command, ¡°That makes three-hundred and seventy troopships today, sir. I¡¯ll run it by the Second Armada, but I wouldn¡¯t hold my breath.¡±
¡°Run it by them now. We¡¯ll try to redeploy some of the nearby reinforcements just in case,¡± Scout pointed at a holochart of the Harrin Trade Corridor before swivelling around to a nearby officer, ¡°Commander Fajinak, I need a status report on the Stobar System!¡±
Lieutenant Commander Fajinak¡¯s eyes darted towards her in surprise, before sharpening in attention. He did not need to consult any material to give his answer; ¡°The situation is tight, sir! We¡¯ve just sent sixty Acclamators and a million troopers to shore up its defences just in time! The Seps aren¡¯t letting us breathe.¡±
¡°So Ambigene¡¯s trying to outflank the Seventh Legion, just as we feared,¡± Scout nodded grimly, silently cursing herself for ever hoping the Tombmaker would relent on just one front of the campaign, ¡°Who¡¯s fighting there?¡±
¡°The Three-Twenty-Seventh Star Corp¡¯s Thirteenth Brigade, sir,¡± Fajinak answered easily.
¡°¨CReturn transmission from the Second Armada, Commander!¡± the comms officer suddenly alerted, prompting Fajinak to rush to their side.
¡°How many can they spare?¡± Scout braced herself for the answer.
¡°They only have three-hundred Acclamators left in reserve,¡± the comms officer squinted at the transcript, ¡°They¡¯re saying they¡¯ll try to procure and commandeer more troopships, but it¡¯ll be some time until then. General Ry¡¯Gaul is disallowing having proper warships be put on transport duty.¡±
Scout couldn¡¯t blame the Jedi General. If there was one thing they needed more than transports it was warships. Horn Ambigene had a frightful trigger finger, and a tendency to blow apart anything and anyone that would raise a modicum of obstruction. They must contest the Tombmaker¡¯s fleets above every planet they fought over, lest there wouldn¡¯t even be a planet left to fight over.
¡°Three-hundred is better than nothing,¡± Scout closed her eyes, visualising the campaign in her mind¡¯s eye, ¡°Chief, which fronts require reinforcements?¡±
The comms officer¡¯s gaze was fixed on his console as he rattled through requests, linking them to a starchart that flickered with dots and line;. "Lohopa-Two requests sixty troopships; Ord Vaug needs forty for the Three-Thirty-Second; General Skywalker¡¯s calling for a hundred at Vandelhelm in the south. We¡¯ve got an order for seventy more from General Ry-Gaul on Woostri, and General Aayla Secura is asking for fifty on Derra-Four."
He paused, scrolling further, "Pendarr-Three, Moorja, Xeron, Hythrope, Athallia¨Cthey¡¯re all calling for reinforcements. We¡¯ve already earmarked six-million men for deployment.¡±
Scout¡¯s gaze drifted to the starchart, now ablaze with the red indicators of active battlefields. Warzones and reinforcement lines crisscrossed the screen like arteries, pulsing as star sectors were carved up by vast, invisible trenches. Each arrowhead and border spoke to the strain on the Republic¡¯s lines, as if torn apart to answer the relentless fury of the Tombmaker¡¯s ninth assault. Eight times he had hurled himself Coreward, and eight times they¡¯d thrown him back. But this time, his assault stretched across so many fronts that the scale of it felt suffocating, larger than anything he¡¯d marshalled before.
¡°But we¡¯re lacking the ships to ferry them to the front,¡± Lieutenant Commander Fajinak grimaced, eyes tracing the lines on the holo, ¡°It doesn¡¯t help that the Tombmaker¡¯s a master at hit-and-fades and asymmetric warfare. Admiralty¡¯s reporting raids all across the Interior; at Roundtree, Arkam, Laertos, Beltrix-Three and Tomo-Reth. Rain Bonteri poked a hole in the Southern Core, and Horn Ambigene followed up to tear our asshole wide open¨Cexcuse my language, sir.¡±
¡°The Seps are bleeding us dry,¡± Scout murmured, silently wishing for the wisdom of Master Skywalker or Admiral Yularen to turn to¨Cright before mentally berating herself for even considering that. The General and Admiral had entrusted her and her staff to directing the war effort, even giving Scout her own command flagship¨CAurodia¨Cto that end. She must not betray the trust and authority they vested in her, ¡°And it doesn¡¯t help that Yag¡¯Dhul is somehow still being supplied.¡±
And supplying those raiders in turn. Yag¡¯Dhul was under siege¨Cresumed once the threat of the Hydra had evaporated with his fleets¨Cand yet the Givin showed no sign of ailment. In fact, the Mathematocracy was feeling healthy enough to launch their Wavecrests into the Southern Core to harass their supply lines in tandem with the Confederate Fourth Fleet. ¡®Conjuring resources from thin air¡¯ was how Octavian Grant described the phenomenon. Either they¡¯re arithmetic sorcery was more sorcerous than they had let on, or the Givin were in on some secret hyperlane from Force knows where. One was more likely than the other.
¡°What do you recommend, sir?¡± Fajinak turned to her, expectancy dripping from his tongue.
¡°...Pull sixteen brigades off Stobar and redeploy them to Lohopa-Two,¡± Scout ordered, ¡°Vandelhelm and Woostri must get their troops by any means necessary. Moorja will also get everything they ask for¨Cwe can¡¯t risk our western flank collapsing. Chief, hook a line to General Octavian Grant and request that he reinforces the Xeron System, as well as expand his patrols through Beltrix and Tomo-Reth.¡±
¡°What about Derra-Four and Ord Vaug?¡±
Scout dug her nails into her palms, willing the Force to flow through her, guiding her to the right direction. What should I do? She asked to the void, and received silence in return.
¡°Sir?¡± the comms officer asked, fingers hovering over the keys. Whatever she says, he would will into existence, guaranteeing the safety of millions¡ and guaranteeing the deaths of just as many.
¡°...We can¡¯t send any to Derra-Four,¡± Scout said through gritted teeth, ¡°It¡¯s too far-flung, too inconsequential to the front.¡±
¡°General Aayla Secura¡¯s fighting there,¡± Commander Fajinak reminded her, as if reminding her she was supposed to give preferential treatment to fellow Jedi, ¡°These ships could mean the life or death of her campaign in the Derra System.¡±
Scout snapped her head at the comms officer, ¡°Chief, send a priority transmission to the Sixteenth Sector Army. If Governor-General Coy needs the sight of me on my knees to send his armies to Derra-Four ASAP, tell him he¡¯ll have it.
¡°R-Right away, sir.¡±
¡°Inform as such to General Secura,¡± she continued, ¡°They¡¯ll have to hold on tight until we get an answer¨Cpreferably a favourable one. No other choice.¡±
¡°And Ord Vaug, sir?¡±
Ord Vaug¡ it¡¯s right off the Rimma Trade Route. If it falls, the flanks of the Rimma will be put in jeopardy. That¡¯s our main front.
¡°Send everything they need,¡± Scout finally decided, ¡°How many ships do we have left to send Commander A¡¯den?¡±
¡°...Twenty, sir.¡±
¡°With ten brigades from Stobar, we can fulfil half of his request,¡± Commander Fajinak murmured, ¡°It¡¯s better than nothing. However¡¡±
Scout patted the chief on his shoulder, signalling him to start sending the transmission, before bringing her attention to the first officer of the Aurodia¨C ¡°However¡?¡±
¡°We can consider sending those twenty ships to Stobar first,¡± the hologram fizzled as Fajinak ran his index finger down the arrow, ¡°Beat back the Seps there, then reroute all our forces on Stobar to bolster Lohopa. The question remains¨C¡±
¡°Can the Seventh Legion survive that long?¡± Scout nodded, already striding towards the simulations bay, ¡°Run the viability assessments. As soon as there¡¯s a clear projection, relay our decision to Commander A¡¯den. For now, let¡¯s get those reinforcements on their way to Lohopa.¡±
¡°Very good, sir!¡±
The Battle Room hummed with sudden activity, screens and holos shifting in real time as updates poured in, their changing hues igniting a shiver along Scout¡¯s arms. Red lines of the enemy¡¯s influence wove across the holomaps like voracious flames, carving through the Southern Core with a relentless wildfire with no firebreaks in sight. There were no clear boundaries anymore, just the sprawling spread of the Tombmaker¡¯s fleets as they ravaged across sector borders, pouring into neighbouring AOs and destabilising the front.
Fighting a man who refuses to taste defeat¡ªthat¡¯s one kind of military hell, Scout mused bitterly. But coordinating with the Sector Armies? That¡¯s another brand of bureaucratic hell entirely. Octavian Grant, for all his noble airs, was an ally she could stomach. They¡¯d fought together before, and she daresay knew he respected her, perhaps even shared in the bond of facing the Battle Hydra head-on. But the other Governor-Generals? Dealing with the others was nothing short of political purgatory.
They¡¯re my allies! She thought with a scowl. Why must I sacrifice more to them than to the enemy?
She forced herself into a meditative calm, summoning the Force like a balm over her fraying temper¨Ca more common occurrence these days than she¡¯d prefer to admit. Pride, she reminded herself, what I¡¯m sacrificing is only my pride. If there were any of it left to speak of. She now understood why General Skywalker disliked dealing with them. Good for him, pawning the work on me.
A chime drew her attention to her datapad. Another report¨Ccause for hope and distress all the same. Lurching from one disaster to another, one decision to another, making sacrifices here and there to maintain the overall integrity of the front. Scout opened up the report, hoping that some front or the other had freed up troops that could be redeployed to more urgent sectors. Or maybe good news from the shipyards of the Core Worlds, and new warships and transports had been procured for the southern front.
257th Legion on Gallapraxis requesting additional troops and close air support. 45th Armoured Battalion on Tregillis needs more medical supplies. 64th Shock Division on Alchenaut requests immediate evacuation.
Scout numbly forwarded the requests to the relevant stations, ¡°Lieutenant Commander, we need to evac our forces in the Alchenaut System. What¡¯s the closest redeployable fleet?¡±
Fajinak¡¯s eyes darted up from the simulations bay, ¡°Ord Vaug, sir.¡±
You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.
¡°Operations! How many ships do we need to get our men off Alchenaut?¡± Scout demanded.
¡°Thirty-two, sir!¡± the ops officer punched in some keys, ¡°Well¨Ctwenty-five if we can them in a little cramped up!¡±
¡°We¡¯ve only got seventeen at Ord Vaug,¡± Fajinak said, ¡°But we¡¯ve just confirmed the deployment for forty more transports there.¡±
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
¡°Operations, get those seventeen down to Alchenaut immediately,¡± Scout ordered hastily, ¡°Tell the Sixty-Fourth the rest are on their way!¡±
¡®It might be too late by then, though¡¯ was left unspoken. Scout didn¡¯t linger on that thought¨Cshe couldn¡¯t afford to for one, and she was by now far too comfortable with that line of thought for two.
¡°We¡¯ll need to pull off some escorts for them as well, especially capital ships,¡± the Lieutenant Commander warned, ¡°Alchenaut¡¯s a hot spot of Seppie activity, which I s¡¯pose is what has us on the run. Regardless, it¡¯ll rain in the Undercity before our transport touchdown without orbital cover.¡±
And if we pull warships off Ord Vaug¨C but we also can¡¯t leave half a million men to die on Alchenaut! What other fleets nearby from nearby¡? Alchenaut Sector¡ Nkllon System!
¡°Get those ships from the Nkllon System nearby,¡± Scout ordered, ¡°We¡¯re withdrawing from the Alchenaut Sector entirely, so we won¡¯t need them to hold to flank at Nkllon. They¡¯ll rendezvous in the black before inserting into Alchenaut.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll relay it to comms, sir.¡±
¡°Logistics,¡± trusting her second to it, she darted to the next station, ¡°Appropriate some medical frigates for Jurzan. They have escort priority! I¡¯ll leave the details to you.¡±
¡°But, sir¨Cwe¡¯ve already got frigates bound for Aviles Prime!¡± The officer¡¯s voice wavered, a pitch too high, his youth evident, almost as young as her¨C ¡°We¡¯re still waiting on ships to free up in the Jurzan System, and¨Cthere¡¯s nothing left to spare!¡± His words rushed out, barely coherent. ¡°I¡¯ve¡ I¡¯ve put in a request to RDPO, but we haven¡¯t received any response yet!¡±
Even in the cool dimness of the Battle Room, sweat glistened on his skin, casting a sheen under the faint blue glow of the holodisplays. His wide eyes were fixed on Scout, betraying the storm of dread beneath his attempt at professionalism. She could feel his pulse, his fear radiating from him like a beacon in the dark, unspoken but clear: it¡¯s my fault, it¡¯s my fault, it¡¯s my fault! His desperation was almost tangible, like a suffocating halo around him.
And he was on the edge, teetering dangerously close to a panic attack
¡°Calm down,¡± she urged, cursing the Republic Defense Procurement Office as a starchart flashed through her mind, ¡°Does Jurzan have priority?¡±
¡°I¨C I don¡¯t know sir!¡± he squeaked. Right, not his department.
Jurzan, Jurzan¡ there!
She narrowed her eyes, ¡°Recall the frigates from Jurzan and redeploy them to Tregillis; they have priority.¡±
¡°But Jurzan¨C!¡±
¡°They¡¯ll put in an evac request if it comes down to it,¡± Scout said, more forcefully than she¡¯d like, ¡°Just follow my orders. I¡¯ll take all responsibility.¡±
¡°Yes¡ yes sir,¡± the hesitation was painfully evident.
¡°Get me the logs for everything in deficit,¡± Scout said, drifting back to the comms bay like a vengeful wraith, ¡°I¡¯ll put in another request with RPDO.¡±
What the pfassk is going up there? The situation can¡¯t be any worse than it is down here. She swore, taking a cursory glance at all the negative red numbers transmitted to her datapad. I¡¯ll have to use General Skywalker¡¯s transmission code to get them to listen to me.
?
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
¡°We¡¯ve gathered here today to discuss the projection of our war effort moving forward,¡± Supreme Chancellor Palpatine announced to the gathered Military Advisory Council, ¡°Concerning the volatile situation in Separatist space.¡±
Volatile situation is one way to put it, Adi Gallia thought wryly. Sev¡¯rance Tann had pulled the cord, just as Rain Bonteri said she would. But it was too early¨Cfar too early¨Cfor her Jedi conspiracy to exploit fully. In fact, the timing was so soon it was even detrimental to their cause. Not that Adi Gallia ever believed the stars would align and the universe would bend backwards for them.
¡°Well, I don¡¯t see any reason to change our course of action,¡± Senator Jannie Ha¡¯Nook commented snidely, ¡°The Separatists are tearing themselves apart. Good riddance. I say take advantage of their rampant idiocy, punch through and take both Raxus and Serenno!¡±
Her words may have received greater reception in the vast audience of the Strategic Planning Amphitheatre, but unfortunately the Amphitheatre was in ruins, reduced to rubble by the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s Attack on Coruscant. In the smaller, more conservative atmosphere of the Advisory Council, Senator Ha¡¯Nook demagogic tirade found little purchase.
¡°With what ships, Senator?¡± General Kohl Seerdon sneered, ¡°We just lost the Battle of Celanon, leaving two sector fleets crippled in the process. The Eighth and Ninth Sector Armies are on the backfoot, and with our Reserve Armadas either garrisoning the Interior or deployed to other fronts, we hardly have the resources to make a concerted push to either Raxus or Serenno, let alone both.¡±
¡°Are you suggesting we let the Separatists get away¨C!?¡±
¡°Hardly,¡± the Governor-General of the 3rd Sector Army retorted preemptively, ¡°I agree with you that this is an advantageous situation that we must seize without hesitation. With the Separatist strength halved between the two governments, we simply must identify the more threatening faction and focus our efforts on them.¡±
¡°More threatening,¡± Director of Republic Intelligence Armand Isard commented, ¡°Or weaker.¡±
What a surprising admission from Isard. Adi Gallia would¡¯ve thought he was one of the warhawk types¡ but it appears he was just ambitious. As long as he continues climbing the ladder, he wouldn¡¯t care about the state of the galaxy, whether the Republic comes out on top or not¨Cso long as he comes out on top at the end of it all. It was a clear distinction she had to ingrain in all of her Jedi operatives; the difference between warhawks and militarists. Kohl Seerdon was a fine militarist, but he was no warhawk. It just so happens that the influence of the GAR depends on an ongoing war most of the time. The same applies to Armand Isard.
Chancellor Palpatine steepled his fingers together, levelling a purposeful glance at the observers on the Council, ¡°I¡¯d like to hear your wise opinion on this matter, Master Jedi.¡±
She was just as surprised by Palpatine¡¯s invitation to one of his secretive Military Advisory Council conferences in the first place, usually populated by only his most hardcore loyalists and yesmen. The Jedi had never been privy to such Council, but now they were, and this was the first time. Of course, Adi Gallia had a responsibility to attend all these political and diplomatic summits, but an invitation sent to the Jedi Order could only be an invitation for one individual in particular; Master Yoda.
¡°Count Dooku, we must bring to justice,¡± Master Yoda tapped his cane against the floor, ¡°The legitimate Separatist government, he represents.¡±
Master Yoda¡¯s low, gravelly voice was a great departure from the loud, shrill voices that Adi Gallia could only presume dominated the Advisory Council during its routine sessions.
¡°Not Raxus Secundus?¡± General Kohl Seerdon leaned forward onto the table, visibly interested.
¡°The ¡®rightful¡¯ Raxus Government was overthrown by Separatist Supreme Commander,¡± Armand Isard noted dispassionately, ¡°It is Sev¡¯rance Tann in control of the Raxus Government now. Our field agents report thousands of Separatist worlds torn between Raxus and Serenno¡ the only reason they do not mindlessly flock to Count Dooku¡¯s banner is because Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s CAF is the only thing between them and our Grand Army.¡±
¡°And because Serenno¡¯s influence does not extend past the New Territories, surely,¡± Chancellor Palpatine pointed out.
¡°That as well,¡± the Director tilted his head towards Palpatine, ¡°But it is still something we can exploit.¡±
¡°Then that begs the question, which side should we level our forces against?¡± the Chancellor mused.
It was a strikingly fascinating thing to the Jedi Master, how this tiny Advisory Council of a dozen individuals were the true puppetmasters of the war, in more ways than one. Every major decision of the Grand Army of the Republic¨Cdecisions that influenced entire campaigns and operations¨Cwere made here, in an insignificant boardroom far away from the military arcology of the GAR or Admiralty of the Republic Navy. Everything that ever transpired in the Strategic Planning Theatre, all the arguments and debates and strategies and planning, all of it was just that: theatre.
However named the place, if they were in the know, must¡¯ve had a very sardonic sense of humour.
¡°I believe the answer is of no debate, Chancellor,¡± Kohl Seerdon said confidently, as if his opinion is the only one that mattered, ¡°We must focus our attention on Count Dooku and his Serenno Government, and avenge our defeat at Celanon.¡±
¡°In agreement, I am,¡± Master Yoda nodded sagely, ¡°Started the war, Count Dooku had. Pay for his crimes, he must.¡±
¡°But it was the Pantoran who prosecuted the war in his place,¡± Speaker Mas Amedda said, ¡°Why must she be free from her crimes, just because of a violent disagreement she has had with her master?¡±
¡°I agree,¡± Senator Ha¡¯Nook clenched her fists, ¡°Both must be punished.¡±
¡°But we must be realistic, Senator,¡± the Governor-General scolded the Senator, ¡°Once we defeat one faction, we can turn our attention to the other.¡±
¡°That is also an option,¡± Armand Isard allowed.
¡°Oh?¡± General Seerdon raised an eyebrow, ¡°Had you another intention in mind, Director?¡±
¡°I concur that Count Dooku is the target we must prioritise, but for a different reason,¡± the Director of Republic Intelligence laid his files on the table, ¡°And that is because he is an idealist. The Separatist State was built on the foundations laid by his demagogy and rhetoric. He will never consider a peace with the Republic. By comparison, Sev¡¯rance Tann is a rationalist, and not a Separatist by heart. She is in an unstable position, presiding over a fragile state held together by force of arms alone. She will also want to eliminate her only political rival and claimant to her government above all else: Count Dooku.¡±
Adi Gallia couldn¡¯t have imagined being surprised three times on the same day, but it seems Armand Isard was also a man full of surprises, ¡°You intend on making peace with Sev¡¯rance Tann?¡±
¡°A ceasefire, if nothing else,¡± Isard met her gaze head on, ¡°I imagine Sev¡¯rance Tann will be open to such an idea. Our agents have reported across the Separatist frontier, as the Droid Armies are split between their loyalties to Serenno and to their local CAF commanders. She is seeking to stabilise the situation; a ceasefire will provide just that.¡±
¡°How will you sell this to the Senate?¡± Senator Ha¡¯Nook demanded, ¡°This is outrageous!¡±
¡°There are factions in the Senate open to another ceasefire agreement,¡± Mas Amedda informed them regretfully, as if the very idea was blasphemous in of itself, ¡°Following the Crisis in the Core¡ the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s speeches can only arouse so much lust for vengeance and justice. Vengeance is one thing, but there is also exhaustion. War exhaustion. For every senator moved to fury, there is another tiring of the war. They want to return to their conveniences, their luxuries, unfettered by travel bans and heightened security in all things.¡±
¡°Mon Mothma¡¯s cowardly pro-peace faction,¡± the Senator sneered, ¡°Haven¡¯t we learned once that the Separatists cannot be trusted?¡±
¡°Count Dooku¡¯s Separatists can¡¯t be trusted,¡± Master Gallia corrected gently, ¡°Because just as Director Isard so kindly educated us, he is an idealist demagogue through and through. Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s Separatists are not so keen on destroying the Republic as they are trying to shore up their own country following the coup.¡±
¡°Furthermore, we can destabilise the Raxus Government even more,¡± Armand Isard inclined his head in gratitude to her, ¡°Exploiting the already precarious position of her military junta. We may be able to lure the Independent Systems back into the Republic without firing a shot at the CAF.¡±
¡°I am inclined to agree with your assessment¡¡± Chancellor Palpatine leaned into his high-backed chair, rubbing his knuckles, ¡°Well then, I propose we engage in under-the-table preliminary ceasefire talks with the Raxus Government in order to turn our attention on our common enemy in Count Dooku. Are there any objections?¡±
The military officers in attendance all fell in lockstep with Kohl Seerdon, as did the intelligence chiefs with Armand Isard. This left Jannie Ha¡¯Nook¡¯s warhawk political faction outnumbered. As for Yoda and Gallia, they were only observers, and content to wait out the heavily one-sided vote.
¡°Then that decides that,¡± the Supreme Chancellor clapped his hands together in satisfaction, ¡°Now then, let us consider which fleets we will dispatch to Serenno.¡±
A sinking feeling began to gather in Adi Gallia¡¯s gut at those words, like a whirlpool of stomach acid growing in size and intensity until it was a maelstrom. A whirlpool all the more fueled by General Seerdon¡¯s next words;
¡°I think the answer is quite obvious, Chancellor,¡± the General smiled at the Jedi, as if he was doing them a favour, ¡°Who better to lead the expeditionary force against the traitor Jedi than the Jedi themselves?¡±
The worst part about it? Gallia could feel that Seerdon was being completely honest, and that those were his true thoughts. Not just that, but she had a feeling that should the entire Jedi High Council be in attendance right then, the vast majority of them would also jump at the chance of the Jedi leading the expeditionary force. After all, it was justice served¨Cand it was justice a long time overdue.
But not Adi Gallia. The Tholothian was hanging on the edge of every sentence as if it was a precipice, dreading the next words to come after. The reason? The Jedi were currently sweeping through every nook and cranny of the Works. That Temple technician, Heezo, was nothing more than a messenger who left his dead drops in the Works. The Works. A massive, utterly immense manufacturing district on Coruscant, once capable of rivalling entire planets, now left entirely abandoned as companies were driven elsewhere by rising costs and cheaper off-world alternatives.
It was the perfect place for a secret hideout. Something that innumerous criminal and smuggler gangs were well aware of, considering how many underworld kingpins and warlords called the place their home. It would take weeks to comb the place up and down, for they did not have an exact address¨Cof course the Sith Lord wouldn¡¯t be so careless. So now they were forced to search every hidden corner and shadow in search for any trace of their Sith Lord¡ despite the fact that the very Sith Lord was sitting right in front of them.
Despite the fact that the very Sith Lord sitting in front of them had likely designed the scenario to proceed exactly as it was now.
¡°I concur,¡± Armand Isard said, ¡°It is not only politically sound, but militarily as well. With many of the Jedi all recalled to Coruscant to restore order during the Crisis in the Core, we now may have the single largest combined Jedi fleet in the galaxy in one place¡ excluding the Open Circle Fleet, of course. Being the only major fleet element in the GAR not occupied by one front or another, this is one of the only forces we have to quickly redeploy to the New Territories.¡±
¡°We are currently occupied by an investigation in Works as well, Chancellor,¡± Adi Gallia stared into Palpatine¡¯s eyes, ¡°So this Jedi Expeditionary Fleet may be more limited than we would have liked.¡±
¡°Surely not all the Jedi are preoccupied, Master Jedi?¡± the Chancellor¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement, ¡°And besides, you are tracking down a heinous criminal to the Republic. I am certain that however many Jedi agents you must recall for the Expeditionary Fleet, Republic Intelligence would be more than happy to replace.¡±
¡°It is so,¡± Armand Isard readily backed the Chancellor up like the yesman he was, ¡°It is likely that this Sith Lord is the very same mastermind behind the satellite terrorist attack and Underworld Separatist uprising. Any resources you need to appropriate for this effort, Republic Intelligence will procure it.¡±
Master Gallia bristled, ¡°We are speaking of a Sith Lord, Director. While the word may mean nothing to you¨C¡±
¡°Convene, the High Council will,¡± Master Yoda interjected, ¡°A favourable answer, hopefully we will have for you.¡±
¡°Perfect,¡± the Supreme Chancellor never even for a second left their deadlock to look at Master Yoda, keeping his eyes fixed on Master Gallia, ¡°That is all I request from you, Master Jedi. Thank you for your time.¡±
His words dripped with a mocking honey, like dangling a piece of meat before a hound knowing it could not bite. With the tactful dismissal, Master Yoda hopped off his seat and made for the door, gesturing for Master Gallia to follow him.
As soon as they were in the corridor, Master Yoda told her, ¡°Carefully, we must tread. Knows that we do, he does. Knows that he does, we do. A game of cat and mouse, we play, where the cat is the mouse and the mouse is the cat.¡±
¡°I understand, Master,¡± Gallia sighed in frustration, raising a Force bubble around them, ¡°But we can hardly underestimate the Sith Lord¡¯s powers. We need as many combat-capable Jedi on Coruscant as possible.¡±
Master Yoda was silent for a while¡ then¨C ¡°Answer me, you will not.¡±
He paused.
¡°The Sith Lord, the Chancellor is.¡±
Jedi Master Adi Gallia did not answer. The only answer to his question were their muffled footsteps filling the carpeted hallway.
¡°Hmm,¡± the Grand Master hummed thoughtfully, ¡°Remain on Coruscant, I will. Continue the investigation, you will. Expose the Sith Lord, we must.¡±
Chapter 80
Wroona Orbit, Wroona System
Harrin Sector
¡°Commander¡¡± Lieutenant Commander Fajinak¡¯s voice stirred Scout awake, the young Jedi feeling the distinct coolness of polished metal on her cheek as she pulled herself upright, ¡°We¡¯ve got an urgent transmission from Jurzan.¡±
Scout rubbed her eyes, grit scraping against her lids as she forced them open again, blinking back the haze of fatigue. She had half the mind to be ashamed of so blatantly falling asleep in the Battle Room¨Cand being woken by her XO, no less!¨Cbut she could tell Fajinak could hardly care. His words slowly registered in her mind as she captured enough of her wits to prevent her first words being slurred. The background hum of electronics and holotech settled into her bones, like a slow-burning simmer that brought life back to her body.
Just one more sector to review, she initially thought, just another set of troop movements to confirm probably.
But it was the name of the world that jolted her to full attention, like a pike through her skull.
Jurzan¡ that sounds familiar.
Commander Fajinak took her sudden alertness as his cue to continue; ¡°The Hundred-Thirty-Eighth Armoured Corps is requesting an immediate extraction.¡±
¡°Do they lack the troopships?¡± Scout squinted, frowning at her console.
¡°They¡¯ve been stranded for some time, sir,¡± Fajinak shifted, hawkish eyes analysing her response, ¡°We had ordered some blockade runners to relieve them with much needed medical supplies, but the frigates were urgently redeployed to Tregillis due to the higher priority of the sector.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± she replied dumbly, ¡°There¡¯s thirty-two Acclamators in the Hythrope System nearby. Can we redeploy them to Jurzan?¡±
¡°...Hythrope is being evacuated as well, sir. The order had been issued two days ago.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
The air in the Battle Room felt thick, tinged with stale sweat and the sour stench of too many unwashed bodies forced to coexist in the same space for days on end. Scout was running on stimulants and sheer grit, her skin clammy under her too-tightly wrapped robes, her vision flickering at the edges from exhaustion. Around her, officers leaned over consoles, heads bowed, mumbling instructions in low, weary voices. Her staff was in no better condition than she was; hollow-eyed, backs hunched as they typed and swiped and relayed orders that seemed to vanish into the air. There was a sense of¡ not hopelessness¡ more like futility hanging like a shroud above them. As if their efforts were nothing more than feeble gestures of resistance against the vast shadow of the Separatist war machine.
No one had slept. Not really. Maybe they''d caught a few hours with every changing shift, but even then, the vibrations from incoming transmissions were a constant reminder of the battle at hand, rattling their nerves with constant demands for reinforcements, reports of enemy movements, desperate pleas for relief. Each watch, each request bled into the next, an endless litany of needs they could barely meet, wearing away at the semblance of control they clung to.
Aurodia was a ghost ship, crewed by ghouls and spectres. The command nexus presiding over the Near-Rimma AO was a vast and complex structure, a living net of information spanning thousands of light-years, connecting battlefields with strategic command nodes, entangling local data points with the pulse of larger objectives. Aurodia was one of those nodes, overseeing the dozen other command vessels that drifted in her shadow in the Wroona System, each one tasked with supervising their assigned star systems.
It was Aurodia who translated their localised webs into something whole, pushing the flood of intelligence Coreward to the headquarters of the 20th Sector Army on Tallaan. Aurodia was the middle-management between the greater strategic impulses of the Sector Army and the local tactical practicalities of her satellite commands. Despite fully understanding the severity of her duties, she still wished she could be anywhere else¨Ceven on the battlefields of Vandelhelm!
¡°Well¡¡± Scout pushed herself to her feet, the blue-scanned light of the holoprojection table burning into her retinas, ¡°Are there any other nearby task forces we can send to relieve Jurzan?¡±
¡°Mikaster, Genisaria, and¡ here,¡± Fajinak pointed, briefly hesitating as a new icon blinked into view, red and ominous against the starfield projection, ¡°Here as well, in the Pelonat System. But we¡¯re seeing increased Separatist pressure across the entire eastern flank. It wouldn¡¯t be safe to deprive these battlefields of their orbital support.¡±
As if prophesied by his words, a red alert blipped into existence on the starchart, flagged up by a satellite command vessel. A messenger materialised at the holotable within moments, bringing her the transcript from the comms bay.
¡°The Separatists have launched an all-out planetary assault on Lohopa-Two, sir,¡± the messenger passed her the transcript, ¡°Boeus Command recommends withdrawing from the Jurzan and Hythrope salients to tighten the front.¡±
She stared at it, her tired mind scrambling to process, as a low murmur started rippling through the room.
¡°An isolated offensive on Lohopa doesn¡¯t sound like the Tombmaker,¡± Commander Fajinak told her, ¡°We must assume that this is it.¡±
Scout¡¯s pulse quickened as more alerts began appearing, from a slow trickle to a mass, spreading across their eastern flank on the Harrin Trade Corridor like an infectious rash. The Battle Room buzzed with activity, as officers and staffers came alive from their fugue as anxiety and panic set in.
¡°Only the Harrin Corridor?¡± Scout¡¯s voice was eerily calm, instilling a sense of stoic tension in the room and overpowered the rising panic, ¡°Can we confirm with General Ry-Gaul and General Skywalker that they aren¡¯t seeing any unusually large Separatist activity?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll secure a line to Vandelhelm at once, Commander,¡± the messenger nearly tripped over his own feet in his haste to the comms bay.
Lieutenant Commander Fajinak was staring at her intensely, ¡°Commander sir, if the offensive is only on the Harrin Corridor as you suspect¨C¡±
¡°Then it means even Horn Ambigene is feeling his losses,¡± Scout nodded, her fist clutching around that little glimmer of hope, ¡°His callous disregard for losses has come to bite him back.¡±
And it means we made a mistake, Scout thought, that I made a mistake. I sent the vast majority of our available reserves to Vandelhelm and Wroona on the Rimma Trade Route, anticipating the main Separatist offensive to materialise there.
¡°We need to commit everything to the Harrin,¡± Fajinak said decisively, ¡°Stop the Tombmaker in his tracks at Lohopa.¡±
He was watching her, judging her. The Lieutenant Commander deferred to her on matters of command because she was a Jedi, but their ranks were of equal value, and his age far overshadows her¡¯s. He was as much her second as he was her custodian, and Scout knew, should she falter for even a moment, the Lieutenant Commander was well within his rights to veto her orders and take control. Scout¡¯s authority was built upon her status as a Jedi, and her relationship with General Skywalker. Fajinak and his officers¨Cthey respected that status so far, but Scout had to maintain that respect nevertheless.
Scout held down the intercom, ¡°Operations, issue a withdrawal for all forces in the Hythrope and Jurzan salients. We are consolidating our front in the Lohopa System. Authorise all required task forces required to evacuate our armies.¡±
¡°Acknowledged, Commander¨C¡±
[ATHALLIA HQ] REQUESTING IMMEDIATE REINFORCEMENTS¡ªENEMY FORCES BREACHED PLANETARY DEFENCES; CIVILIAN EVACUATION INCOMPLETE.
An urgent transmission from Athallia caught her attention, with the news that reinforcements have already been authorised by the relevant station.
[ARMATH HQ] HEAVY CASUALTIES REPORTED; REMAINING FORCES ARE HOLDING PERIMETER BUT URGENTLY NEED SUPPORT TO PREVENT COLLAPSE.
But before she could even catch her breath, her console chimed yet again, somehow with increasing urgency. This time, there weren¡¯t any available units on hand to redeploy, and the local command centre was seeking advice¨C
[MIKASTER HQ] SEPARATIST BOMBARDMENT ONGOING; POPULATION CENTERS AT RISK¡ªREQUESTING EVACUATION CORRIDORS FOR NON-COMBATANTS.
[DERRA HQ] MULTIPLE ENEMY DIVISIONS CONVERGING; LAST LINE OF DEFENCE COLLAPSING¡ªURGENT REINFORCEMENTS OR FULL EVAC NEEDED IMMEDIATELY.
She didn¡¯t even have time to answer. Another transmission was forwarded to her station, then another, and another. A trifling number at first, but as if following in the wake of the alerts, soon pouring in with the wrath of a storm as hundreds of battlefields soon came under the fire of the Separatist offensive.
[ATRAKUS HQ] SUPPLIES RUNNING CRITICALLY LOW; WE CAN''T HOLD FOR MORE THAN THREE SYSTEM DAYS WITHOUT RESUPPLY OR EXTRACTION.
[PELOMAT HQ] GROUND FORCES OUTNUMBERED; NEED AERIAL SUPPORT AND ORDNANCE DROPS, OR WE RISK TOTAL LOSS OF DEFENCES.
[AVILES PRIME HQ] ARTILLERY UNITS OVERRUN; REQUESTING EXTRACTION AND REDEPLOYMENT TO SAFER SECTORS.
Frantic messages poured through the din, a steady stream of urgent updates that began to overlap, voices merging into a panicked cacophony. The compartment buzzed with the frantic pace of fresh alerts¨Cand responses; each one detailing more deployments, more fleets, more worlds falling under the weight of invasion. She could feel the tension coiling tighter, escalating from the sluggish, dull exhaustion of days gone without sleep into something sharp, bristling and electric.
[GALLAPRAXIS HQ] SEPARATIST GROUND ASSAULT INTENSIFYING; CASUALTIES MOUNTING¡ªNEED IMMEDIATE EVAC FOR INJURED AND VULNERABLE.
[HYTHROPE HQ] PERIMETER DEFENCES FALLING BACK; ADDITIONAL ARMOUR AND INFANTRY REQUESTED TO PREVENT ENEMY BREACH.
[OOLIDI HQ] RESOURCE SHORTAGES CRITICAL; FRONTLINE FORCES LOSING MORALE¡ªREINFORCEMENTS REQUIRED TO STABILISE POSITIONS.
[GENISERIA HQ] ENEMY FLEETS MASSING ON SYSTEM OUTSKIRTS; NEED REINFORCEMENTS TO SECURE TRADE ROUTES AND PREVENT SIEGE.
[EDAN HQ] PLANETARY SHIELDS FAILING UNDER SUSTAINED FIRE; EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY.
Lieutenant Commander Fajinak looked to her, face set grim, and she knew they had nothing left to send. She swallowed down the acidic taste of helplessness down her throat, and showed none of it on her face.
¡°Lieutenant Commander,¡± Jedi Commander Esterhazy¡¯s voice a frigid cold, her eyes reflecting hundreds of incoming reports, ¡°Inform our troops on Jurzan that no help will be coming. Independent action has been authorised, and they are allowed to surrender or fight at their own discretion. We do not have the resources to spare.¡±
¡°...Very well, sir.¡±
How many lives of the 338th Armoured Corps and other units fighting on Jurzan had she just written off? She didn¡¯t dwell on the thought, waving it farewell with the vague hope that the Separatist commander on the planet was more sympathetic than their General.
¡°General Skywalker¡¯s on the comms, Commander!¡± a comms officer announced.
Commander Esterhazy¡¯s fist immediately slammed down on the push¨C ¡°General Skywalker, this is Wroona Command. I need a status report of your front on Vandelhelm!¡±
¡°Wroona Command,¡± Skywalker¡¯s cadence was rock solid, ¡°We are engaged in a stalemate with the Separatist forces on the planet. Little progress has been made on either side.¡±
Scout shared a look with her XO, ¡°Acknowledged, General Skywalker. It appears the Confederate Fourth Fleet have launched their ninth all-out attack at Wroona. The central vector of their offensive is focused Coreward of the Harrin Trade Corridor. Over a dozen contested systems are threatened by the invasion. We must shorten the front.¡±
¡°...Is that your honest evaluation of the situation, Commander?¡± there was a ghastly wind howling in the background, punctuated by distant explosions.
Commander Esterhazy swallowed thickly, ¡°It is. We need to liquidate any salients that endanger the structural integrity of the front. The Separatists are running out of resources too¨Cthat is why they are only attacking along the Harrin Corridor. They need us overextended to advance.¡±
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¡°Then where will you have us, Commander?¡±
She breathed out, ¡°The Five-Oh-First Legion will be redeployed to the Lohopa System one thousand parsecs east of Vandelhelm. This is where we must stop the Separatists.¡±
¡°Clone Commander A¡¯din¡¯s Seventh Legion holds Lohopa-Two,¡± General Skywalker recognised
¡°It is the only world fortified enough to halt the Separatist advance,¡± she explained.
¡°So you have decided to liquidate the Jurzan and Hythrope salients,¡± General Skywalker murmured, and Scout involuntarily tensed at her Master¡¯s incoming judgement, ¡°...Sounds good to me. I will inform General Ry-Gaul of the development. Demand more warships from General Grant and reinforce your position at Wroona; Lohopa-Two is no fortress world, and an invasion fleet or two slipping to Wroona is a foregone conclusion.¡±
¡°Understood, General.¡±
She could see it unfolding now, the slow-motion horror of a coordinated assault reaching across the map in blood-red tendrils. Her hands shook slightly as she leaned forward, bracing against the holotable to study the flashing icons, her mind in a race against the advancing Separatist warfleets. Commander Esterhazy has lived this life eight times before; each sector falling back leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill, each plea for aid was a reminder of the enemies bearing down upon her, tightening like a vice around Wroona.
¡°General Secura is also fighting on Derra-Four, maintaining the Mikaster salient,¡± he continued, ¡°Have her withdraw her forces to Lohopa and rendezvous with me there.¡±
¡°Understood, General,¡± the Jedi Commander pressed her palms down on the edges of the holotable to anchor herself, looking towards her second. ¡°Contact General Secura now!¡± she hissed.
¡°We can¡¯t!¡± Fajinak hissed back, cajoling a nearby comms chief for an answer, ¡°Derra Command isn¡¯t responding!¡±
Scout felt her stomach twist. Derra IV is too far out, and the Mikaster salient is too overextended. The closest allied armies are at Armath and Atrakus, and both are already holding on a knife¡¯s edge as it is.
¡°Can we directly contact General Secura¡¯s forward base?¡± Commander Esterhazy demanded, ¡°What about Marshal Commander Bly!?¡±
She felt the need to keep her hands moving even as she waited for a response. Requests to evacuate poured in from every sector, every channel buzzing with demands they couldn¡¯t possibly meet, but her hands kept moving, issuing orders, redirecting what scant forces remained. Her team moved with her, but their voices were fractured, panicked, even in the crisp efficiency of military jargon.
¡°We managed to get a connection through to Commander Bly!¡± the comms chief suddenly shouted out, and her heart leapt, ¡°Commander¨C!¡±
¡°¨CIs this Wroona Command?¡± despite sharing the same voice as every other clone trooper, Commander Bly¡¯s voice was hardly recognisable, raw and scratchy through the comms.
¡°This is,¡± Scout answered hastily, ¡°Marshal Commander Bly, this situation on Derra¨C¡±
¡°...Derra-Four has been lost,¡± the Marshal Commander¡¯s words came down like a sledgehammer, ¡°Reinforcements from the Sixteenth Sector Army never came.¡±
¡°General Secura¨C¡±
¡°¨CSir,¡± Commander Fajinak whispered to her, ¡°We¡¯re getting a visual transmission from his end. Should we put it on the holo?¡±
Scout froze.
But ultimately decided; ¡°Do it.¡±
Fajinak nodded cautiously, and forwarded the transmission into the holoprojection table. Upon reading it, the projection zoomed in on the Derra System, opening a new window with a holorecording captured within it. It was from the viewpoint of a warship escaping towards Derra IV¡¯s hyperlane egress¨Can Acclamator-class assault ship from the transponder code. There were sixteen more Acclamators in the frame of the holo, along with a smattering of Venators and escorts, all escaping from the world.
But all eyes in the Battle Room were fixated on the sphere of Derra IV itself. The hologram projected distorted footage corrupted by internal damage and enemy jamming, but even then, they could clearly make out the Separatist warfleet hovering above key locations on Derra IV. There was a singular warship that caught her eye, its destroyed hull and armour plates large enough to cover entire houses, its scars massive as a ravine each due to its immense size.
She recognised it. How could she not?
Battleship Antecedent, Hammer of the Outer Rim.
And it was firing upon Derra IV. Spiralling clouds of superheated maelstroms churned over its vast oceans, visible from outer space. Across the planet¡¯s atmosphere, skyscraper-sized turbolaser bolts punched through the stratosphere, sending ripples outward, no more than raindrops on an endless pond from the distance.
The Battle Room was deathly silent.
¡°That¡¯s another world gone,¡± Fajinak murmured, as if crossing off a tally. He may as well be.
¡°...Be notified we¡¯re withdrawing to Lohopa, Command. General Secura¨C¡± Commander Bly breathed sharply, ¡°General Aayla Secura has been killed in action on Derra-Four.¡±
?
Korphir Approach, Korphir System
Gordian Reach
The Gordian Reach was a mostly uninhabited patch of space nestled in between the Hydian Way and Near-Perlemian. The region formed one of the galaxy¡¯s natural barriers, blocking easy fleet movement between the two super-hyperlanes. It was a chaotic labyrinth of stellar graveyards, empty voids, and dense nebulae¨Ca natural fortress and maze sprawled just north of Phindar. And right in the heart of it was the Yavin System, where the future Rebel Alliance would erect their base of operations.
Yavin wasn¡¯t our destination. Our destination was the Hydian Way, on the opposite side of the Gordian Reach. And that meant running the Korphir Trace, an incredibly tiny spacelane running between Korphir and Arkuda that was the only known route to cut through the otherwise impenetrable nebula known as the Roil. With time, maybe the Givin could calculate another path through the cosmic mountain range, but time wasn¡¯t exactly a luxury we could afford.
And so the Roil laid before us, a great splash of gas and multi-coloured dust strewn across the void like celestial paint. The night sky view from Korphir and Arkuda must be incredible.
¡°Statement: the Dodecian is correct,¡± Augur¡¯s deep, steely voice was bone-shaking, ¡°Our scans are indicating unnatural gravity wells ahead of us. Assessment: the Korphir System is protected by an extensive hyperspace interdiction net.¡±
¡°Well, I am assuming it is not one of ours,¡± I murmured, appraising the scans.
¡°Caution: the Confederate Armed Forces possess no documented military installations in the Korphir System,¡± Augur answered.
¡°So there¡¯s a Republic base here,¡± I surmised.
¡°Assessment: a probable hypothesis.¡±
¡°Long-range search-mode scanning,¡± I ordered, ¡°Flush the system and find it, starting from the centre.¡±
¡°Affirmative.¡±
Augur wasted no time in getting to work, commanding the crew of battleship Conqueress with precision efficiency. The massive warship¡¯s scanner suites immediately activated, flaring to life as they swept the star system ahead of us, its inner planets entirely within the cone of our bow. Bunt Dantor¨Cthe scientist who designed and engineered the weapon system¨Cand his Techno Union technicians and researchers, practically buzzing in their pressure suits, eagerly monitored the results; testing, scrutinising, and logging every detail from the bespoke sensor arrays they had painstakingly developed for what they called the most advanced weapons system in the galaxy.
It struck me as somewhat like children testing out a new toy, if those children catalogued every scrap of data they could glean. After all, this was Conqueress'' first deployment, and given the layers of secrecy surrounding her construction, it was also her maiden field test and voyage.
Nevertheless, I tried not to let it affect me. Not that it did matter; I ended up taking a nap because it took approximately ten hours before we found something.
¡°Observation: sensor contact, range six-billion klicks bearing oh-two-nine mark double-oh-eight,¡± Augur suddenly boomed, ¡°Probable solar orbit.¡±
Six billion¡ what a mind-boggling number. That was the distance from Pluto to Mars.
¡°Switch to focus-mode and paint the target,¡± I slowly stood up, ¡°I want an identification. Are the shells loaded?¡±
¡°Loading guns Number One and Number Two!¡± the weapons officer reported, ¡°Set to anti-ship mode. Awaiting firing solution to begin targeting sequence!¡±
Clank-thud! The deck shuddered as the first round was locked into the firing chamber, a gargantuan tunqstoid kinetic kill vehicle about the size of a small apartment complex, equipped with attitude thrusters for mid-flight manoeuvres. The KKVs were so large that Conqueress could only carry eight of them at a time¨Cfour for each gun¨Cwhich made every shell worth their weight in gold. And that¡¯s a lot of gold, because tunqstoid was notoriously dense. They made blast doors out of the stuff¨Chell, half the ship¡¯s weight probably lied in the shells alone.
¡°Enemy fleet signature confirmed,¡± the sensor chief hollered next, ¡°Identification: four Grade-Three battlestations, thirty-one capital ships. Interdiction array nexus confirmed. Solar orbit.¡±
¡°Target the nexus,¡± I ordered, feeling my voice tremble just slightly as adrenaline pulsed through my veins. The murmur of excitement from the Techno Union technicians was contagious, ¡°Augur, can we knock down enough of the interdiction net to make the jump?¡±
¡°Affirmative.¡±
I nodded, taking a moment to inhale and let my heart settle. His answer was simple and firm, as according to his programming, and his presence was unflinching. I trusted his assessment. Why else would you keep a two-metre tall super tactical droid on your bridge if not for making judgements like these?
¡°Very well,¡± I breathed out as the rangefinders clicked into alignment, ¡°Inform Dodecian Illiet to calculate the jump to Arkuda.¡±
¡°Affirmative.¡±
¡°Intercept plan has been copied and sent!¡± the fire control officer called, his voice tense and sharp.
¡°Copy plan!¡± the weapons officer replied, ¡°Awaiting approval!¡±
¡°Affirmative: approved as planned, all stations prepare for intercept,¡± Augur folded his metal arms behind his back, ¡°Gun Number One is authorised to fire.¡±
¡°Copy; all hands amend power distribution, full power to Number One!¡± Gnifmak Dymurra, the Loronar Corporation officer and attach¨¦ commanded, ¡°We¡¯ll keep Number Two warmed up just in case!¡±
The bridge lights dimmed in a programmed sequence, the surrounding starlight beyond the transparisteel dome fading to black as the targeting array concentrated on the target six-billion klicks forward. Number 1, as we called it, was so vast that its barrel alone extended half the length of the ship. Inside, energy began to course, power surging and converging as Conqueress¡¯ four tritium fusion generators directly fed into concentrated, overlapping gravitational pulses herded along Number 1¡¯s length.
¡°We have target acquisition!¡± the sensor officer announced, the low hum of systems spinning up creating a bass undercurrent to the crew¡¯s chatter.
The bridge began to feel a slight vibration at our feet, as if Conqueress herself was tensing up in anticipation. My vision dilated, like staring through a magnifying glass, the long snout of Conqueress¡¯ bow squeezing inwards as Number One contracted the fabric of space as if folding paper. The stars burned brighter, the outer planets appeared larger, the sun of Korphir expanding like an approaching fireball. An invisible force dragged me forward, minute but identifiable. I instinctively turned my head around, and the space between me and the wall behind the chair seemed to have expanded tenfold.
¡°Plotting intercept course!¡±
¡°We have a firing solution!¡±
¡°Data sync complete!¡±
¡°Awaiting orders!¡±
¡°Fire!¡± the words left my lips before I knew it, as if I had been taken in stride a line of falling dominoes.
The command had barely left my lips before Conqueress discharged, and reality itself seemed to shudder. A blinding column of energy tore from the ship''s superstructure, cascading forward in a beam so intense that it turned the view beyond the bridge into a single, searing wash of bleeding red. The bridge vibrated violently, thrumming like the body of a giant beast unleashing its roar, the unstoppable lance of molten light disappearing into the inky blackness of space, leaving behind a reddish backwash in its wake as the only proof of its existence.
For a split second, I felt weightless, as though the sheer force of the shot had displaced Conqueress itself, the shockwave rippling through the decks with a deep, bone-rattling shudder. The pressure in the air shifted, static prickling across my skin, like standing at the eye of a storm and watching it unfold in a massive exhale.
¡°Dispatch engineers to Number One,¡± I immediately ordered, gathering my wits and tearing my attention away from the screens, ¡°I need to know how long before we can use it again.¡±
¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur¡¯s response was swift, ¡°Engineering, dispatch maintenance squads to Number One. Request: provide detailed damage report in twenty-four standard hours.¡±
¡°Copy that, chief!¡±
¡°Helm,¡± I continued, ¡°Move the fleet into the nearest celestial shadow. Let¡¯s watch the fireworks from a safe place.¡±
A sniper can¡¯t stay in place after firing a shot, after all. Even as Conqueress turned portside for the nearest asteroid cover, smoke wafting from her bow, there was a tension in the air that couldn¡¯t be fully released. All around me, the bridge crew stared in rapt attention, eyes wide, mouths slightly agape at the monitors and holodisplays. And continued to hold it that way for eight whole hours, tracking the redshift of the superluminal comet we just fired.
Until the contact disappeared from the screens, the tiny blip of light fading out of existence¨Creplaced by a flare of searing energy expanding in a slow, silent bloom across the system map, like a star exploding in miniature.
¡°Hit confirmed,¡± Gnifmak Dymurra squinted, ¡°And the interdiction net has dropped. We are free to insert into hyperspace.¡±
¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur¡¯s response was swift, ¡°Weapons, depower Number Two.¡±
¡°Scepter, Conqueress,¡± I spoke to Dodecian Illiet¡¯s frigate, ¡°Sync navicomputers for insertion.¡±
¡°Conqueress, Scepter,¡± the Givin officer replied, ¡°Orders acknowledged. Syncing fleet hyperdrives for insertion.¡±
¡°¨CWait!¡± Bunt Dantor protested, racing to the front of the captain¡¯s chair, ¡°We need to remain in the system a little longer; my researchers need to analyse¨C¡±
¡°We¡¯re here on a military assignment, Dantor,¡± I interjected, ¡°Not a field test. The weapon proved effective, and the interdiction net has collapsed. We will not wait around to see if any surviving enemy forces remain to intercept us.¡±
¡°Statement: we must focus our efforts on repairing gun Number One,¡± Augur said coldly.
¡°Besides, what is there to analyse?¡± Gnifmak Dymurra said slowly, pointing at the holos with a heavy weight, ¡°There¡¯s nothing left but smoke.¡±
Chapter 81
Coruscant, Coruscant System
Corusca Sector
¡°Report,¡± Jedi Master Adi Gallia¡¯s footfalls were frantic in her march to the central turbolist of the Jedi Temple.
¡°With the help of Republic Intelligence,¡± Jedi Knight Iskat Akaris started first, her long strides easily keeping up with the hasty Tholothian, ¡°We have narrowed down the location of the Sith Lord¡¯s hideout to a single sector. All squads are in position, and are waiting for your green light.¡±
¡°Hold position until I arrive,¡± Gallia replied quickly, ¡°I will lead the assault personally.¡±
¡°Understood, Master,¡± the red-skinned Knight dipped her chin in deference.
¡°Barriss?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve identified seventeen more Sith agents in the Jedi Temple,¡± Jedi Knight Barriss Offee reported, ¡°Eleven of which are also agents of Republic Intelligence.¡±
¡°Have you engaged them?¡±¡°No,¡± the Mirin Knight answered, ¡°They¡¯re all on high alert after Heezo¡¯s disappearance¡ which ironically made finding them easier. But I have not directly engaged them.¡±
¡°Make all of them disappear,¡± Adi Gallia ordered simply, her deathly visage forcing the crowded gallery of the Temple to part before her like dust before a cosmic wind, ¡°We only need one or two for questioning. Find the rest, if any. We can¡¯t have any unounted loose ends before the operation.¡±
Barriss was silent, but the Jedi Master knew she had acknowledged her.
¡°Anything new on the Delta Source investigation?¡±
¡°I have my suspicions on a number of locations in the Temple where it is present,¡± Barriss started, ¡°But nothing definitive. The Delta Source is almost certainly not present everywhere. I¡¯m working on finding amon link between all the locations.¡±
¡°Delta Source is hiding in in sight,¡± Jedi Knight Bode Akina gritted his teeth, ¡°And that is what makes it most infuriating of all.¡±
¡°I see,¡± the Jedi Master murmured emotionlessly, ¡°And PRIESTESS?¡±
Barriss Offee side-eyed Bode Akuna, ¡°Ready and waiting.¡±
¡°Agree,¡± Knight Akuna adjusted his sleeves, ¡°We¡¯ve acquired definitive proof ofmunication between the Chancellor Palpatine and Count Dooku. With all the gathered evidence of the Executive Office¡¯s corruption, the manifesto isplete, and PRIESTESS will broadcast it to the entire gxy.¡±
¡°We need to dispatch the manifesto to our allies in the Inner Systems first,¡± Master Gallia reminded them, ¡°So that they may review the evidence and prepare ordingly.¡±
¡°...Duly noted, Master.¡±
¡°You sound displeased, Bode,¡± Iskat Akaris jabbed her elbow into his side.
¡°I struggle to stomach the fact that this entire operation hinges on a
Separatist spywork,¡± Bode grumbled.
¡°A Separatist spywork so deeply embedded in the Grand Army¡¯smunication infrastructure that not even Intelligence knows it exists,¡± Barriss mollified, ¡°All eyes are on the Jedi Temple right now, as we prepare the Expeditionary Fleet. We must assume the Chancellor and Republic Intelligence will be monitoring allmunication¨Cnot just from the Temple, but from all Coruscant. The one ce they won¡¯t be looking is their own military satellites.¡±
¡®Especially after they swept them all in the wake of the terrorist attack¡¯ was left unsaid. The fact that PRIESTESS¨C
whatever it was¨Ccould remain hidden even after Republic Intelligence¡¯s closest scrutiny was proof enough of thework¡¯s efficacy. Adi Gallia had to admit, the Confederacy¡¯s digital engineers were second to none, and far outstrips the Republic¡¯s. And with the desertion of the Rendili Defense Fleet to the Separatist Alliance as well, it was a foregone conclusion their starship engineering field would begin catching up in leaps and bounds.
The technological gap between the Republic and the Separatists was closing at an rming rate, and the days of assuming an edge in officer talents had vanished as the Outer Rim produced monsters like Sev¡¯rance Tann, Trench, Rain Bonteri, and Calli Trilm. Even the Republic¡¯s venerable military tradition found itself counterbnced by the Confederacy¡¯s rapid adoption of Tann¡¯s military reforms. Now, it was the Republic¡¯s industrial behemoth¨Cits vast, seemingly endless production capacity¨Cthat kept the war in bnce, its sheer scale eclipsing the Outer Rim''s by an order of magnitude, allowing it to sustain the heavy losses incurred in battle after battle much better than the Confederacy.
But even that edge, some whispered, might not hold forever. The Crisis in the Core¨Cunleashed by what the Confederate Armed Forces had dubbed Operation Stance¨Chad allowed Admiral Trench to reim the Confederacy¡¯s most critical production sectors and enabled General Farstar to shield the vitalmercial hubs along the Corellian Run. Nothing enough to directly challenge the Republic¡¯s industrial supremacy, but it was enough to drive home a hard truth: victory would note as swiftly as once thought. And that was to say nothing of the spectre of rebellion hovering ever nearer, known only to a select few.
¡°Master Gallia,¡± Bode Akuna suddenly asked as the turbolift lobby came into view, ¡°Forgive me, but I must ask¡ is this operation truly necessary?¡±
¡°If you want to stop it, Bode,¡± Master Gallia murmured, ¡°It is already toote. Too many ns, schemes have been set into motion. Even if I
wanted to call it off, there is no slowing down its momentum.¡±
After a period of strangled silence, the Jedi-Republic Intelligence operative blew out an explosive sigh, ¡°It just seems like we have different priorities. The Sith must be rooted and destroyed, yes, but would destroying the Republic in the process be worth it?¡±
Adi Gallia paused, arm freezing as she reached out to summon the lift, ¡°The Republic is
already dying, Bode. If we let the Sith see this war to its end, there won¡¯t be a Republic left to destroy.¡±
¡°But we can¨C we
could¡¯ve¡¡± the Human struggled with his words.
¡°We could¡¯ve destroyed the Sith, and revived the Republic?¡± the Jedi Master turned around, an eyebrow raised, ¡°Without risking a civil war? Is this what you intend to say?¡±
Bode clenched his fists, and Barriss took a step forward, ¡°I believe he intends to say we could¡¯ve gone about this without plunging the Republic into another civil war, that we didn¡¯t have to consign ten million more deaths to the gxy.¡±
There was troubledness lurking behind the eyes of the two Knights, as if they were still wrestling with the terrible creature they were plotting to unleash. Unlike them, Iskat Akaris held no such reservations. Adi Gallia held in an exasperated breath. It was precisely this situation that prevented her from informing the Jedi High Council of the details of their plot. Because it is unavoidable that the Jedi¨C
¡°You love the Republic,¡± she informed them factually, ¡°You cannot bear to see it end like this.¡±
Bode nearly flinched, ¡°Why would I
love the Republic¨C?¡±
¡°You love the
idea of the Republic,¡± Master Gallia said gently, ¡°You love this civilization, the only civilization the gxy has ever known. You love this civilization, because without it there is no order to keep the peace, only chaos and with it war.¡±
¡°Sounds like an apt summary for what we are trying to do,¡± Iskatughed ndly.
¡°But the Republic is
not civilization
,¡± she continued, ¡°That¡
misunderstanding¡ is the
idea the Sith so desperately peddle. The
idea that the Republic is order and civilisation, and that the Confederacy is chaos and barbarism and primitiveness and savagery because they are
not the Republic. I¡¯m sure this propaganda is of passing familiarity to you?¡±
The three Jedi Knights were quiet, listening intently.
¡°This
idea is one not even the Jedi can escape,¡± the Jedi Mastermented, looking up the turbolift shaft, as if she could see the High Council at the very tip of the spire, ¡°It is convincing, enticing,
seductive. So much so that even Jedi Masters of the highest order have fallen for it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s Palpatine¡¯s final trap for the gxy,¡± Adi Gallia finished, ¡°To make the idea of civilization so ptable that everyone would be eager to swallow even
his version of it. That¡¯s why he puppets this war.¡±
¡°Then¡ then what?¡± Bode demanded, ¡°We
destroy civilization? Is that what we are doing?¡±
Adi Gallia sighed like a teacher whose student didn¡¯t absorb her teachings, ¡°No, Bode. Only
this civilization. We are going to tear it apart so horribly until not even the Sith can put it back together and necromance it into a dark facsimile to lord over.¡±
¡°Stop loving the Republic¨Cunlike other attachments, like people and objects, it will not ever return the favour. Love civilization instead, the civilization that can coexist with others, the civilization can prosper in order and peace and burn in chaos and war. The civilization that can pick up its pieces on its own and put itself together no matter how many times it falls apart. If that exists, then it means the people still hold onto hope, and the gxy is still moving forward, not stagnating like this rotten corpse we call the Republic.¡±
She summoned the turbolift, and entered its capsule, ¡°You have your stations. Bode, return to Republic Intelligence and monitor the situation. Barriss, you will remain here in the Temple as our insurance in case anything goes wrong. Iskat, your skills will be best put to work with me on the field. We pull this off well, and we kill the Sith without any need for a civil war. Anyst objections?¡±
The three Knights shook their heads. Adi Gallia smiled. They have collected all the cards in their hands, and every front has been ounted for. Their final assault on the fortress of the Sith woulde from all directions. All the cards were in their hand¡ and now it was time to throw it on the table, and hope for the best.
¡°Then may the Force be with you, no matter where you may wander,¡± she wished them the old adage, and they responded in kind.
The doors mmed shut. It would be thest time the four of them would be together in one ce ever again.
?
Argazda Orbit, Argazziis System
Kanz Sector
My datapad pinged, a notification popping up. I read it, one ear listening to the Skakoan¡¯s maintenance report.
¡°My engineers estimate will be able to operate Number One again in three hours,¡± Bunt Dantor informed me.
I resisted the urge to rub my face.
Is it the gun, or is it the Techno Union? It took five standard days to silently travel from Korphir to Argazda, and in the entirety of that time Number One was under repairs.
One week of downtime between shots! Practically 125 hour reload cycle! What kind of batshit insane weapons engineer thought this was eptable!?
Oh wait, he was standing right in front of me!
Taking a nk expression as a cue to continue, the Skakoan scientist coughed through his pressure suit, ¡°Now that we have calibrated the weapon¡¯s highest output shot, we can calcte the most optimal energy input to bnce power and efficacy.¡±
Ah, I see. So they effectively overpowered the first shot to use it as a constant variable from which they could calibrate the guns. I wonder why they didn¡¯t do that while the ship was under construction¡ or was that the
very first time Conqueress¡¯ fired? The notion sent shivers down my spine.
What if something had gone wrong? I was half urged to ask, but decided it would be better for my health to remain ignorant.
Fuck. I should change gships.
But to what?
A Givin Wavecrest?
¡°We will need arger sample size to continue optimising the firing cycle, however,¡± Bunt Dantor continued, ignorant of my inner panic, ¡°If we had been able to analyse the results back at¨C¡±
¡°We fired a single round,¡± I interrupted him, ¡°A single round at an interdiction nexus. It would be hubris to assume an entire fleet could be destroyed in the fallout
, as had been stationed in Korphir. And, if I had reviewed this ship correctly, I recall that
Conqueress is woefully deprived of closebat weaponry.¡±
¡°Well, that¡¯s because¨C¡±
¡°Yes, yes, superweapon and all that,¡± I waved him off, standing up slowly, ¡°All superweapons must have an obvious weakpoint, I am well aware of that design philosophy.¡±
¡°Pardon¨C¡±
¡°Thank you for your report, chief,¡± I smiled at the Skakoan, ¡°Please keep up the good work. I am counting on you.¡±
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Bunt Dantor staggered¨Cas much as he could stagger in his metal coffin¨Cbut bent stiffly nheless, ¡°I am at your service, Admiral.¡±
As he returned to his station, I headed toward the rear of the bridge, where a short corridor connected the pilothouse to the Combat Information Center. And aboard
Conqueress, the CIC was nothing short of monumentalrger, even, than themand spaces on most Providence-ss battlecruisers. Of course, it had to be.
Conqueress was a dedicated long-range artillery andmand tform, designed to operate from the rear of any fleet action, far from direct fire.
Everything about her design revolved around that role; her entire superstructure housed expansive intelligence and targeting systems, all required to coordinate and uratelynd the titanic strikes from her main battery. Entering her CIC felt like stepping into a digital brain; a seamless, multilevelwork of data links, sensor feeds, and targeting arrays, orchestrated to project her fire across impossible distances with ruthless precision. For a ship like this, a state-of-the-artbat nerve centre wasn¡¯t just expected¨Cit was essential.
And that also meant amunications and electronic warfare suite that would put even thetest Munificents to shame. Again, it was all but necessary to her survival on the battlefield.
I found Augur at one of those stations. He had summoned me here, after all.
What I
wasn¡¯t expecting, however, was the details upon his console. A familiar silhouette shone there, shaped like a finned dagger. Below read:
Munificent-ss frigate, Repulse. Briefly, I wonder where that old friend of mine was now. A Sullustan breaking yard, most likely. It was a bitter thought.
¡°She was my old gship,¡± I pulled a nearby chair over, taking a seat next to the droid, ¡°Something about her sparked your interest?¡±
¡°Statement: I must know about mymander to synergise with them and dispatch orders effectively,¡± Augur did not divert his photorecepting gaze, ¡°This is necessary homework.¡±
I smiled wanly, though he could not see.
Silly droid, you will always synergise with me. It was never my concern.
¡°Indeed?¡± I raised an eyebrow, ¡°Ask away.¡±
Augur closed the window, ¡°rification: this is not the matter I called you for, Admiral.¡±
I did not respond.
¡°However,¡± his facsimile of a mouth shed with light as he articted the sybles, ¡°I must admit something drew me to
Repulse.¡±
Iughed out loud, catching the attention of some nearby droids.
That¡¯s because you served aboard it, I answered in my head,
only with a different name. s, the Confederacy¡¯s new super tactical droids had so much more advanced personality matrices than their older cousins. I received Augur on the day I stepped aboard
Conqueress, and intended to overwrite his personality matrix with the memory bank I had on hand¡ but in the end that data had been absorbed instead, rather than overwriting Augur.
I had been warned that super tactical droids were quite¡
temperamental, and fiercely protective of their personality matrix, so I didn¡¯t press the issue, nor inform Augur about it. Not that it mattered, I quite liked the oue, that mix of familiarity and new advancement. The best of both worlds, I had decided, and not worth tampering with.
¡°Maybe the synergy you are searching for is already there?¡± I suggested, tenderly leaning on the console to avoid toggling anything, ¡°So, what is it?¡±
¡°Notification: new updates from PRIESTESS,¡± he said, bringing up another window, and I immediately sat up, spine popping as I did, ¡°There are urgent developments in the Republic I calcte you may have a vested interest in.¡±
¡°You calcted correctly.¡±
¡°Acknowledgement: I am pleased to hear this,¡± Augur nodded, before continuing on, ¡°Analysis: PRIESTESS has dispatched a manifesto to specific star systems in the Core Worlds and Mid Rim. PRIESTESS also intercepted an order for reinforcements to armies along the Hydian Way.¡±
I patiently waited for him to sift through the material.
¡°I have linked this information to a separate announcement; the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet has departed Coruscant, and is bound for Serenno.¡±
¡°How many,¡± I murmured¨C
so they¡¯ve begun, and the die is cast¨Clost in thought, ¡°And how long?¡±
¡°Analsysis: one-thousand capital ships, five-thousand escorts, and five-thousand troopships,¡± Augur answered, ¡°They will proceed Rimward on the Hydian Way, reinforcing the invasion fleet with even more ships and soldiers. The earliest they will reach Serenno is in twenty-four days, by the swiftest pace.¡±
Ten-thousand warships. Ten-thousand warships. Ten-thousand warships.
The Republic really pulled out all the stops this time, haven¡¯t they?
And we only had a month to prepare¨Cmaybe over a month, if the Expeditionary Fleet takes their time. Fortunately, PRIESTESS was well-integrated into the Confederacy¡¯s intelligencework, and anything I knew would also be known to Star Station
Independence.
The question is:
what should I do? Ten-thousand warships and countless soldiers were descending on Serenno, determined to seize it for the Republic. Was that eptable to
Independence, or were we aiming to take Serenno for ourselves? And would we have enough time?
I quickly ran the calctions in my head. Getting to Gravlex Med and back wouldn¡¯t be simple. The Cnon Spur was the most direct route, but it was embroiled in a vicious campaign between Loyalist forces and the Serenno-aligned Separatists. That meant our only real option was the longer detour¨Cthe Veragi Trade Route. Stretching far north through the New Territories and hugging the edge of the gctic spiral, its course was painfully indirect, strung along isted civilizations, and designed to avoid the vast expanse of the Chopani Void¨Ca barren, sprawling gap between two gctic arms. Nothingy within it. Nos, no stars. Just emptiness.
Ironically, ships dared not cross it despite itsck of hazard; the risk of anything going wrong was, frankly, terminal.
Fifteen days to reach Gravlex Med via the Veragi Trade Route, nine or ten if we push the Givin. Another fifteen to return. Factor in how long we will be sojourning at Gravlex Med¨Cdays, possibly¨Cfor the retrofit and¡
We would miss the entire campaign.
What to do, what to do¡ I could feel Augur¡¯s gaze levelled on me intensely.
¡°...Can we reach
Independence from here?¡± I asked, masking the unsurety I felt.
¡°Assessment: that possibility is highly unlikely.¡±
I mulled over the options a little longer, fingers drumming steadily on the console. It would not be unreasonable to just continue with the mission, but¡
it¡¯s the endgame now. Both the Jedi and the Sith have tossed the coin, each betting it would fall in their favour¨Cand this was my one chance to snatch it out of the air. I couldn¡¯t exactly let the opportunity slip¡ unless of course, the CAF had a n of their own.
Therefore, it would be sensible to first confirm the situation with Star Station
Independence. But how? We were deep behind enemy lines, and all themunication transceivers in the area belonged to Serenno or Coruscant. To reach friendly CAF space, I would practically need my own secret personal transceiverwork¡
An old memory then struck like a KKV right out of
Conqueress¡¯ maw. An old, nearly forgotten memory.
Hold on, don¡¯t I have my own secret personal transceiverwork!?
Where are we right now? In Serenno¡¯s backyard!
The same backyard where I nted dozens of spy frigates in ck with every intention of spying on Serenno¡¯smunications to report back to me! They had been reced by PRIESTESS, but it wasn¡¯t like they could have gone anywhere. If they had been organically crewed, they would all be lost by now, the stuff of legends, a ghost fleet drifting aimlessly¡ but they were droid crewed. The question now was: did they have enough fuel to survive until now?
That, I could not be certain. The most energy intensive task of any starship was propulsion, but these spy frigates haven¡¯t gone anywhere. Their only active systems were their intelligence andmunication suites¨Csuites that have been running non-stop for two years. But there was a chance, and it was a chance I was quite willing to take.
¡°Navigation,¡± I called over my shoulder, ncing at the astrogation station behind me, ¡°Project time frames. Factor in the maximum speed at each major junction, push fuel usage where necessary, short-cut the Veragi Route if need be. I want a hypothetical timeline to hit Gravlex Med and return within twenty days.¡±
¡°Roger roger,¡± came the response, the droid¡¯s voice wary, yet efficient. He likely knew what an impossible task I was asking, but he was a droid, so he¡¯d try anyway.
The console in front of me started disying coordinates and rough figures from the navigator. Fifteen days cut down to twelve with optimum speeds and ideal conditions. But it was still too long. I cursed under my breath. Augur¡¯s metallic frame shifted slightly, as though to remind me he was still waiting.
He had no need for sleep, no tolerance for dy, and no time for hesitations. And I could feel every judgmental micro-expression his droid face might¡¯ve allowed.
¡°Nevermind that, then,¡± I muttered. Looks like I¡¯ll have to dig through my memory banks to recall all my spy frigates. Unfortunately, I was human, so my memory was far from perfect. Fortunately, I had a droid with me who had perfect memory, and had just so inherited the memory of all the frigate locations.
¡°Augur¡¡± I said slowly, ¡°We¡¯re going to need to dig inside your brain for a bit.¡±
?
¡°Master Plo Koon will lead the Expeditionary Fleet over Serenno,¡± Jedi Master Mace Windu told the High Council, ¡°And I will lead the ground forces onto the. Are we agreed on this matter?¡±
A round of affirmations swept through the arranged seats, a gathering of the wisest and venerable, and vaunted Jedi Masters in the gxy nning the final strike against their old enemy. The n was sound. Master Windu was one of few in the Jedi Order with the skill and expertise to defeat Count Dooku in a straight lightsaber duel, where the Sith Lord would surely y to his strengths. Meanwhile, as one of the Temple¡¯s¨Cnay, the Republic¡¯s¨Cbest admirals, Master Plo would engage and upy Serenno¡¯s starfleet in orbit.
The grim sternness of the Jedi Master moved onto Master Gallia, ¡°Master Gallia, you will remain on Coruscant with Master Stass Allie and Master Shaak Ti. Master Yoda will also remain on Coruscant to counter the Sith Lord once he is exposed. The Sith¨CMaster and Apprentice¨Care now both ounted for.¡±
¡°We must prepare for the worst,¡± Master Kenobi ran a hand through his beard, ¡°We must expect some sort of trickery from the Sith. They won¡¯t go down this easily.¡±
¡°We will counter whatever Dooku has in store for us at Serenno,¡± the reticent Master Saesee Tiin stated firmly, ¡°The Expeditionary Fleet will be thergest gathering of Jedi Masters and Knights since the Battle of Geonosis.¡±
¡°I concur,¡± Master Kit Fisto was serious, his usual breezy attitude reced by one might be called proper for a Jedi of his calibre, ¡°We are no longer new to war. The Masters and Knights in the Expeditionary Fleet are veterans, the best of the best.¡±
The best of the best. If they were talking about the
best of the best¡ then wasn¡¯t there one Jedi conspicuously missing? Or rather,
one Jedifleet?
Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Open Circle Fleet.
The best of the best.
¡°And what of¡ young Skywalker?¡± Mace Windu articted the name as if it pained him to admit that no Jedi expedition would beplete without him, ¡°His presence would be a great boon to us at Serenno.¡±
¡°At war,¡± Master Shaak Ti answered simply.
A sinister wind swept through the Council Chamber, one that might have been reserved for mention of the Dark Lord of the Sith. No, the very words
¡®at war¡¯ was enough to prickle the skin and tighten the throat. They all knew why the Open Circle Fleet was upied.
¡°Anakin and Scout¡¡± Master Obi-Wan Kenobi borated, ¡°...are still upied in the southern front, defending against Horn Ambigene¡¯s invasion of the Republic.¡±
One might have once called the Battle Hydra¡¯s Operation Stance the invasion of the Republic, and nobody would have faulted them for it. In fact, one might have once called the Pantoran¡¯s Sarapin Campaign the invasion of the Republic, and nobody would have faulted them for it. Everyone would now. Now that the Separatist Alliance has shown them what a
real invasion should look like. Mere raids would never be mistaken for an
invasion ever again.
Tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of warships.
Hundreds of millions upon hundreds of millions of soldiers.
All crashing Coreward in an unstoppable avnche that took the full might of not one, two, three, but
four Sector Armies to fight¨Cand
struggle¨Cagainst their unrelenting advance. Operation Stance was a nail that pierced the Republic¡¯s side, but Horn Ambigene was the hammer that pounded it into the anvil. The Grand Army liked to say that Horn Ambigene had been beaten back eight times because eight battles had been fought at Wroona, but that framing of events was simply to make the situation ptable to the masses.
An invasion cannot be beaten back
eight times. If it could, it couldn¡¯t be called an invasion. An invasion urs once, and seeds or fails once. That is a simple military premise. No, Horn Ambigene¡¯s invasion was still
ongoing. Across hundreds of star systems, and thousands ofs. It was a brutal back and forth, an ongoing struggle to prevent the Tombmaker from taking another step forward. Both sides are spent, both sides are faltering.
But the Tombmaker did not earn his frightful moniker by being dissuaded by some strong defences.
Master Kenobi took a deep breath, ¡°Anakin¡¯stest report¨C¡±
¡°More reinforcements, I must presume?¡± Master Windu leaned forward.
¡°More soldiers, more ships, more equipment, more bacta, more Jedi,¡± Master Kenobi grimaced.
¡°Well, we can¡¯t afford to send anymore Jedi,¡± Master Shaak Ti mused, ¡°We havemitted every avable Jedi on Coruscant towards the final assault against Serenno.¡±
¡°Master Aa Secura is dead,¡± Obi-Wan Kenobi gritted his teeth, ¡°Along with fifteen other Jedi Knights we sent to the southern front. Horn Ambigene had bombarded six more Loyalist strongholds since the campaign began, excluding Eriadu. Suffice to say, Anakin will not be joining us.¡±
Adi Gallia couldn¡¯t even feel it anymore. The death of her friend, the razing of six mores. The Force was still, like a stagnant pond of water, with neither energy nor motivation to flow. She only felt numb.
¡°One with the Force, Master Secura is,¡± Master Yoda finally said, gripping his cane tightly as he met the eyes of every member of the Jedi High Council, ¡°Bring justice to the Sith, we will. End the war, end the suffering, we must.¡±
Jedi Master Adi Gallia stood up, ¡°The gxy¡¯s eyes are set upon us. Every action we take in this Serenno Campaign will reflect on the entirety of the Jedi Order. We must not fail, for we cannot afford to.¡±
One by one, the Jedi Masters of the High Council rose to their feet.
¡°Then¨C may the Force be with us all.¡±
It was the twilight of the fourteenth year since the Great ReSynchronization, and in another gxy, the closing months of 21 BBY. On Coruscant, millions of eyes lifted skyward from the spires and balconies, terraces and towers, watching the grand ascent of the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet. One by one, colossal capital ships rose from the crowded naval yards nestled between skyscrapers, filling the sky with armoured hulls and engine thrusters. One-thousand warships surged upward all across the city¡¯s distant horizons, joining in an orderly spiral as they climbed for orbit. Around them, swarms of escort ships and troopships of every ss and size darted like schools of fish in orbit, consolidating from every yard across the expansive capital star system.
One-hundred Jedi Masters, four-hundred Knights and Padawans. Ten-thousand starships of every shape and size. One-hundred and fifty million soldiers, both veterans and fresh faces alike; including ten-million elite cloned troopers stationed across every Jedi gship, all veterans who had weathered countless campaigns across the stars, marshalled once more to bear the Republic¡¯s banner.
The Expeditionary Fleet would rendezvous with reinforcements from every Sector Army along the way, consolidating their numbers before mounting the grand undertaking toward the Confederate hearnd. Their objectivey up the Hydian Way, through the harsh defences of Separatist-held systems, with their final aim set on Serenno itself¨Cthe stronghold of the archenemy of the Republic. It would be an offensive to rival that of Operation Trident and Operation Storm-Door.
Jedi Masters Yoda, Shaak Ti, Adi Gallia, and Stass Allie solemnly watched the lines of shimmering warships ascend pastyers of clouds and disappear into the darkness of space. Below, Coruscant¡¯s citizens gathered in squares and on rooftops, some in salute, others caught up in fervent cheer, many with a question¨C
how many of our sons and daughters will die this time?¨Cand all clutching awe to their chests.
May the Force be with you.
Whichever face the coinnds on¡
it would be thest and greatest offensive of the Gctic Republic.
Chapter 82
Phindar Approach, Phindar System
Demetras Sector
One of the original hurdles the Confederacy of Independent Systems had to ovee was its decentralisation. At the outbreak of the war, the Confederacy was split into four different theatres, none of which possessed direct hypene connections with each other. As Raxus Secundus blundered through the opening stages of the conflict, the unorganised Confederate fleetscked the impetus to form a unified front, inrge part due to the unfortunate nature of the divorced state.
Operation Sidestep was the first concerted effort to change that nature. Confederate Generals Sev¡¯rance Tann and Grievous spearheaded a two-front assault in the south, carving their way through Loyalist held spes and sessfully linking three of the four great theatres and establishing vital logistic routes to the far-flung western corners of the Confederacy¡¯s vast war.
Buoyed by the sess of Operation Sidestep, Raxus Secundus authorised thest of the great ¡®unification offensives¡¯ in the hopes of establishing a direct hypene connection with the secondrgest theatre in the New Territories. A simrly two-pronged assault sailed down both ends of the Salin Corridor, led by Confederate Admiral Kirst and Commander Drogen Hosh, thrusted by Sidestep¡¯s momentum and eager for a quick and decisive victory.
And Phindar readied her fleets, marshalled her armies, levelled her guns, and turned the Phindar Star System into a cosmic graveyard.
That was the Confederacy¡¯s first attack on the sole Loyalist stronghold straddling the Salin Corridor, Phindar, and the results of that battle engraved Phindar¡¯s legendary status into the psyche of all Confederate officers. Once thought to be an isted and ill-defended backwater world in the Outer Rim, Phindar was now known to the gxy as the
fortress world Phindar.
That was two years ago.
Soon afterwards, the Republic¡¯s Operation Trident shattered any remaining dreams of unifying the Confederate state, and that defeat at Phindar leftsting consequences on the budding Separatist Alliance. For one, the New Territories were irrevocably divided from the rest of the country, preventing Raxus Secundus¡¯ influence from spreading whilst allowing Serenno to dig in its roots, ultimately leading to this bloody schism that gripped the Confederacy today.Nevertheless, that dream of unification revived with the overture of Operation Stance, as the Republic summoned its fleets back to defend the Core. With Operation Storm-Door, a second attack on Phindar was nned, this time to be undertaken by Confederate Admiral Trench and Rear Admiral Merai, with nearly twice the number of warships brought in the first attempt.
And Phindar readied her fleets, marshalled her armies, levelled her guns, and turned the Phindar Star System into a cosmic graveyard.
That was a year ago.
¡°So that¡¯s fortress world Phindar,¡± Rear Admiral Diedrich Greyshade of the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet murmured.
And now Admiral Trench has returned to the site of the Confederacy¡¯s greatest failure, with nearly twice the number of warships brought in the second attempt.
Invincible cruised forth like a leviathan from her nest, a thousand warships awaiting hermand. To her port, the painted warships of the Perlemian Coalition held the left nk, anchored by the glimmering
Kronprinz. To her starboard, the battle-hardened veterans of the north, fresh off their recent victories in Cmari Space led by
Prosperous.
Three-thousand warships of the Confederate 2nd Fleet Group, and Trench would rather lose none of them to the fortress ahead.
¡°This is my second time here,¡± Rear Admiral Merai said bitterly,
¡°And that station continues to haunt me yet.¡±
As it does I, Trench thought grimly. Fortress world Phindar''s primary strength, aside from the powerful interdiction nexus housed within the system,y in its eponymously named orbital battlestation:
Phindar Station. Once a bustling spaceport teeming with trade transiting the Salin Corridor, the station had been reforged by the Grand Army of the Republic into an impregnable fortress. Its once-sprawling berths, designed for merchantmen and passenger liners, had been repurposed into vast hangars capable ofunching swarms of starfighters. The luxurious lounges, where traders had once struck deals over drinks, were now austere barracks filled with hardened marines awaiting deployment.
Even its once-pristine observation portholes, meant to provide breathtaking views of the stars, had been bricked over and converted into gunports, their purpose now to unleash devastation on any who dared trespass into its orbit. Every square inch of the station''s massive structure had been pressed into service, crammed with turbsers, point-defence arrays, missile racks, and heavy naval cannons.
¡°We¡¯ve brought enough ships this time to ovee Phindar by sheer numbers alone,¡± Admiral Greyshade assessed,
¡°Phindar Station cannot be everywhere at once. We identify the exact location of the interdiction nexus on Phindar, and the Twenty-Eighth Mobile will act as a strikeforce to destroy it. The Second Fleet will upy Phindar Station¡¯s attention in the meantime.¡±
¡°The losses will be heavy,¡± Trench visualised the 2nd Attack on Phindar, and the horrors thatid ahead in the battlestation¡¯s weapon envelopes. He could only imagine what a terrifyingly unpleasant surprise the 1st Attack on Phindar must have been for Kirst and Drogen Hosh.
¡°We¡¯ve brought a surprise of our own as well, Admiral,¡± Admiral Merai suggested,
¡°Malevolence and Aggressor are ready for deployment. Either of them can render Phindar Station defenceless with a single shot.¡±
Indeed, far in the rear of the 2nd Fleet Group and far out of sight, were their two superweapons.
Malevolence, who made her debut in the Battle of Columex, couldpletely knock out Phindar¡¯s defence grid with her massive ion cannon; whilst
Aggressor could destroy Phindar Stationpletely with her gravitic waveguns.
However¡
¡°I do not wish to reveal our aces so early, if at all possible,¡± Trench said, ¡°I would like to parley with themanding officer of Phindar Station, if only to share a conversation the man who has so readily repulsed the might of the Confederacy time and time again.¡±
Trench¡¯s two vassal admirals failed to respond in a timely manner, their hesitation betraying their scepticism toward the practicality of their superior¡¯s intentions. The strategic calculus had shifted significantly; the 2nd Fleet Group had more than enough firepower to overwhelm Phindar. Why, then, was Admiral Trench intent on contriving some form of agreement with the Republicmander? Their silence spoke volumes about their doubts.
The truth of the matter was simple: Admiral Trench wished to dy the usage of his aces until the alternative was no longer possible. Trench was determined to dy the deployment of his trump cards until absolutely necessary. Superweapons, for all their devastating potential, carried inherent vulnerabilities. Their scarcity and symbolic value meant they were mas for enemy attention. No matter the size of the escorting fleet or the density of point-defence systems, a superweapon would always be the priority target number one.
Admiral Trench had studied this reality extensively, analysing the dichotomy of value and risk such weapons posed. His conclusions were as such: there were only two scenarios in which a superweapon could justify its own cost.
The first was for the weapon to systematically obliterate enough enemy assets to offset its own exorbitant expense. However, this approach carried a fatal w. With every victory, the weapon¡¯s existence became more exposed, its operational secrets more vulnerable. The longer it remained active, the higher the likelihood of its destruction before it could recoup its cost.
The second was to hold the weapon in reserve until the perfect moment presented itself¨Ca singr, decisive moment where its use would either secure an otherwise unattainable victory or irrevocably shift the tide of war. In this scenario, secrecy became the weapon¡¯s most vital armour. So long as its existence remained shrouded, it could strike with maximum impact before vanishing once more into obscurity.
Ultimately, Trench calcted, a superweapon¡¯s greatest defence was not its structure, or escorts, but the
secrecy of its existence. This doctrine was proven at the Battle of Columex.
This was precisely why
Malevolence, despite her dramatic reveal at Columex, had not been hunted to destruction.
Malevolence demonstrated her worth by turning the tide of the battle¨Cand the war¨Cat Columex, but the moment the battle concluded,
Malevolence once more disappeared into thebyrinth of military bureaucracy. Buried in ssified files and disinformation campaigns, and without anymore prominent appearances, she faded from public consciousness. Republic Intelligence had made an initial push to locate and neutralise her, but the CAF¡¯s refusal to bring her to the forefront again had rendered those efforts futile.
A superweapon must only be used where there were
no other alternatives, in a moment at which only
it could achieve the strategic goal.
Malevolence turning the battle at Columex was a feat only
she could do, and worth far more than a thousand GAR supply fleets sunk, especially when conventional raiding fleets could do the same.
If Admiral Trench could bring his warfleet through Phindar without using his superweapons, then the deployment of those superweapons in the moment could
never be justified.
¡°Communications,¡± Trench resolved his intentions, ¡°Send a transmission to Phindar Station, disclosing my insistence on a peaceful parley.¡±
¡°Roger roger¡¡± the droid trailed off, ¡°Uh¨C sir? We¡¯re getting an iing transmission from¡ somewhere?¡±
Trench whirled around, mandibles snapping in irritation,
¡°Somewhere?¡±
¡°It¡¯sing from a ship, sir,¡± the droid scratched its facete, ¡°But there¡¯s no callsign or transponder code. Should we put it through?¡±
Trench paused. A direct long-range transmission without an open frequency could only mean the sender not only knew
Invincible¡¯s transceiver code, but was also integrated into the CAF¡¯smunicationswork.
¡°Patch it through.¡±
¡°Roger roger!¡± the droid chirped hastily.
Trench did not expect the sender, to say the least.
¡°Admiral Trench,¡± Rain Bonteri¡¯s voice greeted him,
¡°I consider it a miracle that I was able to reach you.¡±
¡°...As do I,¡± the Harch Admiral responded in kind, ¡°Might I remind you that the nature of your mission is of total secrecy?¡±
¡°You need not, Admiral. I am acting in total secrecy,¡± Trench could somehow see Bonteri¡¯s smirk on the other side,
¡°Unless, of course, you are able to extrapte from where exactly I am sending this transmission.¡±
¡°I am unable,¡± Trench allowed, ¡°Nor shall I ask your methods in the interest of said secrecy. But I must insist that the nature of thismunique be severe.¡±
¡°I have no interest in being punished for breaching radio silence without good reason,¡± Admiral Bonteri mollified,
¡°This is a matter of utmost importance, I assure you.¡±
¡°Indeed? Then I am listening.¡±
¡°The Republic hasunched an all-out assault on Serenno,¡± Bonteri exined,
¡°They call it the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet, and it numbers ten-thousand ships in total. They intend on reenacting Operation Trident, recing the Perlemian with the Hydian Way.¡±
¡°This is from PRIESTESS?¡±
¡°It is,¡± he continued,
¡°In unrted news, a rogue faction in the Republic, led by a handful of rogue Jedi, intends onunching a coup against the current administration on Coruscant.¡±
¡°...Severe news indeed,¡± Trench clicked, ws curling around his cane.
¡°The reason for which I seek your judgement: Conqueress is at an impasse. We could continue to Gravlex Med via the Veragi Trade Route, but we would not return before the campaign is over. If you intend on Conqueress participating in the Supreme Commander¡¯s objectives, then you must order me to abort the mission and head for Cnon at once.¡±
Trench rose to his full height, never once losing sight of his objectives, ¡°At this moment, Admiral, I stand before fortress world Phindar with three-thousand warships.¡±
¡°If you shatter Phindar immediately, you could hope to intercept the Expeditionary Fleet,¡± Bonteri mused,
¡°But that depends on Star Station Independence¡¯s wishes. You could wait, and allow Serenno and Coruscant to bloody themselves against each other before sweeping up the remnants. Or, you could side with one faction against the other. I know not what our Supreme Commander wants.¡±
¡°Our Supreme Commander wants peace,¡± Trench answered, ¡°Peace and stability to solidify her position amidst Raxus¡¯ constant ebb and flow.¡±
¡°Then we must eliminate her only rival, Count Dooku.¡±
Trench nodded, ¡°We will side with the Jedi.¡±
¡°In that case¡¡± Admiral Bonteri paused,
¡°If themander of Phindar¡¯s garrison is a Jedi, then I may have a way to open their gates. But first, your orders sir?¡±
Trench did not linger on his decision, ¡°Is
Conqueress fully operational?¡±
¡°Not fully, but operational.¡±
¡°You will not continue to Gravlex Med, nor will you return to Cnon,¡± Trenchmanded, ¡°You will wait. You will wait until a most opportune moment, in which the deployment of
Conqueress can turn the conflict in our favour, and only then will you enter battle. If I cannot trust your judgement on this matter, then I can trust your strategic instinct.¡±
¡°You think too highly of me, Admiral,¡± Rain Bonteri sighed,
¡°Far too highly¡ but I understand. Your orders have been received, Admiral.¡±
¡°Very good,¡± Trench chittered in satisfaction, ¡°Now tell me this method you have devised to seduce the enemy.¡±
¡°This will only work if themander is a Jedi,¡± he warned,
¡°But if so, then keep this channel open as I send you a manifesto. This is what you should do¡¡±
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Admiral Trench listened in silence, his six unblinking eyes fixed on Phindar, every trace of emotion concealed behind the imprable mask of his inhuman visage. As Bonteri outlined his n in deliberate, measured tones, the old Harch Admiral found himself reflecting on Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s ring misjudgment of character. Brilliant in the arts of war though she was, shecked the keen intuition required to read people, a deficiency Trench found both amusing and unsurprising. Politics was the domain of character and subtlety, and Sev¡¯rance Tann had little patience for either.
She had described Rain Bonteri as a viper, Calli Trilm as a spider¨Capt enough metaphors on the surface. But as Trench dissected Bonteri¡¯s proposal, unravelling the intricate threads that hinted at deeper, unseen schemes, it became abundantly clear that the exiled lord of Onderon was no more the viper than he was the spider, weaving an borate web of machinations. Bonteri, naturally, cloaked his true designs behind a facade of ignorance and carefully rationed information. Yet Trench, old and experienced in schemes himself, could see the truth glinting between the strands. After all, was he not a spider himself?
Since when, Trench found himself wondering,
have you been spinning your web to tear the Republic apart from within?
Was this part of the Supreme Commander¡¯s grand contingency n? He doubted it. Had it been, she would not have reacted so precipitously to Dooku¡¯s mad rebellion. Panic had driven her actions, not the calm assurance of one holding a hidden trump card. No, whatever game Bonteri was ying, it was his own, a gambit independent of the Pantoran¡¯s designs¨Cand one that Trench suspected had been in motion far longer than anyone realised.
¡°It is risky, but sound in sense,¡± Trench allowed atst, ¡°I will hearken your advice as I speak to the enemymander.¡±
¡°This will all be for nothing if the Supreme Commander cannot image where and when the war ends,¡± Rain Bonteri warned,
¡°There is no point in war without purpose.¡±
¡°Admiral Bonteri,¡± Trench measured the name carefully, ¡°From the very start, as soldiers of this state, we have loaded ourselves into the chamber of this Confederacy. We would not have done so if we were uncertain of the finger pulling the trigger.¡±
¡°Admiral Trench,¡± Bonteri measured his name carefully,
¡°I fear the owner of that finger has changed, and the purpose of pulling the trigger changed with it. We are indeed but ammunition to be expended, but even a bullet would like to know their destination.¡±
¡°Is that all?¡±
¡°I will take my leave.¡±
¡°As you should.¡±
Trench held his stance even as a
click notified him of the disconnection. He turned to thems droid.
¡°Has the enemymander responded?¡±
¡°Yes, sir,¡± the droid saluted, ¡°But¡ uh¨C¡±
¡°They have a condition, I presume?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± the droid nodded quickly, ¡°They will only speak to you in-person aboard Phindar Station.¡±
Admiral Trench did not have to expend effort imagining the protests of his subordinate admirals and officers. He levelled six red eyes against Phindar Station, and imagined the man he was about to meet instead.
¡°That is¡¡± he clicked, ¡°...eptable.¡±
?
¡°I am General Rahm Kota of the Grand Army of the Republic,¡± General Rahm Kota greeted Admiral Trench as he descended the shuttle¡¯s ramp, standing firm on the deck of Phindar Station¡¯s hangar bay, ¡°You are Admiral Trench of the Separatist Alliance.¡±
¡°I prefer the Confederacy of Independent Systems,¡± Admiral Trench made no effort to disguise his tant curiosity as he scanned the interior of Phindar Station, ¡°I greet you as a capable and respected opponent, from whom I seek peace.¡±
¡°You speak of peace,¡± General Rahm Kota spoke harshly, ¡°Whilst making ns to crush me.¡±
Trench¡¯s cybeics were indeed more than capable of analysing the hardpoints andbat potential of Phindar Station as the Harh quite literally internalised the visual and scan data from his brief examination.
¡°As is my duty,¡± Trench extended an arm as he approached the Republic General, ¡°For until we have spoken of peace, we are at war.¡±
Rahm Kota was a Human. A severe, long face, with hard eyes and a soldier¡¯s visage. His hair, ck and oily, slicked back and tied, whilst a sharp goatee pointed his chin. A lightsaber hung conspicuously from his belt, though his apparel was not of the standard white stoid armour preferred by Jedi Generals. Trench looked around again, this time not at Phindar Station, but of the men garrisoning it, and saw not a hint of white stoid armor.
No cloned troopers? That is interesting for a Jedi General.
¡°I harbour my doubts of your conviction,¡± Rahm Kota would be no easy person to convince, ¡°I am not yet convinced I will hear anything but trivial banalities and vile conspiracies from your mouth. Understand this, Separatist: I will not humour whatever schemes you may peddle. Phindar has not fallen, and will not fall so long as I and my men hold aloft its war banner.¡±
¡°Then allow me to prove to you of my good intentions by speaking not of peace, but of war,¡± Trench bowed, using his cane to steady himself, ¡°Are you the man who has thwarted us time and time again?¡±
General Rahm Kota flicked his head, and the marines stepped back, giving the two enemymanders space to walk side by side. Trench raised one of his arms, and his escort of super battle droids fell into formation. The Jedi General frowned, but did not disallow his security detail.
¡°I have been stationed here since Operation Trident,¡± General Kota said, ¡°It was not I who repulsed Admiral Kirst, but my predecessor. That was a desperate time.¡±
¡°It pains me to hear my first attempt was an easier affair than Kirst¡¯s,¡± the Admiral of the 2nd Fleet Group admitted.
¡°It should not,¡± the General of Phindar Station replied, ¡°Back then, Phindar Station was but a tradeport, unsuited for fending off anything more than pirates. My predecessor was a far more capablemander than.¡±
And now Phindar Station is the most powerful battlestation in the Outer Rim.
¡°I would like to meet him,¡± Trench told him truthfully.
¡°As would I,¡± Rahm Kota looked around as well, at a billboard repurposed into abat clock, ¡°He was a native Phindian. Killed in action during Admiral Kirst¡¯s boarding attempt. Nevertheless, his sacrifice allows me to stand here today.¡±
They walked on in silence, boots nging softly against the reinforced durasteel decking, the hum of distant generators and the muffled buzz of voices filling the void. Trench¡¯s eyes roved over the surroundings, his keen mind cataloguing every detail. The station¡¯s walls bore the scars of its transformation: old tradeport infrastructure fused with military-grade reinforcements. Every corridor was a statement of pragmatism, lined with racks of rifles, emergency sent kits, and makeshift bunkers hastily installed in anticipation of boarding actions. Even the air carried a faint tang of ozone and lubricants, a reminder of the constant maintenance required to keep the station¡¯s immense arsenal operational.
The air was taut with tension, the kind that always apanied a fortress bracing for battle. Trench¡¯s multifaceted gaze flickered to the men and women at their posts. Those who looked at them recognised him. Confidence, fatigue, determination¨Che saw all these emotions ying across their faces, but none of the fear he might have expected.
And no clones.
¡°You have my praise, General Kota,¡± Trench said, his mandibles clicking, ¡°Not many Jedi, much less Loyalists, would humour a negotiation with a Separatist.¡±
¡°You think wrongly, Admiral,¡± Kota replied stiffly, his tone as solid and unyielding as the bulkheads around them, ¡°It is my
responsibility as a
Jedi to suffer negotiations with the enemy, no matter how despicable or underhanded they may be. To refuse is to discard lives without reason.¡±
¡°These are your men, General?¡± Trench gestured with a w to the marines patrolling the corridors, their armour worn but spotless, their eyes sharp and ever-watchful.
¡°They are,¡± Kota confirmed, his chin lifting slightly, ¡°I dislike, and distrust, the Clone Army. They are bred for war, but soldiers with neither impetus nor motive are not fit to be soldiers. As you can see, Admiral, I am not like most Jedi.¡±
¡°Nay,¡± Trench replied, his multifaceted eyes glinting with something unknown, ¡°You are more Jedi than most, General Kota.¡±
Kota¡¯s gaze flicked toward the Harch admiral, his brow furrowed slightly, ¡°That is not something I hear often.¡±
¡°They fight for you? For your cause? They fight willingly?¡± Trench pressed.
Kota¡¯s eyes darkened, shifting momentarily, ¡°Most of them.¡±
¡°Better than none,¡± Trench said, folding a pair of his arms behind his back.
As they continued down the corridor, their path took an unexpected turn. They stopped before a door of rich wooden carpentry, its surface scarred but polished, its presence a stark contrast to the sterile utilitarianism of the battlestation¡¯s metal corridors. Behind it, faded wallpaper peeked out from beneath the scuffs and wear of time, and the carpet underfoot, threadbare and hard, whispered of thousands of booted feet marching over it daily.
¡°I must request your escort to wait outside as we speak,¡± General Rahm Kota dipped his chin, ¡°As will my men.¡±
¡°A most eptable request.¡±
The Jedi General opened the door and strode inside, beckoning Trench after him. A single battle droid came forth to the threshold, scanning the room up and down, before finally permitting the Separatist Admiral entry, whose own cybeics began analysing the ce of their dialogue.
The room was spartan, possessing only a single desk devoid of refreshments and two chairs. There was an empty corner that perhaps housed a bed, but the bed was missing, with only scuff marks on the floor as proof of its once existence. A reinforced transparisteel viewporty before them, affording a full andmanding view of the Separatist warfleet arrayed beyond the void.
¡°Well then,¡± Rahm Kota gestured to a seat whilst taking his own, ¡°Let us hear your dream of peace.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Trench epted the offer, ¡°You took a risk epting me onboard your battlestation. How can I not reciprocate and speak with sincerity?¡±
¡°A risk, indeed, you may call it,¡± the Jedi General¡¯s face hardened, ¡°But I call it
insurance. With you aboard, your fleet would never dare firing upon this battlestation.¡±
Trench let nothing show. ¡°I fail to understand. Phindar Station is far beyond the range of my fleet¨C¡±
¡°The survivors of Korphir reported a blueet materialising from the outers without warning,¡± the Jedi General snarled, ¡°Crashing into their battlestation and killing tens of thousands. Admiral Trench,ets do not travel at the
speed of light. As the guardian of this Salin Corridor, it is only natural I remain in contact with the satellite fortresses in the Gordian Reach. As it is only natural I remain up to date with your
superweapons.¡±
Trench leaned back, the Human-sized chair creaking underneath his weight, ¡°And you believe I have brought such a superweapon with me?¡±
¡°I know not what you have brought, and that is why I must exercise caution.¡±
¡°If I have such a superweapon as you suspect,¡± Trench reasoned, ¡°Then why must I feel so inclined to insist on negotiating my fleet¡¯s transit of your star system? I could so easily destroy you before you even
see such aet approaching.¡±
¡°You may destroy this Phindar Station, but you would not destroy the Phindar Fleet,¡± General Kota spread his arms, ¡°As you can see, I have spread my fleet across thes, so that your superweapon may not reach them. Phindar Station is but one facet of fortress world Phindar¡¯s defencework.¡±
Trench remained silent. Rahm Kota¡¯s eyes twinkled darkly.
¡°As we speak, the single greatest concentrated effort to end the war sails Rimward on the Hydian Way,¡± he continued, unabated, ¡°The Jedi Expeditionary Fleet. You wish to intercept it, despite possessing only a third of their number¡ nay, most of the Expeditionary Fleet are troopships, whilst your warships are allbat-capable. Nevertheless, you wish to transit this star system without losses, which is why you speak to me now.¡±
¡°An intriguing analysis, General,¡± Admiral Trench chuckled, a most inhuman sound that disturbed even the stalwart Jedi, ¡°But erroneous nevertheless. Count Dooku is the enemy of the Raxus Government. I seek his head, as do the Jedi. I intend on assisting the Expeditionary Fleet.¡±
Rahm Kota froze in disbelief¨Cthen shot to his feet, his features twisted in a rictus of rage.
¡°Lies! I warned you, Separatist, that the ploys you peddle will find no purchase with me!¡±
¡°You see a Separatist,¡± Admiral Trench told him tiredly, but earnestly, ¡°Look at me, and see the
Confederate Admiral Trench.¡±
Jedi General Rahm Kota looked at him, and slowly returned to his seat.
¡°Look at me,¡± Trench leaned forward, six red eyes unblinking, ¡°And tell me.
Is this Admiral Trench known to lie?¡±
¡°...No, Admiral Trench is not,¡± General Kota closed his eyes, and breathed out, ¡°In this case, your fleet may remain on Raxus¡¯ side of the Salin Corridor, resting assured that the Expeditionary Fleet will deliver to the gxy Count Dooku¡¯s head.¡±
¡°And if they do not?¡±
Rahm Kota barked augh, ¡°What hope does Serenno have? Surely, an Admiral as venerated as yourself would realise Dooku is a cornered rat with nowhere to run.¡±
Admiral Trench ced a tablet on the desk, and slid it towards the suspicious Jedi General.
¡°And what is this trickery now?¡±
¡°No trickery. It is simply intelligence we have intercepted from Coruscant, that I am now sharing with you in good faith.¡±
Rahm Kota eyed both the Harch and the tablet sceptically as he picked up the tablet and switched it on. Trench allowed the minutes to tick by as the Jedi General wordlessly read the manifesto, eyes skimming across the screen,pletely enraptured by the rhetoric contained within.
¡°A forgery. Another Separatist trick,¡± he said emotionlessly.
¡°You know that to be untrue.¡±
¡°...Master Plo Koon, Master Adi Gallia¡
Master Yoda,¡± the lines on Rahm Kota¡¯s face deepened, ¡°Supported by Alderaan, Naboo, Chandr, Humbarine, Ithor, Mandalore, Brentaal, Procopia¡¡±
And a thousand other worlds besides.
¡°You believe it,¡± Trench stated factually.
¡°I believe it,¡± Rahm Kota replied cautiously, ¡°Nay, I not only believe the veracity of this document, but
I believe it. I believe every word written here. This is not something a Separatist could have produced. The Republic is dead, and this document¨C this manifesto, will rip off the livery maintaining the illusion of life. However¡¡±
Trench nodded sympathetically. ¡°If we, the Separatists, could intercept it¨C¡±
¡°Then Republic Intelligence would have already done so,¡± the Jedi General¡¯s face hardened to stone once more, ¡°And these people are none the wiser? How many Jedi are involved!?¡±
¡°I do not know.¡±
General Kota gnashed his teeth, ¡°The Expeditionary Fleet¨CI must warn them!¡±
¡°Is the Expeditionary Fleet all Jedi?¡±
His eyes widened, ¡°You fear the Expeditionary Fleet will tear itself apart with this knowledge.¡±
¡°It will,¡± Trench stated decisively, ¡°And it will when Republic Intelligence makes their counter-move. But if my Second Fleet could reach an ord with the Jedi, Republic Intelligence would dare not make that move.¡±
¡°...You think Republic Intelligence would make their move so soon?¡±
Trench pointed at the document, ¡°We intercepted that as it was
leaving Coruscant. General Kota, the coup is
imminent, and so must be Republic Intelligence¡¯s counter-strike.¡±
¡°If matters turn awry,¡± Trench continued, ¡°Phindar is the closest friendly port to all Jedi. They will be relying on you to provide safe harbour should¨C¡±
¡°You appear oddly sympathetic to us Jedi despite being a Separatist.¡±
¡°I respect you, Jedi,¡± Trench told him, ¡°We may be opponents, but that is a matter of circumstance. The Republic, many Jedi included, see us Separatists as alien harbingers of chaos and disorder¡ but many of us in the Separatist Alliance still view the Jedi as what the Jedi are.¡±
¡°And what would that be?¡±
¡°Guardians of the Gctic Republic.¡±
¡°...¡±
¡°Which is why it is natural for you to be our enemy,¡± Trench said, ¡°It simply cannot be helped. The Jedi are misguided, yes, and guardians of the fallen order, yes, but the Jedi are still Jedi. For the Outer Rim, this is war fuelled by grudges against the Core Worlds. At the same time, many worlds in the Rim have been touched by the Jedi¡¯s good deeds. Your Jedi Order is still very much steeped in legend and myth out here, which is why we so easily followed Count Dooku, a Jedi himself.¡±
¡°
Former Jedi.¡±
¡°We do not know the difference.¡±
¡°...I see. True or not, you speak convincingly.¡±
¡°The truth is the most convincing of all lies,¡± Trench stood up, ¡°I seek not the fight at all, much less against the Jedi Order. All I seek is peace in the Outer Rim, for the Confederacy I fight for. I outstretch a hand of ord to you now, but you need not respond immediately. I will remain on Phindar Station for three days, should you permit, so that you may make your decision with peace of mind. Should you decline my offer of ord, then I will return to my fleet and begin my assault on Phindar forthwith.¡±
Trench made to leave, but Rahm Kota stopped him before he could. The Jedi General offered an open hand.
¡°I am not an indecisive man,¡± the Jedi General told him, ¡°I invest my trust in you, Admiral Trench, and the character your legend speaks of. I can only hope you will not betray this trust, and prove my worst fears about the Separatists right.¡±
¡°I will not.¡±
Admiral Trench¡¯s massive wed hand grasped General Kota¡¯s.
¡°We have an ord.¡±
¡°We do.¡±
¡°May the Force be with you, Admiral.¡±
¡°So it does you.¡±
It is the first month of a new year. Admiral Trench stood before the site of the Confederacy¡¯s greatest failure, attempting to cross fortress world Phindar, with nearly twice the number of warships he brought in the second attempt.
And Phindar stood down her fleets, withdrew her armies, lowered her guns, and deactivated her interdiction.
It is the first month of a new year. Three-thousand warships of the Confederate 2nd Fleet Group under Admiral Trench bloodlessly transits the Phindar Star System, and crosses into Serenno space.
Chapter 83
Bandomeer Approach, Bandomeer System
Meerian Sector
The Jedi Expeditionary Fleet swept through Bandomeer¡¯s orbit, a great mass of thrust plumes and durasteel that cut through the beleaguered¡¯s maic field. Venator-ss Star Destroyers took the vanguard, their hulls glinting in the pale light of Bandomeer¡¯s distant sun, nked by attice of escort frigates and corvettes, their sensors vignt for Separatist remnants or iing reinforcements. Acmator-ss assault ships and Dreadnaught-ss heavy cruisers carved through theary ne, their thrusters ring against the¡¯s dusty surface.
At the bridge of battlecruiser
Hyperion, High Jedi General Plo Koon observed the assault transports and gunships breaking through the atmosphere, squadrons of ARC-170 starfighters and Y-wing bombers descending alongside them, their formation razor-sharp as they ran the Separatist gauntlet.
Plumes of smoke and fire rose from the miningplexes below, where thest remnants of Separatist forces clung desperately to their fortified positions. From his vantage point, the¡¯s surface sprawled below¨Ca scarred and deste expanse dotted with deep mining pits, massive refineries, and skeletal conveyor systems stretching for leagues. Bandomeer had once been a verdant agri-world, but the prospect of vast mineral deposits had transformed the world to such a deplorable state.
Nevertheless, Bandomeer was still a Republic world, fallen into the hands of the enemy.
¡°General,¡± Clone Commander Wolffe reported crisply, ¡°General Windu and General Kenobi have secured two of the primary mining hubs. Resistance is strong around the third, but armoured reinforcements are en route.¡±
¡°Ensure they advance with caution,¡± Plo Koon replied, his deep voice filtered through the mask that encased his face, ¡°The Separatists may have left traps near the mines.¡±
¡°Very good, General.¡±¡°Master,¡± Jedi Knight Bultar Swan approached him from behind, ¡°May I have your attention?¡±
Plo Koon diverted his gaze from the viewports to his former Padawan. It was the first time they had been reunited since the Battle of Geonosis, which the old Jedi Master could only consider as an odd twist of fate as the war nears its end. He was d to have her at his side once more, however, as the young Kuati woman had grown to be a fine and respected Jedi Knight.
¡°You need not ask for it, Knight Swan.¡±
Bultar led him back into the Battle Room, where Jedi Knight Lissarkh awaited them, the Trandoshan¡¯s sharp eyes tracing aplexwork of icons suspended over the holoprojection table. The ovey flickered with updates¨Cblue markers signifying formations preparing for hyperspace transition, yellow for those still clearing the gravity well, and red for those yet to arrive.
¡°Master Plo,¡± Knight Lissarkh hissed from the tactical console, her tongue flicking, ¡°We need your confirmation. Battle Group
Wanderer reports they¡¯ve cleared the well. Seventy-eight ships inserting to hyperspace on vector two-six-three.¡±
¡°Confirmed,¡± Plo Koon replied, his steady voice rising above the hum of the bridge, ¡°Ensure their path is clear through to the Harloen System. Have
Wanderer ry status updates at the midpoint.¡±
¡°Yesss, Master.¡±
¡°Update from the Ny-First Support Squadron,¡± Bultar interjected next, ¡°They¡¯ve entered the system and are holding position at the designated staging area. Their freighters are requesting additional clearance for cargo transfers before following the main group.¡±
¡°Grant their request,¡± Plo Koon nced at the iing traffic, ¡°Inform Master Jaro Tapal of the development and modify Task Force
Albedo Brave¡¯s flight n.¡±
¡°Understood, Master.¡±
The projection shifted again, a cluster of green icons moving toward the¡¯s asteroid field.
¡°Battle Group
Selfless reports sessful engagement with enemy remnants near the asteroid field,¡± Lissarkh added, ¡°They¡¯re pursuing to ensure no enemy vessels attempt to escape.¡±
¡°Order Master Keelyvine Reus to expedite her sweep,¡± the Jedi Master, ¡°We cannot risk dys with so many ships converging here.¡±
¡°Yes, General.¡±
Plo Koon¡¯s gaze swept across the bridge, taking in the flurry of controlled activity as officers coordinated fleet movements and navigation updates. The task of managing an armada as vast as the Expeditionary Fleet was daunting, even for the most seasonedmanders, especiallypounded by hostile forces and time constraints. The Meerian Sector¨Cand surrounding sectors¨Chad recently been conquered by General Grievous¡¯ Coreward offensive, and whilst resistance was light here, it would only grow more intense as they pushed Rimward. ?§Ñ
¡°Status of the Seventh Auxiliary Section?¡± Plo Koon could hear Bultar inquire.
¡°They¡¯re ssstill navigating the inner orbits,¡± Lissarkh replied, ¡°Their lead elements should clear the well in twenty minutes, but their bulk transports are reporting minor engine dysss.¡±
There was a hint of annoyance in Lissarkh¡¯s sibnt, rasping voice. Frustration, perhaps, at her current responsibility of shepherding the Expeditionary Fleet to their next waypoint at Harloen. Plo Koon could sense it, a subtle knot in the Force that echoed the tension in her words. The Jedi Master avoided faulting her for it; Jedi Knight Lissarkh was once his apprentice too, and he knew not all Jedi could distance themselves from the innate nature of their species.
He had taught her much in the ways of patience and duty, but ultimately, this role of coordination and oversight must have felt like an exercise in endless tedium for a hunter species.
Not such a dissimr plight as Obi-Wan¡¯s, Master Plo mused lightly,
considering his tribtions with Ahsoka. Trandoshans and Togrutas were both hunter species, and their heightened senses made any form of serenity and stoicism an ordeal to perform. It was why Jedi Masters like Shaak Ti were so respected.
¡°General,¡± Commander Wolffe stormed into the Battle Room, face set grim as the helmet tucked under his arm, ¡°We have a situation.¡±
Plo Koon looked over his shoulder, ¡°Greater resistance than expected?¡±
The Clone Commander nodded sharply, ¡°Requesting to deploy the Wolfpack Battalionside.¡±
¡°Granted,¡± Plo Koon turned his attention to his former Padawan, ¡°Knight Lissarkh, you will bemanding the Wolfpack.¡±
Lissarkh snapped up, her pupils dting in surprise, ¡°Master? But¨C¡±
¡°We will be pleased to have you, Commander,¡± Wolffe saluted.
¡°Your orders are to capture the mining hub before rendezvousing with the Seventh Sky Corps,¡± Plo Koonmanded, ¡°Any following orders will be given to you by General Kenobi. Understood.¡±
Jedi Knight Lissarkh hastily bowed, ¡°I will not fail, Master Plo.¡±
¡°That I do not doubt. May the Force be with you.¡±
Plo Koon and Bultar Swan watched the backs of the two as they departed, the Trandoshan Jedi already attentively listening to Commander Wolffe¡¯s mission brief. Lissarkh couldn¡¯t quite conceal her eagerness at the change of pace.
¡°I am afraid you will have to cover for her, Bultar.¡±
Jedi Knight Bultar Swan bowed dutifully, ¡°That suits me well, Master Plo. I¡¯d prefer not to fight.¡±
¡°A noble stance, one all Jedi should strive towards,¡± the Kel Dor Master sped his wed hands behind his back, ¡°But not one appropriate right now.¡±
Bultar Swan was a Jedi raised in an era where simply igniting a lightsaber was justification enough to warrant a cessation in hostilities. In this tumultuous time, however, the oue is more often the opposite, where a lightsaber has be a weapon of war rather than a means for peace.
Despite Bultar¡¯s hopes, Plo Koon had a feeling that the time when their lightsabers may be restored to their original purpose was still far off. Bringing Dooku to justice besides, too many lines have already been crossed in this gxy, and too many bridges broken. It has be exceedingly clear to all that, despite Palpatine¡¯s best wishes, a reunification of the gxy would no longer be a simple matter. Just as there have been lines crossed, so have there been lines drawn in the sand, and trenches dug in the dirt.
The frontlines have been established, state borders drawn onto maps and starcharts. The Separatist Alliance could no longer be written off as a mere rebellion, an unrecognised state. This has been the case since that peace conference on Onderon, where by agreeing to talks the Republic had unofficially recognised the sovereignty of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Perhaps that was the Pantoran¡¯s stratagem all along; to lure the Republic to the negotiating table and guarantee the legitimacy of the Confederacy¨Cbefore smashing the negotiation to pieces and re-seizing the initiative.
¡°¨Crelieve the blockade,¡± Bultar spoke into thems, her brows furrowing, ¡°Understood, Master Piell. May the Force be with you.¡±
¡°Have they arrived at Taris?¡± Plo Koon asked.
¡°Yes, Master,¡± she answered, ¡°Battle Group
Insolent should be lifting the Siege of Taris right now.¡±
¡°...Master Piell must not underestimate his opponent,¡± the Jedi General set his shoulders, ¡°We must not forget that General Grievous is the singr source of all of our Order¡¯s woes.¡±
Confederate General Grievous¡ after taking Bandomeer, his fleets were poised to strike at either Taris or Mandalore. While both worlds were in strategically important locations, Grievous ultimately decided to continue up the Hydian Way and invaded Taris. It was a logical decision; Taris was a Loyalist ecumenopolis¨Ca city-world¨Cwhilst Mandalore was an ostensibly neutral wastnd. Regardless, it meant the GAR had a vestedmitment in liberating Taris¨Ca responsibility they could have shrugged off should General Grievous had attacked the neutral Mandalore instead.
As the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet traversed the Hydian Way, it was only natural it fell on them to liberate General Grievous¡¯ conquests. However, the Taris Systemid a thousand light-years north of the Hydian Way, and so the decision was made to have the Expeditionary Fleet continue Rimward, whilst a battle group was dispatched to repel Grievous from Taris. That battle group would bemanded by Jedi Master Even Piell of the High Council and Jedi Master Luminara Unduli.
As for Grievous¡ there was once a time the Grand Army feared he would be their greatest enemy. Making his appearance in Operation Sidestep, General Grievous ughtered the Republic¡¯sary armies during the Battle of Christophsis, killing nearly half-dozen Jedi Masters and Knights in the process. As General Sev¡¯rance Tann hastily made for Bothan Space, it was his fleets that routed the GAR 13th Sector Army across the entire gctic south.
It was that fateful battle on Christophsis that drove a stake of uncertainty into the Jedi Temple¡¯s reputation, and the source of so many of their political troubles.
Come to think of it, it was the gctic south that spawned so many of the Confederacy¡¯s best soldiers. If he remembered correctly, the Battle Hydra wrote his name into the battle chronicles of the gxy at Christophsis as well, after repulsing General Kenobi¡¯s relief fleet there. Admiral Trench was a well-knownmander even before the war, but nevertheless also made his name fighting in the Andoan Wars in the south. A yearter, General Horn Ambigene turned Eriadu into a tomb, and made his moniker feared throughout the stars.
¡°General Grievous will not fight fairly,¡± Plo Koon continued, staring intently into the holoprojection, ¡°And if there is one thing we must learn from the Separatists, it is how to think out of the box. They have always strove to invent new technologies, new doctrines, and new stratagems to even the ying field, in light of all of the Republic¡¯s inherent advantages. General Grievous will be the same.¡±
Bultar Swan paused, uncertainty fleeting across her face like a passing shadow, before inclining ever so slightly, ¡°I will warn them, Master.¡±
Jedi Master Plo Koon was aware of the subtle ripple in the Force, neither loud nor urgent, but like a scent of petrichor preceding a storm. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, drawing the Force around him like a protective shroud, seeking rity. His wed fingers tightened slightly behind his back, but his unease went by neither seen nor noticed. The leathery, masked face of a Kel Dor was impossible to read, if the Kel Dor did not allow it.
May the Force be with you, Master Piell.
?
Taris Approach, Taris System
Ojoster Sector
¡°Knight Swan thought to warn us of General Grievous,¡± Master Luminara Unduli¡¯s hologram smiled wanly,
¡°How considerate of her.¡±
¡°Plo Koon¡¯s words,¡± Jedi Master Even Piell said gruffly, crossing his arms.
¡°We should heed them,¡± the Mirin Jedi Master warned.
¡°We should,¡± Master Piell nodded, eyes darting to and fro across the viewports, ¡°Because this does not look like a world under siege.¡±
The vast, glisteningwide city of Taris sprawled before Battle Group
Insolent, seemingly untouched by war. There was a distinctck of Separatist warships over the, despite the frantic ims of Taris¡¯ distress call. Any lessermander might assume the Tarisians to be lying, or at least mistaken, but Even Piell thought otherwise. The battle-hardened Jedi Master soberly analysed the situation, hisbat senses tingling.
Insolent¡¯s sensors were not picking up any hostile warships¡
But Taris was silent, absolutely silent. A truly unsettling anomaly for an ecumenopolis. Nor were herary shields raised, which would¡¯ve been the only thing that could block all radiation from the city-world. It could only mean that Taris¡¯ shields had been torn down, and in a matter of weeks at that! General Grievous must be in possession of some truly overwhelming firepower. And despite that, there were no signs of orbital bombardment on that at all.
Does theck of Separatist warships indicate that Grievous had withdrawn prior to their arrival then?
Master Piell was about to voice his thoughts, when noticed
Gand¡¯s scanners were pointed at the closest of Taris¡¯ four moons.
¡°Something the matter, Master Unduli?¡± he questioned.
¡°The Battle Hydra once ambushed me by hiding his warships behind moons after luring my ships closer to the.¡±
¡°Captain Tarkin,¡± Even Piell beckoned his g captain, ¡°Launch four snub wings to investigate the Tarisian moons. I want a deep scan of the star system before we approach any closer to the.¡±
¡°Our scans are already indicating no enemy warships in the vicinity, General,¡± Captain Wilhuff Tarkin pontificated, ¡°Should General Grievous¡¯ fleet remain in-system, then he must be preparing for a counterattack. We should secure Taris quickly and establish defensive positions around the Tarisian moons.¡±
Captain Wilhuff Tarkin was a rather contemptuous and opinionated man, one unafraid to voice his concerns about the Jedi¨Cbut Master Even Piell found that he was loyal to the Republic nheless, and he was not one fault others of their character, so long as they were loyal and dutiful. Captain Wilhuff Tarkin was both, especially proven after the destruction of his homeworld by the Tombmaker, Captain Tarkin did not once stray or falter from his responsibilities as the g Captain of Jedi General Piell¡¯s fleet.
For those reasons, the Lannik Jedi Master could tolerate and even respect Captain Tarkin¡¯s presence by his side.
¡°Captain Tarkin,¡± the diminutive Jedi General crossed his arms, ¡°The Separatists are known to be in the possession of a long-range weapon, one outranging anything we have to offer.¡±
¡°All the more reason to begin securing Taris, General,¡± Tarkin looked down at him seriously, ¡°This General Grievous may be an uncivilised brute, but even he would not devoid the Separatists of Taris¡¯ resources and industry.¡±
¡°You intend to hold the hostage?¡± Even Piell raised a scarred, hairless eyebrow.
¡°I intend to work efficiently and logically.¡±
Even Piell found himself deep in thought. Despite Captain Tarkin¡¯s less-than-upstanding reasons, his words were indeed logical and sensible. Despite that, the old Jedi Master still had the feeling it would be a dire mistake to make. The Force warped thickly around the like a thick fog, as if Taris itself was shrouded in Grievous¡¯ schemes.
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¡°Begin identifying insertion sites as soon as the moons are secure, Captain,¡± the Jedi General finallymanded, ¡°Master Luminara, I would have you split your task force from Battle Group
Insolent and prepare tond on the opposite side of the. Make every attempt to contact theside authorities.¡±
¡°Understood, Master Piell. May the Force be with you.¡±
With a
click, the connection was severed, and Task Force
Gand began pulling away. The holographic disy shimmered as Master Luminara''s image faded, leaving Even Piell alone on the bridge deck.
Gand¡¯s ships began adjusting their formations, peeling away from therger fleet in orderly precision. As they moved, fighter squadrons and troop carriersunched from their motherships, manoeuvring into their escort patterns like a well-rehearsed dance.
Behind him, the quiet hum of themand bridge buzzed with subdued activity, officers murmuring into headsets and datapads shing with status updates. Even Piell¡¯s presence was enough to keep them focused, though he felt the weight of their unspoken questions pressing on him. He couldn¡¯t ignore the uneasy thrumming in the Force, the sense of something dark moving just beyond the edge of their understanding. With a low sigh, he turned to the nearestms officer.
"Inform all ships to maintain heightened readiness.¡±
¡°Yes, General.¡±
¡°General!¡± a sensor chief suddenly shot to his feet, ¡°We¡¯re picking up unknown signatures fromside!¡±
¡°Hostile warships!?¡± Captain Tarkin rushed to the edge of the data pit before he did.
¡°N-No Captain!¡± the chief¡¯s fingers scrambled across his console, ¡°They look like unarmed transports! Three¡ four of them!¡±
¡°They¡¯re approaching us,¡± Even Piell identified the tiny blinking lights beyond the viewport.
¡°Guns!¡± Captain Tarkin roared, sending the bridge scrambling into fullbat readiness, ¡°Comms, demand a full transponder readout, now! I want a full-spec sensor scan on those ships!¡±
Master Piell narrowed his single eye as the transports creeped closer, his senses heightening. They looked innocent enough; four A-ss bulk freighters, of the old and fairlymon PCL 27 design, with the kind of exteriors that came from either a lifetime of honest work or else a short and spectacrly unsessful career of piracy.
Their cargo bays registeredpletely empty, and there were no weapons emcements that the
Insolent¡¯s sensors could pick up.
¡°We¡¯re picking up biosigns!¡± the sensor chief shouted, ¡°All of them are full of biosigns!¡±
Captain Tarkin¡¯s eyes narrowed in rm,
¡°Refugees?¡±
¡°We got a transponder!
Iron Gull, out of Corsin! They must¡¯vee here on a routine freight run until the Separatists fell on them!¡±
They¡¯re all legitimate, Master Piell thought as he scanned the codes, ¡°I want to talk to them.¡±
¡°You¡¯re patched through on open, General.¡±
¡°Iron Gull, this is the battlecarrier
Insolent of the Republic Navy,¡± Even Piell spoke forcefully, ¡°State your purpose at once, or we must consider you a hostile vessel!¡±
¡°...W-Wait!¡± a young, frantic voice suddenly responded,
¡°This is Iron Gull! This is Iron Gull! We¡ uh, we¡¯re carrying refugees out of Taris! We¡¯re seeking asylum! Don¡¯t shoot! You need to help us!¡±
¡°Iron Gull!¡± Captain Tarkin marched forward, ¡°Cut your engines at once! Where are the Separatists!?¡±
Iron Gull didn¡¯t cut her engines, and the small convoy of four continued burning hard towards
Insolent.
¡°N-No! You need to help us!¡± the voice¡¯s desperation was genuine, the Jedi Master could sense it,
¡°The Separatist fleet left after they destroyed the¡¯s shields with a giantser! They could st the entire to¨C¡±
There was a dull
bang followed by a loud yelp in the background, followed by stark silence.
¡°...Cut your main drives,
Iron Gull!¡± Captain Tarkin¡¯s gaze waspletely fixated on the approaching convoy, ¡°I will say this for thest time! Cut your engines or we will be forced to open fire!¡±
¡°There are people on those ships, Captain,¡± Master Piell warned, ¡°Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people.¡±
¡°If there would be a Separatist trap, this would be it,¡± Wilhuff Tarkin snarled, and Even Piell couldn¡¯t refute him. This was exactly the sort of thing the Separatists would do.
¡°General, Captain!¡± the sensor chief shouted, ¡°We¡¯re picking up more signatures! Hundreds, thousands! They¡¯re all transports!¡±
Thousands of twinkling lights were emerging from Taris¡¯ celestial shadow, all unarmed transports bursting with biosigns, likely following
Iron Gull¡¯s lead. They could not know the situationside with the apparentmunications ckout, but with the Separatist fleet withdrawn, millions of Tarisians seemed to be seizing their chance to escape to the safety of Task Force
Insolent in orbit.
¡°We can¡¯t let them approach, General,¡± Captain Tarkin told him firmly.
¡°I agree.¡±
¡°All Tarisian vessels, this is the Republic Navy!¡± Captain Tarkin immediately announced into thems, ¡°Break off your approach vector and head to the established staging grounds for processing. If you fail to do so, we
will open fire!¡±
The fleet of transports hesitated for a breathless moment, their chaotic formations wavering like leaves caught in a swirling wind. Then, one by one, their engines red and they altered course, shifting to the staging grounds in orbit hastily designated by the frantic staff officers. Their departure was a sluggish process, ships clustering together in nervous groups as they manoeuvred away, reluctant to stray too far from what they perceived as their best hope for safety. All except for the
Iron Gull.
The fleet of four bulk freighters maintained its course, stubbornly elerating toward the fleet''s heart. Their navigational lights blinked in defiance, and even without words, its intent was clear:
they weren¡¯t stopping.
Captain Tarkin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he observed the vessel''s audacity.
¡°They test our resolve, General,¡± he said coldly, a hand resting lightly on the edge of the ship¡¯s console.
Even Piell¡¯s sharp features remained impassive, though his mind churned. Through the Force, he could sense the panic radiating from the freighter, a desperate determination tinged with fear.
¡°Captain,¡± he said evenly, ¡°Hail them again. Let us see if reason can prevail before we resort to more¡ persuasive measures.¡±
Tarkin nodded sharply,
¡°Iron Gull, this yourst warning! Shut down your main drives now or we will open fire!¡±
They waited a beat, and another, and the
Iron Gull continued roaring towards them hell for leather.
Captain Tarkin looked at the Jedi General. The Jedi Master could acutely sense the mounting tension on the bridge as they awaited his judgement.
¡°Aim for their engines. Low power shots.¡±
The g Captain saluted stiffly, turning around with a click of his heels, ¡°Aim for the thrusters of those transports! Minimum power setting¨Cshoot to disable, not destroy! Open fire!¡±
Insolent¡¯s guns thundered to life, a handful of dim blue bolts streaked toward the Iron Gull and the three other freighters veering toward them on collision trajectories. The hulking vessels shuddered under the impacts as explosions tore through their aft sections, all of their impetus dying and leaving them listing forwards on the invisible rails of inertia. For a precious moment, it appeared as if the threat had subsided¨Cuntil the
Iron Gull¡¯s forward freight door yawned open, breaking off shards of ice and¨Csuddenly, the cargo bay
was no longer empty.
One of the deck officers sucked in a breath. A tight-packed mass of
something was in there, totally filling the space where
Insolent¡¯s sensors had read nothing. A mass that was even now exploding outward like a ho¡¯s nest out of the
Iron Gull¡¯s gaping maw. A familiar scene was shared across all four transports.
At first, the objects seemed inert, metallic pods tumbling free in chaotic spirals, like the flotsam of some shipyard scrap heap. Then the pods began to power up, their surfaces glowing faintly with embedded emitters. A collective gasp swept the bridge as the tactical officer¡¯s panicked voice broke through the tension.
"Alert!
Interdiction mines! Hundreds¨Cno,
thousands of them!"
Even Piell¡¯s heart clenched as he realised the magnitude of the trap. The Force surged with urgency, and he stepped forward sharply. ¡°Target those mines! Prioritise point defence!¡±
Insolent¡¯s point-defence batteries lit up, their rapid-fire bursts painting the void in dazzling streaks of fire. Turbser bolts and k rounds erupted from escort ships as the Republic fleet scrambled to react. But for every mine neutralised, another slipped through, screaming towards them on ion manoeuvre thrusters.
It was then that the Jedi Master saw them. Bodies. Human bodies. Aqualish bodies. Duros bodies. Nikto bodies. Quarren bodies. Rodian bodies. Twi¡¯lek bodies. Thousands of them, streaming out of the now open cargo bays, frozen and tumbling in the void among the debris. The freighters hadn¡¯t been carrying only mines. Civilians¨Clikely the very Tarisians seeking escape¨Chad been packed into the cargo bays like cattle andunched toward the fleet as grisly distractions.
¡°Shoot down those mines!¡± Tarkin howled, unable topletely hide his own rm, ¡°General, your orders!?¡±
There was no time to dispense orders.
¡°General!¡± the sensor officer shouted, ¡°Cronau radiation detected! Separatist fleet emerging from hyperspace! Bearing one-four-five mark oh-two-two! Range¨C
they¡¯re right on top of us!¡±
Even Piell didn¡¯t need the Force to feel the shift in the room. Every officer froze for a fraction of a second as the enormous hulks of Separatist warships snapped into existence right on top of them, captured by the artificial mass shadows generated by the interdiction mines, led by a massive Providence-ss dreadnought.
General Grievous had sprung his trap perfectly.
¡°Shields to the dorsal aft!¡± the Jedi General barked, his voice cutting through the panic, ¡°Form up defensive wedges! Have the rearguard engage the enemy! Recall Task Force
Gand at once!¡±
¡°A
second fleet just exited from hyperspace, bearing oh-three-three mark three-oh-four! Range pending!¡±
Insolent¡¯s EWAR suites howled in rm as enemy targeting systems locked onto the Republic gship and singled her out among the fleet. Holographic disys lit up across the bridge, a web of blue vectors converging on the Providence-ss dreadnought bearing down on them. The Separatist gship¡¯s jagged hull bristled with turbser batteries and missileunchers, its aggressive dive towards the
Insolent deliberate and focused.
Grievous is aiming for my head. He even brought in a second fleet to box us in.
¡°Enemy gship on direct intercept course!¡± Captain Tarkin reported, his voice taut with urgency, ¡°Registry confirms¨Ccallsign
Invisible Hand! Range nine-thousand klicks and closing fast!¡±
Insolent¡¯s inertialpensation systems strained as the ship banked sharply, her sublight engines roaring to life in a desperate attempt to evade the collision course. But the
Invisible Hand pursued with terrifying determination, shrugging off the defensive volleys from the Republic¡¯s heavy cruisers as though they were mere nuisances. Explosions rippled across its shields, lighting up its prow, but the leviathan didn¡¯t slow.
¡°Forward batteries, focus fire on their bridge!¡± Captain Tarkin barked, hisposure like a de honed to deadly sharpness, ¡°Divert auxiliary power to the dorsal and forward shields!¡±
Even Piell¡¯s senses tingled with forewarning as the Force whispered its warning. This was no standard assault; General Grievous was making a statement, throwing caution to the void in his singr pursuit of the
Insolent. The Jedi Master tightened his grip on the edge of a console as the deck pitched beneath him, the ship¡¯s frame groaning under the strain of emergency manoeuvres.
¡°They¡¯re
swarming!¡± an officer screamed as a boiling ck tide of droid starfighters rose up and down in a tidal pattern.
¡°Deploy our fighter wings!¡±
The tactical holoprojector was alive with frantic activity. Hundreds of glowing icons swirled across the disy in a storm of ovepping vectors. Starfighter squadrons from both sides tangled in a deadly dance of intercepts and bombing runs, their desperate dogfights lighting up the void around the
Insolent.
¡°Shields down to seventy percent!¡± shouted a young officer, her voice cracking under the strain.
¡°Where is General Unduli?¡± Captain Tarkin demanded, his tone ice-cold despite the chaos.
The
Invisible Hand loomedrger in the viewport with each passing second, its prow glowing ominously with the light of charged energy weapons.
Insolent¡¯s proximity rms shrieked in unison as Grievous¡¯ gship closed the gap with reckless abandon, its massive form casting a long shadow over the beleaguered Republic fleet.
¡°
Gand¡¯s engaging the of Separatist rearguard, sir!¡± another officer reported. ¡°ETA for closest reinforcements¨Cseventeen minutes!¡±
Insolent trembled as the titanic bulk of General Grievous'' gship pulled alongside, its beaked prow blotting out the stars. The ship''s interior was a symphony of chaos¨Crms red in a shrill, relentless chorus while amber emergency lights bathed the corridors and bulkheads in a flickering glow. The deck beneath their feet vibrated as another volley of turbser fire rattled the shields, the booming impacts reverberating through the ship like distant thunder.
¡°We don¡¯t have seventeen minutes,¡± Tarkin muttered, his expression grim as he turned to the tactical disy. The Providence-ss dreadnought alongside them was highlighted in ominous red, its proximity threatening to engulf the
Insolent. ¡°All batteries, concentrate fire on the
Invisible Hand!¡±
¡°They¡¯re preparing to board,¡± General Piell said, his voice a low rumble that cut through the chaos. He turned toward the internalms station, ¡°Alert all decks. Prepare for close quartersbat.¡±
The bridge shuddered violently as another salvo of enemy fire connected, and Piell braced himself against the nearest console. The Force surged around him, heavy with impending violence. A harsh metallic screech echoed through the ship, heralding the unmistakable sound of docking mps biting into
Insolent''s hull.
¡°They¡¯ve attached boarding tubes on decks five through seven! Droids are pouring in!¡±
¡°Deploy all avable troopers to the breached decks,¡± he ordered calmly, centering the bridge around him.
The Jedi Master retreated into the Battle Room with Captain Tarkin in tow, his one good eye fixed on the tactical disy as red icons swarmed through the holographic representation of the
Insolent. The vibrations of explosions and ster fire rattled through the deck ting, clones shouting reports over them channels, their voices punctuated by the sharp stato of ster fire and the unmistakable nking of droid footsteps.
¡°They¡¯ve breached onto deck four!¡±
¡°We¡¯re engaging droidekas on deck six! Reinforcements needed immediately!¡±
¡°They¡¯reing into the portside hangar!¡±
¡°This is the engineering team! We¡¯re pinned down in the main reactor room!¡±
Piell¡¯s gaze swept to a side monitor showing live feeds from the ship¡¯s internal cameras. Through the grainy, flickering images, he saw droids pouring into the corridors in precise formations, their sters cutting down clone troopers holding defensive positions. A group of BXmando droids darted with unnerving agility toward the reactor core, their movements methodical and lethal.
¡°They want to deactivate the main reactor,¡± Master Piell murmured.
¡°They don¡¯t want us to blow the ship,¡± Wilhuff Tarkin answered.
Another screen showed the escape pod bay, where a squad of battle droids methodically dismantled the control panels, ensuring no survivors could escape. Farther aft, boarding shuttles continued to disgorge fresh waves of reinforcements into the port and starboard hangars, overwhelming the remaining defenders.
Insolent¡¯s point-defence cannons had been swamped too quickly to repel the onught.
Thergest contingent of droids was marching relentlessly toward the bridge. The trooper squads and st doors slowed them, but only for what felt like moments. ster fire tore down the corridors, and when the clones'' resistance grew too fierce, the droids resorted to thermal detonators, leaving walls ckened and corridors choked with bodies and debris.
The Battle Room went stiff as a camera feed shifted to reveal a towering, skeletal figure at the head of the boarding party, nked by cloaked MagnaGuards. General Grievous moved through the smoke and wreckage with an unsettling grace, tattered cape billowing in the breeze of escaping atmosphere. His hunched frame loomed impossibly tall, his mechanical limbs elongated and spindly yet radiating a lethal strength. Each motion was precise, almost eerily fluid for a beingposed mostly of duranium and cybeics.
He was a grotesque amalgamation of technology and organic remnants, ted in armorst. The faint outlines of once-living tissue clung stubbornly beneath his chest tes, the subtle rise and fall of his ribbed chest suggested life¨Cartificial though it might be¨Cfueled by a cybeic heart that pulsed with a muted hum.
General Grievous slowed right beneath the camera, as if sensing their watchful gaze, each wed footfall striking sparks from the deck, durasteel talons gouging into the metal in an almost casual effort. His hands, skeletal and razor-sharp, gripped the white helmet of a clone trooper.
His head tilted upwards, his sunken, sulphurous eyes burning as he stared into the hidden camera. His mechanical arm rose, lifting up the helmet to the camera.
¡°Run, Jedi,¡± the monster¡¯s voice was a chilling cacophony of grinding metal and rasping amusement; a guttural, mechanical snarl that dripped with malice and yet echoed like the dying gasp of a wounded predator,
¡°Run, Jedi, run!¡±
His wed hands flexed, crunching down on the helmet¨Cand white stoid was tainted with a bloody red gore as he popped the decapitated head like a balloon.
¡°Hah¡ hah-hah¡ HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!¡±
That tortured, mockingughter bounced off the walls as the unnatural creature proceeded, not even bothering to disable the camera and leaving them all staring at the empty, death-strewn corridor.
Jedi Master Even Piell shared a grim look with his g Captain, before turning his attention to the heavy st doors sewn shut. Despite that, he seemed to hear the heavy metallic footfalls encroaching ever and ever closer. He unhooked his lightsaber and cautiously approached the door, nked by dozens of clone troopers and staff officers taking up small arms, some determined, most frozen with justified fear.
Then, with a shriek ofcerated metal, the st doors shuddered violently. Four thin beams of blue-green light shed through the heavy steel like a hot knife through butter, their edges sizzling with molten heat. The lightsabers twisted and spun, carving wide, deliberate arcs as they melted through the reinforced door. Sweat dripped down the old Jedi Master¡¯s forehead.
¡°Run, Jedi, run!¡± General Grievousughed from the other side, knowing full well there was nowhere for them to go,
¡°Ruun! Ruuun! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
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Chapter 84
Somewhere in the Cathar System
Quelli Sector
¡°Observation: the Expeditionary Fleet is crossing the Bandomeer-Harloen axis,¡± Augur tracked the progress of our quarry.
¡°So they¡¯ve finally entered Serenno space,¡± I kicked back, resting my head against my hands, ¡°What about Admiral Trench?¡±
The super tactical droid swiped at the holoprojection, ¡°Our spy frigates have observed mass transit through Salin Corridor. Conclusion: Admiral Trench has crossed Phindian space.¡±
I eyed the starchart, tracing the winding hypenes with my eyes. Spanning the Trans-Hydian expanse, the Salin Corridor met and crossed the Hydian Way at the Botajef System, before continuing into the New Territories. I narrowed my eyes¨C
it would be a race, then. A race to see which fleet captures Botajef from Serenno¡¯s hands first. Botajef was a city-world, home of the Botajef Shipyards: formerly one of the most productive civilian yards in the gxy, now one of the most productive military yards.
Considering its strategic location at the nexus of two major hypenes, and its sheer value besides, it would be safe to assume Count Dooku¡¯s droid armies had fortified the star system to Firefist and back. If Botajef falls¨C
and it will, that I had no doubt¨Cthen the fleet that captured it would dictate the pace of the rest of the campaign.
That, in turn, raised another concern. Convincing Phindar was one thing, but ensuring the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet and Confederate Armed Forces 2nd Fleet Group would cooperate was a different challenge altogether. I personally did notck confidence in Trench¡¯s means, as the Confederate Fleet Groups had been organized¨Cintentionally or not¨Cas vassals of theirmanding admirals, securing their loyalty.
With Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s 1st Fleet taking up the post on the Perlemian Trade Route, the 2nd Fleet that Admiral Trench took with him through Phindar was utterly bent to his will. It helped that the old Harch was a somewhat legendary figure now. Nevertheless, his subordinates might grumble at his orders, even question his strategy, but they would fall in line when the time came. Phindar had proven that much.The Jedi Expeditionary Fleet was a different beast altogether. Even ignoring the tension between Jedi and Navy ranks in the Expeditionary Fleet, not even the Jedi themselves could be treated homogeneously. Some were aware of the impending coup, most weren¡¯t. Some were pro-Republic hardliners, others were more moderate. Some were willing to put aside differences to deliver justice to Dooku, while others considered cooperation with the Separatists unthinkable.
s, that was not up to me but Trench, and I did not envy his position. We were fortunate the Jedi General at Phindar was lukewarm to the Republic at best, but someone like Mace Windu would be much harder to convince. Which was why it was so paramount that Trench reach Botajef before the Jedi do: possessing such a massive bargaining chip would surely do wonders at the negotiating table.
The question in the air, then, was whether he would.
The CAF 2nd Fleet had the advantage of size and organisation, as well as unrestrained transit on the Salin Corridor. Meanwhile, the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet was huge, and frankly untenably mixed bag of formations and factions. Not to mention, they had to conquer their way down the Hydian Way, recapturing worlds and systems from General Grievous¡¯ armies.
¡
Shit, I totally forgot about the cyborg. Where the hell is he?
I couldn¡¯t just sit still twiddling my thumbs whilst that monster was gallivanting about. Knowing Count Dooku, it would be just like him to keep his trump card hidden right until the critical moment. Tensions will be high enough at the uing confrontation at Botajef, and we did not need to risk a rogue party crashere rampaging in as General Grievous ought to do.
I snapped my fingers, drawing Augur¡¯s attention: ¡°We need to ount for all of Count Dooku¡¯s military assets still in y.¡±
The droid¡¯s head slowly turned towards me, ¡°Statement: we were instructed to observe the situation.¡±
Hmm? Nothing I said indicated we would be doing anything but simply observing the situation.
¡°I am feeling restless,¡± I replied leisurely, ¡°I am sure you agree with me that time is a resource we shouldn¡¯t waste. And besides, Admiral Trench had permitted independent action.¡±
I could just feel the cogs whirring behind Augur¡¯s beaked facete, his three yellow eyes staring nkly past me as he deliberated my unique interpretation of Admiral Trench¡¯s words. I had a bit of leeway to y with, I felt. Besides, I now possessed the same rank as Admiral Trench, as the CAF hierarchy did not have any position higher than admiral or general. Now that I was no longer subordinate to the 2nd Fleet Group¨Cas I had been reced by Diedrich¨CTrench was no longer mymanding officer either.
Of course, the weight of my words held nothingpared to his, but considering Trench did explicitly tell me that he ¡®trusted my judgement¡¯, I think it''s safe to assume I had the liberty of independent action at my disposal.
Otherwise why the hell would he give me the rank?
¡°If you don¡¯t have any formalints, plug yourself into
PRIESTESS and let¡¯s startbing through the Republic¡¯s observation reports.¡±
The tactical droid¡¯s posture stiffened slightly, the faintest flicker of disapproval breaking through his emotionless facete, ¡°¨CAffirmative.¡±
In an instant, the starchart red to life, casting its radioactive green glow across the pilothouse. On the lower decks, Skakoan engineers paused their work, ncing up at the unexpected disy. Threads of light radiated outward, tracing routes Rimward from Coruscant, unseen and out of frame. The holo highlighted the GAR¡¯s key positions across the northern gctic quadrant, each line representing a fragment of interceptedmunications. Yet, the web was iplete¨Cthere were no radial threads between the northern systems, as PRIESTESS was only capable of reading signals routed
through the Republic capital.
Nevertheless, I figured the locations of characters of such threat and import as General Grievous would be reported to Coruscant anyway. As Augur skillfully navigated thework, the hologram shimmered into sharp relief as PRIESTESS''s datastream fully engaged, the starchart popting with a steady flow of glowing markers and data trails. Said markers then blinked out of existence as Augur gged those logs of interest out of the banal cargo manifests and equipment requisition requests.
I unconsciously sat up a bit straighter, uselessly studying the spiderweb of information. There was nothing I could do with the technological monster that Augur couldn¡¯t do better, but somewhere within the chaotic tangle of the GAR¡¯s logistics and operations was our next target, and I could help but sit in anticipation.
After what seemed like an age, Augur¡¯s voice broke through the ambient hum of the consoles, t and clinical: ¡°Observation: Admiral Pors Tonith¡¯s fleet has been gged in multiple recent reports.¡±
I straightened at that, my gaze fixing on a sh of data points along the Veragi Trade Route. Augur was already cross-referencing and extrapting Admiral Tonith¡¯s movements using the data at hand, and the bright crimson arc of an assault vector stood out like a bloodstain against the starlit expanse.
¡°...Looks like Admiral Tonith had the same idea we had, eh?¡± I murmured, ¡°Using the Veragi Trade Route to circumnavigate the GAR¡¯s defensive positions on the Cnon Spur¡ should we consider ourselves fortunate we did not decide to run the Veragi? Our meagre force would have stood no chance against his should we have encountered him.¡±
¡°Analysis: Recent Republicmuniques indicate a significant concentration of Separatist naval forces in the Dubrillion and Jaemus Star Systems,¡± Augur noted, ¡°Assessment: Admiral Pors Tonith is consolidating and reinforcing Serenno¡¯s territories in the gctic northwest, with the intent on reiming the Banking n¡¯s assets.¡±
¡°And counterattacking the GAR¡¯s forces from behind,¡± I pointed out, ¡°With all eyes turned to the Expeditionary Fleet¡¯s offensive down the Hydian Way, the GAR Eighth Sector Army will be standing alone against Pors Tonith¡¯s fleets.¡±
Out of left field, I must admit, but strategically sound. A diversionary attack on Dantooine and Muunilinst was perhaps precisely what Count Dooku needed to alleviate some of the tension against Serenno. Looking at the starchart, what Admiral Tonith was doing was tantamount to forcing the Republic¡¯s northern armies into a war on two fronts. If resources from the Expeditionary Fleet are to be redeployed to the west, then Serenno¡¯s chances of survival are just that much better. If the 8th Sector Army receives no help, on the other hand, then Admiral Tonith has a good chance of reconquering the lost systems of the InterGctic Banking n.
Either way, Serenno wins.
s, Dubrillion was too far away for me to do anything about it, not that Pors Tonith was the subject of my interest anyway. Nevertheless, the news was enlightening; Count Dooku had two main military leaders under his vassge¨CAdmiral Pors Tonith and General Grievous. With the former ounted for all the way in the west, thetter must be much closer to home.
I gestured at the map, zooming out with a deft flick of my hand to epass the sprawling northern quadrant. My gaze swept over the faint, shadowy indicators marking Republic losses andpromised systems, until my attention snagged on another crimson g. It was situated in the Taris System, and the sheer density of signals was a telling giveaway.
¡°There,¡± I said softly, my voice sharpening, ¡°That¡¯s where Grievous is. It must be; it tracks with thetest reports of his campaign up the Hydian.¡±
¡°essing transmissions¡¡± Augur tilted his head, ¡°Observation: General Grievous has executed an aggressive orbital andary assault on Taris. Local forces reportedly overwhelmed andmunications ckout in effect.¡±
¡°Looks like the Expeditionary Fleet prioritised haste over securing their nks,¡± I stood up, ¡°From Taris, Grievous has a whole cornucopia of options to choose from.¡±
Taris, sitting just a thousand light-years north of the Hydian Way and seven-thousand light-years southwest of Bandomeer, was the perfect staging ground to undermine the Republic¡¯s supply and reinforcement lines. Not to mention, the ability to attack the Expeditionary Fleet in the rear opens up to him as well. Obviously, the GAR knows this, considering the sheer number of gs around Taris. In all likelihood, a fleet had already been redeployed to dispatch of General Grievous.
I frowned, wracking my brain for anything my hazy memory could provide me. Memories of my homeworld were fading, slipping through my fingers like grains of sand to harder I tried to clutch onto them. Somewhere within me, a new fear blossomed; the fear that I might no longer remember where I came from. Maybe I should write down what I know while I still can, as spotty as my memories may be.
Then, after the war is over¡
Perhaps I should go searching for a distant star in the night sky? A gxy far, far away¡
I still had my whole life ahead of me, after all, and surely with the authority of the CAF behind my back, I could afford to construct some long-range observatories and space telescopes in the spiral arms of the Outer Rim.
¡A mission for another time.
In any case, what I knew of General Grievous was perishingly little, but I knew for a fact he was the Supreme Commander of the Confederate Droid Armies in another life. I
must consider him to be a militarymander on par with Sev¡¯rance Tann. And if that was the case¨Cno Republic fleet could ever put an end to him in a straight naval engagement.
¡°We should go take a look,¡± I said aloud, pacing slowly along the edge of the hologram.
Augur¡¯s three yellow eyes swiveled to track me, ¡°Query: is this an appropriate juncture to invoke independent action?¡±
I stopped and turned to face him fully, a faint smile tugging at my lips, ¡°What do you think?¡±
¡°rification: my approval is irrelevant. Your orders take precedence.¡±
I pped, like a snap of thunder jolting everybody in the bridge, ¡°Then let¡¯s get to it! Get the
Scepter on the line and have Illiet plot the most direct course for the Taris System!¡±
?
Taris Orbit, Taris System
Ojoster Sector
Surprise. Shock. Awe.
Two years fighting thergest war the gxy has ever seen, and Jedi Master Luminara Unduli have only felt those emotions so rampantly once before, evoked by a then unheard of Confederatemander in the uninhabited backwaters of the Outer Rim. Ambushing a fleet was no easy feat¨Cspace was vast, and sensors far outrange effective weapon envelopes by light-hours. In this age, to so expertly jump an ambush right on top of the unsuspecting victim requires two things;plete control of the local astrography, and a certain kind of cunning.
Luminara Unduli could not have known that two years ago, she was witnessing the first tentative steps of a new monster to the Republic. Since then, Luminara Unduli
should have been more cautious whenever engaging a new Separatist foe.
It seems some lessons are not so easily learned when taught only once, Luminara Unduli thought dryly as shemanded Task Force
Gand thick into the fray. Venator-ss attack cruisers plunged into the nks of the Separatist warfleet like freshly honed knives, their dagger-like hulls gleaming with fresh, unscarred doonium, and artillery decks zing like an edge of blue fire.
Too hasty, the Jedi Master frowned lightly,
we were too hasty to act.
As if upon noticing the rare feature of concern gracing the usually impassive General¡¯s face, Clone Commander Gree was moved toment.
¡°It is fortunate we had been detached from the main fleet when General Grievous sprung his ambush,¡± Commander Greemented, ¡°At least we are now in the position to help.¡±
¡°From a certain point of view,¡± the Mirin Master murmured, ¡°Can we contact the
Insolent?¡±
Task Force
Gand¡¯s advance ground to a halt as it mmed into a roaring wall of Banking n frigates, thebat so tightly packed that the hulls of warships scraped against one another, and turbser fire barely had time to clear the barrels before mming into their targets. Thettice of Munificent-ss frigates held their line adamantly, unwilling to allow
Gand to break through¨Cand Master Luminara knew why.
Through a fleeting gap in the frigatettice, she could see the
Insolent bracketed, a lone ind of steel in a sea of Separatist fire. A Providence-ss dreadnought loomed over the Republic gship, its massive bulk shrugging off the efforts of desperate Republic escorts as it bulled its way forward. The
Invisible Hand was relentless as it ran its beam alongside the
Insolent, However, when a droid army
is put into the hands of a general who knows how to use them?
¡°Recusant-ss destroyers on our starboard bow,¡± Commander Gree warned, ¡°They are overwhelming our formation, General.
Magnolia¡¯s moving forward
to hold our right wing, but we can¡¯t expect her tost forever.¡±
¡°Is there any hope of salvaging this battle, Commander?¡± the Jedi General asked, feeling the Force flow through her fingers, ¡°Any course of action in which we can rescue the
Insolent?¡±
¡°...With all due respect, General Unduli,¡± the Clone Commander answered stiffly, ¡°the best thing General Piell can do now is blow the
Insolent whilst Grievous is still onboard.¡±
The words hit her like a physical blow, but she kept herposure. Master Luminara did not look at any tactical disy, and instead delved deeper into the Force to find her answers.
Insolent was boxed in, signals flickering from its listing form erratically as the Grievous¡¯ fleet jammed everything around it. The battle was already slipping, and there was no helping it.
Nor could the
Magnolia hold much longer, under the onught of Separatist destroyers. Fires burned visibly across her midsection, dorsal hangar doors locked open, but her gunners kept firing, overclocked point-defence cannons staving away boarding skiffs like an umbre of fire.
Soon,
Gand will be boxed in as well.
¡°Order all ships to break contact. Cycle
Magnolia with
Celosia to hold the nk as long as possible while the rest of the Task Force retreats to the closest hypene egress behind us,¡± Master Luminara ordered, voice clipped, ¡°Pained as I am to say, this battle is lost.¡±
Commander Gree wasted no time: ¡°Right away, sir!¡±
He began barking orders into thems, his tone sharp as he directed the formation shift.
Magnolia banked hard to port, allowing
Celosia to charge forward and absorb the brunt of iing fire with her broadside.
Celosia¡¯s shields red and buckled, but held, responding with her own blistering salvo of fire. At the same time Task Force
Gand¡¯s remaining ships began peeling away from the engagement zone, engines ring as they pushed for hypene egress behind them.
Master Luminara closed her eyes briefly, reaching out with the Force towards the
Insolent. She felt the chaos aboard the gship, the courage of her crew, and the defiance of Jedi Master Even Piell standing against the shadow of General Grievous. She sensed no fear in his presence, only assurance.
Then¨Cthere was no more presence.
A rupturing thunder rolled through the Force, an explosion that echoed out as the
Insolent''s main reactor detonated in a blinding cascade of energy. The shockwave shattered the surrounding Separatist boarding craft, tearing through the
Invisible Hand¡¯s shields and venting whole sections of her hull to the void. The Republic gship¡¯s wreckage spiral outward, a glowing cloud of debris that illuminated the ckness of space like a dying star. The Force was still, save for the faint ripples of countless lives extinguished in an instant.
General Grievous had bet the speed of his boarding party against the will of Even Piell who had his finger on the self-destruct button. And he lost.
¡°By the dark stars,¡± Commander Gree gritted his teeth, ¡°I hope that monster is dead.¡±
Master Luminara did not let Even Piell¡¯s death move her, busying herself with coordinating Task Force
Gand¡¯s fighting retreat. Beyond the frigatettice, the outlying warships of Battle Group
Insolent were withdrawing as well, kicked into a rout by the sight of their gship¡¯s destruction. Unfortunately, with active interdiction mines still blowing holes in hyperspace with their artificial mass shadows, an emergency jump would be no easy feat.
¡°General,¡± ams officer marched up the bridge, whispering in her ear, ¡°The refugee transports are requesting permission to evacuate the battle zone.¡±
¡°They have not already?¡± the Jedi Master whirled around, robes billowing, ¡°Send them back to Taris immediately! They will be saferside than caught between our crossfire.¡±
¡°Understood, sir.¡±
¡°General,¡± Commander Gree leaned in as thems officer raced back to his station, ¡°The enemyttice had broken to pursue us. I suggest weunch torpedoes.¡±
¡°Our Venators are not known for their torpedounchers,¡± the Jedi General mused, ¡°What¡¯s to say our meagre efforts won¡¯t bepletely shot down by their point-defence?¡±
¡°Unlike Providences, Munificents and Recusantsck total point-defence coverage,¡± the Clone Commander replied, voice steady but tight, ¡°They have a blind spot¨Ctheir ventral bow, right on top of their curtain armour. We can program our torpedoes to climb, then dive. What little we have won¡¯t do anything considering their shields and armour, but it¡¯ll slow them down by however much.¡±
¡°No point in holding onto weapons,¡± Luminara Unduli nodded, ¡°Launch them.¡±
¡°Very good, General.¡±
Each Venator in the fleet coldunched four torpedoes, spluttering mites of dull metallic dust in a fast-moving river of durasteel, ion-blue attitude thrusters ring briefly as they angled their payloads in ordance to their programmed trajectories. Momentster,
Gand¡¯s retreat was punctuated by shes of hot ignition, and a forest of violet streaks arced upwards, zing trails into the vast space over the fleet like purple flowers upon stalks of smoke.
As Commander Gree had anticipated, the pursuing Separatist vessels immediately cut their main drives, swinging their vessels into defensive postures, angling their hulls to maximise their point-defence envelopes. Upon reaching the crown of their arc, the torpedoes cut burn and flipped, guided warheads singling out targets in the Separatist formation¨Cand tore back down on screaming impulse drives into waves of point-defence. Turbser bursts and k fields stitched the void, and Master Luminara turned away, knowing the pursuit had been staved off for a little while.
¡°We¡¯ve cleared the interdiction field, General!¡±
Under this brief reprieve, Task Force
Gand burned hard toward the hypene egress, the safety of the Halmad Star System on the other side. It was a ways off from Bandomeer, but they could still rendezvous in time. The battered fleet stretched into an orderly formation, warships moving swiftly under the protective aegis of their escorts. Luminara Unduli, standing rigid on the bridge of her gship, let the Force guide her resolve as the countdown to the jumpmenced.
Then, as if the stars themselves spited her, the tactical console chimed, sharp and insistent.
¡°General,¡± Commander Gree rmed, his voice taut. ¡°We¡¯re picking up a target lock. Unknown origin.¡±
The holodisy refreshed, its projection spinning and scanning furiously, raking the artificial horizon for signatures. The bridge crew froze for a heartbeat, an unspoken question hanging in the air before the rm red again.
Bearing oh-two-four mark oh-one-one rtive! Range¡
Luminara Unduli tore her gaze from the readout, fixing her attention on the disy. Far away, just outside visible range, lurked a dark shadow, a splotch of spacepletely ck, the glitter of the stars swallowed by a great mass easily picked up by an active scanner.
¡°Signature acquired!¡± the sensor officer called out, ¡°essing registry¡
star dreadnought Devastation!¡±
And the great, ck mass then gleamed a bright, burning
red.
¡°Last sighting report¨CCnon System!¡± the readout continued, ¡°Before that¡
Columex System!¡±
Subjugator-ss star dreadnought, Devastation. An entire ss of Separatist superweapons, and one the Republic knew about. Except, Republic Intelligence could count the number of Subjugators in the gxy on one hand: three, to be exact. And of the three, only the
Devastation could be ounted for after the Battle of Columex. And if the reports were to be believed, it was the warship that turned the battle against Denn Wessex¡¯s Ninth Sector Armada at Cnon, putting a brutal end to any effort to eliminate it.
It was a terrifying thing to behold, eight klicks long and fitted with a massive moon-cracking spinally-mounted bow cannon¨Cthe cannon that was pointed straight at the
Gand. Instinctively, Master Luminara knew no amount of evasive action could dodge the beam; for at this range, that cannon would awash the entire hemisphere of Taris in red fire.
But to aim such a massive spinal cannon in the first ce, one would have to painstakingly manoeuvre the entire length of the eight-kilometre long hull, tracking Task Force
Gand throughout its retreat¡ to the one spot they knew
Gand would
stop: the hypene egress. Furthermore, using such a weapon would assuredly cause friendly casualties in a close quarters battle¡ friendly casualties that were no longer there as
Gand¡¯s pursuers had been slowed down. Master Luminara struggled to decide whether it had all been nned in advance, or an unfortunate coincidence.
¡°They¡¯re charging their cannon!¡±
That red sun in the distance swelled, glowing brighter.
¡°All shields to the front, evasive action!¡±
And brighter, until it dwarfed all the stars around it.
¡°Orders, General!?¡±
Luminara Unduli opened her mouth, but her speech was reced by a frantic rm.
¡°Our scanners are picking up more signatures off our port bow!¡±
¡°More Separatists!? Did they circle the from the other side!?¡±
¡°We¡¯re detecting massive gravitational distortion!¡±
¡°More interdiction mines!?¡±
¡°I-I¡¯ve never seen anything like it, sir!¡±
An object shot past the viewports, nothing more than a dull grey smear on the monitors, appearing in one frame and disappearing in the next. There was no light, just a blurred, metallic cylinder¨Cone moment, empty space stretched out in all directions, and the next, a sh of impossible velocity ripped across their path for a fraction of a second.
And before the very same second could even tick by¨C
That zing red sun in the distance winked out like a snuffed candle.
The bridge of the
Gand did not have the time to react, not even the Jedi Master could. Everything happened in the fraction of the time it takes to close an eyelid¨Cone moment they stared down an eternity with the Force, and the next moment they were not.
¡°¨CWhat happened?¡± someone asked.
And the data pits scrambled to provide an answer.
¡°What in Nine Hells was that thing!?¡±
¡°It looked like some sort of asteroid!¡±
¡°An asteroid isn¡¯t made of polished metal, idiot!¡±
¡°Where did ite from!?¡±
¡°What about the
Devastation!?¡±
First, the
Devastation. It was still there, but no longer dormant; a massive backwash appeared on the scopes, sixteen mammoth sublight drives pushing it great bulk away. The only indication it had been hit: a gaping through-hole in the mid-length of its spinal cannon. Whatever the object was, it had bored straight through the cannon starboard to port, smashing out the other side without detonating and disappearing into deep space.
Second, the object. It was a kic slug from a mass driver, though one muchrger than anybody aboard the
Gand had seen before. Though, from the sensor readings taken prior, it could have been a
gravitationally driven slug.
¡°Another Separatist superweapon,¡± Master Luminara murmured, ¡°They used it at Columex and Commenor.¡±
Commander Gree immediately caught on, ¡°This one looks unlike any we¡¯ve seen before, General. Now that the immediate threat has passed, it may be worth trying to identify the nature of the weapon before we insert into hyperspace.¡±
The Jedi Master shook her head, ¡°Let us not take the risk. Sync the fleet and prepare to make the jump to Halmad. Let us count our stars today, and not risk fate.¡±
¡°As you wish¨C¡±
¡°¨CGeneral!¡± thems officer shot to his feet, ¡°We¡¯re getting an iing transmission!¡±
It was enough cause for rm to make the Mirin Jedi pause, ¡°From who?¡±
¡°Unknown, but It¡¯s on the open frequency, sir!¡±
Luminara Unduli shifted, feeling the weight of her crew settle on her. The intense, burning curiosity, the great desire to see questions answered. She inquired the Force, and upon receiving an answer, decided to hear the transmission against her better judgement.
¡°...Put it through. I want us to jump as soon as we hear it.¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
¨C
tzzk¨Ctzzk¨C
General Grievous. Master Luminara knew it as soon as she heard the voice, though she had neither seen nor heard the creature before. She knew not what to expect, but expected it nheless.
¡°¨CWe finally meet¨C¡±
It was a soft, guttural growl. Almost a whisper, as if speaking too loud would cause physical pain.
¡°¨CSo called ¡®
Master Luminara Unduli froze, her hands stilling on her lightsaber as the voice slithered through thems like venom.
Hydra. The Battle Hydra? That man was dead, killed at Rendili. That report had been apanied by solemn confirmations and sensor data that left little room for doubt. Yet here was General Grievous, invoking the name with a chilling certainty that left no room for misinterpretation.
She felt the ripple in the Force, a cold tide that surged through her awareness. Death had its own rity, a signature of finality that even the untrained could sense. But this? It was an absence where there should have been silence, a void wrapped in mystery and dread. Grievous continued, his rasping tone filled with cruel amusement.
¡°¨CI have looked forward¨Cto this day¨C¡±
¡°Hah¡ hah-hah¡ HA!¡±
Click¨Csilence. A loud, heavy silence that settled over the bridge of the
Gand like a nket of uncertainty knitted with dread.
He¡¯s alive? How?
Wait, General Grievous lived through that?
Did he just mention the Battle Hydra?
Is this a trick?
The questions swirled unspoken, ricocheting through the minds of the bridge crew as they exchanged uneasy nces. Each officer clung tightly to their station, their hands gripping consoles and railings as though grounding themselves could fend off the icy chill creeping through their thoughts.
¡°Orders, General?¡± Commander Gree¡¯s voice cut through the oppressive atmosphere, his posture betraying tension.
Luminara Unduli exhaled slowly, forcing her thoughts into focus, ¡°Maintain our jump trajectory to the Halmad System. If this is a trick, we will address it after ensuring the safety of this fleet.¡±
She turned to thems officer. ¡°And keep monitoring that open channel. If he transmits again, I want it recorded.¡±
¡°Yes, General,¡± the officer replied, swallowing thickly.
The silence persisted like a fog as the ship hummed with the building energy of its hyperdrive, Luminara closed her eyes for a fleeting moment, reaching out into the Force. She could feel the unease spreading through the
Gand like ripples in a pond, touching every soul aboard.
Click¨Ctzzt¨C
¡°...So you lived through all that,¡± a dead man growled through the open channel,
¡°You really are one damnable metal cockroach, Grievous.¡±
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Chapter 85
Taris Approach, Taris System
Ojoster Sector
¡°Hit confirmed,¡± Gnifmark Dymurra announced, a slight frown on his face, ¡°But it seems General Grievous still lives.¡±
¡°Observation: no explosion was detected,¡± Augur said, ¡°The
Devastation¡¯s main artillery may have been temporarily disabled, but we have failed to eliminate the dreadnought as nned.¡±
¡°It cannot be helped,¡± Bunt Dantor replied evenly, ¡°Admiral Bonteri had stressed the importance of interrupting
Devastation¡¯s firing sequence. We were unable to charge Number Two to its full capacity, and thus unable to impart enough velocity on the kill vehicle to impart the atomic energy of its mass.¡±
I rested my cheek on my fist. Conventional mass elerators, such as railguns, tended to overprate their targets. Their projectiles traveled so fast that they didn¡¯t have time to fully transfer their kic energy to the target. The result was undeniably devastating, but still left energy potential untapped. Incredibly powerful, no doubt¨C
Conqueress, however, operated on an entirely different level.
Her twin gravitic waveguns propelled her projectiles at such extreme velocities that they essentially
friction-welded themselves to the target on impact. The collision smashed the atoms of both the projectile and the target together with forces akin to those in a particle elerator¨Cor even a fusion reactor. This collision would initiate a chain reaction, burning through the entire mass of the KKV and releasing every ounce of its nuclear energy into the target.
Effectively,
Conqueress¡¯ projectiles hit with such incredible speed that they overcame the limitations of kic energy transfer entirely and stepped into another field of physics. The numbers involved were so unimaginable the effects came full circle.
¡That was, if the KKV was
fast enough in the first ce. And by fast, I meant over 70% the speed of light,
at least. ¡°If we had been given more time to charge Number Two,¡± the Skakoan continued, ¡°We would not have wasted the shot.¡±
And that was the crux of the dilemma in the bridge. Upon extraction from hyperspace, we found the
Devastation pointing its moon-cracker at Taris. If we had waited for
Number 2 to finish fully charging, the
Devastation may have discharged in that time.
¡°If that ship had fired¨C¡± I shot to my feet, deathly calm, ¡°¨Cit would have smote an entire hemisphere of Taris into
charcoal. It is clear to me that the
Devastation had enough power to overload Taris¡¯ary shields, and I have no doubt a second shot would¡¯ve rendered half of the''s surface uninhabitable. Let me be clear: I
do not consider that ¡®wasting¡¯ a shot.¡±
In the annals of gctic history, it was said that Taris has been rendered uninhabitable once before, and four-thousand yearster they were still licking their wounds. Personally speaking, I don¡¯t think they¡¯re eager to live through that again.
¡°I don¡¯t think anybody here intends to undermine your decision, Admiral,¡± Gnifmark Dymurra raised his hands diplomatically, silently hissing at the apathetic Skakoan to shut the fuck up, ¡°But what I
believe the Chief is trying to say is that we just expended one of our seven
remaining shots, which evidently failed to even permanently disable the target. Compared to the destruction we wrought at Korphir, this can hardly be considered an
equivalent exchange.¡±
Fact that Taris is a Loyalist world notwithstanding, was left unsaid. I knew better; Taris supported the Jedi coup, and keeping the and its popce in fighting shape was towards my best interest.
I watched the
Devastation slink away on the scopes, towards the safety of her fleet. The huge dreadnought was damaged, isted, and unprotected. Prime starfighter bait. It took every ounce of restraint I had to hold off on ordering a full starfighter raid on the ship, in an attempt to destroy her before she reached General Grievous¡¯ fleet.
Because the truth of the matter was, we ourselves were prime starfighter bait as well.
Conqueress had only one hangar, a small, pitiful thing capable of servicing a single shuttle and one wing of Vulture droids. With the addition of five Munificent-ss frigates¨Cbrought in from the closest sectors and still outfitted in their intelligence suites¨Cthat makes six wings of Vultures. Six LAC wings, all singrly purposed in preventing
Conqueress from being jumped by some hotshot Jedi pilot.
Because
Conqueress was meant to operate ndestinely, and I had just announced her existence to an entire city-world.
I suspected that the only thing preventing Grievous ordering his LACs to swarm us is one, that our small task force was as of yet lurking beyond the effective range of his sensors; and two, that the Republic fleet was ced squarely between us. ?
¡°Then it''s better we make the next shot count, don¡¯t we?¡± I shrugged off their concerns, ¡°Six left. We better kill Grievous and destroy the
Devastation before we¡¯re halfway through the magazine.¡±
¡°rification: you intend on engaging Grievous, Admiral?¡± Augur questioned, not quite rmed but not quite deadpan, ¡°We have already blown our cover, but we can still extract before they get a scan on
Conqueress and learn of our capabilities.¡±
¡°We¡¯re here to kill Grievous,¡± I circled around the captain¡¯s chair and leaned forward onto its headrest, ¡°And that is what we¡¯ll do.¡±
Commander Dymurra shifted nervously, ¡°Sir, with all due respect, the droid is right that we ought to extract before they pull a scan on us. Admiral Trench was quite explicit in saying we should remain hidden until the right moment.¡±
¡°That was advice, not an order,¡± I countered, ¡°And what is the
right moment, anyway? Admiral Trench may have his own doctrine, but I do not agree with it.¡±
Keeping Conqueress unused? That wasughable, as was the idea of keeping
any weapon unused. Yes, a weapon as powerful as
Conqueress should not be so carelessly wielded, but that goes for
any weapon. A superweapon was first and foremost a
force multiplier¨Cadhering to Trench¡¯s strict conduct of secrecy was tantamount to hoarding strength potions in your inventory and giving yourself excuses to not use them.
Oh, but what if I need these for the boss level?
Oh, this boss is easy, what if there¡¯s a stronger boss ahead?
Oh, this boss is hard¡ but doable, I should keep these for the final level.
Oh, the game is over?
I had six shots left¨C
six potions left¨Cwhen am I to use them if not in battle? Considering that Gravlex Med was a faraway and unlikely venture now, I could only use
two shots a day,
at best. And what the hell is a ¡®
right moment¡¯ in the first ce? Standing where I am now, was this not the
¡®right moment¡¯ to use
Conqueress? There was an enemy general in front me, a hostile superweapon wielded against me, and a to save. What concerns my
conscience concerns
me, and I could not let a monster like Grievous rampage about while I was in a position to stop him.
¡°Weapons were made to be used,¡± I snapped my fingers, and a tactical holo of the battlespace burst to life in the centre of the pilothouse, ¡°So we best start nning how to use it.¡±
¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur¡¯s chassis set into ce, and the bridge dimmed into battle lighting, ¡°What are your orders, Admiral?¡±
¡°First things first,¡± I nodded stately, ¡°Grievous outnumbers us. We need more ships, and more firepower. Inform Dodecian Illiet to deploy a forward squadron and relieve that Republic task force on the egress.¡±
¡°You intend on allying with the Republic, sir?¡± Bunt Dantor stormed¨C
rolled, more urately¨Cto the foot of the captain deck, ¡°They will learn about everything
Conqueress has to offer!¡±
¡°So?¡±
¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur¡¯s deep bass told everyone
exactly what¡¯s happening, ¡°All ships; execute Battle Order Four ording to the formation package provided.¡±
The tactical droid turned to me, ¡°We will need firepower. Permission to deploy our Munificent-ss frigates?¡±
¡°Have them transfer fighter control to
Conqueress first
,¡± Imanded, ¡°Otherwise, permission granted.¡±
Beyond the viewport, sleek fin-shaped Wavecrests cut through to inky darkness coalesced into four distinct squadrons. Two forward divisions of twenty Wavecrests each, positioned themselves far ahead of the
Conqueress, angling against the hypene. Two rear divisions of ten Wavecrests each, were directly off the port and starboard bow of
Conqueress, forming a defensive screen in left and right echelon respectively.
The final and fifth division was that of the five Munificents, their sublight drives burning bright against the void, stationed directly in between Squadrons A and B and emptied of their LAC wings. Compared to the sleek and elegant Wavecrests, the gravely angr silhouettes of the Munificents seemed to gleam with a brutal light. Around us, squadrons of Vultures flocked, ced under
Conqueress¡¯ direct control, perching themselves on her guns to save energy.
With a super tactical droidmanding the order of battle with a far greaterpetence I ever could, I reviewed my assets. Sixty Wavecrest-ss frigates, five Munificent-ss frigates, and one Aggressor-ss battleship. Number of hostile warships unknown, but certainly far greater than ours. The n: extract the Republic taskforce, engineer an opening to snipe the
Devastation and destroy, hopefully killing General Grievous in the process.
¡°All ships are in position,¡± Augur dered.
¡°We¡¯re loading Number One, Admiral!¡± Bunt Dantor informed me, unable to hide excitement despite his misgivings.
¡°Alright Grievous,¡± I murmured to myself, ¡°Let¡¯s y a game of
capture the g.¡±
?
¡°Warship¡¯s approaching from Taris¡¯ celestial shadow!¡± the sensor chief shouted, ¡°If we are to jump, we need to do it
now!¡±
¡°By that order!¡± Commander Gree ordered the helm, ¡°There¡¯s Separatist warships in the way!¡±
Master Luminara Unduli plunged herself into a cold sea of tranquility, observing the situation with a peacefulness only a Jedi Master could conduct in such dire straits. In order to prevent them from immediately jumping into hyperspace, General Grievous had sent forth a squadron of Munifex-ss fast cruisers to block their path while they were preupied listening to his exchange with the Battle Hydra.
They could still jump¡ and risk crashing into the light cruisers in pseudomotion. Normal crews wouldn¡¯t dare put themselves in the way of a jumping fleet, especially one made of muchrger mass¨Cbut droid crews weren¡¯t inhibited by such fears.
¡°Forward,¡± Luminara Undulimanded, ¡°Sweep them out of the way.¡±
¡°¨CYou heard the General! All ships nk speed!¡±
To their starboard quarter, the pack of Munificents and Recusants in hot pursuit, having recently reorganised after
Gand¡¯s torpedo barrage. Finally, to their portside, the Battle Hydra¡¯s fleet was emerging from Taris¡¯ celestial shadow, the location of their superweapon yet unknown. To their immediate rear, the of Taris.
Boxed in on all four sides¡
¡°It was Rain Bonteri¡¯s superweapon that interrupted the
Devastation¡¯s firing sequence,¡± Luminara droned out the thunder of
Gand¡¯s batteries as they tore the Munifexes to shreds, ¡°Could it be that they are hostile to General Grievous?¡±
¡°
If that is Rain Bonteri at all, General,¡± Commander Gree warned, ¡°That man should be dead, and this could be another Separatist trick.¡±
¡°I doubt it,¡± the Jedi Master mused, ¡°I have a¡
feeling.¡±
Orck of feeling, more like.
Clone Commander Gree knew his Jedi General better than to question her ¡®feelings.¡¯
¡°Be that as it may, sir,¡± the Clone Commander said, ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean Rain Bonteri isn¡¯t hostile to
us.¡±
¡°Despite our prior experiences with him,¡± Master Luminara blinked as a Separatist cruiser detonated in a brilliant reactor bloom,
Gand¡¯s viewports immediately prised as the warship basked in the bloom¡¯s glow, ¡°I have heard that he is quite an amenable person.¡±
¡°You intend to forge a ceasefire, sir?¡±
Master Luminara resumed her measured stride, pacing along the starboard arc of the bridge. She nced back at the tactical holomap, where red markers representing Separatist vessels closed in on their retreating ships. Their pursuers were steadily grinding down Task Force Gand¡¯s rearguard.
¡°If it is a means of extricating ourselves from this situation," she replied, "I don¡¯t see a reason not to.¡±
Amunications officer turned sharply in her seat. ¡°General!
Celosia had been caught by the enemy!
Zei is doubling back to assist!¡±
¡°Caught,¡± Luminara repeated softly, her toneced with exasperation, ¡°Again.¡±
¡°We can still jump, sir,¡± Gree reminded her.
She paused mid-stride¨C ¡°And leave
Zei and
Celosia behind?¡±
¡°It is the correct action to take in order to save the majority of our forces,¡± the clone pressed, his tone unflinching.
Before she could respond, the bridge¡¯s rms began ring¡ªa harsh, urgent xon that cut through the din. A nearby lieutenant practically shouted over the noise:
¡°Missiles iing! Starboard side!¡±
Jedi Master and Clone Commander snapped in unison toward the starboard viewport. Beyond the reinforced transparisteel revealed an ominous sight: waves of glowing snowkes, streaking like a silent snowstorm across the starscape. Glimmering motes of light, each trailing sma contrails, converging on their position in tightly coordinated barrages.
She quickly assessed the threat: the torpedoes were arranged in a fifty-one by three formation, meaning it was a full broadside of torpedoes from a Providence-ss battlecruiser. The targetingputer chirped again, and her stomach sank¨Canother two salvos blinked into existence. General Grievous hadn¡¯t been idle as Master Even Piell blew him up; in that time, the cyborg had somehow organised a line of battle.
¡°Can we dodge?¡± she asked, already knowing the answer.
¡°Not at this range, sir,¡± Commander Gree confirmed grimly. ¡°We¡¯re caught in their hammerlock.¡±
¡°By the jump and strike our hyperdrives. We¡¯ve missed our chance,¡± Master Luminara Unduli ordered calmly, ¡°Turn about ny-degrees to starboard and divert all power to our retrothrusters, forward shields, and point-defense. They¡¯re aiming for the
Gand: I want a port echelon formation, with
Zei at the front and
Gand at the rear. Understood?¡±
Then came the chorus of affirmations as
Gand shuddered under the strain of its sudden maneuvers. The warship groaned as it twisted hard to starboard, her escorts scrambling to reposition themselves. Around her, Task Force
Gand shifted like a school of fish under threat, each ship breaking formation and pivoting to new positions with precise, if hurried, movements.
¡°
Zei is leading the echelon,¡± the helmsman reported, sweat beading on his brow as his fingers danced across the console. ¡°We¡¯re falling into the rear position as ordered, General.¡±
Luminara Unduli stood firm amidst the jostling vibrations of the bridge, her hands sped behind her back. She watched the tactical disy begin to reflect the new formation as
Gand slid backwards: a diagonal line, tilted slightly to present the reinforced port shields of each vessel toward the iing torpedo barrage.
¡°Point-defense systems, concentrate fire along the port bow," barked the clone officer at weapons control. "All ships, stagger your fire zones and don''t let anything slip through!¡±
General Grievous wanted her dead, and had his torpedoes projected to hit the
Gand ordingly. Thus, by pushing
Gand to the rear of the formation, the torpedoes will have to brave the ovepping point-defence fire from all fifty-three Venators of Luminara¡¯s fleet.
The ships of Task Force Gand moved as if linked by an unseen thread, each adjusting their speed and trajectory to maintain the formation. Smaller escorts weaved tightly in between the capital ships, merging into the line to cover the gaps in the echelon.
But pressure was mounting;
Zei and
Celosia, at the front, desperately staved off their pursuers. It wasn¡¯t enough; the damaged
Magnolia finally buckled, and the mass of Separatist frigates stormed the breach, threatening the integrity of the formation.
¡°Order
Anagallis to reinforce that breach,¡± Master Luminaramanded.
Commander Gree immediately ryed the order, not once taking his eyes off the disy. The first wave of 153 torpedoes began to close in. In the silence of the void, the
Bachani¡¯s point-defense systems sprang to life, followed by
Mycosia¡¯s, then
Geranium¡¯s, then
Begonia¡¯s, then
Marg Sabl¡¯s. The entire battle line sessively shuddered to life, roaring streaks of energy crisscrossing the darkness as they sought to thin the oing tide.
Their point-defense systems shed in coordinated bursts, stitching a defensive ofser fire cutting apart the iing torpedoes with ease. Finally,
Gand slid smoothly into position at the rear of the formation, her cannons picking off the few torpedoes that slipped past the earlieryers of defense.
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And just like that, the first wave was gone,pletely vaporised. Not a single warhead made it through, and for a brief moment, hope flickered on the bridge of the
Gand.
But the respite was short-lived.
The second wave followed immediately, rampaging down the smoke-filled space where the first wave once was, and this time they deflected their vectors in response to the Republic formation¨Caiming for the closest warships instead of the
Gand. Though the battle line responded with the same efficiency, the cracks began to show. A handful of torpedoes slipped past the furious hail of fire, mming into the forward shields of
Mycosia and
Geranium. The impacts rippled through the line, visible even from the rear of the formation. Shields red, systems strained, and rms began ring on multiple bridges.
¡°Damage to
Mycosia¡¯s forward shields!¡± a clone officer reported, his voice sharp with urgency. ¡°They¡¯re down to forty-three percent!¡±
The third wave hit harder. Several more torpedoes found their marks, ripping into the hull of
Bachani and carving deep scars into
Anagallis. Shields across the line flickered and failed under the relentless onught, exposing doonium to the void. Still, the fleet fought on, every ship pouring every ounce of firepower into the space ahead, carving the battlefield into a seething whirlwind ofserfire.
Then came the fourth salvo, blinking into existence on the disys, and the fifth, then the sixth, then seventh¨Cand it became clear to all of them that General Grievous hadpletely formed his line of battle, and was bearing down with the full might of a Separatist line of battle. Task Force
Gand slid backwards, firing their retrothrusters while maintaining their lines of bearing in an effort to put more space between them and the Separatist line¨Cand thus buying more time to shoot down the enemy missiles.
There was more point-defense, more countermeasures, more decoys, capital-grade mass driversunching fireworks into the void¨Cuntil it seemed as if the entire envelope of space in front of the fleet was saturated with weapons fire. The darkness of space had been transformed into a furious sea of light, the fleet pushed to their absolute limits as they fought to stem the tide.
¡°
Zei reports critical damage to their aft shield generators!¡± Commander Gree called out, his voice a rare crack of urgency. ¡°They¡¯re falling back to the secondary line!¡±
¡°Reinforce the gap! Order
Magnolia to cover
Zei¡¯s position!¡±
¡°
Magnolia is gone, General!¡±
And yet, Master Luminara Unduli felt entirely calm, the Force feeding a constant stream of confidence into her soul.
As if¡ as if the situation would resolve itself shortly. Her eyes flicked to the tactical disy, where Rain Bonteri¡¯s fleet loomed ominously at the rear of Task Force
Gand. The frigates were closing fast, their course a direct collision with her struggling echelon. Yet, despite the grim reality of their predicament, the Force whispered to her, a quiet but unshakable assurance that it was not their end¨Cat least not yet.
¡°General,¡± Commander Gree said tightly, ¡°Bonteri¡¯s forces are almost on us. If they engage, we¡¯ll be pincered!¡±
Her lips parted, about to issue orders, when something unexpected happened. Instead of firing into the unprotected aft of her formation, the onrushing fleet suddenly altered course, their sleek forms veering to the dorsal and ventral nks of the formation.
Gand¡¯s battered crew braced for impact, yet no turbser volleys came. Instead, the frigates shot over and under the echelon at breakneck speed, their uselessly streamlined hulls slicing through the void like des.
¡°What in the¨C¡± the sensor chief started, his astonishment mirroring the shock across the bridge.
Before anyone could process the shift, the strange frigates acted. As they streaked past Task Force
Gand, hatches on their underbellies opened, spilling dozens of metallic spheres into the missile vectors. Each sphere, hastily identified as a high-yield ion mine, spun free, activating its system in seconds.
The sudden minefield deployed itself directly into the flight paths of Grievous¡¯s iing missile salvos.
¡°Sensor readings show¡ mines, General!¡± a clone officer reported, his voice disbelieving. ¡°They¡¯re intercepting the torpedoes!¡±
The battle in front of the echelon turned chaotic. As the missiles streaked toward
Gand, the first waves entered the minefield, and the mines responded with savage precision. Detonations rippled through the void, each brilliant orb of crackling lightning consuming hundreds of torpedoes in moments, frying their drives and navigation systems and rendering them mute and ballistic. With their guidance systems wasted,
Gand¡¯s fire controlputers easily shot down the lobotomised torpedoes.
At the same time, five Munificents crashed into the nks of their pursuers, their forward ultra-heavy turbsers silently booming into the void, reinforcing
Anagallis¡¯ counterattack and throwing back Grievous¡¯ warships.
¡°Admiral Bonteri¡¯s fleet isn¡¯t attacking us?¡± Gree murmured.
Master Luminara stood silent, watching as forty fin-shaped frigates danced in front of the echelon, their ion mines and raking point-defence fire thinning the next sessive torpedo broadsides before they even entered
Gand¡¯s firing envelopes.
¡°To all Republic vessels, this is Dodecian Illiet, on behalf of Admiral Rain Bonteri of the Confederate Navy,¡± a stiff-voiced alien spoke on openms,
¡°We heavily advise that you loosen your formation and extricate yourselves from the battlespace, preferably via the Z-axis.¡±
Master Luminara Unduli immediately had a
feeling she knew why listening to the Givin¡¯s advice would be in her best interest, one eye fixated on the massive and yet growing energy reading on the scopes.
¡°Helm, do so,¡± she ordered.
Commander Gree swivelled in rm, ¡°But our formation, sir?¡±
For the first time in a long while, the Mirin Jedi raised her voice:
¡°We need to clear their firing line¨C!¡± Gree¡¯s eyes widened,
¡°¨CWe need to get out of the way!¡±
?
Gand peeled sharply to port, her thrusters zing as she obeyed the order to clear the line of fire. Around her, the surviving ships of Task Force
Gand followed suit, their formation dissolved into chaos as Venators and escorts scrambled to evade the iing spectre of destruction.
I nodded in brisk satisfaction as I observed our line of fire clearing up.
¡°We have a firing solution!¡±
At her heart,
Conqueress began to buzz in anticipation. Energy built along the length of her spinal weapon, the spectre of it seemingly visible to the naked eye as crackling arcs of light coursed down the ship''s hull. That familiar gut churn of reality bending struck, instilling a sense of vertigo as the space in front me warped.
¡°Data syncplete!¡±
¡°Power levels nominal. Target lock acquired,¡± Augur¡¯s mechanical voice intoned aboard the
Conqueress, ¡°Number Two at critical charge.¡±
I sucked in a breath¨C
¡°Open fire!¡±
The weapon released.
The spinal cannon discharged with a roar that rippled across the electromaic spectrum, every ship within a hundred-thousand klicks flinching against the tidal wash of energy. The gravitic wavegun¡¯s projectile was invisible to the naked eye, a slug of tungstoid elerated to functionally the speed of light. As the round tore through space, it carried with it a reddish shockwave of gravitational distortion, space itself twisted around it in a warped bubble.
The projectile struck the heart of Grievous¡¯s fleet before anybody could even see itsunch, atoms crashing into atoms and atoms fusing into atoms into atoms. In an instant, the atomic cascade began, unleashing a chain reaction so violent that the battleline didn¡¯t simply explode¨Cit became a miniature star, its entire mass consumed in a blinding sh of nuclear fire.
An entire section of Grievous¡¯ close-knit line of battle had evaporated in the fraction of a second, and where the centre of his formation had once stood, there was now only a glowing cloud of sma and jagged shards of debris, blowing and expanding outward like the aftermath of a supernova and sweeping everything in its path.
¡°We¡¯re receiving a transmission on open frequency, Admiral!¡± thems officer hollered up.
¡°That piece of shit is
still alive?¡± I eximed in disbelief, ¡°What will it take to kill him?¡±
¡°Hopefully less than the same amount of effort needed to kill
you, sir!¡±
I froze, then snapped my fingers and pointed at him, ¡°You make a good point. Patch him through.¡±
¨Ctzzt¨Ctzzt¨C
¡°You have allied yourself with the Jedi, Rain Bonteri?¡± Grievous¡¯ scratchy, eternally tormented voice crackled out of thems,
¡°Traitor¡±
¡°I¡¯m not trying to kill the Jedi, General,¡± I replied dryly, ¡°I¡¯m trying to kill
you. You are the traitor, and have been since your master Count Dooku attempted to overthrow the government
he founded.¡±
On every sensor disy, it was evident General Grievous¡¯s fleet had been reduced to a pale shadow of its former might, a battered remnant of warships struggling to reorganize amid the chaos. Yet, despite that, they were regrouping with mechanical precision behind the veil of gas and sma.
Number 2¡¯s full power
discharge had damaged its barrel, but
Number 1¨Cwhose low-power discharge allowed another power cycle¨Cwas still avable. If nothing else, it would give us another chance at killing Grievous.
Five shots left. Gnifmak Dymurra¡¯s crisp reminder pulled my focus back to the harsh calculus at hand. One shot had saved Taris from annihtion; another had cleaved Grievous¡¯s fleet in half. But was it worth risking a third for what was now only a
chance to take his life? The
Devastation was crippled, and with Grievous¡¯s forces so gravely wounded, Taris stood a reasonable chance of defending itself against anyary assault. General Grievous was still alive, but ineffective.
I scratched my cheek, boring a hole into the tactical holo with my eyes.
¡No, it wouldn¡¯t work.
There was debris in the way. A growing cloud of sma from the effects of the first shot that would react with the KKV¨Cacting like a shield¨Cunless we purposefully use a low-power discharge to avoid the effects of an atomic collision. Except, that would betray the point of the weapon, and hardly take out anything.
Unless we find the Devastation.
I leaned over to Augur, and asked as such
The super tactical droid paused, his optical sensors dimming slightly as if to underscore his consideration. When he finally replied, the tone was brusque, almost apologetic.
¡°Negative: the
Devastation does not appear on our scopes.¡±
Even thergest things can be frighteningly hard to find in space¨Ceven an eight-kilometre long dreadnought¨Cmuch less among the battlefield. The ship was most likely hiding somewhere behind the cloud of debris blocking our scopes¨Cif she hadn¡¯t already jumped to safety.
And wasn¡¯t that a shame? General Grievous was going to escape.
Conqueress, and the weapon she housed, was designed to eliminate her targets in a single pass. But when that singr strike failed to achieve its intended purpose, the results were¡ problematic. I had arrived with the explicit goal of destroying both Grievous and the
Devastation. I had failed in the first and achieved only a partial sess in the second. The cost was immense¨Ctwo irreceable shots expended, and worse, the exposure of the Conqueress and her secrets to the gxy atrge.
With that in mind¡ Admiral Trench¡¯s going to reserve some scathing words for me.
¡°You were right, Commander,¡± I admitted and Dymurra twitched at the acknowledgement, ¡°This wasn¡¯t an equal trade. Tell me¨Chow would you bnce the scales?¡±
Gnifmark Dymurra¡¯s eyes narrowed, his expression sharpening as his mind shifted to its most calcting state. It was easy to forget, but this was the man who brokered the sale of three neen-kilometre long interster trains to the Perlemian Coalition on the eve of battle, and the man who saw so much potential in the gravitic mass driver stratagem that he staked the Loronar Corporation¡¯s existence on a singr gamble. That gamble¨Cthe gamble that he could turn space warfare on its head¨Cwilled
Conqueress into existence.
¡°Take the Republic survivors into custody, Admiral,¡± Commander Dymurra advised, ¡°The nature of our weapon has been revealed, but that was hardly a well-kept secret. Christophsis, Bothawui, Columex, Commenor, and Korphir have all been battlefields the Republicid witness to. As long as the
Conqueress'' specific capabilities remain undisclosed, we can still salvage the situation. Thus far, we¡¯ve detected no scanning or visual locks on the
Conqueress. They don¡¯t know where we are.¡±
"Wouldn¡¯t taking prisoners riskpromising that secrecy?" I inquired, prompting him to continue.
¡°
Conqueress remains a secret, but
your survival is not, sir,¡± the Ampliquen officer corrected, ¡°Taris cannotmunicate; they¡¯re in a ckout after Grievous¡¯s assault. And Grievous himself won¡¯t reveal your presence¨Ctheck of pursuers thus far despite his immediate recognition of you after witnessing a single shot attests to that. That leaves the Loyalists. If we take them into custody, we ensure our operational secrecy remains intact.¡±
"Observation: the Republic task force outnumbers ours," Augur interjected, his voice a metallic rumble that carried across the deck. "A lesser force attempting to capture a greater one is not a realistic proposition."
"They may have the numbers, but we have the firepower," Dymurra countered, gesturing sharply, "
Conqueress is a strategic asset, Admiral. Her very
presence alone shifts the calculus of any engagement. The Loyalists have just witnessed the gxy¡¯s most powerful naval cannon in action. A demand for their surrender will carry weight¨Cthey willply if they believe the alternative is
atomic disintegration."
I leaned back slightly, processing his words, already imagining the potential oues.
"Augur?" I prompted, seeking the tactical droid¡¯s input. Personally, Dymurra¡¯s reasoning waspelling, and my thoughts were already racing ahead to the possibilities.
"Assessment:" Augur began, his optics ring briefly, ¡°Commander Dymurra¡¯s strategy is sound.¡±
¡°Inform Dodecian Illiet to broadcast the demand of surrender,¡± I immediately ordered, and thems station scrambled toply, ¡°As for the fleet¨C¡±
¡°¨CAction on the scopes!¡± Bunt Dantor buzzed in rm, having been calibrating
Number 1 for a potential shot at the
Devastation, ¡°Grievous ising out of the debris!¡±
rms red in my mind, and the deck erupted into motion, officers scrambling to update their stations as Grievous¡¯s fleet roared from the smaden chaos of the debris field. Four-hundred warships were counted, aligned in a perfect battlettice, a wall of gleaming sublight drives burning hard for Illiet¡¯s forward divisions. Even with half of his fleet gone, General Grievous still outnumbered us three-to-one, and after spending so long reorganising his formation, he had no intention of fleeing.
¡°Assessment: he will be aiming for a decapitation strike against the
Conqueress,¡± Augur announced.
¡°Foolhardy,¡± Bunt Dantor scorned, as if he was insulted at the thought of
Conqueress being underestimated, ¡°Far too foolhardy. Does he not realise the weapon he levels against? One shot will be all it takes to reduce the rest of his fleet to stardust.¡±
I leaned forward, scrutinizing the tactical holo. At first nce, Dantor¡¯s assessment seemed correct. General Grievous¡¯s aggressive charge appeared reckless, almost desperate¨Ca suicidal gamble, as it appeared. But something about it nagged at me, an itch in the back of my mind. I did not know much about General Grievous, but if I could confidently say one thing about him; he was not
stupid. He would have been the Supreme Commander of the CAF if not for my machinations, and he would have led the Confederate starfleet straight to the skies over Coruscant.
As the standard battlettice confidently sailed toward us, I could only believe there was arger strategy at y. But what could there be? The battlettice was
Standard Battle Order 4, one of the five basic building blocks of Confederate fleet doctrine. By design,
there was quite literally nothing simpler. That simplicity was the basis of the formation¡¯s strength.
So what modifications have been made to counter Conqueress?
Alright Grievous, let¡¯s talk basics. I unconsciously thinned my lips, and Augur, the perceptive three-eyed droid he was, immediately took notice.
What¡¯s the first thing a junior officer must consider about Battle Order 4?
¡°Dimensions,¡± I murmured beneath my breath, ¡°Proper spacing, and maintaining lines of bearing.¡±
Augur wordlessly began directing the scopes to take the dimensions of the enemyttice. I was so engrossed with analysing General Grievous¡¯ formation that I had not noticed the tense atmosphere infecting the whole bridge, that disbelief and ridicule once bubbling now fizzling into taut spection.
Four-hundred warships, at least. He made two ranks, I squinted,
typically done to add mass and momentum. Perfect for breaking into the opponent¡¯s own line of battle. But then why¡?
¡°Why does his battlettice look so
¡± I asked aloud, the realization striking like a thunderbolt, ¡°That¡¯s the giveaway of a poormander.¡±
An effective battlettice requires tight lines of bearing and ovepping firing envelopes, something only possible with droid crews. It was still possible with organic crews, of course, especially with automated guidance systems, and there were many ways to modify the battle order, but as a general rule of thumb¨Cif you want your enemy to break, you need as much massed firepower in one ce as possible. And that meant as tight a formation as possible.
I magnified the disy, taking a closer look at thettice. Except, Grievous¡¯ formation was the opposite of that. It was difficult to tell in the vastness of space, but Conqueress¡¯ scopes were the best the Confederacy had to offer. The spacing between General Grievous¡¯ warships were egregiouslyrge, and the only thing giving away the purposefulness of the action was how fastidiously the lines of bearings were maintained.
¡°Fuck,¡± I suddenly swore, ¡°Kriff. Shit. Helm: all power to retrothrusters. Astrogation: plot a jump to Ord Sigatt immediately. Engineering: power down Number One and have our hyperdrives spooled before he gets in range!¡±
¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur did not argue,ing to the same conclusion as I, ¡°And the Republic survivors?¡±
¡°Conqueress has already been functionally disabled,¡± I leaned back, an acute sense of defeat curling in my gut, ¡°With arger fleet, I would have pounced on the chance to tear apart that sorry excuse for a battlettice¨Cbut I do not have arger fleet on hand at the moment. Get me a line to the Republicmander. I wish to negotiate.¡±
?
¡°So the butcher refuses to retreat,¡± Master Luminara Unduli murmured, a hand raised and plucking at invisible strings in the Force.
¡°Seems like the Givin are as rmed as we are, General,¡± Clone Commander Gree nodded, taking stock of the situation around their fleet.
The Givin Wavecrests, having sessfully shepherded Task Force Gand out of the line of fire, were now scrambling back into a formation¨Ca defensive chevron around the Gand and other Republic survivors. Meanwhile, the five Munificent-ss frigates formed a nted echelon against the iing enemy. Almost immediately, jamming cones screamed out towards Grievous¡¯ formation, disrupting targeting systems andmunication rys.
The enemy warships faltered momentarily, their movements growing erratic as the jamming field scrambled their coordination. Behind that front line, the Wavecrests moved with mathematical precision, their ovepping firing envelopes adjusting seamlessly to track iing Vulture squadrons attempting to nk the formation.
It was a strange sight for a strange war, both Republic and Separatist forces allying against a madman who tried to smite a.
¡°We¡¯re picking up another massive gravitational signature behind us!¡± the sensor chief raised the rm, ¡°It looks like that gun is charging for another shot!¡±
Against Grievous?
Before she could respond, thems officer turned sharply in his seat, ¡°General, iing transmission on an open frequency!¡±
Luminara¡¯s senses tingled, like a pinch between the brows, ¡°Source?¡±
¡°Unknown,¡± the officer replied, ¡°But the signature matches therge vessel at the rear of the engagement¨Cthe one that fired the weapon.¡±
Large vessel. To think that was all they knew about the Separatist Alliance¡¯s newest superweapon. Even with on the same battlefield as them, it remained so far afield they new hardly anything about it except the consequences of its actions.
¡°Patch them through,¡± she ordered. Whatever this was, ignoring it would not aid their situation.
The bridge fell silent as the transmission crackled to life.
¡°To all Republic vessels, this Admiral Rain Bonteri of the Confederate Navy,¡± spoke the voice of the Battle Hydra. A stern, but rather mellow and calm tone unexpected of a monster of his calibre, more fitting at the lectern of a lecture theatre rather than themand of the most impressive battlefields the gxy has witnessed in a thousand years, ¡°I am offering a temporary ceasefire. General Grievous is no friend of the Confederacy, and I find moremon cause with you than him.¡±
A murmur rippled through the crew, disbelief mingling with unease. Luminara felt the tension in the Force, the weight of fear pressing down on her people. She raised a hand, silencing the whispers.
¡°This is Jedi General Luminara Unduli of the Grand Army of the Republic,¡± Master Luminara replied coolly, ¡°I was of the impression that General Grievous was a Separatistmander, as are you.¡±
¡°...Master Jedi. It has been a long time,¡± the Battle Hydra almost purred, ¡°I must correct you: General Grievous is a Separatist, but he is no friend to the Confederacy. Just as there are Loyalist terrorists that pay no tribute to the Coruscant, there are Separatist warlords that hold no allegiance to Raxus Secundus.¡±
¡°Consider me suitably educated, Admiral,¡± the Jedi Master replied, eyes fixed on the storm ofserfire beyond Gand¡¯s viewports as both Republic and Confederate warships erected a barrier of fire against iing warheads, ¡°Now, what do you suggest?¡±
¡°I have already secured a line of retreat to Ord Sigatt,¡± he informed her, ¡°Permit the Givin to synchronise your drives, and we may withdraw from this situation with our hair still on our heads.¡±
Master Luminara smiled, ¡°Is that superweapon of yours no longer an option?¡±
The reply was apologetic, ¡°I am afraid not. It pains me to admit that General Grievous had outyed me, for I do not have the resources to exploit his weakness.¡±
¡°You bit off more than you could chew,¡± she decided, ncing at Commander Gree, ¡°And what will happen when we reach Ord Sigatt?¡±
Commander Gree silently shook his head.
¡°We make an ord, or go our separate ways. Has Barriss Offee told you anything?¡±
¡°She need not tell me anything for me to know everything,¡± a sharp edge creeped into the Mirin Jedi¡¯s words, ¡°I wonder if you are the cause?¡±
¡°Not the cause, simply the impetus.¡±
¡°Is that so?¡±
¡°General,¡± the Clone Commander whispered, ¡°The Wavecrest are requesting astrogation ess.¡±
Jedi Master Luminara Unduli folded her arms into her robes, plucking at the strings of the Force.
¡°Very well,¡± she finally decided, ¡°I am certain we have much to discuss.¡±
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Chapter 86
Botajef Orbit, Botajef System
Belsmuth Sector
¡°Disable, not destroy,¡± Master Obi-Wan Kenobimanded, ¡°We¡¯re not here as conquerors.¡±
If her Master¡¯s words had any effect, Ahsoka Tano could not tell. The skies above Botajef were rife with thunder and fire, hundreds upon hundreds of warships exchanging death among the towering cables of Botajef¡¯s skyhooks. Even the words of the highest Jedi Generals were drowned out by the jamming and chaos, and the only verbal confirmation the young Padawan could hear was those of the 2nd Airborne Company sharing the gunship with them.
Ahsoka closed her eyes tightly as the Bad Kitty swung around, narrowly dodging as a flurry ofserfire streaked past, close enough to make the starboard hatch glow with heat. Her hands were snapped onto the overhead handles, knuckles white as she fought to keep her bnce as the LAAT gunship veered through the battlespace. The hatches werepletely sealed, and the holding bay was a dimly lit locker filled with dozens of rocking bodies, bubbling with frantic anticipation.
¡°Check your seals, boys!¡± Clone Commander Cody barked, ¡°Those ports open and you¡¯re feeling a little chilly¨Cyou¡¯re dead!¡±
Ahsoka has witnessed the ritual what felt like a million times before; the soft yet satisfying clicks and rustles of gear. Double-checking rifle charges, patting the extra ammunition and ordnance belts, calibrating jetpacks, stomping the deck with magboots, the murmur of chatter over cyclingm circuits. And most importantly of all, ensuring their vacsuits were sealed properly.
¡°You too, Ahsoka,¡± Master Obi-Wan instructed, not unkindly, putting on his own helmet, ¡°We¡¯rending in a hotzone, and it¡¯ll be a miracle if the skyhook¡¯s atmospheric shields are functioning.¡±
Her Jedi Master was steady andposed as always, and she could count the number of times the Obi-Wan Kenobi seemed out of his depth on one hand. Even as their gunship weaved through the siege, Master Kenobi was rxed, one hand braced against the hatch and the other casually resting on his lightsaber hilt. Compared to him, Ahsoka was a frenzied jumble of nerves. She had to admit it grated her no matter how many times she saw it¨Chow could he be so calm when they were flying into this?One day, I¡¯ll be just like you. She swore to herself.
Ahsoka snapped her helmet into ce, specially designed for her Togrutan features, hearing the hiss and click of the vac-seal and the buzz of the digital HUD springing to life. She gave it a shake for good measure, eyes taking in the dataced disy and counting all the transponder blips and ID codes stuffed into the cramped holding bay.
Bandomeer was a walk in the parkpared to this.
The gunship swerved again. The bulkhead groaned with the shockwaves of turbser sts, close and far; explosions bracketed the hatches; the whine of starfighter drives cutting through the void.
I hate space, I hate space, I hate space!
Whose idea was this in the first ce, anyway?
Oh right, it was Master Plo Koon¡¯s, the overall navalmander of the Expeditionary Fleet.
Unlike their current predicament, with the Force screaming in her ears around every corner, the Siege of Botajef started as all sieges do; with encirclement. Ahsoka recalled the expanse of the Expeditionary Fleet, hundreds of warships dedicated to the capture of Botajef whilst hundreds more were deployed throughout Serenno space to take the nearby sectors. She thought it would be another simple fight, with the headless Separatists folding before the week was over.
But Botajef was not Bandomeer.
Botajef was not a mining world past its prime; it was the premier shipyard world of the New Territories, once supplying the entire gxy with countless civilian freighters and liners. These days, however, the only ships emerging from these hallowed docks were gun-bristling battlecruisers and destroyers. The entire world was like a sea urchin; a veritable forest of carbonite elevator cables rose 325-kilometres fromside into orbit, tethering a vastttice of hundreds of orbital berths and supply hubs and graving docks¨Ccollectively known as the Botajef Shipyards.
Master Plo Koon was adamant that to sessfully execute aary invasion of Botajef, they¡¯d first have to take the Botajef Shipyards. Master Mace Windu, the overall armymander of the Expeditionary Fleet, agreed.
¡°Kitty, this is Crumb Bomber,¡± Ahsoka overheard on the circuit, ¡°Do you read?¡±
¡°Loud and clear, Bomber.¡±
¡°Jag¡¯s vac-heads say the birds got kicked up over the dropzone!¡± Crumb Bomber¡¯s pilot ryed, and Ahsoka¡¯s stomach dropped, ¡°Ro-Ti-Mundi¡¯s moving in to clear out the nests but we gotta drop early to make it!¡±
¡°I hear you. You¡¯ve got the point!¡±
¡°Copy. Tell your boys and we¡¯ll start our runs ASAP!¡±
There was a hiss and crackle, and Crumb Bomber¡¯s pilot dropped from the circuit¨Clikely to inform the other gunships. The 2nd Airborne Battalion had six gunships in total, flying in line ahead like a sea snake weaving through the steel kelp.
¡°General Kenobi!¡± Bad Kitty¡¯s pilot wasted no time.
¡°We heard you, Captain,¡± Master Obi-Wan¡¯s voice was measured, but Ahsoka knew him well enough to identify the displeasure in his tone. He hated this as much as she did. ¡°Get us there in one piece, and we¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±
¡°Copy that, General!¡±
The Jedi General nodded sharply at Commander Cody, and the clone marshal immediately started barking out the brief.
¡°You heard the big man!¡± he snapped over thems, ¡°We aren¡¯t making it to thending zone, and it¡¯s going to be a cold drop! So check your gear again! Mag-boots, jetpacks, grapples and tethers! I don¡¯t want to see any of you knocked without your boots on the deck, is that understood!?¡±
¡°Yes, sir!¡±
The clone paratroopers chorused their affirmation, shuffling around as they obsessively checked their gear again, stoid bodies rocking into each other over and over. Ahsoka swallowed thickly, unconsciously patting herself as well. Suits sealed tight¡ hopefully. Mag-boots? She clicked her heels and stomped, feeling herselftch to the deck. Lightsabers? She fondled her belt, grasping at her waist until she came across the two familiar cylinders.
Then she checked it all again.
I hate space.
¡°Heads up, boys,¡± the pilot announced over thems, Bad Kitty¡¯s drives purring louder than before, ¡°We¡¯re making the run!¡±
And I hate the run!
Also known as the gunship¡¯s final approach, the ¡®run¡¯ was the most dangerous part of anynding. It was the moment of storming right into the enemy base, into their cordons of point-defense and swarms of snub wings, past the safety of friendly cover. It was the moment where more troopers died helplessly than any other, the moment where the only thing you could do was sit tight, wait, feel each lurch and shudder, and hope you didn''t get vaporised the next second.
For Ahsoka Tano, it was pure torment. Trapped in the tight confines of the troop bay, she had no control over what¡¯s happening outside. Her lightsabers, her training, her instincts¨Cnone of it mattered until the gunship''s hatches opened. Until then, she could only grip the overhead handles, feel the vibration of the engines beneath her boots, and pray that the pilot could outfly whatever the Separatists threw their way.
Hope you¡¯re having a better time than I am, Scout. The young Padawan thought humorlessly. It has been so long since she hasst been in contact with her friend, Ahsoka could only hope Scout was faring well¨Cor at least, better than her. Probably not, though. Can¡¯t imagine going up against the kriffing Tombmaker.
Ahsoka ultimately decided to count her lucky stars that she was here and not there.
¡°Standby for depressurisation!¡±
The LAATs hatch slits opened up, exposing the bay to the cold void of space, and suffocating, terrifying silence flooded into the crew bay. The only sound Ahsoka could hear was her own thumping heartbeats, even as the battle raged around them, her lekku twitching with nervous energy.
She peered through the slits, and her breath caught in her throat as the seemingly endless expanse of the siege unfolded before her.
Hundreds of ships filled the void, a swirling melee of capital ships and starfighters battling for their own dominance. Venator-ss Star Destroyers traded volleys of turbser fire with Separatist battlecruisers, their shields glowing under the relentless exchanges. Starfighters darted between therger vessels like schools of minnows, weaving through k bursts and missile trails. The orbital shipyards themselves loomed ahead, enormous floating inds of durasteel tethered to the below by the massive elevator cables that stretched down to the surface.
Beneath them, a Venator¨Cthe Ro-Ti-Mundi¨Clisted dangerously as a Providence¡¯s batteries pounded against her hull, engines flickering as her starboard wing snagged with one of the elevator cables. The cable snapped taut, and the 2nd Airborne Battalion could only silently watch as the massive battlecruiser¡¯s engines failed, pulling herself and the skyhook plummeting into the¡¯s surface. For a moment, Ahsoka could only stare, wide-eyed, as the warship and the copsing structure disappeared into the atmosphere in a fiery trail.
¡°Holy kriffing shit,¡± Ahsoka whispered, wincing as the sudden deaths of thousands rattled in her head. Almost every skyhook was the centre of their own local battles, as Republic and Separatist armies duelled for control over them.
And soon, the 2nd Airborne wasing up on their own target.
¡°Eyes up, Ahsoka!¡± Master Obi-Wan snapped, a rampant urgency coloured his tone, ¡°Stay focused!¡±
¡°I¡¯m looking!¡± she yelped, casting a wary nce through the hatch at the shipyard looming ahead, ¡°I¡¯m looking!¡±
The skeletal framework of the orbital facility bristled with turrets, each one spitting red-hot fire at the approaching Republic forces. Clone Captain Jag¡¯s ARC-170 wings were already buzzing around it, busy keeping the Separatist starfighters off their backs. Those aren¡¯t Vultures, Ahsoka thought, those are citizen starfighter designs.
The gunship lurched again, this time apanied by a shrill rm. There was a triplet of smoke trails shooting out from one of the shipyard¡¯s missileunchers.
¡°Iing!¡± the pilot barked, ¡°Brace!¡±
Ahsoka felt her stomach flip as the gunship was kicked into a steep dive, skimming the edge of a drifting wreck that had once been a Recusant-ss destroyer. She barely had time to register the sh of an explosion behind them as the Bad Kitty pulled into a tight bank, evading the missile by a hair¡¯s breadth. Smoke sted through the slits, sending a wave of heat rippling through the cabin¨Cand sending them inside careening against the port hatch.
¡°That was way too close¨C¡± but even as she spoke those words, somewhere in the distance, she saw another LAAT gunship spinning out of control, its engines sheared away by a direct hit.
¡°Keep it steady, Captain!¡± Obi-Wan¡¯s voice cut through her jumbled headspace, calm andmanding. He nced back at Ahsoka, his expression unreadable but his presence steadying in the Force.
The Force. She closed her eyes for half a heartbeat, letting it flow through her, grounding her in the storm of chaos around her. When she opened them again, her hands were steady, her mind clear.
¡°Thirty seconds to drop zone, boys!¡± the pilot called back, ¡°Hold on!¡±
Bad Kitty jolted again as a flurry of green sma bolts streaked past, too close forfort. The clones shifted their stances but didn¡¯t flinch. The gunship burst through a thick cloud of debris, the shipyard now filling the viewports. Ahsoka stilled as she took in the scale of it: a sprawling maze of girders, docking bays, and weapon emcements, all connected by attice of turbolift tracks and catwalks. Six Munificents were still berthed at their graving docks, the mps stuck or disabled, though their zing batteries were very much active and acting as stationary turrets.
Commander Cody¡¯s voice cut through her helmet; ¡°Jetpacks ready! Grapples primed! Keep your tethers tight¨Cwe¡¯re not losing anyone out there!¡±
Ahsoka¡¯s hands went to her belt, checking her grappling line onest time. Her twin lightsabers were a reassuring weight against her sides. She didn¡¯t have to look to know her Master was doing the same.
¡°Remember the n,¡± General Kenobi said, ¡°Wend, secure thending, and hold it until army reinforcements arrive. Stay close, and keep your heads together!¡±
¡°Five seconds!¡±
The gunship slowed, the side hatches fully mmed open, and the vacuum tugged at her, her mag-boots the only thing keeping her anchored. She unclipped her lightsaber, her thumb hovering over the activation switch. The gunship began to slow, its maneuvering thrusters firing in rapid bursts as it aligned with the drop vector. Outside, the skyhook loomed closer, a maze of girders, tforms, and docking bays. Defensive batteries spat streams of fire at the iing Republic forces, and the gunships responded¨Cmissiles rocketing down green particle beams.
¡°Go! Go! Go!¡±
¡°Move, move!¡± Commander Cody roared, and the troopers around erupted into action, leaping into the ckness one by one, jetpacks igniting in bursts of blue me.
¡°Rendezvous on the skyhook!¡± then, with a single, fluid motion, Obi-Wan leapt from the gunship, his figure silhouetted against the fiery chaos of the battle. Before she even knew it, Ahsoka was following him a heartbeatter, the icy rush of space enveloping her as sheunched herself into the fray.
The stillness of space wrapped around her like a straightjacket, and her body tensed instinctively¨Cbracing for sensations that never came. There was no wind to bite at her skin, no air to carry sound, no gravity to pull her down. The war raged on all around her, deathly silent, as if she was watching a holofilm gone mute.
The vacuum seemed to pull at her awareness, amplifying the smallest movements of her body. Every twitch of her fingers, every shift of her limbs, sent her drifting in slow, exaggerated arcs. Her lekku tingled ufortably, a faint phantom pressure she couldn¡¯t ce. Her heartbeat was still the only thing she could hear, its rhythm an insistent reminder of her life where life should not exist.
For a moment, she felt untethered not just physically but mentally, a flicker of disorientation that made her stomach churn. Behind her, the gunship veered away, its weapons firing in a desperate bid to cover their descent.
¡°Ahsoka!¡± Master Obi-Wan shouted at her through thems, ¡°Focus!¡±
She clenched her jaw and reached for the Force, grounding herself in its reassuring presence. Her breath came slow and measured, her hands steady as she brought the grappling hook to bear. She aimed and fired. The grappling line shot forward, the anchor catching onto a jutting girder of the shipyard. The pull of the tether reeled her in, the sensation of controlled momentum recing the weightless drift.
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The shipyard loomed closer with every passing second, its massive trusses and tforms casting long shadows across the battlefield, too far and too near all at once. Her sense of scale warped, her eyes scrambled for purchase, her mind struggling to reconcile the massive structures with theck of any ground to orient herself. How far out are we? She could only wonder¨Cone klick, or one-hundred?
As she closed in on the tform, Ahsoka¡¯s senses sharpened. She could feel the tension in the Force, a palpable warning of the danger ahead. The shipyard was alive with movement¨Cbattle droids and citizen soldiers scrambling into defensive positions, turrets swiveling to track the iing Republic forces. The moment the first troopers mmed into the graving dock, Ahsoka braced for impact.
One, two, three¨C!
Her boots mped down on the cold, unyielding metal of the deck, mag-boots whining to life and attaching her firmly, and the unsettling void finally released its grip on her. Within moments her lightsabers were zing deadly neon arcs through the vacuum and parrying a barrage of crimson bolts that streaked toward her. Hundreds of clones were touching down, and dozens of walkers and tanks. From afar, Vignce wasying down a thundering barrage to cover them from iing Separatist warships, ARC-170 wings working overtime to maintain close-air support over the tform.
They surged forward, and Ahsoka moved instinctively, her sabers weaving a luminous shield that deflected the iing fire. Each strike sent ricocheting bolts spiraling harmlessly into the void or into the metal tes of the deck. The Force guided her limbs, and she surrendered her body to it¨Cout here, all it would take is one shot to tear through her vacsuit, one shot to kill. She gritted her teeth; and I¡¯m not about to get shot.
She found brief refuge in the shadow of a lumbering AT-TE to regain her bearings, but didn;t linger for long¨Csoon surging to join the vanguard. A Jedi Commander must be seen by their troopers! Clones poured out from theirnding zones, forming staggered firing lines as they advanced under the cover of their walkers. AT-APs and TX-130 tanks roared into action, their ster cannonsying down a suppressive fire that shattered row after row of battle droids.
¡°Enemy artillery sighted on the upper decks!¡± someone shouted in thems.
¡°Calling in a suppressive bombardment! Standby!¡±
Ahsoka spun around just in time to see Vignce¡¯s massive main batteries shing like stars, gargantuan bolts of energy the size of skyscrapers tearing into the skyhook¡¯s defensive tforms. She didn¡¯t have time to savour the sight¨Cthe Force screamed in an ear, and her lekku tingled with the premonition of danger. She hopped away just in time to dodge a high-powered bolt from above.
¡°Snipers!?¡± she shouted, angling her head up to see a squad ofmando droids descending from the superstructure above, her warning punctuated by the distinctive snap of her sabers as she deflected a barrage of bolts aimed at the clones. ¡°AT-APs,mando droids bearing down your port beam!¡±
¡°Copy that, Commander!¡±
The three-legged AT-APs pivoted their weight with an impressive agility for their size, bringing their huge cannons to bear andpletely vaporising the section¨Cwith all signs of droids vanishing in the shing fireball.
¡°Great shot!¡±
Ahsoka darted between cover and open ground, her lightsabers spinning in a deadly dance as she carved a path through the droid ranks. A squad of super battle droids lumbered into her path, their wrist cannons charging for a salvo. She leapt high, twisting in the zero gravity, her sabers cleaving two of them cleanly in half before her boots drew her back to the deck. The remaining droids exploded in a hail of blue ster fire as the clones advanced behind her.
Her arms buzzed with adrenaline. This is it, she breathed heavily, eyeing the oxygen gauge on her HUD, this is what it¡¯s all about. Not as good as fightingside, but solid ground was to die for. The roar of troopers on thems, the tremors of the deck as massive walkers advanced, the thunder of distant artillery. This was where Ahsoka felt alive.
¡°Push forward!¡± General Kenobi¡¯s voice boomed through thems, ¡°Secure the airlocks! We need ess to the superstructure!¡±
Ahsoka nodded to herself, spotting therge durasteel structure in the distance, surrounded by barricades and teeming with droids. The Force whispered to her again, tugging her focus around.
¡°Second Airborne, with me!¡± she yelled, leading a charge toward the closest fortified airlock.
ster fire streaked past her, lighting the tform in a storm of red and blue. She felt the Force swell within her, and with a sharp push, she hurled a wave of energy forward, toppling a line of droids and clearing a path for the clones.
¡°nting charges!¡± ¡°Transmission from the Selfless!¡± abat tech with alink booster pack announced, ¡°The Four-oh-Fourth Siege Battalion has sessfully seized their skyhook! General Reus ising around with the Selfless to provide supporting fire!¡±
Ahsoka spared a nce toward the horizon, trying to spot the Selfless. Instead, all she saw were more Separatist reinforcements emerging from a graving dock, a fresh wave of repulsor tanks and droids marching to meet them. The dead littered the deck, droids and clones and army troopers. A part of Ahsoka twisted at the sight. But the deck then soon started to tremble, and she tore her attention back to the graving docks¨Cwhere a massive doonium behemoth rose to swallow the entire tform in its shadow.
One of the Munificents had broken free of their mps, and was now rising into the sky. Its ventral batteries clunked into ce, and Ahsoka could almost stare right down their barrels to the capacitors within.
¡°Do we have an ETA?¡± General Kenobi asked. Ahsoka had lost sight of her Master in the chaos, but it was relieving to hear his voice.
¡°Half a minute tops!¡±
¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Ahsoka huffed, ¡°Because we got a star frigate bearing down on us, and I don¡¯t want to be promoted from biology to physics just yet.¡±
¡°Walkers, take out those hardpoints! Standby for breaching charges!¡±
Ahsoka deactivated her mag-boots and leapt, just in time to spare herself a painless death. The screams of disintegrating troopers were cut short as the Munificent-ss frigate opened up the tform, raking everything in red fire. Its rampage would be cut short, however, as it was punched to the side from a full Venator broadside, the Master Keelyvine Reus¡¯ Selfless roaring into view with a vengeance.
¡°The airlocks¡¯ open!¡±
¡°Move, move! Secure the skyhook! Take the turbolifts!¡±
The Jedi Padawan drew herself to the nearest solid ground, watching more and more army troopersnd onto the skyhook. With the clones clearing thending zone, quality had opened up the way for quantity, and massive transports were descending on the tform filled with thousands upon thousands of soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Ahsoka swivelled around.
That¡¯s one, she thought, staring towards the other inds floating amidst the sea of fire, how many more to go?
?
The fighting wasing to a close, Obi-Wan Kenobi could feel it in the Force. There was stillbat raging over some of the outlying skyhooks, but most of the Botajef Shipyards were now firmly in Republic hands. Standing in themand tower of the dockyards, the Jedi Master could see the once-pristine durasteel tforms scorched and twisted, littered with the debris of battle droids, Republic vehicles, and the shattered remnants of Separatist defenses.
Most of the bodies had been cleared off already.
Smoke curled into the thin exosphere, dissipating into the endless ck above.
His Padawan, Ahsoka, was behind him, standing at the edge of the space elevator tform and staringside¨Cas if imagining the uing battles to take Botajef itself. After all, the Botajef Shipyards were but one phase of the Siege of Botajef, and soon Master Windu would lead the mass assault on the world beneath their feet. Obi-Wan pondered the idea of bluntly telling her to rx, but decided against it.
The Force itself was still tense with the echoes ofbat¨Cit was beginning to settle, like ripples fading on a pond¨Cbut the high-strung energy was still buzzing. When he was still Master Qui-Gon¡¯s Padawan, he himself could hardly calm down in a situation nowhere near as tense as this. Ahsoka was faring far better than he would have, that he was certain.
¡°Status report, Commander Cody?¡± Obi-Wan caught Commander Cody approaching from the corner of his eye.
Cody stepped forward, his armor scorched and dirtied. He carried his helmet under one arm, revealing a face lined with fatigue, ¡°The skyhook¡¯s secured, General, and the space elevator is operational, though it¡¯ll need significant repairs before it¡¯s safe for heavy use. The Second Airborne¡¯s lost thirty-seven troopers, with another twelve critically injured.¡±
¡°And the army?¡±
The Clone Commander paused, as if he hadn¡¯t considered the main army troopers who did the grunt work painstakingly clearing out the massive orbital tform.
¡°The¡ casualty reports are stilling in, sir,¡± Cody answered hesitantly, ¡°But right now we stand around fifteen-thousand confirmed dead.¡±
Obi-Wan heard Ahsoka wince from afar, as if she felt each and every one of those losses pass in the Force.
¡°And this is only one skyhook,¡± she murmured. Hundreds of thousands¨Cif not millions¨Cdead before we even set foot on the.
He regarded his apprentice for a moment, ¡°We¡¯re at war, and I am afraid this won¡¯t be thest of it. But it¡¯s our duty to see their sacrifices through, Ahsoka, to ensure each loss brings us another step closer to peace.¡±
Ahsoka didn¡¯t answer, wordlessly staring at the beneath them, tracing each and every strand in the elevator cable with her eyes.
Commander Cody coughed to catch his attention, ¡°There¡¯s another thing, General. General Plo wishes to speak with you.¡±
¡°Master Plo?¡± Obi-Wan couldn¡¯t hide his surprise, ¡°Of course, let me take it.¡±
The Clone Commander startled, ¡°No, sir. He¡¯sing here. Personally. He sent word ahead that he will be waiting for you and Commander Tano at the hangar bay.¡±
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at Cody¡¯s report, ¡°Master Plo ising here? Personally? That¡¯s... unexpected.¡±
Ahsoka turned to face him, her brow furrowing in sudden interest, ¡°Do you think something¡¯s wrong?¡±
¡°Possibly,¡± Obi-Wan admitted, his tone cautious, ¡°Master Plo wouldn¡¯t leave hismand unless the situation is particrly urgent.¡±
Commander Cody shifted slightly, his posture stiff but not betraying any more information, ¡°He didn¡¯t specify the reason, General. Just that he¡¯d meet you both at the hangar bay. ETA is fifteen minutes.¡±
Obi-Wan nodded his thanks, returning Cody¡¯s salute before the clone moved off to resume his duties, leaving Obi-Wan and Ahsoka alone on the observation deck. Ahsoka nced at her former position, where she¡¯d been staring down at the below, the long elevator cables gleaming faintly in the sunlight.
¡°Do you think this has to do with General Grievous?¡± Ahsoka wondered, ¡°We never heard back from Taris.¡±
Perhaps. I, too, find it worrying that we haven¡¯t heard from Master Piell or even Master Luminara in so long. I fear the worst. The Separatists have no shortages of monsters in their pockets.
Obi-Wan sighed and gestured for her to follow him toward the nearest lift, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. But we won¡¯t have to wait long to find out.¡±
They walked in silence for a moment, their boots nking softly against the battered deck ting. Around them, clones moved with purpose, hauling away wreckage and tending to woundedrades.
¡°Fifteen thousand,¡± she murmured, almost to herself.
Obi-Wan slowed his pace slightly, ncing at her, ¡°Ahsoka¨C¡±
¡°I know, I know,¡± she interrupted, her voice tinged with frustration, ¡°You¡¯ve told me before, and I¡¯ve seen it before. Hundreds of times. But I just can¡¯t shake the feeling¨C¡±
¡°Good,¡± Obi-Wan agreed, his voice soft. ¡°Never shake that feeling away, Ahsoka. If you can¨Cif you can ignore the cost, if you can order men into battle without regard for their deaths¡ then you take your first step on the road to the dark side. You must never get used to that feeling.¡±
They reached the lift, and Obi-Wan keyed in themand to take them to the hangar bay. The doors closed, sealing them in a quiet bubble as the tform began to descend.
¡°However¡¡± the Jedi Master stroked his beard thoughtfully, ¡°I feel that we are nearing the end of this terrible war.¡±
¡°Really? I can¡¯t see the end of it.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve lived all of your adult life fighting it,¡± he sighed, ¡°When Dooku is put to an end, the Separatists will see the writing on the wall. Then¨Cyou will be able to live in an era of peace.¡±
The lift chimed, and the doors slid open to reveal the hangar bay. The space was bustling with activity, shipsnding and taking off, supplies being ferried to and from vessels, and medical teams rushing injured soldiers to safety. Amidst the chaos, a familiar figure stood near the entrance, his tall, masked frame unmistakable even at a distance.
¡°Master Plo,¡± Obi-Wan greeted warmly as they approached.
¡°Obi-Wan. Ahsoka,¡± his deep, filtered voice carried an undercurrent of gravity, ¡°I am afraid the Open Circle Fleet will not be participating in theary assault.¡±
¡°Are we going somewhere?¡± Ahsoka blurted out.
¡°Cnon. I wish for the Open Circle to confirm the state of the Cnon System.¡±
¡°Cnon?¡± Obi-Wan mused, ¡°That¡¯s where the Ninth Sector Army was defeated by General Grievous, wasn¡¯t it? Cnon is thest major star system before Serenno; I imagine it¡¯s a foregone conclusion that Count Dooku would attempt to put a stop to us there.¡±
That¡¯s when Master Plo Koon shook his head, gesturing for them to follow him into his shuttle for privacy, ¡°That is what I wish for you to confirm, Obi-Wan. That Cnon ispletely undefended, and that the road to Serenno ispletely open.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ unbelievable, frankly,¡± Obi-Wan halfughed, ¡°Not even Count Dooku would be so¡ where did this informatione from?¡±
The grooves on the Kel Dor Jedi¡¯s face deepened, ¡°Admiral Trench.¡±
¡°Admiral Trench!?¡± Ahsoka hissed, ¡°You mean that Admiral Trench!? The Old Spider?¡±
¡°Indeed, Ahsoka. I mean that Admiral Trench. Which is exactly why I must take this im seriously.¡±
¡°But¡ he¡¯s the enemy!¡±
¡°Master Rahm Kota decided otherwise,¡± Master Plo said in a tone that brooked no argument, ¡°Phindar Station had permitted Admiral Trench¡¯s warfleet to bloodlessly transit the Salin Corridor. While we have been busy at Bandomeer and Botajef, the Confederate Second Fleet has secured the Thesme and Kmith Sectors leading up to Serenno, ostensibly paving the way for us.¡±
Rahm Kota? That man has always been a maverick, but he is also a soldier through and through. There was a reason the Republic assigned him to the critical stronghold of Phindar. To think he would find reason to let Admiral Trench, however¡
¡°But why?¡± Obi-Wan pressed.
¡°Because the Raxus Confederacy views the Serenno Confederacy as a rogue, breakaway state,¡± Plo Koon said with a dry humour, ¡°Much like how the Republic views the Confederacy as a rogue, breakaway state. Our scoutships corroborate this information, but I would like for the Open Circle Fleet to secure and monitor these spes, just in case.¡±
¡°No¡ but why the Open Circle?¡±
¡°Because not all of us are so open to cooperating with the Separatists,¡± the older Jedi Master admitted easily, ¡°To tell you the truth, Obi-Wan, some in the Republic, and in the Jedi Order I am pained to admit, cannot ept a conditional peace with the Confederacy. The Open Circle Fleet must secure these spes so that we have reason to traverse them without worry.¡±
¡°Masters!¡± Ahsoka protested, ¡°We¡¯re talking about Admiral Trench here! This must all be one big trap! I don¡¯t know what Master Kota was thinking, but¨C¡±
¡°This is no trap, Ahsoka,¡± Master Plo rebuffed firmly, ¡°I have conversed with Master Kota personally, and he is not a Jedi who would make such a drastic act without meaningful cause. I would not have any of us disparage a Jedi Master of his character.¡±
Obi-Wan folded his arms, his expression calm but his thoughts churning as he absorbed Master Plo¡¯s words. The implications were great, and not in a way that satfortably with him. Admiral Trench, one of the Republic¡¯s most cunning and ruthless adversaries, aligning against Serenno was one thing¡ but to aid the Republic? On the surface, it seemed absurd¨Can enemy of such stature offering aid, even indirectly, to the Republic. Obi-Wan knew better than to dismiss such moves as mere coincidence.
Still, the Old Spider aside, none of this exined why the Republic¨Cor more specifically, Master Kota and Master Plo¨Cwould entertain such a dangerous proposition. The Jedi Order had always aligned with the Republic in being wary ofpromises with the Separatists, especially after the Attack on Coruscant. Yet here they were, considering the possibility of using Trench¡¯s moves to their advantage.
Obi-Wan¡¯s mind traced the threads further. If Trench¡¯s fleet had been allowed through the Salin Corridor, it wasn¡¯t a matter of oversight or mimunication. It had been deliberate. Rahm Kota had permitted it, knowing full well the implications. Obi-Wan respected Kota as a soldier and a tactician, but the man¡¯s maverick tendencies often led him down unconventional paths. This decision, however, bordered on reckless¨Cunless Kota saw an opportunity, an opportunity Plo Koon knew about, but nobody else did.
¡
What if Admiral Trench isn¡¯t aiding the Republic so much as he is aiding the Expeditionary Fleet specifically?
Obi-Wan¡¯s gaze lingered on Plo Koon for a moment longer. The Kel Dor was a Jedi of great integrity, and Obi-Wan never once doubted that he meant well¡ but if this truly was a conspiracy¡
¡°How many Jedi are cooperating with the Separatists?¡± seeing no reason not to ask, Obi-Wan did.
¡°What?¡± Ahsoka gasped, aghast.
¡°Not cooperating,¡± Plo Koon corrected, but did not deny outright, ¡°Our goals simply have us aligned on parallel paths. But to answer your question, Obi-Wan, it is not just Jedi, but everyone who wants this war to end.¡±
¡°A conspiracy,¡± Obi-Wan felt the need to sit down, ¡°A conspiracy in the heart of the Republic.¡±
¡°You understand why I am sharing this with you?¡± the Jedi Master asked, ¡°You understand why I say not all of us would be so open-minded?¡±
Radical, more like it!
¡°How many?¡± Obi-Wan asked again, more forcefully this time.
¡°Hundreds,¡± Plo Koon answered simply, ¡°Hundreds of Jedi. Hundreds of senators and representatives. Thousands of star systems. Thousands of armies and fleets.¡±
Ahsoka was deathly silent, staring at the man who brought her to the Jedi Temple with wide eyes.
¡°Why?¡± Obi-Wan whispered, ¡°We¡¯re at the war¡¯s end.¡±
¡°Because to counter a conspiracy we must have one of our own,¡± Jedi Master Plo Koon dered firmly, but not unkindly, ¡°A Sith Lord sits at the heart of the Republic, wielding this war to his own ends. Coruscant is no longer the Jedi Order¡¯s home turf, but the Sith¡¯s. Even if we bring Dooku to justice, there is the very real possibility Coruscant will refuse to end the war, if it means treating with the remaining Separatists.¡±
¡°The Sith Lord has that much power?¡± Ahsoka whispered, ¡°Master, with all due respect, you make it sound like the Sith is controlling the government!¡±
¡°Of course he does,¡± Jedi Master Plo Koon replied gravely, ¡°He is the Supreme Chancellor of our Republic, after all.¡±
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