《Sublight Drive (Star Wars)》


 Chapter 1

    Orbit of Christophsis, Christoph System


    Savareen Sector


    Sometimes, I really had to wonder why Separatist ships possess such exposed conning towers.


    Repulse¡¯s pilothouse bathed in the green beams of sunlight filtered through the tinted windows that wrapped around the protruding forward bridge of the Munificent-class frigate. It allowed a near hundred-eighty degree command of the pitch, but also made the tower an obvious target for any enemy.


    But I supposed that was a common vulnerability across every starship in this rather dumbass galaxy.


    I rose from the chair at the centre of the uplifted command deck, pacing about the bridge to inspect the lower pits, where B1-series droids oversaw the operations aboard Repulse through their glaring viridescent butterfly control displays. Dear Lord, what kind of hellish creature designed this vile lighting system? I attempted to rectify the retina-burning lighting into a more¡­ soothing colour, but to my great displeasure the scheme was hardcoded in. I do concede, however, that when your ships are primarily manned by automata with no regard for comfort, you could afford some leeway in quality of life.


    And it showed. The pilothouse was spartan, both in comforts and control systems. With the impressive automation of the frigate, the fine starship was completely operational with a skeleton crew of only two-hundred droids¨Cwith less than a dozen necessary to man the bridge. Compare that to a Republic cruiser¡¯s wall-spanning interfaces and intuitive analogue panels, Repulse¡¯s handful of what were essentially digital kiosks were hell to navigate for any traditionally trained officer.


    But I have gotten used to it. As have my eyes.


    My incessant pacing caught the attention of the TF-1726, the attending T-1 series tactical droid aboard Repulse.


    ¡°Is there a problem, sir?¡± the droid¡¯s digitised voice buzzed.


    ¡°Nothing of the sort, Tuff,¡± I waved him off, ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s all lil¡¯ boring sitting around here?¡±


    ¡°I was not programmed to possess the capacity for ¡®boredom,¡¯ sir,¡± Tuff¡¯s facsimile of a mouth blinked, ¡°And please do not call me that. You may refer to me by my serial number.¡±


    ¡°Then I must envy you, Tuffy,¡± I patted his plated shoulder, ¡°So¡­ how are the repairs?¡±


    ¡°Repulse suffered no damage,¡± Tuff said, ¡°And our deflector shields will be at full charge within the hour.¡±


    I inspected the tactical droid¡¯s expressionless, beaked faceplate for a moment. Not for the first time, I wondered what really went on in that cognitive module of his. I dropped down onto the command chair again, suppressing a wince as my ass collided against the solid metal surface of the seat.


    ¡°The Republic ships are still hiding by the moon,¡± I stated, though worded as a question.


    ¡°Four Jedi cruisers, sir,¡± Tuff confirmed.


    Scanning the viewports, I took in the frozen moon of Leesis. To our flanks, nearly two dozen Munificent-class frigates encircled the turquoise orb of Christophsis¨Csupported by behemoth Lucrehulk battleships¨Cforming what must appear to be a mockery of an asteroid ring from afar. Far, far beneath, General Whorm waged war against Republic troops, encircling the Christophsian capital of Chaleydonia.


    Or at least, that¡¯s what I hope he was doing.


    ¡°...Open a communications line with the Invincible,¡± I ordered Tuff, ¡°I wish to speak with the Admiral.¡±


    A holographic display of the Admiral sprung up from the projector, manifesting an ungodly creature¨Ca six-armed bipedal spider with six baleful red gimlet eyes. I cringed, struggling not to divert my gaze from his matted fur and clicking mandibles. Oh, the clicking¨Ceven through the holograph I was still chilled down to the marrow of my bones every time the spider did that.


    ¡°Admiral Trench, sir¡± I greeted calmly.


    ¡°Captain Bonteri,¡± Trench stroked one of his furry mandibles, ¡°What seems to be the issue?¡±


    ¡°The Republic taskforce is still hiding behind the moon,¡± I adjusted my collar, ¡°There is a non-zero possibility that they are awaiting reinforcements. If you would grant me eight¨C no, six frigates including Repulse, I assure you I can smoke them out.¡±


    ¡°If Republic reinforcements were on route, our pickets would have noticed,¡± Admiral Trench waved his cane, ¡°We are a blockade, Captain, not a strikeforce. I commend your eagerness, however, and realise that this taskforce is a present threat that must be eliminated.¡±


    ¡°What do you suggest, Admiral?¡±


    Trench¡¯s needle-like teeth chattered skincrawlingly, ¡°What is the status of the assault on Christophsis?¡±


    It took me a moment to realise the creature was not addressing me but rather his tactical droid off-display.


    ¡°Resistance is crumbling, sir¡± the droid stepped in the sensor range, its holographic description materialising next to the Admiral¡¯s, ¡°I would estimate a half-rotation before it is over.¡±


    Trench¡¯s mandibles chattered in thought, ¡°We need to add some pressure on those who are sent to rescue our enemies on Christophsis¡­ send the Hyena bombers to hit Senator Organa on the surface.¡±


    His hum morphed into a low cackle as he gave the order, ¡°That should draw them out from¨C¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, Admiral,¡± I interrupted, ¡°Should Chaleydonia be on the verge of falling, then the bombers will do little to persuade the Republic to attack. If they have decided to hide behind Leesis in face of the present situation, I believe they intend to continue doing so. However, with a handful of ships I can circle around the dark side of the moon and strike them in the rear, forcing them out and trapping them in a pincer between our fleets.¡±


    ¡°I calculate a seventy-eight-point-six percent chance of this tactic working,¡± Tuff buzzed.


    It was evident that Admiral Trench could hear the comment, as even through his arachnid face I could make out the beginnings of vexation. Clearly, the Admiral didn¡¯t appreciate being undermined by a subordinate.


    It likely didn¡¯t help that his own tactical droid soon followed with a¨C ¡°I concur.¡±


    I held onto his look, resisting the urge to break eye contact. God, what an ugly bitch. Problem was that when most of your subordinates were composed of unthinking droids, you tend to create an inflated opinion of yourself when you have a successive streak. But I suppose I would be lying if I claimed Trench was an unfair boss.


    ¡°¨CI heard you served with merit in Corvair, Captain,¡± Trench stroked his mandible again, ¡°Tell me, what was the battle like?¡±


    ¡°It was a loss, sir,¡± I managed, thrown off a little by the sudden change of subject, ¡°We were on the verge of victory, but Republic reinforcements arrived and turned the tide of battle. A Jedi¡¯s starfighter squadrons took out a not-insignificant number of our ships, forcing us to retreat.¡±


    ¡°But you distinguished yourself, didn¡¯t you, Captain?¡± the Admiral asked, ¡°I hear that if it was not for your decisive actions, our defeat would have been much more¡­ prominent.¡±


    ¡°I must have done something well, sir,¡± I offered a weak smile, ¡°Else I would not be sitting in this chair.¡±


    Ten pinpricks appeared on the tactical display above my head as Repulse¡¯s active scanners picked up on Invincible¡¯s Hyena bomber wing zipping out of the port hangar before adjusting course for the surface of the planet.


    ¡°Now I understand your fear,¡± Trench said, mollified, ¡°But it remains that we must follow orders.¡±


    ¡°With all respect,¡± I protested again, ¡°While that may be the case, it is also my duty in conscience to challenge orders should they be unwise. If I had followed orders to the letter at Corvair, I am afraid that battle would have been a decisive victory for the Republic, and not the hollow win it currently stands as.¡±


    Tooting my own horn a little bit, yes, but if Admiral Trench was conscientious enough to read up on the previous exploits of his subordinates¨Cespecially on such an insignificant battle on the galactic scale¨Cthen he should know exactly how I saved our forces at Corvair. I had done so by disobeying direct orders to withdraw, but in the end I was acquitted of court-marshal and promoted, so it ended well.


    ¡°It is I who is under standing orders to maintain the blockade, Captain, not you,¡± Trench hissed, ¡°It is not that I disagree with your perspective, but that unless our situation proves itself precarious¨Cas at Corvair¨Cwe must follow orders.¡±


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    I suppose that is the best I¡¯m going to get. Not that I could argue against it¨Cif I was in Trench¡¯s position, I definitely wouldn¡¯t stick out my head for a subordinate defying direct orders, even if their motivations made sense.


    ¡°Yes, sir¨C¡±


    ¡°New contact on port quarter, sir,¡± Trench¡¯s droid droned in programmed calm, ¡°Not one of ours.¡±


    Trench¡¯s round head whipped around, his six eyes scanning something off-display, ¡°There! A cloaked ship.¡±


    Well that was a first. I don¡¯t think we were ever introduced to space submarines in the movies. I wondered how they worked, anyway.


    ¡°Torpedoes locked and closing,¡± his tactical droid alarmed.


    The holograph fizzled out as Trench interrupted the connection. I leapt out of my chair to stare intently out of Repulse¡¯s starboard viewport, easily finding four torpedoes cutting a blazing arc through the void. It took less than a minute for them to collide with Invincible¡¯s conning tower¨Cnormally invisible thermal shields illuminating as the projectiles smashed haplessly against them.


    ¡°No damage observed,¡± Tuffy reported.


    ¡°Mark the last known location of that stealth ship!¡± I hurriedly commanded, just as Invincible replied with a volley of missiles.


    The space submarine¨Can odd, spearlike vessel with an elongated hull¨Cdeployed a shower of flares before the missiles could contact, sending them veering off course. A moment later, the ship cloaked and disappeared from both visual and sensor displays.


    ¡°Did we manage to rip a thermal signature?¡± I demanded.


    ¡°We lost it when the contact cloaked,¡± Tuffy reported.


    Interesting. Considering the missiles Invincible used were evidently of the heat-seeking variant, it could only mean that whatever cloaking device the enemy ship used, it is also capable of hiding its own thermal radiation. However, that was not the only way to suss out a stealth ship.


    ¡°Keep our active scanners primed on that starboard flank,¡± I commanded, ¡°Scan for thermal, electronic, radar, magnetic¨Cany kind of unique signature that can help us identify that ship.¡±


    ¡°That will take time, sir,¡± Tuff said.


    ¡°I want a twenty-degree port roll rotation,¡± I scowled at the droid for stating the obvious, ¡°Saturate the contact¡¯s last known location with laser fire. Watch for friendly-fire.¡±


    Tiny sparks appeared on the tactical holo as the frigate¡¯s respectable turbolaser batteries began firing into what was virtually empty space, soon accompanied by Invincible¡¯s massive heavy quad-mounts. Soon, the tactical display was thoroughly saturated with bright flares as both ships turned the area between them into a deadly crossfire.


    Several minutes passed by before Tuffy commented¨C ¡°No hits observed.¡±


    ¡°Check fire,¡± I commanded, ¡°Work out a probability, Tuff.¡±


    ¡°...I calculate the probability of the ship evading our combined fire is one in one-hundred-twenty-four.¡±


    ¡°But they did,¡± I pointed out, ¡°Replace the pilot variable with that of a Jedi, and recalculate.¡±


    I could hear the phantom tune of Tuffy¡¯s computing processors working overtime to calculate with such an unquantifiable variable. I would guess that the droid was combing through every battle record with Jedi in starfighter pilot roles in order to formulate an average skill, before somehow converting it into an integer and plugging it into the equation. I did not pity him. If I touched his head right now, I imagine it would feel like a shitty office laptop with integrated graphics trying to run a triple-A game.


    ¡°I calculate the probability of a Jedi evading the crossfire is six in one-hundred.¡±


    Huh¡­ wasn¡¯t that a very rounded figure? Quite unlike him.


    ¡°You did your best,¡± I consoled.


    Still, with such a low probability of evasion, the only reasonable assumption is that this particular Jedi was a very good pilot, even for their standards. So, which Jedi were notably good starship pilots¡­? I should have paid more attention to the movies¨Cor my brother, he would probably know. I did know of Anakin Skywalker, though, but that¡¯s because he blew up a battleship in the first movie, when he was like¡­ eight.


    ¡°Damn plot armour¡­¡± I grumbled.


    ¡°Error: ¡®plot armour¡¯ does not exist in my databanks,¡± Tuffy buzzed.


    I waved him off, ¡°It¡¯s when someone is protected by¡­ uh, the Force, to the point that they can¡¯t die even in a situation where they should.¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Force¡¯ is not a quantifiable variable,¡± the droid groused, or as well as he could.


    ¡°I wish it was too, buddy. I wish it was too¨C¡±


    ¡°Uh¨C communications signal on open frequency, sir,¡± the communications droid said, ¡°It¡¯s coming from the Invincible.¡±


    ¡°Listen in at your station, and relay what is said to me later,¡± I said, ¡°Tuffy, what came of the scans?¡±


    ¡°No signature of any kind detected,¡± he reported.


    ¡°There is no such thing as a completely hidden ship,¡± I reminded, ¡°Make another sweep.¡±


    ¡°The Admiral was taunting, sir,¡± the communications droid said, ¡°He is telling the Jedi that they should retreat, because he has dealt with their kind of ship before.¡±


    Which only confirmed my theory that even space submarines can be detected, somehow. We had to be ready, because that ship was going to come around for another torpedo run. Submarines can serve as blockade runners, or convoy raiders. In some cases, they even sank capital ships¨Cas Royal Oak and Barham could attest to¨Cand considering this ship could have easily slipped the blockade, I¡¯d hazard its orders are to take out Invincible.


    ¡°The Jedi aren¡¯t going to retreat,¡± I tapped my chair, ¡°Keep those batteries aimed on our starboard. When they decloak, I want them pumped full of tibanna.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    I stared intently at the tactical display, tracing the arbitrary grids assigned to this slice of space with my eyes. Mentally counting down the seconds, I wondered how long it took for a space submarine to reload torpedo tubes. They must have autoloaders, right?


    A new contact popped up. I consulted the display.


    A droid sounded out what I read, ¡°New contact bearing relative one-three-four and three-two-nine, speed and range¨C¡¯


    ¡°Did you come right out of the factory?¡± I impatiently demanded, ¡°Don¡¯t parrot the attitude vectors, just register them on the readout!¡±


    ¡°Sorry sir,¡± the B1 beside whacked the offending droid over his tin head, ¡°Five-oh-oh-eight was just assigned to us last refit.¡±


    I ignored them, turning to Tuff, ¡°Signatures?¡±


    ¡°No electronic, faint thermal¨C magnetic signature lock,¡± Tuffy dutifully reported, ¡°Systems warning unable to fire.¡±


    ¡°No, of course we couldn¡¯t,¡± I palmed my cheek in frustration.


    The stealth ship had reoriented. In the time we were unable to track her, she had manoeuvred around Invincible so that the dreadnought was now in between us and her. There wasn¡¯t even a visual lock of the ship from the pilothouse. I should have expected it, honestly, as it was a sensible decision on the enemy pilot¡¯s part. Of course a submarine wouldn¡¯t shoot from the same place twice.


    ¡°Match us with Invincible¡¯s longitudinal axis,¡± I sighed, ¡°Hopefully the Admiral has them under control.¡±


    Suddenly, four bright pinpricks appeared on the tactical display: torpedoes. The glow surrounding Invincible¡¯s signature dimmed¨Cthe flagship had just lowered her specialised thermal shields to give way for her volley. As the projectiles ripped across the grids, the enemy vessel¡¯s radar contact winked out.


    ¡°Enemy contact¡¯s thermal signature lost,¡± Tuff buzzed, ¡°We are still tracking its magnetic signature.¡±


    ¡°Register it for future reference.¡±


    The torpedoes suddenly curved, as if bloodhounds tracking an invisible scent¨Cand I realised they were after the ship¡¯s magnetic signature after all. Then, the radar contact popped back into existence, and the vector readouts went mad; the ship began accelerating to almost the speed of the torpedoes themselves, before doubling back on a reciprocal course¨Cright back towards Invincible.


    I fingered a dial, intently observing the readings around Invincible. The signature remained dim¨Ceven as the stealth ship and its torpedo bloodhounds raced towards its starboard bow, her shields remained lowered.


    ¡°...Is Trench unable to raise his deflector shields?¡± I asked aloud in disbelief.


    ¡°¨CThermal shields cannot be raised while they are recharging,¡± Tuff enlightened me.


    ¡°Of for¨C¡± I gnashed my teeth, ¡°Get me a line with Invincible¡¯s bridge! Make it snappy!¡±


    A heartbeat felt way too long as the enemy ship and its torpedo entourage raced each other to their destruction.


    Hearing Tuff¡¯s synthesised voice made my ears pop, ¡°The connection has been¨C¡±


    ¡°Admiral!¡± I all but screamed, ¡°Transfer me the fleet command codes, now!¡±


    ¡°Captain Bonteri¨C¡±


    ¡°Hurry the fuck¨C!¡±


    I squinted as a new source of light glared in from the windows, and even the droids couldn¡¯t help but twist their metal necks over to watch the Invincible¡¯s forward bridge disintegrate in a ball of fire. From the smoke, the spear-like hull of the space submarine slashed out and tore across our viewports before Repulse¡¯s automated gunnery systems could even respond, disappearing towards the planet surface behind us.


    The flagship of the blockade, Providence-class dreadnought Invincible, almost groaned as it began listing in realspace, dead in the water and captured by the planet''s mass.


    ¡°...Get me a preliminary scan on Invincible,¡± I commanded weakly, out of breath, ¡°I want to know the extent of damage, and how fast she can get back into action.¡±


    The transceiver on my command chair started beeping, indicating that a new data dump had been received. My gut stirred.


    ¡°Repulse has received the control codes for the blockade fleet, sir,¡± Tuffy reported, as dry as ever.


    As if liquid sansanna had been injected straight into my bloodstream, it took every fibre in my body to restrain myself back from leaping out of my chair. I could fucking kiss Trench¡¯s fuzzy round face right now, if it wasn''t for the fact that he was probably fairy dust currently drifting on the solar winds.


    ¡°Alright folks!¡± I clapped, reinvigorated, ¡°Sync the fleet with the codes; I believe our present situation has proven itself precarious! With our esteemed Admiral missing in action, I have decided that we are all due for promotions! Power to sublight thrusters¨C Tuffy, do me a favour and plot an approach vector on the enemy fleet!¡±

 Chapter 2:

    Chapter 2:


    <em>Orbit of Christophsis, Christoph System</em>


    <em>Savareen Sector</em>


    I reviewed my assets; twenty-three Munificent-ss frigates, six Lucrehulk-ss battleships, and a disabled Providence-ss dreadnought. The greatest taskforce I havemanded yet, and I could already feel my bones trembling in excitement. The Jedi taskforce, on the other hand, had only four Venator-ss destroyers¨Call of which are still in their carrier fits. God, this will be a cakewalk¨Cif it weren¡¯t for the evident presence of <em>Jedi</em>.


    First things first; ¡°Tell me something about <em>Invincible, </em>Tuff.¡±


    ¡°Command software is being relocated to the aft bridge, sir,¡± the droid said, ¡°The ship will be operational within hours.¡±


    ¡°Biological signatures?¡±


    ¡°...A faint biological signature has been detected in the forward bridge.¡±


    <em>What?</em> That old bugger Trench was still alive! I shouldn¡¯t have underestimated that spider¨Cif he survived total annihtion at Mstare, I should have expected that unkible bug could do it again. Damn, it felt good. Now I can take all the glory for winning this battle, without the oppressive shadow of his death looming over all the paperwork and exining that I was going to have to do.


    Tuff, however, did not seem to share my enthusiasm.


    ¡°Well!?¡± I mmed my fist against the armrest, ¡°Have you mounted a rescue effort!? Can spiders survive the vacuum of space?¡±


    The tactical droid met my gaze unflinchingly, his white eyes digging into mine. It was difficult to stare into what was basically a pair of lightbulbs for so long, but I managed.


    ¡°...What is it?¡± I asked, confused.


    ¡°If Admiral Trench does not survive, I predict that you will be promoted in his ce,¡± Tuff gestured, ¡°I calcte that it will be more beneficial for him to die.¡±


    I paused. He <em>does </em>have a point. Just like at Corvair, if I distinguished myself here when mymanding officer had just eaten bricks in the initial strike¡­ that would definitely earn me some favours with the higher ups. Not to mention, I could spin this real well back on Raxus¨CI could imagine it; <em>Captain Rain Bonteri, saving battle against certain defeat after death of infamous Admiral Trench.</em>


    It would go over well with Voe Atell¡¯s faction in the Senate, and I could use Mina¡¯s contacts to turn me into a war hero¡­ but that was pushing it, Mina wasn¡¯t terribly enthralled with my idea of joining the military in the first ce. Even back on Onderon.


    Besides¡­


    ¡°Ah, but Tuffy,¡± I stood up and jabbed his facete a couple times, ¡°You need to see the bigger picture! The <em>long-term </em>benefits of keeping Trench alive. I like the way you think, yes, but I can achieve the same effect if I keep Trench <em>indebted </em>to me, understand?¡±


    ¡°I do not understand,¡± the droid said robotically.


    ¡°No, of course you don¡¯t,¡± I shook my head, ¡°Favours as a concept must be alien to a droid. But it is not to us sapients. A favour¡­ can go a long way. Get some cutters out and tow the <em>Invincible </em>back to the rear, then transfer Trench to the medical facilities on a Lucrehulk.¡±


    The droid held my order for a long moment¨Clong enough that I was beginning to think something went wrong in his drives.


    ¡°...Yes, sir,¡± Tuffy finally said, before warbling away.


    I think I must be rubbing off on him. I <em>do </em>prefer individualism in my droids, and have painstakingly manually defragmented those I deemed worthy of my trust to retain some personality models, but I ce obedience just a rung higher on thedder. Another memory defragmentation is probably in order.


    Sitting back down, I located a B1 model with a yellow-painted head, ¡°You there, the OOM. What¡¯s your serial number?¡±


    The droid spun around from his station, ¡°I am OOM-two-two-zero-zero, sir.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you¡­,¡± 2200¡­ 22¡­ I suppressed a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll call you Taylor. Alright Taylor, how many bridge shifts have you served?¡±


    ¡°Uh,¡± the B1 scratched his head, ¡°Seven, sir.¡±


    ¡°A low number,¡± I observed, ¡°I guess you were assigned here one¡­ two refits ago?¡±


    ¡°Two, sir,¡± he confirmed.


    ¡°Then open up your memory banks, because I want you to learn how I like to wage battle,¡± I stiffened my voice, ¡°Tuff should have already calcted us an approach vector. Now, I want to prepare my order of battle. Send all our avable naval elements to my datapad.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger!¡± Taylor nodded enthusiastically, spinning right back round to his station.


    I produced my tablet just as it received a data package. Opening it, a stream of military assets began flooding in, and I started navigating through the cards I had at my disposal. <em>Invincible </em>and the Lucrehulks will be left behind to maintain the blockade. Not only were they far too slow for what I had in mind, but I needed them as ast line of defence against any Republic vessel trying to give us the slip, including the space submarine still atrge.


    That means I have two dozen star frigates to mess around with. My personal <em>Repulse Squadron </em>will take the centre, as some of my most trusted droid captainsmanded these ships, which included <em>Renown </em>and <em>Resistance. </em>I didn¡¯t even have to look at their readouts to confirm all three ships were operating at over 90% efficiency. As amander, I could be described as industrious in my efforts to keep my ships up to par¨Ceven if it entails bringing them in for refit thrice as many times as theirpeers.


    An unpleasant feeling began to stir in the pits of my stomach as I keyed in the other ships¡¯ real-time readouts on my datapad, however. Right nk, <em>Frigate 13</em>¨Cnot even named, the poor thing¨Crunning at overall 63% efficiency. I checked¨Cit was a loanship from the Trade Federation. Typical. The pitiful frigate probably hasn¡¯t been scrubbed down since itsunch day.


    Admiral Trench knew it too, which is why he stationed her at the nks of the blockade, along with the rest of her like. Too keep them out of the way.


    ¡°All vessels operating below seventy-percent efficiency aren¡¯t assets,¡± I said aloud, ¡°They are liabilities. They¡¯d take an entire rotation to respond to orders, and we can¡¯t have that. Group them together in Division Three, and bring them a hundred-thousand klicks in front of the blockade. Standard order¡­ no¨C inverted bow-and-quarter line. They¡¯ll be our reserve.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    ¡°How many ships do we have left, Taylor?¡±


    ¡°Uh¨C eleven ships, sir.¡±


    Jesus Christ, over half the fleet is operating beneath eptable limits. I chewed my fingertips, mulling over my strategy. I had this battle pretty much in the bag, until Separatist ipetence reared its ugly head and gave me a tight p across the cheek. So now I had what¨C twelve ships left? A quick consultation with my datapad revealed I could count the number of them operating above 80% efficiency on one hand¨Cnot including Repulse Squadron, thankfully.


    Fuck it, I can do with eight ships.


    ¡°Arrange the ships operating over eighty-percent into Division One,¡± I ordered, ¡°And quarter them into four squadrons; <em>Repulse</em>, <em>Renown</em>, <em>Resistance</em>, and¡­ <em>Graceful Promising. </em>Standard Battle Order Three, one-fifty-thousand klicks forward.¡±


    My personal ships can act as linchpins for the main spine¨CI could only hope the Corporate Alliance¡¯s <em>Graceful Promising </em>will live up to its name. Slowly, <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>seven ion thrusters reared up and brought us forward into position. Along the entire blockade, Munificents were breaking the line and arranging themselves into formation.


    ¡°Group the remaining four in Division Two,¡± I scratched my cheek, ¡°Put them on the nks. They¡¯ll keep the Republic cruisers right where I want them.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    Tuff¡¯s nking caught my attention, the tactical droid rejoining us from his detour tomunications.


    ¡°Admiral Trench has been relocated to <em>Impounder</em>,¡± he duly reported.


    ¡°Very well,¡± I leaned on my fist, ¡°Familiarise yourself with our battle order. I want you to submit probabilities round the clock¨C and assume there is a Jedi General inmand of the enemy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Themand bridge was silent, save for the background hum of digital interfaces and repeaters that made <em>Repulse </em>what it was¨Ca decorated star frigate in the CIS Navy. Most Munificents don¡¯t survive past their fourth battle¨Cif they even get there¨Cbut <em>Repulse </em>has seen twice that number. The bridge crew conducted its business with brisk, well-maintained efficiency¨Cand with the touch of a button a nest of readouts and repeaters sprung up around me, feeding me a constant stream of relevant information.


    A personal touch, unique to my ships. It made us all one machine.


    Even without my word, green lights popped up on the system checks, and all the ships began calling in around<em> Repulse¡¯s </em>g. As soon as the final ship¨C<em>Shadow Price</em>¨Ccalled in from her assigned station, I stood up.


    ¡°Alright folks,¡± I dered, ¡°Let¡¯s make this quick.¡±


    ?


    Beyond the bridge¡¯s main viewport, the Separatist blockade had advanced forward. Eight frigates were now positioned halfway between Leesis and Christophsis, presenting themselves as a clear barrier between them and their target.


    ¡°Anakin!¡± Obi-Wan reached for the holodisy table in the Battle Operations Room, ¡°Are you certain you disabled the enemy gship? Because they¡¯ve just broken the blockade and areing right for us!¡±


    Anakin¡¯s projection stood atop the wide holodisy table, the form of Senator Bail Organa right beside him. Even as he spoke, Obi-Wan could hear him trying to raise his voice over the background noise of ster fire and explosions.


    ¡°I did!¡± Anakin shouted into his handheld projector, ¡°I saw Trench blow up with my own eyes! He must have had contingencies¨C¡±


    ¡°Or a second-inmand,¡± Admiral Yren entered the projection, ¡°Do not underestimate him. He escaped death once, he could do it again. General Skywalker is right; I would not put it past Trench to have a number of backup ns.¡±


    ¡°This is worrying,¡± Obi-Wan mused, ¡°Even when you were withdrawing, Anakin, Admiral Trench did not decide to pursue. It is odd that only after his death, that his fleet decide that they are now the attackers.¡±


    ¡°Whatever the case, General Kenobi,¡± Senator Organa pleaded, ¡°We need your reinforcements on the ground. Thanks to General Skywalker and his supplies, we can hold out for a couple more rotations, but that is only dying the inevitable.¡±


    Cody shot him a nce. That was the problem. Not only did they have transports to protect, all of their cruisers were outfitted with ground troops, AT-TEs, artillery cannons, and other elements meant to reinforceside instead of their usualplement of starfighters¨Cwhich served as a Venator¡¯s main anti-ship assets. Obi-Wan had hoped to pierce the Separatist blockade, dispatch reinforcements, and retreat before their ships were too badly damaged.


    Now, he doubted that was possible.


    ¡°I can get the stealth ship back up there and hit them from behind,¡± Anakin suggested, ¡°It¡¯ll take some pressure off you, and I can create an opening for you to slip through.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t, Anakin,¡± Obi-Wan shook his head, ¡°They will be expecting you, and being so rash will only draw more attention to the surface. I need you to help Senator Organa hold out for as long as possible while we break through the blockade.¡±


    Anakin frowned, but epted it nheless, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    With a toggle, the projection of the three men winked out and was reced by an expansive view of their battlefield.


    ¡°With all due respect, General,¡± Cody started, ¡°But we have neither the firepower or the positioning to break through the blockade. Whoever¡¯s in control of the Seps now, they have us in a bind.¡±


    Obi-Wan tugged at his beard. The Clone Commander was right; the Separatists had thrown quite the hydrospanner into their ns by splitting their fleet into threeyers¨Cwith the battleships in the original blockade position, there were now two more lines of frigates between Leesis and Christophsis. And worryingly, there was also a squadron of four frigates stationed to their starboard, pinning his taskforce against the moon. Whoever the new enemymander was, they had no intention of letting them retreat unscathed.


    ¡°We are going to need reinforcements from the Jedi Council,¡± he mused.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the vition.


    ¡°I¡¯ll patch a line,¡± themunications officer said.


    ¡°Should we fall back?¡± Cody asked, ¡°We can use the moon to cover our nks.¡±


    Obi-Wan observed the holoprojection. Cody¡¯s idea was to use Leesis as a shield, preventing them from being enveloped by the numerically superior enemy force, and endure until reinforcements arrive. It was a sound strategy, if they could be certain that reinforcements <em>would </em>arrive. Because if not, the strategy came with the side-effect of entrapping themselves.


    Then, he noticed something. The Separatist vanguard was still pushing forward, even out of range of their nking squadron.


    ¡°Why are they overextending themselves?¡± a sharp-eyed clone naval officer asked, ¡°Their lines in the rear can¡¯t support them this far out.¡±


    Obi-Wan closed his eyes, ¡°It is a bold move, abandoning their advantage of numbers like that. This is not the work of a droid.


    ¡°You think it¡¯s a¡­ gloryhound, sir?¡± Cody said.


    ¡°Eight frigates is a far more even match,¡± he said, ¡°And if we triumph over them, the four trying to nk us will be wildly out of position.¡±


    ¡°We can defeat them in detail,¡± Cody nodded approvingly, seeing the n, ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the men, sir.¡±


    ?


    ¡°We are intercepting subspace transmissions between the Republic fleet andside,¡± Tuff reported.


    ¡°Can you unscramble it?¡± I pinched my cheek.


    ¡°<em>Tide of Progress </em>has the facilities to do so,¡± Tuff said, ¡°But it will take a long time. We should jam them instead.¡±


    ¡°If we jam them, they¡¯ll stopmunicating,¡± I pointed out, ¡°We don¡¯t want that. A talkative enemy is a stupid enemy. Begin unscrambling their frequencies.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve crossed Division Two¡¯s support arc,¡± Taylor harped, ¡°Contacts bearing rtive zero-zero-zero and¨C¡±


    ¡°Quiet,¡± I snapped, ncing at all the critical readouts around me, ¡°Bring us down twenty-thousand klicks, into their blindspot. I want a¡­ sixteen-degree upwards pitch rotation. Fire our prow turbser mounts on mymand.¡±


    It was a dangerous manoeuvre¨Cfoolhardy at best¨Cbut only if the Venators had their usual LACplement. These ones don¡¯t, otherwise we¡¯d be swamped with starfighters by now. Which meant these are ground support ships. They were, in other words, lobotomized carriers.


    Intersterbat takes ce in three-dimensions, but the brains of all terrestrial creatures are hardwired for two. A thousand years of rtive peace followed the Ruusan Reformations, and in that time all but a handful of shipyards have forgotten how to build warships. And it showed.


    The Munificent¡¯s design was wed. A curious trait of the frigate design was that most of its turbser emcements were located on its ventral prow, hidden beneath the red armour belt that epassed most of the ship¡¯s habitable areas¨Ca level of protection the pilothouse was <em>excluded </em>from, notably. This meant that to exploit the full potential firepower of the ship, the target must be <em>beneath </em>it.


    Of course, that relied on advertently discarding the protective qualities of the frigate¡¯s main armour belt, but I liked to believe that faultid in the retarded naval architects from Hoersch-Kessel, rather than me.


    However, with this in mind, it is my belief that there is no ship more egregiously designed in this entire god-forsaken gxy than the Venator-ss star destroyer. In fact, that ship was probably designed by three slightly damp quasi-sentient sea sponges in a British pillbox during World War Two, because all of its eight heavy turbser batteries were ced nestled around its dorsal superstructure, with not a <em>single turret</em> covering its ventral side. It was as if Kuat designed a seafaring vessel, and not a spacefaring one.


    This was a cognitive blindspot not even ten millennia of naval tradition could fill. Not even the vaunted Jedi were immune from it.


    Once the bellies of the cruisers were in full view of our transparisteel windows, I simply ordered, ¡°Open fire.¡±


    Sparks darted across the tactical holo as sixteen red turbser-charged gas packets were punched into the abyss. Several secondster, they smashed into the ray shields protecting the enemy cruisers¡¯ ventral face.


    The Venators predictably started pitching downwards to get us downrange of their guns, elerating faster and faster. Since they were trying to break <em>through </em>the blockade, I suspected their primary armament this time was pure forward momentum.


    I had them right where I want them.


    ¡°Battle Order Four,¡± I felt an odd, godlike sense of detachment, ¡°Bring <em>Shadow Price, Needful, Tide of Progress, </em>and <em>Hound¡¯s Tooth </em>up by forty-thousand klicks. Slowly. The Jedi are wary of tricks. We must coax them into the gauntlet.¡±


    Division One split into four pairs, with the four below continuously firing into the enemy¡¯s underside, while the top four started ascending like breaching whales. As vectors and numbers swam across my eyes, I felt like a god, for I could see every move the Republic made, though they couldn¡¯t even guess I was watching them.


    Their ships slid onwards, driving ever deeper into the trap as my own vector intersected theirs, and I smiled.


    ?


    Themand bridge was only a short corridor away from the Battle Room, where a whole cadre of officers were gawking out the transparisteel viewports, at the enemy¡¯s admittedly baffling tactics.


    The Separatists had split their vanguard into two lines stacked atop each other, and were slowly widening the space between as their two forces hurtled towards each other. <em>Negotiator </em>was still pitching downwards, however, fixed on previous orders to target the ships in their blindspot. Now, they were in a predicament. Obi-Wan¡¯s cruisers did not possess ventral turrets, so they could only target one axis at a time¨Cthe question was above or below?


    ¡°By that order,¡± he called, ¡°Pitch upwards and intensify all our firepower on the ships above.¡±


    Munificent-ss frigates had their main turbser batteries on their ventral prow, which meant it was the ships above that posed thergest threat to them right now. Besides, the enemy was also discarding all of their physical armour in exchange for more firepower, cing all of their trust in their deflectors. Now with clear shots, <em>Negotiator¡¯s </em>eight heavy mounts thundered away, soon echoed by <em>Resolute, Dauntless, </em>and <em>Pioneer. </em>The ck abyss was filled with darting bolts of red and blue.


    Still, it remains that the Force continued to press into the back of his head. Atent warning, that he was moving straight into a trap. But he did not have a choice, if he wanted to keep Christophsis from falling into Separatist hands. But just as he attempted to dig a little deeper, Obi-Wan felt a tingle of perception, and lifted his head. Something wasing.


    ¡°Sir?¡± a voice called down from the portside crew pit just as he expected it, ¡°Sir, I have an iing transmission from the Jedi Council.¡±


    The clonem officer pressed a finger on the transceiver plugged into his ear.


    Obi-Wan strode to the edge of the pit and leaned over, ¡°Recorded or real-time?¡±


    The officer checked, ¡°Recorded, sir.¡±


    ¡°Listen in at your station,¡± he pulled away, ¡°What does it say?¡±


    Them officer tapped a key and kept quiet, finger on ear, as he hung on to every recorded word. Obi-Wan felt his senses tingle as he tried to anticipate the message.


    ¡°It¡¯s from Master Yoda, sir,¡± the clone looked up at him, ¡°Admiral Wurtz is onroute to our position with reinforcements.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Obi-Wan allowed himself to feel pleased, ¡°Cody, I need you to check Admiral Trench¡¯s battle registry and find any records of this tactic.¡±


    ¡°I already did, sir,¡± the Clone Commander stiffened, ¡°There was no mention of it.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s interesting,¡± Obi-Wan crossed his arms, ¡°Patch us with Senator Organa¡¯s headquartersside. Perhaps Admiral Yren would know, as he had fought Trench before.¡±


    ?


    ¡°Another enemy transmission,¡± Tuff buzzed, ¡°<em>Tide of Progress </em>has unscrambled the Republic¡¯s frequency. Should we tap into their transmission?¡±


    Leave it to Jedi to have such poor radio discipline.


    ¡°Be subtle,¡± I warned, ¡°Taylor, have someone trace the line back to the sender and pull a dump of their databanks. I want to know the callsigns of who we¡¯re dealing with.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger,¡± Taylor said as he keyed in for the trace.


    The light of the sun was gradually eclipsed by the Jedi cruisers navigating right over them, engaged in a heated battle with <em>Shadow Price </em>and its half of the Division. <em>Repulse </em>and its half couldn¡¯t shoot upwards, since our light dorsal turrets were puny at best, and little better than mild annoyances to their deflectors.


    I didn¡¯t want to draw attention yet, so we continued to lurk below like sharks, letting the Republic continue cruising over us in ignorance.


    ¡°It¡¯s a data package, sir!¡± them droid announced, ¡°From the enemy gship, <em>Negotiator</em>. They¡­ they were sending battle data to their army headquartersside?¡±


    The droid seemed almost uncertain by the time he finished that sentence.


    ¡°What¡­ are they trying to get advice on the fly?¡± I was just as confused.


    ¡°It is toote,¡± Tuff was audibly certain, ¡°I calcte there is now an eighty-six-point-five percent chance two of their cruisers will be destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Only two?¡± I frowned.


    ¡°There is a present seventy-seven-point-two percent probability the enemy will notice our trap. From the central registry, thest knownmanding officer of <em>Negotiator </em>is Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi,¡± Tuff exined pridefully, ¡°Since the moon blocks escape from his portside, he will either elerate, decelerate, or veer to starboard. From my observations of General Kenobi¡¯s battle record, he will be too cautious to elerate. I predict that he will veer to starboard out of instinct, since decelerating at their current vector will take too long. This means enemy cruisers <em>Negotiator </em>and <em>Pioneer </em>will escape before our trap is sprung.¡±


    This is why I loved working with droids. It was like ying a RTS, except I had the expert AI setting on my side.


    ¡°Good work,¡± I praised, impressed, ¡°Bring Division Two forward, full power to sublight drives.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Tuff straightened his spine, ¡°We are in position. Orders?¡±


    If the tactical droid had lips, I could imagine him licking them right now in anticipation. Nobody loved a well-executed n more than a tactical droid, and I could empathise with every fibre in my body.


    ¡°Very well,¡± I grinned like an animal, ¡°<em>Repulse, Renown, Resistance, Graceful¨C</em> I want a one-hundred-eighty degree port roll rotation! Forget the shields, full power to ventral turbsers! Rip them apart!¡±


    ?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, General,¡± Admiral Yren said bitterly, ¡°But I do not recognise this formation any more than you do.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Obi-Wan stood over the holodisy table, ¡°That is¡­ disappointing.¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡± Anakin fizzled into view, his battered armour showing signs of battle.


    ¡°See for yourself, General,¡± Admiral Yren took a step back to let Anakin view the battle projection, ¡°I have never seen any formation like this before, even from Trench.¡±


    A sharp, almost painful sh of awareness crashed into Obi-Wan, who swiftly realised it was emanating off Anakin like a beacon of light. A variety of expressions crossed his former Padawan¡¯s face¨Ccuriosity, confusion, worry and anger, and then <em>dread.</em>


    ¡°Obi-Wan, you need to get out of there!¡± the Jedi Knight shouted, ¡°You¡¯re heading straight into a trap!¡±


    ¡°I know it is a trap, Anakin,¡± Obi-Wan struggled to keep calm, perturbed by the usually unppable Jedi¡¯s panic, ¡°I am trying to figure out what kind of trap¨C¡±


    ¡°You recognise this formation, General Skywalker?¡± Admiral Yren pressed.


    ¡°Yeah¨C right,¡± Anakin palmed his face, taking in a deep breath, ¡°Ist saw it at the Battle of Corvair. Master Luminara¡¯s reinforcements had arrived, and the Seps were on the backfoot, so I pursued. But it was a feigned retreat¨Cjust as my fleet caught up with them, the Seps doubled back in <em>that formation!</em> All my starfighters were lost, <em>Redeemer </em>and <em>Defender </em>were ripped to scrap metal. The <em>Resolute </em>barely got out of there in one piece!¡±


    ¡°Listen, Master,¡± Anakin spoke with urgency, ¡°The frigates beneath you are going to flip on their backs like a Nabooan otta and light a fire right under you!¡±


    A brief moment of rity shed through Obi-Wan¡¯s head as everything Anakin had said suddenly clicked together. Then¨C panic.


    Commander Cody was thrown off his feet as <em>Negotiator </em>shook violently, sending clone officers stumbling around the Battle Room like headless krahbu. The st doors separating the Battle Room from themand bridge hissed open, and an officer barely let it stop moving before he stumbled through with wild eyes.


    ¡°General!¡± the clone held his discipline admirably, ¡°The <em>Dauntless¨C it¡¯s gone!¡±</em>


    Obi-Wan all but raced out of the Battle Room, wildly scraping his vision across the wide-angle viewports. <em>Dauntless was </em>the ship holding their port nk, closest to the moon. The Jedi Master stopped himself right in the middle of the central walkway, staring out of the transparisteel viewport.


    Both <em>Resolute </em>and <em>Dauntless </em>were trapped¨Csandwiched¨Cbetween two frigates, and just as Anakin predicted, the bottom frigate was turned upside down, tearing into the cruisers¡¯ defenceless ventral surfaces with all their firepower. <em>Dauntless </em>had already lost its engines and stabilisers, and was wildly listing to portside in an uncontroble roll, the ship torn apart as it was captured by Leesis¡¯ suffocating gravity.


    The <em>Resolute </em>was faring no better, held in a death choke between its two frigates. Right now, Anakin¡¯s gship was nothing more than a b of meat in the jaws of a krayt dragon.


    ¡°Orders, sir!¡± a bridge officer stumbled out of the starboard crew pit.


    Obi-Wan breathed out, and reached into the Force to feel his chances. The swiftest path out of their predicament was to continue elerating until they were through the gauntlet¨Cuntil he felt the secondary line of Munificents lurking in the abyss in front of them, just waiting to pounce. The enemymander had clearly anticipated that manoeuvre.


    That left decelerating, or swerving to starboard. At their present speed, decelerating will take far too long.


    ¡°All ships!¡± Obi-Wanmanded, ¡°Hard right, hard over!¡±


    He adjusted his footing as <em>Negotiator </em>veered to the right, writhing as it was pummelled to hell and back. Behind him, he could hear exmations of rm as <em>Resolute </em>began to break up, its retreat vector unfortunately coinciding with the attack vectors of the two ships <em>Negotiator </em>had just escaped from.


    The deaths of so many clones¨C<em>people</em>¨Cpressed him like a boulder weighing down his mind. He could hear the distant screams of <em>Dauntless¡¯ </em>brave crew as they were ttened against the moon¡¯s frozen surface. He felt <em>Resolute¡¯s </em>pain as one of its fuel bunkers was struck, filling its main hangar with gas before a turbser bolt sparked it. Anakin¡¯s gship burgeoned¨Cand then exploded, its hollow spine acting like a balloon filled to the brim. He felt the helplessness of tens of thousands of men who should be on the fighting the good fight against the Separatists, and not being ughtered in their cabins.


    And the faint hopes of those who made it to the escape pods in time, jettisoning into the abyss.


    Obi-Wan could sense Anakin¡¯s anxiety, his worry and his rage, so potent it was that he could feel it an entire void away.


    But <em>Negotiator </em>and <em>Pioneer </em>escaped the gauntlet. Bruised and bleeding, yes, but they escaped.


    ¡°...Sir?¡± the bridge officer muttered.


    The Force continued to pound his head, like an incessant child. Obi-Wan lifted his head, and saw four frigates racing towards them, their forward turbser batteries already lighting up the void with baleful red. <em>The nking force.</em>


    His heart dropped.


    ¡°We can still jump into hyperspace, sir,¡± the officer suggested weakly.


    He was advising retreat. Obi-Wan wanted to protest, but he could see there was no other recourse. He cast a forlorn gaze at the cracked, crystal surface of Christophsis. Yes, they can still regroup with Admiral Wurtz''s taskforce, lick their wounds, and return. He could only hope Anakin and Senator Organa can hold out for that long.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    <em>Orbit of Leesis, Christoph System</em>


    <em>Savareen Sector</em>


    The corpses of <em>Dauntless </em>and <em>Resolute </em>were like rivers of scrap drifting around Leesis, transforming into an artificial ring around the small moon. <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>sublight thrusters eased off as the frigatepleted its prograde burn around the moon, finallying into view of what was left of the <em>Resolute.</em>


    The cruiser had been blown open from the inside. From what we could tell, her main hangar had been turned into abustion chamber by a leaking fuel bunker, and all it took was a single shot topletely g her. Now, <em>Resolute </em>was shaped more like a tuning fork, with the two ¡®prongs¡¯ twisted outwards by the force of the detonation. Her aft superstructure, however, remained more or less intact.


    Not much could be said about <em>Dauntless</em>, on the other hand. Most of that ship had careened into Leesis, smashing through its icy, crystalline crust before disappearing into the frozen oceans below. An unfortunate ending for any clone who managed to survive the initial battle.


    ¡°At our current barycentre, we will intercept the moon within one and a half local rotations,¡± the astrogation droid said.


    I eyed the astrogation repeater, ¡°We aren¡¯t staying around for too long. Start a finite burn until our apoapsis is far enough for a low-energy transfer to Christophsis¡¯ orbit.¡±


    The B1 punched in some keys into his station. ¡°We will be in range of <em>Battleship Fifty-three </em>for only forty minutes with this burn.¡±


    ¡°More than enough time,¡± I said, ¡°Good work.¡±


    The vast shadow of <em>Battleship 53 </em>groaned past us, both <em>Dauntless </em>and <em>Repulse </em>mere pygmies in the wake of the massive Lucrehulk¡¯s form. Droch-ss cutters were already swarming out of the battleship¡¯s hangar bays to begin the salvage operation.


    <em>¡°Battleship Fifty-three</em> reports that its velocity has matched <em>Resolute¡¯s</em>,¡± themunication droid reported, ¡°Beginning salvage operation.¡±


    ¡°Our lifeform scanners detect seven-hundred and twelve distinct biological signatures around the bridge stalk,¡± another droid looked up at me, ¡°Should we rescue them?¡±


    I craned my head up at the repeater disy, which indicated that we were also picking up a handful of electronic waveforms and pulses¨Cdistress signals. Both makeshift and otherwise.


    ¡°We do not have time,¡± Tuff warned, ¡°The moon is halfway through its second rotation since the battle, and the hypene egress is on the other side of the. We mustplete our raid on <em>Resolute¡¯s </em>data terminals and rendezvous with the blockade as quickly as possible.¡±


    I rubbed my cheek in thought. The Republic will be returning with reinforcements, that was an absolute certainty. <em>Tide of Progress </em>had detected an hyperwave transmission shortly after our skirmish with Obi-Wan Kenobi began in earnest, which could have only originated from a reinforcing fleet enroute to the Christoph System. The Jedi will be returning, with more ships and more fullyplemented carriers. Tuff was right, as he usually was in these situations; from a solely rational standpoint, rescuing enemy soldiers was a waste of valuable time.


    Unfortunately, I am not a droid. I am human. A person. And all those survivors trapped in the wreckage of <em>Resolute, </em>on a collision course straight for the surface of the moon¨Cclones as they may be¨Cwere people too. I¡¯m not capable of thinking solely in binary and probabilities. I understood, with unnerving rity, that I will hear the beeping of distress signals in my sleep for the rest of my life if I decided to ignore them here.


    But most importantly, it¡¯ll look very good on my record.


    I rubbed my eyes, ¡°Shit¡­ patch me intoms, open frequency.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± themunication droid nced at Tuff, but a quick re from me had him snapping back, ¡°Roger roger!¡±


    I cleared my throat, ¡°To all surviving personnel of Republic cruisers <em>Resolute </em>and <em>Dauntless</em>: this is Captain Rain Bonteri of the Confederate Navy. On behalf of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, we demand your absolute and unconditional surrender. By Section Two, Articles Twelve through Sixteen of the Yavin Code rtive to the General Protection of Prisoners of War, you have the right to, and will be afforded, humane and privileged treatment which may be orded to you by reason of your species, age, and state of health¨Cincluding but not limited to; sufficient sustenance, medical attention as required, and every guarantee of hygienic and healthful climate. I repeat¨C¡±


    I repeated the demand of surrender a second time, even though I, every droid on my ship, and likely every survivor out there, knew I was full of shit. After all, there was a good chance I was the only Separatist officer who had ever uttered those words in session. The Yavin Convention was millennia old, and military officers¨CRepublic or Separatist¨Cwho still adhere to them were about as rare as tauntauns on Tatooine. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if this was the first time the clones had ever heard about the Yavin Code.


    ¡°Sir,¡± there was a warning in Tuff¡¯s modted voice, ¡°I predict that the survivors will think this is a trap. They may resist their rescue.¡±


    Was this his way of trying to dissuade me from a tactically unwise decision? Let it not be said that tactical droids cannot learn. But I wasn¡¯t going to change my mind.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll start with the escape pods,¡± I said, ¡°And use those rescued survivors to convince the rest. Order <em>Battleship Fifty-three </em>to divert some cutters from the operation. And have them jam the distress signals¨Cif the Republic hears them, they may be prompted to return sooner thanter.¡±


    Several cutters had already made their way to the twin bridges of the <em>Resolute</em>, punching into the cabin and disgorging their droid payload. Soon, whatever salvageable data the ship had will be mine¨Chopefully along with the timetable and roster of the iing reinforcements.


    ¡°Have them work their way down the superstructure,¡± I ordered, ¡°We¡¯ll keep <em>Battleship Fifty-three </em>in orbit here until the operation isplete. Should enemy reinforcements return within the two rotations as predicted, then Leesis should be over the blockade when they arrive anyway. If not¡­ we¡¯ll have to make do with one less¨C¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Taylor turned around, ¡°There is an iing transmission fromside. On our frequencies.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it here.¡±


    The hunched form of General Whorm sprung up from the holoemitter. More animal than man, the Kerkoiden was still more pleasing to look at than Trench regardless, though I would say he needs some serious dental work. Maybe it was my Earth-centric sensibilities, but that underbite is nasty.


    ¡°General Loathsom,¡± I fixed a smile, ¡°An unexpected pleasure.¡±


    ¡°The pleasure is all mine, Captain Bonteri!¡± Whorm seemed to bow, though I can hardly tell from his hunch, ¡°I am pleased to inform you that thest remnants of Republic presence on Christophsis has fallen. Crystal City ispletely in my hands.¡±


    ¡°A pleasant surprise indeed,¡± I was genuinely taken aback, ¡°Earlier than scheduled.¡±


    ¡°The circumstances you informed me proved that haste was in order,¡± General Whorm was visibly pleased with himself, ¡°However, I regret to inform you that the Jedi Anakin Skywalker had escaped with Senator Bail Organa and a contingent of clone troopers. As myary rectennas could not locate them, they must be using that stealth ship you reported.¡±


    My smile tightened, ¡°I see. Thank you for your work, General, I¡¯ll attempt to locate and intercept the Jedi.¡±


    ¡°I hope we can speak further afterwards, Captain.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I closed the connection, and breathed out.


    Obviously Anakin Skywalker would escape. With Bail Organa too! Isn¡¯t he Princess Leia¡¯s father? Wait¡­ no he is her adopted father, after Obi-Wan pawned her off. In any case, I couldn¡¯t me the General for losing them. Competency, no matter how much, did little good in this kind of case. I wouldn¡¯t me myself when I lose them, either.


    ¡°Where is Chaleydonia now?¡± I asked.


    ¡°On the night side of the,¡± Tuff said.


    As Leesis¡¯ orbit around Christophsis was on a near-perpendicr inclination rtive to the sr ne, Chaleydonia was ¡®downwards.¡¯


    ¡°By the orbital manoeuvre,¡± I sighed, ¡°Downward pitch by ny, starboard roll by ny. I want an anti-normal burn until we¡¯re ''round the pole before heading on a direct vector for Chaleydonia. Plot it.¡±


    As the droids punched in the numbers into the astrogationputer, Tuff twisted his head down towards me, ¡°I calcte the probability of intercepting the stealth ship will be nought-point¨C¡±


    ¡°Yeah yeah yeah,¡± I waved him off, ¡°I know, Tuff. I know. We are fishing for a minnow in an ocean. But we need to make the effort for the record. Have <em>Resistance </em>and <em>Shadow Price </em>start making their sweeps for the maic signature.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    <em>Resistance </em>and <em>Shadow Price </em>were two ships amongst others that I stationed at the ¡®bottom¡¯ of the so that when the enemy reinforcements jump in, they can pounce on their defenceless undercarriages and rip them a new asshole. It was simply good fortune they are in the right ce at the right time. Not that it would be any help.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Realistically¨Cor pessimistically, from a point of view¨Cit was perishingly useless to find anything in space unless you already knew where exactly they were. A tiny space submarine capable of hiding itself? Forget it. Our sweeps will amount to little more than screaming in random directions hoping something will scream back. If I were Anakin Skywalker, I would fly within the¡¯s atmosphere where refraction would scramble the scanners, before breaking out where there were no ships and skipping off into the sunset.


    And indeed, half an hourter while <em>Repulse </em>was surging towards <em>Resistance¡¯s </em>position, the readings on one of the sensor readouts spiked.


    ¡°Cronau radiation detected, sir,¡± Taylor said, his voice pitching down, ¡°There was a hyperspace jump a couple light-minutes away.¡±


    It was telling that we couldn¡¯t even pinpoint the general direction of the jump, only the approximate distance.


    ¡°...Inform General Loathsom to prepareary defences in anticipation of the Republic taskforce. Hopefully, they will be convinced to give up the effort now that they don¡¯t have a beachhead, but I doubt it,¡± I said, ¡°Hm¡­ very well, return us to our station. Then I¡¯ll see what the General wants to say.¡±


    ?


    ¡°What is Admiral Trench¡¯s condition, Captain?¡± General Whorm asked.


    ¡°That he¡¯ll survive is a certainty, sir,¡± I quietly beckoned for the medical report, ¡°Whether he¡¯ll make a full recovery is still in question.¡±


    Taylor registered the report on my datapad before handing it over, and I couldn¡¯t help but wince upon looking at it.


    ¡°Your expression tells me that his state is troubling, Bonteri,¡± Whorm observed.


    ¡°Uh¡­ well, it looks like the Admiral is going to need some cybeics,¡± I said weakly, ¡°We will need to get him to aary medical instation as soon as possible. His condition is stable, but he isn¡¯t going to be waking up anytime soon.¡±


    ¡°Then it is unfortunate we do not have the time,¡± he said.


    ¡­<em>Oh. </em>So that¡¯s what this is about. I scratched my head¨Chonestly, I should have expected this. It is clear that General Whorm wants Trench¡­ <em>out of the way. </em>Both of them were aplished officers, and rather famous within Separatist ranks, and directpetitors for the office of Supreme Commander. No doubt Whorm hoped that with Trench incapacitated, he would have a leg up in the bid. This must seem like a fortunate ident for him.


    ¡°Am I right to assume the Retail Caucus will now administer Christophsis?¡± I tried to change the subject.


    ¡°Yes, I imagine so¡­¡± Whorm dragged it out, before suddenly saying¨C ¡°Captain Bonteri, how can I convince you to support my bid? You know what I am speaking of.¡±


    I resisted the urge to slump, ¡°Sir, I believe this is hardly the time¨C¡±


    ¡°I think otherwise,¡± his holograph leaned forward, eyes narrowed.


    Shit, this guy just isn¡¯t going to let this go, is he? I chewed my cheek. Tuff was pointedly ignoring me¨Cbusying himself organising the shift rotation¨Cand I appreciated that. But that still left me with this overambitious <em>army </em>general trying to convince me, a <em>navy </em>officer, to back his faction. I knew exactly why Whorm was troubling himself over a mere captain like me, but I didn¡¯t want to think about it.


    ¡°With all respect, sir,¡± I said stiffly, ¡°I am only a captain¨C my support has hardly any weight among the staff. Besides, everybody knows General Tann has the best shot at it. She is Count Dooku¡¯s handpicked nominee!¡±


    ¡°Count Dooku can only nominate a candidate, Captain Bonteri,¡± Whorm said mildly, as if lecturing me, ¡°It is the Senate that must ratify the appointment. General Tann¡¯s candidacy does not yet have a majority support in the Senate.¡±


    And there it was: <em>the Senate. </em>When is the cyborg fellow, General Grievous, going to show up? I remembered him being the Supreme Commander in the movies¡­ hopefully that guy reveals his ugly mug soon and sweeps this problem away. I¡¯ve had this conversation like, three times already.


    ¡°I do not have as much say in the Senate as you think I do, sir,¡± I protested.


    ¡°I will owe you a great debt if you could arrange a meeting between me and Senator Bonteri,¡± Whorm insisted again.


    This vapid bitch. I wanted to shout: <em>I¡¯m not going to jeopardise my career for your ¡®favour!¡¯</em>


    The Confederate Senate could be divided into three rough factions. There was Voe Atell¡¯s, who I liked to dub as the hardliners. They would support anypetent officer who could give the Confederacy a real shot at crushing the Republic, including Trench and Whorm. Then there was the corporate faction, who really only supported their own candidates. Being a member of the Retail Caucus, General Whorm¡¯s main support base is found here.


    The real sticklers were the moderates, widely agreed to be led by Senator Mina Bonteri. My aunt. I¡¯m not exactly sure what they wanted, but it was something along the lines of ¡®swift and bloodless secession from the Republic.¡¯ They didn¡¯t support any candidate currently, with their philosophy being that if they admit the Confederacy needs a Supreme Commander, then they admit total war with the Republic is inevitable.


    Which for some reason, they still think hasn¡¯te to pass yet.


    But I haven¡¯t spoken with Mina since our argument over my decision to transfer from Onderon¡¯s Royal Army to the CIS Navy, so what do I know? Which is exactly what I keep saying whenever these idiots keep pestering me over the Senate.


    ¡°I am afraid Senator Bonteri and I have been estranged for quite a while now,¡± I said apologetically, ¡°My involvement may just make your chances of convincing her¡­ worse.¡±


    ¡°My apologies, Captain Bonteri,¡± General Whorm finally relented, ¡°I had not know of your circumstances.¡±


    ¡°It is no¨C¡±


    ¡°¨CUh, sir?¡± Taylor tried to whisper, and failed to do so, ¡°The <em>Invincible </em>is receiving an iing hyperwave transmission, and is rying it to us.¡±


    I¡¯m saved! This conversation was getting more awkward by the second. I offered the General a sheepish look, and he graciously excused himself, disappearing from view.


    ¡°Very well,¡± I coughed, ¡°Patch it through.¡±


    The holoimagers blinked on again, bursting out a bright blue-white light against the pilothouse¡¯s green scheme¨Cdisying, to my muted horror, a stiff woman in cleanly pressed uniform. She could, in fact, be mistaken for a human, if not for her t, monochrome eyes. Solid, opaque, and iris-less, it was like staring into a soulless void.


    I swallowed, hastily shooting out of my chair and saluting. Speak of the Devil¡­


    ¡°General Tann.¡±


    ¡°You are not Admiral Trench,¡± General Tann said, a slight rise in her lips.


    ¡°Captain Rain Bonteri, sir,¡± I held my salute, ¡°Admiral Trench was incapacitated two rotations ago, in a battle against Republic forces. His condition is stable, but I provisionally takenmand of his g¨C¡±


    ¡°What is the state of Christophsis?¡± she cut me off.


    ¡°General Loathsom haspletely upied the, sir!¡± I reported, ¡°We have driven off a Republic relief effort, but there is a high possibility the enemy will return with a counterattack.¡±


    ¡°...And you have not requested reinforcements, Captain?¡± General Tann raised a single eyebrow.


    I concealed a wince. How could I say that I wanted to secure my promotion by hoarding more achievements?


    ¡°I had¡­ not deemed it necessary, sir,¡± I said.


    ¡°Whoever controls Christophsis controls the Run in the Outer Rim, Captain,¡± General Tann replied coldly, ¡°Republic military buildup has been detected on the Run, a taskforce far greater than your currentmand is capable of handling. Do you understand that your pride could have ced ourbined efforts in this entire region at risk? I do not want this to happen again¨C <em>your entire career will depend on it</em>, am I making myself clear?¡±


    General Tann¡¯s expression had tightened into the definition of frigid, disciplined fury¨Cher eyes narrowed into slivers of burning ice. There goes my promotion, I could feel it in my bones. Literally, because my arm was starting to seriously ache.


    ¡°Understood,¡± I swallowed thickly, ¡°Sir.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± she snapped, ¡°At ease, Captain.¡±


    My arm dropped limply.


    ¡°Detail everything in your after-action report, I¡¯m sure someone will be interested in reading it,¡± it could be my imagination, but it looked like General Tann¡¯s face softened a little, ¡°Your remarkable conduct after the incapacitation of your CO <em>will </em>be noted. I have already dispatched Admiral Tonith to reinforce the system.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± my throat was dry, ¡°Sir.¡±


    ¡°I also have a new assignment for you, Captain,¡± she continued.


    ¡°For Admiral Trench, sir?¡± I rified.


    ¡°No, for <em>you</em>,¡± she smiled thinly, ¡°This task is too insignificant for a g officer¡­ and too important for someone I do not trust.¡±


    <em>Oh no.</em> This is going to just like the Sarapin Campaign, won''t it? These kinds of missions were the worst of both worlds. I¡¯m even going to go out on a limb and guess I won¡¯t be able to put this on my service record.


    ¡°This¡­ <em>assignment</em>,¡± I said gingerly, ¡°It isn¡¯t going to be in the registry, will it?¡±


    ¡°Afraid not,¡± the edge of General Tann¡¯s lip lifted, ¡°The official story will be that Repulse Squadron is out of rotation for a refit. But I am sure that if this mission ispleted smoothly, your promotion <em>will </em>be considered.¡±


    ¡°I am at your service, General,¡± I didn¡¯t exactly have a choice.


    ¡°Good. When Admiral Tonith arrives to assumemand of the blockade, you will escort Admiral Trench on <em>Invincible </em>to Falleen,¡± she ordered, ¡°Afterward, take your Squadron to the Mvar System and await further orders.¡±


    ¡°Anything else I must be aware of, sir?¡±


    General Tann paused, ¡°...I suppose this must be an important detail; you will be working with <em>Asajj Ventress</em>.¡±


    She said the name as if I was supposed to recognise it, but I didn¡¯t. I do admit the name did sound like one an important character would have, however. I can almost imagine their character from the name <em>Ventress </em>alone, so they must be important. Maybe they appeared in a show oric somewhere.


    ¡°Will they be mymanding officer for this operation, sir?¡±


    ¡°<em>I </em>will be your direct superior,¡± General Tann corrected, with a tone I can only describe as <em>professional distaste</em>, ¡°Any order you receive from me will supersede any you receive from her. She is an¡­ independent agent<em>. </em>I will make sure Ventress does not touch a hair on your head.¡±


    That was enough information for me to put together that this Asajj Ventress was a Force user. A space wizard. Probably working for Dooku¨C so like the CEO¡¯s daughter. Not exactly part of the hierarchy, but too important to ignore. I am hating this assignment more and more already.


    ¡°Understood, sir,¡± I saluted again.


    General Tann returned the gesture, ¡°I will send you the brief when you are at Mvar, Captain Bonteri. I look forward to favourable news.¡±


    The holographic disy fizzled out of existence, leaving me alone in the bridge full of droids again. I slumped back down on my chair like a sack of bricks, feeling incredibly tired. General Tann had the kind of¡­ presence¡­ thatpels you to listen with every fibre of your being. And the way she speaks is exacting yet impelling, urging you to carry out her word to the letter. I couldn¡¯t tell if it was the Force at y, or simply how she held herself.


    It was terrifying. No wonder Christopher Lee chose her to be his nomination.


    ¡°Tuffy,¡± I waved, ¡°Be a darling and purge the recordings from the ship¡¯s archives.¡±


    ¡°Which ones, sir?¡± Tuff finally acknowledged my existence.


    ¡°The ones with Sev¡¯rance Tann and Whorm Loathsom,¡± I grumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll be damned if either gets leaked, God forbid.¡±


    I held my head in my hands, and heaved. At least my promotion is still on the table.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    <em>Somewhere in the Mvar System</em>


    <em>Abrion Sector</em>


    Repulse Squadron drifted towards the specified coordinates, three frigates like dead, silent bodies carried lifelessly by still waters. Directly ahead, the twin suns were golden marbles, their intensity moderated by their distance and by the viewports¡¯ automated sunscreens. Closer afield, the desert world of Mvar loomed. The system was minor, and unimportant. Carefully chosen. The only people who would have any interest here were on the seedier side, and would not be missed if they had to be shot down in the name of operational security.


    ¡°Iing transmission from Mvar, sir,¡± thems droid tapped the digitised console ovey, ¡°Encrypted datafile. Triple-coded, multi-routed shortburst. Looks like it was sent when the uplink detected our transponder signal in the system.¡±


    ¡°Thorough,¡± Imented, ¡°Send it to my tablet.¡±


    I ripped open the file and startedbing through the brief, registering every word in my head so as to not miss a detail. Thankfully, General Tann appreciated brevity¨Ca trait that is mirrored in the rundown. Unfortunately¡­ her concise nature almost made it extremely clear just how <em>daring</em>¨Cto put it lightly¨Cthis operation is going to be. I also found out Asajj Ventress has been given the rank ofmander for this mission, making her my direct superior indeed.


    Especially since we were dealing with the Hutts, in the Hutts¡¯ own backyard.


    ¡°We are picking up Cronau radiation in the system, sir,¡± B1-5733 said, ¡°A small vessel had just jumped out of hyperspace.¡±


    Taylor was off-shift for some well-earned maintenance and a recharge, along with the rest of his bridge crew. B1-5733¨CStelle¨Chad been with me since <em>Repulse </em>herself¨Cpredating even Tuff, who was only assigned to me after I was assigned <em>Resistance </em>and <em>Renown. </em>The original inmand of <em>Repulse </em>was a bit soft in the processors due to a production defect, so I scrapped him and called in a small favour to reprogram Stelle to take his ce.


    ¡°Pinpoint it,¡± I ordered, ¡°Prepare tractor beam projectors.¡±


    Can¡¯t have anyone blowing our cover, can we?


    ¡°Our projectors are meant to guide in vultures, sir,¡± Tuff reminded, ¡°They aren¡¯t strong enough¨C¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t have to be, sir¡± Stelle interrupted, ¡°We only need to slow them down for our ion cannons to disable them.¡±


    Tuff slowly twisted his head to stare at me, as if he couldn¡¯t process a B1 unit overriding him.


    ¡°What?¡± I raised an eyebrow, ¡°Stelle¡¯s right. And your senior, so don¡¯t give me that attitude.¡±


    ¡°The contact is at the edge of the system, sir,¡± Stelle reported, ¡°Projectors are charging. Should we plot an intercept vector?¡±


    ¡°Do so, thank you,¡± I leaned on my fist, ¡°Identify the make as soon as possible. Hail them when in range, I want a beacon identification.¡±


    <em>Repulse </em>yawned around, guns awakening and turrets swivelling to face the unfortunate victim, who simply came to the wrong ce at the wrong time. <em>Renown </em>and <em>Resistance </em>fired up their ion drives, and the Squadron began burning away at the light-hours between us and our target.


    ¡°Model identified, sir!¡± Stelle remained focused on his console, ¡°Corellian make, G-nine Rigger-ss freighter.¡±


    G9 Rigger¡­ I stole a quick nce at my datapad. I narrowed my eyes.


    ¡°Earlier than scheduled¡­¡± I muttered, before raising my voice, ¡°I still want that beacon identification.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger,¡± Stelle nodded, deftly pulling up ams window, ¡°Freighter, this is the Confederate Navy. You are flying in Confederate space. Please identify yourself.¡±


    Several seconds ticked away, with no answer. Whatever, no point in being polite if they weren¡¯t willing to reciprocate.


    ¡°Contact in range of our forward ion cannons,¡± the gunnery droid said, ¡°Arm weapon systems?¡±


    ¡°Arm them,¡± Imanded, ¡°Stelle, rip the codes out of them and run it.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger,¡± the droid said, ¡°...Callsign <em>Twilight, </em>registered in Gctic City, Coruscant. Extensive history of spice smuggling¡­ several citations issued, but no bounty.¡±


    ¡°Looks like this is our cargo,¡± I huffed, ¡°Didn¡¯t have to make it so hard. Disarm weapons, issue clearance to portside hangar.¡±


    ¡°<em>Twilight, </em>you are cleared fornding in portside hangar,¡± Stelle echoed, ¡°Please disable stabilisers for tractor beam guidance.¡±


    I rubbed the disy of the tablet absentmindedly, taking in a deep breath as I prepared for what will probably be the most stressful ¡®routine patrol¡¯ of my life.


    ¡°Tuff, get a party down there and escort our guests here,¡± I sighed, ¡°The rest of you: conceal weapons, set sters to stun.¡±


    I do not usually allow sters on my bridge, as they are workce hazards. In this special case, they have turned into insurance. General Tann told me she would protect me, but my understanding of Force users is that they are quite¡­ unpredictable. Hopefully, this Asajj Ventress respected professionalism as much as Sev¡¯rance Tann, but for some reason I doubt it.


    The sound of the st doors sliding open was louder than I remembered, bidding me to stand from the chair and turn to greet my new partner in crime.


    The first thought that ran through my head was: <em>wow, she really looks like an ¡®Asajj Ventress.¡¯ </em>A woman, clearly, but with pale and sickly white skin that made her more wraith than¡­ whatever near-human species she was. Because humans don¡¯t look like that. Though a flowing, hooded cloak covered most of her outfit¨Cthe kind Force users seemed to like¨CI could almost make out the hilts of two lightsabers at her waist.


    She lowered the hood, revealing a totally hairless head which nted down to a pointed chin. Dark lipstick, dark eyeshadow¨C<em>very </em>long eyshes, especially the bottom ones¨CGoddamn, I¡¯m working with a goth. A very unstable one, from the looks of it. If I could guess¡­ it must be daddy issues.


    ¡°Asajj Ventress?¡± I forced as muchposed politeness as I could into my voice, ¡°Wee aboard. I am Rain Bonteri, I look forward to working with you.¡±


    Ventress regarded me for a long moment with dark eyes, making the back of my neck itch. Unwilling to trap myself in a staring contest, I allowed myself to get distracted by my beeping datapad.


    ¡°So do I,¡± there was a crawl in her voice that made me shiver.


    God, I fucking hate space wizards. Never know what¡¯s in their heads.


    ¡°May I confirm our quarry, Commander Ventress?¡± I tried to chip away at the tension.


    It backfired.


    <em>¡°Our?¡± </em>Ventress¡¯ asked dangerously.


    This¡­ <em>this fickle bitch</em>. My smile tightened unintentionally. Stelle shifted, servos whirring. His sterid just out of view, held behind the console stand. Another droid in the lower level noticed, and turned around. I could already feel their original battle programming fire up behind their dark photoreceptors.


    ¡°I have no intention in taking credit for your achievements,¡± I held out a hand, to both appease the vicious woman and to wave down the droids, ¡°In fact, there will be no achievement in this task for me at all. But it serves that we must cooperate to carry out your¡­ <em>master¡¯s¡­ </em>demands. This is a military vessel, and such is the circumstance that you are my superior for this assignment. I <em>will </em>carry out yourmands, and I hope you will <em>allow </em>me to do so to the best of my ability.¡±


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition.


    Ventress eyed me again, her face worryingly cid, shifting her weight from foot to foot like a cat deciding the best angle from which to maul her prey. Until finally, she stepped aside to reveal a RA-7 protocol droid carrying a cage in its hands, one that looked suspiciously like a pet carrier.


    The first thing that hit me was the smell. The second was the <em>disgusting</em>, squirming creature inside the cage. Like an overgrown slug,rger than even my head. It squeaked and gurgled, waving its tiny arms around.


    I didn¡¯t even know Jabba the Hutt had a son. Didn¡¯t see him in the original trilogy¡­ repugnant the creature may be, there was still the unfortunate thought that the child¨C<em>a child</em>¨Cmay have died before reaching the timeline of the movies. Hopefully this mission would not be the cause of it.


    I nodded sharply, turning away to avoid the smell, ¡°We will take the Triellus to Teth. Considering it is a single hypene with no deviations, this will make a swift journey.¡±


    Without a word, my droid crew immediately brought <em>Repulse </em>around and started the burn to the pre-calcted hyperspace ingress. As I sat back down, I could feel Ventress¡¯ stare continue to drill into the back of my head. Even Tuff was growing ufortable, by the way his head twisted incrementally to peek between us.


    ¡°Make yourselffortable, Commander Ventress,¡± I said, staring forward, ¡°My tactical droid can see you to your cabin, if you wish.¡±


    ¡°...Do not presume anything about me,¡± she rasped.


    I closed my eyes. Fuck me.


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    <em>¡°Jabba requests that anyone who can help find us his kidnapped son send any information they have immediately.¡±</em>


    The holomessage fizzled, and then repeated the recording on loop, the protocol droid rying the plea for help over and over as her master looked on. Palpatine never thought he¡¯d see the day, but it appeared even the almighty Jabba the Hutt could be distressed, the great beast shifting and swaying in agitation.


    ¡°We must help Jabba¨C¡± he could feel it in the Force, the difort those words provoked in the assemge of Jedi in his office ¡°¨CThis is the opportunity we¡¯ve been looking for.¡±


    ¡°The Jedi <em>must </em>rescue Jabba¡¯s son,¡± the Chancellor stated, factual and t.


    The holoprojection winked out of view, sucked back into the holoemitter built into the centre of his office. At the unanimous silence of the Jedi, Palpatine invited them for a seat at the circlet of seats arranged before his desk. As they epted the offer, the Chancellor carefully observed their reactions, letting nothing show on his own face.


    Mace Windu stroked his chin, his arm supported by the other crossing his body, face fixed in a permanent frown. The man never looked so much as even slightly satisfied with anything in his life, much less the mere thought ofing to the aid of Jabba the Hutt. The two others¨CPlo Koon and Luminara Unduli¨Cwere content to remain silent, allowing Windu to speak what was in all their minds. Convincing the Jedi to help a creature as diametric to their own principles as Jabba was never going to be simple.


    Windu reclined grimly, ¡°I do not like it, diverting resources to help that criminal scum. It will be a dark day for the Republic.¡±


    ¡°I agree, my friend,¡± Palpatine extended the proverbial peace offer, ¡°But what other choice do we have? And besides, is this not a most fitting job for the Jedi? Nothing can escape your senses for long, after all.¡±


    <em>Except me, obviously.</em> Even after all these years of careful nning, there were still times he impressed himself with how easily he moved and acted among them undetected as a hidden Sith Lord. These fools do not deserve their moniker of guardians of the gxy.


    ¡°Chancellor, do you not find it strange that <em>Jabba </em>woulde to us for help?¡± Mace Windu¡¯s voice did not disguise his antipathy¨Ca tone most unlike one a Jedi should use, ¡°The Hutt is no doubt scheming something. Why else would someone like him¨Csomeone who could buy any number of bounty hunters as he may so wishe to the Republic for help? Why should we dispatch Jedi to take that risk, for <em>Jabba the Hutt</em>?¡±


    ¡°Because a <em>child </em>is missing, Master Windu,¡± Palpatine replied.


    He had no reason to take the moral high ground, but it amused him to no end that he is able to do so before three <em>Jedi Masters. </em>This is how the gxy shall remember you when you are long gone, Jedi: as blind hypocrites, blind to whatid before your very eyes. Me, andughably, <em>your own duty.</em>


    ¡°Would we be having this conversation should the child be human?¡± Palpatine urged, ¡°Does a parent¡¯s conduct have any rtion to a child¡¯s plight?¡±


    ¡°Would we be having this conversation,¡± Mace Windu replied calmly, ¡°Should this human child¡¯s parent be the head of thergest criminal syndicate in the gxy?¡±


    ¡°We would,¡± the Chancellor answered, ¡°If that parent controls the hypenes of the Outer Rim. If that parent will allow us to use them in exchange. We will need ess to his spes in order to move our troops.¡±


    Windu still disapproved greatly, ¡°I still feel uneasy. There is more to this kidnapping than it seems¨C I sense it. This must be some sort of sting operation, knowing Jabba.¡±


    ¡°Then you must send as many Jedi as you can¡­ knowing Jabba.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Chancellor,¡± Mace Windu shook his head lightly, ¡°The Separatists have our forces spread thin. We have no Jedi to spare.¡±


    ¡°And our fleets and armies will be spread even more thinly if we can¡¯t ess the Outer Rim and keep our supply chains functioning,¡± he pointed out.


    ¡°I must agree with the Chancellor,¡± Luminara Unduli finally broke her silence, ¡°Regardless for the context of this kidnapping, we have little choice but to negotiate with Jabba. And there is no opportunity greater than this to gain an advantageous seat at the table.¡±


    ¡°Two birds with one stone,¡± Palpatine insisted, ¡°You save a child, and we save our armies.¡±


    Windu remained silent for a few more moments, before finally reluctantly conceding.


    ¡°Very well, Chancellor. But it remains that we have little Jedi to spare,¡± he leaned forward in thought, ¡°I would say that Kenobi and Skywalker are in the perfect location to begin the hunt, but they are still in the midst of taking Christophsis. And we cannot afford to give up that to the Separatists.¡±


    ¡°That is troubling,¡± Palpatine agreed, ¡°Christophsis¡¯ natural resources and strategic position must be taken at any cost. Was resistance greater than anticipated?¡±


    ¡°Their first attempt to reinforce the ground troops were repulsed,¡± Windu exined, ¡°And we¡¯ve just received word that the Separatists had recently bolstered the blockade around the with a second fleet in anticipation for Kenobi¡¯s counterattack. It will take time before they can retake the.¡±


    That wasn¡¯t right. Why did the blockade receive reinforcements? Dooku couldn¡¯t have given that order¨Cthe Republic is supposed to hold Christophsis to maintain the bnce of power in the Outer Rim. Once the Hutt''s hypenes are in Separatist hands, the Republic and the Confederacy will bleed each other fighting over the Corellian Run.


    Was this the work of that girl that Thrawn sent over¨CSev¡¯rance Tann? He warned Dooku about that girl before when he took her on as a Dark Acolyte. She was too much of an officer¨Ca general¨Cand not a warrior. Tann was a talented tool and weapon, but as a professionally trained tactician and strategist, she will never concede to purposefully making poor military actions in order to prolong the war. That is why she does not know of the Grand n, and must never will.


    Palpatine will have to warn Dooku again. Considering the Supreme Commander must have knowledge of the Grand n in order to guide the war to serve their purposes, Dooku must hasten the introduction of Grievous. Grievous cares little for winning the war¨Cthe brute only cares for killing Jedi, a motivation Palpatine has no trouble with. The cyborg will follow any order so long as it results in the death of more Jedi, and yet possessed relevant military experience from his homeworld. He is the perfect weapon of the Grand n.


    And that is why he will be Supreme Commander, not Sev¡¯rance Tann, not Asajj Ventress. Not that bounty hunter Durge.


    ¡°Then who else do you have in mind, Master Windu?¡± the Chancellor let nothing of his thoughts show.


    ¡°I will carry out this mission, Chancellor, Master Windu,¡± Unduli suddenly said, ¡°My Padawan could use the experience. We will prepare to leave immediately.¡±


    Mace Windu nodded sharply, and the Jedi stood together. They bowed their heads politely together before leaving, and Palpatine returned the gesture as he watched them file out of his office.


    Fascinating, wasn¡¯t it? How these paragons of virtue, these Jedi, didn¡¯t leap into action the moment they heard a child is in dire need of aid. Jabba may be a corrupt and vile lord of crime, but his son Rotta¡­ that child is still an innocent being. It was fascinating, how very selective these Jedi are in where they focused their legendarypassion.


    Still, Windu had a point. Jabba could hire as many bounty hunters as so wishes, and presides over an intelligencework so vast entire governments could only envy. Why would hee to the Republic¨Cto the Jedi¨Cand beg for help? Dooku will have to exercise caution.


    On the other hand, Jabba¡¯s plea saved time in the n to turn him away from the Republic. With the Jedi taking the bait, it will now be much simpler to incriminate them for the kidnapping of his son, Rotta. In the grand scheme of things, this was but one of the many devices Palpatine used to manipte the ebb and flow of the war until the right moment. Until the Jedi are at their weakest, and Palpatine could strike down the war¨Cand the Jedi Order itself¨Cin one single blow.


    Yet, Palpatine hoped nothing will go wrong and that the Huttlet will be returned unharmed after he served his purpose. After all, Rotta the Hutt was another potential ally in the very far future.


    But if anything did happen to the poor thing¡­ ah well, there will always be innocent casualties in war. Now that the Republic has epted Jabba¡¯s plea for help, the Hutt will be even more entrenched in the anti-Republic camp if thates to pass.


    Palpatine tapped thelink on his desk, ¡°I wish to speak with Lord Jabba. This is the Chancellor of the Republic.¡±

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    <em>Tatooine, Tatoo System</em>


    <em>Arkanis Sector</em>


    Jabba might live to be a thousand years old. No Hutt was in a hurry with a lifespan like that. He has acquired lifetimes of experience, knowledge, and contacts. Jabba was permanence, stability¨Che was the unspokenw of Tatooine. He had these transient species beat from the start.


    But in recent days, the walls of his pce seemed to crawl ever closer. Less like the fortress of authority it was, and more like an enveloping cage threatening to suffocate him alive. For the first time in Jabba¡¯s long-lived life, he was counting away the days. For the first time, he was aware of the minutes and the seconds ticking away, of every suffering moment Rotta wasn¡¯t in his arms.


    A Gamorrean guard brought two figures¨Ca young human and what appeared to be a modified R2 unit¨Cbefore his throne, ¡°The slicers you¡¯ve hired have arrived, my lord.¡±


    The Jedi observed the hired hackers impassively, content to observe from their little corner of his hall. Jabba treated Jedi with caution, in the rare cases he had dealings with them. Their mystics and magics can make them so unlike their species, making them unpredictable, and unobservable. He could never get a handle on their physical abilities, or in the case of Luminara Unduli¨Cher state of mind.


    Luminara Unduli was a general in their army, along with her apprentice. Both Mirin. The apprentice was more expressive¨Cshowing unease and revulsion at him and his home¨Cbut the master watched and observed with absolute indifference. It did not matter whether how provocative the Twi¡¯lek dancers were, or how he snacked on paddy frogs from a jar of brine, Luminara Unduli remained as serene as a clear day, and as immovable as a brick wall.


    It made him ufortable.


    But Jedi were humans¨Cor any simr bipedal species¨Cand they were not immortal. And any living being had wants and needs, and had things they were willing to trade for them. Jabba would do whatever it takes to get Rotta back to him unharmed. Nothing else mattered. He could loan off all his spes to Dooku and his Separatist Alliance, or to the Jedi and their Republic; what did matter to him? Let them fight their fleeting war. It meant nothing to a species as long-lived as a Hutt.


    Jabba kept his anxieties and fears for his son hidden beneath a veil of contemptuous pride, struggling to ry his repose as he lounged on his dais. He plucked out any paddy frog and slurped it down head-first, even though he had long lost his appetite. As he licked the frog¡¯s dangling legs into his mouth, he carefully observed the bounty hunters¡¯ reactions.


    The human slicer watched with wide eyes, as did most people when they watched him eat. At least he continued to pay eptable respect.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jabba grunted, letting TC-70 trante.


    ¡°I am Gaib, Lord Jabba,¡± the hacker bowed, ¡°And this is TK-Oh.¡±


    ¡°Report your findings,¡± he said casually.


    ¡°Uh¨C¡± the boy nced at the Jedi curiously, ¡°¨CWe managed to track your son to the Teth, Lord Jabba.¡±


    Jabba clutched at every shred of information. Every minute that ticked away, his worry for his son only further deepened. <em>Are you well, Rotta? Are you afraid, hungry¨Care you still alive? </em>Did these transients understand his worry? Did they understand that when you¡¯ve lived for a thousand years, when your only child was <em>you</em>¨C<em>your own flesh and blood</em>, because Hutts needed no partner to produce a child¨Cand not something you could recreate endlessly like their rapid-breeding species, that your child was your <em>entire future</em>?


    He doubted it. These creatures were such temporary things, incapable of seeing beyond the present of their own lives.


    ¡°I paid for more than this,¡± Jabba growled, ¡°<em>How </em>did you find that out?¡±


    ¡°ATC records you so graciously allowed us to ess, my lord,¡± Gaib yammered off quickly, ¡°We checked all outbound flights from Tatooine at the estimated time, and¡­ and sliced into all the outgoinglink connections to HoloNet hyperwave transceivers within a day¡¯s range. What we found was a ship requesting ess to the Gctic All-Species Self-Help Database.¡±


    The hacker wetted his lips, choosing his next words carefully, ¡°Teekay here, he examined a request for information on Hutt health and illnesses.¡±


    The very implication made Jabba feel cold.


    ¡°Hutts do not get sick¨C¡± in the rare times they did, something was <em>very </em>wrong, ¡°¨CWhy would they look there?¡±


    ¡°Well, how many beings know how to care for a Hutt baby?¡± Gaib shrugged, ¡°You kidnap a baby from another species, and since it''s a kidnapping and not an assassination, you want to keep that baby alive and well, right? So you check what¡¯s normal for a Hutt baby, and what¡¯s not¨C like, whatever Hutt babies do. Being sick, maybe.¡±


    If it were not for the fact that this was no ce and time for fretting, Jabba would have already broken down into a rage. Hutts did not fall ill. Virus, infection¨C most <em>poisons</em> don¡¯t work on them. Even babies. Something was very wrong indeed.


    ¡°You think my son is sick?¡± he did not have to act out the anger in his voice.


    TK-0 summarised the report, unmoved, ¡°Somebody on a ship departing Tatooine on the same day your son was kidnapped essed the GASSH Database to download files on Hutt physiology and illnesses. And that ship was tracked to Teth.¡±


    Jabba waved for TC-70 to pay them, closing his eyes. He didn¡¯t see them leave. The worst passed through his mind and thoughts, dread filling his gut like foul dinner. The <em>scum </em>that kidnapped Rotta couldn¡¯t even do it right! And now Rotta is sick, alone in some backwater world and surrounded by Jabba¡¯s enemies. Because only Jabba¡¯s enemies would dare trespass against him like this.


    ¡°Lord Jabba,¡± Luminara Unduli¡¯s smooth voice awakened him from his nightmare, ¡°We will return your son to you.¡±


    ¡°You will find and return Rotta to me alive and well,¡± Jabba corrected, ¡°And if the Republic wants passage through my spes, you must also bring me the scum who kidnapped my son.¡±


    <em>How many beings know how to care for a Hutt baby? </em>The bounty hunter¡¯s words rang through his head. <em>The kidnapper risked being tracked by essing the GASSH Database for a reason. A dire reason.</em>


    ¡°You have oneary rotation to bring Rotta back to me,¡± Jabba added, ¡°One <em>Tatooine</em> rotation. If you cannot do this, then Count Dooku and his droid armies <em>will.</em>¡±


    He gestured to TC-70 to ry his words to the Jedi in anguage they can understand. Unduli raised a single eyebrow at his onerous demands, remaining ever the perfect image of stoicism, her expression as tranquil as a stillke. Her apprentice, on the other hand, was not so collected. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second¨Ca telling gesture that told him everything he had to know about what she thought about his demands.


    Unduli turned her neck to stare up at him, unblinking, ¡°Do you wish the kidnapper presented before you dead or alive, Lord Jabba?¡±


    ¡°Either,¡± he growled, ¡°But I would prefer alive¡­ so I can <em>kill them myself.</em>¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± her already t lips thinned even further, ¡°We¡¯ll do it. If you would excuse us.¡±


    Credit where it was due, the Jedi was nothing if notposed. The woman didn¡¯t pretend to grovel or tter, like Palpatine¨Cshe managed to be respectful without showing fear. Without showing <em>anything </em>at all, really. A lesson she could teach her apprentice more.


    ¡°You better,¡± Jabba warned one final time, ¡°Or I will have your heads as well.¡±


    He meant it.


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Teth, Teth System</em>


    <em>Baxel Sector</em>


    I could hear the telltale fizzle of a holoprojector winding down behind me as we approached the garden world of Teth, its atmosphere shrouded in purple and punctuated with vast hurricanes¨Cof which great, continent-spanning spiral cloud formations could be seen from space.


    ¡°Is it wise to openmunications now?¡± I leaned on my fist, ¡°Anyone can track your hyperwaves, so long as they are looking for it. You may as well be shouting our positions to any keen ear who is seeking our location¡­ like Jabba.¡±


    Footsteps, as Ventress approached from behind. I tensed.


    ¡°We need to hurry,¡± the hissing of an igniting lightsaber did note as expected, ¡°Count Dooku has informed me that the Jedi Luminara Unduli have just left Tatooine, and is after us.¡±


    I frowned¨Cthat was <em>way </em>too fast. We weren¡¯t even on the ground yet! Either Dooku misread the itinerary and tipped Jabba off early, or <em>someone</em> exercised less-than-ster radio discipline. For a gxy, this one is smaller than you¡¯d expect. With ess to the right authorities and the right clues, you can track down just about anybody. Pinpointing their exact location was quite a bit harder, but that is besides the point.


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    All Jabba-and the Jedi¨Chave to know is that we are at Teth. Theirary scanners can do the rest.


    ¡°Too fast. There must have been a leak¨CI will check if there had been any unsanctioned hyperwavemunications from my ships,¡± I veiled my usatory tone with military deference.


    As if <em>my </em>droids had itchy fingers; the leak must havee from her end. Not that I would say out loud¨CI still preferred my head attached to my shoulders. That said, I <em>will</em> still run a diagnostic of my ships. One can never be too sure, and more than one defective droid has been found hiding in my rosters. Bunch of penny-pinching muppets, those ¡®gracious¡¯ <em>sponsors </em>of ours.


    ¡°We are approaching theary coordinates you¡¯ve provided, Commander,¡± my holographic repeaters sparked as the engineering crew automatically began the swap from sublight to atmospheric thrust, ¡°Howrge should thending party be?¡±


    ¡°Enough to make our presence and location obvious,¡± Ventress drawled, ¡°But not enough to stop them from taking thending.¡±


    I wanted hard numbers, but I suppose that was asking for too much. In all likelihood, Ventress probably hasn¡¯t attended a single officer training lecture in her life.


    ¡°I¡¯ll prep a reduced battalion for you¨C seven-hundred units, some spiders, no heavy armour,¡± my fingers danced over my tablet, ¡°Tuff, get to it. Won¡¯t need more than a singlending ship.¡±


    ¡°Commencing atmospheric insertion,¡± Stelle announced, ¡°Diverting power to the ventral ray shields.¡±


    <em>Repulse </em>began to rumble as we pierced into the mesosphere. Even though the ray shields absorbed and dissipated most of the heat, the glow of raging fires was still visible through the pilothouse¡¯s green-tinted viewports.


    ¡°Activate atmospheric control surfaces,¡± Imanded, ¡°Slow us down over the designated drop zone. Commander, thending craft is ready in the main hangar.¡±


    Ventress nodded sharply, spinning on her heel and parting with; ¡°Don¡¯t fail your mission, Bonteri.¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, sir, I have the easy part.¡±


    All I have to do is ambush the Jedi taskforce after they dispatch theirnding parties, which will be considerably easier than fending off the Jedi themselves¨Ca task best left to otherser sword wielders. As for the ambushing¡­ well, I had several ideas.


    I took the opportunity to stand up and take a good look of Teth. Despite being part of the Navy, I never had much in the way of shore leave. I have experienced orbit above manys in my tenure, and flown through even more systems, but actually stepping foot on alien grounds? Visiting new, foreign worlds? Besides Onderon, I can count that number on one hand. You join the Army for that, not the Navy.


    The most I get is a brief look of a¡¯s atmosphere¨C the colours, contours, continents and the like. But after a while, it bes all one and the same. This was a rare chance for me to see what an alien <em>actually </em>looked like, from as close I can get to the ground.


    Teth¡¯s sky was purple, which could be seen from afar but was a wonder from below. Almost magical. Spires of rock rising as high as skyscrapers jutted out from the dense jungles below, strangled by serpentine vines. Atop one of such peaks, was a great fortress¨Cno, a monastery¨Cwhere Ventress would set the trap for the Jedi. Everything else was shrouded in a thick sea of fog, making me wary of descending too far.


    I grew up on Earth, a primitive by this gxy¡¯s standards. I wasn¡¯t raised being taught that I could see distant worlds in the future. I didn¡¯t grow up knowing that the next over was just a bus stop away. Even though I knew I had an entirely new life ahead of me, and that I could visit as manys as I wished once all of this was over¡­ just staring at the <em>purple sky</em> over my head still contained a kind of fantasy that made me breathless.


    ¡°Transport has been dispatched,¡± Tuff walked down the ramp to me.


    I could see the C-9799 making way for the monastery¡¯snding pad.


    ¡°Get us out of here,¡± I spun around.


    That was enough sightseeing for today. As <em>Repulse </em>started its reascension, I started digging through Luminara Unduli¡¯s battle registry in the unified Confederate military database. After all, to blindside your opponent you first need to know their blindspots.


    Let¡¯s see¡­ Luminara Unduli. Participated in the first Battle of Geonosis, and regarded to have a rational and disciplinedmand style¨Cthe direct antithesis to Anakin Skywalker¡¯s. Her gship is the Venator-ss cruiser <em>Tranquility, </em>which also served as the mobile base of the 41st Elite Corps. A Republic corps consists of just about forty-thousand soldiers, which meant Unduli was eithering with a fraction of them, or with an entire taskforce.


    As for the 41st Elite Corps themselves, as befits their cognomen they specialised rough and hostile terrain, and was known to operate in some of the harshest worlds in the gxy. In other words, Teth was just about the average service theatre for them. Either this was a really unfortunate coincidence, or the Jedi knew in advance that we would being to Teth, which was something to chew on. Fortunately for me, that was Ventress¡¯ problem, not mine.


    My problem was the <em>Tranquility </em>itself, which I could reasonably expect to be facing. My frigates could take on a Venator in a brawl, but what worried me was the possibility that the <em>Tranquility </em>was outfitted with anti-ship LACs, such as BTL-B Y-wings. However, I was willing to take the bet that since <em>Tranquility </em>served primarily as a troop carrier for the 41st Elite Corps, most of its deck space was reserved for LAAT gunships.


    Still, a Venator can hold upwards of four-hundred LACs, even on a reducedplement. My frigates can only hold forty-eight each<em>¨C </em>less, even. Because <em>Repulse </em>was refitted with a number of C-9799nding crafts for this mission, trading away two entire vulture squadrons. All my frigates put together couldn''t hope to match the sheer carrying capacity of a single fully-equipped Venator.


    I leaned back, pulling at my cheek in thought.


    ¡°Tuff, calcte a Venator¡¯s time of arrival here in Teth, should they have left the Tatoo System¨C¡± I checked the localary time, ¡°¨CAn hour¡­ no, two hours ago.¡±


    The tactical droid stared at me for no longer than a few seconds before answering, ¡°ETA twenty-three oh-nine local military time, at best speed.¡±


    I toggled a button on the armrest, projecting a holochart in front me, where a simtion of the Teth System magnified. The was marked with a pulsating red dot, circling around a single sun and orbited by two moons. I adjusted the time until it matched Tuff¡¯s estimated ETA.


    I had to expect the worst. Hypothetically, Luminara Unduli was going to arrive with her entire fleet group, including <em>Tranquility</em>, <em>Guara </em>and even more Acmators. I had three frigates at my disposal. Without a seriously clever n, I was going to get wiped.


    Hypothetically.


    ¡°Mark the hypene egress as zero degrees,¡± I said.


    A ring¨Clike a clock¨Csprung up around Teth, hashed by evenly spaced gradations. Bearings. At 23:09 local time, the moon Teth-I will be at 308¡ã and Teth-II at 331¡ã. While the size of both moons were wildly different, and their orbits weren¡¯t too far apart rtively. Curiously, Teth-I spun retrograde while Teth-II spun prograde.


    ¡°Manoeuvre behind the moons,¡± I unconsciously bit my lip, ¡°Since she is in a rush, Unduli is going to make an automated extraction on the edge of the¡¯s gravity well. Stelle, plug in the navputer into the simtion.¡±


    A translucent bubble expanded around Teth, disying the recreation of the¡¯s gravity well. A blinking dot appeared on the edge of the bubble, at the 000¡ã bearing¨Cwhere Unduli was going to exit hyperspace. I narrowed my eyes.


    There was a narrow blindspot¨Cboth visual and scanner, covered by Teth-I, from that position.


    ¡°Bring us into that blindspot,¡± I ordered, ¡°Portside echelon formation. Keep our profile as small as possible. Unless Ventress leaked even more than I expect, then the Jedi will not expect this to be the work of the Separatists¨Cat least until she isside. They won¡¯t expect our presence.¡±


    ¡°From this position,¡± Tuff buzzed, ¡°We won¡¯t be able to approach quickly enough to engage in closebat before they mobilise their starfighters.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I hissed, <em>¡°I know.¡±</em>


    I read Luminara Unduli¡¯s registry again. The Force will always be an unquantifiable variable, but I had to believe I can glean something out of her personality¡­ wait, she is going to be <emside</em>, which means a <em>clone captain</em> will be at the helm. In my experience, clones were just about as creative as droids. Standard training, standard tactics¨Cas long as I do something frankly ridiculous, I can blindside them.


    I <em>had </em>to believe I could. My brother once said the clones only grew into their ownter into the war in one of his rambles¨Cto that, I say I¡¯ll believe it when I see it. I did it once over Sarapin, over Krant, and again at Corvair. I can do it again here.


    This time, I had three ships, and was practically operating independently. I didn¡¯t have to listen to anymander or admiral.


    I closed the registry.


    ¡°Then we <em>won¡¯t </em>approach them,¡± I zoomed in on Teth in the holochart, ¡°We¡¯ll approach Teth-two at best speed, using Teth-one to cover us. There we will use its gravity well to slingshot us towards Teth-one. By then, the enemy fleet should be upied with an atmospheric insertion. We will weave between the moons and use the retrograde spin of Teth-one to slingshot us <em>again</em>, this time to the triple-zero bearing. We will be right on top of them before they can even <em>react</em>.¡±


    A dotted line was traced onto the holochart, simting the theoretical vectors and creating an almost reversed S-shaped flight path.


    ¡°Two gravitational assists will give us <em>too </em>much velocity,¡± Stelle craned his head around, ¡°We will shoot right past the enemy fleet or crash into the. Our retrothrusters are not powerful enough to slow us down in time.¡±


    ¡°We are in <em>space</em>!¡± I threw my hands in the air, ¡°Swing our ships around mid-manoeuvre and use our <em>sublight thrusters </em>to slow us down!¡±


    ¡°We will need extremely precise calctions to manage the vectors and the velocity of the ambush,¡± Tuff cautioned, ¡°Any deviation and we will either bypass the enemy fleet, or ram into the itself. One gravitational assist is dangerous enough¨C we are doing <em>two </em>in quick session. At this theoretical speed, we will be operating out of our realspace control surfaces¡¯ parameters.¡±


    ¡°We will be turning ourselves into a ster bolt,¡± Stelle tacked on, agreeing with Tuff, ¡°We will not be able to abort or deviate even if they spot us mid-manoeuvre. Everything must work <em>perfectly.</em>¡±


    I nced at the time again. It was nearly midday.


    I smiled grimly, ¡°Then it is a good thing you have half a rotation to work on those calctions. Like you said, <em>make it perfect¨C</em>none of you have failed me yet.¡±

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    <em>Orbit of Teth-I, Teth System</em>


    <em>Baxel Sector</em>


    Even though we¡¯ve been waiting for several hours in anticipation now, the Republic fleet¡¯s arrival somehow still came as a surprise. A good fraction of the bridge crew had gone to sleep in order to save power¨CI wasn¡¯t willing to risk rotating in a fresh batch¨Cand I myself was taking a power nap when suddenly:


    ¡°Cronau spike!¡± Stelle raised the rm.


    The two words struck like a fist in our collective guts. The hurricane whirr of servos and beeping of reactivating drives filled the room as over a dozen droids rose from their hibernation folds, then the nking of recalibrating limps. Consoles hummed as their disys burst back to life, my cradle of holographic repeaters springing up around themand chair. I checked them one by one; helm and engine readouts on my left, weapons on my right. The open space directly in front of me was now filled with a holographic tactical disy¨Carge red shing bubble indicating the estimated enemy position from Cronau radiation data.


    ¡°System checks!¡± I called.


    Green lights cascaded down my readouts like waterfalls in aplete sensory overload as every station onboard, regardless manned or automated, confirmed everything was in working order.


    Tuff rested a hand on the backrest of my chair, ¡°Double-check plotted vectors. Sweep all scanners from oh-five-oh to oh-six-five. If we cannot see them, they cannot see us.¡±


    I flicked thelink, ¡°<em>Resistance, Renown</em>, call in!¡±


    <em>¡°All systems green, sir!¡± </em>droidmander Three-One reported, <em>¡°We¡¯re eager for more kills!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Calm your gyros, Three-One,¡± </em>Zenith¨C<em>Renown¡¯s </em>OOM¨Csaid calmly, <em>¡°Check your plots again. You¡¯re closest to Teth-two, so don¡¯t crash. Captain, we¡¯re all ready.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°We¡¯re closest to the moon because we got the most points in thest post-defrag exercise, remember?¡± </em>Three-One shot back, <em>¡°My crew¡¯s the best of all of us! You¡¯re just jealous, Zenith.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Are your cooling cables stuffed, Three-One?¡± </em>Zenith snarked, <em>¡°You do know our positions are reversed after the first swing-by? Or is that too much for your logic modules to handle?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°You¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°Both of you cut it out!¡± I snapped, ¡°Zenith¡¯s right. Double-check your navigation data, then triple-check them! There is far too little margin of error to y fast and loose!¡±


    <em>¡°Roger roger,¡± </em>Thirty-One swiftly sobered.


    <em>¡°Roger roger,¡± </em>Zenith echoed, <em>¡°Sir, I¡¯veunched a single vulture to ry live reports of the enemyposition and vectors.¡±</em>


    The pulsating red bubble suddenly shrunk down as more data was fed into the system, before splitting up into a handful of tiny arrows. A dotted line was then projected towards the in a beeline, a small number appearing next to the enemy taskforce. eleration. A thousand standard Gs and rapidly climbing.


    ¡°Two cruisers¨C essing registry; <em>Tranquility</em> and <em>Guara,</em>¡± Stelle watched the datafeed, ¡°And two Acmator assault ships. It¡¯s the entire Forty-first.¡±


    ¡°Very well, keep that bird hidden Zenith,¡± I huffed, ¡°All ships, sync feeds. I want shared data across the board. When we sling, we do it together<em>.</em> Stelle, project enemy blindspot.¡±


    A shaded conoidal zone sprung out of Teth-I,pletely enveloping Repulse Squadron¡¯s markers. It was the volume of space unreachable to the Republic¡¯s scanners. As the enemy markers surged towards the, the cone¡¯s angle adjusted to match.


    ¡°Remain in portside echelon formation,¡± I said, ¡°<em>Resistance, </em>you have the point. We and <em>Renown </em>will be following your lead. We follow and <em>stay </em>in the cone until the enemy reaches theary exobase, and then <em>we gun it</em>.¡±


    <em>¡°Roger roger.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Roger roger.¡±</em>


    Three more dotted lines were oveid on the disy¨Cone for each of my ships¨Cextending forward and winding around Teth-II and Teth-I. There were pins and tags designating relevant details such velocity milestones and burn times necessary to carry out the manoeuvre. It was our projected flight n, if all went ording to n.


    I eyed the shifting cone, until our pins were right about to exit its trailing edge. Right ahead of us and to our right hand, <em>Resistance¡¯s </em>thrusters sputtered, and then blossomed into brilliant pearls of blue-white, as if seven miniature neutron stars were borne from the abyss.


    A single solid line shot out of <em>Resistance¡¯s </em>marker, curving around Teth-II but not quite aligned with the projected n. The ship¡¯s current vector.


    <em>Repulse </em>jumped, and a second vector appeared.


    ¡°Commencing initial burn,¡± Tuff buzzed.


    ?


    ¡°Our mission is simple,¡± Master Luminara briefed, ¡°Exfiltrate the Huttlet, return him to his father, and rendezvous with General Kenobi¡¯s fleet for the liberation of Christophsis.¡±


    ¡°All in a day¡¯s work, sir,¡± Clone Commander Gree almost joked, ¡°We¡¯ll be in and out of here in no time.¡±


    The gunship shook, streaking low over the dense jungle, so close Barriss could almost feel the highest branches sweeping across the undercarriage beneath her. Behind the LAAT, a dozen more gunships ripped open the emerald canopy in their wake, flying in perfect line astern to reduce their profile. The gunship suddenly veered, pressing her back into the bulkhead as the line tracked diagonally to throw off any potential enemy targeting systems.


    <em>What kind of kidnap rescue required an entire battalion of elite troopers? </em>Barriss couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Not just a battalion¨C<em>three battalions</em>¨Cas there were two more gunship flightsing in from different directions. It made her uneasy, but who was she to question the wisdom of her Master?


    Barriss nced at Master Luminara through the rocking bodies of trooper armour, at her purple-ck lips and series of interlocking diamonds that tattooed her chin. More tattoos decorated the joints of her fingers. In Mirin culture, each tattoo signified a major achievement. In the darkness of the hold, the Jedi Master¡¯s deep blue eyes seemed to glow. <em>One day,</em> Barriss thought,<em> I will have as many tattoos as her.</em>


    ¡°Something interesting on your mind, Barriss?¡± Master Luminara shot her a knowing smile.


    ¡°Just wondering if this much force is warranted for a simple hostage extraction, Master,¡± Barriss shoved her surprise deep down.


    ¡°Simple?¡± Master Luminara¡¯s lips quirked, ¡°I¡¯m sure we would all like that, wouldn¡¯t we? Pilot, notice anything?¡±


    <em>¡°Long range identified heavy defensive emcements on the teau, sir,¡±</em> the inte fizzled to life, <em>¡°We are flying in low to avoid radar, but they¡¯ll be expecting us. If they¡¯re static cannons, they won¡¯t be able to depress far enough to target us. But if they have spiders¡­¡±</em>


    Barriss looked out the hatch again, marvelling to the endless verdant sea. She pressed her cheek against the doors to stare out the gaps, sighting the dark silhouette of the teau reveal itself from the thick fog.


    <em>¡°Sealing st hatches now,¡±</em> the pilot said.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Master Luminara nodded sharply to the squad.


    ¡°Buckets on,¡± Commander Gree said, snapping his helmet into ce.


    The crew bay dimmed as sunlight was reced with red lights, and the squad followed suit. The usual pre-deployment ritual of checking their gearmenced; charge levels in their rifles, ordinances and ascension kits on their belts, jetpack calibration, and cyclingm circuits. Barriss sometimes wondered what it was like in the dataced world of theirplex helmets. Gree tilted his head down, likely transmittingst minute orders to the other toons.


    Barriss reflexively patted the lightsaber on her belt, even though she could feel its familiar weight.


    Distant explosions sounded out, the gunship suddenly swerving to take evasive action. She hastily snapped her hands onto the handles above to avoid tipping over, but a sudden violent shudder sent her over anyway. A trooper caught her¨Cit was hard not to in the cramped bay¨Cand gently pushed her back up.


    ¡°Alright, sir?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she caught her breath, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The trooper looked up at the ceiling, ¡°Must have taken a hit. Hatches doing their job.¡±


    <em>¡°Ascending,¡± </em>the inte buzzed, <em>¡°Prepare to jump in ten¡­¡±</em>


    Barriss¡¯ knees struggled to hold her up as the LAAT jolted into a near-vertical climb, sticking as close to the cliff face as possible to avoid fire. Another explosion pounded the armour ting, this time not so distant. Then¨C the crunching of metal, and the screaming of men who were smashed into the rockface. If the troopers were moved by the sounds of theirrades dying terrible deaths, they did not show it. They were programmed not to.


    The squad lined up by the hatches. Barriss peeled off her lightsaber and felt its weight in her hand.


    <em>¡°...three, two, one¨C go, go, go!¡±</em>


    The hatches swung open, and sunlight flooded into the bay. Screamingsers filled the sky. She counted just under three dozen LAATs circling around the clifftop fortress, and hundreds more clroopers leaping out and activating their jetpacks to swarm the teau. Mass driver missiles punched through the k smoke and incinerated legions of droids, all the while ball turrets raked bright greensers through the earthworks, tearing walls down to brick dust and cannons into g.


    <em>Droids. </em>Barriss knew anybody with enough credits and not enough sense could buy battle droids, but she had a feeling this was the work of Count Dooku and his Alliance.


    An emptied gunship strafed castle¡¯s left wing,sers ripping up ancient gstones from the ground. A spider droid tracked the ship with its bulbous red eyes¨Cand at that moment Barriss wanted nothing more than a trooper helmet so she could warn them. A sh of red, and the gunship¡¯s left repulsorlift wing disintegrated, sending it spiralling into the mist below.


    Yet, despite the chaos, there was discipline and system to the fire. The gunships were thoroughly saturating the courtyard and defences with sheer firepower, but the mainpound remained wholly unscathed. Commander Gree shouted something she couldn¡¯t hear, then jumped¨Chis jetpack bursting to life and shooting him towards thending. Two by two, the squad followed behind him. Below, the first troopers were already massing around the balconies, windows¨Cany entrance they could find¨Cand forcing their way in.


    The droids were beingpletely overwhelmed, facing what looked like three-to-one odds andplete enemy air superiority. Master Luminara was right¨Cas she usually was¨Cthis would have been a lot harder if they didn¡¯t bring an entire regiment to battle.


    Master Luminara ignited her lightsaber, deflected a stray bolt, and leapt. Barriss sucked in a breath, and went after her.


    ?


    ¡°Terminating burn,¡± Stelle tapped his console, ¡°Prepare for orbital swing-by.¡±


    Teth-II grewrger andrger before them, almost filling up the entire viewport. The moon was <em>very </emrgeparable to aoid¨Cand possessed its own atmosphere. I could see the dense, swirling clouds obscuring the surface, punctuated by bright shes of lightning. The vast emptiness of space doesn¡¯t convey the sense of speed at all, and only the brief nces I had of the vector readouts told me just how stupid this manoeuvre was.


    My neck felt oddly stiff, as if I could only look dead ahead.


    A blinking light told me the ship¡¯s attitude control gyros were ramping up.


    This content has been uwfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Starboard yaw oh-three-three degrees,¡± Stelle continued narrating, ¡°Raise inertialpensation by three percent.¡±


    <em>Repulse </em>turned on its axis, giving the pilothouse a good view of <em>Resistance </em>and Teth-II before both left the viewport¡¯s lefthand edge. The next time we see the moon¨Cso in about thirty seconds¨Cit will be the only thing we see.


    The bridge felt so quiet. I mean, it was always quiet¨CI prefer it that way¨Cbut this time the atmosphere was different. It was almost as if the droids were nervous, more nervous than they¡¯d be flying head-on into an enemy battleline.


    ¡°How many points of error are there, Tuff?¡± I asked quietly.


    The droid looked down at me, ¡°Too many. Our velocity is great enough that the moon¡¯s gravity well is too weak to augment it in any significant capacity. Instead, we will exploit the well to assist in manipting our vector, before elerating again on the stretch. The problem is that we don¡¯t know the exact density of Teth-two.¡±


    <em>What?</em>


    <em>¡°What?¡± </em>I blurted out, ¡°Then how are we doing this?¡±


    I tried to scrounge the gravitic forme out from the recesses of my memory, digging back to my college days. I was absolutely certain you needed the mass of the body to calcte any of them, which equates to density multiplied by volume.


    ¡°Guesswork,¡± Tuff admitted, ¡°And a veryrge margin of error. We <em>will </em>fail safely, sir. The issue is that none of our frigates possessary scanners, and our existing scanners are too weak to prate the moon¡¯s crust and observe itsposition.¡±


    ¡°What about Teth-one?¡±


    ¡°A smaller margin of error,¡± he said, ¡°Not only were we closer to Teth-one, the moon also had a negligible atmosphere and was much smaller in volume. Our scanners were able to prate further, and create an eptable projection of itsposition.¡±


    So the first step will be the most uncertain one. Perfect. Don¡¯t know what else I expected.


    I gazed intently into the tactical disy, as if mentally willing the vector lines to curve onto the projected path. Right now, the vector curved towards the periapsis before heading off into the void on a tangent. I could almost hear its howling winds as Teth-II gradually crawled back across the transparisteel viewport, parading its storm-ridden body before us. I found <em>Resistance </em>at the edge of my vision, coasting so close to the moon its prow might as well be scooping up the atmosphere.


    ¡°ETA to periapsis zone: three minutes. Power to retros.¡± Stelle said, ¡°Prepare for impulse burn.¡±


    Despite the vessel¡¯s inertia dampeners best efforts, I was still being pressed back into my seat. Since the droids didn¡¯t have that luxury, they instead opted to hold onto their consoles¨Cor my backrest, in Tuff¡¯s case¨Cwith death grips.


    A thought struck me, ¡°How many standard Gs are we going to experience? Am I going to die?¡±


    ¡°You are going to feel <em>very </em>ufortable,¡± Tuff replied.


    ¡°Very ufortable¡­ before I die?¡±


    ¡°...There is a low but not insignificant probability you may suffer temporary cognitive damage,¡± Tuff conceded.


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell me this because¡­?¡±


    ¡°As I am not a medical droid, I am not qualified to do so.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off,¡± I muttered, ¡°Setpensation to ny-nine.¡±


    The pressure on my chest let up a little, until Stelle suddenly announced¨C ¡°Commence impulse burn for two minutes and fifteen seconds.¡±


    Even though I was already resting against it, I was still mmed into my chair regardless¨Cany air inside my lungs squeezed right out of me. <em>I couldn¡¯t breathe¨C </em>it was as if there was an anvil resting on my chest. With the standard inertialpensation, I would be fucking dead. That went through my mind quite clearly, despite the blurriness creeping over my vision. The only thing I could feel was the white-knuckled grip I had on my armrests.


    I tried to tell Tuff to raise thepensation again, but I could barely open my mouth, much less get a single intelligible noise out. <em>I am going to rip out this fucker¡¯s behavioural matrix after this.</em>


    <em>Two minutes, </em>I reminded my increasingly incoherent self,<em> I only have to hang on for two minutes.</em>


    The metal backrest started to dig into my skull, so I struggled to lift up my head¨C I cked out.


    ?


    Asajj Ventress didn¡¯t like heroism. It wasn¡¯t that she disliked heroes themselves¨Cor even disrespected them¨Cshe simply despised the idea of heroes. Sacrifice is seldom awarded, and always exploited. Ky Narec¡¯s sacrifice for the people of Rattatak meant <em>nothing </em>to the Jedi Order, who abandoned him there to die. He was her mentor, then, and her only friend. Even now, he was still her only friend.


    Ky was but another expendable piece, in the end. The scum on the Jedi Council could spare an entire battlegroup to serve the greatest vemaster of the gxy, when there was something in it for them. But what about the ves themselves? The innocents? Her homeworld, Rattatak, was innocent, but the could drown in blood for all they cared. It had.


    Which was why it left a twisted, yet warm, feeling in her gut to see that the Jedi¨CLuminara Unduli¨Cwas under no delusions of heroism. An entire Acmator hung over their heads, and forty LAAT gunships were already on the ground¨Cand dozens more continuously pouring out of the troopship¡¯s ventral hangar. The Jedi Master was treating this not as the rescue operation it was, but like aary invasion.


    Thousands of clroopers were falling from the sky,pletely swamping the paltry droid battalion she had at her disposal. It appears Unduli is going to solve her problem with brute force and overwhelming firepower. Ventress could respect that, in a way.


    ¡°What do you think of this, Ky?¡± she asked aloud, watching the monastery fall around her.


    <em>What do you think about the Jedi who abandoned you to die, but dropped everything for a Hutt?</em>


    There was no answer but the mountain winds and the rage of sma bolts. Ky was long dead, and maybe that was all the better. He wouldn¡¯t want to see what has be of the Jedi Order¡­


    ¡°Or of me,¡± she mused, ¡°But you¡¯d understand, wouldn¡¯t you? I know you would.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± the spy droid, 4A-7, asked, ¡°Who¡¯s Ky?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know,¡± Ventress fingered her lightsabers, ¡°Just do your job. Find something positively incriminating.¡±


    ¡°Hard to do that now, ma''am¡­¡±


    The droid slipped away nheless. All she needed was one incriminating holocam recording of the Jedi with the Huttlet, anything that could convince Jabba that they were at fault. Anything would work¨Chandling Rotta roughly, making him cry¡­ the slug liked to cry a lot, so it shouldn¡¯t be too hard. And if all else fails, she could always have the Jedi framed with the dead Huttlet. Now that would be airtight.


    But Dooku wants the slug back alive, so she had to try. Even with these odds. If there was no other choice, then Dooku can rage at herter. Electrocution was temporary¨Cand she survived it many times before¨Call it mattered was that the Jedi is denied ess to the Outer Rim.


    Sometimes, she surprised herself how far she¡¯d go¨Ceven to kill an innocent child. But that was routine back on Rattatak. Countless children have died in battles between rival warlords, innocent or on the frontlines. It didn¡¯t matter. Life was cheap there, too cheap for the Jedi to care.


    Except Ky Narec.


    The holoreceiver flickered to life, and Count Dooku appeared.


    ¡°Progress, Asajj?¡± he demanded.


    Ventress craned up to look at the Republic troopship hanging in the atmosphere.


    ¡°We are outnumbered and outgunned,¡± she reported, ¡°Unduli had arrived with enough forces for aary assault. The n is impossible.¡±


    Dooku considered her words for a moment, ¡°...It must be for their counterattack on Christophsis. This is nothing more than a detour for Unduli, one conveniently in the neighbourhood of her main focus. It is unfortunate.¡±


    Ventress instinctively ducked as two anti-personnel fragmentation missiles streaked over her head, smashing into the courtyard and turning every droid in the radius into bolts and scrap metal. Everytime she looked back down at the battle raging on the monastery grounds, there were fewer and fewer droids, and more and more Republic troopers.


    ¡°The Jedi will not escape, Asajj,¡± Dooku told her, ¡°Nor the Huttlet, if the situation demands it. You <em>will </em>seed, not because you fear my disapproval, or what I might do if you fail, but because you know what we are doing this for. You know this better than even me.¡±


    ¡°The dictatorship of the Republic must fall,¡± she said, ¡°You are right, Master.¡±


    Dooku smiled. A genuine, sympathetic smile as far she could tell. If there was one ce where they aligned, it was their shared vision of a fairer society.


    Asajj Ventress waited for the holograph to vanish, then contacted Captain Bonteri. His tactical droid appeared in his ce.


    ¡°This is Ventress,¡± she said, ¡°I need immediate reinforcements, and air support. Every vulture I can get.¡±


    <em>¡°Please standby¡­¡± </em>the droid replied, <em>¡°ETA thirty standard minutes.¡±</em>


    The holoprojection shook, and then fizzled out. She attempted to reach them again, but to no avail. They were being jammed. Ventress cursed¨C thirty minutes was <em>too long. </em>Why was it the droid that she was talking to, was Bonteri incapacitated? Or did he think she was beneath him?


    Her skills in the Force focused on more <em>physical </em>aspects, such as telekinesis¨Cas was demanded by her upbringing¨Cbut Ventress was usually able to passively sense the intent of anyone she was working with. There were few who remained wholly unknown to her: Dooku¡­ and now Bonteri.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Bonteri was non-sensitive, she could believe that he was a Jedi Master with how much control he had over his emotions. In fact, she wasn¡¯t evenpletely certain of his¨C<em>her?</em>¨Csex. His face was wholly ambiguous, and voice smooth enough to pass off as either man or woman depending on how you perceived it. Ventress spent the entire hyperspace flight attempting to probe his mind, only to grasp nothing.


    It was as if he was a vacuum in the Force. Like he was as much a droid as the rest of his crew.


    She would be a liar to say working with him did not unease her, but in the end it did not matter. The Captain clearly valuedpetency, as did Ventress, and his crew worked with a quiet professionalism she seldom saw anywhere else. If it weren¡¯t that she could sense Tann¡¯s slimy blue hands all over this, Ventress would not be amiss to work with him again. For now, she would trust that he wille to her aid. His duty demanded it.


    Ventress unhooked her lightsabers, igniting the lethal red des. So she will do her duty just as well.


    ?


    I rubbed my temple, groaning. Shit, was I run over by a swoop bike?


    As the fog of unconsciousness faded, I caught sight of Tuff¡¯s unevenly proportioned chassis¨Cand like a switch, I swiftly regained my bearings.


    ¡°How long was I out?¡±


    ¡°Three minutes and twenty-six seconds, sir,¡± Tuff didn¡¯t miss a beat, ¡°We have a problem.¡±


    ¡°Typical,¡± I grunted, ¡°Right,y it on me.¡±


    ¡°We have too much speed,¡± Tuff said bluntly, ¡°And we overestimated the gravitics of the moon. Even with the retro burn, our escape velocity is too high for the reciprocal course we had projected.¡±


    I looked down at the tactical disy, cracking my neck. In an ideal world, our vector would be in a nearly U-shaped course in order to intercept Teth-I, but right now it was far too shallow. No¡­ it was too shallow for <em>Repulse </em>and <em>Renown</em>, but <em>Resistance </em>was so deep in Teth-II¡¯s gravity well that as long as they continue retro burning, they¡¯ll make it. And from how their vector was steadily curving to reach that projection, that was exactly what they were trying to aplish.


    I bit my cheek. Analysing the readouts, some off the cuff maths with my tablet told me it wasn¡¯t that we couldn¡¯t continue burning to reach the ideal vector, but that we would burn so much speed doing so that it would defeat the whole purpose of this manoeuvre.


    ¡°<em>Repulse </em>to <em>Resistance</em>,¡± if droids could convey panic, Stelle would be, ¡°Terminate your burn immediately. Say again, terminate your burn!¡±


    <em>¡°We can make it, Stelle,¡± </em>Three-One¡¯s modted voice returned, <em>¡°My crew¡¯s done the calctions.¡±</em>


    ¡°You can,¡± Stelle looked at me, almost pleadingly, ¡°But we can¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± I asked


    ¡°Commander B-One-Three-One is attempting to make an improvised course adjustment,¡± he told me, ¡°We have anticipated the possibility that we could overshoot, and have calcted redundancies for this in advance. <em>Resistance </em>is disobeying orders to reach the ideal vector¨Cbut is burning for far too long. Even if they seed, their prior calctions will bepletely¨C¡±


    ¡°Useless,¡± I finished, ¡°They will have to wing it for the rest of the manoeuvre.¡±


    ¡°...¡®Wing it¡¯ does not exist in my diction¨C¡±


    ¡°Off the cuff, improvise, y it by ear,¡± I snapped, ¡°Whatever you want to call it. Patch them to mylink.¡±


    Stelle turned around, and a momentter mylink was blinking.


    ¡°Three-One, do you know what you are doing?¡± I asked simply.


    <em>¡°Yes, sir.¡±</em>


    I eyed their vector on the disy, ¡°Are you certain you can improvise the second gravity assist?¡±


    <em>¡°We¡¯re working on it, sir.¡±</em>


    ¡°Make it happen,¡± I closed the connection.


    Droids think rationally¨Cif Three-One thinks he can pull this off, then that must be grounded in hard numbers. I would be doing a disservice to both <em>Resistance¡¯s </em>crew and myself if I could not trust him. Besides, I can make this work as well.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Tuff questioned.


    ¡°Have us and <em>Renown </em>burn pro¡¯ until our vectors intercept triple-zero,¡± I ordered, ¡°We are forgoing the second assist. We will attack the enemy fleet from behind directly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s half a million klicks of empty space with no cover,¡± Tuff reminded, ¡°The probability of being spotted early is eighty-seven-point-five-seven percent.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been working with me for too long,¡± I smiled dryly, ¡°Half a million klicks of empty space with no cover is standard as far as naval tactics go. This is no time for cold feet; that¡¯s an entire Republic battlegroup. We take it out, and we eliminate a strategic enemy asset as well. Time our arrival with <em>Resistance¡¯s, </em>we¡¯ll pincer them.¡±


    <em>¡°Renown, </eme in,¡± Stelle called.


    <em>¡°We¡¯re with you, Repulse,¡± </em>Zenith reassured. I can always trust Zenith.


    ¡°Feeds are still synced,¡± I said, ¡°Commence burn.¡±


    As we cleared the moon, Teth was but a violet marble I could hold in one hand. Three ck speckles ruined the view, however¨CRepublic warships. I peeled my spine off the chair, feeling my soaked uniform stick to my back. Periodically reassessing <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>eleration¨Cnearly 300 KPS squared, now¨CI followed <em>Resistance¡¯s </em>waning form as she surged away from us, sublight thrusters blinding white.


    ¡°We mustn''t overshoot,¡± Tuff said, ¡°If we had the second assist, we would swing around the in that scenario. But now we are on a direct course to intercept.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t happen, we have more control with this vector,¡± Stelle said.


    ¡°The retro burn timing won¡¯t be so dicey,¡± I agreed, ¡°We have less time to el, but the distance is shorter as well. The n is now to distract the enemy and allow <em>Resistance </em>to strike their nk. Besides, you calcted this in advance, no? Redundancy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    I smiled in satisfaction, setting a timer on my chrono and counting down the minutes.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    <em>Orbit of Teth, Teth System</em>


    <em>Baxel Sector</em>


    ¡°You know, this isn¡¯t even my first time ambushing a Republic fleet like this,¡± I mused.


    ¡°I have no recollection of that event,¡± Tuff said.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t there,¡± Stelle fired the retrothrusters, starting our deceleration¨Csince our velocity wasn¡¯t quite so high, we didn¡¯t need to flip, ¡°It was during the Sarapin Campaign. You can ess the ship¡¯s databankster.¡±


    ¡°Mh,¡± I hummed, ¡°It was thest major battle of the campaign, actually. A Republic battlegroup under Jedi General Echuu Shen-Jon had begun their counterattack, retaking Sarapin before tracing us to the Krant System, where General Tann had set up shop.¡±


    ¡°General Tann knew the Jedi would pursue, so sheid a trap,¡± Stelle¡¯s tone was somehow reminiscent, ¡°She scattered her fleets across the system, and when the enemy fleet was in low orbit, we ambushed them.¡±


    ¡°Not a single enemy warship escaped,¡± I said as the lights shed red and the xons howled¨Cthe Republic has noticed us, ¡°The Jedi wasside by then, so I don¡¯t exactly know what happened¡­ but it seemed General Tann prepared a ground ambush as well. If the Jedi wasn¡¯t struck down by her, then he must have eaten sma.¡±


    I breathed out slowly, ¡°Alright, enough of that. Fix range on <em>Guara.</em>¡±


    ¡°Roger roger,¡± the gunnery officer tapped his console, ¡°Cycling power to forward turbsers.¡±


    ¡°Maximum power,¡± Imanded, ¡°Aim for her engines. I want to crack her deflectors in the first shot. Prep forward ion cannons. Once her shields are down, I want her dead in the water. Are you reading, <em>Renown?</em>¡±


    <em>¡°Roger roger,¡± </em>Zenith replied.


    Munificent-ss frigates boasted one of thergest naval turbser batteries in the gxy, with enough firepower to crack open battleships like eggs, or punch straight throughary atmospheres for orbital bombardment. When you factor in the frigate¡¯s rather pitiful armour scheme, it was this main battery that evened the ying field against any capital ship.


    That was, only if you can shoot first. Because the frigate only had one battery of two barrels, and the entire thing was so fuckingrge it had to be mounted <em>directly </em>onto the ship. While the mount had some freedom in elevation, the only substantial way to aim them is to <em>rotate the ship itself. </em>Furthermore, firing them at full power reroutes so much energy from the reactors that you can forget having functioning shield projectors, or even main engines.


    In the end, the Munificent-ss¨Clike all other Separatist warships¨Cwas the product of cost-cutting and conscious trade-offs.


    It was only in this situation, when you were shooting up the ass end of a Venator¨Cone of thergest blindspots in the history of naval ordnance¨Cthat you can be reasonably certain you weren''t going to get punished immediately for yourck of deflectors.


    As more power was continuously diverted towards the turbser mount, the effects on the rest of the ship quickly grew apparent. Console monitors dimmed, and the lighting system started outright flickering. Our rate of retardation slowed dramatically as engine efficiency was essentially cut in half.


    ¡°Cut power to life support and artificial gravity in allpartments of the ship excluding the bridge,¡± Imanded, ¡°We need our engines. We need our sensor suites.¡±


    ¡°That will free up some output,¡± the engineering droid consulted his readouts, ¡°Should we cycle that back into the engines?¡±


    ¡°Feed the excess into the ion cannons,¡± I said.


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    I eyed the sensor repeaters, keeping in mind how <em>Guara </em>was hastily cycling her shields to her rear. The reason Guara was targeted first is simple¨Cthe ship is most likely the escort carrier of the enemy fleet. Acmators are troopships, and <em>Tranquility </em>is the headquarters of the 41st. I needed to disable the primary carrier before it could get its LACs in the air. If that happens, it¡¯s all over.


    <em>Guara </em>was halfway through its turn when my gunnery readouts beeped.


    ¡°Open fire!¡±


    <em>BOOM. </em>Two heavy thuds reverberated throughout the ship, ringing it like a tuning fork. The tactical holo glowed as two¨Cand then four¨Cmassive sources of energy appeared, beaming out likeets. The first two splintered against <em>Guara¡¯s </em>deflectors, splitting into scores of daughter beams and ricocheting¨Cbut decaying before they could hit anything. <em>Renown</em> had a much better angle on <em>Guara</em>, theirsers smashing head-on and overwhelming their ray shields.


    Our ion cannons didn¡¯t wait to unleash fury on the hapless star destroyer, ripping into <em>Guara </em>electronically. Arcs of lightning danced across her engine block, frying her ion drives, hyperdrive, and primary inertialpensator. Their sublight thrusters wound down, fading to ck and lifeless. In a single strike, the ship was made a dead fish.


    As soon as all that power was discharged, the ship¡¯s internal systems gradually roared back to life. The consoles burst back to their horrid green, while the lighting flickered back on.


    ¡°<em>Tranquility </em>is opening its dorsal doors,¡± Tuff observed.


    Unduli¡¯s gship was violently swinging around to bring its gun to bear, red-marked hangar doors groaning open to reveal its deadlyplement of starfighters. Behind it, the sole troopship manoeuvred away, fastidiously keeping <em>Tranquility</em> between us and her.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the other Acmator?¡± I demanded.


    ¡°Low atmosphere,¡± Stelle answered.


    My tablet vibrated, prompting me to look at it. I nced at Tuff. He looked back at me impassively.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered, ting over my annoyance with cold rationality, ¡°<em>Renown, </em>deploy all your vultures. The Commander needs air support. Tuff, get our fighters and C-nines in the air.¡±


    <em>¡°Roger roger.¡±</em>


    There was a warning: <emrge object approaching at dangerous velocity. </em>It usually only appears when there was an approaching interster body¨Clike a sizable asteroid¨Cthat our passive deflectors couldn¡¯t brush off. I checked our perimeter, and then my chrono. <em>Resistance </em>was closing in quickly, her velocity capping at 18,000 KPS before she flipped on her axis and fired up her sublight thrusters in a <em>very </emst minute burn and violent attempt to slow down. <em>ETA: seventeen standard minutes.</em>


    ¡°Seal st hatches,¡± my gazed skipped to another readout, ¡°And cycle deflectors to dorsal¨Cconcentrate around the bridge. Clone pilots only know how to attack from above.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    <em>Clunk, clunk, clunk¨C</em>duralloy ting tiled over the transparisteel viewports, darkening the pilothouse. The lighting was purposefully dimmed, and the custom holoemitters were toggled, projecting a near-duplicate holoscape of the pitch outside onto the screened viewports. It was all in shades of blue and red¨CI didn¡¯t have enough clout, or cash, to order full-colour projectors¨Cbut colour was an unnecessary affectation.


    The holoemitters were directly fed data from the repeaters¨Csuperimposing vectors, 3D bearings, and sensor data onto the disy. Along with internal data from <em>Repulse </em>itself, such as power levels and operational capabilities, it was like a bastard hybrid of a RTS and FPS heads-up disy. I no longer had to juggle half a dozen readouts¨CI could just look at an enemy ship on the projection and figure their shield levels, or which guns were reloading.


    Originally, the st hatches were an emergency system meant to seal the bridge should the viewport be undermined in any way¨Csuch as, say, perforated¨Cbut I think this purpose is much more useful. After all, windows in a space battle are liabilities. I¡¯m still not sure why this gxy liked them so much¨Cyou should really keep the sightseeing to pleasure cruises.


    But that was a bit disingenuous,ing from me.


    Pointers popped up all around the periphery as our vultures swarmed out of the hangars, escorting the C-9799sside. Just under a hundred of them, orbiting around the transports as they converged and stuck precariously close to the ventral side of <em>Guara, </em>smartly using the disabled cruiser as cover.


    ¡°Fighter contacts!¡± the sensor engineer announced.


    Hundreds of LACs poured out of <em>Tranquility,</em> zipping out of the hangar approach and banking hard on their etheric rudders to sweep back around. It took only a moment for our scanners to identify the make and feed it into the tactical holo. V-19 Torrents.


    I could sigh in relief. Those were starfighters, not bombers.


    <em>Renown </em>reacted quickly, driving hard into the wedge between <em>Guara </em>and <em>Tranquility </em>and rolling portside to angle its armour scheme against the LACs. If the V-19s wanted to get to the transports, they were going to have to go through them. Sparks darted across the disy as <em>Renown¡¯s </em>point-defence turrets howled, spewing out veritable curtains of anti-fighter fire. Republic pilots were getting downed by the dozen.


    <em>Tranquility </em>and <em>Renown </em>soon devolved into a brutal broadside exchange, casemates roaring as both ships pumped the other full of superheated tibanna. In a prolonged engagement, however, the <em>Tranquility </em>wille out on top¨CSeparatist frigates were simply too fragile. My chrono read <em>nine standard minutes.</em>


    ¡°Forward turbsers are thirty percent charged,¡± the gunnery droid said.


    ¡°Fix range on <em>Guara¡¯s </em>bridges,¡± I ordered, ¡°Light them up.¡±


    The entire ship pitched itself upwards, almost like breathing in before a great scream. Then a sh of red¨Cenergy readouts on the sensor repeater spiking¨Cand <em>Guara¡¯s </em>primary conning tower disappeared in a massive explosion. <em>Just like a game</em>¨CI smiled in satisfaction.


    ¡°Hard right hard over,¡± I called, ¡°We¡¯lle around and support <em>Renown</em> from the other side¨C¡±


    The tactical holo shed, and thework of system readings orbiting <em>Renown¡¯s </em>marker, red baleful red. Relief turned to ash in my mouth.


    The enemy starfighter wing had pivoted, unleashing a torrent of concussion missiles down the frigate¡¯s spine and detonating her power cells, before sweeping down her hull and pursuing the transports. Explosions rocked the warship¨Cwhich I could only see as warning symbols popping up all around <em>Renown¡¯s </em>icon¨Cbefore our shared feed desynchronised. That could only mean one thing; hermand bridge had lost all power.


    In an impressive disy of tenacity, <em>Renown </em>continued to brawl with <em>Tranquility</em>, as if the ship itself was defiant even in the face of her lostmand. Her automated turrets continued to barrage the Jedi cruiser with sma unceasingly, determined to carry out theirst received orders to the bitter end.


    My chrono beeped¨C <em>ETA: one standard minute.</em>


    <em>Resistance </em>shot out of the abyss like a bullet, abruptly appearing right beneath <em>Tranquility </em>with thrusters faced forward and ventral guns faced up¨Cand all hell broke loose. Fuelled by the voracity to avenge her sister, the frigate wed into the cruiser¡¯s belly, gging the ventral hangar bay until it was melted shut and tearing out chunks of doonium ting. Caught at unawares, <em>Tranquility </em>didn¡¯t have the shields to stop her.


    A second wing of starfighters swarmed out of the cruiser¡¯s flight deck¨CARC-170s¨Cveering up and then over <em>Tranquility¡¯s </em>portside wing like some kind of fountain. They streaked down, S-foils setting into attack position¨Cand then I understood what they were doing. <em>Repulse </em>was hardly in the position to support, so we could only watch as the ARC-170s fired off barrage after barrage of proton torpedoes into <em>Resistance¡¯s </em>lightly armoured ventral surface.


    The first volley was shattered against concentrated deflectors, as was the second. The third was a deluge of purple spells that finally overwhelmed the particle shielding¨C and then <em>Resistance </em>was consumed by inferno. The torpedoes smashed straight through the flimsy armour and mauled everything inside to hell. Fuel bunkers ruptured, gas lines fractured, and a series of chain reactions shredded the entire ship to scrap from the inside.


    In less than a heartbeat, there was nothing identifiable left of the ship once named <em>Resistance.</em>


    For a second, I thought we would soon join them, but the ARCs didn¡¯t press their momentum after recovering from the dive. They instead took defensive formations around their mothership while she maneuvred away, apparently attempting to rendezvous with the Acmator that had already withdrawn.


    ¡°<em>Tranquility </em>is retreating,¡± Stelle said softly, ¡°Should we pursue?¡±


    ¡°...No,¡± I said after a long moment, ¡°Hang back.¡±


    I may have not had a direct hand in their programming, but I had personally and painstakingly cultivated each and every droid of officer value on my ships. I gave them names, personalities¨CI made sure they were programmed with the ambition to seed¨Cand when you do that, there was little between a droid officer and an organic one, except for one. Droids thought solely in numbers. They are cognitively incapable of being more ipetent than what you had programmed into them.


    Three-One had pulled off that manoeuvre spectacrly, even ending it right beneath an enemy ship. In another world, he could have pulled that off. Zenith¡¯s sacrifice allowed our transports and vultures to slip right past the enemy and reinforce Ventress on the surface, but Three-One¡¯s?


    In another world, I didn¡¯t allow him to take that risk.


    ¡°Damage report for <em>Renown</em>,¡± I said.


    ¡°Power cells were struck,¡± Stelle reported, ¡°But it was a contained detonation. The ship is disabled because the power feeds were severed. Once the crew recycles auxiliary, <em>Renown </em>should be capable of limited operations.¡±


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the vition.


    I breathed through my nose, ¡°That¡¯s good. We have a hundred-thousand deactivated droids in the hold. Activate them all and bring us over the <em>Guara</em>¨C I will give them only one chance to surrender.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    I leaned back, pinching the bridge of my nose.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Tuff¡¯s t voice was even more irritating than usual, ¡°Enemy jamming has ceased. We have reestablished contact with air control. The airspace is heavily contested between our vultures and enemy fighters, but all the transports havended. The Jedi are retreating.¡±


    ¡°That better be,¡± I snarled, ¡°I lost two fucking ships for this.¡±


    ?


    <em>¡°I have the evidence, ma¡¯am. Did some simple splicing and editing to make the holocam recording quite¡­ convincing. It was harder than usual¨Cthese two don¡¯t give much to work with,¡± </em>4A-7 said, audibly self-satisfied, <em>¡°Oh¨C and, the Jedi are approaching the main vault now.¡±</em>


    ¡°Good work,¡± she whispered, ¡°Transmit it to Count Dooku and warm up the junker.¡±


    <em>¡°Can do, Mistress,¡± </em>the espionage droid replied, <em>¡°And, ma¡¯am, target the young one. She¡¯s their weakness.¡±</em>


    Ventress preferred droids to organics, generally. Programmed well, you can be certain they will be the most trustworthy andpetent individuals you have ever worked with. To her, 4A-7 was more of a real being than most organics she had to endure. When he had a duty, he would do it¨Cand do it <em>well</em>. She could ask nothing more from a subordinate, and a partner.


    She sprinted to the main vault and nted explosive charges on every exit, before sliding behind a column. As she waited, Ventress arranged each charge to different sequences on her detonator. Just as 4A-7 had said, she soon heard a multitude of footstepsing through a nearby hallway.


    The softer steps of Jedi, and the hard cking of clrooper boots. She waited until the rustling of their robes were right next to her.


    Ventress sprung out like a Rattataki redjacket, twin lightsabers springing to life.


    In a few seconds, the squad of apanying clones were scythed down before the Jedi could react, before she pivoted to deal with them as well.


    One saber swung down in a bloody arc, humming with eagerness to kill. Red shed against green, and for a brief moment she saw a terrified surprise illuminated against the Jedi Padawan¡¯s face. Ventress grinned at that sight.


    The Padawan pushed back, and Ventress transferred that momentum to bring in her other saber in a lightning arc, employing careful restraint to not hit the wailing Huttlet slung over her shoulder. Ventress¡¯ de missed her head by a fraction of an inch as the Padawan ducked.


    ¡°Barriss!¡± it was Unduli¡¯s turn to leap at her.


    Ventress pirouetted, hastily parrying with a saber and bringing the other around for a simultaneous strike. Their des sparked in parry and thrust as Ventress kept an eye out for the Padawan¨C<em>Barriss</em>. The sound of hasty footsteps echoed down a dark corridor. <em>Clones.</em>


    ¡°Barriss, get Rotta out of here!¡± Unduli shouted.


    ¡°But Master¨C!¡±


    <em>¡°Go!¡± </em>the Jedi Master gritted her teeth as Ventress pushed hard.


    Barriss hesitated for a split second, before deciding to obey her master¡¯s wishes. That hesitation would cost her.


    Ventress summoned her strength to shove Unduli with the Force, before leaping backwards. With the breathing room, she toggled her detonator¨C<em>boom! </em>The corridor Barriss was trying to escape through¨Cthe same one the clones wereing from¨Ccopsed in a shower of dust and masonry, blocking her escape.


    With little other choice, the Padawan raced to attack her again from the rear, and for a harrying moment Ventress had to fend off both Jedi. Thirty seconds in, and she came to understand their technique. Luminara Unduli utilised smooth and flowing¨Cyet rapid¨Cmotions, each swing connecting into the other until her lightsaber blurred into a blinding river of bright green.


    With each consecutive parry, Unduli¡¯s form grew harder and harder to keep up with, sustaining her momentum in an impressive disy of stamina¨Cuntil Ventress found herself relying more on her instincts and the Force than her eyes to fend her off. Barriss, on the other hand, simply used a more sloppy version of Unduli¡¯s technique, like a kitten trying¨Cand failing¨Cto mimic its mother.


    Together, they drove her back against a wall. Ventress snarled, mustering all her anger to Force push them back before hacking at them with all the strength and rage she had. It wasn¡¯t hard to ess, all she had to do was imagine Ky¡¯s lifeless form in her arms, and it made her want to crush this unjust world in vengeance.


    <em>¡°General Unduli,¡± </em>the Jedi¡¯slink beeped, <em>¡°Enemy reinforcements are arriving. Is the Huttlet secure? We need to leave!¡±</em>


    Ventress pressed the offensive, exploiting the distraction¨C but with the Padawan in the way, she couldn¡¯t hone in on the openings in Unduli¡¯s stance. The longer this fight goes on, the smaller the chances of her winning. Ventress could feel her assault sapping the strength from her arms, and her breathing growing heavy. She had to finish this quickly.


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation!?¡± the Jedi Master demanded.


    <em>¡°The Seps ambushed the fleet, sir! Guara is out of action, and the Tranquility has taken heavy damage while retreating. They¡¯ve sent three droid transports down here, we can¡¯t hold them off for much longer!¡±</em>


    ¡°Identify my coords from them signal,¡± Unduli grunted as she parried, ¡°We have the Huttlet. Get us an evac and a medic!¡±


    <em>¡°¨CLooks like there¡¯s anding pad to your south, sir!¡±</em>


    Almostically, all three heads snapped to the south exit of the chamber. Ventress immediately backstepped to detonate the tunnel, but Unduli lunged forward and swung down on her hand. Ventress barely caught it, only for the Jedi to catch her saber in a disadvantaged angle and whipping it out of her grip with a violent twist. Barriss outstretched a hand, and wrenched the detonator from her wrist with the Force.


    Ventress snatched her saber back with a Force pull, but before she could counterattack, she felt a presence behind her. Twirling, she raised her lightsabers just in time to deflect a ster bolt.


    Clones were rushing towards the vault from the south tunnel, from thending pad. The gunship must have already arrived. As Ventress batted away bolt after bolt, she extended her senses to take stock of her situation.


    Unduli and the clones were nearer to the exit, while the Padawan and Huttlet were closer to the holding cells they came from. She was between them and the exit. Should she seek the Jedi dead, or take the Hutt and the Padawan? Ventress couldn¡¯t do both. Adrenaline and endorphins flooding her bloodstream were keeping her afloat, but it wouldn¡¯tst. The only choice was now between a bad result and a worse one.


    Dooku can rage at herter.


    With a roar, Ventress shoved Unduli away with all the Force she could muster, sending her t against the far wall.


    ¡°Master!¡± Barriss shouted.


    Ventress deflected a bolt back into a clone before twirling around and pouncing on the Padawan, intent on pushing her further towards the holding cells. A distant explosion rocked the volcanic rock of the teau. Ventress thought it sounded like a Republic gunship crashing. She allowed herself a small, victorious smile¨Cso Bonteri hade through.


    ¡°General!¡± a clone shouted, ¡°They¡¯re cutting us off! We need to go, <em>now!</em>¡±


    Luminara Unduli was already back on her feet, tense and ready to attack her rear. Ventress gritted her teeth, drawing on the Dark Side to buoy her exhaustion for just a little longer, hacking and shing at the Padawan¡¯s crumbling defence.


    ¡°They¡¯re on the tform!¡± a clone shouted from further down the corridor.


    <em>¡°General!¡±</em>


    Unduli looked about ready to ignore the clone¡¯s desperate plea and help her apprentice, until something dark shed through the Padawan¡¯s otherwise bright blue eyes. Ventress was shoved back by a weak Force push, but the Padawan used that opening nheless¨Cslinging the Hutt around and hurling the screaming slug across the chamber.


    <em>¡°No!¡± </em>Ventress snarled.


    She swivelled to grab the Huttlet with the Force, only for Unduli to contest her. Ventress was just about ready to rip the slug in half¨Cshe could still pin its death on the Jedi¨Cbut Barriss lunged at her rear, shattering her concentration.


    ¡°Go, Master!¡± she shouted, ¡°I¡¯ll hold her off!¡±


    <em>¡°Barriss!¡±</em>


    For the first time since encountering her, Ventress could feel Unduli¡¯s controlled panic in the Force for a split second¨Cand then it chilled into cold steel. She screamed in frustration, tossing aside a saber to directly snag Barriss¡¯ off-hand, twisting it open with a <em>crack</em> and catching the detonator as it fell. With thest of her energy, Ventress threw the girl into the tunnel with the Force as far as she could, before squeezing the device and copsing it on top of her.


    There was a shriek¨C and then silence.


    She only allowed herself a heartbeat to catch her breath, then heeled around to pursue.


    Ventress chased them through the passages and up a flight of ancient stone stairs, mercilessly cutting down any clone who dared to think they could slow her down for more than a fraction of a second. The walls lightened as sunlight reached them, and the tunnel opened into anding tform.


    She arrived just in time to see the gunship taking off, Luminara Unduli staring down at her with icy blue eyes, the Huttlet already in the arms of a medic.


    ¡°So you are just going to leave her!?¡± Ventress screamed, half in frustration and half in derision.


    Unduli didn¡¯t answer her, all the way until the st hatches of the gunship closed. Ventress watched in helpless rage as the Jedi escaped with the Huttlet. Dozens of gunships were retreating back to the Acmator, which was pulling out of the atmosphere as well. Already she couldn¡¯t differentiate the Jedi¡¯s ride from the rest.


    Distantly, Ventress heard the uniform nking of battle droids. Above, vulture droids and Republic fighters were engaged in a dogged airborne battle, each side struggling toe out over the other. The mangled and eviscerated parts of droids littered the ground in grotesque fashion, shot to pieces and cut apart by a lightsaber. She resisted the urge to kick a decapitated head.


    It was childish, and they didn''t deserve it. They did their duty, which is more than she can say for herself.


    Ventress closed her eyes, stowing away her lightsabers.


    ¡°Ventress to air control,¡± she spoke to herlink, ¡°Do you read me? Pursue the gunships and destroy them¨C don¡¯t let them reach the troopship!¡±


    The vultures chirped back, immediately breaking from their dogfights.


    <em>¡°Mistress,¡± </em>4A-7 contacted her, <em>¡°I¡¯m arriving at your location now.¡±</em>


    Ventress shifted her gaze, noticing the stale grey of Ziro the Hutt¡¯s spice freighter skimming over the mist below. As she impatiently waited, shifting from foot to foot, she suddenly felt a spike of pain and confusion in the Force.


    Her lips thinned. <em>The Padawan is still alive.</em>


    ?


    Barriss wasn¡¯t sure when the weight on her chest lifted, only that she could suddenly breathe again. Keeping her body extremely still, she blearily opened an eye by a fraction. After the blur subsided, she realised everything was rmingly <em>grey</em>, and that her body ached to all hells and back.


    Either she was dead, which felt remarkably like being alive, or she somehow survived a castle falling on her head. It took some time to work out her situation; she was leaning against the wall of a starship¨Capparently on the floor, considering how her bottom ached with the vibrations¨Cand her hands and legs were bound together by stuncuffs. She couldn¡¯t feel her saber on her hip, leaving the space naked and cold.


    <em>They took me prisoner</em>, Barriss realised.


    Master Luminara¡­ did you manage to escape with the Huttlet? She tentatively reached out with the Force to find out¨C a stupid mistake, she soon berated herself.


    ¡°So you¡¯re awake¨C¡± Barris recognised that rasping drawl, ¡°¨CBe a dear and stay where you are.¡±


    Barriss finally opened her eyes, knowing there was no way she could fool a Sith Assassin like Asajj Ventress. She deigned not to answer, instead taking her time observing her surroundings. They had put her in the pilot cabin of a small starship¨Ca spice freighter, from the smell¨Cand left her on the floor just behind the two pilot seats. Probably so they can keep an eye on her. And by they¨C there was Ventress, and a familiar droid.


    ¡°You¡¯re that <em>¡®caretaker droid,¡¯</em>¡± her gut twisted.


    ¡°And you are Barriss Offee,¡± the droid did even look at her, ¡°A Jedi Padawan.¡±


    <em>We trusted you</em>, she wanted to say, but kept it inside of her. For now, she had to find a way to escape.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try,¡± Ventress read her mind, standing up, ¡°Take it from here, Four-Ei. Barriss Offee, was it? You were half dead when I found you¨Cdon¡¯t make me waste all that effort keeping you alive.¡±


    ¡°You should¡¯ve just killed me,¡± Barriss sniped, ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡±


    The assassin¡¯s lips twisted, ¡°Your Master certainly thinks so¡­ killing you, that is. Not sure about the regret part¡­ after all, she seems to think the life of a Hutt is worth much more than yours.¡±


    ¡°The lives of <em>millions</em>,¡± Barriss retorted, ¡°The war effort is more important than me. You¡¯ve failed, assassin. Master Luminara has Rotta, and you can¡¯t catch her. You¡¯ve failed.¡±


    Ventress¡¯ lips parted, baring her teeth, ¡°So you understand that I want to¡­ even the score. I hear your Master will be on Christophsis for your little counterattack, and I want to know exactly on <em>which front</em> I can find her.¡±


    Barriss immediately flooded her mind with white noise, ¡°There will be dozens of Jedi on Christophsis. You won¡¯t even reach her.¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯re not lying about the first part.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you anything either,¡± she mustered what bravado she had, ¡°Why not just kill me? You get to kill a Jedi, and I won¡¯t have to suffer your face any longer.¡±


    If Barriss couldn¡¯t escape, then she had to die. She mustn''t let the Separatists get anything out of her. She had to protect Master Luminara, and everyone on Christophsis. Barriss stiffened her resolve. <em>I am one with the Force, death doesn¡¯t scare me.</em> She tried to stamp down on the niggling hesitation still inside.


    Ventress released an amused snort, ¡°Jedi, <em>you? </em>I can kill you with my eyes closed, girl. Do not tter yourself.¡±


    Barriss felt a rush of indignation welling up in her breast, but mercilessly crushed it. Ventress was trying to get a reaction out of her, and she mustn¡¯t give her the satisfaction. She drew on Master Luminara¡¯s teachings, emptying her mind and distancing her emotions. Her face ttened¨Cjust the thought of Master Luminara gave her calm and control. And by the Force, she needed control right now.


    ¡°Why do you even try, Barriss?¡± Ventress¡¯ voice lightened, putting her off, ¡°Why do you bother serving the Jedi? They don¡¯t care what happens to you¨C even your <em>precious Master </em>left you for dead. They don¡¯t care about anything other than their pleasant,fortable Coruscanti lives with their high towers and soft cushions.¡±


    <em>Ignore her, Barriss, </em>she told herself, <em>this is the seduction of the Dark Side. Ignore her!</em>


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see?¡± Ventress knelt in front of her, ¡°You are nothing but a tool for your Master¡¯s ego. She won¡¯t try to save you, and she doesn¡¯t want to feel guilty for abandoning you, so she¡¯ll prefer to think you''re dead. You¡¯re a <em>tool</em>, one to be discarded and reced at pleasure. Your Master will waltz back into the Jedi Temple and request a new Padawan without a second thought.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re fighting to free the gxy from your and Count Dooku¡¯s tyranny,¡± Barriss looked away, focusing on ignoring her cajoling, ¡°Sacrifice is necessary. I won¡¯t give you anything, so you should just kill me.¡±


    ¡°<em>Sacrifice?</em>¡± Ventressughed mockinly, ¡°Is this what you call sacrifice? You¡¯ll serve them, fight for them, and when you¡¯ve served your purpose they¡¯ll leave you to rot and die like they left <em>my Master!</em>¡±


    Ventress gripped her chin to force her to look at her, ¡°<em>And then they¡¯ll call it ¡®sacrifice.¡¯ </em>You¡¯ll be lucky if one of them sheds a tear at your ¡®sacrifice,¡¯ but mark my words in a week from now they¡¯ll have already forgotten all about you. The Jedi do not deserve your servitude, nor your loyalty, <em>don¡¯t you see?¡±</em>


    <em>This is personal for her, </em>Barriss realised. Ventress wasn¡¯t even pretending to mask the tidal waves of loathing and hatred she had for the Jedi. No¨C Barriss didn¡¯t even have to sense it through the Force, her emotions were inly written all over her face. Ventress meant every single word as if she had seen what she spoke of firsthand, converting all her pain into deep, focused rage.


    Barriss stared into the Sith¡¯s eyes. They were pale, blue, obsessive, and so disturbingly full of life.


    <em>We made her our enemy somehow, </em>she realised. Ventress wasn¡¯t just an assassin-for-hire, or some mindless Sith drone, she did what she did out of personal <em>principle. </em>Did she say <em>Master? </em>Was Ventress once a Jedi? The thought sickened her to the bone.


    What if her words¨C no, <em>stop. </em>It was her words that were dangerous, more dangerous than her lightsabers could ever be. This is all part of her trick, her game. <em>Focus, this is all the game of the Dark Side. She¡¯s trying to bait me, so just ignore her. Distance your emotions. Distance. </em>Master Luminara made it look all so easy.


    <em>¡°Twilight, this is Repulse,¡± </em>the ship¡¯sms broke the tension, <em>¡°You are cleared fornding through starboard hangar.¡±</em>


    ¡°Copy that,¡± the spy droid said.


    Ventress¡¯ grip tightened for a brief moment, then disappeared, pulling away.


    ¡°They¡¯ll abandon their morals when it suits them, Barriss,¡± Ventress softened, as if consoling her, ¡°You know this, isn¡¯t that why you came all the way to Teth? They¡¯ll abandon <em>you </em>when it suits them¨C they <em>did </em>abandon you, like they did my Master. Both of us, we are the same. It doesn¡¯t matter who we are, we¡¯re all expendable. I decided they didn¡¯t deserve my loyalty¡­ so how about you forget all those <em>Jedi teachings</em> and think for yourself? Why not decide for yourself whether they deserve your loyalty, your <em>sacrifice?¡±</em>


    Ventress pulled away and returned to her seat, leaving Barriss alone to stew in her thoughts. It was the most harrowing experience of her life, and she didn¡¯t even see a single lightsaber. Barriss closed her eyes, seekingfort in Master Luminara¡¯s wisdom. Master Luminara would know what to do in this situation¡­ so what <em>would </em>she do?


    Barriss knew; stay calm, stay resolved, stay quiet. Don¡¯t give them anything. y for time, and wait for rescue.


    Ventress was lying, she had to be. Master Luminara wasn''t like that, she will rescue her, she knows it¡­ but a part of her was still disturbed about how easily Ventress¡¯ words struck an unwee chord.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    <em>Christophsis Approach, Christoph System</em>


    <em>Savareen Sector</em>


    Anakin was never good at waiting, but there was a war going on, and half the time war was all about waiting. Waiting for the opportune moment, waiting¡­ waiting¡­


    He resisted the urge to pace the bridge of the <em>Pioneer</em>, locking his knees and ttening his feet against the metal panels. There was, after all, nothing more demoralising for soldiers than seeing theirmanding officer anything less thanpletely in control. It was all an illusion¨Che knew it, they knew it¨Cnone of them were in control, Jedi or not. It was simply moreforting to deceive yourself.


    <em>Resolute </em>was gone, <em>Dauntless </em>was gone, and along with them half of the 501st. Ged, Coric, Denal, Rex¡­ all of them, gone. And now, Anakin was staring at their killer, at the cabal of Separatist ships choking Christophsis like a noose. Somewhere in that murder of Munificents was the architect of not one, but <em>two </em>of his worst defeats. It was the exact same person, Anakin knew it, nobody else in this kriffing gxy used those kinds of tactics.


    And the worst part? It was the exact <em>same </em>one. He should have realised quicker, sooner. He should have just disobeyed Obi-Wan and used the stealth corvette to strike their rear¡­ their deaths weighed on his mind. He felt every single one of them.


    Hundreds of thousands of klicks away,side, and he could feel their anguish, fear, and pain so clearly. It was the singlergest loss of hismand Anakin has experienced, and it nearly overwhelmed him. If he was still the boy at Jabiim, he would have lost his mind.


    But he wasn¡¯t. He was a man now, a Jedi Knight, with his ownmand, and this was war. He had an image to uphold, and a responsibility to his men. As much as he wanted to hop in a starfighter and take the fight straight to the Seppies¡­ if his clroopers could march back into the gauntlet without a single murmur, then he had to do even better.


    That was the duty of an officer. That was what¡¯s expected of him.


    Anakin red into the void, imnting each and every enemy frigate into his mind, as if he could coax out that person with sheer force of will alone.


    ¡°General, Admiral Yren needs you in the Battle Room.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there, thank you Rex.¡±


    Anakin mentally punched himself the moment thest word left his lips. He could <em>feel </em>the silence on the bridge, like a slime over his skin. The pointed ignorance as officers¨Cclone and otherwise¨Chastily busied themselves with their implements. He could hear the usual background humming, all the hardware that made the ship possible, brought to the forefront.


    ¡°Clone Commander CC-One-One-Neen, sir,¡± if the clone was offended, he didn¡¯t show it.


    Anakin took a silent breath, ¡°My apologies, soldier. No name?¡±


    ¡°Appo, sir,¡± Appo said.


    ¡°Appo¡­¡± he mumbled¨Che recognised that name, ¡°From Alpha¡¯s program?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Anakin turned around, nodding in respect, ¡°Let¡¯s see what Yren has for me.¡±


    He hid his difort as they walked past the crew pits, attempting to ignore the unfamiliar presence at his nk and hoping it didn''t show in his stride. Anakin knew it was a disservice to Appo, who must have suddenly found himself themanding clone officer of the butchered remains of the 501st, and was in all likelihood having no easy time of it. Thousands of his brothers were gone, and Appo himself must have leaped several ranks to fill in themand vacuum left by their deaths.


    But Rex was simply too familiar a presence for Anakin to ignore, and his stalwartpany will be sorely missed. Already sorely missed, as if he was missing his right hand¡­ left hand.


    Thankfully, the walk was not too long. The st doors hissed open to reveal the darkened Battle Room, with a holographic crowd of almost a dozen Jedi and just as many Admirals surrounding the wide holodisy table. Yren quietly acknowledged his arrival as Appo slithered out of the scene to observe. Rex would never do that, but it was obvious Appo still didn¡¯t quite know how to handle his new standing.


    And it was unfair topare him to Rex, anyway. Anakin let the tension drain out of his body, gesturing for the Clone Commander to stick close to him.


    ¡°Anakin,¡± Obi-Wan said, ¡°How nice of you to join us.¡±


    Obi-Wan tried to inject the humorous tone he usually had whenever Anakin shows upte, but this time it felt as if he was trying too hard. And Anakin didn¡¯t have the strength to respond with anything other than a polite ¡°Master.¡±


    Obi-Wan wasn¡¯t his Master anymore, but word rolled off his tongue without resistance. His once mentor crossed arms and loosened his shoulders, offering a small, butforting smile.


    Another holograph fizzled into view, and the dark form of Master Luminara Unduli took shape. A new contact appeared on a nearby n positioning indicator projected onto a clear plotting board, right on the edge of the system. Master Unduli¡¯s taskforce.


    The Jedi Master herself was known to be quiet, but she held herself with an introspective¨Calmost mncholic¨Caura, only giving token gestures of greeting to the gathered Jedi, as if for the sake of politeness alone. Something went wrong with her mission, Anakin guessed. It seemed he wasn¡¯t the only one not up to spec today. The thought didn¡¯t make him feel any better.


    ¡°Master Unduli,¡± Mace Windu said gruffly, ¡°A report on your mission?¡±


    Master Unduli¡¯s features tightened, her tattoos twisting, ¡°It was a Separatist trap. We were lured to Teth, where Asajj Ventress ambushed my fleet in orbit. We lost one cruiser.¡±


    <em>Ventress. </em>His eye ached at that name.


    ¡°And the mission?¡±


    ¡°Rotta the Hutt has been safely delivered to his father,¡± Master Unduli said, ¡°Jabba¡¯s demands were exacting, but I have negotiated a favourable oue for the Republic. We have ess¨Cif not full ess¨Cto Hutt Space.¡±


    A gaggle of career officers broke into satisfied smiles, while the Jedi themselves remained more reserved. But this was good news, everybody knew. With the Outer Rim hypenes in their hands, the Grand Army¡¯s overstretched supply lines could be effectively cut by half.


    ¡°Troubling you, something is,¡± Grand Master Yoda observed, ¡°A great loss, you have suffered. Greater than a cruiser.¡±


    ¡°...My Padawan, Barriss Offee, volunteered her life to rescue the Huttlet,¡± Master Unduli said slowly, ¡°I did not see what had be of her, but I fully intend on returning to Teth to seek closure.¡±


    The mood sobered quickly. <em>That was war</em>, Anakin knew, and sacrifice was a price each of them will have to pay when the timees. For Barriss Offee, it came early, but her sacrifice might have just swung this war solidly in their favour. What more can a soldier ask for? But Offee wasn¡¯t a soldier, was she?


    Anakin couldn¡¯t imagine how it would feel to lose a Padawan. Soldiers were one thing¨Cthey knew death was around every corner in their line of work¨Cbut a young apprentice? A child?


    <em>Master Leska, wavespping at her eyes staring to a brilliant ray of light. Aubrie¡­ and Tae and Zule and all the rest he abandoned to a sunless world. A charred helmet of the 501st floating in the vacuum of space, orbiting a lifeless moon. He saw none of this with his eyes, yet seen it all in the Force.</em>


    Anakin blinked, and the images faded. He wasn¡¯t able to save any of them, but if there had been even the slightest chance¡­ Aplicated emotion stirred in his chest. To say their deaths had been meaningless was to disrespect their sacrifice, but if he could have the chance to save them¡­ He would have never epted their deaths.


    ¡°What if she is still alive?¡± Anakin let slip.


    ¡°Anakin¨C¡± Obi-Wan warned, with a face that said <em>¡®I¡¯m tolerating you because of your loss, but you are crossing the line.¡¯</em>


    ¡°If I discover any reason to think so,¡± Master Unduli met his gaze solidly, ¡°Then I assure you I will spare no effort or expense to find her, and rescue her.¡±


    A part of him hoped he too could find a reason to believe Rex<em>¨C</em>and the rest of the 501st<em>¨C</em>were somehow still alive. <em>Wishful thinking, </em>he scolded himself not long after.


    ¡°Seek, you will,¡± Master Yoda agreed, ¡°Extend your senses. Still alive, if young Barriss is, then guide you the Force will.¡±


    As Master Luminara adopted a thoughtful look, Obi-Wan cleared his throat, clearly keen on refocusing the strategy briefing.


    ¡°I will now exin our strategy for liberating Christophsis,¡± he said, ¡°We have timed our arrival such that our ground targets are now on the opposite side of the blockade. Admiral Wurtz and Master Gallia will pin down the Separatist fleet while the rest of us manoeuvres to our specified deployment zones.¡±


    A projection of Christophsis burst out of the holodisy table. Three lines extended out of theirbined fleet; one straight to the blockade, and two more branching prograde and retrograde to pulsating red zones on theary surface.


    ¡°Master Mundi and Master Koth will lead the assault here, in the northern hemisphere,¡± Obi-Wan pointed, and the projection zoomed in on the red zone to reveal a vast manufacturing sector, ¡°Master Mundi?¡±


    Ki-Adi-Mundi received the reins, ¡°Our battlegroup¡¯s primary objective is to secure the¡¯s crystal refineries. Christophsis¡¯ strategic resources are vital to our war effort, and we must not allow the¡¯s industry to remain in Separatist hands.¡±


    Master Barrek, K¡¯Kruhk and several other Jedi Knights and Padawans nodded in affirmation.


    <em>Crystal. </em>A nebulous, modest word for one of the most priceless ingredients for victory. It could be argued that Christophsis¡¯ crystal industries were even more strategically important than its location straddling the Corellian Run. Crystals could be found in just about every weapon system in the Grand Army, serving as focusing mediums for turbsers to electronics in missile warheads.


    And not only that, Anakin knew all too well. If fuel was the lifeblood of a warship, then crystals made their brain and nervous systems. Multiphasic diode rys, cognizant crystal interfaces, sensor rectennas, crystal bio-anode circuitry¨Ceven basic holoprojectors. Almost every type of sophisticated electronic system possesses crystalponents. Anakin lived and breathed this stuff, and he knew better than most there was no overstating the oft-overlooked permeance of crystal tech.


    ¡°At the same time, Master Unduli and I will lead the assault on Crystal City, in the southern hemisphere,¡± Obi-Wan continued, ¡°General Whorm has heavily fortified the city, and it will take ourbined forces to break his defences. Should Master Mundi take theary industries ahead of schedule, his forces will redeploy to support us. Let¡¯s make sure we don¡¯t get ground down into a prolonged siege.¡±


    ¡°Anakin,¡± Master Plo Koon regarded him, ¡°Our forces will remain in orbit. Our troops will serve as a rapid reaction force to support the boots on the ground. Only when immediate reinforcements are requested, will we deploy.¡±


    No doubt out of consideration of the deplorable state of the 501st. Anakin chafed to avenge his men by bringing the fight to the tinnies¨Cwhether on the ground or in orbit¨Cbut surrounded by Jedi, he had little choice but to grit his teeth and nod.


    ¡°Recapturing the Christoph System is of the utmost importance,¡± Master Windu stressed, ¡°Once orbital supremacy has been established over the, I will lead a fleet to Ryloth and relieve Master Di¡¯s resistance. Master Barrek has also uncovered the existence of extensive droid factories on Hypori, which can only be essed with this system in our hands.¡±


    ¡°Clone Intelligence has also reported rising local resistance on Geonosis, and an informant has revealed ns for an invasion of Kamino,¡± Master Shaak Ti crossed her arms, ¡°I fear Count Dooku is exploiting our distraction here tounch a renewed offensive all across the gctic south. Possibly to improve his strategic position before the effects of our new Outer Rim spes turn the tide of the war in this theatre.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Then we have a long campaign ahead of us,¡± Master Windu said grimly, ¡°May the Force be with all of you.¡±


    The projections winked out one by one as everybody moved to separate channels in order to hammer out the final details of the campaign¨Cthe kind of tactical specifics that didn¡¯t warrant a strategic conference¨Cuntil only he, Obi-Wan, Master Koon and Master Unduli remained.


    ¡°Anakin,¡± Obi-Wan hid the worry in his tone, but Anakin knew him too well to mistake it, ¡°I need you to stay focused for this mission. Your role is just as important as¨C¡±


    ¡°I know, Master,¡± Anakin offered a small smile to reassure him, ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°...I hope so, Anakin,¡± Obi-Wan and Master Unduli left.


    ¡°Admiral,¡± he said as he turned to leave, ¡°Stay in contact with the <em>Triumphant </em>and coordinate our fleet movements.¡±


    ¡°Will do, General.¡±


    Commander Appo silently tailed him back onto the bridge, right up until the st doors clunked shut.


    ¡°The men want to fight, sir,¡± the clone told him quietly, ¡°Staying all holed up on the <em>ship</em>¨C no-one wants to admit it, but we¡¯re all on edge.¡±


    ¡°So do I, Commander,¡± Anakin sighed, ¡°So am I. But we have a role to carry out, and if we do have to deploy, then things have taken a turn for the worst¡­ well, worse than it already is.¡±


    Before him, the crystal surface of Christophsis continued to glimmer brightly in the light of its star. From afar, the was serene, tranquil¨Cand ignorant of the impending ughter. All over that crystal crust.


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Teth, Teth System</em>


    <em>Baxel Sector</em>


    The blue ghost of Sev¡¯rance Tann regarded us in all her imperious elegance, her Confederate-grey uniform almost shimmering in the light of Teth Prime.


    Upholding the Confederate ts ofary self-determination and autonomy, there wasn¡¯t an official uniform in the military. In fact, the military was still in a bit of a mess, better described as a patchwork amalgamation of corporate droid armies andary defence forces of constituent worlds. Most officers preferred to tailor their own outfits, or simply keep to the uniforms of the homeworld¡¯s military. The diverse spread of alien species in the Separatist ranks,pared to the Republic¡¯s clone and human dominated armed forces, likely supplemented the trend.


    Personally, I still wear the silver-bronze uniform of the Onderonian Royal Army.


    I joined the Confederate Navy during the mass recruitment drive across Separatist space in the days following the Raxus Address, held in a concerted effort to rope in experienced officers from disparate PSFs into a central authority. Which meant I also had the same grey outfits, but they were too stiff for my liking.


    A sudden thought made me wonder if I should have worn that uniform just for this asion, in order to earn some brownie points with the General.


    ¡°You failed,¡± General Tann didn¡¯t pose it as a question, but as a fact.


    I expected Ventress to say something¨Cas she was the ranking officer of the mission¨Cbut the Sithdy remained obtusely silent. Well, I suppose the Sith were never good with personal failures¡­ at least that¡¯s what I got from the movies. Luckily for me, Asajj Ventress was more of the brooding type, than the tantrum type. It¡¯s not like I couldn¡¯t empathise.


    Looking at you, Kylo Ren.


    What¡¯s more interesting is that we hadn¡¯t even said anything to warrant the General¡¯s statement. I was quite proud of my poker face¨Cand Ventress¡¯ was no slouch either¨Cso either General Tann knew the result through her Force magic, or she had set us up for failure. I doubt Sev¡¯rance Tann was the kind of person that engages¨Cor even tolerates¨Cthis kind of office politics, however, so I am leaning more towards the space magic side.


    Usually in this kind of situation, the appropriate response would be something along the lines of <em>¡®it won¡¯t happen again,¡¯ </em>but I wasn¡¯t about to make a promise I can¡¯t keep. Instead, I¡¯m going to fall back on ol¡¯ reliable¨Cthe standard oral report.


    ¡°Jedi General Luminara Unduli arrived in the system with two Venator-ss star cruisers and two Acmator-ss troopships,¡± I said dutifully, ¡°I¨C <em>We </em>ambushed the Republic taskforce in low orbit, inflicting heavy damage on one cruiser and capturing another, at the cost of one frigate. Another frigate suffered temporary power loss, but has made a partial recovery.¡±


    ¡°Republic forces sessfully absconded with the Huttlet and retreated into hyperspace,¡± I continued, ¡°I elected not to pursue, since I possessed only one operational warship at the time.¡±


    ¡°The rescue force was much greater than anticipated,¡± Ventress finally rasped, ¡°We were ill-prepared.¡±


    ¡°An unintended consequence of our sess at Christophsis,¡± General Tann frowned, ¡°It is now more paramount than ever that we hold the to contest the gctic south. The reasons for this failure will be noted¨CI will now be redeploying both of you.¡±


    Ventress sharply looked up, ¡°Count Dooku¨C¡±


    ¡°The Count is more than displeased with you, Commander,¡± Tann smiled chillingly, ¡°I am now yourmanding officer, and have been given the authority to supervise your punishment.¡±


    Ventress ground her teeth, almost sneering. My back started to itch, but I valiantly remained stiff as a twig at attention.


    ¡°You will face no punishment,¡± the General was inscrutable, ¡°Be thankful I have more patience for failure. Instead, I will allow you a chance to redeem yourself¨Cand perhaps if you do so, you may return to the good graces of the Count.¡±


    <em>Nevermind. </em>General Tann most definitely participates in office politics. Seriously? Not only was this perfect example of the carrot-and-stick in action, but Tann managed to clearly define the standing between her and Ventress¨Cboth in the military, and with Count Dooku. It was like watching a catfight, except it was between a nexu and a tooka.


    That is to say, it was rather fascinating¨Cand mildly unnerving¨Cto see Ventress grit her teeth and bow her head like an admonished child. For a brief moment, I thought she was about to pull out the captured Jedi card, but she never did. Not to mention, I didn¡¯t detect any outgoingmunications from my ship, which meant the only people who knew she had the Padawan were herself, me, and a few hundred droids.


    But I guess not yet.


    ¡°Captain,¡± the General regarded me, ¡°Take what remains of your squadron to Geonosis. With the Republic pinned down, we are liberating the.¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, sir,¡± I replied hesitantly, ¡°With our present condition¨C¡±


    ¡°By the time you arrive, the battle should be over,¡± she was visibly amused, ¡°We have coordinated awide uprising with the Geonosians, and my Decimator Corps will make quick work of the upation garrison. We will discuss your further involvement <em>after </em>you arrive.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± I said stiffly, ¡°Sir. And the captured Jedi cruiser?¡±


    ¡°Intern the prisoners and salvage as much data as possible,¡± she ordered, ¡°Republic strategies and tactics, designs, patrol routes, supply corridors, everything. We will dismantle the ship on Geonosis.¡±


    ¡°Already doing so, sir,¡± I nodded.


    ¡°Very good,¡± Tann turned to Ventress, ¡°And you. I¡¯m sending you to Christophsis. You will find your Ginivex on Mvar; take it and join General Loathsom¡¯s defence. I suspect you will find the Jedi you are looking for there.¡±


    ¡°There will be dozens of Jedi on the,¡± Ventress¡¯ face was fixed in a permanent scowl, ¡°How will Loathsom be enough to hold them all off?¡±


    ¡°Count Dooku has deployed a new General onto the field,¡± she replied smoothly, ¡°And he assures me this one is far more capable than you or Loathsom. The only thing the Jedi will find on Christophsis is a bitter defeat.¡±


    ¡°Now, if that is all¡­¡± General Tann lingered on the final syble, as if expecting someone to interject.


    Ventress stayed stubbornly quiet, while I palmed the idea of snitching about the Padawan.


    <em>Pfft¨C snitching? </em>I could afford to piss off Ventress¨Cby the grace of God, I shan¡¯t see her bald scalp ever again¨Cbut I <em>cannot </em>afford to cross General Tann. Not only did she currently represent top of the totem pole, she was about to ascend to fucking proverbial heaven once she¡¯s appointed Supreme Commander. If she finds out¨C <em>when </em>she finds out¡­


    I coughed, ¡°And what about the captured Jedi Commander, sir?¡±


    Ventress bristled so violently I could feel the hairs on my arm rise on end, a migraine birthing where she was staring daggers into my head. Sev¡¯rance Tann slowly raised an eyebrow, looking at the offending Sith with a smile that inly spelled out <em>¡®I can see right through you, girl.¡¯</em>


    ¡°What is this, Ventress?¡±


    <em>Oh boy, she is really milking this.</em>


    ¡°...I captured Unduli¡¯s Padawan,¡± Ventress squeezed out, ¡°Barriss Offee.¡±


    ¡°And you have informed Count Dooku?¡±


    ¡°I have not.¡±


    ¡°Your intentions for her?¡±


    ¡°I will turn her against the Jedi,¡± Ventress snarled.


    I doubletaked, turning my head in surprise, before doubletaking at myself for doubletaking. <em>No¨C </em>of course she would try to convert the Jedi to the Dark Side! I genuinely can¡¯t believe I almost forgot about the whole ¡®religious war¡¯ schtick the Jedi and Sith have going on. It was one thing to see howically evil the big bads were on the silver screen, and another to actually live in the same gxy as them.


    Maybe it was because both Sev¡¯rance Tann and Asajj Ventress were on the tamer¨Cand dare I say it, <em>normal</em>¨Cspectrum of the Dark Side, I could easily overlook their whole ¡®evil¡¯ thing once I got past their appearances. Honestly, I doubt Tann was even a Sith. I¡¯ve seen her lightsaber a grand total of <em>one time</em>, it was bright yellow¨C<em>yellow lightsaber, shit that¡¯s cool</em>¨Cnot red. Not to mention that beyond her uncanny ability to predict almost anything, I haven¡¯t actually seen her use the Force outwardly¨Csuch as the choking thing they like to do.


    Really, I was so caught up in this whole civil war thing I had forgotten it was a Sith scheme. I should really start making some contingencies for that¡­ I highly doubt I could do anything against the BBEG Palpatine himself, but I could try and think of some ways to survive the rise of the Empire. Maybe defect, or something¡­ but also maybe not, considering the life expectancy of Imperial officers, <em>or citizens. </em>Definitely don¡¯t want to live in a homicidal star empire where my could blow up without at least an eviction notice a week earlier.


    But well, first things first to my grand n of not dying early¨C<em>don¡¯t allow the creation of any new Sith. </em>Ventress and Tann don¡¯t show up in the movies, so they¡¯re probably going to die sooner orter. Well, unless I inadvertently did something to change their fate¨Cbut I doubt it, considering the Force exists. Maul is dead, Dooku and Grievous are going to die¡­ I think that¡¯s all of them ounted for.


    So what happens if this new Padawan¨COffee¨Cbes a Sith? Answer: there¡¯ll be a new Sith on the block, and onepletely unounted for. And as someone with the moral obligation to <em>not </em>help the obviously evil side¨Cand also out of my own self-preservation instinct¨CI can¡¯t let that happen.


    ¡°I must protest,¡± I said tly.


    Now, maybe saying that in front of two Sith wasn¡¯t my smartest decision, but I also knew Sev¡¯rance Tann possessed a quality I doubted most Sith had: cold, military rationality. The perfect officer, really.


    Whereas Ventress looked just about ready to rip my head off, General Tann merely regarded me with a raised eyebrow, <em>¡°Go on.¡±</em>


    I took a deep breath, ¡°Forgive my ignorance on these¡­ esoteric matters¡­ but as a field officer I believe that <em>attempting </em>to convert the Jedi is <em>at best </em>a waste of valuable time, effort, and resources in exchange for minimal gain.¡±


    ¡°So we should let her run back to her Jedi Order?¡± Ventress growled.


    ¡°Far from it,¡± I shook my head, ¡°We must treat the Force as a tool¨Ca means to an end, not the end itself. We are all Separatists here, and we all align in the belief that the Republic has be a Jedi dictatorship. The Jedi have allowed their religion to craft an exclusive upper caste, beyondws and justice, with a public purpose to persecute anyone who does not align with their beliefs, for example¡­¡±


    I gestured vaguely, pretending I didn¡¯t know the word ¡®Sith.¡¯


    ¡°Sith,¡± Ventress unhelpfully supplied.


    <em>¡°Sith,¡±</em> I agreed, ¡°If we treat all Light Siders as Jedi¨Cas they treat all Dark Siders as Sith¨Cthen we will fall victim to the same defect as the Republic. We have already¨Cand may continue¨Crecruiting Dark Siders as a natural antithesis to the Jedi and the Republic, resulting in a distinct caste of Dark Siders in the Confederacy. It is <em>contrary </em>to the Republic system, yes, but being contrary is not the Confederacy¡¯s purpose. The Confederacy¡¯s purpose is to be a <em>rebuttal </em>to the Republic system: a fair and just society without religious castes.¡±


    ¡°An interesting perspective,¡± General Tann mused, ¡°But converting the Padawan to the Dark Side will afford us another agent against the Jedi.¡±


    Right. General Tann obviously wants a military asset, and another Sith to fight against the Jedi would relieve whatever front was being fought.


    ¡°Killing Jedi won¡¯t win us the war, sir,¡± I countered, ¡°Killing the Republic will. I suggest that instead of converting the Jedi to the Dark Side, it will be far easier to show her the injustices of the system we fight against. We show her that we aren¡¯t the enemy she <em>thinks </em>she is fighting against. We turn her against the <em>Republic, </em>not the Light Side. Then we put her in the spotlight, spreading her face across the Shadowfeed¨C turn her into a Separatist icon. <em>The Jedi who fights against the Republic.</em>¡±


    ¡°The Jedi Order won¡¯t be able to refute it, because she hasn¡¯t turned to the Dark Side,¡± Ventress realised, ¡°We¡¯ll make them stare into their own reflection.¡±


    ¡°And with some luck,¡± I added, ¡°More Jedi will defect to our cause. As long as Republic citizens continue to eat up propaganda and think of us as the ¡®bad side,¡¯ we will never convince them to a treaty¨Cso forgive me for saying this¨Cand Jedi on <em>our side</em> will be very good for posterity.¡±


    Even Ventress was begrudgingly nodding along. It was clear to me there were still some personal sentiments she had to grapple with, but at least she wasn¡¯t outright disagreeing with me.


    ¡°I am not fully convinced, but I can see the merit of your suggestion,¡± General Tann crossed her arms, ¡°Captain, you will bring the Padawan to Geonosis. I will deal with her myself. Anything to add, Ventress?¡±


    ¡°...Nothing.¡±


    General Tann nodded sharply, and disappeared. The second she was gone, I felt a lot less safe. Ventress spun on her heel¨Cshooting me a cross between a death re and a mildly impressed look¨Cbefore stalking into the recesses of the ship.


    I deted like a balloon the moment I couldn¡¯t feel her presence any longer, copsing against my chair and wiping theyer of sweat off my face. Well, I guess I could consider this a sess? At the very least, I saved the girl from a terrible fate, knowing what ¡®Sith training¡¯ usually entails.


    Not exactly everything I hoped for¨Cthe General was too canny for that¨Cbut progress was progress. <em>Baby steps</em>, I told myself, <em>baby steps.</em>

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    <em>Orbit of Christophsis, Christoph System</em>


    <em>Savareen Sector</em>


    Sunken deep in the Force, Anakin subordinated what his eyes could see with what his senses told him. Anakin watched Master Gallia and her Blue Squadron savage the Separatist cordon¨Cand watched as the hailstorm of droid starfighters and point defencesers savage them in turn. Admiral Wurtz¡¯s fleet shed the deck of the enemy front, sweeping in from a vector that reduced fire from the enemy due to friendly fire, before broadsiding and veering back around, using their screens to kite the enemy fire.


    It was a technique primarily used by weaker fleets to slowly grind down a superior force. Slow and tedious, but excellent for conserving materiel and drawing out the engagement. Even then, losses were still going to be heavy. But the n was working, and that was what mattered. All they needed to do was buy time for the ground assault.


    Anakin¡¯s attention was captured by the sudden spike of grief and helplessness from the''s surface, the torrent of emotions invading his emphatic link. He immediately distanced his connection to the Force, allowing detachment to shield him like armour.


    <em>Something is going on on the surface. </em>He tiptoed, ncing over the viewport as if straining to view the battle from orbit. Was Obi-Wan and Master Mundinding now? Landing was always the most harrowing part of anyary assault, hapless and trapped in tin birds only an inch away from being blown out of the sky at all times.


    Anakin hated contestedndings.


    He hated not knowing anything even more. Theirmunications were cut toply with standard radio silence procedures. After all, even after retrofitted forbat, Banking n frigates were still purpose-builtmunication ships¨Cessentially mobile hyperwave transceivers¨Cmeant to supnt the HoloNet. It did not take much effort to transform them into terrifying COMINT weapons.


    State of the artm arrays, jamming devices, frequency scramblers, and listening posts¨Call meant to give the Banking n an advantage against their corporate rivals, now repurposed to help ughter Republic troops.


    ¡°General,¡± Yren slinked onto the deck like a predatory cat, ¡°There¡¯s a situation that may warrant your attention.¡±


    Around them, the bridge crew conducted its business with brisk, silent efficiency. There would always be some idle gossip in the pits¨Cwartime spection, a few jokes, sometimes themissioned officers would tell stories of back home to the clones¨Cto stave off boredom, and Anakin has always preferred it. It was nothing detrimental to discipline¨Cmuch the opposite¨Cit built camaraderie, and was good for morale.


    Yren didn¡¯t share his views. <em>The Admiral is present, </em>he didn¡¯t need the Force to know the minds of the crew, <em>no chatter.</em>


    ¡°What is it?¡± Anakin turned around.


    Yren tapped his heels together smartly, ¡°Our passive scanners found biosigns around the moon, General. I fear it may be a Separatist trick.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take this to the Battle Operations Room,¡± Anakin said quickly, conscious of the people listening in, ¡°Lieutenant,m <em>Indomitable </em>and <em>Coruscant Sky. </em>Standby for orders, Yellow Alert.¡±


    Thems officer snapped to attention and saluted.


    ¡°Give it to me, Yren,¡± he said lowly as they marched through the st doors, ¡°An ambush? Shouldn¡¯t our pickets have scouted the system in advance?¡±


    ¡°Doubtful, sir,¡± the Admiral replied, ¡°It¡¯s anywhere from six to a thousand biosignatures¨Cwe can¡¯t get a sharper number without active scanning.¡±


    Separatists crew their warships with droids. One or two biosigns could be an indication of an organicmander, but up to a thousand¡­


    ¡°Then get them up. All of them,¡± he ordered, ¡°No chances.¡±


    A cone of light shot out of the broad holodisy table, and a projection of the local sector fizzled into view. Anakin ignored the shing lights on the farside of the, honing in on the blue marble of Leesis.


    ¡°We are focusing our rectennas now, sirs,¡± a sensor operator said.


    Coordinates crawled across the two plotting boards in the Battle Room¨Cone for the X-Y axis and another for the Z-X axis¨Cas <em>Pioneer¡¯s </em>scanners calibrated and ranged. Then, a red sphere appeared on the holograph of Leesis.


    ¡°Secondary body detected around the moon,¡± Yren sharply inspected the boards, ¡°Surrounded by¡­ what looks to be an asteroid field.¡±


    Anakin pushed him aside as he stalked to the table, leaning over the rim to take a good look.


    ¡°Not an asteroid field,¡± he said grimly, ¡°A debris field.¡±


    It took all of three words for the air to feel heavy for a heartbeat, before the mood lifted back into stale discipline. Everybody knew what Anakin meant; the biosigns were <em>prisoners</em>, and the orbiting body was a prison hulk.


    Slowly, the body circled around the moon until it was in direct view of the <em>Pioneer.</em>


    ¡°Visual confirmation,¡± an officer reported, ¡°Lucrehulk-ss battleship.¡±


    Something twisted in Anakin¡¯s gut when he realised he could still see <em>Resolute¡¯s </em>rtive unscathed bridge stalk lifelessly drifting through the sea of scrap. The viewports of her twin conning towers were shattered, and hundreds of puncture marks marred her doonium superstructure.


    ¡°The Separatists take prisoners?¡± someone muttered.


    Anakin slung around, ring across the room. Before the offender could be found, however, ams panel lit up. <em>What terrible kriffing timing.</em>


    ¡°General Koon is breaking radio silence, sir.¡±


    Anakin ground his teeth, ¡°Put him through.¡±


    ¡°Prepare your men, Anakin,¡± the words left Plo Koon¡¯s mouth before his face even materialised, ¡°I am transmitting you thending coordinates now.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation, Master?¡± he attempted to disguise his impatience with concern¨Cit wasn¡¯t very hard¨Cbut had a feeling the Jedi Master saw right through him.


    ¡°Master Koth and Master Barrek are dead¨C¡± Anakin¡¯s annoyance drained out of him, along with the colour of his skin, ¡°¨CAnd Master Mundi is missing in action. They took the industrial sector with minimal casualties, but were encircled by the Separatists afterwards. We have lost contact with the Four-Hundred Sixteeth Star Corps, Seventh Legion, and Four-Hundred Eighty-First Legion. K¡¯Krukh and Tarr Seirr are now inmand of the survivors.¡±


    Master Plo Koon was calm. His voice was mild, even unperturbed, as though military catastrophes of this scale happen on a regr basis. Master Mundi was a member of the Jedi Council¨Cwhat, <em>who </em>could have gotten the better of him? Those were some of the most elite clones in the Grand Army, led by the best Jedi.


    Anakin opened his mouth, ¡°is Obi-Wan¨C¡±


    ¡°Master Kenobi¡¯s forces are making steady progress,¡± Master Koon cut tersely, ¡°Now, the Twenty-First Nova Corps have fortified a line of refineries in the interior, and are holding against the enemy for now. We aren¡¯t reinforcements, Anakin¨Cthis is a <em>rescue </em>mission. Your orders are tond at thest known location of the Four-One-Sixth and exfiltrate them. If they have been confirmed to be destroyed, then attack the rear of the Separatist army until I can evacuate the siege.¡±


    ¡°...And the rest of them?¡± Anakin pressed.


    ¡°We do not have the manpower, and Master Kenobi has none to spare,¡± Master Koon said grimly, ¡°We <em>must not allow </em>the crystal refineries to fall into Separatist hands. Once we have evacuated the troops, we will bombard the sector from orbit.¡±


    And sign away the deaths of thousands. Tens of thousands. Again. A traitorous part of him wondered if this was going to be a second Jabiim.


    ¡°Careful, Anakin,¡± Master Koon warned, ¡°Our thoughts create our reality.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Master,¡± Anakin breathed, ¡°I will prepare my men.¡±


    <em>That¡¯s right. I will not let that happen again. I cannot.</em>


    Plo Koon nodded sharply, and disappeared.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Appo asked, ¡°What about the prisoners?¡±


    Anakin leaned heavily against the table, drumming his fingers against the rim. Did he really have to abandon his men a second time? What about his orders, or of the men down there on the surface? Were they also not worth saving?


    He reached out with the Force, gently coaxing out the thoughts of his men. He wasn¡¯t prying¨CAnakin didn¡¯t <em>pry. </em>Appo watched him carefully, through Rex¡¯s stony face. It sent a pang through his heart.


    All of them wanted to save their brothers, but would not argue if he ordered them to abandon them. But that¡¯s just how it was, wasn¡¯t it? They were clones; all of them were bred to think like that¡­ Anakin hated himself from even having that thought.


    How many times will he have to abandon people? How many times will he have to fail? <em>How many times will I be damned if I do, and damned if I don¡¯t!?</em>


    <em>Mother, Master Qui-Gon, Master Yaddle, Aubrie, Tohno¡­ Rex. </em>Again and again, other people had to die for him. If this is what being the Chosen One meant, then Anakin wished Qui-Gon had never found him on Tatooine.


    <em>What should I do, Master? </em>Anakin felt like a Padawan again.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Appo asked again, ¡°Should I prepare the men?¡±


    Appo¡­ like all clones, he was a loyal soldier, ready to carry out whatever mission had to be done. Anakin smiled bitterly¨Cwasn¡¯t what Rex would say? <em>The mission alwayses first, sir.</em>


    <em>Why can¡¯t I do both, for once?</em>


    ¡°Get the men ready,¡± Anakinmanded.


    Appo locked his helmet into ce, ¡°Understood sir.¡±


    As the Clone Commander walked by him, Anakin stopped him with a hand on his arm, ¡°And prepare a boarding party. Our best. Nobody will miss apany or two.¡±


    Appo held onto his words for a long moment, before nodding, ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Through his helmet, Appo¡¯s voice was t. As Anakin watched him walk away, he wondered if <em>¡®yes, sir¡¯ </em>was an agreement, or merely a confirmation. He found that he didn¡¯t want to know.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ?


    <em>Geonosis, Geonosis System</em>


    <em>Arkanis Sector</em>


    Sev¡¯rance Tann was not made for kneeling. Her knees were stiff as she knelt before the holoprojection of Count Dooku, in ordance with the rites of his <em>Dark Acolytes. </em>A mild irritation, indeed, but Dooku has never failed to remind her of the role she yed, as the foremost of his band of Dark Side apprentices.


    She felt the presence of Vinoc and Karoc echo her in their actions. They were brothers¨Ctwins¨C gifted to her by Dooku to serve as her bodyguards, as they too were of his Acolytes. They were middling, at best, with the <em>Force</em>¨Cthough she may admit they would make for good fodder, Sev''rance would never let a situation degrade to that level in the first ce. They were loyal to her, if nothing else, and quick learners.


    It mattered little to Sev''rance Tann. Dark Side, Light Side¨C what was it worth to a Chiss? All this business with esoteric mystics and religious fatuity meant nothing, for it was all pure affectation in her opinion. To the Chiss, the Sight¨Cor the Force, as Lesser Space would know it¨Chas never possessed more value than its base functionality; they saw no dialysis between ¡®Light¡¯ and ¡®Dark.¡¯


    Because the Sight was perishingly rare to them, only ever manifesting itself in female children, and the mysterious phenomena only faded with agepletely gone by fourteen years. The Sight, unlike the Force, did not manifest with disys of eye-catching theatrics, but with powers far more subtle, and more useful. Sev¡¯rance was gifted with the <em>Third Sight, </em>the ability to peer into the future and divine events before theye to pass. When she was a child, Sevserved her nation as an <em>ozyly-esehembo</em>¨Ca sky-walker¨Cas to navigate the treacherous unmapped hyperroutes of the Chaos with any degree of safety requires the talents of the Third Sight.


    When it became clear that her Sight did not fade even as she grew into her maturity, the Expansionary Fleet wasted no time boarding her in the Chiss Academy. After catching the attention of her superiors Captain Thrawn and Admiral Ar¡¯ni, she learnt that her presence was creating an unwee stir within the Defence Hierarchy¨Cand more troubling, the Aristocra¨Cand she was ¡®exiled¡¯ to Lesser Space as a military attach¨¦ in the Confederacy of Independent Systems.


    ¡°Your report, General?¡± Dooku asked.


    ¡°Geonosis is in our hands,¡± Sev¡¯rance answered, ¡°The Republic garrison has surrendered unconditionally.¡±


    It was her second time on this red wastnd, and she did not miss it anyhow¨Cthough the industriousness of the natives were central to the war effort, and for all their uncultured society, Sev¡¯rance still found herself impressed by their work.


    ¡°We must make a show of force to the Republic,¡± Dookumanded, ¡°Execute them how you wish.¡±


    Admiral Ar¡¯ni would weep blood at such crude tactics, especially with valuable assets like prisoners. It wasn¡¯t as if there were only those hive-bred drones called clones, there weremissioned officers as well. Sev¡¯rance fondled the idea of protesting, but decided better of it.


    ¡°By yourmand,¡± sheplied, ¡°I have also captured a Jedi Commander alive.¡±


    She made no mention of either Ventress or Captan Bonteri. Ventress did not intend on informing Dooku in the first ce, so she would keep quiet. Sev¡¯rance¡¯s reason was twofold; iming the capture of a Jedi would advance her bid for Supreme Commander, and to hide Bonteri¡¯s existence from Dooku as long as possible.


    The Captain was so far the only being in the gxy capable of eluding her Sight, and Sev¡¯rance had no doubt it was the same for the Force. She was able to see the <em>consequences </em>of his actions, but never his actions themselves, leaving her in a state of perpetual spection. Not that he appears to realise it, and it kept her mind sharp anyway¨Coverreliance on the Sight was a threat she had to bnce. Curiosity aside, it made the human an invaluable asset against any Force-sensitive, including enemy Jedi and even Count Dooku and his pack of apprentices.


    His loyalty would be a priceless resource to have.


    ¡°A Padawan?¡± Dooku¡¯s eyes widened fractionally, ¡°That is impressive, Sev¡¯rance. You will send them to me immediately.¡±


    To either be converted into another of his apprentices, no doubt, or killed. Currently, his Dark Acolytes were the Confederacy¡¯s only response to the Jedi¨Cbut it has since be apparent to Sev¡¯rance that they will never have a true counter. There were thousands of Jedi, and only a few handful of Acolytes. She has been convinced that there were efficient ways to employ the <em>Padawan </em>to their advantage.


    <em>This </em>was worth protesting over.


    ¡°I believe there are more efficient ways to utilise the Jedi, sir,¡± Sev¡¯rance reported, ¡°Instilling in them anti-Republic instead of anti-Jedi sentiments will open up wider possibilities. For example, we could employ them as a propaganda figure that the Jedi cannot refute, as they remain one of them¨Cor we could use them as a spy inside the Jedi Order.¡±


    As she expanded on her¨Cand Bonteri¡¯s¨Cideas, Dooku¡¯s face tightened. The old man still maintained that outward expression of calm seniority, but a swift glimpse through her Sight told her everything she needed to know.


    ¡°That is not for you to decide, General,¡± Count Dooku red, ¡°<em>Do not overstep your bounds. </em>You will either kill the Padawan, or bring them to me. Do you understand?¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann stared into the Sith Lord¡¯s face, unmoved. She could feel the Force swirl around her, likepping waves admonitory of an oing storm. Dooku was powerful enough that she could feel his disapproval lightyears away, but too weak to actually affect her. She faced worse from her lecturers in the Academy, Sev¡¯rance decided.


    ¡°Do you understand, Sev¡¯rance?¡± Dooku warned again, to her silence, ¡°Do not force me to rece you.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance did not care if she was reced. She was a military attach¨¦, but Dooku has either forgotten or misconceived her purpose. The only reason Sev¡¯rance continued to entertain him was because the knowledge he possessed of the Force was valuable to her. Even if she will never be able to choke a man or move ships with her mind, every ingot of knowledge she obtains leads her one step closer to discovering the truth behind the enigmatic <em>Second Sight</em>¨Ca secret kept so well hidden by the Hierarchy few even knew of its existence.


    She was a ck sheep among his Dark Acolytes. Sev¡¯rance was no warrior, she was an officer. She was skilled with her lightsaber, no doubt, but even she knew she was not talented with it. She saw her lightsaber as little more than a weapon. A tool. Not like the extension of her arms that truly talented duelists insist they are. Sev¡¯rance did not hold a candle to the likes of Count Dooku or even Asajj Ventress.


    ¡°By yourmand,¡± Sev¡¯rance relented, ¡°I will prepare to advance on Kamino.¡±


    Her calling was as a general. Sev¡¯rance would never be able to aplish what she has here back in the Ascendancy, where she would be tugged around bypeting families by merit of her Sight. Now, shemands a forcerger than anything the powers of the Chaos had to bring to bear, including the Ascendancy. And when the armies of the Confederacy are unified under her banner of Supreme Commander, this girl willmand the <emrgest military might in the entire gxy.</em>


    Sev¡¯rance Tann <em>will </em>live up to that post. She had something to prove.


    She had to win this war. The Separatists held the advantage for now, but as the war continues to drag on the Republic will be able to mobilise its industrial powerhouse. For this reason, they had to strike the Republic¡¯s primary source of manpower¨Cbecause hardware is worthless without the bodies to man them.


    ¡°You will not,¡± Dooku firmly denied, again, ¡°One of our double agents has informed me the Jedi have obtained the specifics of our invasion. Our n has beenpromised.¡±


    Years of training shed through her mind, entwined and dancing with visions from her Sight.<em> A tumult in space, above a great deep blue. Faces, some she recognised from her research, somepletely unknown to her. Landing parties, battle lines¨Ca brutal firefight through blinding white hallways. A sleeping army awakened, a desperate final stand. A strategy built upon y, reinforced with deceit. Ambush. Defeat.</em>


    ¡°Then we must push the offensive,¡± Sev¡¯rance met his eyes, resolve strengthened, ¡°It is far toote to call off the attack¨Cthe Jedi will realise we have agents in their ranks. Now that I know <em>they </em>know, I can build a strategy they will never expect.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t valedictorian of her year back at the Chiss Academy for nothing. Sev¡¯rance Tann was the greatest general in the gxy¨C<em> how could she not be? </em>She wasn¡¯t <em>just another </em>sky-walker anymore; she had refined her Sight under a Sith Lord until she could see every move before it was made in her mind¡¯s eye. Sev¡¯rance will always be a hundred steps ahead; she lived her life in hindsight. When she lived in the future and nned for the past, who could keep up? Over the battlefield, she has not met her match yet.


    ¡°No, Sev¡¯rance,¡± and again, Dooku denied her glory, ¡°Magistrate Argente pushed for the attack in the first ce, and the Senate appointed him as the ranking officer of this operation.¡±


    <em>What was some coin-counting tycoon doing leading a military operation!? </em>Sev¡¯rance internally raged at the absurdity of it all, before untensing herself. She should have gotten used to the¡­ <em>unorthodox </em>manner in which the Lesser Gxy seems to hybridise political and military issues. If this had happened in the Ascendancy, <em>somebody </em>was going to get court-martialed and exiled.


    In fact, Captain Thrawn <em>was </em>nearly sacked after he rescued eight-thousand lives from a crashing <em>civilian </em>liner, simply because he overstepped <em>military </em>protocol. His trial made headlines throughout Csi, and Sev¡¯rance still remembered the days when it was the <em>only </em>talk in the Academy.


    She was likely never going to get used to it, but the best she could do was conform.


    ¡°Does he at least know of the situation?¡± Sev¡¯rance frowned, ¡°I can still advise the Magistrate for the highest likelihood of sess¨C¡±


    ¡°He has been told everything he needed to know,¡± Dooku replied smoothly, <em>too </em>smoothly, ¡°And you will do no such thing.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann steadily rose to her legs, catching the attention of the two Dark Acolytes behind her. She squared her shoulders, and smiled wryly.


    ¡°What is the status of my bid for Supreme Commander?¡± she hazardously changed the subject.


    Dooku froze, but rallied admirably, ¡°The Senate is still too divided to make up its mind.¡±


    ¡°Has enough time not passed to put the motion on the floor again?¡± Sev¡¯rance challenged, ¡°Even if it fails, we would still effectively gauge our progress.¡±


    <em>¡°Do not overstep, Sev¡¯rance,¡± </em>there was now a sharp edge to his voice; Sev¡¯rance had prodded as far as she could, ¡°Continue to see sess on the front, and leave the Senate to me.¡±


    Dooku¡¯s holographic figure winked out of existence, leaving her staring at the empty red wall on the opposing side of the room.


    How can she continue to see sess when the military was as disordered as it was? There was no clearmand structure, and g officers like her had to vie and jostle with other g officers over capable subordinates. It took the near-death of Admiral Trench just to bring Captain Bonteri back into her sphere. And with meddling political powers in the fray, it was as if every officer was pursuing their own goals or those of their corporate masters.


    There was no single vision. No unifying mission to consolidate the Separatists. That was why a Supreme Commander was needed now more than ever. The CIS had a four-to-one advantage over the Republic, but with every week wasted as Confederate officers spent pursuing their own short-sighted ambitions and misadventures¡­ <em>they were going to lose, </em>Sev¡¯rance realised. She didn¡¯t even need to Sight to see it.


    It was clear Dooku wishes to humiliate Magistrate Argente with a botched invasion of Kamino, and it was clear he is dying her Supreme Commander candidacy for reasons known only to himself. This was concerning to her, because Sev¡¯rance was the only <em>real </em>choice for the office. The other Dark Acolytes had too little recognition in the Parliament, and every other g officer in the military was subservient to some corporate oligarch or the other.


    Sev¡¯rance despised the fact that the military was beholden to politics, and not separated from it. She despised the idea that she had to participate in politics even more¨Cit was a solid iron rule hammered into her brain the moment she became an officer cadet¨Cbut Sev¡¯rance was no longer in Chiss Space, was she? If she had to seed in the Lesser Gxy, then she had to y by their rules.


    ¡°Mistress?¡± Vinoc asked.


    ¡°Who do you serve?¡± she asked simply.


    There was a long pause¨Cand Karoc answered; ¡°You, Mistress.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± her bleeding red eyes narrowed, ¡°Dooku has disregarded you because you are weak in the Force. That will not be your undoing. Walk with me, and I will prove that there are more substantial ways of disying power.¡±


    The twins bowed, ¡°We are with you, Mistress.¡±


    <em>¡°General</em>,<em>¡± </em>Sev¡¯rance corrected, ¡°Now. How shall we win a war?¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann clothed herself in the Force, as Dooku had taught her, and expanded her Sight. Further, further, until she could see the entire gxy contained in the palm of her hand. Sweat dripped down her purpling cheeks as she observed from outside herself, as if detached from the living world. Detached. Serenity.


    Sev¡¯rance closed one pair of eyes, and opened another.


    <em>Soldiers; a shroud of darkness at the heart of the gxy. Scissors; squabbling politicians ignorant of the pale white hand tightening around the throat of the Republic. Spoils; a fortress built on bones, ruled by a beast more machine than man. ughter; crystals blue and green¨Cdrenched in red.</em>


    She blinked, struggling to stand on limp legs. Her own skin felt like an unfamiliar set of clothes, as if she was once more an officer cadet in ill-fitted uniform. Sev¡¯rance had indulged herself, and seen too much. But there was one thing Sev¡¯rance did not see: herself. Whatever future she observed, Sev¡¯rance Tann was not part of it. And she wanted to know <em>why.</em>


    <em>I need to find out what Dooku is nning, and end it. I will not have him ruin me at my moment of triumph!</em>


    But to that, she had to take the plunge into politics. A feat not even the infamous Captain Thrawn dared to do. Sev¡¯rance had her Sight on her side, but even her Sight was not absolute, instead only rtive to herself. With her military genius, her Sight could reliably predict almost every strategic and tactical action in advance. But politics? The Confederate Parliament had never even been graced with her presence before.


    This was beyond her field of expertise.


    <em>I need someone to be my eyes in the Senate.</em>

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    <em>Geonosis, Geonosis System</em>


    <em>Savareen Sector</em>


    I straightened out my Confederate greys, tied my hair back into a neat ponytail, and triple-checked all my effects. For the first time in seven weeks, I actually cared about my appearance.


    ¡°How do I look?¡± I asked Tuff.


    ¡°Like you are about to attend a funeral,¡± the droid dryly answered.


    ¡°Sounds about right,¡± I chirped, before marching off the ship, ¡°Wish me luck.¡±


    ¡°I calcte a sixteen-point-four-four percent probability you will be punished for your failure,¡± Tuff said for his parting gift.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take those chances,¡± I shoved a datapad into his hands, ¡°Keep the shuttle warm for me.¡±


    ¡°By yourmand.¡±


    Geonosis was very <em>red. </em>Arizona stretched on as far as the eye could see, the destendscape decorated with wildly strewn teaus and rock spires. There wasn¡¯t any sort of civilisation to be seen, but I knew inside those mesas were sprawling hive colonies. If I squinted I could probably find the glint of the cannon barrel peeking out of a cave¡­ but even then, does ¡®civilised¡¯ really apply to an insectoid hivemind?


    Hundreds of Federation core ships littered the vast wastnds like grey welts, their spherical hulls half-sunken into the earth to look like gargantuan missile silos from afar. Several klicks south, <em>Guara </em>was being dragged into a great ravine by a swarm of tractor tugs like a body being interned into its tomb. As for its crew¡­ I didn¡¯t really know¨Cmy job is to take prisoners, and then hand them off to the people responsible for dealing with them.


    Honestly, they could be released in a prisoner exchange or turned into grub for the hives, both possibilities were just as likely. Finding out exactly what their fate entails could be a detriment to my conscience, so I decided I will be better off ignorant.


    Even though It was only a short trek from my shuttle to the towering spires of the Stalgasin hive-city, I still couldn¡¯t avoid sand sneaking into my boots despite my best efforts. Sand is coarse, rough, and irritating indeed¡­ but sand is also earth, and this was the first time I¡¯ve set foot on solid earth in months. Bad writing aside, I could fucking kiss the ground right now.


    A squad of B2-series super battle droids met and escorted me inside. Out of the baking sun, the surprisingly polished halls of the subterranean colony were pleasantly cool, if a bit stale. The passageway abruptly opened up into a cavernous war room, the filtered sound of chatter reaching my ears.


    I continued through even as the B2s slowed their pace to aplete stop. The massive holotable that dominated the room caught my attention first, and then the tall, strikingly blue-skinned woman next. Though her back was turned to me, Sev¡¯rance Tann still posed an intimidating figure. Her pitch ck cape was ruffled with dust and singed by sterfire, frayed at the edges, as she spoke to a holographic figure¨Cwhom I recognised as Mon Cmari.


    ¡°¨Cas I understand it, General,¡± the aquatic alien pawed his chin, ¡°I will be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Not too cautious, Commander,¡± General Tann said, ¡°We cannot allow the Jedi to suspect anything. Make it believable¨Csacrifice a few ships, if you must.¡±


    ¡°That is a tall order, sir,¡± the Commander replied, ¡°How can I send my men to battle, knowing it is a trap, in good conscience?¡±


    ¡°I expect you to do your duty, Commander,¡± she said coldly, ¡°Everything else is irrelevant.¡±


    That was food for thought for the Mon Cmari, because there was a lull in the exchange right after. I took advantage of the opening to insert my presence. I straightened, my uniform snapping as I clicked my heels together.


    ¡°Captain Rain Bonteri reporting, General.¡±


    The Mon Cmari turned its thick neck, suddenly aware of me.


    ¡°Rain,¡± he greeted politely.


    ¡°Merai,¡± I dipped my chin.


    We had worked together before, albeit tangentially. My service career thus far could be described as hopping between General Tann and Admiral Trench¨Cwho was Corporate Alliance, same as Commander Merai. Being of simr rank, we were bound to work together sooner orter. Sooner, in this case, as we worked together to establish orbital superiority over Excarga, allowing Alliance forces to seize the mines on the.


    ¡°I will talk to Magistrate Argente myself,¡± the General ignored me, ¡°So speak nothing of this to him, do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Loud and clear, sir,¡± Merai saluted.


    General Tann toggled the holotable, and the Mon Cmari¡¯s holograph winked out. The room suddenly felt a lot less safe.


    ¡°That was¡­?¡± I prodded.


    ¡°Kamino, Captain,¡± she stated, as if that exined everything, ¡°One of our double agents has warned us that the Republic has uncovered the ns for our strike on Kamino.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take much effort to put everything together. Our impending attack on Kamino had been something of a terribly kept secret for some time now. After Senator Esu invoked the Articles of Secession in the Gctic Senate, spearheading Abrion Sector¡¯s withdrawal from the Republic, the idea of attacking Kamino was floated around. From Passel Argente¡¯s firebranding in political circles¨Csomething not many of us were fond about¨Cto increased fleet presence on the Triellus, the ¡®idea¡¯ was materialising by the day.


    This was an attack months in the works, with a disproportionate amount of materiel and effort put into it. Which was a given, considering the target was <em>Kamino</em>. If we suddenly abandon all of it now, the hackles of Republic Intelligence will rise into the sky.


    ¡°If we abort, we¡¯ll give away our agents in their ranks,¡± I surmised.


    General Tann nodded shallowly, ¡°I have instructed Commander Merai to fail safely. He will g a ¡®disorganised retreat¡¯ to the Manda System.¡±


    <em>Manda System. </em>I consulted my mental map. The Manda Systemid in Republic space¨Can odd choice for a fallback line. Though maybe it was just to sell the image of defeat, I can¡¯t really tell with General Tann.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t we n our assault around the Republic knowing?¡±


    It was a simple enough question, and really I was asking the obvious. Wasn¡¯t that the point of even <em>having </em>a double agent? If we know that <em>they </em>know, then what they know is now bad intel after all. The General obviously didn¡¯t think so, because her face darkened at the mention of it.


    ¡°My hands are tied,¡± she all but hissed, ¡°Someone wants Magistrate Argente to fail.¡±


    <em>Oh. </em>Passel Argente was the main backer for this cause, investing massive amounts of resources and clout to pull it off. This ¡®someone¡¯ must be very important, if even Sev¡¯rance Tann couldn¡¯t do anything about it¡­ wait, <em>oh shit.</em>


    My lips thinned; better not press this. I was only a Captain¨Cnot even a g officer!¨Cno need to dip my fingers in matters I do not understand, and likely harmful for my health. It was reassuring enough to know that General Tann was in damage control mode, unmistakably attempting to mitigate the scale of disaster the uing Battle of Kamino is going to be¨Cand also roping Merai into her own ns, because she was sharp like that.


    I coughed, trying to w myself out of the hole I dug into, ¡°May I relieve myself of the prisoner here?¡±


    I wanted the Padawan out of my hands as quickly as possible. Not only did I not feel safe with a Jedi down the corridor¨Calbeit in a cell¨Cjust keeping a Jedi painted a bright red target on my back. If Barriss Offee wasn¡¯t about to escape via some Force trickery, someone was bound to rescue her sooner orter.


    ¡°What is her condition?¡±


    ¡°She is¨C uh, meditating in her cell,¡± I said hesitantly, ¡°For several days now, actually. She is eating, if minimally. I have her lightsaber here.¡±


    After taking it, General Tann ignited the lightsaber, producing a short blue de. The glow almost seemed to sink into her opaque red eyes as she carefully inspected it, adjusting her grip on the handle. Then, with a flick, she shut it off.


    ¡°I forwarded your ideas to Count Dooku,¡± General Tann walked over to a wall¨Cintriguingly smooth, unlike the rest of the cavern¨Cand I followed her, ¡°But he expressed the apparent necessity of converting Offee to the Dark Side. Or, if that should prove impossible, her outright death.¡±


    Her tone of speech told me everything I needed to know of <em>exactly </em>what she thought of that. I cringed at the thought of executing a child¨Cnot an adult, for certain¨Cbut I supposed that was preferable to another Sith.


    ¡°I, however, disagree with his assessment,¡± she weighed the lightsaber, ¡°I will present this lightsaber as proof of her death, while your orders are to turn her into our operative.¡±


    I¨C <em>what? </em>This is fucking insane; what am I, a babysitter? Not an intelligence agent, that¡¯s for sure. I was actually speechless.


    ¡°You appear reluctant,¡± General Tann observed.


    ¡°I¨C I don¡¯t have any training in this field, sir,¡± I gasped, ¡°I am sure someone else¨C¡±


    ¡°The girl is <em>dead,</em> Captain,¡± her eyes glinted, ¡°Count Dooku doesn¡¯t even know her name, or even sex. Only three people in Separatist space know her true identity, and you will keep it that way. I do not care about the specifics of your process, only the sess of your results. Let me handle the rest.¡±


    ¡°With all due respect sir,¡± I protested, ¡°What makes you so certain of this operation? My suggestion was merely an uninformed counterargument to what I believed was a poor use of an enemy prisoner of war.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s lips twisted wryly, as if she knew something I didn¡¯t, ¡°Well done.¡±


    <em>God damn it.</em>


    I restrained a sigh, fixing polite¨Cif cautious¨Ceptance on my face, ¡°Yes, sir. My next orders?¡±


    I¡¯ll have to think of somethingter.


    The General regarded me carefully for a couple heartbeats, before disappearing Barriss¡¯ saber under her cape, ¡°How would you describe the state of our progress?¡±


    ¡°Progress, sir?¡±


    ¡°Progress towards winning this war,¡± she rified.


    <em>Well¨C </em>I don¡¯t really know. If we managed to cripple the cloning facilities on Kamino, then that would be a massive step forward, but right now we just¡­ <em>exist. </em>The secession of the Independent Systems was anything but organised, or even coherent. In some sectors we were striking at key resource worlds¨CExcarga, Christophsis¨Cand in others Separatist aligned systems were fighting for their very existence against Republic thrusts.


    Every theatre saw a different war, with differentmanders and different goals. I wasn¡¯t a staff officer¨Cmy job was to win battles, not pore over maps.


    ¡°Varying,¡± was the word I opted for.


    We were winning some and losing some as far as I can tell from my circles. Us lower ranks weren¡¯t much more than acquaintances of acquaintances, but we liked to stay up-to-date, as well as shit on the top brass.


    General Tann made a signal with her hand, and the wall suddenly shimmered¨Crevealing itself to be a vast observation viewscreen. For a brief moment, it was like staring into a portal to another dimension. A factory¨C no, a <em>factory city</em>, because the chasm wasrge enough to fit the entire Royal Pce of Onderon whole, so that I could not even see where it ended.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the vition.


    Machines pounded heaps of armour into shape, while pping Geonosians carefully carved focusing crystals before fitting them inside huge spheres of crimson metal. Manufacturing stations attuned repulsorlifts before twisting alignments of conveyor belts carried all the pieces towards assembly areas to be fitted together by wingless workers.


    <em>This isn¡¯t a droid foundry, </em>I realised, <em>this is a tank nt.</em>


    ¡°I would describe our war effort as directionless,¡± General Tannmented, ¡°Geonosis is now manufacturing droid divisions around the chrono, and this will be the first of many Decimator foundries on the. Tell me; what can a hundred Decimator brigades do?¡±


    ¡°Conquer the gxy,¡± I answered immediately.


    A single Decimator was a terror on the battlefield. A battalion can take a, a brigade a star sector. A hundred brigades? Forget tactics, that many and you had a brute force great enough to bludgeon any government into submission.


    The Decimators were a secret Republic weapons project before General Tann stole them on Eredeen Prime, before using them to wreak havoc in the Mid Rim¨Cstriking as far into the Core as Sarapin. Their turbsers were capable of ripping through AT-TEs and LAATs like paper, and were protected by so many shields they were virtually impervious to precision air strikes. Each unit was a mobile fortress.


    I don¡¯t think they were ever meant to be mass-produced, but Geonosis has its own way of doing things. If my memory serves right, Geonosis was the ce where the foundations for the Death Star wereid¨Cas implied by that one scene where Dooku pulled out the ns in a war room simr to this one.


    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t we?¡± Tann asked.


    It was a rhetorical question I couldn¡¯t answer. Mostly because I didn¡¯t <em>want </em>to answer. I could already sense the direction this conversation was heading. This time, however, I actually gave some thought about throwing in my lot with her. It was either Trench or her, and while they had equivalent ranks across branches, let¡¯s be honest even the most cavalier admirals would defer to her when it came down to it. Even without an official title, Sev¡¯rance Tann was second only to Count Dooku himself.


    My career prospects will be very bright under her.


    As for Grievous¡­ I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s still missing. I don¡¯t really know what changed for that to happen, but <em>eh¨C </em>the guy was said to be a Jedi killer and the best general in the gxy, but he got one-tapped by a fucking <em>ster </em>so I¡¯m not sure how much credence that im actually has. Not that he looks like the kind of upstanding guy to care about his subordinates, so Tann probably <em>is </em>my best bet.


    ¡°Vinoc, Karoc,e here,¡± General Tann flicked a finger, ¡°Pay attention.¡±


    Two human males emerged from the corner of the room, startling me. They looked¡­ unassuming to say the least, but the lightsabers hooked onto their belts was enough to make me wary. <em>Even more Sith? Jesus Christ, these people areing out of the woodworks.</em>


    I thought Sidious adhered to some Rule of Two or something. Maybe it doesn¡¯t even mean what I think it should.


    ¡°We are losing this war,¡± Tann said bluntly, leading me back to the table, ¡°The Senate is divided, and every man in power is after their own goals. Wat Tambor pursues his rivalries in Ryloth, and Passel Argente chases personal glory in Kamino, taxing Separatist resources to do so. Even Count Dooku exploits the emergency powers granted to him by the Senate to employ military assets for personal gain.¡±


    She toggled a button, and a hyper-detailed map of the gxy sprung up from the holotable.


    ¡°My Sarapin Campaign was the closest we¡¯ve got to crippling the Core Worlds,¡± General Tann scowled, ¡°I could have pressed the offensive, but Dooku demanded I withdraw to Krant to oversee the production of more Decimators.¡±


    I shifted nervously.


    ¡°So long as the Droid Armies do not have a Supreme Commander, Dooku has the authority to act as one¨C¡± and there it was, ¡°¨CCaptain, am I incorrect to say you have contacts in the Senate?¡±


    ¡°No, sir,¡± I said, ¡°But convincing them¨C¡±


    She raised a hand, ¡°That will draw undue attention. I need the Parliament toe to its own conclusion. Dooku appears to enjoy the powers vested in him, but I cannot concede to the fact that a political figure is the chiefmander of our military forces.¡±


    Well, that was a first. But you know what, I can work with this.


    ¡°I require your expertise, Captain,¡± General Tann acknowledged, ¡°What can be done to move the Senate to make me Supreme Commander?¡±


    I mentally weighed my decision. I¡¯ve been shooting down bribes and clout from other officers for a few weeks now, and there will be many raised eyebrows if I suddenly jumped onto Tann¡¯s ship. I had no intention to make enemies among the ranks, so I had to agree with the sentiment that the Senate had toe to its own conclusion.


    But I¡¯ve worked in marketing before, and am quite familiar with this specific consumer base.


    ¡°Permission to speak freely, sir?¡± I steeled myself.


    ¡°Granted.¡±


    ¡°Your brand recognition is already quite high,¡± I remembered my holocalls with my cousin, Lux, ¡°The issue is that a third of the Senate do not support <em>any </em>Supreme Commander. Another third are so deep in corporate pockets they will never ept a foreign party like you.¡±


    ¡°An entire third do not believe in the necessity?¡± General Tann glowered, ¡°Can they not see that we are pivoting on the backfoot? And now the Outer Rim supply lines are in enemy hands¨Cthis entire theatre is cut off!¡±


    ¡°Because we are <em>winning</em>, sir,¡± I said gingerly, ¡°News from the front passes through so many channels of propaganda that effectively <em>none </em>of it reaches the citizens. The frontline systems are well aware of the war, but the Foundry of the Confederacy still does not quite believe we are even fighting. It¡¯s why the Peace Faction still believes in a ¡®bloodless¡¯ conclusion.¡±


    Tann scoffed, almost in disbelief.


    ¡°The Sarapin Campaign has proved strategically worthless, now that the Core has recovered,¡± I pointed out, ¡°Excarga and Ryloth are corporate enterprises, and a waste of military resources. Axion was a tactical victory, but does not mean much. All of them are sold to the masses as ¡®brilliant¡¯ and ¡®major¡¯ victories, and proof of our just cause. Meanwhile, our defeats on Muunilinst, Cyphar, and Lianna? I doubt a single civvie on Raxus has heard of them.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± one of the Sith apprentices asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying there isn¡¯t a Supreme Commander because we are already ¡®winning¡¯ without one,¡± I carefully checked the General¡¯s expression, but it was painfully nk, ¡°If we want to start getting into their heads, we need ¡®real¡¯ proof we are losing the war. If we want to market a Supreme Commander, we need to market the <em>necessity </em>for a Supreme Commander.¡±


    ¡°...What do you think, Vinoc?¡± Tann asked.


    One of the apprentices¨CVinoc, presumably¨Cshook his head, ¡°If what the Captain says is true, then there is no way we are getting through the propaganda machine. Not unless we somehow have more credits than the corporations.¡±


    The situation really was bleak. It was obviously in the oligarch¡¯s best interests to keep using military resources to pursue their own goals, so they had their hands so far up the media¡¯s asses they could spin the narrative of the war to suit their interests without consequences.


    ¡°Do we need to?¡± the other apprentice, Karoc, questioned, ¡°We just have to overwhelm them with the truth.¡±


    <em>Shit, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m agreeing with a Sith.</em>


    Sev¡¯rance Tann turned around, face nk, ¡°Are you suggesting we <em>start </em>losing?¡±


    She said it as if the idea was insulting, and even unthinkable.


    ¡°I concur, sir,¡± I immediately stepped in, ¡°We are winning tactical victories without any strategic concern, but we can also do the opposite; losing meaningless worlds is <em>still </em>losing worlds. Right now, the war is being fought in the Trailing Sectors and Western Reaches, far from our main poption centres.¡±


    Vinoc quickly caught on, ¡°We can engineer defeats in the New Territories and Trans-Hydian. If the Republic starts pushing up the Perlemian, the propagandists will have no choice but to ept that the war hase to the Confederacy.¡±


    Okay¡­ maybe these guys aren¡¯t so bad, after all.


    Karoc leaned over the holotable and zoomed towards the Perlemian Trade Route, which thrusted straight into the heart of the Confederacy, ¡°The only problem is that we also know the importance of the Perlemian, and have fortified it to Mchor and back. Some of our most powerful fleets regrly patrol the hypenes in the region.¡±


    I rested an arm on another, grabbing my jaw, ¡°The Clysm Fleet is stationed at Salvara, guarding the gate of the Foundry. I am well acquainted with its leader, Commander Trilm. Maybe we can¨C¡±


    I stopped myself midway, abruptly aware of the dangerous silence pervading the atmosphere. In a brief moment of stark awareness, I realised I was advocating for willfully losing to someone who <em>hated </em>losing¨Cand as far as I knew, didn¡¯t even know the meaning of ¡®defeat. There was an odd sense of camaraderie between the three of us as we waited for General Tann to react, internally cringing as I half-expected her to blow up in our faces.


    It never came. In fact, nothing came. The blue-skinned alien just continued to stand by the holotable, staring into the gctic projection wordlessly. As the minutes ticked away, I checked my chrono¨C<em>six minutes</em>¨Cand stamped down on the impulsive urge to wave a hand in front of her face.


    <em>¡°Our logistic lines in the Trailing Sectors have copsed,¡± </em>General Tann suddenly said, making me leap out of my skin, ¡°With Hutt spes in enemy hands, the entire salient has turned into an unsustainable pocket. We have two options: use our remaining strength to break the encirclement and abandon the region, or concentrate forces on both ends the Bothan and Gamor Runs to reestablish direct connection between the north and south.¡±


    ¡°The government will never ept abandoning an entire theatre like that,¡± I noted.


    ¡°Then we are left with but one choice.¡±


    The General used the holoconsole to map out her strategy. Currently, our theatre centred on the Corellian Run was isted from the rest of Separatist space. We had been using the neutral Hutt Space to circumvent the Republic encirclement, but that was no longer possible. Unlike our holdings in the Western Reaches, this front wasn¡¯t self-sustaining, which meant we were now running against the clock before we ran dry.


    To restore our supply lines, our allies in the north will have to take the key Republic stronghold of Dang, which bottlenecked the Trax Tube, Bothan Run, and Gamor Run. Meanwhile our fleets in the south will have to smash through Bothan Space to link up with the north at Lannik. Abel in Aurebesh spelled out: <em>Operation Sidestep.</em>


    The issue? Our fleets are overstretched. To undertake such a colossal offensive, we will have to redeploy our strongest assets from the Trans-Hydian, creating a ¡®void¡¯ of military elements on the Perlemian. It was the perfect bait for Republic Intelligence. We just had to make it believable.


    ¡°We will transmit this memo on secured lines to all our fleets in the region,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann looked uncharacteristically grim, ¡°However, this dispatch will also have to travel through Republic-held transceivers to reach our allies in the north. <em>Unfortunately</em>, the encryption keys we used just happened to already bepromised by enemy intelligence. But we don¡¯t know that.¡±


    ¡°The Republic will realise the Foundry has been left virtually defenceless,¡± she continued, ¡°And press a major¨Cbut cautious¨Coffensive in an attempt to reach Raxus Secundus and end the war. This will light a fire under the Senate, forcing them to elect me as Supreme Commander. Then, weunch our counteroffensive from the south and outnk them."


    ¡°How will we make sure the Republic doesn¡¯t advance too far?¡± Vinoc asked, ¡°We only want to frighten the Senate, not actually threaten Raxus.¡±


    General Tann looked at me, ¡°I am promoting you to Commodore, Bonteri. Return to Raxus for your shore leave and assemble a new fleet. Use my name and authority as you wish.¡±


    <em>What the fuck? </em>Am I expected to hold back the entire Open Circle Armada!?


    I didn¡¯t let any of my thoughts show, ¡°For what purpose, sir?¡±


    ¡°First, to keep the Republic from our key worlds like Metalorn and Ringo Vinda. Maneuver so that they are only able to take strategically meaningless systems such as Casfield, Aargonar and Chorios. Systems that we can afford to lose, but are close enough to fear-monger about,¡± she exined, ¡°Second, our raid on <em>Gura¡¯s </em>archives have uncovered a wealth of enemy data, including their supply corridors. Use them to n logistic raids in order to slow down their offensive.¡±


    On one hand, I got my promotion. On the other hand, my first task is to single-handedly stop an entire Republic offensive. You know what, I really thought my promotion would be a more satisfying moment than this. But hey¨CI¡¯m now a g officer, so I finally have greater ess to resources I need to work out my contingencies. Not to mention I was practically handed a nk check.


    ¡°By yourmand,¡± I said duly, ¡°However, the hit-and-fade tactics required for this operation necessitates organicmanders. I find that droids are too inflexible for this kind of adaptive warfare.¡±


    General Tann fingered herms, ¡°Vinoc will serve under you as a captain. What of Commander Trilm? Can she be trusted? Which corporate pocket does she belong to?¡±


    I noticed a wingless drone enter the battle room from the corner of my eye, ¡°None. I believe she received hermission from Count Dooku himself.¡±


    Tann¡¯s features sharpened, ¡°How loyal is she to Dooku?¡±


    ¡°Trilm is the opportunistic sort¨C¡± <em>like me, but I guess that¡¯s why we get along, </em>¡°¨CShe¡¯s loyal to whomever she benefits from.¡±


    ¡°Then can she be converted to our bloc?¡± Karoc interjected, ¡°How close are you with her?¡±


    I squirmed. I slept with her once, after we got wasted at a drinking party not long before the Battle of Geonosis. We were celebrating our recently acquiredmissions with a bunch of other officers¨Cbut nobody needed to know any of that.


    ¡°I can bring the Clysm Fleet to our side,¡± I said faintly.


    The Geonosian drone shuffled right up to me, holding up what looked like a folded nket with a rank insignia que lying on top of it. The Confederacy¡¯s rank pins were unique, designed so that it was entirely contained in a Confederate roundel and thus stitched right onto the shoulder. Themodore¡¯s rank had the first¨Cthe top triangle¨Csecond, third, and fifth sections coloured in grey.


    I gingerly plucked the effects out of the Geonosians hands¨Cvery carefully, so I wouldn¡¯t have to touch the insectoid¨Csubconsciously realising that General Tann had nned for this promotion in advance. She only used the promotion to dump not one, but <em>two </em>utterly unreasonable missions on my head, while effectively preventing me from protesting in any actual capacity.


    ¡°Very well,¡± General Tann gave me a pointed look, ¡°I have prepared for a frigate to be added to your squadron, in order to cover up the loss of <em>Resistance. </em>You will take yourmand back to Raxus through the Triellus, in order to bypass Republic space. As long as you move quietly, the Hutts won¡¯t notice three ships passing through their territory. Is there anything else you require?¡±


    I quietly looked down at the new uniform in my hands. You know, now that I have hopped ship, I might as well milk it for what it¡¯s worth.


    I met General Tann¡¯s red stare, ¡°I will need amission and a naval lieutenant que. Sir.¡±


    I added the ¡®sir¡¯ to sound more polite.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    <em>Orbit of Leesis, Christoph System</em>


    <em>Savareen Sector</em>


    <em>Valkyrie 2929 </em>swerved through the debris field, thick armour shrugging off the worst of the microbodies littering Leesis¡¯ orbit. Clone Sergeant Kano felt his bones rock about as the gunship weaved its way towards the drop point, expertly handled by its pilot.


    <em>¡°Grim Reaper reports ready, Sergeant,¡±</em> Hawk¨Ctheir pilot¨Cannounced over the inte.


    Kano looked up. Bellow stood beside him in the crowded troop bay, unidentifiable if not for the paint job of his battle armour and his ID number. Kano nced at the HUD icons set to one side of the main disy to make ast-minute headcount, counting the transponder blips and ID numbers of the toon.


    ¡°Right, thanks,¡± he replied to Hawk, before cycling to his toon¡¯s circuit, ¡°Are <em>we </em>ready, Bellow?¡±


    Bellow rested his DC-15A on his right pauldron, ¡°Aye sir. All weapons right and ready, and everybody¡¯s suited up. We had to downcheck one set of armour that wasn¡¯t sealed right, but we had a prepped spare.¡±


    Kano nodded at him, and swept the troop bay again¨Cthis time without the HUD. One trooper nodded at him, and he returned the gesture. As he dropped into Grim<em> Reaper¡¯s </em>circuit, he was forced to snap his hands around the handles above as <em>Valkyrie </em>violently shuddered.


    <em>¡°Birds got kicked up, boys,¡± </em>Odd Ball called overmon frequency, <em>¡°We¡¯re moving in to keep ¡®em off your backs! Good luck!¡±</em>


    He could hear a screaming fighter rush past their starboard, before his weight disappeared as Hawk forced the gunship into a steep dive. Explosions rocked the ship from above as Flight Squad 7 and droid vultures engaged in a treacherous dogfight amidst the debris. However, it meant that the Seps had lowered their own particle shields to deploy their vultures.


    ¡°<em>Reaper</em>, this is <em>Valkyrie</em>,¡± Kano checked in, urgency colouring his voice, ¡°Do you copy?¡±


    <em>¡°Reaper copies, Valkyrie. Go ahead.¡±</em>


    ¡°Commence your runs, <em>Reaper,</em>¡± he nervously nced over his head as another tremor rocked the gunship, ¡°I say again, start your runs.¡±


    They had to insert before the battleship could recycle its physical deflectors.


    He cycled back into his toon¡¯sms, greeted by an expected amount of nervous chatter. An expected amount. Because even clones get nervous. In the privacy of their helmets, they can speak with each other undetected. Sometimes odd quips to ease the tension, sometimes meaningless nothings just to keep their minds off things. Sometimes Kano wondered what their Jedi Generals would think about that, if they knew their men were talking behind their backs not two feet away from them.


    Kano knew General Skywalker didn¡¯t care, however. Sometimes he even joined in on the fun.


    The moment Kano¡¯s ID appeared in the channel, all the talking hushed. Even as the firefight grew further and further away, their faces tightened and nerves clenched as they steeled for the Lucrehulk¡¯s close-in weapons systems to open fire.


    But there was none.


    Hawk pulled them out of their steep approach, kicking in <em>Valkyrie¡¯s </em>repulsors and riding its thrusters to convert momentum into howling dives straight for their targets. The sensors indicated they had plunged beneath the battleship¡¯s ray shields.


    <em>¡°Coming up on target¨C arm, arm, arm!¡± </em>Hawk chanted to his gunners, <em>¡°Sergeant, get your boys to hold tight!¡±</em>


    The standby lights blinked to red aboard each gunship, and the gunners¡¯ fingers curled around the triggers on their yokes. Over their heads, the mass-driverunchers nked as a fresh pair of rockets were loaded in. There was a brief moment where Kano could only hear his own artificially calm heartbeat echoing in his helmet.


    Quad-mounted armour-piercing rockets ripple-fired from beneath each wing like ming meteors. Eight of them sted ahead of each gunship¨Csoon followed by two more heavy concussion missiles¨Cand the gunships charged onwards down their wakes.


    The rockets smashed home, spoiled for targets, like a fist of thunder. A second salvo wasunched, and then a third, and then a fourth. When the final rounds had finally impacted, the Lucrehulk¡¯s hull had been thoroughly torn open, peeled back like broken bone and revealing its vulnerable organs.


    The gunships¡¯ chin-mounted turrets opened fire, ripping into the dust and smoke and scything into the battle droids pouring out of the breaches. The ball-turrets echoed, their gunners precisely cutting into the thinned ting with amplifiedposite beams to open up portals for the boarding troops to insert through.


    A section of Flight Squad 7 peeled off their engagement, pushed over and came in for a run in at the remaining Separatist rectenna arrays. Concussion missiles screamed off their racks, six secondster they punched in the Lucrehulk¡¯s eyes, and then the gunships rolled back onto their original attack vectors.


    The first gunshipsnded, disgorging their troops before taking off just in time for the next gunship to swoop in and take its ce. <em>Valkyrie 2929 </em>followed them in, st hatches swinging open.


    <em>¡°Move, move, move!¡±</em>


    Kano paid no attention to the roaring firefight surrounding them as he leapt off the gunship andunched his grapple lines¨Cmaic hook adhering to the battleship¡¯s metal hull¨Cand reeled himself down. There were already droids on the surface, and while many of them had been cut down by air support, as always with droids they seemed endless in numbers. Dozens of his brothers were already shot down by the returning fire, their immobile bodies dragged through space by their reeling cables.


    The Clone Sergeant grunted as he hit the ground, thumping as he activated his mag-boots. Kano cursed the surviving members of his toon to their feet, before leading them into the hellscape of smoke,ser, and murderous shrapnel to find firing positions. More gunships swept in, the whining of their repulsorlifts only faint over the howl of escaping atmosphere, and hundreds more white-armoured men drifted to the surface like lethal snow.


    The firefight went on for minutes as the toons methodically pushed up towards the breaches, stalking from cover to cover while using plumes of white-hot gases to obscure their approach. Red and blue ster bolts whipped through the void erratically¨Cbut with the help of gunship air support, their victory was all but assured.


    Boomer¡¯s squad reached the portals first, securing their grapples to the ledge before rappelling into the breaches. Kano¡¯s squad arrived next, and the Sergeant leaned over the ledge to observe the situation below¨Cbut couldn¡¯t visually identify anything through escaping gases. All Kano saw were the biosigns of the squad below, and that was all he needed.


    <em>Fix grapples, tie cables, deactivate mag-boots, and jump.</em>


    A torrent of steam pummelled his visor, scrambling his HUD to bits, and then he was through. After descending to a safe distance off the ground, he cut the cable and dropped onto his feet. One trooper with a rotary cannon had taken point, mowing down an entirepany of battle droids at the far end of the corridor.


    ¡°How many squads have we got here, Boomer?¡± Kano asked as he checked the IDs of the troopers present.


    Boomer twirled to look at him, and then look at the final troopers entering the gaping hole above them, ¡°Three squads, maybe two.¡±


    ¡°Bellow, this is Kano,¡± Kano called, ¡°Are you receiving?¡±


    <em>¡°Loud and clear,¡± </em>Bellow replied, <em>¡°We found another way in.¡±</em>


    ¡°All squads, check in!¡± he ordered.


    The clone sergeants called in one after the other. <em>Fourteen voices, </em>Kano counted. Which meant two squads didn¡¯t make it.


    He breathed out, ¡°Waterfall Company, find the prisoners. Cascade Company¨Cyou¡¯re with me, we¡¯re securing the control room!¡±


    Boots moured against the metal flooring as Kano¡¯s squads went down the passage with all the speed their battle armour allowed. With the ship¡¯s atmosphere rapidly deteriorating and its artificial gravity systems failing, the troopers took to advancing with gliding, ten-metre jumps¨Call their training and instinct taking over until it was as if they lived in low grav their entire lives.


    They came to an intersection, identifying a control panel from where they could pinpoint their exact location and orientate themselves. Kano¡¯s group split into two, swivelling perpendicr with carbines raised¨Cblue lights shing against their stark white armour as they doused the corridors in saturation fire. A techie leapfrogged between them, snatching onto the panel and ripping it open.


    Half a minuteter, the trooper had transmitted the ns, gave the all-clear, and the squads were moving again.


    Kano eyed the integrated chrono on his HUD¨Cthe entire boarding action only took thirteen minutes.


    ?


    ¡°It¡¯s no good, Admiral,¡± Lieutenant Klev shook his head, flushed in dismay, ¡°We¡¯ve been calibrating and recalibrating the scanners over and over, but just can¡¯t seem to get it to stick.¡±


    Yren red at him, ¡°That is uneptable, Lieutenant. We weren¡¯t able to locate a <em>Lucrehulk </em>only three-hundred thousand klicks away¨Ca distance even our passives should handle with ease. Not to mention they misidentified a debris field as an asteroid ring. Find the problem, and fix it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the software, sir,¡± Klev swallowed, ¡°I had some of our techs run diagnostics, and they found nothing. It must¡¯ve been the battle a week ago; <em>Pioneer </em>didn¡¯t leave without a scratch. If you want, I can get some of the men up top with the droids¨Csee if they can sort it out.¡±


    <em>In an active warzone? Unlikely.</em>


    Yren bit back an unprofessional response. With malfunctioning sensor arrays, they were practically blind¨Cno, <em>worse </em>than blind. They were outright <em>hallucinating</em>. No detection or observation could be trusted without visual confirmation at bare minimum, and that didn¡¯t even include <em>Pioneer¡¯s </em>targeting systems.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Yren resigned, ¡°Find out the extent of the damage. I want to know if our fire-control systems were affected. Do your utmost to rectify any issues you can ID, save for sending engineers out there in vac suits.¡±


    ¡°Right away sir,¡± Lieutenant Klev nodded sharply, snapping to attention before scampering back into the crew pits.


    As the Admiral redirected his attention, he spotted <em>Triumphant </em>and its two escort cruisers just a few hundred klicks forward beyond the bridge¡¯s main viewport. The two warships had fallen into a geosynchronous orbit with the below, shadowing the industrial sector and the battle raging underneath. However, it meant they were also quickly approaching the ongoing space action between Admiral Wurtz¡¯ Iron Lance Fleet and recently identified Separatist Admiral Tonith¡¯s orbital blockade.


    If <em>Pioneer¡¯s </em>targeting systems also proved unreliable, then Yren will have little choice but to break away. He had already lost two ships and their experienced crews, he could not risk the safety of another.


    Yren had to wonder if the disastrous First Battle over Christophsis would have gone any differently had he been on the bridge of the <em>Resolute</em>, and had not opted to apany General Skywalker¡¯s relief mission. Perhaps he would have been convinced in his own skills to recognise the enemy¡¯s deceptively simple stratagem before it was toote, if it was not for been Obi-Wan Kenobi who had taken his ce.


    The Admiral had many opinions about the role of Jedi in the Grand Army of the Republic, and not many of them were favourable. Yren considered himself lucky; while Anakin Skywalker and he did not always see eye to eye, he was mollified to know that while the Jedi¡¯s strategies were often aggressive, they were backed by outstanding valour and keen tactical insight. These traits,bined with the trust he and his men had in each other, made General Skywalker a dangerous force on the ground. That was the case with many Jedi.


    But that did not trante into naval engagements. To fight a naval battle, you needed tact, and Jedi¨Cfor all their renowned patience and diplomacy¨Chad little. Their tactics were often elementary at best, and downright ipetent at worst. There were few exceptions Yren knew of.


    One of them was Obi-Wan Kenobi. Already, his many tactical exploits were being circted through military channels, and some have even made their way into the textbooks on Prefsbelt IV.


    If an esteemed Jedi General with all of his mystical irvoyance could not see the trap in advance, there was the question whether a mere Admiral¨Calbeit professionally trained¨Ccould. It did not help that the newly-coined <em>Battle Hydra </em>tactic waspletely novel, as far as he knew.


    What-ifs aside, Yren could now pen a sternly-worded report about the Venator¡¯s ring weaknesses to the Admiralty, as generously exposed by their enemy. The only way his situation could get any brighter would be if Republic Intelligence could reveal <em>who </em>exactly he was dealing with.


    ¡°Admiral sir!¡± shouted Lieutenant Klev, ¡°We have a situation!¡±


    Yren swung around, ¡°Your training, Lieutenant!¡±


    ¡°S-Sorry, sir!¡± Klev fiddled his console with shaking hands, ¡°O-Our sensors are picking up a massive instance of Cronau radiation on the edge of the system! Avrey, are you seeing this?¡±


    Another officer leaned over to double-check, ¡°Looks like a huge object is reverting to realspace. I¡¯m contacting <em>Triumphant </em>right now sir!¡±


    ¡°Could it be another case of sensor malfunction?¡± Yren demanded.


    ¡°Our sensors are twist out of configuration sir, not <em>not working</em>,¡± Lieutenant Klev insisted, ¡°There¡¯s still Cronau radiation¨Cif they¡¯re over-reading, then the ship isn¡¯t asrge as reported. If they¡¯re <em>under-reading¡­</em>¡±


    A single narrow finger stroked his moustache¨Ca tick of unease Yren wasn¡¯t able to refrain from in time.


    ¡°<em>Triumphant </em>reports the same thing, sir,¡± Lieutenant Avrey looked to him nervously, ¡°The magnitude matches¡­ but our sensors <em>are </em>malfunctioning. We only picked up from a single instance, but they¡¯re picking up <em>hundreds.</em> Confidence says it''s an enemy fleet.¡±


    Yren only took a second to react¨C ¡°Comm <em>Indomitable </em>and <em>Coruscant Sky, </em>standby for orders, set Red Alert! All personnel to battle stations! Avrey, get me Admiral Wurtz, <em>now!¡±</em>


    ¡°There¡¯s a line of Munificents between us and him, sir¡­¡± Lieutenant Avrey pointed out fairly, but it didn¡¯t make Yren any less incensed, ¡°I don¡¯t know how much I can do¨C¡±


    <em>¡°Then do what you can,¡± </em>Yren restrained himself from outright snarling.


    The muted red alert lights were shing now, xons faintly baying in the Battle Room and throughout the ship.


    ¡°Lookout reports visual sighting!¡± a clone officer reported, ¡°Rtive bearing oh-niner-niner, range¨C range¡­ around a million klicks out!¡±


    <em>¡°Around?¡±</em>


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The clone made a face, ¡°Best our rangefinders can do right now, sir.¡±


    Admiral Yren took a short moment to rx, before steeling himself for action. He marched across the bridge to the starboard side, intently staring out of the transparisteel viewport. Below was Admiral Wurtz fleet. Further afield, Yren found hundreds of ck shadows gliding over the backdrop of stars.


    ¡°Combine feeds with <em>Coruscant Sky,</em>¡± he ordered, ¡°Have them ID those ships.¡±


    This was not the time to panic. They had time. While those ships could only be Separatist reinforcements, they had also made the odd decision to exit hyperspace a million klicks away¨Cfar out of range of any conventionalser batteries or even missile systems. First, they had to avoid getting trapped between the two enemy fleets¨C


    There was a streak of purple, cutting straight through the abyss at an eleration so great Yren could blink and miss it. He <em>did </em>blink and miss it¨Cand did not realise what had happened until a dim glow to his left caught his attention. The Admiral swivelled around, and saw <em>Triumphant </em>in mes.


    Whatever projectile that was, it had pierced through the cruiser¡¯s passive shields and armour, blowing out a gaping hole in <em>Triumphant¡¯s </em>bridge stalk. Yren was sick to his stomach, realising he could see straight <em>through </em>General Koon¡¯s ship¨Cand able to see the gas giant Erodsis on the other side. The amount of kic energy transferred alone had sent <em>Triumphant </em>reeling, snapping the crippled support structure and severing its twin bridges in a single decapitation strike.


    Silence overwhelmed <em>Pioneer¡¯s </em>pilothouse.


    <em>What in Nine Hells was that¨Ca new type of weapon developed by the Separatists!? </em>Yren could not name a single weapon system in the Republic¡¯s arsenal that could travel at such speed or distance¨Cexisting or in development. If the Separatists could now out-range them in every engagement¡­ it was a thought with horrific implications.


    For a brief moment, Yren desperately clung onto the hope that this new weapon system was slow reloading in order topensate for its power¨Cbut that hope was swiftly dashed as the Separatist fleet fired off three new purple sparks in quick session. One whizzed right past <em>Pioneer¡¯s </em>viewport, leaving a faint purple afterimage behind; another clipped the prow of <em>Indomitable, </em>sting off a chunk of its dorsal doors and revealing the starfighters inside; and thest smashed directly into the¡¯s atmosphere, and the resulting airburst created a cloudrge enough to be seen from low orbit.


    ¡°At¡­ at least it''s not very urate,¡± somebody murmured.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to <em>aim</em>,¡± another officer corrected lowly, ¡°You saw it blow the cap off <em>Triumphant.</em>¡±


    ¡°Evasive action!¡± Yrenmanded, ¡°Bring us closer to the! What¡¯s the status on that ID!?¡±


    Lieutenant Klev whacked his console, cursed, and shot to his feet, ¡°It¡¯s the entire Confederate Second Fleet! We¡¯re looking at three Lucrehulks, fourteen Recusants, thirty Munificents, two Providence destroyers, four Providence carriers, fifty-five Lupus missile frigates, and a hundred and two Diamond-ss cruisers. The gship is a Providence dreadnought¡­ essing registry¡­¡±


    <em>That¡¯s an invasion fleet¨Cwhat warranted a force of that size here¡­? </em>A thought struck him¨C<em>Geonosis</em>¨Chas Geonosis already fallen? What about Kamino, then?


    ¡°Match!¡± Klev announced, ¡°<em>Ascendant Sky, </em>personal gship of General Sev¡¯rance Tann!¡±


    <em>Stang. </em>The name immediately set off rms in his head. Yren mentally recited Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s registry in the Grand Army¡¯s database; she was of an unidentified species, and was the only Separatist general who managed to reach the Core Worlds, striking as far as Sarapin in her opening campaign. Theplete annihtion of a White Cuirass taskforce under themand of Jedi General Shen-Jon in Bothan Space was widely believed to be by her hand.


    <em>Extremely dangerous. Engage with excessive caution, and only with a superior force.</em>


    ¡°We got a downlink to General Kenobi¡¯s rearmand post, Admiral sir!¡± Lieutenant Avrey said, ¡°They¡¯re forwarding thems up to Admiral Wurtz¨Cit¡¯s our best bet of bypassing the jamming.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Yren replied with forced calm, ¡°Inform them of the current situation, and advise for immediate withdrawal. I want a sitrep on the prisoner extraction, and get me in touch with General Skywalker and General Koon.¡±


    ¡°Extraction is proceeding on target, sir!¡± a clone reported, ¡°An Acmator has moved into position to begin evac. Prisoners were found well and unharmed.¡±


    That warranted a sigh of relief, if the wider situation wasn¡¯t so dire.


    ¡°We got a connection!¡± Avrey nearly threw her headset in glee, before sobering, ¡°I mean¨C we have Admiral Wurtz patched in, sir. Holo isn¡¯t so great, but we have good audio.¡±


    ¡°Reroute it to my panel,¡± the Admiral said sternly.


    ¡°Right away sir.¡±


    Admiral Wurtz¡¯s disembodied figure shimmered in front of Yren, parts of his body glitching and fragmenting. But as thems officer mentioned, what¡¯s important was that they couldmunicate.


    ¡°Yren, good to see you,¡± Wurtz said gravely, ¡°Listen: we¡¯re retreating. The Separatists caught us in a bad spot, and our position is untenable.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t agree more,¡± Yren agreed.


    ¡°Extract our ground forces posthaste and withdraw to Zhar through Mon Gazza. You¡¯ll have to go through Separatist space for a bit, but Tann has us blocked from the south so we¡¯ve no choice,¡± Wurtz¡¯s figure almost disintegrated as his ship was pummelled by a strike, ¡°I¡¯ll upy Tann and Ponith to buy you some time¨C I¡¯m already trapped, so don¡¯t try arguing.¡±


    Yren swallowed thickly, ¡°How?¡±


    He could make out a bitter smile through the terrible connection, ¡°With the Tarkin Rush, of course. Tann is holding position and taking potshots at me with her new weapon, so I¡¯m going to close the distance between us. With some luck, Tonith will pursue¨C don¡¯t look at me like that, Yren. I don¡¯t intend on ending my service to the Republic here.¡±


    ¡°Where will you retreat to?¡± Yren asked concernedly, ¡°Any retreat vector will have to run through Separatist space, and with me going to Zhar, you don¡¯t have many choices.¡±


    ¡°Manda is a Republic stronghold, and on the opposite end of the Manda Merchant Route. I can make a stand there, and retreat into Bothan and Hutt Space if things go awry,¡± Admiral Wurtz exined, ¡°I¡¯ll be taking <em>Negotiator </em>and <em>Tranquility </em>to bait the Separatists after me. Tann targeted <em>Triumphant </em>and <em>Pioneer </em>first, so it¡¯s clear she¡¯s after the Jedi¨Cwhich means it''s paramount that the Jedi escape. You hear me?¡±


    ¡°I hear you,¡± Yren sighed, ¡°Best of luck, Admiral.¡±


    ¡°Same to you.¡±


    The connection dissolved. Yren stood there for a time, watching the Iron Lance Fleet double around and surge towards the Confederate Second Fleet. Another purple streak ripped out of the darkness, cleaving straight through another cruiser like a lightsaber.


    ¡°Get our troopships down to the surface,¡± he ordered, ¡°And get me Skywalker!¡±


    ?


    ¡°Stay light on that, Kix,¡± Appo told the squad medic, ¡°We don¡¯t know how much longer we have here.¡±


    Appo gazed out of the shelter of a factory doorway, the ruined structure behind him turned into an ad-hoc field hospital. The Clone Commander retrieved his datapad to check the casualty countsing in, watching over an injured trooper sitting on an upturned piece of machinery while the medic patched him up with a hemostatic hypospray.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be alright, Ince?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Just some shrapnel, sir,¡± Ince grinned, ¡°Nothing any of us can¡¯t handle.¡±


    There was clinking as Kix retrieved a bloody hand, dropping tiny jagged fragments onto a tray.


    stoid armour was said to be the best credits could buy, and the rtively short list of ID numbers on his datapad could attest to that. It wasn¡¯t perfect¨Cthere were still joints and gaps¨Cbut it got the job done, and kept them alive. Appo looked over the report again; light casualties for a battle, he decided.


    Doesn¡¯t feel like that, though.


    Kix checked the fluid level on the hypospray, tapping the can, ¡°We¡¯re on ourst batch of bacta anyway, sir. Honestly speaking, we should be done here¨Chow long do you think the General is going to make us stick around?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go ask,¡± Appo grunted as he stood up.


    Just as he stepped back outside, his helmet sensors suddenly beeped.


    ¡°Iing!¡± the Commander shouted, leaping backwards and shoving Kix to the ground just as something crashed into the street behind them.


    A massive explosion shook the building, and then another. Debris ttered down from above, hanging chains clinking as they swayed from the st.


    ¡°Think it''s another spotter, sir?¡± Kix groaned as he lifted himself back up.


    ¡°...Yeah.¡±


    The 501st had swiftly recaptured the districts behind the advancing droid army, spreading out to search for survivors whileunching probing strikes into the enemy¡¯s rear. All they found were sted droids and ckened armour¨Cand two Jedi corpses, ruined beyond recognition, as if done in by a wild animal. If a wild animal had lightsabers, because the cuts were too cauterised and clean for anything else. Appears the Separatists found a new pet monster.


    The Seppies clearly intend on capturing the industrial sector, because there was little to no damage done to the existing infrastructure. That didn¡¯t stop them from periodically shelling the 501st¡¯s positions, however, whenever a droid patrol spotted them and reported back before they could be dispatched. It meant that despite the lull in actual conflict, there was no time to take a breather¨Cthey had to keep moving around else the tinnies would catch them.


    In spite of his buzzing head, Appo hastily grabbed his rifle and sprinted out onto the street, dodging an impact crater. He was greeted with burnt out skylines and ruined highways, the industrial cogs of war reced with war itself. There was no time or space for burials¨Cnot like clones ever received burials¨Cso what dead they found were stripped and thrown to a corner of thepound, their wrists scanned for ID codes and armour dismantled for salvage.


    The two Jedi they found were thrown in a pyre¨Ctheir lightsabers were never found.


    ¡°Commander,¡± ams officer hailed him from their temporarymand post, ¡°The One-Oh-Fourth reports eighty-percent of the survivors have been evacuated. They advise prep for extraction.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll speak to the General,¡± Appo promised.


    He found his Jedi General, Skywalker, already in the open, cutting down thest of the battle droid patrol with an almost feral prejudice. Despite the damningck of survivors, General Skywalker insisted on pushing onwards, extending the 501st¡¯s lines far beyond their intended operational scope, in what Appo dare described as reckless desperation. All they found were more bodies.


    But that was the work of the Droid Army. When they marched, they were a wall, rank upon rank, with skin-crawlingly synchronous rhythm. Not even the finest drilled clone troopers in the Grand Army could match that. Droid precision was cold, unthinking, and inexorable. Their base programming was shoot to kill, no prisoners, and trample over anything in their path.


    On an eradication mission, they were a fine toothedb. Appo could picture the columns of droids marching down every street and clearing out every building, systematically purging all lifeforms block by block and sweeping all resistance out into the open to gun them down.


    ¡°General,¡± Appo saluted.


    ¡°Commander,¡± Skywalker huffed, retracting his saber, ¡°What do you have for me?¡±


    ¡°We are running low on supplies, and the men are getting tired, sir,¡± Appo told him, ¡°General Koon has already given the green light for extraction.¡±


    ¡°Have all of the Marines been evacuated?¡±


    ¡°One-Oh-Fourth estimates eighty-percent of the way there, General,¡± he reported, ¡°Best we get a leg up on it sir. It¡¯ll be bad if the tinnies decide to about-face and catch us mid-evac.¡±


    General Skywalker clenched his saber, a muscle in his jaw tightening. The Jedi stared down the deserted streets and alleyways¨Cthe local poption had fled the ce a long time ago, and none of them had seen a live Christophsian since¡­ ever. Plenty of dead ones, though. Plenty.


    ¡°Have we swept Sector Fifteen for survivors?¡± Skywalker asked.


    Appo nced at the chart on his heads-up disy. Sector 15 was right on the edge of their operation theatre, and one thest few districts they haven¡¯t made a ground sweep of. He sighed in the privacy of his helmet¨Cthe General was still holding out on the chance there were survivors.


    ¡°No,¡± he answered simply, knowing no amount of excuses¨Ceven reasonable¨Cwould dissuade General Skywalker once he has his mind set on something.


    ¡°Air Control, this is General Skywalker,¡± the Jedi General tapped hislink, ¡°Prep for full extraction at Sector Fifteen, transmitting coords now.¡±


    <em>¡°Copy that, General,¡± </em>Air Control replied, <em>¡°Dispatchingrties for you.¡±</em>


    Skywalker turned around and nodded at him, ¡°We¡¯ll regroup in Sector Fifteen, how about that?¡±


    <em>Are you kidding me? You already called for an evac there. I mean, it¡¯s riskier than I¡¯d like, but it¡¯s not like we can¡¯t make it.</em>


    ¡°Sounds good, sir,¡± Appo said politely, ¡°I¡¯ll get the men ready.¡±


    The Clone Commander swivelled on a heel and started the trek back to base, cycling to themon channel and transmitting the coordinates via his helmet¡¯slink. A chart of the streets leading to the district appeared in the HUD of every trooper''s helmet. Once he was in eyeline of themand post, Appo made the signal to move out. He didn¡¯t have to, with all theirms tech, but it was good to make a habit of something in the case their HUDs went dark.


    ¡°I snatched us an evac, boys,¡± he said in the circuit, ¡°But it¡¯s a bit off, in Sector Fifteen. The General wants a ground sweep of the ce before that, so all toons start moving out. You don¡¯t want to miss therties.¡±


    <em>¡°Seriously?¡± </em>a trooperined, <em>¡°We already pre-scanned the ce, and didn¡¯t catch any trooper biotags. What¡¯s wrong with right here?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Have to agree, sir,¡± </em>another said, <em>¡°Our men in Seventeen will have to trek a long way around, and so much movement will expose us to artillery spotters.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Some of the boys are too injured,¡± </em>Kix¡¯s ID brightened, <em>¡°I can fix up some splints, but a few are in a real bad spot. I do my best, but I can¡¯t unscramble a leg. What the fark is the General thinking?¡±</em>


    ¡°Then load them on a six legs¨Cwe aren¡¯t leaving anyone behind,¡± Appo said, ¡°We¡¯re finally out of here, so pack up and get moving. You don¡¯t want to take any more chances? Save your breath for the march.¡±


    <em>¡°Stang¡­ my legs already hurt.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Shut your trap and pick up your ster, Ince. Let¡¯s get a move on.¡±</em>


    They melted back into the alleyways andplexes, using the interconnected refineries and factories to avoid aerial detection. His nightvision filters snapped on as Appo followed Skywalker¡¯s billowing robes into the darkness¨Ctaking in the green-writ chaos within. Shattered permacrete allowed some passages of light from above, machinery like monsters gnawing at the darkness, their conveyor belt tails wrapping around the facilities. Chains and cables fell from the ceiling¨Cwhatever they were once attached to missing¨Cand vast arrays of pipelinesy dormant.


    A winking light caught his attention, but there was no sensor warning. Not a trap¨Cshouldn¡¯t be anyway, they screened the ce already¨Cit was just a crystal refracting a thin shaft of sunlight. A lot of crystals, in fact, like a table of glittering stars.


    Appo kept an eye fixed on the icons on the side of his HUD, counting the transponder blips and checking for stragglers in the toon. There was an AT-TE stomping alongside outside, filled up with casualties. They were an open target for anyone looking, but it was the best they¡¯ve got. A picket line of scout walkers ran close to the droids¡¯ rear lines, watching out for any surprises.


    Kix came running up right behind him, along with the injured trooper¨Cwho was hobbling along with a rifle-cum-crutch.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve taken a ride,¡± Appomented.


    ¡°What? With the bodies?¡± Ince joked, ¡°I don¡¯t want to feel more dead than I already am.¡±


    Appo smiled beneath his helmet, ¡°You look spry to me¡­ want me to hold onto your radio pack?¡±


    ¡°You just said I looked spry!¡± he moaned.


    It took maybe half an hour¡¯s march to reach their destination. The first squads that arrived ahead of them were already conducting preliminary sweeps, making a show of using handheld scanners despite having the ones integrated into their helmets.


    <em>¡°Just like I said,¡± </em>a trooper grumbled, <em>¡°There¡¯s nobody here. Not even nkers. Hey, can we get an ETA on that¨C oh, what?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°What is it?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°...Drat, the General¡¯s not going to like this. Transmitting coords¨Cwe found a Jedi.¡±</em>


    A series of numbers crawled onto Appo¡¯s HUD.


    ¡°General Skywalker,¡± he immediately switched to openmunication, ¡°We found a Jedi.¡±


    Skywalker visibly hastened his pace, ¡°Alive?¡±


    ¡°Alive?¡± Appo repeated on circuit.


    <em>¡°Don¡¯t scare me. I¡¯d hate to be alive like that.¡±</em>


    ¡°No, sir.¡±


    ¡°Bring me there,¡± there was a crack in the General¡¯s voice.


    They found the maroon armoured bodies of the Marines first, or what was left of them. They just had to follow the trail of vivisected corpses to find the warehouse where the squad of Marines had bunkered down. The building in question was an ind in a sea of battle droid remains¨Cbut the doors had been sted open regardless.


    Inside, there were more corpses. Some with ster holes, but most had been cut and diced by a saber. Multiple sabers, from how the bodies fell. This was a final stand. <em>The Separatistmander was hunting Jedi specifically, </em>Appo realised. He had seen the exact same scene three times now¨Cthe Jedi hunter had a telling mode of operation, one defined by sheer brutality.


    <em>¡°Up there, sir.¡±</em>


    Appo looked up, flicking on his shlight.


    <em>¡°Holy kriff,¡± </em>Kix muttered, <em>¡°That¡¯s¡­ wow.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Yeah,¡± </em>Ince agreed, <em>¡°That ain¡¯t gonna to buff out.¡±</em>


    <em>That¡¯s a Jedi, alright. </em>Arms and legs hung from the ceiling by chains, jabbed into a mauled torso with twisted rods of rebar¨Clike an extended metal skeleton¨Cas if the perpetrator dismembered them by ident and had hastily attempted to fix them together again. A head with an elongated cranium hung upside down from a hook in the skull, severed at the neck with eyes wide open, viscous ck blood trailing from the lips.


    Appo recognised the Jedi from the strategy briefing.


    General Skywalker was silent.


    ¡°Did any of you find a lightsaber?¡± Appo asked lowly.


    He didn¡¯t have to, as he was speaking on circuit¨CSkywalker couldn¡¯t hear him¨Cbut he instinctively whispered just in case.


    <em>¡°No lightsaber, sir,¡± </em>said the trooper who found the body, <em>¡°I reckon it''s the same killer. A real nutjob, this one.¡±</em>


    All three Jedi they found thus far had been found in varying states of opprobrium. One was crucified to a wall, another hung from amp post, and this one was¡­ whatever this was. Whoever did this was either having the time of their lives arranging body parts into grotesque depictions, or knew someone was bound toe looking for the Jedi, and wanted to send a certain message.


    Appo switched off his shlight, ¡°Get the body down from there.¡±


    <em>¡°Right away sir.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Uh¨C Commander,¡± </em>Ince¡¯s voice was unusually timid, <em>¡°Can you tell the General that we¡¯ve got a transmission from the Admiral? It¡¯s something urgent.¡±</em>

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    <em>Raxus Secundus, Raxus System</em>


    <em>Calu Sector</em>


    The Onderonian Embassy on Raxus could be found on the far fringes of Raxulon, theary capital. essible either by a short shuttle flight, or a winding road trip through the wooded hills, the Embassy was built atop of a rocky promontory overlooking the rest of the city. Built like a gothic mansion, the building looked especially eerie at dusk, surrounded by the whispering autumn forests.


    Strange, for an embassy, yes¨Cbut if you wanted to get the Onderon experience on Raxus, then this was the closest you were going to get. I never liked the estate back on Onderon, and I never liked this ce either.


    I arrived at a bad time, because there was already a transport on thending pad, so I directed my shuttle pilot to just drop me off at the edge and enter a holding pattern. I stepped over the perilous gap, and found my footing soon after. Ducking under the wing of the transport, I curiously eyed the build in an attempt to identify the owner.


    I didn¡¯t have to, because I found Senator Avi Singhing down the staircase leading up to the Embassy right after. The well-aged man waspletely bald, sporting a rather glorious moustache that strung from his greying hair, which was already more white than anything.


    Waiting at the bottom of the staircase out of respect more than anything else, I noticed that the Senator from Raxus had grown more rotund since west met, and had to use the balustrade to support himself.


    ¡°Senator Singh,¡± I greeted, ¡°I hope I wasn¡¯t interrupting anything.¡±


    Senator Singh looked at me in surprise, before raising his head to nce past me¨Clikely at my shuttle circling overhead.


    ¡°Not at all, I was justing out the door. Nevermind that, I must have inconvenienced you,¡± the Senator scampered down thest rows of steps, ¡°But it is a pleasurable surprise to see you again, Rain.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± I grasped his hand, ¡°I never sent word of my arrival beforehand, so you couldn¡¯t have known. In fact, I am quite surprised by my presence here myself.¡±


    Avi Singh grinned beneath his moustache, ¡°Indeed. I was under the impression you were still deployed in Abrion. Will you remain on Raxus for long? I would love to have a chat over tea, at a better time than this.¡±


    ¡°That will definitely be in order,¡± Iughed, ¡°Yes, I will be on Raxus for some time as I assemble a new fleet.¡±


    ¡°A new fleet, you say?¡±


    There was a spark of intrigue in the Senator¡¯s eye at my words, that told me he wanted to know more about the reason. Of course he did¨Cdespite my efforts in distancing myself from politics, I was still peripherally involved due to my name alone. He was ultimately a politician, and politicians traded in secrets. Every snippet of information can give him an upperhand in Parliament¨Cand something as significant as a shiny new fleet?


    ¡°I can¡¯t say much, unfortunately,¡± I smiled apologetically, ¡°I hope you understand.¡±


    ¡°No no, of course,¡± Senator Singh waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t let the politician get in your way¡­ but if you encounter some pushback from interest groups, don¡¯t hesitate to contact me.¡±


    ¡°I will keep that in mind, Senator,¡± I paused, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t take any more of your time¨Cyou are a busy man. Have a good night, sir.¡±


    ¡°You as well, officer,¡± he patted my shoulder, before moving on.


    I remained still as his guards walked past me¨Cand when they were finally behind me, I broke into a satisfied smile. <em>Score.</em> What a fortunate encounter. After all, what was leaking some maybe-confidential secrets in exchange for a <em>much </em>easier job? Half the military was already doing it¨Cmaking a business out of it, rather¨Cand Senator Singh, the representative of this very star sector? I could shiver in delight.


    My smile bled away as I considered the next senator I had to meet.


    I reached the huge doors just as the senatorial transport sted off behind him, repulsorlifts whining as the craft raced back towards downtown. I cracked my neck, loosened my shoulders, lowered my expectations, and opened the doors.


    ¡°...Master Rain?¡± a high-pitched, synthesised voice said in surprise.


    I instinctively stepped back, trying to find the source.


    ¡°Down here, sir!¡±


    I looked down¨C ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just you. Hello, Hare.¡±


    Hare was a LEP servant droid, with her egg-shaped chassis and the pair of rabbit ear-like antennas that she was named after. Hare was holding a tray of drinks, and after a brief moment of hesitation, held it up to offer a ss.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I gratefully picked one to soothe my parched throat, before rubbing her head, ¡°How have you been?¡±


    ¡°Very well, sir,¡± she cooed, ¡°Should I prepare your room?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± I said, ¡°I won¡¯t be staying this time. Can you lead me to Mina?¡±


    Hare¡¯s ears drooped, ¡°This way, Master Rain.¡±


    As we strolled out of the foyer, past the staffers, and into the actual residence, I pondered on what to do with Hare. After my parents¡¯ ident, I moved in with Mina and her husband, and lived with them ever since. Or rather, until they moved to Coruscant for senatorial duties, leaving me to look after the estate in Iziz while I served in the Royal Army. When the war broke out, we reunited back in Raxulon. In this house.


    Which came with the LEP droid, who I found adorable. The first thing I did was name her Hare, because remembering a droll alphanumerical wasn¡¯t for me. She seemed to like it, so it stuck. Artificial intelligence was a big thing back on Earth, which is why I always take care to treat whatever droids Ie across like another person. That didn¡¯t exactly trante to this gxy, I discovered, because Lux was the only other person in the household to refer to Hare by her name.


    Which is stupid, in my opinion. For some reason when these aliens give machines quasi-sentient personalities, they never quite realise the implications that arise due to it.


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± I said, ¡°We¡¯ll ask Mina if I can take you. If she says yes, you cane with me.¡±


    I¡¯ll need an assistant anyway, now that I¡¯m a g officer. I¡¯m not going to use Tuff or any other ss 4 droid for that, and employing Vinoc or Barriss doesn¡¯t exactly seem safe.


    ¡°Really?¡± Hare nced up at me.


    ¡°Really,¡± I pushed open a door, entering a drawing room.


    The ornate windows to my left were pushed open a sliver, leading in a refreshing breeze that keened and whistled as it winnowed into the lounge. Almost like a wind chime. Outside, I could make out the glowingnterns of the pavilion, squat in the centre of an Onderon-style garden¨Cbecause of course there was one¨Cand the buzzing insects that were drawn in by them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve returned,¡± Mina barely looked at me, upied by her tablet, ¡°Lux will be here shortly, so the hot water¡¯s on. Don¡¯t use all of it.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s save it for him,¡± I sat on the couch opposite her armchair, shrugging off my overcoat andying it over the backrest, ¡°I¡¯m only visiting.¡±


    That caught her attention. The Senator from Onderon was a stern-faced woman with short-cropped brown hair that was greying at the fringes. Despite the signs of age¨Cor stress¨CMina Bonteri still possessed the hawkish eyes and severe tone that made her people stop and listen when she spoke.


    Mina finally dragged her eyes off the tablet, ¡°This is your house.¡±


    I snagged the sleeve of my overcoat, showing her the que stitched onto the shoulder, ¡°I have business in the city, so I bought an apartment downtown.¡±


    She frowned, ¡°How long is your stay?¡±


    <em>Until the Republicunches its offensive, </em>I wanted to answer, which could be in a week, or in months. What matters is that we are caught by <em>surprise</em>, and I, as the ranking officer in the sector, has to be hastily mobilised into action. But I couldn¡¯t tell her that, obviously.


    ¡°Until I am redeployed,¡± I answered half-honestly, ¡°But I¡¯ll be visiting some nearby systems too, so I won¡¯t be on Raxus the entire time.¡±


    I had my work cut out for me. Separatist officers were extremely independent, and those deployed on the Perlemian were especially prideful. Not many were going to listen to a human from an Inner Rim, and whose entire career has been spent far away in the Trailing Sectors. If I wanted to defend the Foundry sessfully, securing their cooperation¨Cif not their loyalty¨Cwas a must.


    I also had to visit the nearby shipyards in order to procure some ships for my core fleet. The nearest one was right in orbit around Raxus Prime, but I was going to have to negotiate with Hoersch-Kessel and Free Dac Volunteer branches in order to guarantee good quality vessels and crews, as well as to implement some specifications I had in mind.


    Hare plucked my now-empty ss from my hands and refilled it.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the old man?¡± I made a show of looking around.


    ¡°He¡¯s been deployed to Aargonar to shore up the defences there.¡±


    A sinecure, as befitting an Onderonian noble and the husband of a senator. An unimportant system, deep in Separatist space, and tangentially protected by the Confederate First Fleet, which units regrly patrols the Perlemian. Mister Bonteri probably thinks hell would freeze over before hees downrange of a clone¡¯s ster rifle.


    Hell was about to freeze over, then. The First Fleet was being mobilised and redeployed to Nixor, taking most of the Foundry¡¯s active defence with them. Aargonar was about to be pushed from being an uneventful backwater posting to staring down the barrel of the Republic.


    What to do about this?


    ¡°How long is his tour of duty?¡± I suddenly asked.


    Mina frowned, ¡°Six standard months. Why?¡±


    ¡°Can you get him out of there?¡±


    She sat up, eyes narrowing, ¡°What¡¯s going on, Rain?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think I can tell you?¡± I said wryly, ¡°I owe him, and you, quite a bit, so all I am doing is repaying the favour. You might also want to keep an eye on Lantillies.¡±


    Just a hop and skip Coreward on the Perlemian was Lantillies, the headquarters of the Grand Army¡¯s Twelfth Sector Army. Only 3,000 parsecs from the Confederate border, if the invasion of the Foundry was to ur, the system would undoubtedly be their staging grounds. Mina Bonteri was not stupid; she knew exactly what I was implying.


    ¡°Odd time to do it,¡± Mina raised an eyebrow, ¡°And odd way, too. There¡¯s been no movement on the Perlemian¨Cthe Republic wouldn¡¯t dare, not with our victories in the south.¡±


    I scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to start anything, alright? It doesn¡¯t matter if you believe me or not, what matters is that I clear my conscience.¡±


    I pushed myself to my feet, slinging my coat back on, ¡°Oh, and I¡¯m taking Hare with me.¡±


    Mina briefly nced at the droid, ¡°Why are you here, really?¡±


    ¡°To takemand of Raxus¡¯ defences,¡± I answered, ¡°We are on track to lose the war, Mina. We outnumber the Grand Army three-to-one, but that advantage is falling through our fingers everyday.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we on the offensive?¡±


    ¡°Defensive,¡± I corrected, ¡°All our ¡®offensives¡¯ are¡­ well, unimportant.¡±


    The Republic was pushing hard in the New Territories, having taken Muunilinst and now on track to capture Dantooine. Our Third Fleet was outnumbered and outgunned by the Republic¡¯s 8th, 9th, and 10th Sector Armies. In the southern sphere, the Republic¡¯s 20th Sector Army was surrounding Fondor and Bassadro, while the 18th in Eriadu was probing Sullust and Bith.


    The problem was that despite outnumbering the Republic Navy three-to-one, we only had three full fleets, while they had twenty. Despite General Tann¡¯s sesses, the Second Fleet couldn¡¯t be everywhere at once, not to mention she too was in a precarious situation. Soon the First and Second will be tied up in Operation Sidestep, and our fleet-in-being strategy will be washed down the drain. Which was, granted, exactly the n.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Our military is a bucket of crabs,¡± I told her, "Everyone wants operational independence, and no-one wants cooperation unless <em>they </em>are in charge. That¡¯s why we have three fleets and they have twenty¨Ca single personmanding an element of that size would upset the status quo. Instead we have all these independent squadrons doing their own thing without any unified chain ofmand.¡±


    I huffed, ¡°In the end, we are losing because we are fighting ourselves more than we are fighting the Republic. When was thest time Count Dooku introduced a Supreme Commander candidate to the Senate?¡±


    ¡°Three weeks ago,¡± Mina replied carefully.


    ¡°Who?¡± I pushed, ¡°How many ayes were there?¡±


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition.


    ¡°A Pantoran named Sev¡¯rance Tann. There were a quarter ayes, mostly from the War Faction.¡±


    <em>Not enough.</em>


    ¡°Do not ask me to abandon my principles, Rain,¡± Mina warned me, ¡°<em>I </em>will not vote to escte this war.¡±


    And there it was.


    ¡°This war has already escted, Mina,¡± I rebuked softly, ¡°It is only because you live among the pleasantries of Raxus that you can <em>preserve your</em><em>principles. </em>What about <em>my </em>principles, or those of every Separatist giving up their principles on the frontlines to <em>preserve the Confederacy?</em>¡±


    ¡°Do not <em>patronise </em>me, child,¡± her voice turned gravelly, ¡°It was because I had principles that I took you into my house.¡±


    Iughed, ¡°Let¡¯s not joke around,dy. You sold my parents¡¯ estate the moment you managed to get your hands on it. The <em>only </em>reason you took me in is to avoid the media¡¯s scrutiny. You want to argue principles? I had to look after <em>your </em>estate while you used <em>my </em>inheritance to fund your shiny career on Coruscant.¡±


    Mina Bonteri circled around the tea table between us to look me in the eye. Both of us were tall people, and we towered over Hare as she swivelled her head between us in a mix of confusion and an unspoken mood of <em>¡®really, again?¡¯</em>


    ¡°You don¡¯t get to say that to me,¡± she stared daggers, ¡°Not when it was my family who made <em>your </em>career after you ran to the Army.¡±


    ¡°And who do you think convinced General Tandin to not purge the nobles when you dered for the Separatists,¡± I shot back, ¡°Do you know just <em>how close </em>your coup came to being a civil war?¡±


    And I never regretted participating in that, despite my knowledge of the Clone Wars. King Dendup¡¯s statement of neutrality was deeply unpopr among the Lords of the Royal Court¨CHouse Bonteri included¨Cwho quickly started to plot against him. Too quickly. General Akenathen Tandin caught wind of the conspiracy and prepared to wipe them out.


    He didn¡¯t. Because a bloc of moderate officers reasoned that purging Iziz would only prompt the other cities of Onderon to revolt in the name of their Lords, plunging the into civil war. A bloodless coup to join the Separatists was seen as the lesser evil. In the end, the Royal Army stood by as the Royal Court ousted Ramsis Dendup, recing him with Sanjay Rash. Dayster, Mina Bonteri submitted the Articles of Secession to the Gctic Senate, and King Rash signed the Treaty of Iziz.


    ¡°And now, I¡¯m flouting the rules to save his life,¡± I continued, ¡°We¡¯re all ying politics, Mina, neither of us are saints. The only reason you¡¯re holding onto your ¡®principles¡¯ so tightly is because it¡¯s your second chance at having them. Be honest; if we¡¯re not escting the war, then the Republic will.¡±


    ¡°We can still negotiate with the Republic,¡± she insisted, ¡°Not everyone wants a war.¡±


    ¡°The people who matter want a war,¡± I sighed, ¡°If words alone can resolve conflict, we wouldn¡¯t be here in the first ce.¡±


    I plucked the tray out of Hare¡¯s hands and set it down on the table. The atmosphere had shifted; the conversation was over.


    ¡°Make sure to wipe its memory,¡± Mina was referring to Hare, ¡°I suppose it¡¯s about time I buy a newer model, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone what I told you,¡± I reminded, ¡°Not that you will, because that would be feeding the War Faction¡¯s narrative.¡±


    ¡°I will keep that in mind,¡± Mina said dryly, ¡°Take care on your way back.¡±


    I inclined my head, ¡°You as well. Let¡¯s go, Hare.¡±


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Raxus Prime, Raxus System</em>


    <em>Calu Sector</em>


    Barriss didn¡¯t know how long she had been sleeping, or even when she fell asleep. She did know that she woke to an infuriating itch in her left arm and waist, and that she did not recognise her cell on the Separatist frigate.


    ¡°The operation isplete, sir,¡± a modted voice said, ¡°The patient should be awake soon.¡±


    The Jedi Padawan feigned unconsciousness, reaching out through the Force to understand her situation. A shadow moved over her¡­ there was another person standing outside the room¨Ca Force sensitive. <em>Another Sith?</em>


    ¡°Very well,¡± another voice replied, ¡°Good work¡­ are you awake, Jedi?¡±


    Barriss didn¡¯t move, and focused on keeping her breathing consistent. There were metallic footsteps as the¨Cwhat she presumed to be a medical droid¨Cretreated away from the cot. And the person looking down on her¡­ she couldn¡¯t feel them. Barriss knew they were there precisely because she couldn¡¯t feel them through the Force, only where they weren¡¯t. The space they upied was¡­ cold.


    They lifted Barriss¡¯ cked arm over her face, and dropped it. It fell by her wayside.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t fooling anyone, Barriss,¡± they sat down, ¡°I¡¯m running on a tight schedule here, so let¡¯s try to make this quick.¡±


    Barriss opened her eyes, and saw¨C


    <em>¡°M-Master Luminara?¡±</em>


    Master Luminara¡¯s face stared back down at her¡­ but as she held her gaze in disbelief, Barriss realised they didn¡¯t <em>quite </em>wear Master Luminara¡¯s face. There was just something¡­ <em>wrong</em> about it, something unsettling that made her squirm inside. Maybe it was that Barriss couldn¡¯t ce the colour of her eyes, or the hue of her hair. Or that she didn¡¯t have the same tattoos her Master had. <em>Dark Side trickery?</em>


    ¡°ttered, but I¡¯m not her,¡± the human said, ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    Barriss shifted ufortably, ¡°My arm hurts. Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Rain; I believe this is the first time we¡¯ve met,¡± Rain smiled amusedly, ¡°Despite being the captain of the ship you¡¯ve been held on the entire time. Let¡¯s get you up.¡±


    As the woman reached over her and pulled her cot into a sitting position, Barriss suddenly noticed the Separatist roundel patched to her shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯re a <em>Separatist?</em>¡± Barriss didn¡¯t know why she sounded surprised.


    ¡°Do I not look like one?¡± she asked back, ¡°What does a Separatist look like to you?¡±


    ¡°They look like¨C¡±


    <em>Aliens. </em>They looked like Neimodians, Kerkoidens and Geonosians and a thousand other Outer Rim species. They were slimy, corrupt, serving the fallen Jedi Master Dooku to impose their tyranny over the Republic. It¡¯s all over the HoloNet.


    ¡°Are <em>you </em>a Separatist?¡± Rain asked her, in a too-honest voice.


    ¡°No!¡± Barriss refuted indignantly, ¡°Why would I be a Separatist?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Mirin,¡± the Separatist told her, as if it exined everything, ¡°Mirial is a prominent Separatist world, and the I-Sector was one of the first to join the Confederacy. I¡¯ve personally met the Senator from Mirial.¡±


    ¡°I¨C¡± Barriss¡¯ throat was dry, ¡°I¡¯m a Jedi¨C they don¡¯t represent me.¡±


    ¡°But you represent <em>them</em>,¡± Rain pointed out, ¡°I see your tattoos. You still adhere to your people¡¯s culture.¡±


    <em>I represent Master Luminara, </em>Barriss wanted to say. She vividly realised she couldn¡¯t remember a single thing from Mirial, and that everything she knew of Mirin culture was from Master Luminara. <em>Why did Mirial join the Separatists? </em>She wanted to ask at the same time, because Barriss realised she had never spared a thought about her people before.


    ¡°Strange, isn¡¯t it?¡± Rain asked rhetorically, ¡°Conflict is easier to feed to the masses when it¡¯s nice and simple. One side is good, another is evil. Isn¡¯t it your duty as a Jedi to know the truth, and protect the truth, instead of parroting what the pundits say?¡±


    ¡°But it is the truth,¡± Barriss insisted, ¡°Count Dooku is a Sith Lord! He wants to destroy the Republic!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s his view of it,¡± she shrugged, ¡°Not all of us do. Have you ever thought about what ¡®Separatist¡¯ actually means?¡±


    Barriss opened her mouth to refute her again, but one of Master Luminara¡¯s lectures chided her the confines of her mind. This woman¨CRain¨Cwanted to antagonise her, get a rise out of her. If Barriss lets her do that, then she would be letting her win. Barriss forced herself to calm down and think clearly. There was no reasoning with Separatists, they¡¯ve all been captured by Dooku¡¯s lies.


    They are all puppets of the Dark Side, unknowing or not.


    ¡°It means you want to separate from the Republic,¡± Barriss answered simply.


    ¡°That¡¯ll all,¡± Rain agreed, ¡°Nothing about the Force. Nothing about taking over the gxy. It <em>should </em>have been that simple. But the Republic didn¡¯t let us, and now some of us are convinced that the only way to separate is to remove the Republic from the equation.¡±


    Their attention was grabbed by a knock on the door.


    Rain stood up with a mild smile, ¡°There will be moderates and hardliners on both sides¨Cthose who want peace, and those who want victory. My question is which side does the Jedi Order represent? If you want peace, then you ought to allow those of us who are more reasonable, a chance to carry the day.


    The woman offered a hand¨Cone which she warily took¨Cand used it to pull Barriss to her feet, ¡°I look forward to working with you.¡±


    The door hissed open, revealing a rather nondescript man in Separatist uniform. Barriss immediately found her eyes drawn to the lightsaber hooked onto his belt. When she cast her eyes back at Rain, her appearance was different again, as if shifting with the light. The same way the colour of water seems to change, like an illusion. The word she was looking for came to her tongue¨Clike a <em>mask</em>.


    ¡°Your orders, sir?¡± the man asked.


    ¡°Give her a tour,¡± Rain gently nudged her forward, ¡°Both of you may be Jedi, but I''m in charge now. So get to know the ship and the crew, because it will be your new home for theing months. No need to getfortable in here; we¡¯re off to the Wheel in two days.¡±


    Rain turned on her heel and retreated down the hallway with a brisk pace, leaving Barriss alone with the Sith.


    ¡°Name¡¯s Vinoc,¡± the man said, ¡°The uniform looks surprisingly good on you.¡±


    ¡°The uniform¨C¡± Barriss looked down, finding herself in a stale grey uniform, ¡°Why am I¡­¡±


    When she realised her head felt oddly light, Barriss patted her head to find out she wasn¡¯t wearing her headscarf either. And her lightsaber¡­


    She tried not to let her outrage show on her face, ¡°Do you think trying to coerce me into joining you is going to work? I¡¯ll never fall to the Dark Side.¡±


    Vinoc rubbed his bearded chin, ¡°We¡¯re not asking you to. Dooku already thinks you are dead, so we are going through all this trouble to keep you out of their sight. Sorry about your lightsaber¨Cit was proof of your ¡®death¡¯¨Cbut you can always make a new one. Follow me.¡±


    Barriss contemted escaping for a brief moment, but decided better of it. For now, she will humour these people. Only when she has gotten her bearings, can she start hashing out a n to escape¨Cor send a distress call to the Jedi Temple. By the time Barriss departed her thoughts, she realised Vinoc had already moved on ahead¨Cand she raced to catch up.


    She passed by a window¨Cand saw a deste with an atmosphere of sickly yellow.


    ¡°Raxus Prime,¡± Vinoc said, ¡°Wee aboard the Raxus Starbase, headquarters of the First Fleet.¡±


    As if on cue, a vast shadow drifted over the¨Ca Separatist dreadnought¨Cits beaked prow and painted facsimile of an eye piercing straight through her as if saying ¡®<em>you don¡¯t belong here.¡¯ </em>She had never seen one so close before, and it was like standing beneath a leviathan. Her situation became real to her like a knife pressing into the back of her neck: <em>I¡¯m in the heart of enemy territory. Even if Master Luminara is trying to rescue me, she will never be able to reach me.</em>


    By the Force, luckily she didn¡¯t try anything reckless. She would¡¯ve never even gotten out of the system. Barriss was truly alone now, at the mercy of the strange game her captives were ying.


    ¡°...You said Dooku thinks I¡¯m dead,¡± Barriss mumbled, ¡°Don¡¯t you serve him? Why am I still alive?¡±


    Vinoc wrinkled his nose, ¡°I only served him because he was the only choice. I found another. As for what your purpose is, that¡¯s beyond me.¡±


    They stopped before a turbolift, stepping aside to let the upants through¨Ca Quarren and a Sullustan¨Cbefore quietly stepping through. As the doors slid closed, Vinoc pressed a floor button. <em>Level 3 Docks.</em>


    ¡°Thatdy¨CRain¨Cshe called you a Jedi,¡± Barriss realised.


    Vinoc coughed in surprise, ¡°N-No, Commodore Rain¡¯s a man¡­ probably.¡±


    <em>A¨C man!? </em>Barriss¡¯ cheeks purpled in shame as she desperately tried to recall her¨C<em>his</em>¨Cappearance¡­ but nothing came to her. She couldn¡¯t describe his appearance in her mind¡¯s eye any more than she could describe the appearance of the Force. But for some reason, Barriss remembered that s¨C<em>he</em>¨Clooked somewhat like Master Luminara.


    ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t call myself a Jedi,¡± Vinoc cleared his throat, saving her from stewing in her own embarrassment, ¡°I was raised in the Jedi Order, like you, but I never got to be a Padawan. You¡¯re fortunate, you know? Mirins always look after one another.¡±


    It took a moment for Barriss to understand what he meant¨C ¡°You¡¯re Service Corps.¡±


    Vinoc nodded, ¡°I was assigned to Folende, right here in Tion, along with my brother. There were only a handful of us, on Folende and Omman, but I guess it was the Republic¡¯s way of showing the Outer Rim they still cared.¡±


    There was a <em>ding</em> as the turbolift jolted to a stop, and the doors slid open.


    ¡°Why did you join the Separatists?¡± Barriss asked as they stepped out.


    ¡°Because the Republic didn¡¯t care,¡± he answered, ¡°Folende and Omman didn¡¯t feed the Core, so we barely saw Republic officials, or any supervision from the AgriCorps. I¨C<em> we </em>realised what most Separatists realised; that the Republic didn¡¯t care about any of us. If they did, it was to take our stuff. So when Tion seceded, we just¡­ decided to join them. I suspect some of us had gotten attached to our new home, and for others¡­ I guess it was just apathy.¡±


    ¡°Apathy?¡±


    Vinoc shrugged, ¡°We were already there, and had lived there for years. I know some of us down in Ukio also joined the Separatists when Abrion seceded. I imagine it¡¯s the same for many Outer Rim outposts.¡±


    <em>So how many Jedi joined the Separatists? </em>The thought alone unnerved her. How many Jedi were on Separatists when they left the Republic, and had just decided to stay? How many <em>couldn¡¯t </em>leave?


    Barriss looked around, as if suddenly expecting to see a lot more lightsaber-wielding people on the station. But it was just the usual affair on any repair yard; repulsorlift tugs, people-movers, transporters, pipeyers. All like bees working to keep the hundreds of warships berthed beyond the atmosphere containment rays serviced and spaceworthy.


    ¡°So you didn¡¯t fall to the Dark Side?¡± Barriss blurted out.


    A shadow crossed over Vinoc¡¯s face, his eyes growing darker¨Cweary¨Cas if he had aged by a decade in a second.


    ¡°Briefly,¡± he replied curtly.


    Barriss decided not to push the issue. But if he didn¡¯t, how many Jedi <em>did </em>fall to the Dark Side, she wondered. Like Count Dooku¡­


    ¡°There it is,¡± Vinoc¡¯s voice snapped her from her thoughts, ¡°Star frigate <em>Repulse</em>. gship of the White Hand Fleet. Nobody¡¯s going to be able to reach you onboard of it.¡±


    <em>Neither Dooku nor Master Luminara </em>was left unsaid.


    <em>Repulse </em>was a Munificent, its Separatist roundel freshly repainted and vibrant blue, oveid over the mess of earthen-coloured stains that Barriss¡¯ couldn¡¯t make any order out of. <em>A camouge? But it¡¯s a starship, not a tank.</em>


    As she approached the ship, Barriss discovered it wasn''t just random paint, but a meticulously hand-drawn battlefield. Armies of primitive stick figures wielding spears and bows fought against a variety of creatures, including what appeared to be Nabooan tusk cats, Alderaanian deer, Batuuan bears,mon nerfs, and huge bantha-sized creatures on stout legs with Ortn-like heads¨Cif Ortns had long, curved, and menacing tusks.


    Wrapping around the entire ship, it was difficult to make them out even from a few feet away¨Cand at a klick out, she imagined that all the effort would bepletely unrecognisable from the drab hull. The only thing that stuck out was a massive, stark white handprint, painted onto the upper hull. The very same one, Barriss surmised, that gave the fleet its name.


    ¡°He said it¡¯s an Onderonian cave painting,¡± Vinocmented, ¡°But there¡¯s not a single Onderonian creature on it¡­ let¡¯s get you onboard. You¡¯ll have to get used to the crew¨Cthey¡¯re a bit¡­ special.¡±

 Addendum 1: Operation Sidestep [CLASSIFIED]

    Addendum 1: Operation Sidestep [CLASSIFIED]


    In the eighth week of the Clone Wars, General Sev''rance Tann and the Confederate Second Fleetunched her second major offensive, designation: <em><strong>Operation S</strong></em><strong><em>ideste</em></strong><em><strong>p</strong></em><strong><em>.</em></strong>


    With the Separatist cause recently losing ess to Hutt Space, their supply lines into the Trailing Sectors have copsed, stranding many prominent systems such as Ando, Falleen, and Anteen, making them vulnerable to Republic attack. Facing imminent disaster, the Second Fleet staged a desperate, all-or-nothing attempt to break through the Republic encirclement and reestablish a direct hypene connection with the Confederation''s primary holdings in the north.


    <strong>Phase One.</strong> The Second Fleet will redeploy to Nexus Ortai, counterattacking and routing the Republic''s Iron Lance Fleet at Christophsis, before pursuing them to Leritor. Separatist General Grievous pursues the Open Circle Fleet to nic, before being recalled to Pammant. At the same time, the Confederate First Fleet will be strategically redeployed to Nixor from the Foundry in order to support Operation Sidestep, and ced under themand of Separatist Admiral Pors Tonith. Admiral Tonith''s previousmand is merged into the Second Fleet.


    <strong>Phase Two.</strong> Corporate Alliance forces ambush the Iron Lance Fleet in the Manda System, inflicting minor damage. While the skirmish was proved indecisive and somewhat pyrrhic, it still aplished its objective of forcing the Iron Lance Fleet to retreat deeper into Bothan Space. The First Fleetunches its assault on the Republic-aligned world of Dang.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition.


    <strong>Phase Three, </strong>the Bothawui Offensive. The First Fleet pushes onwards to Lannik, detaching a satellite force to secure the Gamor Run. A detachment of the Second Fleet upies Dressel, while the mainstay moves to invade Bothan Space, having sessfully gathered its adversaries into one location in the Bothawui System.


    While the Second Fleet''s primary objective is to reestablish logistics lines, its secondary objective is to upy Bothan Space and liquidate the infamous Bothan Sp, which is suspected to serve Republic interests. While staff officers draftary invasion ns for Bothawui, Kothlis, Moonus Mandel, and other Bothan-aligned worlds, the Second Fleet will first have to break thebined Republic-Bothan defense.


    <em>Attachment CWY22M06: State of the Gxy:</em>

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    <em>Golm Approach, Both System</em>


    <em>Bothan Space</em>


    One might think Sev¡¯rance Tann to be aggressive and almost zealous in her approach to strategy, knowing her operational history, but Karoc had grown to know better. Sev¡¯rance Tann was methodical and cautious¨Calmost too cautious¨Cand never willing tomit to any action unless she already knew the oue. And when she did know the oue, she would bet everything she had, resulting in her reputation.


    Only 700 parsecs southeast of Bothawui was the site of her greatest victory, where she used <em>herself </em>as bait. And the Republic taskforce fell for it hook, line and sinker.


    Karoc checked his chrono again. They¡¯ve been staring down thebined Republic-Bothan fleet for five hours, and Sev¡¯rance Tann hasn¡¯t moved an inch from the captain¡¯s chair, as still as a sculpture. Her glowing red eyes were closed, and Karoc could feel her searching for something through the Force. What exactly she was searching for, he did not know.


    All he knew was that he had been standing next to her for almost eight hours now, and his legs were getting weak.


    The reason they hadn''t attacked yet was obvious; the enemy fleet had entrenched itself inside the asteroid rings of the gas giant Golm. There was 60,000 klicks of dense ice, rocks, asteroids, dust, and other ster debris between them. No missile would be able to prate the cordon, and even <em>Ascendant Sky¡¯s </em>particle shields would expire long before the dreadnought could reach the other side. But Karoc knew the Republic had ostensibly chosen this specific battlefield to deprive them of the Tann Railgun.


    Sev¡¯rance Tann blinked, her glowing red eyes revealing themselves for the first time in hours. She squinted at the enemy fleet through the forward viewport, as if she had only just realised they were supposed to be in a battle. If Karoc hadn¡¯t been sunken in the Force as well, he could¡¯ve believed the General had genuinely awoken from a nap.


    ¡°Numbers?¡± her voice was hoarse.


    ¡°Twenty-one Jedi cruisers, including <em>Negotiator </em>and <em>Tranquility,</em>¡± Karoc reported, ¡°Thirty-three Arquitens and seventeen CR-Ny corvettes. There are also six Bothan cruisers, and eleven Bothan frigates.¡±


    ¡°Mmh,¡± she hummed, ¡°Can you sense any Jedi?¡±


    Karoc reached out through the Force, but was barely powerful enough to reach through the vacuum of space. There was no point looking through the viewports¨Cthe distance was too great, and he could barely see the red paint jobs of the ships themselves through theary belt.


    ¡°No,¡± he answered, lying in spirit, ¡°I couldn¡¯t sense any.¡±


    ¡°Then this will be simple,¡± Tann said curtly, ¡°Can you tell me the most efficient way to defeat them, Captain?¡±


    The most <em>efficient </em>way to defeat them, Karoc repeated in his mind, spoken like the Republic¡¯s defeat was all but assured. The question wasn¡¯t <em>how </em>to defeat them, but how to do it with minimal effort and losses. Which means the General already had a n, and simply wanted to test whether Karoc knew it as well.


    <em>Test. </em>Karoc¡¯s life until now has only been a series of tests, but this was the first time the test had nothing to do with the Force. <em>I have to prove myself worthy. This time. I cannot fail again.</em>


    He observed the pitch again. With a portion of the Second Fleet enforcing a blockade around Bothawui, they now outnumbered the enemy two-to-one¨Cbut the asteroid belt negated that. While their capital ships may be able to bludgeon their way through the field, the expense of their particle shields would make them vulnerable to starfighter and missile attacks. Not to mention that their Diamond-ss cruisers and Lupus-ss frigates would never make it.


    ¡°We need to push them out of their position,¡± Karoc thought out loud, ¡°We can circumnavigate the rings and strike from below¡­¡±


    ¡°And they will climb over the rings,¡± Tann replied, audibly bored, ¡°We aren¡¯t here to y games with the enemy, Captain.¡±


    Karoc resisted the urge to shout in annoyance, feeling the Dark Side creep into the corners of his consciousness. He held it at arm''s length.


    ¡°Our missile frigates are quick enough to make it,¡± Karoc tried again, ¡°And attaching our point defence cruisers will protect them from enemy starfighters.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann straightened slightly¨Cwhich he took as a positive¨Cncing at her datapad and counting the pins, then at the tactical holo.


    ¡°That would work,¡± she demurred, ¡°If the Second Fleet presented the total of our assets. However, if we detach our screens to protect our frigates, that would leave our capital ships vulnerable in their stead.¡±


    ¡°...We could recall our Lucrehulks and use their fighter wings¨C¡±


    ¡°From Bothawui? I want efficiency, Captain,¡± impatience coloured the General¡¯s voice, ¡°You must remember that battlefield tactics is an extension of greater strategy, Captain. Do not separate tactics from strategy¨Cconte them instead, and see therger picture. What is possible here is a result of my decisions on Geonosis a week ago.¡±


    ¡°...Commander Merai,¡± Karoc said, ¡°Where is Commander Merai?¡±


    ¡°Sublight transmission from Hoppawui,¡± thems droid reported, ¡°Corporate Alliance forces have entered the system. Forty-three ships.¡±


    <em>Hoppawui? That¡¯s the edge of the system!</em> Karoc scowled¨Cthe Both System was rtively dense, possessing eights and many more moons. A fleet the size of Commander Merai¡¯s was toorge to safely jump directly to Golm, and will be forced to extract on the edge of the system. If Tann considered pulling their battleships from Bothawui too inefficient, then waiting for an entire fleet to make it all the way from the termination shock was out of the question.


    He caught Tann smirking in amusement from the corner of his eye.


    ¡°¨CTell Commander Merai to get into position,¡± Karoc said in frustration, ¡°And have him make it quick.¡±


    ¡°Uh, sir?¡± the droid looked up at him, ¡°Commander Merai isn¡¯t with the fleet. His XO is inmand.¡±


    ¡°...What?¡± Karoc blurted out.


    <em>Was Merai killed in action at Kamino? </em>Karoc frowned¨Cthat couldn¡¯t be right¡­ the Force pressed his mind, telling him something was amiss. There was something he was missing, he could feel it. Corporate Alliance fleet¡­ forty-three ships¨Cwait, <em>only </em>forty-three?


    ¡°Sir,¡± he asked the General, ¡°How many ships were lost at Kamino?¡±


    ¡°Eight,¡± Tann bore a knowing look that told him he was on the right track.


    ¡°That means six ships are unounted for¡­¡± he mumbled, ¡°Droid, what¡¯s their gship?¡±


    The droid consulted his console, ¡°Star destroyer <em>Vanguard re.</em>¡±


    Commander Merai¡¯s gship should be the very same gship of the Corporate Alliance armada, the dreadnought <em>Prosperous.</em>


    ¡°There you go,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann smiled, ¡°Now what is thest asset you have missed?¡±


    Karoc grew silent,bing over everything he knew. He checked the tactical holo, the gravitics, the astrogationputers, anything to jog his memory or give him a spark of inspiration. He even peered through the Force¨Ceven though the General never required it¨Cto find something.


    ¡°Have I ever told you where I came from?¡± Tann¡¯s voice dug into his spine.


    ¡°No, sir.¡±


    ¡°Ie from the Unknown Regions,¡± she answered herself, ¡°We call it the Chaos. Navigationputers are unreliable in the Chaos, because there are no permanent hypenes in deep space. Instead, we rely on Force-sensitive navigators, known as sky-walkers, to predict safe passages. I was one of them.¡±


    Karoc kept quiet. There was an odd nostalgia in her voice that he dared not interrupt.


    ¡°We boldly went where nobody else dared go,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann said firmly, even pridefully, ¡°Through the harshest reaches of the gxy, or <em>beyond </em>it.¡±


    His tablet buzzed; the sensor readings spiked, rm lights blinking. <em>Cronau spike.</em>


    A fleet jumped out of hyperspace directly <em>above </em>the enemy, exactly six ships strong. One-hundred and two pre-prepped torpedoes raced ahead of Corporate Alliance dreadnought <em>Prosperous </em>before it had even fully materialised, cradling its hull in a thick curtain of hash. Then followed by the shrieking of hundreds of droid starfighters. The torpedoes branched out like purple lightning, carpeting the topmost warships of the Republic fleet with their brutal ordnance.


    Their impact times were synchronised perfectly, leaving no ship more time to react than the other, resulting in what seemed like a single massive explosion that gave Golm a new ring to boast of¨Cone of doonium, durasteel, and cinder. The inferno screamed in every colour of the rainbow¨Ca telltale sign of rhydonium-based fuel¨Cand the subsequent shockwave drived every proximity sensor on <em>Ascendant Sky </em>to howl in rm as a portion of theary belt was sted out towards them.


    To escape the intensifying barrage ofser fire and missiles, the remaining ships precipitously descended as hastily as possible, using the twisted wrecks of theirrades to shield them from above. Most importantly, they were descending <em>beneath </em>the asteroid belt.


    ¡°All ships,¡± Tann reverted back to a disinterested tone as she watched the carnage, ¡°Descend two-thousand klicks. Maintain formation; reinforce forward shields.¡±


    Karoc nced at Sev¡¯rance Tann in quiet awe; she hadn¡¯t been searching for anything, she had been <em>guiding </em>the Alliance fleet through a hidden spe <em>above </em>the gctic ne. Was there even a single Jedi Master who could do such a thing? Maybe someone from the ExplorCorps? But were any of them even powerful enough to see beyond the gctic ne?


    ¡°The Rishi Maze is an interesting phenomenon,¡± she seemed to read his mind, ¡°Not because it exists outside the gxy, but because we know it is there, and have travelled to it. But we have not <em>explored </em>it, not truly, because nobody dares to. The Zareca String is the only known hypene between Lesser Space and the Rishi Maze¨Cbut that doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t others.¡±


    ¡°...You found another?¡± he said in disbelief, ¡°Just like that?¡±


    ¡°It exists for now,¡± Tann replied, ¡°Maybe it will stay, maybe it will shift in a decade. It skirts the edge of the Intergctic Void, so nothing can be known for certain. But if this spe didn¡¯t exist, or will not exist, I will always be able to find another. Your orders, Captain?¡±


    ¡°Orders¨C¡± he caught himself, ¡°All screens, forward positions¨Cprepare to receive the enemy. All destroyers, activate tractor beam projectors and set to Railgun preset. Prepare to jettison proton torpedoes.¡±


    The Tann Railgun, as its name suggests, was a battle tactic invented by Sev¡¯rance Tann meant to ovee the deficiencies of their self-propelled warheads. Torpedoes were short range affairs, and at this range drive burnout will send even <em>Ascendant Sky¡¯s </emrgest missiles ballistic¨Cthus harmless¨Cwell over 55,000 klicks short of target.


    The Tann Railgunpensated for that with <em>extreme eleration. </em>You can¡¯t shoot down a bird travelling at near-luminal speeds, after all. Superluminal too, rtively speaking, if the distance was great enough. Karoc still didn''t quite understand how the gravitics worked.


    Karoc¡¯s gaze was drawn to the ship¡¯s startled gravitics, which were dramatically warning of unsafe anomalies on both port and starboard nks. The bridge was basked in the strobing lights of the disy, which described the pulsating forcefield being cycled from aft to prow like a resonant wave. Dust and micrometeorites which had been sted towards them were slingshotted back towards the as <em>Ascendant Sky¡¯s </em>ten heavy beam projectors synchronised and intensified.


    ¡°All ships report synchronism, sir,¡± a droid reported.


    ¡°Jettison pilot torpedoes,¡± hemanded.


    ¡°Roger roger,¡± the droid tapped this console.


    A single torpedo was ejected off the rear quarter of the dreadnought¨Chalf a heartbeatter, it was captured by the artificial gravitic wave and whipped towards the. A purple explosion 60,000 klicks away sent a Bothan cruiser reeling back into a Republic corvette, shattering like ss and perforating the warships behind them with secondary explosions.


    Six more whips of light followed as the fleet¡¯s other star destroyers tested their Railguns, gouging out a pound of flesh from the enemy.


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    ¡°All systems functioning as normal, sir,¡± the droid said, ¡°All destroyers report systems operational. Proceed?¡±


    Karoc nodded, ¡°Commence firing.¡±


    <em>Ascendant Sky¡¯s </em>proton torpedoes were ejected in session¨Ceach perfectly timed with the strobing gravitational wave to maximise active eleration¨Cand fired off towards the enemy fleet. Trapped between the Corporate Alliance and the Second Fleet, the battle¨Cif it could be called that¨Cwas already over. All that was left was to watch the pyrotechnics.


    <em>But the Tann Railgun was not without deficiencies itself</em>, Karoc had to remind himself lest he be reliant on the tactic¡¯s awe-some power. For one, tractor beam projectors were extremely energy intensive, and powering all ten concurrently required almost all of <em>Ascendant Sky¡¯s </em>weapon, shielding, and engine systems deactivated¨Cleaving only the attitude thrusters to keep the ship-cum-catapult stable.


    Second, it was also untenably difficult to aim. As the entire dreadnought now acted as a barrel, even the slightest attitude change could offset the projectile¡¯s destination by orders of magnitude. Not to mention the projectile isunched forward in the attitude it is jettisoned¨Cto rectify this, the Railgun usually required two destroyers abreast of each other, with one acting as propulsion and the other as a guiderail.


    Still, the first shot will always be the most urate. <em>Triumphant </em>could attest.


    Not that it was necessary here. The Republic-Bothan fleet was so bunched up, they would be hard-pressed to miss. In conclusion, there were two minimum requirements; a dreadnought, and <em>range</em>. Because the enemy can press the attack while your warship¡¯s power was still being fed to the tractor beam projectors, the battle was already lost.


    ¡°All ships check fire,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann suddenly said, ¡°All power to sublight drives and forward batteries. Modified follow-up spread; clean the rest of them out. Prepare a boarding party; there is something on the <em>Negotiator </em>that I want.¡±


    The reason to check fire was easy to see¨Cthe enemy¡¯s vanguard now created a wall of wreckage shielding the surviving ships. The Corporate Alliance fleet had already broken off their vector and was now zing around for a clear shot.


    ¡°This is a lesson, Captain, to always use every resource at your disposal,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann told him, ¡°It is a simple and obvious concept, but difficult in practice. Any halfpetent officer can win a battle, but a <em>good </em>officer must be able to win <em>decisively. </em>And that, Captain, is the ultimate culmination of the web you weave with strategy.¡±


    ¡°We could have defeated them at Manda all the same,¡± she continued, ¡°But I made sure Bothawui would be the site of our battle, precisely because I knew they would choose Golm as the site to make their stand. It seems that in their haste to find a defensive position, the Republic had forgotten to secure a path of escape.¡±


    The Iron Lance Fleet was bound by debris to front and top, and the to their rear. Theary rings that once served as their fortress, have now be their cage. It was practically unheard of for a battle¨Cno matter how disastrous¨Cto result in the <em>total </em>annihtion of a fleet. There will always be a handful of ships able to make an emergency jump¡­


    This would be the second time Sev¡¯rance Tann left nothing but corpses in her wake.


    ¡°You will lead the assault on Kothlis, Captain,¡± she told him, ¡°You will secure the for the Confederacy, and you will do it <em>expediently</em>. Commander Merai will take Moonus Mandel, and I will lead the invasion force of Bothawui. I intend on dealing with the Bothan Sp <em>personally.</em>¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Karoc swallowed, ¡°Sir.¡±


    <em>Ascendant Sky </em>had drifted into the debris field, shields shrugging off asteroids and scrap metal alike. Jedi cruiser <em>Negotiator </em>was the only vessel remaining, trapped and surrounded by the Second Fleet, closing in like sharks around a carcass.


    ¡°Look,¡± the General dered in awfully controlled glee, ¡°This is <em>my </em>definition of victory. This¡­ this will make the Republic <em>panic.</em>¡±


    ?


    <em>The Wheel, Besh Gorgon System</em>


    <em>Maldrood Sector</em>


    <em>Repulse, Renown, </em>and my new ship, <em>Revenge</em> were ck swans among the luxury liners, space yachts and personal haulcrafts berthed around BDT-0978¨Can enormous space station shaped like a wheel. And who would¡¯ve guessed it, the station was called the <em>Wheel. </em>A central cylindrical fusge spun on its axis, with two massive spokes leading out to a circr promenade¨Cfrom which just under a hundred docking piers extended,rge enough to amodate any size of ship.


    The entire station was the size of a moon, directly orbiting around the star Besh Gorgon¨Csupporting a permanent poption of around 300,000 souls.


    Hundreds¨Cmaybe thousands¨Cof vessels were harboured around the station, moored at the innumerous buoys that afforded cheaper parking. Countless cutters and pinnaces shuttled to-and-fro the station, transporting all the people who wanted to enjoy the <em>Wheel¡¯s </emforts and luxuries. The queue was perhaps even longer, stretching like a ring around Besh Gorgon.


    I spotted every kind of ship, from vast passenger liners to freighters to official looking shuttles. There were probably all kinds of people here¨Cmerchants, self-important VIPs, seedy ck market dealers¡­ they all silently split before my star frigates without even a single call ofint.


    Because the <em>Wheel </em>was an independent entity in Separatist space. <em>Technically, </em>even Republic Navy ships cannot be attacked in this system due to the extreme autonomy the <em>Wheel </em>exercises. One might ask just how Cody Sunn-Childe¨Cthe station¡¯s administrator¨C<em>apparently </em>avoids direct oversight, and the answer was with copious amounts of ¡®taxes¡¯ paid directly to the Confederate government. It didn¡¯t hurt that Sunn-Childe was a Separatist himself.


    All of this meant that Navy ships were extremely rare in Besh Gorgon. And when there <em>were </em>Navy ships in the system, you keep quiet and move aside, because it usually means <em>somebody fucked up.</em>


    In other words, I get to skip the queue. Privileges.


    And as expected, the Administrator Sunn-Childe was there to wee me at the docking bay. He was a rather short fellow, with peachy skin, long elf-like ears, and a braided mop of white hair on top of his head¨CI couldn¡¯t name his species.


    ¡°Captain¡­¡± his beady little eyes flickered towards my shoulder, ¡°¨CCommodore! I had heard of your return to Raxus, but it is to my great shame I had not anticipated your presence here¡­ what brings you to the Wheel? Nothing bad, I hope?¡±


    So Sunn-Childe had agents on Raxus¡­ no, on the Raxus Starbase. Not very surprising. He also hasn''t heard of my promotion yet, which means he didn¡¯t have his eye on me specifically. Also not surprising; I¡¯m deployed down south, while he should be focused on interests closer to home.


    The alien snuck a nce at the small army of battle droids marching down the ramps, a bead of sweat running down his temple. While his jowled face was deep set in forced calm, I could still make out the mild panic in his eyes. It was amusing, to say the least, to watch the capitalist¨Cand richest man in this sector of space, as he owned the <em>Wheel</em>¨Csuddenly realise he wasn¡¯t the biggest fish in the pond anymore.


    I silently inspected Sunn-Childe a bit longer, just to watch him squirm.


    ¡°No,¡± I gave a dead smile, ¡°I hope not indeed. I don¡¯t know if you have heard, but the usual patrols will be lifting. I¡¯m just dropping by to make sure everything is in order, you understand.¡±


    He has definitely heard. Hundreds of ships suddenly upped and gone is not something a savvy fellow like Sunn-Childe would miss.


    The Administrator returned the smile, sping his hands together nervously, ¡°O¨COf course, officer. The <em>Wheel </em>is yours to enjoy.¡±


    His anxiety was well-founded. What should have been a loosened leash had unexpectedly turned into a chokehold. No doubt he had bribed many of the captains operating in the region to turn a blind eye to some of his more¡­ <em>questionable </em>operations. I presented an unknown to him; a veteran officer from the most war-torn corner of the gxy suddenly recing the sinecure-holding nepotee pushovers he was familiar with. Sunn-Childe simply didn¡¯t know if I was going to y the ¡®game¡¯ of these waters.


    ¡°I intend to,¡± I replied conversationally, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind me <emmandeering </em>this docking bay.¡±


    Like hell I was going to pay docking fees. Even the standard fees will rip a new hole in your wallet¨Cat least <em>ten times </em>the going rate of simr stations.


    ¡°Ah¡­ of course not,¡± Sunn-Childe calmed down, ¡°If it pleases you, sir, I could have someone guide you around to see <em>everything </em>the <em>Wheel </em>has to offer.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, thank you¡­¡± I suddenly switched my tone to authoritative barking, making the alien flinch, ¡°Taylor, get me a perimeter around the level! Clear the area, I don¡¯t want <em>anyone </em>on the floor, understood!? After that, you may continue working on <em>Renown.</em>¡±


    ¡°Roger roger!¡± Taylor saluted as enthusiastically as a droid could, before heading off to coordinate the now-hundreds of droids marching into the station.


    ¡°Hare, Offee,e¨C¡± I gently grabbed Sunn-Childe¡¯s shoulder and spun him around, forcing him to walk with me, ¡°I have an appointment to make, Mister Administrator, and will be gone by tomorrow. Continue your duties well.¡±


    He calmed down after that, understandinging over his expression. An exhaustive sigh of relief nearly escaped his lips¨Cbut Sunn-Childe caught himself in time, choking down a breath and eyes skittishly darting to make sure I didn¡¯t notice. His escort of Wheel Security personnel skittishly nced at each other, but didn¡¯t dare make a move. God, I¡¯m such a fucking asshole.


    Turning the corner and into the transport tube, I found an airflow car already waiting for me. I boarded it along with Hare, Barriss, and four super battle droids, inclining my head towards the Administrator as we sped off.


    <em>¡°Wee aboard the Wheel, sir,¡± </em>the car¡¯s dashboard spoke, <em>¡°I am Master-Com, the administrative control system of the station. You have been granted clearance to every level of the station; do you have a destination in mind?¡±</em>


    I briefly wondered if Master-Com remembered me from myst visit. Probably not; he had millions of people to handle, and I was dressed as a civilian thest time.


    ¡°I do indeed,¡± I said, ¡°The Cosmo Lounge, please.¡±


    Not the fanciest establishment, but about the upper end of middle range. Should¡¯ve been beyond budget for newlymissioned officers, but we were in the mood to splurge, so we pooled our credits together to book a private room. Old times.


    As I settled in, I noticed Barriss looking at me.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°...Did you have to do that?¡± Barriss asked, before quickly tacking on¨C ¡°Treating the Administrator like that, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Have you met many capitalists before, Offee?¡± I hummed.


    ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Hare blinked, ¡°They are annoying.¡±


    ¡°Well said,¡± I agreed, ¡°When you get the chance¨Cand by that I mean when you have power over them¨Cdon¡¯t leave them with any false impressions. They¡¯re self-serving, but that means they won¡¯t try to do something stupid under your nose. I told him we¡¯re leaving tomorrow, remember? He¡¯ll keep the Wheel nice and tidy for today, then restart everything after we leave.¡±


    ¡°What good is that?¡± Barriss was even more confused.


    ¡°What good? It¡¯s an understanding, Offee,¡± I exined, ¡°He keeps it lowkey, and I won¡¯t have anything to report. If I don¡¯t have anything to report, I won¡¯t have any paperwork to do. Simple as that. It¡¯s preferable to getting bribed.¡±


    She looked initially outraged, but then morphed into a more pensive face. I took that as progress. Master-Com was probably listening in, but Master-Com was equivalent to the station itself¨Cso whatever. It¡¯s <em>after </em>we step out of the airflow car that requires brevity; this ce is crawling with both Separatist and Republic agents.


    A few minutester, we were at our stop. I told Master-Com ¡®thank you¡¯ as I exited the car, as did Hare. Barriss looked a bit confused at that, but her attention was swiftly consumed by the brilliant chaos of the Wheel. Aliens from every corner of Separatist space¨Cand even Republic space, if you knew where to look¨Crevelled in these neon-lit corridors, surrounded by the bustle of every storefront imaginable. You can find <em>anything </em>here, and I wasn¡¯t kidding.


    Sure, the premium clubs, casinos and hotels on the luxury level were the highlights of this ce, but the <em>Wheel¡¯s </em>special status meant its true valuey in what <em>couldn¡¯t </em>be seen. Every third person we passed by was probably a slicer, infochant, or spy. Half the businesses on the station were more likely than not fronts for smuggling rings and ck market brokers. One wrong turn down a dimly lit alley and you¡¯ll end up in a sleazy gambling den. For fuck¡¯s sake, there was a <em>diator arena </em>in the centre of the station.


    Barriss swivelled her head around, wide eyed, ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°Scum and viiny,¡± I muttered, ¡°Polite, dressed nice, and operating under a veneer of officiality. Everyone here¡¯s a professional, because that¡¯s a requirement if you want to pay the outrageous rental rates. Watch for pickpockets.¡±


    Fair warning, in any other circumstance. The crowded concourse seemed awfully spacious as everybody gave us a wide berth. Despite the station¡¯s¡­ entricities, Wheel Security kept everything clean outwardly. Scuffles were unheard of, and the numerous gangs divvying up the zas knew better than to cross Master-Com. My B2 battle droids were overkill in that regard.


    ¡°Patrol the floor,¡± I ordered my droids, ¡°And Offee¡­ take these credits and find some fun.¡±


    She eyed me suspiciously as I dropped the cash into her hand, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll escape?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be very impressed if you find a Republic agent,¡± I said softly, ¡°And I¡¯ll be even more impressed if you convince them not to kill you.¡±


    ¡°Why would they do that? I¡¯m a¨C¡± Barriss caught herself.


    ¡°You¡¯re a Mirin, first of all,¡± I said, ¡°Second, you¡¯re wearing a Confederate uniform, and all of them have already seen you. Republic Intelligence aren¡¯t Jedi, Offee, they don¡¯t subscribe to <empassion</em> and¨Cwell¨C<em>naivete</em>. They¡¯re going to drag you through a backdoor and put a slug in your head, because better to eliminate a security risk than take that chance. They¡¯ll assume you¡¯re leading me straight to them.¡±


    <em>And they¡¯d be right, </em>I added wordlessly, <em>because you have three trackers in your body in three different ces. I can hear everything you hear, and everything you say. </em>Even if they do believe her, and take her in¨Cunlikely as that was¨CI won¡¯t be losing anything.


    I checked her expression¨Cit was nk. Must be a Jedi thing; at least I gave her something to chew on. For now, I had to instil into her the sense that the Republic is notpletely <em>white, </em>then work off from there. Maybe the Confederate HoloNet will present a different point of view as well. Baby steps.


    ¡°We¡¯ll meet at the bayter,¡± I told her, ¡°If you get lost, just look for the nearest info kiosk and Master-Com will help you out. Let¡¯s go, Hare.¡±


    Let¡¯s hope my standing order for the B2s to keep a strict eye on her sticks.


    The Cosmo Lounge was a popr establishment on the Middle Ring¨Cpopr enough to warrant a bouncer, despite being a cantina. The reason was because the cantina was near the hangars, and not in the main hull. So most rich patrons on the Wheel only for a stopover gravitated towards the Lounge.


    The bouncer¨Ca beefy near-human¨Cstopped me just outside the entrance. Admirably, he didn¡¯t show an ounce of nervousness as he warily eyed my military overcoat.


    ¡°Sorry, sir. We¡¯re full,¡± he smacked his lips, ¡°...Do you have a reservation?¡±


    ¡°Trilm, I believe.¡±


    He searched up the name on his tablet, eyes shining in relief when he found the name, ¡°¨CPrivate Dining Two. Please follow me.¡±

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    <em>The Wheel, Besh Gorgon System</em>


    <em>Maldrood Sector</em>


    The dining room could be described as a respectably-sized karaoke room, fit with the soft¨Cif dim¨Clighting and a wall-hugging couch that girdled the rectangr table that dominated much of the space. There was a porthole on one wall, just as I remembered, possessing amanding view of the docking piers and the sea of ster lights¨Cfrom stars and ships alike.


    Corellian light sculptures hung from the ceiling on invisible strings, almost like ethereal floating zes. The cost must¡¯ve been staggering, and was a telling view into just how profitable even unassuming cantinas like the Cosmo Lounge can be on the <em>Wheel</em>.


    But my eyes were immediately drawn to the woman hunched over the table, cradling a ss of golden liquor. Calli Trilm¡¯s silver-grey hair shimmered in the warm lighting, creating the illusion of smoky wisps rising from her head.


    ¡°You made an entrance,¡± she muttered as I sat down, ¡°There¡¯s a spectrum between awfully cautious and overly careless, and yet you somehow manage to straddle a line between the two.¡±


    Calli raised her head, half-lidded eyes fluttering. A scar stretched from above her right eyebrow down to her cheek, and glistened bleeding red. I discreetly nudged Hare with my heel, sending her scampering beneath the table.


    ¡°I guess that means I know what to prioritise,¡± I shrugged.


    ¡°Clearly,¡± Calli grumbled, ¡°Commodore, is it?¡±


    I suppressed a smug smile, ¡°Looks like I jumped ahead of you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fighting in the south,¡± she shot back enviously, ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on here in the north. No chances for promotion¡­¡±


    She downed the rest of her ss in one go, gasping for air as she mmed it back onto the table. Calli was right, in a way. The quietness on the Perlemian was precisely the reason why General Tann was able to call the First Fleet away. With both hers and Admiral Tonith¡¯s words, the memo sent to Raxus was the perfect bait¨Ctwo of the top brass confirming there was an absolute certainty of glory and feats to be had in the south.


    I¡¯d bet my left foot Calli wanted to go as well, if not for the fact that the Clysm Fleet was an independent entity under standing orders to garrison Salvara.


    ¡°Is Dooku not working out for you?¡± I leaned back.


    Calli pursed her lips, ¡°...Well, in some ways. You ought to sell Techno Union stocks¨CI heard from a contact that Wat Tambor was captured on Ryloth.¡±


    ¡°Shit, their value is going to plummet when the Republic makes that known,¡± I held my chin, ¡°I suppose I can reinvest in the Retail Caucus.¡±


    ¡°You know something?¡± Calli¡¯s eyes shone.


    ¡°General Loathsom had captured Christophsis,¡± I said, ¡°You¡¯ll probably see the Caucus announcing the production of crystalware pretty soon.¡±


    No, this wasn¡¯t insider trading; it¡¯s just¡­ acting in advance, on misappropriated information. Alright, maybe it was insider trading¨Cbut the Confederacy was just asking for it, with the way its military industrialplex was structured.


    Calli nodded shallowly, ¡°Christophsis¡­ that¡¯s big. You were there? You never told how¡¯d you get promoted¨Cwho were you assigned to?¡±


    ¡°Trench,¡± I answered, ¡°General Tann after that.¡±


    ¡°The Pantoran,¡± she recognised.


    ¡°As for why I got promoted¡­ well, that¡¯s why I¡¯m here for you,¡± I smiled shallowly, ¡°I need your help.¡±


    The Commander of the Clysm Fleet stilled, a painful look growing on her face that tantly said <em>¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll like what I¡¯m going to hear.¡¯ </em>She gestured for me to continue anyway, loosening the cor of her dress.


    ¡°We¡¯re losing the war, you know that right?¡± I said bluntly, ¡°I need your help getting Tann into the Supreme Commander¡¯s office.¡±


    Calli clicked her teeth, <em>¡°No.¡±</em>


    I paused in surprise. That was the kind of ¡®no¡¯ that meant no to <em>everything</em>; I won¡¯t help you, I won¡¯t even hear it, in fact, just stop talking. The whole package. I knew Calli¨CI think so, at least¨Cand she was the kind of person to have all the facts before making a decision. To shoot me down so quickly meant she was <em>afraid</em>; to the point that even hearing whatever I was about to say could be dangerous to her.


    I narrowed my eyes, ¡°Dooku has another person in mind?¡±


    Calli Trilm was a born and bred Serennian¨Cit was an open secret that she was one of Dooku¡¯s closest confidantes and aides. It was the reason she was chosen to guard the critical stronghold of Salvara.


    She chewed on my question for a moment, before leaning forward, ¡°The Second Fleet is in the south, under Tann. The Third is in the north, under Admiral Kirst. Why do you think the First has no nominalmanding officer?¡±


    ¡°Because the First is stationed in the Foundry,¡± I answered, ¡°Whoever takes that office will have too much power, so there¡¯s a lot of pushback in the brass.¡±


    Calli shook her head, ¡°Spoken like a field officer. That¡¯s Dooku¡¯s <em>excuse</em>, and anyone not familiar with the staff would believe it. A post this significant should be filled by now¨Cby Trench, Tonith, kriff, even Dua Ningo, wherever the hell he is. The reason is because Dooku is <em>saving </em>the First Fleet for someone; <em>he </em>is the ¡®pushback¡¯ you are talking about.¡±


    <em>Grievous. </em>The name immediately popped into my head. I can¡¯t think of anybody other than General Grievous taking the office. It would catapult him into the top brass, and put him right on track for the Supreme Commander¡¯s office.


    ¡°Do you know who?¡± I had to confirm.


    ¡°No,¡± she breathed out, ¡°Dooku wouldn¡¯t tell me. But I¡¯m not going to risk rocking the ship so close to whatever he¡¯s nning.¡±


    Calli picked up a tablet and ordered another round of drinks, grumbling something about not being drunk enough for this.


    ¡°You know the Clysm Fleet is likely to be absorbed into the First, if this goes through,¡± I pointed out, concealing my mild desperation, ¡°Don¡¯t you fear losing your independence?¡±


    ¡°My independence has consisted of squatting in Salvara for two months,¡± she rebuked, ¡°I don¡¯t mind losing my independence if it means I can do something.¡±


    <em>Alright</em>, I grinned internally, <em>if that¡¯s what you want¡­</em>


    ¡°Then why not join me?¡±


    Calli regarded me for a couple heartbeats, before raising an eyebrow, ¡°That¡¯s sweet, but¨C¡±


    ¡°Like you said, Kirst and Tann are the only real options if you want action,¡± I grabbed her hand on the table, ¡°Trench and Tonith serve their sponsors first, so you won¡¯t get much relevance from them. But Tann? You know her record. You won¡¯t even need to lose operational independence¨CClysm can be an auxiliary attachment to the Second.¡±


    Calli¡¯s shoulders rose, then fell. She tightened her grip around my hand for a heartbeat, before pulling away.


    ¡°Dooku¡¯s a Jedi, Rain,¡± her voice was strained, ¡°He¡¯ll see it. Clysm is arguably the most important fleet on the Perlemian; I can¡¯t move without his direct approval. He¡¯s going to introduce the new admiral, and Clysm will be folded in. Riding the wave is my only option right now.¡±


    I leaned back pensively. ncing out of the porthole, I could make out the inimitable silhouettes of my star frigates, their massive skeletal hulls dwarfing the luxury craft around them. There wasn¡¯t any sign of the <em>Star of Serenno</em>, the gship of the Clysm Fleet. That means her presence here was as off the books as you can get in the most heavily militarised sector of Separatist space.


    I pinched my cheek, deep in thought. I had not known of her predicament¨Cand for a brief moment, I felt somewhat ttered she would sidestep the rules to meet me. I heard the door sliding open, and a service droid fleetingly appeared for no more than a couple seconds to drop off a round of liquor.


    ¨CAnd then I remembered who exactly Commander Calli Trilm was. The same person who sucked up to <em>Count Dooku </em>for years to ingrain herself with the top wasn¡¯t exactly an icon of sentimentality. This was a calcted decision. She wasn¡¯t here for me; she was here for what I could give her.


    That was almost moreforting.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be the reason you called me here,¡± her voice was sharper, more controlled¨Cwhat warmth and mellow it had bleeding to leave behind cool objectivism, ¡°What is it you want from me?¡±


    <em>And what do you have in return?</em>


    ¡°...I want to organise a wargame,¡± I inspected the porthole, tracing its rim, ¡°Just a simple¡­ pastime, for the navalmanders remaining in the Foundry. I¡¯m bound for Ringo Vinda to refit my ships, and that is where the wargame will take ce.¡±


    ¡°Via holoconference, I presume?¡±


    I turned around, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m asking, they¡¯ll ept,¡± Calli crossed her arms, ¡°But after they¡¯re patched in? How are you going to make them stick around?¡±


    ¡°The scenario will be,¡± I replied smoothly, ¡°A hypothetical all-out Republic offensive from Lantillies, spearheaded by the Open Circle Fleet, backed by the entire Cerulean Spear Command. The First Fleet, coincidentally, is nowhere to be found. All that¡¯s standing between the Republic and theplete capittion of the Confederacy is the skeleton forces remaining on the Perlemian.¡±


    I kept apletely straight face throughout the entirety of it, but I could tell Calli wasn¡¯t convinced.


    She raised an eyebrow, <em>¡°Hypothetically?¡±</em>


    ¡°Hypothetically,¡± I confirmed, ¡°Ah¨C right. The objective is to hold back the Republic long enough for the First Fleet¨Cand the Second, coincidentally¨Cto return from a mission and reinforce us. That¡¯ll pique their interest, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    She nodded slowly, a single slender finger tracing something imaginary on the table. Then she snatched a ss and chugged the entire thing before mming it down. Something heated up inside of me, seeing that.


    ¡°I¡­ see,¡± Calli hummed, as if nothing had happened, ¡°Tell you what¨CI know a girl. Crat. Brilliant scientist and engineer, though she styles herself a doctor. Expert in cybeics and droidwork. Word is she fell in hot water with the Chancellor¡¯s staff and defected to the Separatists. She runs a deep space research station in Salvara¨C¡±


    ¡°Cybeics?¡± I interrupted, ¡°Did she receive any important visitors in thest week?¡±


    Calli eyed me carefully, disying her impressive alcohol resistance, ¡°There was a medical pinnace, but I couldn¡¯t say.¡±


    <em>Gxy¡¯s a smaller ce than I thought.</em>


    ¡°As I was saying,¡± she red, ¡°Crat knows another defector; a captain named Rel Harsol. And Harsol got contacts in the Confed¡¯s underground. I¡¯d wager some shops on the <em>Wheel</em> have ties with him¨Cbut he also knows just about every naval officer in the Foundry. He specialises in ck market parts, you see, and captains like to rig their ships with¡­ let¡¯s just call them unsanctioned hardware. Nobody¡¯s clean in this patch of space.¡±


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°So you can get me my wargame,¡± I reached for a ss.


    Calli raised what I liked to call <em>the eyebrow of expectation</em>. I dropped a hand beneath the table and beckoned Hare up, who hopped onto the couch. Calli¡¯s eyes widened at seeing the droid, before narrowing to shoot me a look somewhere between annoyed and amused.


    Hare¡¯s storage hatch opened, revealing an indistinct ck box, small enough that I could hold itfortably in a hand. I set it down on the table.


    ¡°I can give you this,¡± I started.


    Calli picked it up and inspected it closely.


    ¡°A Republic Starpath unit,¡± I answered the wordless question, ¡°Ripped right out of a Jedi cruiser. Every Republic Navy asset within six radial parsecs is tracked on that thing in real time, and it¡¯s a one-way uplink. Untraceable.¡±


    She suddenly held it as if it was a block of solid gold, her mute grey eyes shing into a storm.


    ¡°You have more of these?¡± she asked quietly.


    ¡°Starpaths? No,¡± I leaned forward, ¡°But I have an entire cruiser¡¯s worth of data on my ships. Is that enough for you?¡±


    Calli smiled¨Cthe widest and most genuine I¡¯ve seen in a long time¨Cand I took a sip to hide my expression. Nearly choked on it, too, when Hare surprised me with a tap on the shoulder.


    The droid tried to whisper, bless her soul, ¡°The girl contacted Master-Com.¡±


    ¡°Go.¡±


    Looks like the Jedi¡¯s already run into trouble¨Cwhich was typical as far as my limited knowledge was concerned. Trouble always seems to find Jedi, and I didn¡¯t have the energy to worry about it. If she¡¯s caught by Republic agents, she won¡¯t be able to divulge anything anyways. I made sure of it.


    Calli tracked the droid as she slinked out of the room, but didn¡¯t mention it, ¡°I¡¯ll throw in something else for you. I know an engineer on Ringo Vinda, an Quarren named Isquik Tors. Works for the QFD. If you have names you can throw around, he¡¯ll help you out.¡±


    ¡°Unlike you to give freely,¡± I noted.


    ¡°I came here knowing what I want,¡± she rasped, rising to her feet, ¡°And nobody¡¯s listening.¡±


    I finished the rest of my drink and slid it on the table, feeling it warm my chest. Calli came down on me, leaning in for a brisk kiss. It was a brief thing, nothing of passion and filled only with the desires of two people willing to relieve some stress. I withdrew to find an eager grin, with all teeth. My eyes caught hers, and a tentative finger reached up to trace the scar that ran down her face.


    ¡°Now, really?¡± I whispered.


    There were a hundred better times, and a thousand better ces than this. This was going to bite me in the asster, but that¡¯s a problem for future Rain. Her grin widened when she realised I gave up on hiding the way I was looking at her. Awfully cautious and overly careless; that¡¯s me.


    In answer, she pushed me against the wall.


    There was nothing tentative about what followed.


    ?


    <em>I¡¯m being watched.</em>


    Barriss didn¡¯t know exactly when she realised it¨Cmaybe after she started winning one too many games of pazaak¨Cbut her every instinct swiftly started screaming at her to get out. Master Luminara always told her to always trust her instincts, and Barriss wasn¡¯t about to fail her now. She kept her gaze fixed on her cards, however, as she came up with a n of escape. First, she had to win this game.


    Master Luminara was very good at pazaak, and as her Padawan, Barriss couldn¡¯t tarnish her reputation by leaving in the middle of round.


    ¡°Madam?¡± the dealer pressed.


    Barriss stared at her hand, reaching out with the Force to count the cards in the set. After some simple mathematics, she decided to double down. After doubling her bet, she flicked a card out of her side deck¨C<em>pazaak. </em>Barriss couldn¡¯t resist grinning, and the small mob of bystanders behind her broke into cheers. They had, after all, just won <em>big.</em>


    A hastily collected paydayter, and Barriss was out on the street with a credit-filled briefcase in her hand.


    She made for the nearest info kiosk, keeping tabs on the presence following her. It was only once she went a level down did Barriss decide that it wasn''t a casino agent on her tail¨Cshe honestly wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it was. She ran the house dry back there.


    Which ran the question; <em>who?</em>


    This wasn¡¯t any sort ofmon gangster. Not only did her uniform¨Cand she hated herself for appreciating the dress of the enemy¨Cwarded away the chaff, this particr figure was a professional. The only reason Barriss knew she was being followed at all was because of the Force.


    A stir of hope and wary mixed in her gut, as she wrestled with the idea that it may be a Republic agent. This was her best chance to get rescued¨Cor in Rain¡¯s opinion, get herself killed. And if it was a Separatist? Then she was truly finished. A Separatist wouldn¡¯t follow a Separatist¨Cand that once again left a sour taste¨Cand it could only mean her cover was blown.


    Barriss wondered where her previous bluster had gone, as she felt her way through the teeming crowds, that she would be so eager to sacrifice herself to help the Republic. Maybe it was because she was already staring at death, inhabiting Ventress¡¯ animated eyes, back then. But now, all she felt at the thought of dying was bitterness.


    She was in no real danger¨CBarriss was a <em>Jedi! </em>Yet she never felt so trapped. Trapped in this sted uniform, in this sted crowd, on this sted station. What was she to do, swing around and pull her tail out with the Force? And give herself away to these hundreds¨C<em>thousands</em>¨Cof people? Then what? Damn a patriot of the Republic to torture, or death? Or let herself get captured, if that was their intention?


    <em>Or are they going to drag me through a backdoor and put a slug in my head?</em>


    Bitterness.


    Barriss nced at her chrono, using the pretence to hasten. She found the kiosk, and cut her way through the mass. <em>Too many people. There¡¯s too many people.</em>


    ¡°Master-Com,¡± she wetted her lips, ¡°Can you get me the quickest route to Docking Bay Thirty-Three?¡±


    Barriss felt the console scanning her face¨C <em>¡°Please follow the signs to the nearest airflow system station, Madam. I have prepared a car for you.¡±</em>


    She stumbled away before the administrator even got thest word in, already searching for her next destination. Her tail inched closer even as she sped up, and Barriss instinctively reached for her lightsaber.


    It wasn¡¯t there.


    Barriss mumbled a curse beneath her breath, rounding the corner and sighting the entrance to the airflow tube. Her tail soon realised what she was after, because it felt like the Force was pounding her eardrums with their steps.


    A three-fingered hand grabbed her arm, burning like ice, and something snapped inside of her. Without looking back, Barriss ripped herself free and broke into a sprint¨Call but leaping into the cockpit of the car and mming the hatch down behind her.


    The sensation was finally cut, and Barriss deted with the pressure receding from her ears. She let the briefcase slide out of her damp hands, letting the cockpit¡¯s one-way ss slide over her as the car merged onto the station¡¯s internal highway.


    ¡°Rude.¡±


    Barriss leaped inside her own skin, whipping her head around to find Hare staring up at her from the passenger seat.


    ¡°How did you¡­?¡±


    ¡°You contacted Master-Com,¡± the droid said tly, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Someone was following me,¡± Barriss exined, ¡°And they weren¡¯t an amateur.¡±


    ¡°That can happen for any reason,¡± Hare said, tapping her tablet, ¡°But I will apany you.¡±


    Barriss wasn¡¯t sure how much the little droid could do, but she found herself appreciating the thought.


    ?


    To her surprise, Docking Bay 33 was a maelstrom of activity when she found it.


    The squadron of three were moored at internal piers, housed entirely within a gleaming atmosphere containment ray that spanned the entire space-facing side. Droids¨Cbattle droids¨Cwere scuttling to and fro doing¡­ <em>something</em>. She recognised tibanna canisters being moved on wheeled station wagons, systematically moved and loaded onto the ships by repulsorlifts.


    Pipes ran across the ceiling and floor, before fixing to the ship. The <em>Renown </em>was practically encased in a cocoon of scaffolding, a tumult of activity surrounding it as its crew worked on the frigate. There was a continuous babble of highly recognisable B1 droid voices, which all drowned together into indiscernible noise.


    ¡°What are you doing here!?¡± Vinoc¡¯s voice was an ind of baritone, shouting over the chatter.


    Barriss lifted her prize, ¡°I won half a million credits!¡±


    The fallen Jedi¡¯s eyes bulged, before he muttered something and shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ll bring that to your cabin for you. Why don¡¯t you make yourself useful and help out Zenith while you¡¯re here?¡±


    She briefly questioned whether her credits would be safe in his hands¨Cbefore scolding herself for worrying about material things. <em>The credits can help me n an escape</em>, Barriss reasoned; that¡¯s why she needed them. She still couldn¡¯t help but gaze at her hard won money longingly as it disappeared under Vinoc¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°...Who¡¯s Zenith?¡± she suddenly realised.


    ¡°He¡¯s the captain of <em>Renown</em>,¡± Hare answered, ¡°Second captain. Because the original Zenith was destroyed, and this one¡¯s a backed up memory drive.¡±


    Hare waddled towards the warship, and as Barriss followed after her, she allowed herself to be amazed by the size of the vessel. From the bridge of a Venator, these frigates always looked so¡­ small. Insignificant.


    There was a small gathering of battle droids huddled around a tablet, their chassis decorated with bright yellow stripes and reflective tape. She caught a glimpse of a newsreel shing across the disy, and heard a faint female voice.


    <em>¡°¨CAs we enter the second month of the Battle of Atraken, we see that the Republic has disyed increasing brutality and depravity against the local Atrakenites. New images areing in here¡­ Caraya¡¯s soul, look at that. Neutral observers have estimated that nearly a quarter of the¡¯s surface has been rendered uninhabitable by the Republic¡¯s unrestricted bombing campaigns¨Catomic bombing, if we are to believe the reports.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Unsurprisingly, the plight of Atraken has yet to be¨Cand will never be¨Ccovered by the mainstream government-dominated media. But make no mistake, good citizens of the gxy, the Shadowfeed will rip away the Republic¡¯s veil of deniability and reveal the truth! The estimated civilian death toll on Atraken is already in the millions! I think we can all agree this cannot be allowed to continue any longer; the Republic must face ountability for its heinous war crimes!¡±</em>


    A smattering of worried droid mumblings followed. Barriss pressed her lips together, and turned away.


    Zenith was easy to find, as his painted head stood out cleanly from the moving crowds. She felt nervousness bubbling through her veins as she approached him,ing before the gaping maw of <em>Renown,</em> the twin barrels of its superheavy turbser mount clearlyrge enough to fit her entire body inside.


    ¡°Lieutenant,¡± Zenith¡¯s proximity sensors clearly noticed her, ¡°What do you need?¡±


    ¡°Vinoc said I should help,¡± she shifted.


    If a droid could disy annoyance, Barriss imagined annoyance was shing over the Captain¡¯s metallic facete right then.


    ¡°We are bunkering right now,¡± Zenith said, ¡°Do you know the procedures?¡±


    ¡°...No?¡±


    Somehow, the droid¡¯s lifeless stare seemed a lot like Master Luminara¡¯s¨Cthe kind that happens when she says something dumb.


    ¡°...Find Artisan on the scaffolds. Portside,¡± Zenith¡¯s sigh sounded like a synth-harmonica, ¡°He¡¯ll have something for you.¡±


    Artisan, as it turned out, was a colourful B1 battle droid that appeared minutelyrger than the others due to the amount of paint he had over his frame. Hidden in the cage of scaffolding were several dozen droids, all with brushes and buckets. They were painting¨Cand again, it wasn¡¯t in any scheme.


    Instead, all across the hull were scattered paragraphs in a hundred different writing scripts. Barriss spotted Aurebesh, Huttese, Mandalorian, Corellian, and a countless others she didn¡¯t recognise. Every paragraph was on a human scale, and across the warship¡¯s vast exterior, Barriss wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the droids were able to fit every majornguage in the gxy on it.


    ¡°Ooh, clever,¡± Hare mumbled.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Everynguage says the exact same thing¨Ca transcript from a starship engineering manual,¡± the little droid seemed amused and impressed at the same time, ¡°You only need to understand one of them to understand all of them.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡±


    <em>But why? </em>Those two words have found permanent residence in her head these days, Barriss thought. Everytime she thinks she understands something about these droids and their entric leader, shees across a gaping chasm of peculiarity. And for the first time in memory, the Force was of no help. Droids were imprable to her, and so was that ck hole in human skin called Rain.


    ¡°Nobody knows,¡± Hare handed her the datapad, ¡°Not since he was the same height as me. Good luck.¡±


    The droid started scampering back down just as Artisan noticed her presence, ¡°Can you write Mirin? It¡¯s not in our diction database.¡±


    ¡°Most of us learn Aurebesh from¨C¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at the end of a twelve-hour shift, my radiators are covered with paint, and my processors are overheating,¡± Artisan said bluntly, ¡°Can you write Mirin or not?¡±


    ¡°I can¨C¡± a brush and bucket was shoved in her direction.


    ¡°There¡¯s an empty spot over there,¡± Artisan pointed, ¡°Just copy the Aurebesh over in Mirin.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I¡¯m doing this myself?¡±


    ¡°Look over there. The Commodore wrote that himself.¡±


    Barriss looked over there¨Cand found a much the same in cursive High Gctic. So cursive she almost couldn''t read it. <em>Master Luminara''s lessons are paying off now, </em>she thought dryly. Still, this man can write High Gctic as well? And he was from Onderon? Maybe it was requirement... but the handwriting implied extreme familiarity.


    Her line of thought was broken after more nudging from the battle droid turned painter, and Barriss finally relented. She started working on the Mirin trantion of what was essentially a how-to guide for building your own starship.


    <em>Worded for primitives to understand</em>, she mused, <em>how peculiar.</em>

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    <em>Orbit of Ringo Vinda, Ringo Vinda System</em>


    <em>Eucer Sector</em>


    Trying to procure ships in the Confederate Navy was like trying to wrestle half a dozen cats into a bag. Which is to say, nearly impossible, unless you have catnip.


    ¡°Look,¡± I reasoned, ¡°You know who my sponsor is, after her campaign, she¡¯s going to need ships. Recements, repairs, refits. She can do that here, if with a bit of convincing.¡±


    Catnip, in this case, was obviously cash. Or clout. While not as great as Kuat¡¯s, Ringo Vinda¡¯s orbital shipyards also served a double purpose as a supply distribution hub. It was in close proximity to the Perlemian Trade Spine, yet also not exactly <em>on </em>it. And that meant it was a hassle and a half to capture, while also able to preside over the entire theatre. All of the major Separatist-backed starship manufacturers had leased out docks here, and were working in close proximity with the Ringo Vindan government.


    Think of the manufacturers as franchisors, and the entire orbital station as a single massive franchisee. All the cats were already in the bag; now I only had to wrestle a <em>single </em>bag of cats.


    Isquik Tors stroked his facial tentacles, ¡°The Pantoran herself as our sponsor¡­ that <em>is </em>enticing.¡±


    Maybe because I had been out of the social circles for too long¨Cbecause I was <em>actually </em>fighting the war, mind you¨CI had missed out on the whole ¡®Pantoran¡¯ debacle. See, General Tann¡¯s species was a closely kept secret by¡­ well, even the people keeping the secret were secret. In any case, some cheeky officer started calling her the <em>Pantoran </em>because of her blue skin, and it became a little inside joke.


    Pantoran rolled off the tongue easier than Wroonian, you see.


    Then some bbermouth identally referred to her as that in a press conference, and it was all over. Anybody keeping up with the war, or even random military geeks, now knew General Tann as the Pantoran. I found it mildly funny. I don¡¯t think <em>she </em>will, however.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ very well,¡± Tors finally said, ¡°I have a feeling the board will be pleased¨Cso long as you uphold your end of the deal.¡±


    ¡°This will undoubtedly be a profitable rtionship,¡± I agreed, ¡°Now, about my ships¡­¡±


    ¡°Ringo Vinda has eight star frigates on hand,¡± the Quarren produced a datapad and guided me onto a wheeled transport to tour the graving docks, ¡°Newly built. Two are still going through their trials.¡±


    A data package was sent to my own tablet, which included all the relevant specs and information about the ships in question. <em>Frigate 1027RV, Frigate 1028RV¡­ </em>I scrolled on, noticing they haven¡¯t even received their transponder IDs yet. Tors wasn¡¯t lying, these ships were fresh from the oven.


    Inparison, my <em>Repulse </em>and <em>Renown </em>are old women. Old, murderousdies with a plentitude of kills under their belt, but still outdated nheless. That being said, I had no intention of changing my gship. <em>Repulse </em>is mine, and I have poured too much effort and sentiment into that hunk of durasteel to swap her out for what amounts to a shiny new toy.


    Sure, retrofitting her into a C3 frigate took time and money, but my efforts in wooing Senator Singh had paid off well. <em>Repulse </em>was a brand new ship by the time she left Raxus Starbase.


    ¡°Is it safe to assume these ships have much of the intel suites stripped away for austerity?¡± I asked.


    They were, because I could see it in the specs. But I wanted to confirm.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect a fieldmander like you to ask about backend hardware,¡± the engineer said, ¡°But you¡¯re right. Most of that space has been reced with updated sensor packages and fire control systems.¡±


    I tapped the tablet with my fingernails, ¡°How many of the older models do you have? The originals.¡±


    Isquik Tors¡¯ eyes narrowed, his tendrils rustling, ¡°Those don¡¯t have guns.¡±


    Ah. He thinks I¡¯m up to some funny business. Which, granted, I was.


    ¡°I intend on using them to spy on Republic military channels,¡± I rified, ¡°With the First Fleet absent, it is paramount we stay vignt.¡±


    Tors nodded slowly, ¡°Hm¡­ if you¡¯re intending on parking them between transceivers, I suppose there¡¯s no need for guns. And it¡¯s not like we¡¯ll miss them¡­ but the higher ups will. I¡¯m willing to buy your excuse, sir, but others won¡¯t.¡±


    I smiled thinly. He thinks I¡¯m going to use the frigates not to spy on the Republic, but to spy on the Confederacy¡¯s government apparatus. He thinks I¡¯m digging up dirt on the politicians. Literally anybody else would buy my exnation without batting an eye, but of course the <em>engineer </em>will pick up on my intentions. It¡¯s his job to know what these frigates can and cannot do, I suppose. Also because he¡¯s into some shady shit regardless.


    And he was right. It¡¯s simply that I intend not to spy on politicians, but Sith Lords masquerading as politicians.


    The HoloNet was a physical object¨Ccountless physical objects, in fact. The HoloNet was the millions of hyperwave ry stations littered across the gxy and the S-threads that linked them all into one intricate web made of countless matrices. When the only other method of interstermunication was <em>sublight </em>transmissions, these rys represented the only practical form of long distance contact.


    <em>And it was expensive to operate. </em>We¡¯re talking about millions of space stations strewn throughout the gxy here, can you imagine their upkeep? It was affordable all considered, thanks to economies of scale, but the service gets pricey quickly.


    Then, by process of elimination, who could send messages from Coruscant to Serenno; a distance that was essentially halfway across the gxy? Voicemails were cheap, voice calls were essible; videomail and you¡¯d have to be middle ss, middle-upper for live video; holograms on the other hand? Ah, now we¡¯re reaching poption percentages you can count on both hands.


    Then, who can send full resolution, lowtency, full-body rendered live holocalls across that same stretch on a <em>regr basis</em>? That¡¯s getting into the super rich territory, or at least those with government privilege.


    And now, what if the gxy was at war, and the HoloNet was cut right down the middle? And with the Non-Communication Law recently passed by the Republic Senate, which ouws any form ofmuniqu¨¦ between Republic and Confederate officials? Know what you were looking for, and it¡¯s remarkably easy to find it by elimination. That¡¯s why transmissions were typically encrypted¨Ceven more so for the privacy conscious¨Cand usually nobody has the time, money, or effort to crack them.


    And that¡¯s where the Munificent-ss star frigatees in. Originally designed by the IGBC to serve as what was essentially a mobile hyperwave transceiver. Mass produced, and they created their ownms matrix isted from the HoloNet in order to securely process financial transactions. That matrix was still being employed by the Confederate military, in fact.


    It¡¯s impossible to tap into S-threads, but I can still take a page out of the IGBC¡¯s ybook and park a Munificent right next to a ry, and listen in¨Cor more daringly, redirect the transmissions through the ship itself. All I had to do was find the most direct S-thread between Coruscant and Serenno, find one of the rys it runs through, and slice into it. Fuck,mon bounty hunters can do it, why can¡¯t a literal espionage frigate fitted with state of the art tech?


    Palpatine and Dooku can encrypt their transmissions as much as they¡¯d like, but that¡¯d just make the thread easier to find. Shit, I don¡¯t even need to be that specific. Dooku contacting <em>anyone </em>on Coruscant? With my frigates, I can crack open any amount of encryption. The automation was just icing on the cake; I can just leave them there and check in once in a while.


    I have three years. I have time. I have money. And I¡¯m more than willing to put in the effort.


    Truthfully, I was making it up as I went along. But building up a case against Dooku to present to the Senate was a good start¨Cand so was crafting newmand codes for my fleet, as I didn¡¯t want to get Mustafar¡¯d. I¡¯d need to get my hands on some engineers for that¡­ another task for the bucket list.


    ¡°Then turn them into warships,¡± I suggested, ¡°The first wartime frigates were those with barbettes taped onto their hulls. I¡¯ll tell the board we need as many ships as we can get for defence.¡±


    Tors hummed in agreement, ¡°We won¡¯t be able to fit the superheavy cannons, but you won¡¯t need that. Them packages will also need some touching, but we can make it work. You have the credits for this?¡±


    ¡°Dare to ask General Tann that?¡±


    I don¡¯t think General Tann will pay much attention to a few million more credits in the bill¡­ but if she does, well, I¡¯ll let future me deal with that.


    Heughed, ¡°Right, right. Does the Pantoran want Lucrehulks to go with that order?¡±


    ¡°Providences,¡± I corrected, ¡°Not the dreadnought kind. Should be cheaper than battleships.¡±


    The Quarren checked his stock, ¡°You¡¯re in luck, sir. We have two old destroyer models, and one carrier. But if your pockets are deep, QFD is running trials for three of ourtest carrier-destroyer variants right here in the system.¡±


    Not sure if I like the wholebining niches thing. In my experience, when someone tries to have their cake and eat it, it leads to overengineering, unreliability, and worse performance in both aspects.


    ¡°These carrier-destroyers,¡± I leaned back, ¡°Are they reliable?¡±


    Tors¡¯ eyes shone, ¡°I see what you¡¯re asking. Trust me, they¡¯re more expensive for good reason. More hangar volume, but not by sacrificing emcements. I¡¯ll tell you a secret; all we did was revise our design, installed new automation systems, removed vestigial hardware, and ended up with a lot of wasted space.¡±


    ¡°So all you had to do was shuffle around the internal systems a bit to get more hangar space.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he grinned beneath his tendrils, ¡°Everything aft of amidships? That¡¯s all birdnest now. Tell you what; buy these, and I can get you a discount.¡±


    Right. This was a business to them. These new carrier-destroyer variants were a new product, and they needed advertising. Many captains will likely have the same doubts as I do, and wanted to use me as a flying billboard. Selling out it is.


    ¡°...Alright,¡± I finally agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll get the three.¡±


    ¡°Great, great¡­¡±


    I tuned him out as we passed by the prow of a half-built Recusant-ss star destroyer. Its frame was still skeletal, and huge mechanical arms hanging from the ceiling were lowering a massive dome of armour onto the warship¡¯s spine. Kind of looks like a magnified version of fitting together a stic model¡­ which I suppose was the point.


    ¡°How does fitting a droid brain into a warship work?¡± I asked.


    Tors side-eyed me, ¡°A Recusant¡¯s superstructure is specially designed to house the droid brain. It¡¯s not as easy as installing software, so you can¡¯t just rig it to a frigate, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. Just buy a Recusant, if you want a droidship.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t have a very good reputation,¡± Imented, ¡°I hear they perform well in wargames, but not on the field.¡±


    ¡°Because people keep using them wrong,¡± the Quarren grumbled, ¡°You can¡¯t ask aputer to act on the fly¨Cyou have to program it in advance, which is why they work in wargames. Formation flying, lines of battle, any manoeuvre that needs high levels of coordination between vessels; you won¡¯t find a better ship. But you can¡¯t just charge them in and start brawling, because then you¡¯re asking the brain to program itself while in battle.¡±


    I eyed the ship again, noticing how its bow was so much more heavily armoured than its rear. Coordination, huh? I wonder how they would perform in a battlettice¡­ or¨C


    ¡°What about on the strategic scale?¡± I probed further, ¡°Synchronised jumping, hit-and-fades; stuff that¡¯s taxing on the astronav.¡±


    ¡°Read the documentation and write the code for it,¡± he shrugged, ¡°Like I said, as long as you don¡¯t overstep their operational parameters, they¡¯ll perform perfectly. That¡¯s how it is for all droids.¡±


    ¡­Huh. <em>Is that so?</em>


    ¡°Get me four Recusants¨C¡± Tors looked at me in surprise, ¡°¨CAnd your best software engineers. I want to try something.¡±


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    The sun was rising over Coruscant, twilight¡¯s gloom chased away by the glory of a new day upon the strumming heart of the Republic. Even amidst the greatest conflict the gxy had seen in a millenia, the zing soul that was Coruscant never faltered in its relentless march onwards. Life goes on.


    Anakin stood in the centre of the training grounds, surrounded by ornate tiling and drifting leaves of gold. The ancient tree that stood there was aforting presence, but Anakin did not feel it then. Just as he did not realise dawn had once again graced the capital.


    Unlike the capital it nested in, the Jedi Temple stood like a solemn mausoleum over the sea of transparisteel. The Clone Wars was a mighty hand that had flung the Jedi throughout the stars, leaving only a few senior Jedi Knights in the temple at any time. How many of those fighting out there would never return to this ce? Force knew. Anakin felt like he did too.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been uwfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The answer was too many.


    The Jedi Temple was mourning. These days, it seemed like it always was.


    Anakin was mourning too, in his own way. For his Masters, his fellow Knights, and for the brothers-in-arms he fought besides. He had thought to clear his mind by working off his stresses in these grounds, but ended up standing vigil the entire night. If Obi-Wan saw this, the Jedi Master would undoubtedly say something along the lines of <em>¡®so you finally found a way to meditate, have you Anakin?¡¯ </em>His lips quirked at that thought.


    But war was like a cog¨Cit went on unceasingly, mercilessly. His time was consumed by meetings, debriefings, press conferences, endless paperwork, banal bureaucracy, and¡­ funerals. Too many funerals. Master Mundi, Master Koth¡­ two councilmembers lost in a single battle. It was a sobering affair. If the war wasn¡¯t yet real enough, it was now.


    And when Anakin wanted nothing more than to visit his recently freed men, he had to find out they had been transferred to a deep space medstation. Visitors unallowed, presumably because it was being swarmed by Republic Intelligence.


    <em>I¡¯m a Jedi General, </em>Anakin fumed silently, <em>if anyone has the right to see his own soldiers, it¡¯s me!</em>


    ¡°Anakin,¡± a familiar tone awoke him from his reverie, ¡°Have you been standing there the entire night?¡±


    ¡°Obi-Wan,¡± Anakin holstered his saber and swung around, ¡°...And, who¡¯s this?¡±


    A young Padawan, a Togruta girl, and yet a tween from the length of her lekku. <em>And her height, </em>Anakin added dryly, <em>and her height. </em>She¡¯s tiny. A child. Dismay rose in his throat like bile.


    ¡°Anakin, meet Ahsoka Tano, my new Padawan,¡± Obi-Wan gestured, ¡°Ahsoka, meet Anakin Skywalker.¡±


    Ahsoka looked up at him withrge, starry eyes, and it made him feel sick, ¡°I¡¯m at your service, Master Skywalker.¡±


    The girl tried to be restrained, but couldn¡¯t help from giving a broad smile. All teeth, too. Sharp, dagger-like teeth. Because Togruta were natural predators, and she bore the vestiges of her ancestors.


    <em>I¡¯m no Master, </em>he wanted to say, <em>and I¡¯m not who you think I am</em>. Anakin¡¯s stomach sank even more. But it distracted him from his brush with darkness, and he seized the chance. A change of problem was as good as he¡¯ll get.


    Anakin ignored her, ¡°We¡¯re at war, Master. This is the worst time to train a Padawan; they¡¯re a liability.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Ahsoka protested, her eyes narrowing, ¡°I¡¯m not a liability!¡±


    The little Togruta drew herself up to her full height to make herself lookrger, which wasn¡¯t saying much.


    Anakin whipped around, his eyes frozen into chips of ice. Ahsoka shrunk back at his re, face falling. He crossed his arms.


    ¡°Really?¡± Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, ¡°You weren¡¯t¡­ most of the time, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°The best way to learn is on the job, I think you can agree,¡± his old Master said, ¡°For both the Master and the Padawan. The Council has convened, Anakin, and Master Yoda believes it is in your best interest to take on a Padawan.¡±


    Anakin had to hold back from outright snarling, ¡°You¡¯re kriffing kidding me. I can¡¯t take a Padawan.¡±


    <em>I can¡¯t trust myself with one. Not when so much is at stake. Not when I can fail¨Cand lose them too.</em>


    Obi-Wan opened his mouth to retort, but slowly closed it soon after. His old Master must¡¯ve felt something in the Force, as he gave Anakin a meaningful look.


    ¡°Ahsoka, why don¡¯t you find your friends?¡±


    The Togruta craned her head to look up at both of them, and Anakin could see her previous image of them¨Cand yes, he did know what image the HoloNet presented them in¨Ccrumbling within her eyes.


    ¡°Y-Yes, Master,¡± she hesitated, ¡°...I¡¯ll go find Scout.¡±


    Obi-Wan waited until her presence in the Force retreated, ¡°I know what the war does to you, Anakin. I¡¯ll admit, Ahsoka isn¡¯t what I expected in terms of self-discipline, but neither were you. Give the thought a chance.¡±


    <em>You don''t know what it is to love, Master. Or to lose. You didn''t even know your own mother.</em>


    Anakin didn¡¯t know what to think of his former Master¨Cand he still called him Master. Once, it was all so simple; Master and Padawan. Now? Sometimes, Obi-Wan represented safety and stability, and other times he was an overbearing sibling who held him back orpeted with him.


    <em>And you didn''t want to take me as a Padawan, did you? You only did it out of duty.</em>


    ¡°Look at this way,¡± Obi-Wan led him back into the Temple, ¡°If you want to be a Master, training a Padawan to Knighthood is a requirement.¡±


    Anakin would have been enthusiastic at that, once. Now, he wasn¡¯t sure if he even deserved the esteemed title. From where he stood, <em>Jedi Master </em>seemed so far over his head. Too far.


    He brushed it off¨CAnakin often found himself ambushed by unwanted thoughts. He has faced countless battlefields, Korriban or Jabiim or Christophsis or that Tusken vige on Tatooine, and he has faced them over and over in his nightmares. But it was one thing to face the ghosts of his failures, and another to face the sporadic resentment he felt towards a master and friend he cared about.


    He wasn¡¯t sure which was harder.


    When he shared that with Padm¨¦, she was taken aback.


    And besides, that wasn¡¯t the whole truth, was it? After all, what was Obi-Wan Kenobi if not a collection of half-truths and hyperboles? Anakin knew him too well, he didn¡¯t even need the Force.


    And Obi-Wan knew that too.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Obi-Wan finally sighed, ¡°The truth then. Jabiim and Christophsis have done a number on us, and we need more Jedi on the field. COMPOR is doing a swell job of keeping up appearances, but the entire Grand Army is reeling.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re losing too many Jedi,¡± Anakin said softly.


    ¡°Too many <em>everything</em>, Anakin. Christophsis was the straw that broke the bantha¡¯s back,¡± Obi-Wan replied grimly, ¡°Yren and his officers are raising hell in the Admiralty. High Command is forced to reorganise its operational theatres after virtually losing an entire Sector Army, and we haven¡¯t received any word from Admiral Wurtz either. They¡¯ve been heckling Jedi Command for moremanders and generals, and that means more Jedi.¡±


    <em>We¡¯ve failed then, </em>Anakin thought bitterly. Was this what the Clone Wars made of them? A bunch of jaded soldiers exploiting the enthusiasm of <em>children </em>to toss them into grinding jaws of the Separatist war machine, under the guise of <em>for the greater good? </em>Anakin considered himself lucky; he had long been tempered by previous experiences before the war began. But these Padawans?


    How many will emerge from the crucible of war hardened and resolved, like he did? How many will emerge warped and broken, or shattered? How many will not emerge at all, their legacy being a name and date typed into a routine obituary? Obi-Wan said the best way to learn is on the job, and it was. Because with the state the gxy is in,<em> you only get to fail once.</em>


    ¡°And if I say no?¡± he asked obstinately.


    Obi-Wan shrugged, ¡°The Council will get you assigned one anyway. Look, the Apprentice Tournament is in a week. Why don¡¯t we go over and see if anyone catches your eye?¡±


    ¡°I thought it was postponed because of the war.¡±


    ¡°Well, now it¡¯s been advanced because of the war.¡±


    <em>A single sentence that weighs so heavily, </em>Anakin closed his eyes. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to feel the safety and warmth of Padm¨¦¡¯s embrace.


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Ringo Vinda, Ringo Vinda System</em>


    <em>Eucer Sector</em>


    The station¡¯s war room wasrge, to say the least. It was once a boardroom, but had all of its conferencing systems ripped out and reced after Ringo Vinda shifted its stance into wartime economy.


    A state of the art ARENA holoprojection table dominated the vast majority of the central space, appearingrger than it was thanks to all the consoles and control panels needed to operate the thing. Even more holoprojectors peered down from above, and when all activated, could turn the entire room into a three-dimensional battlespace. Or, they could project the figures of hundreds of Separatist captains andmanders all ring at the head of the table¨Cme.


    The war room wasrge. I knew it, because I stood in it when it was empty.


    But when even the walls had to be used as monitors to amodate the number ofmanding officers stretching on into what seemed like oblivion, I felt both ustrophobic and chilly at once. Clearly, no expense had been spared, because there was not a single hazy blue spot among them. If I hadn¡¯t known they were holograms beforehand, I would¡¯ve believed I just stepped into a live amphitheatre. I could make out their exact skintones, and even the colours of their eyes.


    I didn¡¯t know whether to be more impressed by the virtual image tech, or by all thems frigates breaking their backs to make this possible.


    As I waited for thest attendees to drop in, I focused on scanning the faces to see if I recognised any. It was somewhat awkward, because I¡¯d have to turn around to face the dozens of men and women standing behind me¨Cbut soon the system beeped that we had reached the maximum number of participants for the holoconference.


    Honestly, already far beyond my expectations. Really goes to show just how monotonous it was operating out of the Foundry.


    Even then, nobody spoke for a long time. We were all sizing each other up in silent power ys; scanning uniforms for allegiances, reading ranks to formte a totem pole, and even tantly searching names. But most were staring right at me. Most with in curiosity, to see what all this was about, some with recognition, and others with displeasure. I spotted Rel Harsol among them¨Cbased on Calli¡¯s description¨Ctrying to merge himself with the crowd.


    I cleared my throat, and leaned forward, resting my palms on the rim of the table¨Cpainfully conscious to not identally toggle a switch and make a fool out of myself.


    ¡°I am Commodore Rain Bonteri, attached to General Sev¡¯rance Tann of the Confederate Second Fleet,¡± I met as many I could in the eye, ¡°Some of you know me, most don¡¯t. But all of you know where I¡¯ve fought.¡±


    Of course they did. Anyone who has served under the Second Fleet and survived until now boasts as shiny a portfolio as one could get this early in the war.


    ¡°You summoned us for a wargame, Commodore,¡± a Muunmander pawed his chin, ¡°What sort of game requires this much importance?¡±


    There were mutterings of agreement. I had to thin the crowd for this to work.


    ¡°I am unable to force any of you to stay,¡± I ignored him, ¡°This wargame will require you to feed ARENA with data from your ships, and the session may take a whole day or even more. If you are unable to ept these conditions, I advise you to leave now. But be aware that your invitation was a one-time affair; you will be unable to return.¡±


    A ripple rang through the umted officers, and almost immediately the number of them plummeted by half without a sound. The room suddenly became a lot more spacious.


    ¡°Second, you will acknowledge my authority as the ranking officer in the room,¡± I said firmly, ¡°This will be a sober affair, and if you are unable to act with the dignity of your rank, I will have you leave.¡±


    ¡°<em>Your</em> authority?¡± A Neimodian captain pressed, ¡°Who will y the other side? What about their authority?¡±


    ¡°ARENA will be our opponent,¡± I answered inly.


    A Sullustan scoffed and disconnected, taking a handful of others with her. The remaining few suddenly became a lot more unsure about the whole affair. I peeked at my tablet¨C<em>33 remaining</em>. It was a good number.


    ¡°Alright, <em>sir</em>,¡± the Muun sat down, his chair materialising beneath him, ¡°What¡¯s the scenario?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, Commander?¡±


    ¡°Commander Horgo Shive,¡± he replied, ¡°Of the Havoc Squadron.¡±


    I nodded at Vinoc, who had been still until now. The Commander moved towards ARENA and loaded in the scenario¨Can expansive star map of the Perlemian Trade Spine and its adjacent regions burst out of the table in all of its three-dimensional glory. Half a hundred pinpricks popped up around several systems, standing for the assets of the officers still present.


    ¡°Pardon me,¡± a thin human spoke up, ¡°This is Captain Jorm of the fuel tanker <em>Aurora</em>. This invitation was sent to <em>all </em>naval captains¡­¡±


    Captain Jorm trailed off as more and more eyes stopped on him, and he shrunk slightly. His worry was obvious; <em>are auxiliary ships really needed here? </em>Despite being among ranking peers, it was apparent he and the other auxiliary captains were viewed as lower standing.


    ¡°You will find that the <em>Aurora </em>may be the most important ship among us, Captain Jorm,¡± I smiled.


    Another person left wordlessly. 32 people left.


    ¡°Is that so¡­¡±


    ¡°Shall we begin?¡± I swept across the room, before nodding sharply, ¡°The situation is as such; a Republic fleet has been spotted gathering at Lantillies, conceivably tounch an assault on Raxus. The enemy will be the Open Circle Armada and Cerulean Spear Fleet. However, ARENA may also mobilise the zing w Fleet and Third Mid Rim Army if necessary.¡±


    Commander Trilm¡¯s brows furrowed silently, but another human officer was less courteous¨C


    ¡°Has serving the Pantoran denigrated your mind, Bonteri!?¡± the captain snarled, ¡°We have what¨C a hundred ships among us? Open Circle and Cerulean Spear have three times that number shared among them! Forget the other two, Mchor will sooner be colonised before we are able to defeat them!¡±


    ¡°...What¡¯s your name, Captain?¡±


    The human snapped upright, heels clicking neatly, ¡°Captain Aviso of star destroyer <em>Bronze Serpent</em>, sir!¡±


    ¡°¨CCaptain Aviso is correct, sir,¡± the Neimodian added, ¡°This is Captain Krett of battleship <em>Fortressa</em>. With all respect, the Pantoran is not among us. We have neither her skill nor genius.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± I circled around ARENA, resisting to flinch a I passed through the hologram of a Aqualish captain, ¡°That is why the conditions of our victory is not to defeat this force, but to dy them long enough for the First and Second Fleets to reinforce us.¡±


    ¡°Our objective is survival,¡± Commander Vinoc summarised, ¡°This is Commander Vinoc of star destroyer <em>Crying Sun.</em>¡±


    Silence continued, but a different kind. It was one with turmoil boiling beneath the surface, a stolid determination tinged with bubbling excitement. See, not every officer on the Perlemian was a result of nepotism. The Separatist cause was built on the backs of Separatist worlds, and Separatist worlds possessed Separatist officers. Experienced officers, veterans of localary or system conflicts. Some even fought in the Stark Hyperspace War, or Andoan Wars. Commander Merai himself was a veteran of the Quarren War.


    These were the people I was looking for. Soldiers who were willing to treat a wargame not as a <em>game </em>but as a strategic conference, and had enough discipline to do so for hours. Mostly because they have done so before, when they served their homeworlds¡¯ary Security Forces. My way of filtering them out was blunt and erroneous, but it did the job. As long as I have a core of veterans, I can build a coalition around them when the time actuallyes.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Captain Aviso was struggling to hide his grin, ¡°I think I speak for all of us when I say you have our attention.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Rel Harsol spoke for the first time, ¡°This is Captain Harsol of star frigate <em>Sa Nor. </em>Where do we start, Commodore?¡±


    ¡°We must be wary of any incursion from the Gordian Reach,¡± Commander Shive pointed, ¡°So we should start with our forces stationed at¨C¡±


    ¡°No, Commander Shive,¡± I broke in, ¡°We start the scenario with our ships <em>exactly </em>where they are now. After all, if we move them to the front, we will be giving ourselves away.¡±


    ¡°Pfassk off,¡± Commander Trilm crossed her arms, ¡°This is Commander Calli Trilm of the Clysm Fleet, stationed in <em>Salvara. </em>You all better have your shit together, because I¡¯m the one about to get mauled.¡±


    Even as she said that, however, there was an amused smile on her face. Captain Krettughed weaselly in his Neimodian way, as did several other captains. Meanwhile, I toggled a button, and half of the star map turned into a hazy red.


    ¡°Red represents enemy territory and the fog of war,¡± I said, ¡°Every standard day in-game will be two hours here. Once this session is over, the recording will be deleted from the system. Have all of you synced your feeds?¡±


    There was a chorus of agreements, and the officers took their ces around ARENA¨Cthe pins of their ships blinking to green across the map as they checked in. For a brief moment, the red haze shed, revealing hundreds of enemy pins amassing around Lantillies and Phindar, before disappearing. Someone chuckled nervously.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Captain Harsol raised a hand, ¡°You never told us how long it will take for reinforcements toe.¡±


    ¡°A standard month.¡±


    There was sweating now, though in excitement or anxiety I couldn¡¯t tell. Maybe both.


    ¡°The mission is to survive for thirty-five standard days,¡± I announced, ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    <em><em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em></em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    The stark white walls of the Temple¡¯s Combat Training Centre have been recently cleaned, just as the new mats had beenid down in anticipation of the annual Jedi Apprentice Tournament. The apprentices in question were lined up against the wall in their best tunics, freshly washed and presentable, yet nervously ncing up at the growing number of Jedi Knights and Master on the mezzanines.


    The point of the day¡¯s rounds wasn''t to <em>win</em>, but to simply catch the attention of a potential master. But they were children, and winning was the only thing on their minds.


    <em>After all, </em>Scout thought faintly, <em>we¡¯re the chaff. </em>Most Padawans were chosen immediately after the Initiate Trials, which served much the same purpose as the Apprentice Tournaments. Those who didn¡¯t were called drifters; purposeless apprentices who wander around the Jedi Temple until they¡¯re picked up by a master. There was also the Service Corps-or Force-forbid, <em>leaving</em>-but the vast majority held out on hope.


    Hope until the next Tournament, which represented their greatest chance to get chosen.


    Which was ironic, because Scout had been one of those lucky enough to be adopted by a Jedi Master after her Trials. To this day, Scout didn¡¯t know what Master Chankar Kim saw in her-a sentiment doubtlessly echoed by everybody in the Jedi Temple. The simple fact was, the Force was weak in Scout.


    Too weak. Some days she could pull a ss off a counter with her mind and bring it to her hand¡­ but more often it would slip on the way and smash into the floor. Or explode into a shower of milk and splinters as if squeezed.


    But it was there. Just enough to be noticed by a Jedi Seeker when she was a toddler. Her family, as it was said, was dirt-poor, and her parents had begged the Seeker to take her away from their life of abject poverty. To this day, Scout has been haunted by the idea that her mother and father-and siblings, if she had them-are still trapped in the slums of Vorzyd V, while she alone escaped.


    She alone had the chance to make their sacrifice worth something. Scout wouldn¡¯t know what she''d do if she failed. You didn''t have to be a Pau¡¯an to catch the way the Jedi Masters talked together in low voices when she went by. Nor did you have to be Togrutan to notice how the other apprentices rolled their eyes at her, orughed.


    When Master Chankar picked her up, she thought she had finally made it.


    Three monthster, Scout read Master Chankar¡¯s name on a casualty report. <em>Geonosis, </em>it said. Master Windu led Master Chankar-and all the rest-to their deaths on some Force-forsaken in the Outer Rim.


    The orphaned Padawan wanted to rage at it all. If her whole life hadn''t been one massive cosmic joke from the very start, she would¡¯ve broken right then and there. It was sheer will-sheer, bloodyminded un-Jedi-like rage against the Separatists, against the Jedi Order, against the Force, and against herself-that kept her fighting against the destiny fate had in store for her.


    Because now Scout was an orphaned, ageing Padawan with no discernable skill with the Force. And the only person who <em>ever </em>saw anything in her had bled her life out on alien dirt, and now nobody will ever know what they had seen.


    Scout was out of chances, and everybody knew it. This tournament will make or break her-and breaking meant pretending a hoe equivalent to a lightsaber, and that ploughing the mud of a crop field was the same as exploring the gxy. And Scout wasn¡¯t about to break yet. She narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°Hey, Scout!¡± Scout whipped around like a tightly wound top, ¡°-Woah! Rx!¡±


    It was the Ahsoka, a personable Togruta in the same age bracket as her


    ¡°Rx, Scout!¡± Ahsoka repeated cheerily, ¡°I know you got this!¡±


    <em>Easy for you to say, </em>Scout thought ungraciously. Ahsoka was witty, well-liked, and more than deft with the Force. She was Togruta too, and her hunter¡¯s instinct, eyesight, and reflexes let her trounce everyone easily in the sparring matches. Jedi Masters had been lining up for the right to choose her as their Padawan as soon as she passed her trials. And guess what, now she¡¯s got <em>the </em>Obi-Wan Kenobi.


    If Scout didn¡¯t know her friend any better, she would think Ahsoka hade down here to mock her. But no, the Togruta was just too good-natured for her own good.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she forced out.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry!¡± Ahsoka continued, ¡°You¡¯re really good atbat, almost as good as me! Just rx and use the- just trust your skills!¡±


    If Scout¡¯s smile had been any tighter, it would be a razor-thin line drawn across her face. Ahsokaughed awkwardly, before suddenly grabbing her shoulder and pointing up to a spot on the overlook.


    ¡°Look there,¡± she whispered confidentially, ¡°That¡¯s Obi-Wan Kenobi and <em>Anakin Skywalker! </em>Doesn¡¯t that mean Skywalker¡¯s looking for a Padawan? If you win this, we could go on missions together!¡±


    <em>Oh yeah, </em>Ahsoka¡¯s really digging it in now. <em>Thanks Ahsoka.</em>


    Still, Scout paid her friend¡¯s wishful thinking some heed. She stared up at the <em>Hero With No Fear. </em>He must have it easy, being the <em>Chosen One</em>. He could join the Jedi Order thrice the age of the rest and immediately shoot up to Jedi Knight without any effort. But that¡¯s what you can do when you¡¯re the Chosen One. She had read all the ounts of his daring deeds, which all might as well have been written by love-smitten journalists. It made her want to spit.


    <em>I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll want a Force-less nobody as his Padawan.</em>


    Suddenly, his eyes tracked down her stare and met it. It felt as if the room¡¯s temperature had dropped to freezing, and Scout hastily diverted her gaze. <em>Was that his Force presence? Scary.</em>


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯d like that,¡± Scout lied.


    ?


    The Apprentice Tournament advanced via sudden death, which meant that once you lost, you were done. This was absolutely perfect for Scout. She was among those who had advocated for a single-elimination format, arguing that in the real world no enemy would offer a best of three.


    Or more urately, Scout <em>herself </em>wasn¡¯t willing to offer a best of three. Because Scout was a skilled fencer the same way a Krish duelist was a skilled fencer; with dexterity, strength, stamina, and nothing about the Force. She didn¡¯t have the luxury of that cheat, which meant that any prolonged engagement would leave her at a disadvantage. Her opponent will always have more options.


    Scout had to make her rounds short and swift, and that usually meant using trickery. And trickery only works once. Ergo, the fewer matches she had to fight, the greater her chances were of winning overall.


    The first matches began, starting with a Cerean girl named Ami-Kat-Ayama and Farls, a Theelin boy with mottled skin. Scout¡¯s mind settled into a calcting state, ignoring the anxiety threatening to burst out of her gut. <em>She had to do this right. </em>Farls was one of their best martial artists, swift on his feet and as wily as a Dxunian stalker. Ami-Kat-Ayama, however, wielded a double-ded saberstaff that made her fighting style unorthodox and frankly terrifying.


    For good reason. The training lightsabers they used were powered down to their lowest settings, but that didn¡¯t mean they were painless. A single touch was like branding your skin with red iron-it made your muscles scream and nerves jumble into frays, leaving behind a vibrantly bloody welt that can take a week to heal. Unbearably painful.


    Scout knew this better than any initiate in the hall, because she had made a habit of zapping herself with her lightsaber a few times every day in preparation for this tournament. The reason was simple. The matches were openbat, and would only end when one yielded or took three hits from a lightsaber. The pain of getting struck however, meant that you weren¡¯t going tost very long after taking your first hit. Because pain was distracting, and Scout was determined not to let that pain ruin her chances of winning. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose.


    In any case, Ami-Kat-Ayama wasn¡¯t a very calcting fighter. Like most apprentices, she tended to trust her own strength and the Force, rather than make the kind of preliminary observations that earned Scout her nickname. Ami-Kat¡¯s could afford not to-as could all the others-but Scout didn¡¯t have the same luxury. She simply wasn¡¯t intuned enough to let the Force do her homework for her.


    Scout had taken to observing every potential opponent in the weeks leading up to this moment, learning their styles. Even if she wasn¡¯t confident, at least she was prepared.


    Which is why she knew that so long as Farls keeps up the blindingly furious pace he¡¯s known for, and stays out of Ami-Kat¡¯s saberstaff range, he will emerge victorious in the end.


    She was proven right less than ten minutester, with the Cerean strewn across the padded floor and nursing a scorching burn on her stomach. Ami-Kat only had to slip once for Farls to sneak in a strike, and the Cerean all but fell apart under his offensive. Scout recorded the bout in her mind, and steeled herself to fight the Theelin boyter.


    First, she had to win her match. Scout was against a human boy named Eda¡¯Ni, and even she had to feel somewhat sorry for him. He was on the smaller side, and though Scout wasn¡¯t a veryrge girl herself, her advanced age meant she towered over him by a head.


    Following the ritual, she bowed and presented her lightsaber to the old Master Sinube, the year¡¯s tournament overseer. He checked her saber settings, before nodding-Scout could almost hear his neck creaking as he did so. After Eda¡¯Ni did the same, they were finally arranged opposite each other.


    Scout slowed her breathing, drowning out the mour of the audience. Eda¡¯Ni¡¯s eyes wererge and bright, actively poking holes in her stance. He was at a disadvantage, and both of them knew it.


    Master Sinube¡¯s cane struck the floor-and Scout surged forward with the speed of a sandscorpion, her ice-blue lightsaber bursting to life and striking down on Eda¡¯Ni¡¯s head in a vicious arc. The boy caught her overhead just in time, sweat gathering on his brow as he struggled against Scout¡¯s greater strength.


    Scout then rxed without warning, and Eda¡¯Ni shot upwards-leaving his abdomen open. She pivoted on a foot and punished him with a powerful side kick that sent the smaller boy reeling backwards, gasping for breath. Scout pressed the offensive, spinning around to reorient her legs before lunging into a flying fl¨¨che.


    Eda¡¯Ni had barely presented his lightsaber again before she knocked it out of the way and jabbed her¡¯s straight into his sternum. The boy yelped in pain-a ck bruise already apparent through his charred tunic-and backtracked hastily. Scout caught herself with a heavy footfall, before taking off once more, striking twice again into his chest-and it was over.


    Scout blinked, suddenly realising they were at the edge of the arena, with the boy nearly backed up against the wall.


    Master Sinube¡¯s cane struck the floor again, ¡°Match.¡±


    Scout¡¯s lightsaber deactivated, and she offered the boy a hand, ¡°Sorry about that. Maybe next time?¡±


    Eda¡¯Ni epted it begrudgingly, ¡°Yeah. Hopefully next time you won¡¯t be here.¡±


    Scout untensed herself, smiling apologetically. The audience was silent-her style just now was un-Jedi-like, she knew. That kind of aggression was rarely taught, and almost never seen, in the Temple. The match must¡¯ve taken no longer than a minute, she thought. Eda¡¯Ni never stood a chance.


    She nced up at the mezzanine, catching gazes of disapproval and recognition in equal measure. There was some pping, which she took as a win. Scout still felt sorry for her opponent, but he would have another chance next year. She wouldn¡¯t.


    Her next match was, expectedly, against Farls. If the Theelin boy gets into his flow, it¡¯s already over for Scout. Realistically, Farls was much more talented as a fighter, but Scout had the upper edge in speed and strength. If this was a straight match, Scout could see herself win, but when the Force was added to the equation¡­ she wasn¡¯t confident about her chances.


    ¡°That was ill of you,¡± was the first thing Farls told her, ¡°You will find that an opponent your own size a much harder fight.¡±


    Scout narrowed her eyes, ¡°Try me.¡±


    Then, Master Sinube pulled the rug out from under them. The entire room snapped the pitch ck darkness, and the twinkling spots of night vision lenses on the upper floors were the only sources of light left.


    ¡°Many apprentices insist the tournament ought to reflect the real world,¡± Master Sinube¡¯s voice was resounding, ¡°In the real world, optimal conditions are rare and fleeting. Often, you must fight in the dark.¡±


    His cane struck the floor.


    Both she and Farls kept their lightsabers silent, knowing whoever ignited first would give themselves away. Scout remained still as a tree, eyes wide as saucers and hairs rising on her arms. Everything was amplified; she strained to hear every creak and whisper; the audience breathing, the rustling of cloths and tunics¡­ and the soft thumping of footsteps.


    One might think the ying field was now decisively tilted against her, but it was much the opposite. Scout had one major advantage; for all of her pathetic talent in the physical side of the Force, she <em>did </em>have a gift for foresight. Or as the Masters called it; precognition. When she sparred, Scout would have micro-visions, and would know what her opponents were going to do next before they knew it themselves.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Her tendency to read a situation just a bit faster than everybody else is what originally earned her the nickname <em>Scout.</em>


    Come at me Farls, she thought, <em>I don¡¯t need my eyes to see you. Seems like the living stars are finally looking out for me.</em>


    An electric spark in her mind-and Scout sidestepped just as a cerulean ze consumed the space she was once standing in. <em>Farls likes to strike from below like a snake. </em>Scout jabbed downwards at the same time, her deshing out and retreating like the tongue of the lizard.


    The room plunged into darkness again. For several minutes, they both duelled in a dance of footwork, not sabers. Orienting, shifting, and reorienting in the gloom. Every so often, their lightsabers would ignite and shut off like fleeting candlesticks, daring each other to make their move.


    <em>His next move won¡¯t be with his saber.</em>


    Farls¡¯ was a martial artist, and used his body as much as his lightsaber. Scout has observed him long enough to know <em>what </em>he was going to do, all she needed was for the Force to tell her <em>where </em>he wille from.


    <em>¡­ Now!</em>


    Scout hopped as her opponent tried to sweep her legs out, her lightsaber zing to life and shing downwards. <em>Thwack</em>-an audible wince of pain, and the presence retreated. Farls came again, this time his lightsaber pierced upwards at her neck. Scout backpedalled toote, and his lightsaber zed straight through her tunic, searing into her midriff as if it was a steak.


    She batted the thrust aside, holding in a terrific scream, lightsabers shing in a flurry of sparks. sh, sh, parry, feint-<em>jab</em>-parry, sh¡­ <em>! </em>Only Scout¡¯s nifty Force talent saved her from a face full of Theelin fist. She grabbed Farl¡¯s outstretched arm and tugged him off his feet, grappling the smaller boy and throwing him to the floor, using her ruined side to pin him down.


    He tried to sweep her legs out againing precariously close as her knees weren¡¯t able to lock in time-as Scout brought her saber to bear and ignited it twice, striking him both times, right before falling on top of him.


    <em>ng! </em>The lights flickered back on.


    ¡°Match,¡± Master Sinube announced in his slow, measured way.


    ¡°Hey!¡± aint gurgled out of Farls¡¯ gasping lips, ¡°That wasn¡¯t fair! She can¡¯t do that!¡±


    Scout rolled off to the side, leaving the two apprentices beside each other.


    ¡°Can¡¯t do what?¡± she wheezed, just as tired.


    ¡°Turn your lightsaber on and off!¡±


    ¡°On the contrary, young one,¡± Master Sinube¡¯s beaked face loomed over them, ¡°That was an impressive disy of <em>Tr¨¤kata, </em>my dear. Some may find it dishonourable, but is that an issue when it wins you a fight? There are no rules against it, and the match goes to Scout.¡±


    Tr¨¤kata, was that what it was called? Scout had never heard of it, and from the excitable muttering from the other initiates, neither had any of them. In honesty, jabbing in quick session by toggling her saber just seemed intuitive. She snuck a nce above, and saw several Masters looking at her in interest. <em>Even Master Yoda!</em>


    It was silent as she picked herself up, but then someone started pping. It was Obi-Wan Kenobi, with an enigmatic smile on his face. Soon, the apuse grew, and she spotted Ahsoka enthusiastically cheering her on from beside her master. Scout looked down, flushing, remembering to pick up the groaning Theelin and drag him to the side, where they were then swarmed by the other apprentices.


    The next two rounds passed by smoothly; first against Mill Alibeth, Zabrak girl who, unlike the rest of her species, was way too mellow and almost afraid of her own de. Next was against Klossi Anno, an older Chctan girl who Scout drew into a conversation and struck in surprise.


    The final match saw her pitted against Teo Gronn, and this time it seemed like the audience had doubled in size. Honestly, she had half-foreseen Teo Gronn being a finalist, but the prospect still terrified her even as she stared him in the eye.


    The reason? Teo was an older Duros boy, in the same age bracket as her. Both of them were orphaned Padawans seeking a new master, and both their previous masters had fallen on Geonosis. It was far too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence, and she had a feeling that the twinkle of mischief in Master Sinube¡¯s eye had something to do with it.


    Except, Master Chankar died before taking Scout on a mission, while Teo already has several under his belt. The Duros was taller, stronger, and far more experienced than her.


    Master Sinube¡¯s cane struck the ground, signalling the start of their fight. Teo¡¯s lightsaber burst out in a brilliant green de, his bleeding red eyes tracking her silently. <em>Stang.</em>


    ¡°Mind giving me the win?¡± Scout tried as she ignited her own blue de.


    ¡°I heard quite a bit about you,¡± Teo exchanged, cutting a little flourish with his saber.


    ¡°Good things, I hope.¡±


    ¡°I saw your match with Farls.¡±


    ¡°So not very good things,¡± she replied, ¡°You know, you¡¯ve already been on missions. Can¡¯t you let me have some?¡±


    ¡°You can barely use the Force,¡± he shifted his footing, ¡°What good is going on a mission if you aren¡¯ting back?¡±


    Scout grounded her teeth. <em>He¡¯s taunting me</em>.


    ¡°Are you saying your master-and mine-could barely use the Force?¡± she shot back.


    Teo almost paused in surprise at the callousness of her retort, warily tilting his head up at the audience of Knights and Masters. Scout didn¡¯t-she kept her eyes right on him.


    ¡°I see the rumours are not exaggerated,¡± he said slowly.


    ¡°I pride myself on my-¡± Scout exploded forwards in a flying fl¨¨che.


    Teo snapped his de up in a parry, skillfully locking their des together in a bind and using his superior strength to push her back. Scout braced against the floor, gritting her teeth as she felt her dee dangerously close to her own face. Taking a risk, she released one hand from her saber and twisted out of the way-letting their locked des smack the floor as she kicked in his knee and swivelled around to his back.


    Now half-kneeling, Scout pressed their still-locked lightsabers down to ground and trapped him in a headlock with her free arm. Teo gurgled something, headbutting her with his erged skull in order to break free. But if there was one thing Scout''sbat style was known for, it was her chokeholds, and even as the stars got knocked into her vision, Scout tenaciously held on, tightening her grip.


    ¡°Yield!¡± she demanded.


    ¡°No!¡±


    Teo¡¯s skin began to purple as he grew increasingly desperate for air. Spittle came out of his lips as Scout took the chance to smack his lightsaber out of his hand-scoring a point-before reinforcing her strangle with another arm.


    <em>¡°Yield!¡±</em>


    ¡°N-o!¡±


    In a sudden fit of renewed strength, Teo struggled to his feet and mule kicked her in the gut. With her lunch nearly disgorging from her belly, Scout was forced to release him and scramble back-just as the Duros recalled his saber with such an ease it made her stomach cramp in envy, and whipped around violently, catching her right in the face.


    This time, Scout did <em>scream</em>. And she screamed loud enough that for a moment her pain was the only audible sound in the chamber. Because having her face pummelled by what was essentially a graviball bat and cooked medium rare at the same time was <em>not </em>a pleasant experience.


    ¡°Sorry!¡± Teo¡¯s eyes were wide, an expression shared by many.


    Even the unppable Master Sinube seemed to be internally debating whether or not to stop the match, while Ahsoka looked just about ready to leap down from the overlook and rush to her aid. Scout huffed painfully, tenderly touching her cheek-and reeling from the stinging shock. One of her eyes was tearing up-no, one of her eyes was <em>bleeding. Stang, </em>was the only thing in her mind, <em>I¡¯m now fighting half blind.</em>


    ¡°You can¡¯t continue,¡± Teo said sternly, pointing his saber, ¡°Yield.¡±


    The ugly bruise wringing his neck could be inly seen.


    ¡°One-one,¡± Scout gasped, blinking the blood from her eye, ¡°Try me.¡±


    She charged again,ing in at nt that challenged both their footworks. Teo met her head on in a shower of sparks, blue and green reflected off the Duro¡¯s red eyes in a milky white colour. The boy shoved her off, and Scout used that momentum to press down on his de to leverage a somersault over his head. Shended in a roll, whirling around to catch Teo¡¯s de in a high parry.


    But this time, it was Teo who had the better of her. He advanced with a series of cuts and feints that came in blindingly fast, but the subtle nudging of the Force prompted her to parry the real shes and ignore the feints. This couldn¡¯t continue, obviously, as getting trapped on the defensive was a death sentence for her.


    She lured her opponent into a rhythm of sh, parry, sh, parry, sh-and then dived in order to tackle him to the ground. Teo leaped and flipped, twisting mid air andnding in a perfect fighting stance. Scout followed through with her dive, turning it into a roll and jumping back to her feet.


    <em>He¡¯s afraid of physical contact, </em>Scout realised. <em>He relies on his lightsaber too much. Alright.</em>


    Teounched a new offensive,ing at her like a raging storm, every strike of his lightsaber like a hurricane of green thunder. Scout <em>should </em>have been able to keep up-<em>she was the best duelist of her bracket!</em>-but she soon realised the Duros was using the Force to slow her down, until it felt like Scout had to drag her limbs through water.


    In a panic, she prayed to whatever star was looking out for her and grasped Teo¡¯s leg with what Force she had, wrenching forward by just an inch. His face strained near imperceptibly as Scout grabbed it just a <em>little </em>too hard, but that was all it took for her to disengage her de and jab at his now overstretched thigh. <em>Two points to me. </em>He admirably sucked up the pain, but Scout wasn¡¯t about to let up.


    She lunged again, catching his torso in a clinch and attempting to knock him down. Scout underestimated his size and weight, to say the least, because Teo all but <em>picked her up </em>and mmed her into the ground. Teo stomped on her hand, forcing her to release her lightsaber, before kicking the weapon away. Scout groaned.


    Both of them were wheezing heavily now, and with all the brutal assaults it had taken, Teo¡¯s one knee was wobbling precariously. Still, the Duros was standing over her from what seemed like a vast, impossible height. Scout wondered whether she had enough strength to summon her lightsaber with the Force, even as Teo¡¯s crackling emerald de was lowered to her throat.


    ¡°Yield,¡± he gasped for breath, a triumphant expression on his face.


    ¡°¡­ No,¡± Scout met him in the eye, unable to feel the Forcee to her fingers.


    Teo¡¯s expression morphed into puzzlement, ¡°What? But you¡¯ve lost.¡±


    Scout gave up trying. The throbbing pain in her head made it far too difficult to concentrate, and blood was pooling in her right eye now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve lost yet,¡± she groaned, feeling her previous injury re up.


    ¡°You¡¯re mad,¡± Teo dered disbelievingly, ¡°What am I supposed to do, strike you while you¡¯re down?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± Scout subtly tilted her head to let the blood drain out, and to catch a better look of his legs, ¡°I¡¯m not yielding, so it¡¯s still three hits. See, like this-¡±


    Scout sucked in a lungful of air, and <em>grabbed </em>Teo¡¯s de with her left hand. Screaming internally, she clenched her jaw in agony as her hand began to blister and peel and cook. <em>Two-two now.</em>


    ¡°H-Hey!¡± Teo shouted, attempting to pull his de free, ¡°What on Mchor are you doing!?¡±


    Scout didn¡¯t let him, instead tugging him back to her-and then sweeping her legs to knock him off his feet. As the Duros boy fell, Scout mustered what strength she had left to climb on top of him and wrench his lightsaber out of his grasp. Grabbing it by the hilt with her remaining hand, she deactivated it and mmed it into his head.


    ¡°Yield!¡±


    <em>¡°What!?¡±</em>


    She whacked him again, this time pointing the de emitter downwards.


    ¡°Yield!¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Teo grabbed her by the waist and attempted to throw her off, and with her free hand now thoroughly scorched down to the muscle, Scout couldn¡¯t stop him. Instead, she stabbed his lightsaber into his eye and pushed it down, prompting a howl of pain.


    ¡°Yield!¡± she screamed desperately, <em>¡°Or I¡¯ll ignite this kriffing saber!¡±</em>


    Teo froze, carefully, slowly moving his hands away as if attempting to cate a wild animal.


    ¡°Y-Yeah, sure,¡± his voice cracked, ¡°I yield.¡±


    Master Sinube struck the ground, and Scout released a breath she didn¡¯t know she was holding. She rolled off him, and Teo breathlessly plucked his lightsaber out of his eye, leaving behind a bloody circr welt. He blinked, dumbfounded.


    ¡°Now you know what it feels like,¡± Scout gasped, sweat running down her face in rivulets.


    ¡°Match!¡± this time, Master Sinube¡¯s voice was booming, ¡°Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy is the victor of this year¡¯s Jedi Apprentice Tournament!¡±


    The audience broke into apuse, and even some whooping from the other apprentices. Scout was too exhausted to hear it.


    ¡°Good match,¡± she dragged herself to her feet, offering a hand to the Duros, ¡°Maybe next time.¡±


    Teo bore a baffled smile as he epted her help, ¡°You¡¯re crazy, Esterhazy. But that¡¯s what makes this a ¡®real¡¯ fight, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she grinned.


    The apuse was still mounting as Scout slung Teo¡¯s arm over the shoulder and made for the infirmary. Shaking off offers of help, she left the hall with her head raised high and prideful. <em>I won. I made it.</em>


    ?


    ¡°Did you two have to maul each other so terribly?¡± Master Caudle, the resident Jedi Healer, scolded them.


    ¡°He started it,¡± Scout pointed to the cot beside her usingly.


    ¡°W-What!?¡± Teo spluttered, ¡°You¡¯re the crazy one who grabbed a <em>lightsaber</em> with your bare hands!¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Master Caudle wrapped a bacta patch over her burned hand, ¡°I don¡¯t know why I should bother healing you, if you are going to make a habit of grabbing people¡¯s lightsabers.¡±


    ¡°I won,¡± she raised her chin defiantly, ¡°It¡¯s worth it.¡±


    ¡°For how much longer, young one?¡± their attention was captured by the infirmary doors sliding open, ¡°Until you burn off all your fingers? Because try that in the real world, and you will find yourself short of a hand.¡±


    ¡°M-Master Kenobi!¡± Scout yelped, before spotting the crown of a wrinkled green head ¡°Master Yoda!¡±


    Teo sat up straighter by instinct, hiding a wince. Scout tried the same, but Master Caudle pushed her back down with the click of their tongue. Behind Master Kenobi hobbled Master Sinube, as well as Master Skywalker. Ahsoka was but a midget behind them, peeking from the back and waving enthusiastically.


    Scout decided Master Caudle had the right of it, and shrunk further into the sheets, ¡°I¡¯m not in trouble, am I?¡±


    ¡°Abnormal, your style is,¡± Master Yoda chastened in his wizened way, ¡°Very dangerous, to yourself and your friends.¡±


    <em>Oh no, I¡¯ve botched it up. </em>Was this the Force¡¯s way of reprimanding her, is some kind of cosmic karma?


    ¡°What Master Yoda is saying is that we¡¯ve decided the Jedi Temple cannot contain you any longer,¡± Master Kenobi exined gently, ¡°You will be assigned a new master immediately.¡±


    Teo¡¯s breath hitched, and Scout could only stare at the assemge of Jedi nkly.


    ¡°See!?¡± Ahsoka jumped at her, grabbing her hand and shaking it wildly, ¡°I told you! This is going to be so <em>cool!¡±</em>


    ¡°N-Not the hand,¡± Scout whimpered, tears welling up, ¡°Not the left hand¡­¡±


    ¡°Wha-? Oh!¡± the Togruta yelped, immediately releasing her, ¡°Sorry!¡±


    Master Yoda thumped the Togruta on her head with his cane, ¡°Patience, you must learn, Padawan Tano. Good for you, Master Kenobi will be. And you, Padawan Esterhazy. Pack your belongings immediately, you will.¡±


    ¡°W- What?¡± Scout stammered.


    Everything was moving too quickly! First Master Yoda said she was dangerous, and now she¡¯s got a new master? Who?


    The ancient Jedi carefully prodded her cheek with his cane, ¡°Ears damaged, have they? Along with your face, hm? To be Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Padawan, you are.¡±


    <em>Face¡­ </em>Scout touched her face tentatively. Teo¡¯s saber had done a number on her, the pinkish scar across half her face notwithstanding. Wait, <em>Anakin Skywalker? </em>


    She swivelled around to check whether she had actually heard correctly, but Toma was only able to make a pretty good imitation of a gaping fish, his red eyes wide and staring. Not at her, but over her shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m over here, Padawan.¡±


    Scout snapped about, suddenly face to face with <em>the </em>Anakin Skywalker towering over her. His eyes were sunken, though his eyes were like twin blue suns in the ckness of space. His face was smileless, instead bearing a severe grimace that made Scout feel like she had already done something wrong.


    ¡°Master Skywalker,¡± she caught her voice, ¡°I am at your service.¡±


    For some reason, despite her greatest wish fulfilled and her life¡¯s goal aplished, Scout didn¡¯t feel any tion. Everything she had done until now, everything she had strived for; driving herself to the top of ss after ss, studyingte into every night until star maps danced before her aching eyes. Astrocartography, unarmedbat, hyperdrive maths, starship engineering, lightsaber technique, electronics-everything no other apprentice bothered with because they didn¡¯t need those skills to be noticed because they had that cheat called the Force.


    Everything for this moment, and she was chosen by the greatest Jedi Knight of all time. And she didn¡¯t feel an ounce of pride or joy, as if she was infected by Master Skywalker¡¯s dourness. Scout came to the realisation that the Hero With No Fear on the holofeeds may not be the same person standing before her.


    ¡°A dangerous master for a dangerous Padawan, hm?¡± Master Yoda tittered at a joke only he found funny.


    ¡°It will be difficult,¡± Master Skywalker said bluntly, ¡°And I will not go easy on you. You will be pushed harder than you¡¯ve ever been in the Temple, both physically and mentally. Can you handle that?¡±


    Off to the side, Master Kenobi was shaking his head in amusement. When he saw her gaze, he offered a lopsided, yet reassuring grin.


    Feeling resolved, Scout tilted her chin upwards, ¡°I¡¯ve survived this much, Master Skywalker.¡±


    The edges of his lips tugged, but Scout thought there was a hint of pain in it, ¡°I tell that to myself everyday¡­ Tallisibeth, was it? You have guts, Padawan; I think you might survive us yet.¡±


    And then there was <em>determination. </em>The same determination that has been her only constantpanion through her short life. Scout looked up at Master Skywalker and thought; <em>I¡¯m going to do this right.</em>

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    Scout thought she would finally be able to leave Coruscant and see the gxy, but for weeks after her official apprenticeship began, the only she saw was more of Coruscant, swept along her Master¡¯s wake. Albeit, she would admit, it was the things she had never seen before.


    Instead, as she found herself shuttled back and forth between the Temple, the Senate Rotunda, the Senate Offices, and now the sprawling Centre for Military Operations, Scout realised that Master Skywalker wanted her to see how the war was run, before fighting it.


    As the LAAT gunship-<emrties</em>, as the clones affectionately called them-descended towards the military precinct, Scout caught an incredible view of the Coruscant Naval Yards. A sea of permacrete, and what must be scores of cruisers being serviced by colossal gantry cranes.


    ¡°See those red-and-yellow circles on all of them?¡± Master Skywalker came up behind her, ¡°That¡¯s the symbol of the Open Circle Armada. And those red tallies? There are five on each wing, for the Fifth Fleet.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re new,¡± Ahsoka noticed.


    Scout had to squint, but she was right. The rest of the Open Circle Armada proudly bore their battle scars. ckened armour ting, impact craters from torpedoes-she even spotted a deformed hangar door, from where it was melted to g by a turbser before cooling back to solid. Inparison, the ships of the Fifth Fleet were all but gleaming in the afternoon sun.


    Ahsoka always had the sharpest eyes out of all of them. Must be because she¡¯s a Togruta.


    Master Skywalker was quiet for a while, but finally said- ¡°The Fifth had been brutalised, and these are the recements. Admiral Yren had pulled through for us, and hopefully these retrofits won¡¯t go down as easily. That one over there is the <em>Harbinger</em>, our gship. Padawan Tano, you will be serving on the ship beside it, the <em>Vignce.</em>¡±


    Scout had an unsettling impression-one unggingly built up over her brief tenure as Master Skywalker¡¯s Padawan-that the war was far from going as well as the HoloNet would like them to believe. She peeked up at her Master, wondering whether it was all a test of her perception.


    ¡°I do hope you are right that the <em>Negotiator </em>has been lost, Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi¡¯s voice was troubled, but not for a reason anybody expected.


    ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡± Master Skywalker spun around.


    The two Jedi shared an entire conversation in a look, leaving both Scout and Ahsoka mystified-doubly so after Master Skywalker adopted Master Kenobi¡¯s pensiveness, mumbling something beneath his breath.


    Ahsoka scuffled closer to her, whispering, ¡°He said something about a stealth ship.¡±


    ¡°Shh!¡± Scout shushed her, ¡°You¡¯re gonna get us in trouble¡­¡±


    The two Padawans nced at their Jedi superiors, and for a brief moment Scout was relieved to know they hadn¡¯t caught Ahsoka eavesdropping. As for <em>they</em>, Scout meant Master Skywalker, because while Scout had never seen her Master outwardly incensed before, her experience with Iron Hand Xan taught her that the coolest masters were usually the most terrifying when irate.


    Master Kenobi caught them staring, and winked.


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Ringo Vinda, Ringo Vinda System</em>


    <em>Eucer Sector</em>


    ¡°Launching raid on Talcene,¡± Commander Trilm announced, partitioning a holographic window of the Talcene System.


    Thirty-two sets of eyes fixed on the sixteen blue pins gliding into the system, breath abated like runners with one foot on the starting line, painfully waiting for the pistol to fire. Then, expectedly unexpected, the southwest quadrant of the system was drowned in ring red pins extracting from digital hyperspace. The holochart was far too small for any sort of high resolution, so it looked more akin to a tide of blood sweeping in.


    ¡°Contact.¡±


    Commander Trilm¡¯s voice was startlingly calm. The metaphorical starting pistol had just fired. Blue markers were immediately mobilised all across the main star map, scrambling to their premeditated positions. Trilm¡¯s raiding party scattered, not retreating, but closing the distance in order to identify as many enemy elements as possible. It meant sacrificing the squadron, but it was a calcted loss for much needed intelligence.


    Data began pouring into our feeds. ARENA¡¯s databanks held the most up to date intel on the Cerulean Spear Command in the region, and used it to simte the enemy¡¯s makeup. Its intel on the zing w, Steel de, and White Cuirass were more spotty, however, and that meant it had to fill in a lot of holes there. But it was the best we¡¯ve got regardless.


    <em>¡°Fleet element destroyed,¡± </em>ARENA¡¯s voice was smooth.


    ¡°There goes my ships,¡± Trilm muttered, pulling up Salvara System¡¯s holochart, ¡°As nned, I will dy before retreating to Abhean.¡±


    ¡°My ships are in position,¡± Vinoc pointed at the floating dot that represented Ringo Vinda, ¡°Pull them in and I will jump in behind them.¡±


    <em>¡°Indu San has fallen.¡±</em>


    ¡°zing w- BCC forcesing in from Phindar,¡± Shive reported, ¡°Havoc Squadron is holding at Vjun.¡±


    ¡°Hang in there; my ships are on the way,¡± Harsol pulled up a screen.


    ¡°Heads up, Bonteri. A CSC taskgroup is headed for Metalorn,¡± Trilm swore, ¡°Faster than expected.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re trying to encircle Ringo Vinda,¡± Captain Jorm said, ¡°CSC knows they need the logistics hub if they want to push further.¡±


    ¡°Where the hell are my battleships?¡± I demanded, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ fifty, sixty ships!¡±


    ¡°My ss Two hyperdrives can¡¯t make it in time,¡± Captain Krett stared intently at the star map, as if mentally willing his ships to move faster, ¡°We expected CSC to split after taking Centares, not immediately after Salvara.¡±


    <em>¡°Salvara has fallen.¡±</em>


    ¡°¡­ Abort and head to Ringo Vinda,¡± I decided, ¡°I¡¯m going tomandeer all of Metalorn¡¯s PSF ships and retreat.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re hanging the system out to dry.¡±


    I shrugged helplessly. Not even two hours in, and we¡¯ve lost a foundry world. It was the first difficult decision to make, but most certainly won¡¯t be thest.


    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± I asked, ¡°We make a stand at Ringo Vinda, give CSC a right bloody nose, and abscond with all the ships there.¡±


    <em>¡°Casfield has fallen.¡±</em>


    ¡°G has fallen.¡±


    ¡°Gromas has fallen.¡±


    ¡°Euceron has fallen.¡±


    Right, that¡¯s going to get old <em>real </em>quick<em>.</em>


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    The Strategic nning Amphitheatre, as its name suggests, was outright cavernous. Not the same way the Temple¡¯s entrance hall was cavernous, filling any visitor with its grandeur and sublimity, but like a <em>cave. </em>Grey, muted, and grim. Solemn was the adjective to describe the atmosphere in the amphitheatre, filled with the hundreds of men and women of the Strategic Advisory Cell.


    Not just the Cell, but officers from High Command and even some Governor-Generals from the Sector Commands. Scout spotted the uniforms of the Admiralty, and the robes of the Jedi, which they soon blended into. Scout had half-expected to appear out of ce-dwarfish among the Masters-but there were a surprising number of Padawans in attendance as well. <em>Maybe I didn¡¯t ruin the chances of all the apprentices in the tournament, </em>she thought hopefully.


    But what told her this wasn¡¯t just any old meeting, not like the dozens others Master Skywalker forced her to attend, was the presence of the Supreme Chancellor and his closest staff. A whisper in her ear made her realise this was a conference to decide the future of their entire war effort. Even Ahsoka subdued her excitable nature, taken by the mood. Whether her friend knew what was going on however, she didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make any trouble,¡± Master Skywalker warned.


    ¡°Come now, Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi said, ¡°They can handle themselves-¡±


    ¡°It has been over a month!¡± an admiral announced, ¡°And Toydaria has received no word of Admiral Wurtz¡¯s whereabouts! We have no choice but to recognise that like the White Cuirass taskforce before it, the Iron Lance Fleet has beenpletely destroyed by General Sev¡¯rance Tann!¡±


    <em>That¡¯s Admiral Wullf Yren, </em>Scout thought. She recognised him because Master Skywalker made her memorise a list of names and faces of every relevant figure she was bound to meet sooner orter, on the precept that knowing who¡¯s who was already halfway to making a name for herself in the circles. The other half, he said, was talking to the right people.


    ¡°That¡¯s preposterous!¡± an army general protested, ¡°Are you saying that out of hundreds of ships, not <em>one </em>reappeared in friendly territory!?¡±


    Scout learned about this. Emergency jumps weremonly used to escape a souring battle. Most of the time it was done on the authority of individual captains, which meant they were far from orderly. Which meant that after anyrge fleet engagement, there would always be a handful of ships ¡®washing up¡¯ in nearby systems.


    ¡°I am afraid,dies and gentlemen,¡± Armand Isarde, the Director of Republic Intelligence, presented himself, ¡°That our Bothan allies have confirmed arge-scale battle in the Bothawui System. Our conclusion is that both Iron Lance <em>and </em>Bothan forces has been destroyed, and that Bothan worlds are now being subject to invasion.¡±


    ¡°-Then we must dispatch assistance immediately!¡± a balding man with a goatee boomed, ¡°What message will we send to our allies if we fail to protect them in their time of need!? The Pantoran¡¯s rampage muste to an end!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a damn fool, Hauser!¡± Governor-General Byluir¡¯s hologram shimmered as he roared, ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say in Vogel, but you have no idea what¡¯s going on! I¡¯ll say; we¡¯re extremely fortunate the Pantoran is satisfied with her pickings! If she decides to invade Coreward, there isn¡¯t even a Thirteenth Army left to stop her!¡±


    <em>Because the Jedi lost most of it on Christophsis </em>was left unsaid. But the implication hung in the air like a sword. General Byluir breathed heavily in the wake of his tirade, and though he didn¡¯t spare the Jedi contingent even a look, there was no doubt in who he med for the defeat of the 13th Sector Army.


    ¡°So we leave the Bothans to the mercy of the Separatists!?¡± Governor-General Hauser snapped. If the two Generals weren¡¯t attending as holograms, Scout imagined they might¡¯vee to blows.


    ¡°General Hauser, your worry is misced,¡± Master Windu mollified, with Governor-General Ravik of Red Tails Command beside him, ¡°With Ryloth back in Republic hands, I will take the Ny-First Corps and relieve our Bothan allies.¡±


    ¡°Underestimate General Tann, you should not,¡± Master Yoda advised, ¡°In Bothan Space, something she seeks there is. Hm?¡±


    ¡°Is it not the Sp?¡± General Ravik gestured, ¡°Both General Kintaro and I have pledged a portion of our fleets for this effort. The Sp must not fall into Separatist hands.¡±


    ¡°But the Sp serves both our and their objectives,¡± an intelligence officer objected, ¡°The Pantoran <em>must </em>know that. If she wanted the Sp, all she had to do was negotiate with the Bothans!¡±


    There was something to be said about the duplicitous nature of the Bothans, but the officer was correct. For an organisation as vast, resourceful, and nebulous as the Bothan Sp, it was better not to rock the boat if the existing arrangements still worked.


    ¡°Sev¡¯rance Tann is a blunt instrument,¡± Master Skywalker suddenly made his mind known, and Scout cringed under the attentionid on them, ¡°Count Dooku only sends her where he needs something <em>destroyed.</em>¡±


    ¡°Anakin is right,¡± Master Kenobi stroked his beard, ¡°Eliminating-or converting-the Sp requires a scalpel, and Dooku sent a sledgehammer. Whatever she is after in Bothan Space, this isn¡¯t it.¡±


    Director Isard shared a look with one his aides, and then stood up, ¡°Director Deminar¡¯s Cryptanalysis Department appears to have intercepted a priority order sent from General Tann¡¯s headquarters on Geonosis. This may shed some light on our problem.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Director,¡± Ilko Deminar cleared his throat, tapping hislink, ¡°The Confederate Second Fleet is of vital interest to our intelligence efforts. Just before her counterattack at Christophsis, this message was ryed to Raxus Secundus through satellite transceivers in Bothan Space.¡±


    ¡°And we had ess to the Bothan satellites?¡± Admiral Yren asked.


    ¡°The Sp deals with all sides,¡± Director Deminar smiled wanly, ¡°For the right price, we were able to obtain and decrypt the message.¡±


    A two storey high holo of the Separatist general was projected into the centre of the amphitheatre. Master Skywalker¡¯s expression-as if it wasn¡¯t already grim enough-dropped several temperatures closer to absolute zero. <em>So that¡¯s why they call her the Pantoran, </em>Scout thought.


    <em>¡°This is General Sev¡¯rance Tann requesting reinforcements from the Confederate First Fleet,¡± </em>the recording announced to the wrong audience, <em>¡°The operational situation in the south is dire, and theplete copse of the front is imminent.¡±</em>


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Ringo Vinda, Ringo Vinda System</em>


    <em>Eucer Sector</em>


    <em>¡°Ringo Vinda has fallen.¡±</em>


    ¡°Regroup at coordinates six-five-two three-one, two-two-five niner-two. You better have our fuel ready, Jorm.¡±


    ¡°Copy that,¡± Trilm blew hair off her face, ¡°We can¡¯t let Sy Myrth fall. Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Copy,¡± Captain Jorm was multitasking half a dozen supply ships across the theatre, ¡°Commander Shive, Havoc¡¯s resupply is in the Chorios System.¡±


    ¡°Chorios- <em>stang! </em>Retreat to Columex immediately!¡± Horgo Shive wiped his forehead, ¡°Harsol, we¡¯ll stage an ambush over Quell. Vinoc, we need reinforcements!¡±


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    <em>¡°Stygeon has fallen.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Wobani has fallen.¡±</em>


    ¡°Understood,¡± Vinoc¡¯s rapid reaction taskforce was being slung around the Foundry, ¡°<em>Bronze Serpent, </em>I advise retreat to Anzat.¡±


    ¡°Received. Bonteri, Krett, do you have ships to spare?¡±


    The Neimodian shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re going to get caught. I can¡¯t risk my ships for this.¡±


    ¡°You kriffing <em>insect</em>-!¡±


    ¡°Take <em>Messenger in mes </em>and <em>Queen of Beauty</em>,¡± I told him, ¡°Pull back to Captain Krett¡¯s support arc. Saleucami.¡±


    ¡°Roger,¡± the one-eyed captain shot me a thankful look that I didn¡¯t quite notice.


    I sent <em>Lexington </em>and <em>Saratoga </em>on a raid deep into now enemy territory, hounding their supply lines. For every lightyear they pushed further up the Perlemian, the more overburdened their logistics got. The only way we could slow them down further was with scorched earth, but the we had collectively decided razing allied infrastructure was detrimental to ourselves, considering our reinforcements had to use them too.


    <em>¡°Fleet element destroyed.¡±</em>


    Harsol swore like a sailor, fittingly, ¡°Retreat to Columex, Shive. I¡¯ll hold them at Vorzyd.¡±


    ¡°Rain¡­¡± Trilm shot me a dangerous look.


    ¡°Yeah. I know,¡± I grumbled, rubbing my eyes, ¡°I know.¡±


    If the Salin Front continued to cave in at its current pace, those of us struggling in the south were going to get cut off.


    ¡°I¡¯m bringing my ships to Rhen Var,¡± Vinoc said loudly, ¡°The rest of you should gather as many ships as possible in Lianna. As many as you can spare.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± an Aqualishmander scowled, ¡°Every parsec counts! Retreating to Lianna <em>now </em>will be giving two-thousand parsecs to the enemy without a fight!¡±


    My eyes flickered to the countdown, ¡°He¡¯s right. We¡¯re losing too much ground. Krett, Aviso, reinforce Havoc Squadron at Columex. Does anybody in Thanium or Indrexu have ships to bring to Rhen Var?¡±


    ¡°We do,¡± a Quarren replied, gesturing to the cadre of officers around him, ¡°But that would leave the Thanium Worlds undefended.¡±


    ¡°We need to stall the BCC for as long as possible,¡± Commander Trilm frowned, ¡°We don¡¯t have much of a choice.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s any constion,¡± Aviso groaned, ¡°The Republic definitely isn¡¯t as effective as ARENA. We¡¯re fighting a machine that can¡¯t simte morale, personality, or character. It runs its armies with pure calculus. If we survive this, then, well, I think it¡¯s safe to say we¡¯ll survive anything the Republic throws at us.¡±


    The star map was alive, zing. Countless pieces fluttered between the stars in aplex game no single man couldprehend. Organisational structure disintegrated as fleets andmands broke down into individual ships strewn across the sectors as we rushed to aid each other while maintaining the operational integrity of our own forces. Sparks filled the air-<em>literally</em>-as skirmishes and battles raged across the room.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a saying,¡± Horgo Shive bemoaned, ¡°That always making the best decision makes you predictable?¡±


    ¡°Good pfassking luck applying that to real life,¡± Vinoc let out a breath, ¡°The best decision is only predictable when we know what the best decision <em>is</em>. You think you¡¯re smarter than a supeputer?¡±


    <em>¡°Anzat has fallen.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Aargonar has fallen.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Quell has fallen.¡±</em>


    ¡°I don¡¯t like its voice,¡± I scowled, ¡°It¡¯s smug aura mocks me.¡±


    ¡°Your brain is overheating, Bonteri.¡±


    It was like watching a gue spread in real time as more and more of the holochart was infected by baleful red, ARENA¡¯s relentless legions of digital ships always pressing the offensive. The fog of war made it worse-enemy elements flickered within the smoke like vengeful wraiths, and those that burst outwards were like bloodthirsty hounds. Sometimes, a daring officer would send a ship deep into enemy territory-revealing a great horde right before its destruction, leaving a ghostly spectre that both served as an <em>¡®enemy fleetst seen here¡¯ </em>marker and as a tombstone.


    A Siniteen officer suddenly copsed like a sack of spuds, those around him instinctively darting away as his spectral form glitched and spasmed on the ground. Another person appeared in their hologram-likely an XO-shooting us an apologetic look before cutting the connection. Just like that, their ships on the star map winked out of existence, and there were 31 people left.


    ¡°His brain must¡¯ve overheated too,¡± Rel Harsol joked, grabbing a te of food from off-holo.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t me him,¡± Captain Krett mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s been twenty-six hours.¡±


    <em>Fuck, really? Maybe I should¡¯ve set the time amplification to a greater value. </em>I brushed my hair back as I felt a headache brewing.


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    <em>¡°-meet at Lannik. Over,¡±</em> General Tann¡¯s holographic stature froze in time.


    For a moment there wasplete and total silence, and then themanding organ of the Grand Army reawoke in a swell of cacophonic horror as every man and woman with a badge pinned to their breast tried to make their opinions known.


    ¡°What are we doing!?¡± Admiral Coburn raised his voice over the mour, ¡°We must pull the Pantoran away from this <em>Operation Sidestep</em> immediately! I advise we have General Empatojayos Brand assault Bassadro at once! With the Twentieth Sector Army at Fondor¡¯s doorstep, she will have no choice but to divert her attention!¡±


    The unseen projectionist skillfully manipted the vast star map to focus in on grid square L-13, where a splotch of red clearly delineated the Separatist Fondor enve, which included much of the Tapani Sector, as well as Bassadro on the Shipwright¡¯s Trace, and Mrisst. Governor-General Octavian Grant of the Tapani Oversector has been fighting a back-and-forth war on the Rimma Trade Spine ever since the war began, never quite able to get the upper hand due to Fondor¡¯s obtuse resistance.


    If the General was present and not personally leading his armies on the frontlines, Scout imagined he would¡¯ve been the loudest voice in the amphitheatre, doubtlessly demanding more resources sent to his Emerald Banner Command.


    ¡°Bassadro has settled in for a siege,¡± a female Jedi attending by hologram pointed out, ¡°A hasty assault will result in an undue number of civilian casualties!¡±


    ¡°With all respect, General Alrix-¡±


    ¡°Draw her attention away!? Are we so ineffectual!?¡± Colonel Gentis drew himself to his great stature, booming, ¡°We mustunch a renewed offensive on the Nanth¡¯ri hypenes! Take Mimban, then Attahox, then Nanth¡¯ri itself! General Laan Tik¡¯s Two-Twenty-Fourth Division is already in position; we will cut her entire operation at the neck!¡±


    The holoprojection pulled away from the Tapani Sector, soaring over to a slice of the Expansion Region defined by the Nanth¡¯ri Trade Route and Ounder¡¯s Route.


    ¡°You are shortsighted, Gentis!¡± another Governor-General scorned, ¡°Director Isard, am I correct to say that there are no significant Separatist elements in the Foundry of the Confederacy?¡±


    There was a brief pause as the attendance tried to understand his words. Scout¡¯s own brow furrowed as sneakily produced her tablet, frantically tapping through her data files to identify the speaking officer. <em>General Tanniel? </em>Scout briefly snapped her head up to squint in the direction of the General, deciding the faces didn¡¯t match. <em>General Renau¡­ no. General Therbon¡­ that¡¯s him! </em>


    Governor-General Therbon of the Cerulean Spear Command, CO of the Twelfth Sector Army. What was he thinking¡­ <em>no way.</em>


    ¡°¡­ You are correct, General Therbon,¡± Armand Isard nodded hesitantly, as if afraid of what maye next, ¡°Our operatives in the Separatist homeworlds report that the defence of the Perlemian have been relegated to minor patrol elements and individual PSFs.¡±


    A heartbeat passed-


    <em>¡°And you are too damn ambitious, Therbon!¡±</em> Colonel Gentis barraged, ¡°You won¡¯t make a thousand parsecs past Salvara!¡±


    ¡°The Twelfth Sector Army won¡¯t,¡± General Therbon corrected severely, ¡°But if we pull together all our forces in the region; the Twelfth Sector Army, the Eleventh Sector Army, the Third Mid Rim Army, the Fourth Outer Rim Army¡­ my staff tells me that we can make it to Raxus before the end of the year.¡±


    For the first time since the conference began, the Supreme Chancellor spoke, ¡°Far be it from me to weigh in on this matter to such a qualified gathering, but is there not a chance that this¡­ <em>opening</em>¡­ is a trap? It is far removed for someone the likes of General Tann to be so careless, no?¡±


    <em>Chancellor Palpatine likes to gesture a lot,</em> Scout observed. He let his hands do half the talking, drawing absolute attention without fail. It made people listen to him. And personally, Scout agreed with him. It <em>was </em>a bit strange, not to mention General Therbon was more than likely simply using the opportunity to elevate his standing. However, the General of the Cerulean Spear Command wasn¡¯t about to concede so easily.


    ¡°Chancellor, it is clear from Director Deminar¡¯s presentation that the Pantoran has her hands tied,¡± General Therbon outstretched his arms, ¡°My staff and I have reviewed the details; the Confederate First Fleet was mobilised in absolute secrecy. Not even <em>Separatist </em>officers knew their purpose. Isn¡¯t it obvious then that Director Deminar¡¯s miraculous finding has presented a brief window of opportunity to end this war <em>decisively</em>, in one single blow?¡±


    A wave of agreement swept through the Force, powerful enough for Scout to feel. The crowd was being convinced, she realised, and even some Jedi were being swept into fervour as well.


    ¡°Director Isard,¡± a stiff, wiry officer asked simply, ¡°Are you able to corroborate General Therbon¡¯s ims?¡±


    Director Isard tensed, almost looking at the Supreme Chancellor for guidance. The assembly seemed to collectively hold its breath.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Ahsoka nudged her.


    ¡°That, my dear Padawan, is General Kohl Seerdon,¡± Master Kenobi said lowly, ¡°Commanding Officer of the Third Mid Rim Army. Remember his name and face, as we work closely with him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s one of the most influential figures in these circles,¡± Master Skywalker added, ¡°If he unites his camp with Therbon¡¯s, the rest of the assembly will fall in line behind them.¡±


    Scout shared a look with Ahsoka, letting her friend speak for both of them; ¡°Is that good or bad, Master?¡±


    ¡°For us?¡± Master Skywalker crossed his arms, ¡°Well, same as ever. Just know that if this operation gets approved, we¡¯ll be fighting there.¡±


    ¡°Fits nicely within the Open Circle¡¯s job description, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Master Kenobi chuckled.


    The Open Circle Fleet was the rapid reaction force of the Grand Army, ced under the jurisdiction of Jedi Command and thusmanded almost exclusively by Jedi Generals. Most elite clone formations were concentrated under the Open Circle¡¯s banner, too. In that nature, divisions of the Open Circle Fleet can always be found wherever the fighting was heaviest.


    <em>I should write all of this down, </em>Scout pulled out her tablet.


    ¡°We are,¡± Director Isard said with decisive finality, ¡°It is our conclusion as well that General Tann is relying on secrecy to protect the Rimward Perlemian.¡±


    General Seerdon leaned forward in his seat, curling his fists around each other, ¡°Then I will pledge the a Steel de taskforce for this effort. I believe Admiral Kreuge and his Tector-ss star destroyers will make a suitable vanguard.¡±


    ¡°The Tectors are still new and unproven!¡± General Therbon challenged, to the discernible ire of some, ¡°Making them the vanguard is far too risky.¡±


    <em>Stop trying to steal my credit, </em>Scout sensed the unsaid words in the Force. At the same time¡­ those visibly bristling at Therbon¡¯s statement must be the supporters of the Tector-ss. Master Skywalker was right; even at a time like this, political friction was inevitable.


    ¡°My Tectors are purpose-built battleships, sir,¡± Admiral Kreuge-presumably-replied coolly, ¡°An armoured spearhead is precisely what is needed to pierce the cordon at Salvara. The Victory Project is still in its trial phase, so unless Kuat is willing to donate a Mandator, my battleships are our best chance at pulling off your n.¡±


    The sudden intrigued air hanging over a gaggle of KDY delegates wasn¡¯t missed by Scout¡¯s inquisitive senses.


    Chancellor Palpatine¡¯s features furrowed in worry, ¡°I worry we are getting ahead of ourselves. It is true that General Tann¡¯s strategy warrants concern, but I am sure some of you can agree that this feels like an overreaction. Let us not forget our sesses; we are still making good progress in the New Territories, and our victory at Eriadu threatens the entire Separatist effort on the Rimma Trade Route.¡±


    ¡°I must concur with the Chancellor,¡± a Jedi Master said, ¡°We are overying our hand. The Separatist Alliance will view this-rightly-as an act of desperation. Concentrating all our forces on the Perlemian will leave our other fronts stretched thin, which the Separatists will assuredly exploit. We must seek a wiser course of action.¡±


    The Chancellor nodded appreciatively, ¡°As Master Ry-Gaul had put astutely, shouldn¡¯t caution be the order of the day?¡±


    It was another Governor-General who broke the deadlock, his holographic form shimmering as he pulled himself together, ¡°General Kenobi, what do you think of this matter? Youmand the Open Circle, and no man nor woman in this assembly can doubt your credibility.¡±


    Master Kenobi released an inaudible sigh as he rose, his half-armour casting an eye-catching form among the billowing robes of his peers, ¡°I am inclined to agree with General Therbon, should Director Isard¡¯s intelligence be corroborated. It is said, after all, that the best defence is a good offence.¡±


    ¡°Master Kenobi,¡± Master Ry-Gaul coaxed softly, but severely, ¡°Surely you see the merits-¡±


    ¡°I do, Master,¡± Master Skywalker shot to his feet, and a shadow of irritation crossed Ry-Gaul¡¯s dignified face, ¡°And I see the merits of actually making a decision! Admiral Coburn suggests we distract the Pantoran by widening the Southern Theatre; Colonel Gentis rmends we strike at her directly; and General Therbon presents a n to strike at the heart of the Separatist Alliance! Why not do all three at once!?¡±


    Master Skywalker¡¯s promation was met with stunned silence, punctuated by Master Kenobi shaking his head in exasperation. Scout shrunk into her seat as her Master exploited the quiet the press his point even further, his patience both visibly and audibly at an end.


    ¡°General Therbon¡¯s stratagem is too ambitious, Master Ry-Gaul¡¯s advice is too cautious; the problem is neither, but that we cannot put all our eggs in one basket!¡± he dered, ¡°So put all three ns into motion, but with a more limited scope, and with an open mind for failure. Should <em>any </em>of the ns seed, then we have aplished our goal. If more than one does, then we have turned the tide against the Seps!¡±


    The Hero With No Fear hammered his fist into his palm, enrapturing the whole assembly, ¡°We keep up the pressure, and we break the back of the Separatists!¡±


    ?<em>Orbit of Ringo Vinda, Ringo Vinda System</em>


    <em>Eucer Sector</em>


    <em>¡°Felucia has fallen.¡±</em>


    Sixteen pairs of heads snapped around to a single point in an almostical manner, stunned at the extremely important reserve system-due to its proximity to several hypenes-falling into enemy hands. A zing w taskforce tore its way through the supposedly unnavigable neb known as the <em>Roil</em>, storming down the Ardan Cross and smashing straight into the Thanium Worlds, no more than fifteen-hundred parsecs from Raxus.


    ¡°I told you,¡± someone mumbled.


    ¡°Pull¡­¡± I hesitated, slowly choking out words as my mouth tried to keep up with my racing brain, ¡°All fleets pull back to Lianna. Shive, Aviso, Krett, you¡¯ll be our rearguard. I want a defensive perimeter from seven-oh-oh oh-niner, three-six-four niner to six-eight-two six, three-five-niner one. Harsol, how many defence tforms can you get us?¡±


    Lianna. The gateway to the Tion Cluster. The system was the crossroads of five major hypenes-three of which the Republic must use to ess Tion. There was the Coreward Perlemian, which CSC fleets were thrusting up from; and there was the Ardan Cross and Shaltin Tunnels, which were being used by the BCC to nk us. Everybody recognised that Lianna will be our final stand.


    ¡°Uh- four static weapons tforms I¡¯ve tugged from Cronese worlds, and a few dozenser and missile satellites I can string up around Lianna,¡± Harsol squinted at his screen, dark bags under his eyes visible, ¡°If nothing else, they¡¯ll give the Republic a real headache on theary assault.¡±


    It¡¯s been¡­ forty hours since we started? Personally, I¡¯ve not left this hellhole of a room, and have only peeked out the door whenever a service droid enters with grub. We¡¯ve operated with an ad-hoc shift system, with each officer taking incremental two to three hour naps, but it wasn¡¯t much. It was natural that nobody wanted to miss anything, out of fear of missing out. Thank God, the battle room was immediately attached to a bathroom. Whoever the interior designers were who anticipated this, bless their souls.


    ¡°Great. Jorm-¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got fuel and tibanna for you,¡± an auxiliary officer said tiredly, ¡°It¡¯s a variety of stock, though. Engines might perform subpar.¡±


    ¡°Stang, it''s the end of the line for us,¡± Trilm rubbed her face, ¡°Inefficient drives are thest of our problems.¡±


    Fleets were already gliding across the holochart. Nobody argued with my decision, to their credit, knowing that there was no point. We had agreed in advance that Lianna represented our best bet in this scenario, and had fortified the ecumenopolis world to hell and back, gathering every ship and defence tform we could in the single system.


    <em>¡°Mossak has fallen.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Columex has fallen.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Draukyze has fallen.¡±</em>


    The enemy advanced like an unrelenting horde from three fronts, world after world swallowed in its ravenous swarm. Commander Horgo Shive¡¯s Havoc Squadron met them at Galidraan-


    <em>¡°Fleet element destroyed.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Galidraan has fallen.¡±</em>


    Shive slowly copsed in his chair, wordlessly signalling that he was out of the game. And then Captain Aviso¡¯s and Captain Krett¡¯s defence-in-depth of the Arcan System.


    <em>¡°Fleet element destroyed.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Fleet element destroyed.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Fleet element destroyed.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Arcan has fallen.¡±</em>


    ARENA was still gloating even as the first skirmishes in the Lianna System began, her monotone voice prattling off system after system as if going down a shopping list. The skirmishes turned into isted shesas more and more Republic forward squadrons jumped into the system-until the first main fleets poured in through the breach.


    Hundreds of ships from both sides flocked to reinforce the shes, until each battle was sorge they were indistinguishable from each other, morphing into a single colossal system-spanning engagement. The shine of sublight drives and zing turbsers created a maelstrom of colours that would make any epileptic person seizure, transforming the room into a veritable rave. Indeed- I noticed some of our more photosensitiverades diverting their gazes.


    Soon, the battle was so uncontroble we simply stepped away and allowed theputer to do the work. Formations were non-existent, and if there were any, we couldn¡¯t see them through the baffling mess of hulls andserfire. We simply ordered our ships to never retreat, and closed our strained eyes for some frankly well-deserved rest while we waited out the battle.


    I caught five hours of fleeting sleep before ARENA woke me up- <em>¡°Fleet element destroyed.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Lianna has fallen.¡±</em>


    And that was that. There was not a single Separatist force in the Foundry beyond bookkeeping formations. Within hours, the Tion Cluster was in Republic hands.


    <em>¡°Raxus has fallen,¡± </em>somehow, ARENA managed to dere it with a sense of finality.


    ¡°¡­ So, how long did west?¡± Captain Aviso croaked.


    I squinted at my chrono, the numbers somehow dancing before my eyes- ¡°Fifty-one hours. Nearly twenty-six days.¡±


    A whole ten days short of our target. But I wasn¡¯t too disappointed, having aplished my primary goal ofying down a foundation for a coalition fleet. Knowing who¡¯s who was important, and now I was pretty confident I now knew just that.


    Calli Trilm was pragmatic, more than willing to sacrifice assets if there was a gain. Aviso was a textbook academy-trained officer, and adept at his craft. Rel Harsol, despite his loud personality, was cautious with his ships. Krett, like most Neimodians, was a calcting defence specialist. Horgo Shive was the direct opposite, always preferring a blitzkrieg-like offence.


    ¡°Kriff,¡± Jorm said eloquently, the reserved captain having opened up over the period of our shared ordeal. His mastery of the Rimward spes yed no insignificant role in our defence.


    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s enough,¡± I remarked, ¡°ARENA¡¯s a supeputer with perfect decision making and coordination. Should this event ever arise, all we have to do is emte what we did here, and the enemy will copse before we do.¡±


    I ticked off another box in my mental checklist. Next, I had to make the attack actually happen, on <em>my </em>terms.

 Addendum 2: Operation Trident [RESTRICTED]

    Addendum 2: Operation Trident [RESTRICTED]


    After being delivered a series of devastating defeats at the hands of Confederate General Sev''rance Tann, Republic High Command developed a new major counteroffensive intended to retake the initiative and potentially pressure the Separatist government into a favourable peace treaty. Designed with three concurrent offensives in mind, <em><strong>Operation Trident</strong></em>is to take ce in the final months of the first year.


    The main offensive is designated as the <em>Therbon n</em>, after its eponymous architect. As the cornerstone of the entire operation, the Therbon n represents the greatest undertaking of the Grand Army since its inception, requiring the cooperation of three Sector Armies and tens of thousands of man-hours in preparation necessary to minimize inter-army friction.


    Consisting of a two-pronged attack towards the Columex System along the Salin and Perlemian hypenes, the Therbon n intends on capturing the vast majority of the Separatist foundry worlds in the region, crippling the Separatist war effort and potentially forcing their government into a peace treaty.


    <strong>Phase 1. </strong>Admiral Kreuge''s taskforce, supported by an Open Circle taskgroup under Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, must break through the Separatist defence at Salvara, opening up the Rimward Perlemian to invasion. At the same time, a joint zing w-Open Circle taskforce under Admiral Yren and Jedi General Anakin Skywalker departs Phindar to extend the enemy defence.


    <strong>Phase 2. </strong>The 12th Sector Army invades Ringo Vinda, Abhean, Centares, and other Perlemian systems as they progress Rimward. The 3rd Sector Army is detached to take the foundry worlds of Metalorn, Wobani, and Saleucami. The 11th Sector Army progresses along the Salin Corridor, taking Vjun and Lucazec.


    <strong>Phase 3. </strong>The Open Circle Fleet is detached to take the foundry world of Sy Myrth. Some Jedi General propose expanding their target towards Jabiim, ostensibly to avenge their prior defeat, and High Command has taken it under advisement. The logistical departments, however, fear overreach. At this point, the 11th and 12th Sector Armies should have rendezvoused in the Columex System, and an armistice proposal is to be sent to Raxus Secundus. Should the Separatist government decline, the 12th Sector Army will establish forward defensive lines while the 11th and 3rd Sector Armies begins mopping-up operations.


    The secondary offensive, designated the <em>Gentis n</em>, is primarily focused around the Nanth''ri Route. The n requires a limited offensive towards Mimban and Nanth''ri, isting General Sev''rance Tann and the Confederate 1st and 2nd Fleets south of the Trax Tube.


    <strong>Phase 1. </strong>The 4th Sector Army departs Antar to take Gyndine and Mimbar, while Jedi General Laan Tik takes the 224th Clone Division on an advance strike at Nanth''ri itself. At the same time, Jedi General Mace Windu and the 91st Expeditionary Corps is to strike north into Separatist upied Bothan Space, dying the enemy.


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    <strong>Phase 2. </strong>General Laan Tik is to defend against the predicted Separatist counterattack until the rest of the 4th Sector Army can reinforce him. Should the Gentis n seed, two of the three main Separatist fleets will be encircled in the Trailing Sectors, turning the tide of the war.


    The third andst offensive of Operation Trident is designated the <em>Coburn n</em>, centered on the Rimma Trade Route. Some in the military staff, however, consider the Coburn n an independent operation due to how far removed it is from the rest of Operation Trident.


    At first, the Coburn n was proposed as a diversionary attack to draw away the attention of Sev''rance Tann, but had ballooned into a massive offensive after it reached the attention of the influential Governor-General Octavian Grant. Now, the Coburn n represents a joint effort by the 20th and 18th Sector Armies to liberate the entire Rimma Trade Route from Separatist control, on a scale that rivals the Therbon n.


    <strong>Phase 1. </strong>The 20th Sector Army begins to two pronged advance on Separatist upied territory on the Coreward hypenes. Jedi General Empatojayos Brand leads taskforce on the Shipwrights'' Trace to take the important shipyard world of Fondor and its satellite systems, nning on using the civilian government''s general unsupportiveness of the Separatist cause to resolve their reintegration with a peaceful negotiation. Concurrently, General Grant will take the factory world of Mechis III, crippling the Separatist war effort in the region.


    <strong>Phase 2. </strong>After taking Yag''Dhul, overallmand will be transferred to Jedi General Rees Alrix as the 20th Sector Army leaves the Tapani Oversector''s jurisdiction. General Alrix is to negotiate a peaceful reintegration with the Republic-aligned Wroona, while investigating Sev''rance Tann''s potential ties to the Wroonians. After assembling with the 18th Sector Army, General Alrix willunch abined offensive is down the Rimma hypene, drawing Separatist elements away from the Seswenna Sector.


    <strong>Phase 3. </strong>In coboration with the Ound Regions Security Force, the 18th Sector Army under themand of Brigadier General Gideon Tarkin will stage a breakout from Eriadu, expanding the salient and improving the Republic''s precarious situation in the Western Reaches. Both the 20th and 18th Sector Army will meet at Sullust, to capture the shipyards in the system and end the Separatist presence in the region.


    <em>Attachment CWY22M11: State of the Gxy;</em>

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    <em><em>Atraken Approach, Kattellyn System</em></em>


    <em>Rolion Sector</em>


    Sometimes-<em>all the time</em>, really, but Barriss tried to believe in optimism-Barriss felt like a puppet motivated by whatever strings Rain felt like wielding that day. <em>Why </em>her captor left Barriss alone on her own ship was beyond her, and as all things surrounding him, the Force was of no usefulness.


    Star frigate <em>Unicorn </em>zed a path towards the distant world of Atraken, threading a precarious line through the orbital minefield that enveloped theary system. The lifeless husks of warships drifted here and there among the moons, whatever interster battlefield there was long since metamorphosing into a new artificial ring of debris.


    From the corner of her eye, Barriss noticed a bright explosion as a ruined corvette hull impacted a leftover mine, sting microparticles their way. She was about to return her attention at first, but a voice rang through her mind-<em>remember, repeaters are your friend; look at them enough and you don¡¯t need the viewport</em>-and Barriss forced herself to read the relevant readout.


    The monitor disyed a shing silhouette of <em>Unicorn</em>, offset bars fluctuating as the ship¡¯s particle shields absorbed the rippling blows.


    ¡°Two-Two-Double-Oh,¡± the tactical droid TF-1726 called, ¡°Have <em>Centaur </em>report her condition.¡±


    OOM-2200-Taylor-lifted his head from his console, ¡°Her shields are holding, sir. Gallow advises we find another path through the minefield.¡±


    ¡°Inform him that is denied,¡± TF-1726 droned, ¡°The minefield is protecting us from enemy interception.¡±


    TF-1726, or Tuff, as he was known as, was the new captain of the small Unicorn Squadron-which consisted of <em>Unicorn </em>and its sister ship <em>Centaur</em>-and apparently Barriss¡¯ newmanding officer. Internally, the young Jedi didn¡¯t know whether to feel relieved or insulted that her captor had concluded a mere droid was enough to watch over her. It¡¯s almost as if he didn¡¯t care if she escaped.


    <em>Which must be why, </em>hindsight hummed in her head, <em>he sent me to Atraken. I don¡¯t need to be watched here. </em>Even if Barriss managed to escape to the Republic battlelines, nobody was getting out of the¡¯s orbit, much less the system.


    The vast minefield was deployed by Separatist minyers, and as such possessed trackers that allowed Separatist ships to avoid them. Apparently it was originally done to prevent even more Republic reinforcements from arriving, but inadvertently turned the ravaged system into an isted battle forsaken by both sides of the war.


    ¡°We¡¯re receiving a transmission from Trilos, sir,¡± ams droid chirped.


    ¡°Patch it though.¡±


    <em>¡°Unidentified ship, this is Trilos Control, be advised that you are entering the Atraken Exclusion Zone,¡± </em>an humanoid voice cautioned, <em>¡°Identify yourself and your purpose, and standby for transponder verification.¡±</em>


    ¡°Trilos Control, this is Confederate Navy ships <em>Unicorn </em>and <em>Centaur,</em>¡± Tuff replied, ¡°We were dispatched by Ringo Vinda to assist in the relief efforts. Transmitting transponder codes.¡±


    The tactical droid nodded at Taylor, prompting the OOM to send the codes. Barriss briefly saw a code scramble across the disy; <em>CNF_2.11.4931.51.81.4_1310RV.</em>


    <em>¡°Copy. Unicorn, Centaur, you are cleared for entry,¡± </em>Control returned, <em>¡°Please follow the designated spe to avoid mines and enemy interceptors. Report again as soon as you enter Trilos orbital zone.¡±</em>


    Unicorn decelerated smoothly as it passed the inner perimeter of the minefield, navputers plugging in the data received from Orbital Control to plot a safe inbound heading towards the moon of Trilos. As the only of Atraken¡¯s three moons to possess a habitable atmosphere, Barriss heard from both the Shadowfeed and HoloNet News that the survivors of the battle had relocated there.


    What she didn¡¯t know, however, was that the moon was under Separatist control.


    ¡°Lieutenant Offee,¡± Tuff abruptly said to her, ¡°You will act as the captain of this ship, and as themanding officer of this squadron.¡±


    <em>What kind of trick is this now?</em>


    ¡°¡­ Why?¡± Barriss asked carefully, wary of whatever plot her captors had cooked up now.


    She had spent enough time with TF-1726 to know that the tactical droid was one of Rain¡¯s most trusted aides, perhaps second only to Hare, or Stelle. Whatever he had nned, the droid was almost certainly in on it.


    ¡°This is a mercy mission,¡± the tactical droid reminded, and she still couldn¡¯t quite fully believe it, ¡°A droid cannot represent a humanitarian effort, due to organic preconceptions. The ranking officer of Confederate forces on the moon will also be more receptive to an organicmander. While you speak with them, I will oversee the off-loading of medical supplies and provisions.¡±


    When it was put that way¡­ Barriss could somehow see the reason for it. Sweat gathered around her neck, and she tugged at her restricting cor to relieve the heat. She was about to reply something fierce, but then the dim glow of Atraken consumed the bridge.


    Barriss was unwittingly agape, her mouth closing with a quiet click. Atraken was a beautiful world, with bountiful seas and great continents. Once, perhaps. Its oceans were a soupy sludge of grey-green, and its vast continental expanses transformed into sickly shades of yellow, weather patterns boiling and bubbling over it. There were little flowers that bloomed over the surface like water lilies, and tendrils of fire thatshed out from them razing the atmosphere as if it was por fluff.


    The defiant lights of civilization still lingered-especially noticeable on the night side-but from afar, they appeared to Barriss like fireflies hiding within the brush while the forest burned around them, winking out one by one.


    ¡°This is¡­¡± she started.


    ¡°The result of the Republic¡¯s atomic warfare,¡± Tuff said tly.


    ¡°You¡­ you don¡¯t know that,¡± Barriss dared to challenge, ¡°Any side could have started it!¡±


    ¡°Atraken is the capital of the Rolion Sector, which unanimously voted to secede from the Republic,¡± his vocabtor expressed a unique tone of disgust, ¡°When the Republic realised they couldn¡¯t take the, they decided neither side could.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would care so much,¡± Barriss mumbled weakly, feeling a headacheing on.


    ¡°It is careless,¡± the droid scorned, ¡°It is wasteful. I can calcte a hundred other courses of tactical import other than defoliating an entire in a vain attempt at resource denial.¡±


    Barriss deted, not forck of response, but to concentrate on keeping the collective sorrow of Atraken out of her head. It felt like the entire was writhing in agony, its hands pounding on her mind¡¯s doors, visions of copsing skies and scorched cities shing through her consciousness. Warheads that fell like hail, and columns of ash and smoke that blotted the sun in great mushroom form.


    But there was a glimmer of hope in the Force-a light spark in darkness-and she had a feeling she knew where it came from.


    ¡°The civilian government has evacuated to Trilos,¡± Tuff exined, ¡°Now, our mission criteria is not to defeat the Republic, but to save as much of the poption as possible.¡±


    The light codes on the sensor disys grew far sparser as they cleared the minefield, and <em>Unicorn </em>moved forward more rapidly, elerating as it settled into its inbound vector for Trilos. <em>There¡¯s a Republic fleet on the other side of the, </em>Barriss realised, <em>directly opposite to the Separatist fleet on this side. </em>They must both be too depleted to engage each other head on.


    As they approached Trilos, <em>Unicorn </em>and <em>Centaur </em>merged into the clutter of starships surrounding the. An indiscernible number of freighters and perhapsmandeered merchantmen, a handful of frigates, and a single huge Lucrehulk that dwarfed them all to insignificance. Golden lights were strewn across the moon¡¯s habitable surface; a government, and a people, in exile.


    ¡°Notify Trilos Control of our arrival and request instructions,¡± Tuff ordered.


    <em>¡°Unicorn, Centaur,¡± </em>Trilos Control hailed, <em>¡°Disengage all drives and standby for tractor tug guidance. Wee to New Kattellyn.¡±</em>


    The surface of Trilos was rocky and destitute, but livable. New Kattellyn was a small city of mostly tenement blocks, straddled by two streams cutting through a deste promontory. Massive open pit mines scarred thendscape, the heads of great highways that disappeared into the nks of a mountain range.


    Barriss afforded herself onest wry grimace of distaste at ying Separatist, and folded her true feelings beneath a mask ofposure before leaving the ship.


    A man in grey uniform met her, a mixture of thinly hidden dread and monumental relief on his face at the same time. Barriss wrinkled her nose in annoyance as white jets of steam sted the ramp as the warship equalised its atmospheric pressure, and the man snapped into an uncertain salute upon her appearance, as if he had forgotten the fine details of the gesture.


    ¡°Lieutenant Rame Cartroll reporting, sir!¡±


    Barriss swallowed some bile at that.


    ¡°Where¡¯s yourmanding officer?¡± she asked.


    Lieutenant Cartroll faltered, but rposed himself valiantly, ¡°Dead, sir. Everybody above me is dead. I¡¯m now the ranking officer of our forces in the system¡­ I suppose you¡¯re my CO now, sir.¡±


    She blinked, somewhat stunned.


    ¡°¡­ My captain was assassinated a week ago by enemy saboteurs,¡± he supplied, ncing over her shoulder at the droids unloading cargo, ¡°Thank the stars at least <em>one </em>of our distress calls got through the Republic¡¯s jamming.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only a lieutenant,¡± Barriss said slowly, ¡°Lieutenant Offee. I don¡¯t have the¡­ authority.¡±


    Cartroll¡¯s expression fell, ¡°But¡­ But youmand this squadron right? I only have a corvette. That makes you my superior.¡±


    Barriss winced internally, but didn¡¯t let it show, ¡°I suppose it does. Lead the way.¡±


    Along the way, they passed by conspicuously out-of-ce Coruscanti AA-9 freighters, the universal red sigil painted onto their hulls that signified humanitarian work and protected them from military attack. Despite that, many of them still showed signs of battle. Scorch marks, half-melted ting¡­ Barriss could not see any gun emcements. She didn¡¯t know if she wished she did.


    ¡°Courtesy of the Refugee Relief Movement,¡± Lieutenant Cartroll nodded at them, ¡°When the government realised they had to evacuate the, they contacted the RMM for help. Volunteers from Coruscant, Naboo, Alderaan, flooded here. Didn¡¯t stop the Republic from shooting them. Now, they¡¯re trapped on this rock with the rest of us. With some luck, your ships will change things.¡±


    <em>I don¡¯t see how they can, </em>Barriss thought. But she didn¡¯t want to be pessimistic, and she still couldn¡¯t quite believe the Republic would fire upon humanitarian vessels.


    <em>The same way you can¡¯t believe they would ss a over losing? </em>A traitorous part of her retorted. <em>This isn¡¯t the same Republic you know, girl.</em>


    They didn¡¯t go into the city, but towards arge encampment on its outskirts. A refugee camp. It sprawled beneath an unforgiving sky, fabric tents and makeshift shelters huddled together like soldiers in formation. The emblem of the red sigil was disyed everywhere, on the tents, on the gpoles, on the official uniforms of RRM workers, or even hastily patched onto the dresses of Atrakenite volunteers.


    Barriss felt her heart ache in the Force. A symphony of voices weaves a tapestry of stories-tales of loss and resilience. Survivors, their faces etched with the weight of their ordeals, gather inmunal spaces, sharing meagre meals but bound by a shared determination to rebuild shattered lives.


    Names were heard over the bleakness. Not everybody was so fortunate. Not the dead-eyed children drifting between the shelters in packs, hunting for their parents. Nor the mothers shouting themselves hoarse, for a reply that might nevere.


    The want for survival and hope was prevalent, but Barriss sensed another want in the Force. A want for vengeance. Lingering. On the rear seat for now, but she did not know for how long more.


    Barriss allowed herself to be immersed in it. Empathy was the Jedi way. Compassion was the Jedi way. These were not her enemies.


    Two holograms awaited them in thergest tent, one a opulently dressed woman in purple silk, and another a tall, nondescript man with Coruscanti features.


    ¡°Lieutenant Cartroll,¡± the woman smiled, ¡°Wee news, I hope?¡±


    ¡°Very good news, Madam Organa,¡± Cartroll replied, easing himself, ¡°Relief from Ringo Vinda; two star frigatesden with food, provisions, and medical supplies.¡±


    <em>Organa? </em>Barriss wracked her head, recalling her Master¡¯s old lessons. The Organas were the royal family of Alderaan, weren¡¯t they? That means this must be¡­ Celly Organa, the Chairwoman of the Refugee Relief Movement.


    <em>¡°Warships?¡± </em>Celly Organa¡¯s smile ttened.


    ¡°Pardon me, Madam Organa,¡± Barriss inserted herself in the conversation, ¡°But this ce is an active warzone, and if Lieutenant Cartroll is correct, then the Republic has seemingly no qualms about invading the sanctity of red sigil ships.¡±


    A pained look crossed Celly Organa¡¯s face while the other man scoffed in derision, folding his arms.


    ¡°Well said, officer,¡± he grunted, ¡°Whichever Jedi¡¯s in charge there, they¡¯re not very Jedi-like, are they?¡±


    ¡°A Jedi is in charge of the Republic forces?¡± Barriss couldn¡¯t stop herself from raising her voice in surprise-and with a tinge of denial.


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    ¡°So it would seem,¡± Madam Organa rubbed her forehead tiredly, ¡°Nevertheless, it is a pleasure, officer. I am Celly Organa, Chairwoman of the Refugee Relief Movement. You might¡¯ve already heard of us, but we¡¯re an interster humanitarian group that operates throughout the gxy.¡±


    The man greeted her sharply, ¡°Firris Palbert, Acting President of the People¡¯s Inquest. A Jedi-ountability watchgroup. We find cases of Jedi overreach and send our journalists to report on the situation. The Atrakenites invited us, and we''re working with the RRM to give their plight some much needed exposure. The gxy needs to see the injustice done here. We look forward to working with you.¡±


    Barriss had heard of the People¡¯s Inquest. Only a couple months ago they were fighting with the Jedi Temple over the Baby Ludi custody case, and probably still are even now. With how highly publicised the case was-she even heard a feature film was being made on it-Barriss would have to be living on Tatooine to not have heard of it. As it went, Jedi rescue workers took custody of an infant girl-Ludi Bine-in the wake of a devastating earthquake on Ord Thoden, thinking her parents were dead.


    As it turned out, the girl¡¯s mother-Jonava Bine-was in fact alive, and after a full rotation of searching for her daughter on Ord Thoden, bought a one-way trip to Coruscant in an attempt to get her back. The People¡¯s Inquest, along with the majority of Coruscant¡¯s student poption, quickly supported her. The Jedi Council, however, denied her appeal, citing that it would be too dangerous now that Baby Ludi-renamed Aris-Del Wari-had Jedi training.


    Barriss herself was rather neutral on the situation, having been on a mission off-world for the majority of the scandal, but she knew the case had gone interster. Alsakan, Alderaan, Corellia, even as far out as Eriadu-there were people marching on the streets against the Jedi on nearly every in the Core, to the point where rioting students even breached the Jedi Temple and defaced it with graffiti and paint.


    ¡°Lieutenant Offee, nice to meet you,¡± she deted, letting her anxiousness go and serenity back in, ¡°Alright, give me the situation.¡±


    Lieutenant Cartroll straightened, ¡°From a military standpoint, sir, our strategic position is unrecoverable-¡±


    ¡°From the beginning,¡± Barriss interrupted, ¡°How did the situation deteriorate to this point?¡±


    Mister Palbert raised a thin eyebrow, ¡°Did the media war on the HoloNet not inform you, officer?¡±


    Barriss stared nkly, ¡°Are you telling me I should value the media over an official report?¡±


    Cartroll flinched, ¡°My apologies, sir! Give me a moment¡­ !¡±


    He fumbled with a handheld holoemitter, dialing some of the buttons-and a projection of the burst out the top.


    ¡°Several decades ago, prospectors found huge doonium mines on Atraken, and the government quickly invited Republic miningpanies to extract them,¡± the Lieutenant wetted his lips.


    ¡°The most precious resource in the gxy, these days,¡± Mister Palbertmented cynically.


    ¡°When Atraken seceded in favour of the Confederacy¡¯s tradews, thepanies used their PMCs to seize the mines and call for help,¡± Cartroll ignored him, ¡°Our fleets arrived first, obviously, and recaptured the mines before the Republic came. But they did, and the was split into east and western hemispheres. Thinking more enemy reinforcements were on route, the Commodore opted to blockade theary system with minefields. With their supplies dwindling and no reinforcements iing, we began pushing them back.¡±


    ¡°The Republic started Operation Katabatic,¡± he continued, ¡°We controlled the capital, Kattellyn City, most of the doonium mines, and orbital supremacy over the eastern hemisphere, see? So they resorted to using intercontinental ballistic missiles to target our bases and mines, and then cities when they realised the Atrakenites weren''t going to surrender. The Commodore ordered a full assault to stop them, which cost us our fleet-and his life-leaving both our forces incapable of another engagement. That¡¯s where we are now.¡±


    ¡°And the evacuation effort?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where we need your help, officer,¡± Madam Organa said, ¡°Atraken¡¯s watersheds and oceans have been poisoned by the fallout, leaving the entire uninhabitable. We¡¯ve been receiving thousands of distress signals from the surface, but can¡¯t ess half of them due to the Republic¡¯s orbital control over the western hemisphere.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you negotiate with them?¡±


    ¡°You think we haven¡¯t tried!?¡± Firris Palbert raged, ¡°Instead, they¡¯ve threatened to shoot down every ship in their airspace!¡±


    Barriss nced at Lieutenant Cartroll, but the officer only shook his head solemnly. <em>Something¡¯s up, </em>she felt it in the Force, <em>something beyond rescuing refugees. There must be a reason the Republic is targeting humanitarian ships. It is unlike them to, much less the Jedi.</em>


    But for now, she couldn¡¯t sense anything that gave her any reason to believe they were lying about the evacuation efforts. Besides, why would the <em>Chairwoman of the Refugee Relief Movement</em> of all people lie about this?


    This isn¡¯t about the Republic or Separatists anymore, Jedi or not. This was about saving innocent lives. When she returns to Coruscant, Barriss will find her answers; she swore it to the Force. She owed it to every lost Atrakenite, to every life lost to nuclear hellfire. If she had to wear her enemy¡¯s colours, and fire upon those supposed to be her friends¡­ if it meant righting injustice, Barriss will do so. If not dly, then out of her duty as Jedi.


    Whomever was inmand of the Republic here¡­ they were not Jedi. They can¡¯t be.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Barriss finally conceded, ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡±


    ¡°The Republic fleet is locked in geosynced orbit,¡± Lieutenant Cartroll pointed out, ¡°Every day, Trilos crosses them. We dispatch our refugee ships, the Republic intercepts them, and our warships fend them off to limited sess. Most of the time, we are forced to withdraw. Now, though, your squadron is here. To be honest, sir, we don¡¯t have a chance in hell of retaking Atraken. Myte captain had already agreed to pledge our remaining forces to helping the RRM, and I intend on following through.¡±


    ¡°Our agentsside have already assembled the remaining survivors to designated pick-up points,¡± Madam Organa exined as red dots popped up on the holographic, ¡°Simply put, we need your ships to guard our transports as we evacuate them.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the state of the Republic fleet?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Poor. Like ours,¡± Cartroll said wryly, ¡°They haven¡¯t been resupplied since the start of the battle, half a year ago. They¡¯re almost certainly low on fuel and ammunition. Their warships are in a poor state, and almost all their snubfighters have been put out of action. That''s why they''ve resorted to assassins to take out ourmanddder. Right now, sir, <em>Unicorn </em>and <em>Centaur </em>are practically superweapons.¡±


    Barriss closed her eyes, unable to believe what she was about to do. Unable to believe the entire situation really. The Battle of Atraken¡­ was so <em>wrong </em>on nearly every level. Why was it the <em>Separatists </em>saving refugees? She rubbed her face.


    ¡°¡­ Sorry, sir,¡± Cartroll slowed down, ¡°With all due respect¡­ you look young, sir. Is this deployment your first?¡±


    <em>No, </em>she wanted to say. <em>Yes, </em>she thought.


    Firris Palbert exhaled softly, ncing down at his ghostly feet. Celly Organa bore a sympathetic smile that made her want to puke. <em>Alderaan, </em>working with the Separatists. It came to this. <em>Why couldn¡¯t they make it easy for her to hate them? </em>Barriss swiftly discarded that thought-it was not the Jedi way.


    ¡°Sorry, sir,¡± Rame Cartroll repeated himself, as if he couldn¡¯t help it, ¡°But there¡¯s no such thing as a clean war. For every neat and tidy battle, there¡¯s a hundred more like this one. It¡¯s what we signed up for.¡±


    <em>I know that now. </em>Barriss stiffened her nerves, calling on her Master¡¯s training once more. Detachment. Forget Republic or Separatist.<em> Sorry, Master, but I¡¯m going to have to do what¡¯s right.</em>


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    Scout knew she would get used to the sight of warships sooner orter, but for now she felt confident that the sight of hundreds of star destroyers gathering in orbit over Coruscant will never fail to leave her awestruck. Even as the shuttle descended towards <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>flight deck, she rose to the tips of her toes to catch onest sight of the single greatest fleet in Republic service; the Open Circle.


    One-hundred and fifteen warships; twenty-five of them the newest generation star cruisers out of Anteen VI, or so it was said. Scout once heard them described as the weight behind the Jedi Council¡¯s words. She thought it was fitting.


    The shuttlended gently as the mighty hangar doors mped over them, atmosphere flooding back into the clearance.


    ¡°Time to greet the boys,¡± Master Skywalker grunted as he stood up, ¡°Thanks for the ride, Axe.¡±


    ¡°Part of the job, sir,¡± the clone pilot raised a thumbs up as he disengaged the engines.


    A squad of clones weed them at the bottom of the ramp, some with blue paint, others in in and shiny white armour. Pleasant surprise exuded from her Master, though it quickly folded into somewhat hopeful apprehension.


    ¡°Commander Appo reporting, General Skywalker,¡± the lead clone saluted, ¡°General Renau wishes to speak with you as soon as possible. He¡¯s waiting for you in Communications.¡±


    ¡°Good to see I¡¯m still as popr as ever,¡± Master Skywalker joked, sweeping his gaze over the assembled soldiers, ¡°¡­ Coric? Good to have you back.¡±


    A trooper with the universal red sigil on his pauldron saluted with a grin, ¡°Good to be here, General. Torrent Company¡¯s back in action.¡±


    Despite the reunion, however, Scout only sensed rising uncertainty from her Master. It was as if she was back in the Combat Centre, staring down Master Skywalker¡¯s chilling gaze. Except, this time she wasn¡¯t in his focus, yet still crossed her arms in an instinctual effort to preserve her body heat.


    ¡°And where¡¯s Rex?¡± Master Skywalker asked, almost too casually.


    Coric¡¯s smile gged, ¡°The Captain¡¯s dered MIA, sir. Thest anybody saw of him was back on the <em>Resolute, </em>shoving us into the escape pods.¡±


    ¡°Expect nothing less from our old boy,¡± there was a pulse in the Force, ¡°We¡¯ll honour him.¡±


    Scout didn¡¯t have to see Master Skywalker¡¯s face to know it bore a smile. A smile was his default expression when he had unwanted feelings to hide. <em>Master Skywalker doesn¡¯t want the men to see him falter, </em>she realised, <em>whoever this Rex was, he was important. </em>She then eyed the Clone Commander, Appo, who was quietly minding himself off to the side.


    Appo was like her, Scout guessed, not exactly involved with the Torrent Company or this Rex person. From the way he stood solemnly however, Scout concluded the Commander knew Rex enough to respect him.


    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s not waste Renau¡¯s time,¡± Master Skywalker abruptly dered, marching on, ¡°Coric, what exactly did Intelligence want out of you guys?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know exactly, sir,¡± Coric shrugged, ¡°They questioned us separately. But they asked us to retell the whole battle, especially our rescue.¡±


    ¡°Right, the rescue,¡± Master Skywalker furrowed his brow, ¡°How did that happen?¡±


    ¡°The Seppiemander, General,¡± Coric replied, ¡°Called himself Rain¡­ what was it?¡±


    ¡°Captain Rain Bonteri,¡± another trooper said, ¡°Recited the Yavin Code on open frequency and everything.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Denal,¡± Coric nodded appreciatively, ¡°Like he said. After that, pod hunters came in and dragged us all into a battleship. They put us in our cells and left us alone after that. Until Cascade and Waterfall rescued us.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Master Skywalker asked disbelievingly, ¡°They just left you alone?¡±


    ¡°Aye sir,¡± Denal confirmed, ¡°Food wasn¡¯t great, but at least it was different from battlefield rations, so I count it as a win.¡±


    ¡°Bonteri, huh?¡± Master Skywalker mumbled with a conflicted expression, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that name before¡­ Padawan, your first task is to find out the meaning of that name.¡±


    <em>Seriously? I know he means well, but this is getting ridiculous! What am I, some errand girl? </em>Scout wanted toin; her head was filled with nothing but names. But she sucked it up and ground out a dutiful- ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Anakin Skywalker narrowed his eyes, ¡°Your emotions betray you, Scout.¡±


    ¡°My apologies,¡± she replied in a dryer tone than intended, ¡°Master.¡±


    Her Master scoffed, ¡°Sorry, Appo. Looks like I¡¯m putting you on babysitting duty.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Scout protested, ¡°I¡¯m not a- <em>child¡­ </em>¡±


    Her voice shrunk towards the end as she realised that was <em>exactly </em>what Ahsoka would say, and she cringed at herself for it. <em>Damn it, I should be more mature than this.</em>


    ¡°You¡¯re a child until I decide you aren¡¯t,¡± Master Skywalker told her, ¡°That¡¯s how it goes, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ten years old,¡± Commander Appo said with a straight face, ¡°But I¡¯m tall for my age.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t humour her, Appo.¡±


    One of the troopers-Denal-snorted, ¡°You can¡¯t really tell when the Commander¡¯s joking, sir.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Master Skywalker said loudly as he stepped into a turbolift, ¡°Enough of that. To your stations, I have a date with the General. Appo, take Scout to the bridge and wait for me there.¡±


    ¡°Very good, sir.¡±


    Master Skywalker spun around just as the lift doors slid shut, but Scout spied a small smirk fashioned onto his lips just before he disappeared from view. Torrent Company bade them farewell as they disappeared into thebyrinthine corridors, leaving Scout alone with the Clone Commander as they waited for the next turbolift.


    ¡°CC-Triple-One-Nine, sir,¡± Appo recited his designation number to break the silence, ¡°But everybody calls me Appo. I¡¯m themanding clone officer of the Five-Oh-First Legion.¡±


    Scout had to crane her head up to look at him, ¡°Padawan Learner Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy. Looks like I¡¯m your Jedi Commander now.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°But all my friends call me Scout,¡± she hastily added, ¡°Because my name¡¯s a bit¡­ long.¡±


    ¡°Commander Scout, then,¡± the lift opened, and they stepped through, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Scout said as Appo punched in their floor, ¡°¡­ So, uh, who''s Rex?¡±


    Commander Appo stilled, and then rxed slightly, ¡°Captain Rex was the General¡¯s second-inmand. He¡¯s been MIA-well, dead-since we lost our gship over Christophsis. I¡¯m the CO because everybody above me lost their lives on the <em>Resolute.</em>¡±


    ¡°O-Oh,¡± Scout wanted to say something-maybe words of sympathy-but she feareding off as disingenuous, ¡°Um¡­ Ahsoka was supposed to go to Christophsis.¡±


    Her stomach dropped as the turbolift elerated, and she winced internally. <em>Seriously, is that the best you cane up with, Tallisibeth?</em>


    ¡°Ahsoka?¡± the clone inquired.


    ¡°My friend, I mean,¡± she rified, ¡°Ahsoka. She¡¯s Master Kenobi¡¯s Padawan.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Scout couldn¡¯t take anything from Appo¡¯s stoic face, ¡°If your friend <em>was </em>at Christophsis, she wouldn''t have been a child for very long.¡±


    ¡°Child¡­?¡± it took a second for Scout to realise he was referring to her previousint, ¡°You mean, because she would have fought a battle?¡±


    The turbolift halted before Appo could answer, and he led her down a length of corridor before turning into a dim room strumming with clones and officers. There was a big circr table in the centre, and screens and gizmos filled the walls. Scout recognised some of them, from the books she used to self-study, but she couldn¡¯t make heads or tails out of most of it. Beeping and buzzing and chatter and a hundred other small noises blended together into a solid backdrop. <em>This is the Battle Operations Room.</em>


    I guess manuals never prepare you for the real thing.


    A thin, smartly dressed officer with a moustache like a grey caterpir over his upper lip passed by them. Upon noticing her, his mouth opened as if to inquire why there was a child in the room, before understanding shed over his sharp eyes.


    ¡°Commander,¡± the man nodded down at her, ¡°I am Admiral Wullf Yren. Wee aboard my ship.¡±


    Scout had to catch herself from bowing, ¡°Padawan Tallisibeth, sir. Or, uh, Commander. Sir.¡±


    Admiral Yren¡¯s eyes widened fractionally, ¡°I did not expect this from Skywalker.¡±


    ¡°Expect what, Admiral?¡±


    His mouth twisted into a miniscule smile, ¡°You.¡±


    The Admiral snapped into a salute, and Scout hastily mirrored the gesture, hoping she didn¡¯t fumble it too badly. Admiral Yren shared a look with Commander Appo, before turning back to¡­ whatever he was doing.


    Appo then dragged her to one end of the wall and then- <em>woah. </em>The st doors slid open noiselessly, revealing themand bridge beyond it. And from the windows¡¯ 180 degree view¡­ she once more saw the Open Circle Fleet in all of its glory, eclipsing the sun in a hundred forms. Scout slowly stepped through, as if she was entering a different dimension.


    <em>It¡¯s real. I¡¯m really here.</em>


    ¡°Not because she would have fought a battle, Commander,¡± Appo¡¯s voice was a spear through her engrossment, ¡°But because she would have fought <em>Christophsis. </em>The was a disaster. Disaster for us, but aplete hell for Jedi. We call it the Second Jabiim.¡±


    ¡°Jabiim?¡± she heard that name before, but couldn¡¯t recall where or when.


    ¡°Forgive me, sir, but I can¡¯t say,¡± he replied, ¡°Just know that you don¡¯t really grow up until you¡¯ve seen a battle like that. Not even for us clones¡­ you¡¯ll have to ask General Skywalker for more. You¡¯re his apprentice, right?¡±


    ¡°-Ask me about what?¡± Scout jumped as Master Skywalker¡¯s voice suddenly appeared behind her.


    Appo, unmoved as ever, twisted his head slightly and gave a brief nod, ¡°General.¡±


    Scout was about to take Appo¡¯s advice, but immediately saw her Master¡¯s face and realised he wasn¡¯t actually in the mood for taking questions. He met her eyes, saw something her recognised, and continued on to one of themand pits.


    ¡°Lieutenant Avrey,¡± he called, ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to inform Obi-Wan that we¡¯re going ahead.¡±


    ¡°Anything he needs to know, sir?¡± a female officer returned.


    ¡°It¡¯s an order from General Renau. Something urgent,¡± Master Skywalker said, ¡°Tell him I¡¯ll see him at Columex.¡±


    ¡°Right away sir.¡±


    ¡°Admiral!¡± he then shouted towards the Battle Room.


    ¡°Yes, General?¡± the Admiral in question appeared out of the darkness with a polite expression.


    ¡°Plot us a course to Phindar. We¡¯re leaving ahead of schedule.¡±


    Admiral Yren wrinkled his moustache, like chewing on something, ¡°Very well, General.¡±


    The man spun on his heel and disappeared back into the Battle Room. The ship, <em>Harbinger, </em>seemed to rumble in satisfaction as it began to turn.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Master?¡± the question finally broke out of Scout¡¯s lips.


    Master Skywalker stopped to look at her, ¡°Have you heard of Atraken?¡±


    ¡°Have I-¡± <em>has anybody not!? </em>¡°-Kattellyn System, Rolion Sector. Yes, Master, I have.¡±


    ¡°The has been abandoned over the battle, but the Separatists has built new shipyards on one of the moons,¡± Master Skywalker¡¯s face was dark, ¡°As if poisoning the wasn''t enough, now they¡¯re using the excuse of evacuating refugees to transport doonium fromside to the shipyards. Master Krell has reported that Seppie reinforcements have arrived in-system, which could turn the battle against him and lose us the system. Do you know where the Rolion Sector is, Tallisibeth?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Right on the Salin Corridor,¡± she answered, realising what was at stake.


    ¡°Then you understand our purpose,¡± Master Skywalker nodded satisfactorily, ¡°We will head to Phindar, then take an advance force to aid Master Krell. We cannot allow the Separatists to win Atraken and establish a forward base on the Salin, not so close to Operation Trident.¡±


    With his piece said, Master Skywalker swung around and marched to the viewports, crossing his arms as he watched the fleet move into formation for the hyperspace jump. Scout tried to calm her beating heart; she knew she was about to fight her first real battle soon, but not <em>this </em>soon. And not at <em>Atraken. </em>


    Commander Appo, who had been silent beside her for the entire time, revealed he was sharing the same line of thought.


    ¡°Well, sir,¡± he muttered, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re about to get your wish.¡±


    Scout suddenly had the thought that being a child was rather nice, and that she would prefer to remain one.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    <em><em>Salvara, Salvara System</em></em>


    <em>Tennuutta Sector</em>


    Commander Calli Trilm paced the deck of her gship¡¯s semi-circr bridge, anxiously waiting for Doctor Crat to board her ship. Every moment the <em>Star of Serenno </em>remained docked to the space station, the greater the chance of some Republic strikeforce appearing out of the ck and tearing them to pieces. Not that it was ever likely to happen, but these days Calli found herself harbouring a great deal of caution.


    Indeed. Ever since that wargame, she has be eminently aware of <em>exactly </em>how poor her forces will fare against an invading fleet.


    ¡°Dark stars,¡± she grumbled, ¡°What''s the progress, Tex?¡±


    TX-103 swivelled his head around, ¡°Doctor Crat insists on transferring all of her staff, patients, and equipment before boarding the ship herself.¡±


    Calli stalked over to the viewport, pressing a palm against the transparisteel as she gazed mournfully at the extended airlock that held her ship against her will, ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up a VIP, not turn my ship into a gods-damnedboratory!¡±


    ¡°Doctor Crat¡¯s research is, however, invaluable to the Separatist cause,¡± a gravelly voice reminded.


    Calli Trilm spun around,ing face to face with the six-eyed Admiral Trench. Or rather, five-eyed plus one ocr camera. The VIP himself. Because the infamous Harch admiral had lost half his body over Christophsis, and only the timely intervention of a certain Rain Bonteri had saved his life. Three mechanical arms and state of the art cybeics to rece his shattered visage, the reborn Admiral Trench bore all the trademarks of Doctor Crat¡¯s exceptional handiwork.


    She had to admit, she was impressed. Unlike the stale, nd cybeics of the modern age, all silvery steel and covered up more often than most. Doctor Crat had a way of making you <em>proud </em>to disy your prosthetics. Despite being brand new, Trench¡¯s new body had <em>character</em>; each individual limb almost like cobbled together with unique parts and tastefully knitted together with gold trim and filigree. The details were well-worn and brushed up, yet notcking in any regardpared to more contemporary pieces.


    Brilliantly efficient, beautiful, and artistic. That was Crat.


    And that was what made Doctor Crat the most renowned cybertechnician on Coruscant. She was as much a doctor as she was an engineer and archaeologist. Her designs were part brilliance, part ancient knowledge-using buried Old Republic cybeics research data,bined with her own skills to create unsurpassed cybertech.


    It was also partially why Calli had to clear out the entire research site; the ce was a treasure trove of Old Republic texts and schematics, and not only about cybeics. Dooku, much less Crat herself, would never allow the Republic to get their hands on these, to the point where Calli had orders to scuttle the entire base.


    ¡°I know,¡± she replied simply.


    To be truthful, Calli would¡¯ve considered this specific day to evacuate Crat¡¯s station rather abrupt and arbitrary, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that Rain Bonteri had insisted on it. That man was anything but arbitrary, in her rather intimate experience. It had her so on guard that she half-expected every little sensor notification to herald a Republic invasion fleeting out of hyperspace.


    So when Tex suddenly stood up and dered the arrival of an unidentified fleet element approaching, Calli could dubiously im that she wasn¡¯t taken by surprise in the slightest. Nor was Admiral Trench, the unppable bugger that he was.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± the old spider stroked his mechanical mandible out of habit, ¡°TX-One-Oh-Three, what is your assessment?¡±


    ¡°A Republic invasion force, sir.¡±


    ¡°What peculiar timing,¡± Trench mused, his ocr receptor whirring.


    ¡°Tex, get the Doctor on board now,¡± Calli Trilm ordered coldly, her patience dried, ¡°Prep starboard torpedo tubes, and fire the moment we¡¯re clear.¡±


    ¡°By yourmand.¡±


    Half an hourter, over two dozen proton torpedoes ripple fired out from <em>Star of Serenno¡¯s </em>hull, crashing into the space station in dazzling violet blooms. As its hull was breached, the escaping atmosphere acted like improvised thrusters, ripping out from within and pushing the station away into the void.


    Only once Calli was absolutely certain nothing could be salvaged from the station but scrap, did she order <em>Star of Serenno</em> to rendezvous with the rest of the Clysm Fleet over Salvara.


    ¡°I will admit,¡± Doctor Crat announced as she marched into the pilothouse, ¡°That station served me finer than any institute on Coruscant. I pity its loss.¡±


    Like all Arkanians, Crat could¡¯ve passed for human if not for her four-wed hands and milky white eyeballs-though in Crat¡¯s case, one of them was reced with what looked like a translucent blue marble inserted into a dull gold eyepatch embossed into the right side of her face. It would not surprise Calli if the Doctor had experimented on herself first to prove the concept before operating on Trench.


    ¡°That¡¯s great and all,¡± the Commander responded ndly, not even pretending to care, ¡°But we have a battle to fight.¡±


    ¡°Battle?¡± the first sign of alertness appeared on Crat¡¯s aloof face, ¡°I hope this ship will not be involved. My equipment is very delicate.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Trench hobbled to the viewport to catch a better sight of the, his cane striking the deck, ¡°It is as you had known this attack wasing.¡±


    ¡°I was,¡± now that the tooka¡¯s out of the bag, Calli had no reason to hide it, ¡°The Pantoranmands a very thorough intelligence unit, as it seems.¡±


    If Admiral Trench had opinions on that matter, he did not voice it as he silently observed the dark shapes eclipsing over the stars. Doctor Crat¡¯s fingers curled over the headrest of the captain¡¯s chair worriedly as she observed the battle lines being drawn on theary approach.


    ¡°What do we have, Tex?¡± Calli asked


    ¡°Over a hundred ships,¡± the tactical droid navigated the sensor readouts artfully, ¡°From the signatures; at least fifty capital ships, but twelve of them are a new type of Star Destroyer not found within the registry. I would hazard that this is their first deployment.¡±


    Her lips drew thin, ¡°Pulling out all the stops this time, huh? Give me details, Tex.¡±


    The droid shook his head, ¡°The distance is too great for our sensors to detect hardpoints, but I calcte they are at least sixteen-hundred metres long.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not finding any hangars either, sir,¡± a B1 tacked on, ¡°But we¡¯re seeing carriers of the Open Circle Fleet behind them.¡±


    A great swarm of signatures suddenly poured out of the carriers in what looked like an exotic fountain, the readout shing as it struggled to render the hundreds of new entities on the tactical holo. Starfighters.


    For a brief moment, the bridge darkened as the Star<em> of Serenno </em>drifted beneath a Lucrehulk. Calli quietly observed the Republic fleet moving into attack formation, the hangar-less battleships taking point like the tip of a beskar spear. Sweat formed on her brow like a crown-<em>1600 metres long</em>-despite her misgivings, the CO of the Clysm Fleet felt oddly pleased the Republic High Command considered her such a threat.


    <em>Because I am a threat, </em>Calli told herself, <em>I¡¯ve been preparing for this for months. It¡¯ll be a dry day on Jabiim before I let myself falter before some upjumped Star Destroyers. </em>


    ¡°Portside, hard over,¡± Calli called out, ¡°Admiral Trench, I¡¯m transferring you to the Salvaran gship, heavy cruiser <em>Sarissa</em>.¡±


    Calli held up a holoemitter for his sake, and an old Rendili Dreadnaught-ss model appeared. The Salvaran Defence Fleet bolstered her Clysm Fleet by some twenty odd ships-there used to be less, but the Salvarans harnessed their strategic location to convince the central government to reinforce their standing forces. Albeit, highmand was damn close-fisted about the whole affair, but even old warships were warships nheless.


    ¡°I hope to make it clear that while you may be an Admiral, <em>I¡¯m </em>inmand here,¡± she continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already negotiated with the Salvaran government, and I¡¯m not about to have you botch my showing. You are going to take orders from me, and try not to make any independent actions if you can help it. Least you can do is inspire the Salvarans crews.¡±


    Admiral Trench slowly turned around, stroking his mandible as his spiny teeth chittered in consideration. Slowly, agreement shed over his five eyes, and he bowed politely.


    ¡°I smell a n¡­¡± the Harch smiled-or what looked like a smile, ¡°I will ce my trust in yourmand, Commander Trilm.¡±


    Doctor Crat watched as the Admiral hobbled his way out of the cabin, before turning to her with a t stare, ¡°Get me off this ship as well.¡±


    ¡°You? I can,¡± Calli lowered herself into the captain¡¯s chair, shifting her weight to afortable position, ¡°All your things? I don¡¯t have the time. Where¡¯d you rather be?¡±


    Crat scowled, sneering as she spun on her heel, ¡°I¡¯ll inform my staff.¡±


    Haughty, that one. But then again, all Arkanians were that way.


    ¡°Sync feeds with the fleet,¡± Calli allowed herself to rx, now that all her ¡®guests¡¯ were out of the way, ¡°Send forward our Vanguard-ss pickets and begin a deep scan of the enemy fleet. I want a single Munificent ready to ry data to Columex.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    Calli bit her finger as she inspected the vectors of the enemy fleet, watching as their formation stretched into an extended cone as the twelve unidentified Star Destroyers elerated faster than the rest of the fleet. The Venators, at the rear, kept their steady vectors as their starfighters filled the volume of the cone behind the battleships.


    ¡°I cannotpute the strategy of the enemy fleet,¡± Texmented, ¡°Sending battleships ahead of the screens is a tactically unsound decision. I advise we must remain vignt for a potential gambit.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed, watching the starfighters struggle to remain behind the slower battleships, ¡°It isn¡¯t meant to be tactically sound. It¡¯s meant to be <em>politically </em>sound. The damn bucketheads are trying to use me as the proving grounds for their new toys.¡±


    Perhaps they meant for her to feel insulted instead, to think that she would crumble to such hare-brained tactics.


    ¡°-<em>Sarissa </em>reports Admiral Trench¡¯s shuttle has arrived,¡± thems droid said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Calli nodded, ¡°The n doesn¡¯t change. Lock rtive bearings. I want two modified bow-and-quarter lines port and starboard of the, standard screen formations. Keep a Pathfinder pinnace up front to act as a spotter for the ground-to-space batteries.¡±


    Their unwee guests might have shiny new battleships, but Calli Trilm had the of Salvara. Living stars know how many favours and credits she had to spend transforming the frontier world into a fortress without equal. <em>Rain, you have no idea how much you owe me for this. </em>


    Calli Trilm watched as the enemy vectors split in two topensate for the Clysm Fleet¡¯s unexpected manoeuvre. Within minutes, Salvara bore its cloudy atmosphere as if it were the silvery robes of an angel, two fleets extended from its hemispheres like wings. She bore little heed to the first strands of data flowing in, trusting her crew to parse it out, instead zealously focusing on the enemy battleline extending out their starboard wing, vectors narrowing onto an intercept.


    ¡°Here theye,¡± she breathed.


    She licked her lips in anticipation.


    ?


    <em>Metalorn, Metalorn System</em>


    <em>Talcene Sector</em>


    You know, from the way some people spoke of climate change and global warming, you would think Earth was going to look something like Metalorn in the far future. A ruined jungle world, now filled sky high with industrial nts and pervaded by subterranean factory-cities that took the ce of once-expansive ore veins. Coming in from the smog-filled atmosphere, you could even make out where those underground cities were, by the industrial magma pits and flue gases that rose to the surface. In some ces they created mock volcanoes, in others, they rose from the polluted seas in a patch of boil.


    Fortunately, this visage of hell isn¡¯t likely toe to Earth, unless we somehow caught the attention of a gctic megacorporation. Somehow.


    Because while there was a whole buffet of corporations with stakes in Metalorn, most of the had been bought out by the Techno Union prior to the war. The was virtually unconquerable-not because it was well-defended, but because it was simply too big to fail.


    Once, the industrial might of Metalorn served to endow the Core Worlds with a bountiful supply of goods and luxuries. Now, its licensed shipwrights churned out warships by the hundred. Its ordnance nts manufacture enough explosive yield to level cities by the hour, and world-conquering numbers of droids marched out of its foundries day in and day out. To the Confederacy, <em>Metalorn cannot fall.</em>


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the vition.


    Which is why, I supposed, the¡¯s board of directors didn¡¯t take my warnings very well.


    ¡°I am sorry, Commodore,¡± Overseer Umbrag mollified, soundingpletely unsorry, ¡°But there is simply no tangible proof of this uing attack you speak of.¡±


    Like all Skakoans off-world, Umbrag had to wear his pressure suit in order to survive outside his homeworld. Unlike most Skakoans, Umbrag¡¯s pressure suit had to fully enclose his head and body to endure the terrible environments of all the foundry worlds he had to visit. As a side effect, his great helmet nked whenever he moved his head, and his voice sounded significantly more droidlike than most of his associates. Which was great, because I didn¡¯t have to look at his ugly mug.


    ¡°But you <em>will </em>be open to talks if there <em>is </em>tangible proof?¡± I challenged.


    See, I had a n. Well, less of a n and more of a vague outline of my general goals so as to convince myself I knew what I was doing-but that''s besides the point. First, I had to preserve and build up the Coalition Armada. Calli Trilm, being half-politician, made an impressive first step by somehow convincing the Salvaran government to lend her their entire defence fleet. I had to do the same for Metalorn.


    Harsh truth was, there was no way for Metalorn to avoid being invaded, as ARENA so effortlessly proved. The was simply too important and too close to the border not to be. I¡¯m not a strategic mastermind like General Tann; hell I wasn¡¯t even in the position to make strategic decisions until a few months ago. Most of my training came from my time in the Onderonian Space Force, where I mostly learned how to fight the fucking drexls of the Demon Moon.


    <em>Why </em>Onderon needed an interster navy solely to fight an existential war with our closest natural satellite was another matter entirely.


    Second, I needed to deprive the Republic of as many logistic hubs as possible. That part was self-exnatory.


    As such, my shitty n was to tear down anything important on Metalorn, then getting the hell out of here with every ship in the system. Maybe putting up a token resistance at the same time, for the record.


    ¡°Your word alone is simply not enough, officer,¡± Overseer Umbrag intoned, ¡°The Techno Union-¡±


    ¡°Then what about Commander Trilm?¡± I pivoted, ¡°Is her word enough?¡±


    The Skakoan paused at the mention of her name. Calli Trilm was my trump card. She had enough connections in the Foundry to turn Salvara into her personal castle, and it was an open secret that she had the ear of Count Dooku. Her word was worth its weight in gold.


    I just prayed I got my timing right.


    ¡°¡­ Why would Commander Trilm-¡±


    Mylink beeped loudly. I could make out an annoyed re through the ssy holes of Umbrag¡¯s helmet.


    ¡°Uh sir?¡± a Techno Union droid piped up, ¡°We¡¯re receiving the emergency signal from Salvara¡¯s early warning system.¡±


    Salvara¡¯s arguably most important purpose was to raise the rm the moment an enemy fleet entered the system. Every major world on the Perlemian would be receiving the warning. The board of directors stared at the droid in shock, then back at me.


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think I need to exin why Metalorn will be in the Republic¡¯s sights,¡± I said slowly, internally screaming in relief, ¡°You know what it means if Commander Trilm raises the rm.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Our security forces will suffice,¡± an official tried to convince himself.


    Hare wordlessly handed me the datapad.


    ¡°Vanguard force of one hundred warships,¡± I read aloud, ¡°Fifty of them capitals. Twelve unidentified Star Destroyers, at least sixteen-hundred metres long. Another three hundred ships spotted in Talcene and Orleon. Do you want to take that chance?¡±


    A director nced at Umbrag in fear, ¡°W-What should we do?¡±


    The Overseer leaned forward, ¡°Commodore. If we give youmand of Metalorn¡¯s security forces, will you defend this?¡±


    ¡°No. My offer remains the same,¡± I answered simply, ¡°Metalorn is in a terrible position, and I have no intention of fighting here. Evacuate to your ships and Commander Vinoc will escort you to Columex. The droid armies can wage a war of resistance in your absence.¡±


    We may not stop the Republic from capturing Metalorn, but we can sure as hell fight them over it. Endless industrial parks span thendscape, each one made from bafflingplexes and nexuses. And if those fall, then beneath the surface were thebyrinthine factory-cities, so vast and so automated that no single map could include all of it in its entirety.


    Overseer Umbrag considered my words from his high table, before shaking his head, ¡°That is impossible. Metalorn is too valuable to be captured.¡±


    ¡°Metalorn is but one of hundreds of foundry worlds in the Separatist Alliance,¡± I retorted, ¡°It is by andrge the most productive, undeniably, but one of hundreds all the same. Once my allies gather enough ships for a counterattack, it will be back in our hands and you may resume your business.¡±


    ¡°You do not understand, officer,¡± another director said, panic leaking into his synthesised voice, ¡°We <em>cannot </em>let Metalorn fall into Republic hands!¡±


    ¡°The only reason we are here is because of your contribution to the Separatist cause,¡± Vinoc finally made his mind known, ¡°This is our only offer. We do not have the time to argue; Commander Trilm fights a hopeless battle, and we muste to her aid as soon as possible. If you will not work with us now, then we will take our forces and leave you to your fate.¡±


    A bit blunt, I decided, but it got the point across quite effectively.


    ¡°You must not!¡± another director shot to his feet, ¡°There are- there are <em>weapons </em>the Republic must not discover!¡±


    Overseer Umbrag yanked him back into his seat, ¡°Keep quiet, you damn fool.¡±


    I crossed my arms, ¡°Well, Overseer?¡±


    Umbrag knitted his fingers together, ¡°¡­ This is a highly secretive project. Can we trust in your confidence?¡±


    ¡°You may,¡± I answered, curiosity piqued.


    The Skakoan waved at an aide, ¡°Bring in the cortosis battle droids.¡±


    Vinoc and I shared a look as what appeared to be a standard B2 super battle droid was escorted into the audience hall. But upon a second nce, I noticed there were some key differences-for one, their chassis were crafted from a darker metal, and theycked any prehensile hands, instead reced with doubleser cannons.


    ¡°Commander Vinoc,¡± the Overseer said, ¡°Would you attempt to cut this droid down with your lightsaber.¡±


    Vinoc raised an eyebrow, but shrugged and did so nheless. In a swift motion, a bleeding red de burst out and shed straight into the droid, making me flinch. But in an unexpected twist, upon contact with the chassis, his de fizzled and shorted, retreating back into the hilt in a sh. Vinoc attempted to reignite his lightsaber, but all that came of it were some pitiful sparks from the emitter.


    ¡°ck cortosis ting,¡± Umbrag was audibly pleased with the result, ¡°Weaker tensile strengthpared to duranium, but its unique chemical structure makes it very energy resistant- and more importantly, lightsaber resistant. Once struck, the lightsaber cannot be reignited for several minutes. This is the secret weapon Metalorn is producing; anti-Jedi droids.¡±


    Vinoc was visibly unnerved now, mindlessly pressing the ignition key of his lightsaber in vain attempts to restart it. As for me¡­


    ¡°How many people know of its production?¡± I asked giddily, ¡°Can these battle droids be mass produced?¡±


    ¡°Foreman Tambormissioned these droids in secrecy,¡± Umbrag said, ¡°Unless he has divulged the information to the Republic, only the highest ranks of Techno Union leadership know of their existence. They cannot be mass produced, due to the cost and scarcity of cortosis refinement.¡±


    ¡°Do you understand now, officer?¡± a director pressed urgently, ¡°These droids can win us the war. They don¡¯t need to be mass produced; we only need a few strike teams to assassinate Jedi leadership on the battlefield. They are effective, we guarantee it.¡±


    I wetted my suddenly dry lips, ¡°Tear down everything unimportant for the production of these droids. Transfer everything that is necessary, and cannot be reced or rebuilt, onto the freighters. I will relocate you to Boz Pity, in Hutt Space. The Ha, Suolriep, and Kastr Sectors all bear Separatist sympathies. The Republic will not be able to reach you there, and with some luck, a new Techno Union branch in the region will sway the northern Hutt sectors to our side. Is that agreeable?¡±


    Overseer Umbrag slowly warmed up to the idea, ¡°We will need some time, Commodore. On behalf of the Techno Union, we thank you for your service.¡±


    ¡°You have until the Republic reaches here, and until then we will not be going anywhere,¡± I assured them, ¡°For now¡­ Hare, give them the treaty.¡±


    Hare snatched the datapad out of my hands and hopped up to the table, giving them the document with an expectant look.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Umbrag held up the datapad warily.


    ¡°Until the Admirals return to the Foundry with their fleets, we stand alone,¡± I exined, ¡°I and half a hundred other officers have agreed to a pact of joint defence, in order to effectively defend our homeworlds in an event just like this. Salvara, Centares, Ringo Vinda, and Raxus Secundus are all already signatories of the Perlemian Coalition. I would like Metalorn to be next.¡±


    The Overseer scanned the document carefully. But honestly, there was not much to look at. It was simply an understanding to not backstab each other until the fighting was over-anything too binding and nobody would have agreed to it.


    After some brief, quiet discussion, Umbrag cleared his throat.


    ¡°Very well. Metalorn will join your Coalition.¡±


    I breathed out, ¡°Thank you, Overseer. Vinoc, contact Commander Trilm; there¡¯s been a change of ns.¡±


    ?


    <em>Salvara, Salvara System</em>


    <em>Tennuutta Sector</em>


    ¡°Transmission from Salvaramunications satellite, sir,¡± Tex raised his head, ¡°From Metalorn.¡±


    ¡°Instructions?¡±


    ¡°Change of ns, Commander,¡± the droid buzzed, ¡°Our mission is to dy the enemy for as long as possible. Metalorn has agreed to join the Coalition, and the is being evacuated.¡±


    Calli Trilm waved him off dismissively, ¡°I was intending to anyway.¡±


    No, the Commander of the Clysm Fleet barely even registered his words, so fixated she was on the tactical holo. As expected, the enemy Admiral had split his battleships into two sections-five ships sluggishly driving towards the Clysm Fleet¡¯s battleline; and seven ships in wedge formation, intent on smashing straight through the weaker Salvaran Defence Fleet line. Unbeknownst to them, a single pinnace watched their movements from below, rying their positionsside in good order.


    ¡°Transmission from the <em>Sarissa, </em>sir.¡±


    ¡°Tell Trench to hold his line,¡± Calli said firmly.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Enemy contacts in active scanning range,¡± the sensor officer reported, working his console, ¡°They¡¯re intensifying forward deflectors.¡±


    ¡°Aft quarters?¡±


    ¡°Wide open, sir.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Calli inted with eager anticipation, dragging her gaze to the lone Pathfinder stalking the enemy.


    Then, the battleships crossed an unseen threshold. A shortburst transmission exploded out of the pinnace, invisible to all who weren¡¯t listening for it. Before Calli could evenprehend the message, Salvara unleashed a torrent of ion bolts, crashing through the atmosphere and ying the enemy battleships'' engine blocks. Arcs of blue electricity wreathed the Star Destroyers like dancing dragons, ripping into anything they could get their teeth on.


    ¡°Bombers,¡± she ordered, then added; ¡°Their countermeasures are down-get our frigates pulling out data dumps immediately. I want to know everything.¡±


    Thousands of Hyena droid bombers leapt off the rafters and locked their S-foils into attack position, like a flock of bats swarming out of their dark caves, apanied by their Vulture fighter escorts. The effect was mirrored on the other side of the, Admiral Trench evidently having understood her strategy. The two facets of the enemy fleet were soon assaulted by a maddening fury of starfighters, each attack wing picking their targets with cold calction.


    Vultures weaved through the stricken fleet like shadowy ribbons, avoiding whatever still functioning weapons as they swarmed around to engage the enemy starfighters. And then the Hyenas cast their spells on the lead Star Destroyer, opening bomb chutes and sweeping upwards, proton payloads ravaging the length of the ship and turning it into high velocity junk.


    They doubled back around to rearm, a Captor-ss munitions carrier-the <em>Jerejak</em>-already moving ahead to service them.


    ¡°Enemy bombers approaching,¡± Tex notified.


    Calli¡¯s eyes flickered to the disy. To their credit, the Republic carriers had reacted in a timely manner; surging forwards from their static line to help the vanguard. Squadrons of NTB-630 naval bombers poured out of the hangars like an exotic fountain, sailing around the chaos in front of the to target the Coalition¡¯s main formation directly.


    ¡°Screens,¡± she mumbled.


    <em>Star of Serenno¡¯s </em>crew understood her tacitmand perfectly. Four Diamond-ss cruisers raced forward to cover the line. Calli clenched her jaw as she watched their point defence cannons shifting fire to the mass of naval bombers closing in. In all of her experience, there was little sight more rming than an iing bomber formation. It only took a handful to slip through the, after all.


    ¡°Divert power to particle shields,¡± she ordered just to be safe, ¡°Redeploy our bombers to target those carriers.¡±


    Tex¡¯s pitiless photoreceptors scanned the tactical holo, ¡°The carriers still have theirbat patrols. I calcte that this will result in heavy losses for our snubfighter assets.¡±


    Calli rubbed her chin, resting on an arm, ¡°Unfortunate. But it will draw away the enemy starfighters; they cannot risk their carriers. That should give us the opening to deal with these battleships¡­ did we pull anything from their databanks?¡±


    Tex¡¯s servos whirred as he nked towards thems droid, leaning over its shoulder, ¡°Tector-ss Star Destroyer, gship <em>Gibbon. </em>You were correct, Commander, these ships weren¡¯t supposed to be deployed yet.¡±


    ¡°Mmh,¡± she hummed quietly, watching the Hyenas stream out of the <em>Jerejak </em>in a protective swarm, rearmed and dashing towards the unguarded Jedi cruisers, ¡°Ry all of it to Columex.¡±


    As she had nned, the Republic¡¯s V-19s hastily peeled off their dogfights, taking significant losses as they raced to intercept the marauding Hyenas before the carriers could be struck. From the corner of her eye, Calli saw the NTB-630s flinch at the torrent ofser fire unleashed by the Diamond cruisers, theirmander electing to circle around and regroup. She smirked in satisfaction.


    One that fell soon after, as <em>Sarissa </em>and three more cruisers surged out of the Salvaran formation, drive signatures intensifying as the Dreadnaught pounced on the Tectors, turbser batteries thundering.


    ¡°What is he doing?¡± she frowned severely, ¡°Get me directms with <em>Sarissa¡¯s </em>bridge.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    A miniature of Admiral Trench appeared in front of her, his arachnid features visibly pleased, <em>¡°Well done, Commander! Shall we put these Star Destroyers to rest?¡±</em>


    ¡°Return to your battle line, Admiral,¡± Calli did not share his enthusiasm, ¡°You are jeopardising our entire strategy!¡±


    Admiral Trench tempered his features, clicking his mandibles, ¡°And what <em>is </em>our strategy, Commander, if not the destruction of the Republic fleet?¡±


    ¡°To hold this as long as possible,¡± she forced out, ¡°And ultimately, <em>lose. </em>Salvara must fall if Commodore Bonteri¡¯s n is to proceed.¡±


    <em>The n to put his master on the chair of the Supreme Commander. </em>Calli had put herself in an advantageous position. Nobody expects her to win here; as long as she savages the Republic vanguard at Salvara, she will be hailed as a hero. If Rain¡¯s n ultimately seeds, she will undoubtedly receive a high position in the Pantoran¡¯s general staff. If his n falls apart, however, then nobody can impugn the honour of an officer following orders. Quite brilliantly to boot, if she might add.


    One oue was favourable over the other, but Calli Trilm wins either way.


    ¡°Rain Bonteri?¡± Admiral Trench¡¯s five eyes narrowed, his single ocr camera extending to inspect her face, ¡°A capable, if reckless, fleet officer. But I have my doubts about his strategic wisdom. Must I question this n? How much do you trust this man?¡±


    ¡°Trust?¡± Calli echoed ndly, ¡°As far as I can throw him.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± Trench seemed to lean back in mild surprise, ¡°Not trust. How much do you <em>know </em>him?¡±


    <em>How much do I know Rain Bonteri? Absolutely nothing, </em>Calli decided humourlessly. She dared say nobody did, not truly. Rain always kept his ambitions, his wants, and his true faces under a tight leash. He always made sure nobody saw anything more than what they <em>wanted </em>to see in him.


    But how much does she know <em>about </em>him? <em>Everything</em>. How his resting face was a nk sheet of paper, when he thought nobody was looking, and how he draws his expression the moment he wants something. How he pinches or scratches his cheeks when he was nervous, or deep in thought. How he keeps braids his hair on normal days, but ties it into a neat ponytail when meeting someone he wants to please.


    Even how he can¡¯t help that adorable surprised face when put on the spot. Or how he loathes his homeworld, right up until somebody <em>dares </em>to besmirch Onderon, and he turns into a vindictive pir of ice.


    ¡°Well enough,¡± she boiled aplicated three year long rtionship into two sinct words, ¡°To speak of his judgement, he realised you were here after a mere mention of Doctor Crat. Is that enough?¡±


    Trench watched her carefully, before finding whatever he was looking for.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he conceded, ¡°I shall trust that your Coalition has the Confederacy¡¯s best interests in mind.¡±


    His holoprojection shrunk, and Calli drew her gaze back to the tactical holo, where she could observe her bomber wings being whittled away by a withering starfighter assault. Closer, Admiral Trench brought his heavy cruisers around, but not before presenting broadsides and unleashing a spiteful hail of crimson bolts into the Tectors.


    ¡°Tell Ground Control to hold their fire,¡± shemanded, ¡°How many battleships did we get?¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t picking up any signatures from three ships,¡± Tex dutifully ryed, ¡°One ship, the <em>Condor, </em>is still active, but isn¡¯t able to restart their engines.¡±


    ¡°Let the rest retreat,¡± she said, ¡°Have the <em>Tirones </em>prep missiles and aim for <em>Condor¡¯s </em>pilothouse.¡±


    ¡°By yourmand.¡±


    ¡°Reform the line,¡± she stretched her back like anguishing cat, ¡°Now we wait for their second assault.¡±

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    <em><em>Atraken, Kattellyn System</em></em>


    <em>Rolion Sector</em>


    Atraken was still beautiful, if you were intent on remaining in the safety of the refuge zones-hastily deployed ray shield domes that kept out the worst of the radiation, transformed into ramshackle viges of tents and lean-tos. It was clear the refuge zones had been deployed a long time ago, but the settlements had burgeoned over time as civilians were evacuated slowly, ship by ship.


    Outside, roving droid patrols monitored the radiation levels with their scanners. Apparently it wasn¡¯t very high, to Barriss¡¯ surprise. Unsafe levels, undeniably, but not the picture of hell that had been painted onto her mindscape. Far from it. The reaches were still verdant green, shimmering with morning dew. Trees still rustled in the wind, birds singing from their branches.


    Lieutenant Cartroll had exined it clearly; the Republic had only targeted strategic infrastructure, even if that meant cities. But the hintends, where the safe zones were wisely established¡­ were still quiet. Untouched, she daresay.


    It looked far from inhabitable. You couldn¡¯t even see the fallout from here.


    Barriss heaved. That was wishful thinking, wasn¡¯t it? What did she know? Radiation was invisible. Her thoughtse from the safety within these ray shields. The almost felicitous nature of thesends were not mirrored in the souls of the people who lived in them. The RRM freighters that descended from the clouds, grey, beaten and battered as they were, appeared as saviour angels to the Atrakenites nheless.


    They did not cheer or celebrate upon theirndings, however. The people moved forward in their queues, bleak-eyed and silent, hoping against hope they could step onto the ramps before the transports were filled to capacity. Those who could not didn¡¯t despair. They¡¯ve seen hundredse and go over the months; they could wait a little longer. That¡¯s all they could do.


    Move on. Forward. With all they had left on their backs. No rejoice or despair, only the tenacity to keep living for whatever reason they held to.


    Barriss blinked, untensing, letting the tumult fade from her body. The Force flowed through every living being. She had Force-sensed them from habit, tasting their swirling emotions. She felt them. Held them her heart. She had to.


    Rame Cartroll stepped onto the tform, ¡°Republic fleet in-system, sir.¡±


    It took a moment for her to realise he was speaking to her, ¡°Into the minefield?¡±


    The man couldn¡¯t help a small grin, ¡°Aye, sir. They swept the mines with their cruisers the hard way. Our probe droids estimate varying degrees of damage across at least fifteen ships.¡±


    <em>Jumping right out of hyperspace and running into a minefield, </em>Barriss mused, <em>they probably didn¡¯t even know what hit them. </em>


    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s all of them?¡± she questioned.


    ¡°You mean if there could be a second wave?¡± Cartroll checked his tablet, ¡°I¡¯d say no, but there¡¯s no harm in erring on the side of caution. Those big Jedi cruisers can¡¯t get through anyway, so we¡¯ll be dealing with blockade runners and starfighters.¡±


    He nced up at her, taking her silence for hesitation, ¡°We can take them, sir.¡±


    ¡°We could,¡± Barriss replied with a confidence she didn¡¯t really feel, ¡°But there might be another Jedi General now.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Cartroll deted some, ¡°Right. Those irvoyant freaks could probably navigate through the minefield, huh?¡±


    That¡­ wasn¡¯t what she meant, but Barriss allowed the mimunication to remain.


    She swept her gaze across the safe zone again, imnting it in her memory. There must be dozens, if not hundreds just like these littered throughout the ins and mountains.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡±


    ¡°Very good, sir.¡±


    They parted. Lieutenant Cartroll¡¯s ship was the <em>Habatok II, </em>a Corellian-made CR90 corvette resting on anding pad a ways from the settlement. IGBC frigates like <em>Unicorn</em>, while capable of atmospheric flight, didn¡¯t have anynding gear, which meant her warship was hanging just above the cloud cover.


    As Barriss lost herself in thought on the way to her shuttle, she was suddenly struck by a young boy cradling an infant in his arms. For a brief moment, their gazes meant.


    The boy mumbled something in the local dialect before dashing towards the queues. Barriss turned around to watch him go. She caught one word, spoken in broken, heavily ented Basic.


    <em>Mercy.</em>


    She turned back, thinking. <em>I hope so too.</em>


    ?


    ¡°Get me a damage report, now!¡± Admiral Yren demanded, dramatically pointing fingers.


    ¡°Rx, Admiral,¡± Anakin patted the older man¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too bad.¡±


    ¡°We miscalcted the extraction zone, General,¡± Yren grumbled nheless, wrinkling his upper lip, ¡°Either the Separatists had expanded the minefield since General Krell¡¯sst report, or their orbit has changed.¡±


    ¡°Chalk it up to outward pseudoforce,¡± he shrugged, ¡°You know nothing really stays put in space.¡±


    Yren blew out a furious breath while receiving a datapad from a meek damage controlman, ¡°If you say so, General. It remains that our cruisers aren¡¯t getting through this. We¡¯ll need to billet for repairs as well.¡±


    Anakin crossed his arms, peering out the viewports, ¡°Comm General Krell and request instructions.¡±


    ¡°Lieutenant?¡± the Admiral moved to the edge of the portside datapit, looking expectantly at thems officer.


    ¡°Yes sir, getting through to <em>Chrysaor </em>now,¡± Lieutenant Avrey confirmed hastily, ¡°¡­Tightbeam response iing. Should I route this to the Battle Room or-¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take it here, Lieutenant,¡± Anakin crossed his arms, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    General Krell¡¯s likeness appeared from the holoprojector embedded in the instrument panel, the great beast of a Jedi reduced to the size of a handheld miniature. Pong Krell was one of the most renowned Jedi Masters in the Temple; one of the most powerful, and without equal in the art of Jar¡¯Kai. Having fought the Battle of Atraken for almost half a year now, Anakin had pondered on how the indomitable Besalisk had been holding up.


    He received his answer through the Force; <em>not well.</em>


    Weariness swelled out in waves. Though General Krell concealed his fatigue well, there was no hiding the dark rings around his eyes, or the torpor in each of his four arms. The Jedi Master was almost swaying listlessly, if not for one of his arms holding onto a support off-holo. A dark shroud hung around him, one Anakin recognised all too well. The war had taken its toll on all of them-but Master Krell more than most.


    He did not point it out, ¡°This is Anakin Skywalker of the Open Circle Fleet. We have arrived with reinforcements, Master Krell. Where do you need us?¡±


    ¡°It was about time, General Skywalker,¡± Master Krell said roughly, ¡°You have arrived at a most fortuitous time, and there is much to be done. Your task is simple; engage the enemy and keep shooting their ships out of the sky until none are left.¡±


    <em>Simple? Yeah, right.</em>


    Admiral Yren coughed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you are going to have to borate, General.¡±


    ¡°The Separatists have been trying to bolster their numbers by building new ships in their secret lunar shipyards. To do so, they have been smuggling doonium off the as we speak. Using your fighters as cover, I will run their gauntlet in gunships, make atmospheric entry, and insert on the ground,¡± Master Krell folded his arms, ¡°Trilos only has two points of interest; the capital New Kattellyn, and the mountain range where we suspect the shipyards are located. If you can get your own gunships through the minefield, you are free to join us, General Skywalker¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t get ourrger ships through,¡± Yren demurred, ¡°Our pilots will be fighting without support.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll grant it¡¯s not the ideal way to conduct a war,¡± Krell allowed stonily, ¡°But we haven¡¯t been conducting an ideal war since this battle since the Separatists poisoned the entire. I don¡¯t see another option. Do you?¡±


    <em>Stang. </em>He didn¡¯t. This damn minefield severely limited their options. Master Krell has been fighting this battle for months on end. If anybody knew what to do here, it would be him.


    Anakin nodded, meeting Yren¡¯s gaze as he turned on his heel, ¡°I¡¯ll go brief the men. Scan for an opening to get our gunships through.¡±


    ¡°Understood, General.¡±


    He made his way to <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>flight deck. The hangar¡¯s deckhands, on standby now that they¡¯ve prepped the fighters, watched him with wide eyes. He noticed Hammer Squadron¡¯s pilots in their barracks, mentally preparing for action. Let it be him to be the one to disturb them.


    Anakin found Tallisibeth before a group of clone troopers, head bobbing as she talked. They sat on the ordnance crates, Appo among them, listening to her with studied concentration. The Clone Commander, watchful as ever, spotted him first and stood to attention, prompting the rest to hastily follow. Tallisibeth stilled in midsentence, then spun around stiff as a bone.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked.


    She looked stricken, ¡°I was just¡­¡±


    Anakin raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m not admonishing you, Padawan. I¡¯m just curious.¡±


    He said so as gently as he could, though it amounted to little from the hanging expression on her face. It was clear to him Tallisibeth was still under the impression she had done something wrong, even though Anakin was more than pleased she had spoken to the troopers on her own volition. His new Padawan was too jittery, he found, too overly cautious of wronging him, as if she expected him to abandon her at the slightest misgiving.


    Was he that scary? Anakin did not know how to rectify her fear of him. He wasn¡¯t Obi-Wan.


    Tallisibeth bit her lip, ncing nervously at the gathered men. Appo caught on quickly.


    ¡°Come on, you lot. You haven¡¯t got time to warm those crates with your asses,¡± Appo barked, as if he wasn¡¯t just among them a moment prior, ¡°Get back to work.¡±


    <em>He sounded just like Rex, then. </em>Anakin almost thought Rex hade back to life, and was standing next to him again¡­ he shook his head. He can¡¯t get caught up in the past. All the clones shared the same voice, that¡¯s all. Nothing more.


    They scattered nevertheless, and Anakin seized the chance to steer Tallisibeth off to one side. Appo nodded curtly, then marched off to shepherd away the inconspicuously gathering curious deck personnel.


    ¡°So?¡± he prompted.


    ¡°I was just telling them about my life in the Temple,¡± she fidgeted with her fingers, ¡°About¡­ um, the tournament.¡±


    ¡°Bragging?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Tallisibeth denied, ¡°They asked how I became your Padawan! Isn¡¯t it fine, Master? I was just keeping up morale, like amander should¡­ isn¡¯t it better if we sit down and talk to them, and know their names, instead of just calling ¡®trooper!¡¯ every time we need something done? Nobody likes being treated as if they don¡¯t matter.¡±


    His Padawan had found her groove by the end of her tirade, puffing out her chest. For all her insecurity, Tallisibeth was perceptive and mature beyond her years, Anakin thought in bleak humour. When he was her age, Anakin was still a pain in Obi-Wan¡¯s behind, too eager to prove himself.


    ¡°Well,¡± he started, ¡°They seem to like you. That¡¯s good.¡±


    She was visibly surprised at his brevity, ¡°I mean¡­ they¡¯ve lost so many of their friends. I¡¯m not very strong with the Force, but even I can feel their pain. Can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Ites with the job.¡±


    ¡°Ites with your job too,¡± Tallisibeth mumbled quietly.


    Anakin sharpened up. Maybe she was <em>too </em>perceptive. He was intimately familiar with how it felt to not matter. <em>Maybe she''s like me. Maybe nobody else wanted to train her, either. </em>Anakin didn''t want to do it, but he knew what it was like to be rejected.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Padawan,¡± he allowed, ¡°We all handle our loss in our own way. Good work. Now, do you know how to fly a starfighter?¡±


    Tallisibeth stumbled over her next words, taken off-kilter by the sudden change in topic, ¡°Y-Yes, Master! I¡­ I was the top scorer in my initiate n.¡±


    And there was that self doubt ring up again. <em>I suppose we all have different ways of going about proving ourselves too. </em>Maybe he can still repair this rocky start to their rtionship¡­ but first-


    ¡°Good,¡± he reached for the inte on the nearby wall, looking up at the hangarmand post, ¡°This is General Skywalker. Have us ready to fly in half an hour.¡±


    <em>¡°Yes, sir,¡± </em>the reply came quickly, then boomed throughout the cavernous area, <em>¡°All deck personnel, report to yourmanders immediately. Flight Squad Seven; Hammer Squadron, Gold Squadron, Shadow Squadron; report to your ready rooms for your pre-flight briefings. You will be sortieing in thirty minutes. Gunship wings, standby for deployment.¡±</em>


    ?


    Barriss slowly lowered herself into <em>Unicorn¡¯s </em>captain¡¯s chair, feeling its unforgiving steel dig into her spine. How did anybody find these chairs anything but most ufortable? There was simply no feasible way to sit in this chair easily, not unless you were a droid. Tuff stood to her side, and despite Barriss¡¯ diposure with her new-temporary-lease in life, the tactical droid was not a bolt out of ce at the right hand of the captain.


    <em>I¡¯m the captain, </em>she reminded herself, <em>at least for now.</em>


    Unicorn whined as it ascended through the atmosphere, crystalline blue faded to ck as the t horizon curled into the curvature of the. <em>Centaur </em>hung in space, at the centre of a formation of smaller corvettes, waiting for instruction. Some degrees to portside, the awaiting arms of Trilos could be found, under the watchful eye of the lone Lucrehulk <em>Keeper. </em>


    The modified freighter had its vast cargo holds filled with extra reactors, shield generators, and most importantly bracing for the cornucopia of barbettes lined over its hull. The safety of <em>Keeper¡¯s </em>dangerous point-defence grid was the ultimate finish line for all the transports about to lift off the¡¯s surface. In their way, however¡­


    ¡°Invincible-ss dreadnought bearing nought-neen mark nought-eight-six degrees,¡± the sensor droid said, ¡°Registered designation; <em>Chrysaor. </em>gship of the Demetras Sector Judicial Division.¡±


    Barriss turned her head in surprise. Was that new? For some reason, she never heard the droids reporting mark positions when Rain was sitting in the chair.


    ¡°Iing transmission from <em>Habatok Two, </em>sir,¡± the next droid ryed without missing a beat, ¡°Should I put it through?¡±


    She heaved. The fighting hadn''t even started, and she was already being overwhelmed.


    ¡°Put it through.¡±


    <em>¡°Unicorn, Habatok. We are in escort formation. Waiting for the go-ahead.¡±</em>


    Barriss nced over her shoulder, as if looking for the transports beneath her just waiting for the green light. She had half the mind to give to order right then, if not for the two-kilometre long monster known as <em>Chysaor </em>looming in the distance, the lights of its countless viewports blending into the starry sky.


    ¡°Give the green light.¡±


    She looked at Tuff in surprise, ¡°But¡­¡±


    Barriss vaguely gestured at <em>Chrysaor </em>bearing down on them. Pulsating marks on the tactical disy described three Corellian DP20s rushing down to meet them at the edge of the exobase.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°The <em>Chrysaor </em>is harmless,¡± Tuff dered confidently, ¡°The most effective way for that ship to damage us is with a ramming action. I have calcted the possibilities; now is the time to send our transports, before the enemy starfighters arrive. Those frigates intend on dying us until then.¡±


    She bit her lip, ¡°Fine. Give Lieutenant Cartroll the green light.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    <em>¡°Received, sir. Good hunting.¡±</em>


    ¡°We need to create a corridor for the transports,¡± Tuff settled into his pace, ¡°Signal all ships; Battle Order One.¡±


    ¡°Uh, sir?¡± a B1 raised a hand, ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re up to date with thetest formations.¡±


    The tactical droid stared him down for a moment, before nodding grudgingly, ¡°Signal all ships; standard line a-breast. Calcte enemy intercept vectors and bring guns to bear on their retarding burns.¡±


    Barriss felt useless. This was a tactical droid¡¯s battlefield, not hers. Master Luminara had taught her tomand troopers and squads, not massive warships and most certainly not a fleet. But her presence was necessary. The squadron¡¯s ships were not crewed by droids but by sailors and volunteers, and morale was on a knife¡¯s edge. How would the Atrakenites react to the idea that their lives were in the ws of an unfeeling droid?


    The nav droid keyed in a course projection to Trilos, depicted as a thin red line stretching through the empty space between the and the moon. <em>Unicorn </em>and <em>Centaur </em>naturally took point, while the allied warships rather sloppily formed onto the line, feinting and manoeuvring against each other as they jostled for their positions.


    Tuff¡¯s vocabtor emitted a low whine, which Barriss took as a sneer of disappointment.


    ¡°The transports are reaching our position,¡± Taylor reported.


    ¡°We¡¯ll manoeuvre in tandem,¡± Tuffmanded, ¡°Keep them at our port quarter at all times. <em>Unicorn, Centaur, </em>power to forward batteries. Fix ranges on those iing frigates. Fire on my- the captain¡¯smand.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    Barriss¡¯ eyes widened fractionally, but she gathered her wits swiftly and kept her eyes peeled on the tactical disy. Two cones expanded from the frigate¡¯s bow mark, denoting the firing angle and range of the forward batteries.


    The Republic gunships eluded the cones, keeping a judicious distance as they attempted to circumnavigate the picket line. She could feel Tuff¡¯s expectant gaze boring into the side of her head.


    ¡°How fast can this ship turn?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yaw, sir?¡± Taylor rified, ¡°With our bow thrusters, faster than those frigates could react on impulse. Especially if they¡¯ve settled onto a vector-but it¡¯d divert power from the turbsers.¡±


    <em>All the better, </em>she thought, <em>I¡¯d prefer to disable those ships rather than destroy them outright. </em>It made her feel less like a traitor, whatever her feelings were worth these days.


    ¡°Yaw portside once they¡¯ve crossed our bow,¡± shemanded, ¡°Burn forward at the same time to bring them in range.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger.¡±


    <em>Unicorn </em>waited until the frigates skirted the cone¡¯s base, then pounced. Barriss jumped in her seat as the entire bridge rattled from the bow thrusters roaring to swing the massive warship on a dime, Republic frigates sliding back across the viewports. Once the ship reached its leading angle, it lurched forwards and- <em>boom, </em>rattled off two bleeding bolts.


    The forward frigate was consumed by a ball of me-and a ckened husk fell out of the smoke, disappearing into the stratosphere. The second frigate exploded like a firework upon impact with <em>Centaur¡¯s </em>shot, <em>Unicorn¡¯s </em>sister ship having been much less conservative with their allocated firepower.


    <em>¡°Nice shot, sir!¡± </em>Cartroll¡¯s voice resonated, <em>¡°Saw that gunship fall past us.¡±</em>


    Right then, a pair of <em>Centaur¡¯s </em>Vulture droids screamed past their portside, drive trails cutting a path through the thin atmosphere as they set upon the lone DP20. Barriss didn¡¯t have to look to know the frigate¡¯s fate; she only had to hear the rippling sts that followed. Missile impacts.


    ¡°Transports are in position.¡±


    ¡°Lock bearings and burn,¡± Tuff ordered calmly, ¡°Keep our line steady-¡±


    At least a hundred pins swept onto the tactical disy, zing alongside the <em>Chrysaor¡¯s </em>beam and plunging towards the picket line. Barriss¡¯ heart pounded in her chest-<em>they¡¯ve arrived. </em>There was a series of dull thuds as <em>Unicorn¡¯s </em>Vulture squadrons leapt off the rafters.


    ¡°¡­ Sir?¡± a droid looked up at the chair.


    ¡°Continue on our course,¡± the tactical droid replied stiffly.


    The mass of starfighters suddenly split, with one half zing towards <em>Keeper </em>and New Kattellyn, while the other continued their dive towards Atraken. Barriss could recognise those distinctive hull shapes anywhere; Y-wing bombers.


    ¡°Are they trying to take out <em>Keeper</em>?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ mad.¡±


    ¡°I am afraid it is usible they will,¡± Tuff¡¯s photoreceptors darted, ¡°I believe they are attempting to clear the way for an invasion force. Do we have dropships on the sensors?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yes sir!¡± the sensor droid affirmed, ¡°Twelve dropshipsing about <em>Chrysaor¡¯s </em>beam, from the drive trails.¡±


    Barriss stared intently at the Y-wing squadron moving against <em>Keeper, </em>feeling a familiar pressure in the Force. The freighter-cum-battleship unleashed its deadly firepower, spraying out brightser curtains thatshed against the rtively slow bombers. It was against that contrast did she notice the nimble triangle darting between the whips, and realised what presence she had recognised.


    <em>That¡¯s an Aethersprite. That¡¯s a Jedi.</em>


    Maybe they don¡¯t realise they¡¯re attacking civilians? I need to stop them! She had to stop that Jedi from inadvertentlymitting a war crime, but she can¡¯t kill them either. But¡­ what if they knew exactly what they were doing? Barriss cast her gaze at <em>Chrysaor¡¯s </em>ponderous form, wondering just what sort of Jedi was standing on the bridge of that ship.


    She wetted her lips, swallowing. <em>They must¡¯ve lost their way. That person is no longer a Jedi. I must believe this one can be reasoned with. </em>Barriss closed her eyes, reaching out through the Force¡­ and grabbed another shoulder in the mist. Small, inexperienced¡­ <em>weak.</em> Their presence would be hardly identifiable, if she had not been searching for it. A Padawan. There were not one, but two. A master and an apprentice. Barriss¡¯s eyes snapped open.


    She shot a sideways nce at Tuff, ¡°<em>Centaur </em>can take our ce. We need to support <em>Keeper.</em>¡±


    The droid paused, ostensibly running numbers, then- ¡°Very well. Inform Gallow he will be taking point.¡±


    <em>Unicorn </em>shot forwards, driving hard towards the Y-wing squadron as its Vultureplement ascended to attack the bombers from above, taking advantage of the sun¡¯s position.


    ¡°Our task is to rescue the civilians, not capture the, right?¡± with the Force whispering in her mind, Barriss pushed all her chips onto the table. She was gambling again, not for credits as on the Wheel, but with her life, and the lives of everybody in the star system.


    And the house was a tactical droid.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Tuff¡¯s voice was t.


    ¡°¡­ Then once all of the civilians are on Trilos,¡± Barriss started, nervous despite herself, ¡°Can¡¯t we just surrender to the Republic? We¡¯ve already aplished our goal, and sooner orter the Republic¡¯s reinforcements are going to find a way through the minefield.¡±


    He immediately looked down at her, ¡°My programming dictates that to surrender a battle is only an option when there is no more recourse. However, as our current mission objectives are to preserve as many civilian lives as possible and not win the, I must entertain this course of action¡­ I concur; negotiating a <em>conditional</em> surrender once the safety of the Atrakenites is guaranteed may be the wisest course of action, so long as we can retrieve Unicorn Squadron in the terms.¡±


    Barriss breathed a sigh of relief. So she hadn¡¯t misjudged Tuff¡¯s programming. <em>I can still do this, </em>she decided, <em>I can still escape. This is proof that I just need to find a loophole in his logic matrices. </em>


    ¡°I want to talk to the enemymander,¡± she stated, ¡°Will they be likely to receive a transmission on open frequencies?¡±


    The droid stared at her, ¡°The Republic¡¯s tightbeam security in-system is outdated and degraded enough that <em>Unicorn¡¯s </em>facilities can slice into their system.¡±


    Barriss hoped she knew what was going on behind those photoreceptors, ¡°Do so. Please.¡±


    ?


    <em>Chrysaor </em>wasn¡¯t making much headway, Anakin saw as he swung up over the dreadnought¡¯s hull and pulled his squadron into a firm attack formation. Rolling his Aethersprite around the match the orientation ne, he nced down at his nav scope to make a minor adjustment to his speed.


    <em>I hope you¡¯re right about that Lucrehulk being toothless, Master Krell. </em>From Anakin¡¯s point of view, and the point of view of the pilots of each metal canister a thin skin¡¯s distance from death, that battleship was looking <em>very </em>deadly.


    ¡°What''d you think of that ship, Artoo?¡± Anakin said on his fighter¡¯s internalm, ¡°You seeing any droids inside?¡±


    The astromech hardwired into his fighter¡¯s left wing whistled a thankful negative, but nervously pointed out the bristling arrays of point defence turrets lining the Lucrehulk¡¯s nks. With his Force-enhanced vision, Anakin agreed with the sentiment all too well.


    ¡°I see them too-so a full battle refit, huh?¡± Anakin adjusted hism dial, ¡°Tallisibeth, take Hammer Squadron and orbit between that battleship and the Seppie picket line. The rest of you, with me; we¡¯ll swing by that Lucrehulk and take a nice, casual look. If the k¡¯s not too bad, we¡¯ll go in and clear the way for the invasion force.¡±


    <em>¡°Copy that, Gold Leader.¡±</em>


    ¡°We¡¯ll keep you covered, General,¡± Oddball reassured, yanking out of formation with his wingmen.


    <em>¡°Understood, Master,¡± </em>his Padawan¡¯s voice was a whish of youthfulness among the gruff soldiery, <em>¡°Hammer Squadron, mark my position and form up on me.¡±</em>


    Anakin wondered if that¡¯s what <em>he </em>sounded like to Obi-Wan¡¯s ears, in the past. A child who had no ce on the battlefield.


    <em>¡°Copy, Hammer Leader.¡±</em>


    He keyed again, ¡°Artoo, give me a warning when we enter the Lucrehulk¡¯s range.¡±


    R2-D2 replied with a series of affirmative beeps, reliable as ever.


    Anakin looked over his shoulder to see Tallisibeth¡¯s arrowhead Aethersprite at the tip of Hammer Squadron¡¯s formation of Torrents, spearing through the void sleek and lethal, in its beautiful killing way. The interceptor was a starfighter worthy of a Jedi pilot, but the pilot had to be worthy with it too. Aethersprites were as sensitive as they were responsive, and even the lightest twitch of the yoke could result in victory or death in dogfight.


    He felt her through the Force-not knowing if she was tuned enough to notice-sensing the control and handle of her starship. It was collected; stable. Tallisibeth was inmand of her ship the same way only someone who knew it in and out blindfolded could. Maybe the im that she was top of her n wasn¡¯t <empletely </em>hot air after all. Anakin left her to it.


    From his ce beside the cockpit, R2 beeped and whistled, inputting data in his console readout. A pressure built in his temple, as if held back by a dam.


    ¡°Thanks, Artoo,¡± Anakin grunted, hastily switchingms, ¡°All ships, evasive manoeuvres!¡±


    All hell broke loose. Anti-fighter k exploded out of the Lucrehulk¡¯s quilled hull, drowning out the howl of his sublight drives and rocking his nimble Aethersprite so hard Anakin had to lock his teeth in a snarl lest he bite off his own tongue. A scream sted out of his headpiece, temporarily deafening him as a starburst peeled open the thin armour of a Y-wing behind him.


    Gold Squadron scattered, their eponymous paint scheme zing as they reflected the glow of theser storm. Anakin reached into the Force to feel a safe way through the swarm of red needles, letting it guide his hand on the yoke as he kicked his fighter into an evasive spiral that would¡¯ve been impossible for any normal pilot. R2 screamed by his side, even as the droid made the minute thrust adjustments necessary to turn certain death into near misses.


    <em>This </em>was what Anakin lived for. Pilot and starfighter be one mind, bound by the Force.


    <em>¡°Master!¡± </em>Tallisibeth rang out, <em>¡°There¡¯s a star frigate bearing down on us, bearing two-oh-one mark three-thirty from your orientation! Hammer Squadron, we¡¯re slowing it down!¡±</em>


    Anakin fought the burning urge to go and look, but he couldn¡¯t drag his eyes away from the task at hand. <em>zes, I can¡¯t let us get caught between both ships! Krell, you son of a¡­ ! </em>


    ¡°Disengage!¡± he shouted, ¡°All ships, disengage and get out of the killzone!¡±


    Another wail of pain and shock filled the cockpit as another bomber disappeared in a blossom of fire.


    Anakin let the pilot¡¯s dying cry fill his mind as he plunged into a whirling dive, fighting with the control yoke as explosions bracketed his path. For a brief moment, all he saw were the red sts of sizzling bolts, a mere ne of transparisteel away from his skull, before the colour was washed away, leaving darkness left. Anakin blinked, his eyes adjusting to the new light and allowing the stars to return to his vision.


    He wrenched his ship around, keeping a safe distance from the Lucrehulk as he raced to return to Gold Squadron; now darting to Hammer Squadron¡¯s aid.


    <em>¡°This is Shadow Leader,¡± </em>thems crackled, <em>¡°We have a visual on the transports. We¡¯re moving in.¡±</em>


    ¡°Hammer, Gold,¡± Anakinmanded, <em>¡°Keep that frigate upied-¡±</em>


    ¡°General¡­ Skywalker-!¡±


    Hisms fizzled and popped, and Anakin imagined he heard a sliver of Pong Krell¡¯s voice then.


    <em>¡°Copy, Gold Leader.¡±</em>


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Anakin frowned as he fingered the channel frequencies, trying to get a fix on <em>Chrysaor¡¯s </em>signal. R2 released a series of beeps, and he read the trantion scrawled across the readout despite not needing to.


    ¡°Master Krell¡¯s contacting me?¡± he asked aloud, ¡°Why can¡¯t we patch him through?¡±


    R2 whistled confusedly, as stumped as he was. Anakin tuned into the squadron frequency again, and noted that it was only <em>Chrysaor¡¯s </em>tightbeam being jammed. He narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s that frigate,¡± he used.


    Of course it was. That star frigate was so new Anakin could still smell the chemicals of its paint job. <em>Chrysaor, </em>on the other hand, was a century-old relic of a bygone era, with the apanying archaic ECM suites. That Invincible-ss dreadnought, still with Judicial Forces devices on its hull, had been relegated to dealing with ouws and pirates, not the backbone of the Separatist armada.


    His console started shing. <em>They¡¯re trying to reach me on openms. </em>If he patched them in, the entire Flight 7 would be able to hear it. Anakin keyed it in.


    Nobody expected what came from it.


    <em>¡°This is Confederate star frigate Unicorn,¡± </em>an almost callow, female voice spoke to them, <em>¡°Be advised, attacking the refugee transports will be in breach of Section Three, Articles Thirteen through Twenty-Six of the Yavin Code rtive to the Protection of Civilian Poptions against certain Consequences of War. These transports are under our protection until their touchdown in New Kattellyn, in cooperation with the Refugee Relief Movement. We are transmitting our relevant documents and transponder codes for verification. You may scan our transports for lifeforms.¡±</em>


    ¡°¡­ They must be joking¡­ right?¡± Tallisibeth¡¯s voice was shaky.


    Anakin thinned his lips. He recognised the tone of <em>Unicorn¡¯s </em>captain. He shared it not long ago, after all. The vestiges of youth were still there, but any buoyancy had been burned away by the war. He could just <em>imagine </em>the jaded, piercing eyes boring into his starfighter. He would not be surprised if his Padawan would share it in the near future.


    He recognised something else too¡­ in the Force. An odd sense of unfamiliar familiarity, like an old friend that had be unrecognisable. He flirted with the idea that a Force-sensitive was inmand of that ship, but ultimately decided it was irrelevant in the situation.


    ¡°Artoo,¡± he breathed, ¡°Scan for lifeforms. Those transponder codes¡­¡±


    His console blinked again; Master Krell was still trying to get through the enemy jamming.


    <em>¡°We¡¯ve verified the codes, General,¡± </em>Oddball said, audibly uncertain, <em>¡°They¡¯re all registered with the Refugee Relief Movement¡­ built in shipyards on Coruscant, Alderaan, Corellia¡­¡±</em>


    Anakin was silent for a long moment, waiting for R2-D2¡¯s report-and then he remembered Shadow Squadron. Cursing violently, he scrambled to jump into theirms-


    ¡°Shadow Squadron, abort your run!¡± he roared, ¡°I say again; abort your run Shadow Squadron!¡±


    <em>¡°Sir!?¡±</em>


    R2-D2 beeped a panicked affirmative, revealing the mass of green signatures crammed into the cargo hold of the lead transports. <em>There must be at least ten-thousand people in there. </em>And an attack pattern of Y-wings were barrelling straight towards them. A brave CR90 corvette ced itself between them, staring down the iing onught.


    <em>¡°Your orders, Shadow Leader!?¡±</em>


    ¡°-st!¡± Shadow Leader swore, <em>¡°Abort, abort!¡±</em>


    ¡°What!?¡±


    ¡°Pull up, pull up!¡±


    Shadow Squadron parted before the CR90 like waves dashed against a rock, sweeping back around and forming up a distance away from the convoy¡¯s flight vector.


    ¡°All ships, enter a holding pattern at your position,¡± Anakin said, before switching channels, ¡°Confederate frigate <em>Unicorn, </em>this is General Skywalker of the Republic Navy. Please hold your fire while we confirm the situation.¡±


    <em>¡°¡­ Understood, thank you for your cooperation,¡± Unicorn </em>responded as it fired up its retrothrusters,ing to azy drift just shy of Hammer Squadron¡¯s mark.


    As if on cue, the jamming suddenly lifted.


    <em>¡°-General Skywalker!¡± </em>Pong Krell roared, <em>¡°Just what are you doing!? My gunships-!¡±</em>


    Anakin Skywalker was cially calm, ¡°Care to exin to me why you just ordered us to fire upon civilian transports, Master Krell?¡±


    He noticed the icons of Flight 7 in the same channel, silently listening and waiting for the oue. They all knew just how close they came tomitting an unforgivable war crime.


    <em>¡°Civilian transports!?¡± </em>Krell had the audacity to sound frustrated, <em>¡°Those freighters may be carrying war materiel-¡±</em>


    ¡°<em>May </em>be!?¡± Anakin snarled, ¡°Those freighters <em>are </em>carrying refugees! A general scan can confirm that! You told us the universal red sigil was a Separatist trick! You didn¡¯t tell us these ships are registered under the <em>RRM!¡±</em>


    ¡°So they im,¡± Krell shot back, <em>¡°Do you think this is the first time they¡¯ve done this? I allowed them to ¡®evacuate¡¯ refugees once, and they used the ruse tomit an all out attack on my fleet! The entire evacuation effort is a posttext of their biological warfare on the!¡±</em>


    ¡°What about the nuclear weapons?¡± he asked.


    <em>¡°The Grand Army doesn¡¯t use nuclear weapons, General Skywalker,¡± </em>Master Krell sneered, <em>¡°Any and all atomic warheadse from Atrakenite bases. They ruined their own in a civil war. Look at those transports again, Skywalker, how many people can they hold, and how many are there?¡±</em>


    The Jedi Master spoke with firm certainty, as if he already knew the answer. Anakin looked at his sensor readouts again. <em>AA-9 Bojatef Freighter-Liner, maximum passenger load of 30,000 people. </em>R2 beeped wearily. <em>Biological signatures¡­ 10,000 to 15,000.</em>


    ¡°That¡­ that doesn¡¯t change the fact that you aremitting a war crime, Master Krell,¡± Anakin tore his attention back to what mattered, ¡°Youmit to this, and you are no better than the Separatists! We are <em>Jedi- </em>you¡¯re supposed to be better than this! Have you lost your way!?¡±


    <em>¡°We¡¯re at war, General Skywalker,¡± </em>Krell rasped grimly, <em>¡°We¡¯re soldiers now, first and foremost. Victory for the Republic must take precedence over our moral grandstanding.¡±</em>


    ¡°Moral grandstanding?¡± he repeated, utterly baffled, ¡°You are killing innocent people!¡±


    <em>¡°I am killing Separatists,¡± </em>the lost Jedi corrected, <em>¡°The moment we became Generals of the Republic, we knew many sacrifices would have to be made for victory. I knew Atraken could not fall to the enemy, at any cost. You do too; is that not why you are here?¡±</em>


    That¡¯s right. Atraken could not fall. But this¡­ this was <em>too far.</em>


    ¡°¡­ You will be held ountable for this,¡± Anakin condemned viciously, ¡°You will answer to the Jedi Council- no, the <em>court-martial </em>for this.¡±


    <em>¡°I¡¯ve seen things not you, or anybody in the Council, could fathom,¡± </em>Krell whispered, <em>¡°Do you think I am blind to my own failings? I know my crimes; I pay for them every time I sleep. Over and over again. But I made my peace months ago, for the sake of my duty to the Republic. One day, you will have to do the same. I will answer to the Council, once this battle is over.¡±</em>


    I know just as well as you, Anakin wanted to say. <em>I know just as well what it¡¯s like to revisit my failures in my nightmares. </em>But he couldn¡¯t say anything. He rubbed his face tiredly. This was supposed to be simple¡­ but war never was.


    ?


    Barriss leaned back, feeling the chair scrape her spine, having heard everyst word.


    ¡°Is that true, Tuff?¡± her face was made of stone, ¡°Did Master- did General Krell speak the truth?¡±


    ¡°If he did,¡± the droid answered, ¡°I would not know. I fear everybody who does know the full truth may be dead. Unless we begin an in-depth investigation, all we have are perspectives.¡±


    <em>Perspectives, huh? Someone once told me war is the result of irreconcble definitions of the same word.</em>


    ¡°Sir?¡± Lieutenant Cartroll called, <em>¡°Those starfighters¡­¡±</em>


    ¡°Continue on your course,¡± Barriss replied, ¡°They won¡¯t attack.¡±


    For all of this bloodshed to end, both the Republic and Separatist Alliance need topromise on their definitions of victory. But how can that happen when both sides were going to such lengths to achieve their version of victory? Was the Jedi Council blind to these horrors¡­ Force-forbid, <em>willfully?</em>


    The Force whisperedforting words in her ear. <em>That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve seen both perspectives of the war, now. </em>If she became a Jedi Master¡­ wouldn''t she have enough influence to change how the Republic fought the war? But for that, she had to return to the Temple, and she¡¯s stuck here¡­


    Barriss was a Jedi, and even a Jedi without their lightsaber could hardly be tied down. Yet, Barriss never once explored the idea of trying. She reached into the Force, letting it guide her way, back onto the correct path. She must not lose herself, not like Master Krell did.


    <em>Why not change my definition of ¡®escape¡¯?</em>


    She blinked. Tuff <em>was </em>convinced to surrender, after all, by merely changing their definition of victory. <em>Find a loophole in his logic matrices, huh? I can do that. </em>After all, what does the process matter if it achieves the wanted oue?


    ¡°Have you drafted our terms of surrender?¡± Barriss asked.


    The tactical droid wordlessly handed her the tablet, and her eyes raked through the uses.


    ¡°I believe this will satisfy all parties,¡± he said confidently, "The bottom line is that we must be able to retrieve all of our forces peacefully. To appease them, we will hand over the Kattellyn System to their forces, and cooperate with any war crime investigation that may arise. With the current state of the situation, I calcte the Republic will ept in order to avoid any further losses and bring an expedient end to this conflict."


    ¡°Openms, then,¡± she said, ¡°Let¡¯s give this thing to General Skywalker.¡±

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    <em><em>Serenno, Serenno System</em></em>


    <em>D¡¯Astan Sector</em>


    ¡°The Chiss girl¡¯s usefulness hase to an end,¡± Lord Sidious proimed, ¡°She is now but a thorn in our side. You will eliminate her before she grows to threaten your grasp on the Separatist systems.¡±


    Dressed in a rich cloak of burgundy, the Dark Lord of the Sith stood over his apprentice. Hood raised over his head, his ensemble so voluminous it shrouded all but the figure¡¯s lower face and hands from light. All that could be seen from that shadowed face, were a pair of glowing, baleful golden eyes.


    ¡°Yes, my Master,¡± Dooku replied, kneeling on the floor of his castle, ¡°I have already sent my best agents to remove her from our ns.¡±


    It was the oue Count Dooku had expected, but was a great shame nheless. When Lord Sidious first introduced him to Sev¡¯rance Tann, he had been¡­ <em>overwrought</em>, by her outwardck of Force presence. But she was notcking in <em>potential, </em>and for all the traditional skills she was incapable of, she made up for in areas more profound.


    Sev¡¯rance Tann should have been the perfect apprentice. She was dignified, methodical and well-learned-if not particrly eloquent or politically-minded-yet impassioned and eager to learn the ways of the Dark Side. She bore noint from punishment, only because she rarely ever failed. Indeed, she <em>should </em>have been the perfect apprentice.


    But the girl had never truly pursued the teachings of the Dark Side-only what it had to offer. Dooku knew that had a Jedi found her first, she would have been convinced to join their Order just as easily-provided that she had ess to the deepest annals of the Temple¡¯s library-even if she would just as simrly never truly adopt the Light.


    The Sith saw no need to take on only young disciples, though they often did. Sometimes the training went smoother with disciples who had lived long enough to grow disillusioned or angry or vengeful. Sev¡¯rance Tann was none of that. She was not fueled by any great emotion other than personal ambition. Sometimes, that was all a Sith needed, but the Chiss¡¯ ambition had already been tempered by years of military training, not to mention a culture wholly unknown to the gxy atrge. She did not carry an ounce of darkness within her.


    Count Dooku knew that once he refused to teach her any longer, or had nothing left to teach, Sev¡¯rance would not hesitate to abandon-if not betray-him. It was then that he realised she could never learn of the Grand n. Despite how much he enjoyed mentoring her, she would only be as much of a tool to him as he was a tool to her.


    ¡°You must not underestimate her, Lord Tyranus,¡± Sidious warned, ¡°You had taught her well, and without the shroud of the Dark Side clouding her gaze, she is especially dangerous. You must tread cautiously. Her maniption of the war has displeased me greatly.¡±


    <em>What a shame. What a shame. </em>With Sev¡¯rance¡¯s military genius and his own political prowess, they could have overthrown and rebuilt the gxy together, in their image. Sidious would no longer have any reason to exist. Regretfully, she ultimately did not share his vision for a pure, restored gxy, personified by authority and order. She ultimately held no attachment to therger gxy, not when her true masters still existed deep in the Unknown Regions.


    <em>When the nes to fruition, there will be no corner of the gxy free from my New Order. Not the Gree Enve, not Hapes, not Hutt Space, and not even this Chiss Ascendancy. </em>


    ¡°Shonn Volta is a highly capable assassin, my lord,¡± Dooku exhaled with purpose, ¡°And if she is not enough, I believe eliminating Sev¡¯rance will be a fitting test for our new pawn.¡±


    <em>¡°Grievous¡­¡± </em>the Sith Lord said with calcted slowness, ¡°Indeed, Lord Tyranus, he will serve our purposes. You had taught Sev¡¯rance much of what she now knows, but you did not teach her <em>everything</em>.¡±


    Darth Sidious eyed him from beneath the cowl of his cloak, closely examining his every reaction. His final word was as much a statement as it was a warning-a threat-against any idea of disobedience.


    ¡°I had not, just as you instructed,¡± Dooku replied faithfully, ¡°Sev¡¯rance still believes her foresight to be unfailing, and herself unassable. She cannot fathom being <em>wrong.</em>¡±


    ¡°Well done,¡± Sidious¡¯ lips curled, ¡°I have guaranteed that the girl will not be able to return to the Foundry in time. Instead, Grievous will be the saviour of the Separatist Alliance. It is time for our new piece to y his role.¡±


    ¡°It will be done, Master.¡±


    ¡°Do not fail me, Lord Tyranus,¡± Darth Sidious snarled.


    As his master¡¯s holoprojection winked out, Dooku all but glided to his feet, disying not an ounce of imbnce even after kneeling for so long. Refined posture at all times-even in absence of an audience-was after all a hallmark of a true noble. That was something Sev¡¯rance Tann could understand. Unlike, for example, that repulsive cyborg Grievous.


    Though, that wasn''t any fault of his own. When the pitiful creature was rebuilt, his mind had been¡­ <em>adjusted</em> to better fit his intended role. For all he was aware-and soon the gxy-Grievous has always been a merciless, monstrous thing of war.


    Count Dooku of Serenno keyed in the transceiver address, and did not have to wait long for a response.


    A seven-foot tall monster of durasteel appeared over him, whatever sliver of sapience left in the creation found in two hateful, bloody eyes, rimmed by raw periocr skin, captured behind a skull-like facete. Quite the alien beast, even to aliens.


    ¡°Is it time, Count Dooku?¡± the Kaleesh warlord demanded, guttural and terrifying to any lesser being.


    Dooku couldn¡¯t be more pleased with the result. Grievous will never be another Sev¡¯rance Tann in some regards, but in others he was far more than she will ever be. While Sev¡¯rance was a delight to <em>teach</em>, Grievous was a delight to <em>train. </em>He never needed to coax out the cyborg¡¯s anger and rage, as Dooku had been forced to do with his Dark Acolytes-and never seeded with Sev¡¯rance-not when anger and rage was all that¡¯s left inside the creature after his reconstruction.


    Few Jedi would survive an encounter with Grievous, as he had proven quite capably on Christophsis. There had been moments in their training sessions when even Dooku-who was one of the most legendary demasters in living history-had struggled to outduel the cyborg.


    But Dooku didn¡¯t teach him everything. He never did.


    ¡°It is quickly approaching, General,¡± Dooku¡¯s seat was mostfortable, especially after he had graced the floor in the presence of his master, ¡°What do you think of your new gship?¡±


    Grievous growled, ¡°It will serve me well.¡±


    <em>And you will serve me well. </em>


    Dooku allowed himself an imperceptible smile, ¡°Then it is time for the weapon¡¯s first field tests¡­ and the deration of your existence. The Republic will fear you, General, and the Jedi most of all.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if the Jedi fear me,¡± Grievous snapped, ¡°Only if they are dead.¡±


    Ah¡­ that most single-minded loathing for the Jedi, for their perceived crimes against him. Very quaint. Very useful. Grievous¡¯ cruel tactics and barbarism will make him the perfect scapegoat on which to hang every atrocity of this war, once his usefulness has run dry. Something Sev¡¯rance could never be, considering her sense of honour and adherence tow.


    ¡°Then prepare to move to Columex at mymand,¡± Dooku instructed, ¡°There will be many Jedi for you to kill indeed.¡±


    <em>Everything is proceeding as nned, Master. </em>Dooku felt the Force warping even as Grievous bowed shallowly and disappeared. <em>The Force is very much with us.</em>


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Metalorn, Metalorn System</em>


    <em>Talcene Sector</em>


    ¡°The Ruling Power will not subscribe to your so-called Coalition, officer,¡± Ruler Nine rebuked, ¡°Nor will we harbour the Clysm Fleet in our docks. We are quite capable of defending ourselves.¡±


    His hologram shimmered and waved, whipping the Euceron¡¯snky body like an intable air dancer. He represented the government of Euceron, the Ruling Power. They were a sort of council, with each of their ten members referred to by their number, hence Ruler Nine.


    ¡°You realise in that case, Euceron will bear the brunt of the Republic invasion force alone?¡± Calli asked, ¡°Even with our help, Salvara could not-¡±


    ¡°Do not insult us, officer,¡± the tall humanoid had to bend to re us down, ¡°We are a wealthy world, and our security forces outstrip both the Salvaran and Clysm fleetsbined. Besides, Commander Trilm, were you not able to defend Salvara for three whole days even outnumbered and outgunned?¡±


    Calli baulked, ¡°That was-¡±


    Ruler Nine interrupted her with a spindly, delicate finger, ¡°We greatly admire your prowess, officer. Indeed, your brave defence secured audable settlement for the Salvaran people. We intend on following in your footsteps. Joining this Coalition will only paint a target on our backs.¡±


    I stared nkly at Calli, wondering whether an annoyed, exasperated, or scathing look will carry my point across effectively. The Serennian met my gaze and lifted an arched brow, daring me to speak my piece. After a moment, I opted for a more diplomatic <em>¡®seriously?¡¯ </em>face. Beggars can¡¯t be choosers I guess.


    ¡°Do you speak for the entire Ruling Council, sir?¡± I decided to try.


    ¡°As the Senator from Euceron,¡± Ruler Nine said loftily, ¡°I speak for the <em>entire </em>Eucer Sector. Your so-called ¡®protection¡¯ is not worth the price of surrendering our freedoms to your¡­ military junta. Not when we can protect ourselves. That is all, officers.¡±


    His arm reached out and cut the connection, leaving Calli and I alone. I toggled a switch on the armrest, and Vinoc¡¯s holo sprouted in the Euceron¡¯s ce, having been listening in out of sight the whole time.


    ¡°We have a problem,¡± the fallen Jedi said seriously, ¡°Ruler Nine said he ryed the will of the entire Eucer Sector. That includes Ringo Vinda.¡±


    Calli nodded stiffly, ¡°My thoughts exactly.¡±


    ¡°The Ringo Vindans signed the treaty,¡± I rubbed my cheek, ¡°Have they double-crossed us?¡±


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the vition.


    ¡°We can¡¯t allow that,¡± Calli grimaced, ¡°We all saw the simtions. Ringo Vinda is the linchpin of our entire operation. I will talk with their government again, and renegotiate the treaty if I must. Hopefully Ruler Nine was bluffing. But if not¡­¡±


    ¡°We may have to seize the system by force.¡± Vinoc sighed, ¡°¡­ But the man had a point; what if Euceron <em>does </em>put up a good showing against the Republic? The Coalition''s member worlds might slip away if that happens.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t. There is not a match for those Tector-ss Star Destroyers in our arsenal save for a Providence-ss dreadnought. Salvara cannot be recreated. The sole reason Salvara turned out the way it did is because of one reason,¡± Calli Trilm jabbed a thumb at her own chest, ¡°And that¡¯s my personal intervention. Ground-to-orbit artillery are a huge force multiplier, but hard toe by without the same money and connections that I have. Not even Ringo Vinda has them.¡±


    ¡°They made a poor showing regardless,¡± Vinoc pointed out, ¡°From the records you sent us, at least.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s user error, not a design w,¡± Calli crossed her arms, ¡°I¡¯ve already figured them out. Euceron is going to bepletely crushed precisely <em>because </em>they blundered at Salvara.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Ah, I see,¡± I suddenly understood what she was getting at, ¡°The Tectors are the testbed for a new military doctrine with a <em>lot </em>of political weight behind it. The Republic simply cannot afford for them to fail. So since they dropped the ball at Salvara, Republic High Command is going to take extra precautions to make sure they seed at Euceron. Newmanders, proper tactics, the like.¡±


    And more worryingly, these Tectors looked suspiciously simr to the Imperial Star Destroyer-almost uncannily so. The only reason I wouldn¡¯t confidently state that they <em>are </em>ISDs is the fact that it¡¯s been decades since I¡¯ve watched the Original Trilogy, and that I can¡¯t exactly remember what they looked like. All those arrow-shaped Star Destroyers looked the same to me back then, honestly¡­ Venators, ISDs, those new First Order ones, whatever they were called. Well, other than the <em>Executor </em>and Snoke¡¯s mothership<em>. </em>I can pick those out of a line-up any day.


    Now, though, I can identify a Venator with my eyes closed. Fuck, I count them when I sleep.


    Anyway, I fear something has changed with the Republic, and that the Tectors may be a sign of their hastening devolution into the Empire¡­ even if I can¡¯t exactly point out why. Regardless, it¡¯s all the more the reason to help the Confederacy survive this war. I made my bed a long time ago.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Calli nodded appreciatively, ¡°I¡¯m in the Euceron System right now, and from what I can see, while Ruler Nine isn¡¯t exactly lying, he¡¯s still greatly exaggerating the state of the Euceron Security Forces. This fleet is big <em>on paper, </em>but it¡¯s outdated by several decades. Old Munifex cruisers and Auxilias mostly. If the entire sectorbines forces, I¡¯d say they¡¯d have about a hundred Rendili Dreadnaughts and <em>maybe </em>a dozen or two Invincibles. Nothing that will stop a resentful and determined Republic.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we send them what we know about the Republic¡¯s fleet, then?¡± Vinoc asked, ¡°To give them a fighting chance?¡±


    ¡°Why would we want Euceron to have a fighting chance?¡± I scolded, ¡°Intel sharing is one of the agreements in the treaty, you know? They didn¡¯t sign it. It¡¯s unfortunate, but they¡¯ll need to take the fall for us to seed. They¡¯ve established that their destruction is a <em>them </em>problem. Let¡¯s respect that.¡±


    It¡¯s much easier to sign away the lives of millions when they weren¡¯t staring me right in the face. Some days I still think about the clone troopers I rescued over Leesis, and how else I would¡¯ve acted if I wasn¡¯t personally overseeing the operation then. Out of sight, out of mind, they say.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Calli nodded, ¡°The harder the Eucerons get crushed, the easier it will be to convince the rest of the Foundry to join us for protection.¡±


    ¡°Then get out of there,¡± I consulted my mental star map, ¡°To¡­ Ringo Vinda, I suppose. Make any repairs you need, then contact Jorm.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± she couldn¡¯t quite rid her frown, ¡°And what about Trench?¡±


    ¡°What does he think of the Coalition?¡±


    Calli scoffed, ¡°Nothing wille of it until he hears what the Corporate Alliance has to say.¡±


    I took a moment to think, ¡°¡­ Even if we aren¡¯t working together, we still have amon enemy. The <em>Invincible </em>is still at Raxus-send him there. He¡¯ll be redeployed back here sooner orter.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be good optics, having Trench on our side, even if by technicality,¡± she agreed, ¡°I concur. I¡¯ll see you then.¡±


    I waited until her disconnection pinged, then turned to Vinoc, ¡°Where are you now?¡±


    ¡°Boonta,¡± Vinoc shifted, ¡°They weed us, if nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s worth the effort to sway them to our side?¡±


    ¡°The Separatist Alliance, or the Coalition?¡±


    ¡°Both.¡±


    ¡°Likely, with some trade incentives,¡± Vinoc said, ¡°Tell me, why is this Perlemian Coalition so important? It was never part of the n.¡±


    ¡°Important? It isn¡¯t important for you,¡± I leaned back, ¡°But it¡¯s important for me, for Trilm, and for every officer in our, well, coalition. It¡¯s a guarantee of our safety. That¡¯s why we created it.¡±


    The fallen Jedi narrowed his eyes, ¡°Exin.¡±


    I held back a huff, ¡°Figure it out yourself. I¡¯ll give you a hint; what are we doing, from Parliament¡¯s perspective?¡±


    ¡°Defending the Confederacy,¡± he answered immediately.


    ¡°Perhaps. But I and the other officers believe that is wishful thinking,¡± I said nkly, ¡°What we are doing is <em>failing </em>to defend the Confederacy. We are losing battle after battle- do you think those politicians will understand the nuances of organised retreat and defence-in-depth? They are only going to read the first page of the reports and see defeat after defeat after defeat. Your master will protect you from the bacsh, but what about the rest of us?¡±


    ¡°When General Tann bes Supreme Commander, all of you will-¡±


    ¡°<em>If </em>General Tann bes Supreme Commander,¡± I corrected, ¡°Remember that Sidestep has two phases. The first phase forces the Senate to elect a Supreme Commander by manipting the strategic situation, and the second phase is to convince the Senate to elect General Tann specifically. <em>Too many things </em>can go wrong with phase two.¡±


    ¡°We will seed,¡± Vinoc stated firmly, ¡°This n will not fail. The Force-¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± I shot back, ¡°Forgive me, but I cannot rely on¡­ on the Force like you can. I must prepare for the chance that our new Supreme Commander will bend to the will of Parliament, or worse. The Coalition is our guarantee to ensure that will never happen. One way or another, Sev¡¯rance Tann <em>must </em>be Supreme Commander.¡±


    I knew what <em>worse </em>entailed. I can¡¯t let that happen.


    Vinoc scratched his beard, ¡°I still don¡¯t see how the Coalition achieves that.¡±


    ¡°Figure it out yourself,¡± I repeated, ¡°Look, an apprentice must cover their master¡¯s blindspots. Sev¡¯rance Tann might be a military prodigy, but she tends to look at things from a bird¡¯s eye view and miss what¡¯s directly in front of her. All of her strategies until now¡­ with all respect, arepletely <em>stupid </em>unless you are Sev¡¯rance Tann.¡±


    Vinoc was taken aback by the sheer amount of weight I put in the word <em>stupid. </em>Truthfully, I only dared to say it so bluntly because Vinoc was not in the same room as me, and I doubted he could choke me through a screen like Vader can.


    ¡°She¡¯s a peerless architect, no doubt about it. But as field officers we¡¯re the engineers that must make her frankly convoluted designs work,¡± I droned on, ¡°And well, look at the situation we are in. ns never go to n in a war, and no sane staff officer creates the same ns that General Tann does. They¡¯re just too unrealistic.¡±


    ¡°¡­ She can see the future to some degree,¡± Vinoc said after some hesitation, ¡°<em>That</em> is why this will work.¡±


    Well, that exins¡­ a lot, actually. I internally processed Force-irvoyance, before deciding that was about par for the course. Anakin kinda did that in Episode III, didn¡¯t he? Then I processed the implications of him <em>telling </em>me what I presumed to be a closely guarded secret. Ultimately, I opted not to air my worries, concluding that it was above my pay grade, and thus not my problem. Until it bes my problem, but that¡¯s for future me to handle.


    ¡°Really? Sorry, but it¡¯s my job to not share your level of blind faith,¡± I pointed out, ¡°You and I, we don¡¯t get the same luxury she does. We can¡¯t decide <em>what we need </em>to make our strategies work; we have to make our strategies work using <em>what we have</em>. Politics is a different game to war, and I¡¯d bet my estate your master has never dipped her toes in politics, not truly. It¡¯s the only exnation for her ambitious, yet somehow naive n. Figure it out yourself, then tell me the answer when you get it right.¡±


    ¡°How will I know when I get it right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know. You have the Force, don¡¯t you? After you secure an outpost for the Techno Union, return to Sy Myrth,¡± with that, I cut the connection.


    I wiped my mouth, straightening myself and taking a deep breath. Standing up and walking to the front of the pilothouse, I took the chance to finally make use of <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>vast semisphere of a view wall to observe my new fleet. The White Hand now boasted twenty-one capital ships-an ever increasing number as my droidsmandeered more and more half-built hulls from Metalorn¡¯sside shipyards.


    Their systems were untested, crews skeletal, and most didn¡¯t even have functioning life support. But for all intents and purposes, they were functioning warships all the same, and they couldn¡¯t fall into the hands of the enemy.


    <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>proximity sensor beeped in warning as the carrier-destroyer <em>Queen of Beauty </em>yawned overhead, giving me a splendorous view of the floral patterns gracing her underside. Deep green vines twisted into blooming roses and myrtles, criss-crossed by flocks of doves and sparrows in single file. The golden lights from her viewports twinkled like fireflies, bringing the whole illustration to life.


    Artisan really came through this time, didn¡¯t he? Besides that, I could hear Stelle chiding <em>Queen of Beauty¡¯s </em>captain, TJ-912 for her dangerous piloting. With Tuff no longer an aide as much as subordinatemander, the staff assigned a handful more tactical droids to fill in the ranks. TJ-912 was the most¡­ personable of them, to my pleasant surprise.


    Her tactical merits were yet to be proven, though.


    On the other side of the formation was <em>Messenger in mes, </em>looming like a sea monster hiding in the depths. With her sister ships <em>Queen of Beauty </em>and <em>Crying Sun</em> already assigned captains, she remained the lone outlier-for now. Maybe I should give her to Tuff, as a reward for his service¡­


    I picked up footsteps among the background hum of consoles and repeaters. Too fast and light to be a battle droid.


    ¡°What is it, Hare?¡±


    ¡°Atraken has surrendered to the Republic.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ huh.¡±


    <em>What the fuck? They epted?</em>


    ¡°Did Tuff at least tell us who he surrendered to?¡±


    ¡°Anakin Skywalker,¡± Hare stared up at me.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± I rubbed my jaw, somewhat lost for words, ¡°Anakin Skywalker epts surrenders?¡±


    Hare looked back down at her datapad, as if to confirm again, before whipping back up at me, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he?¡±


    I don¡¯t know¡­ maybe because he tends to kill first, and talkter? Like Tuskens, Dookus, or y¡¯know, children. I didn¡¯t take him for the merciful type. I sent Barriss to Atraken in order to, one, get her the fuck away from me, and two, nudge her a bit further to our side. I sent Tuff with her to one, keep an eye on her, and two, force the Republic to y their hand. Which worked, evidently.


    Not sure where the surrendering partes in, though. Or Anakin Skywalker; I don¡¯t know where hees in either. Every simtion ARENA ran had the Open Circle Fleeting through the Perlemian.


    But I can improvise.


    ¡°Tell Horgo to abort his ambush,¡± I said, ¡°He needs to hold his position at Vjun. Then¡­ tell Tuff to send the girl back to us, and to move Unicorn Squadron to Ord Tiddell.¡±


    I moved the pieces on my mental map, furiously searching memories from the war games to vaguely guess the Republic¡¯s next move. A thought struck me, and I slowly craned my head to <em>Messenger of mes.</em>


    ¡°Actually,¡± I caught myself, ¡°Send <em>Messenger </em>with Ster Squadron to Ord Tiddell as well. He¡¯ll takemand of the fleet.¡±


    I turned my gaze back at the hyperspace egress, a familiar sensation of disquiet welling up in my stomach, one borne from a decade-long naval career. I swivelled on a heel, realising Hare still waiting for me in the process.


    ¡°Hurry,¡± I snapped, ¡°Go.¡±


    With confirmation that there wasn¡¯t any other pertinent matter to address, Hare promptlyplied and scampered off to ry my orders. In the meanwhile, I marched over to the nav droid and gently nudged him aside,mandeering his console for myself. After a swift mental reintroduction to the ring tabs, I got to work fiddling with the keys to make the disy calcte the ETA of a standard Republic taskgroup from Salvara.


    The console spat a number out at me, and I plugged in ARENA¡¯s datacard topare the solutions.


    ¡°Did I do this right?¡± I called for a second opinion.


    The nav droid stepped up, processors rumbling behind his dark eyes as he looked over the parameters andputation, and then nodded.


    I patted his shoulder, before barking out, ¡°Stelle, bring us to Yellow Alert. Standard Battle Order Five, and for God¡¯s sake, get Ster Squadron out of here.¡±


    Even without a visible reason, Stelle obeyed wordlessly. I swept a look over the viewports, mentally filing away positions and potential vectors as the White Hand corralled itself into four orderly, elliptical squadrons. Without experiencedmanders, the vast majority of the fleet had to be hooked onto a controlwork courtesy of four C3 Lucrehulks in the rear, which in turn were hooked onto <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>upgradedwork. I could dance a jig; bye byemanding from the front! I could rx back here while the battle rages.


    There were many merits to droid crews. One of them was they didn¡¯t care where the CO was while they risked their lives.


    Initiative and reaction time will be piss poor, but discipline and coordination will be well greater than anything the Republic could imitate.


    From the corner of my eye, I saw <em>Messenger in mes </em>circling around to another hypene egress. She, along with the rest of Ster Squadron, will have to take the long way round to Ord Tiddell. Eucer Sector had gotten more dangerous as ofte.


    I pointed a finger gun at the egress, visualising the Republic fleet appearing right at the end of it.


    I mimed a recoil, ¡°Bang.¡±

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    <em>Metalorn Approach, Metalorn System</em>


    <em>Talcene Sector</em>


    ¡°Did you know some people are calling my modified Order Four the Battle Hydra?¡± I asked Stelle, while eyeing the Republic fleet jumping into the system.


    ¡°It¡¯s fitting, sir,¡± Stelle replied offhandedly,ser-focused on the system chart.


    ¡°Maybe I should call this one the Hragscythe, then,¡± I said lightly, ¡°Do you know how an Onderonian hragscythe hunts, Stelle?¡±


    ¡°No sir,¡± the droid humoured me, ¡°Have you seen one?¡±


    ¡°I wish I hadn¡¯t,¡± I confessed, ¡°But when you chance the forests, you don¡¯t get to wish. Hragscythes are the apex predators of Onderon-not even drexls dare to get close to them. But sometimes the younger, bolder drexls do, usually on their first crossing. They¡¯ve yet to know the dangers, you see?¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t survive,¡± Stelle guessed.


    ¡°They never do. Hragscythes have a particr way of making sure the only ce its prey ends up is in one of its three mouths,¡± I stood up, leaning forward to peer out the bridge of star destroyer <em>Castigation</em>, ¡°Deploy our pickets in forward positions. Commence identification procedures.¡±


    <em>¡°Roger roger.¡±</em>


    ¡°All units, execute Standard Battle Order Four,¡± I continued, ¡°Take stations rtive to fleet gship <em>Castigation</em>. <em>Queen of Beauty, </em>station yourself at the lower portside corner. <em>Battlecruiser Nine-Nine-Oh, </em>station yourself to the upper starboard corner.¡±


    With three droid control ships in the rear churning out vectors and coordinates for the fleet by the microseconds, the apparent free-for-all the Republic must be seeing right now actually concealed an intricate dance of transitory pathings as ships of every size and make scrambled to reach their positions.


    Yet, there wasn¡¯t a single collision or even near-miss. No ship had to jostle or bull another for their spot. There weren''t anyints-as there surely would¡¯ve been from organicmanders-for the more ¡®leading¡¯ or ¡®principal¡¯ stations. I didn¡¯t have to wait for anyggard vessels.


    Thest ship smoothly slid into its assigned station with brisk, droid efficiency-and what was once a chaotic melee suddenly transformed into a perfect rectangle in the middle of space. With <em>Queen of Beauty </em>and <em>Battlecruiser 990MT </em>as the cornerstones of the formation, the auxiliary Lucrehulks can ensure that the battle line will never distort unless intended.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t the n for Order Five?¡± Stelle asked.


    ¡°It still is,¡± I answered, ¡°But acting too early is inadvisable. What¡¯s the slowest ship in the formation?¡±


    Stelle checked his datapad- ¡°Recusant-ss star destroyer, <em>Destroyer Two-One-Five-Five. </em>Half-built primaries. Haven¡¯t even gotten its transponder yet.¡±


    I took a deep breath-<em>our best speed is that of our slowest element</em>- ¡°Have <em>Castigation </em>bring her long axis onto the enemy¡¯s intercept vector.¡±


    Flicking a switch as the entire rectangle was tranted down and starboard, and a familiar nest of holographic readouts sprung up around me. A cascade of confirmations ran down the repeaters. <em>All ships report green. Distance some 130,000 klicks, bearing effectively double triple-zero. </em>Looks like the enemymander had predicted a trap, and had set their extraction point further away than standard in case of a minefield.


    I produced a datachip containing the tractor presets for the Tann Railgun, and plugged it into the console.


    ¡°<em>Queen of Beauty, Battlecruiser Nine-Nine-Oh, </em>execute these set-ups promptly.¡±


    <em>¡°Castigation,¡± </em>TJ-912 responded, <em>¡°This will not only be wildly inurate, but diverting this much power to our tractors will immobilise our ships temporarily.¡±</em>


    ¡°Your concern is noted, <em>Queen</em>,¡± I said tightly, ¡°Now carry out the ns. I want a spread of fragmentation missiles bearing three-twenty to triple-zero mark three-fifty to oh-seven-zero rtive. <em>Battlecruiser, </em>fire a spread bearing oh-four-zero to triple-zero mark oh-one-zero to two-eighty rtive. Expend all of your frag missiles. Usengrage if you must.¡±


    <em>¡°¡­ By yourmand,¡± </em>a sh of frustration crossed TJ-912¡¯s voice.


    <em>¡°Roger roger.¡±</em>


    I rubbed another datachip between my fingers, this one containing the override codes for every ship in the White Hand.


    Within fifteen minutes, <em>Queen </em>and <em>Battlecruiser </em>were rattling off a vertical, fan-shaped fuside of missiles at impossible speeds. Since they were moving too fast for their proximity sensors to set off, they had cleverly been set to detonate once crossing a set distance threshold. Old fashioned fragmentation peppered the nks of the enemy fleet as dense metal flechettes ripped their way through the thin shields of screening frigates.


    Tractors were normally used to move objects by ¡®grabbing¡¯ an object with a gravitic bubble, but apparently that was too inefficient when dealing with hundreds of missiles that had to be fired off in quick session. The Tann Railgun instead uses gravitics to press¡¯ and ¡®expand¡¯ space forward and aft of the projectile respectively, allowing the object to surf the resulting ¡®wave.¡¯


    Apparently, by doing this the projectile could <em>theoretically </em>exceed the speed of light given enough time. Unfortunately, the space maniption begins dropping off the moment it leaves the tractors¡¯ ranges.


    Maybe once this war is over, someone could align a bunch of Providences stern to bow and create a maglev-<em>gravlev?</em>-racetrack to find out if we could actually exceed lightspeed without hyperspace. In the name of science, obviously.


    But I wasn¡¯t a physicist. All I¡¯m concerned about is whether it can ruin someone''s day.


    It did wonderfully. I observed the tactical holo carefully, watching how the enemy fleet expediently morphed their formation to avoid the missiles. With <em>Queen </em>and <em>Battlecruiser </em>creating an artificial border to the battlefield, the Republic was forced to tighten their battle line into a squashed cone shape.


    ¡°Theirmander knows about the Railgun,¡± Imented, ¡°Do you think it''s because they¡¯ve seen it before, or because the Republic High Command has already cooked up tactics against it?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll know once the ID ispleted, sir,¡± Stelle replied.


    <em>¡°Castigation, we have depleted our missile stores,¡± </em>TJ-912 reported, <em>¡°Confirm switch tongrage shot?¡±</em>


    ¡°By that,¡± I crossed my hands over my back, feeling that sense of detachment seep into my skin, ¡°We have them right where I want them. All ships, proceed forward at best speed.¡±


    ?


    Jedi Master Plo Koon stood on the bridge of Star Destroyer <em>Impavid, </em>totally absorbed in the Force. Expanding his consciousness throughout the bridge and even across the whole fleet, he foresaw the paths of the streaking missiles and guided the ships under hismand out of the way ordingly. Whether it be a grand Venator or an insignificant corvette, Plo Koon ensured their respective captains had all the information they needed to evade disaster withposure and promptitude in equal measure.


    Even as blinding white trails streaked overhead and as <em>Impavid </em>shivered with every near-impact that threatened to punch a hole through its deflectors, its crew worked in the datapits with quiet, Force-induced calmness.


    ¡°Tighten our formation and have <em>Impavid </em>take point,¡± Master Saesee Tiin ordered, ¡°Have we identified the enemy gship?¡±


    ¡°Yes, General,¡± Clone Commander Wolffe confirmed, ¡°It¡¯s that Providence right in the centre of their formation. The Seppiemander isn¡¯t even trying to hide the mess of tightbeams they¡¯re transmitting to the rest of his fleet-but I imagine that¡¯s what it takes to orchestrate a battlettice as orderly as that.¡±


    ¡°Do we have a designation?¡±


    Wolffe leaned over the datapit to check, ¡°<em>Castigation, </em>sir. No battle data yet; looks like a shiny.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Plo Koon rubbed his respirator-covered chin, ¡°Their new missileunch system is notably less urate than that used by the <em>Ascendant.</em> I believe they haven¡¯t properly installed or calibrated their new weapon.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Master Tinn crossed his arms gruffly, ¡°From Christophsis¡¯ battle report, this weapon¡¯s potential is quite concerning. What worries me is that this could be an indication that every new Separatist ship may be equipped with it.¡±


    Concerning was an understatement, Master Plo Koon had to admit. He had beenside with the rest of the Wolfpack when his gship <em>Triumphant </em>was first struck. Admiral Yren had immediately ordered his retreat afterward, but truthfully Plo Koon didn¡¯t need the warning. By then, he could already see <em>Triumphant </em>crashing through the atmosphere in a great inferno held aloft.


    It was only while transferring his g to <em>Pioneer </em>did he first understand the true scale of destruction the weapon was capable of. Seeing the pride of the Iron Lance gged without even being able to fire a single shot¡­ what was to be done but to retreat? And now, Admiral Wurtz was missing, and the rest of the Iron Lance Fleet with him.


    ¡°Generals,¡± a sensor officer hastily climbed out of the datapit, ¡°Our scanners are picking up five Pathfinder-ss pickets skirting our firing arcs. Looks like the Separatists are trying to identify our make.¡±


    ¡°Prep our flight wings to sortie,¡± Master Tiin turned around, ¡°I will leave the <em>Impavid </em>in your care, Master Plo.¡±


    Both Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin were some of the finest flying aces of the Republic. These days, they might have been reced with rising stars like Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but many still remembered when their names were hailed as heroes of the Republic for their efforts during the Stark Hyperspace War. It has been a long time since then, but their skills have never dulled.


    ¡°Good hunting, Master Tinn,¡± Plo Koon said, before turning the <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>captain, ¡°Arrow formation. We will target the <em>Castigation </em>directly.¡±


    ¡°We are facing down a Separatist battlettice, General,¡± the captain shot a pleading look at Commander Wolffe, ¡°Charging directly at them is what they want us to do.¡±


    ¡°And the one weakness of a battlettice is themand ship,¡± Plo Koon returned with smooth confidence, ¡°As Commander Wolffe had said, attice of this precision requires all ships to be connected to a centralwork. Not too dissimr to a ve circuit. If we capture the <em>Castigation, </em>that entire force will be in our hands.¡±


    The captain stiffened up to protest, before deciding better of it and releasing the tension in an explosive sigh. With a brisk tug, he straightened out his grey uniform before snapping into a sharp salute and marching off.


    ¡°His advice is well-meaning, sir,¡± Commander Wolffemented, ¡°Not many are familiar with fighting with Jedi.¡±


    Plo Koon knew that very well. His battle meditation saw a small part of his mind aware of every being on the bridge, every conversation, every half-formed thought, every bead of sweat trickling down spines and sticking hair to foreheads. This was a fine crew-one of the Republic¡¯s best-but they were organic, not programmed droids. Beneath their disciplined veneers they were afraid.


    As they should. Even as the barrage of missiles petered out, the sight of hundreds of Separatist warships racing forward in heartless synchronicity was ever a heart-stopping sight. And yet, despite their fear, these brave men and women would keep fighting for the Republic. None braver than the clone pilots spearing through the void beyond the viewports, each so stubbornly individual behind their identical helmets.


    <em>None braver, </em>he thought silently. Plo Koon reached out through the Force, letting his gaze touch each unique,mitted pilot. He locked their faces in his memory, in case this was thest time. Saesee Tiin noticed his presence, and responded with an assured mental handshake.


    Both sides continued to rush towards each other at maximum eleration. Jedi Master Plo Koon was long familiar with this distasteful prelude to ughter.


    ?


    ¡°Jedi General Plo Koon,¡± I quoted the readout, ¡°Registry ess granted; a proclivity for effective, if simple, tactics. Always leads from the front, and prefers close-quarterbat. But that cruiser¡­ <em>Impavid, </em>gship of Jedi General Saesee Tiin. A flying ace and legendary groundbatant. Both fought in the Stark Hyperspace War.¡±


    I had to restrain myself from asking Tuff to run the numbers out of habit. Another trustedmander in the field widened my strategic possibilities, but that didn¡¯t mean I didn¡¯t miss his reliable presence on the bridge. Instead, I quietly scanned through what our registries had on the two Jedi Masters. I did recognise both of them, though, from Episode III. Weren¡¯t they both on the Council?


    Looks like I have my work cut out for me. These two have ster battlefield des. And also rather predictable.


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve lost contact with Pathfinder-One and Pathfinder-Three,¡± Stelle said, ¡°The carriers areunching their fighter wings.¡±


    I checked the range again, then the velocities of each division. Our eleration, while rtively slow, was respectable enough that shifting vectors will take time. With both fleets hurtling towards each other at a good 200 KPS, the battle lines were going to collide in some ten minutes. Question was; <em>how close do I want to cut it?</em>


    ¡°Have the Pathfinders drive into the enemy formation and create some chaos,¡± I ordered, ¡°All units, modified Battle Order Five. <em>Castigation </em>will exercisemand over Base Division One; <em>Queen of Beauty </em>over Head Division Two; <em>Battlecruiser </em>over Head Division Three; and <em>Renown </em>over Head Division Four.¡±


    The battlettice immediately tore itself into four sections, as if an interster hand had taken to shredding a sheet of paper. Thergest section-Base Division One-was smack dab in the centre, corners rounding out into ttened oval. Head Divisions Two and Threeunched themselves up and back of Division One, solidifying into two elliptical formations on a perpendicr transverse axis to <em>Castigation</em>. Head Division Four, led by the trusty Zenith II, went below and back in a reverse wedge.


    If an ancient Onderonian was standing on Metalorn and looking out to the stars right now, they¡¯d see a new constetion in the night sky; the three heads of a hragscythe rearing back to bait a drexl into charging straight towards its vulnerable body.


    A smile tugged at my lips as I confirmed all four pieces of the White Hand operating at peak efficiency and proceeding at the deliberate course and pace set by <em>Castigation </em>at the point.


    ¡°We are to hold our course until contact,¡± I reiterate for my bridge crew, ¡°Launch all of our starfighters and have them orbit Base Division One.¡±


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any urrences.


    <em>I see you, Jedi. I know you can¡¯t resist. </em>


    ?


    Laserfire shed around <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>bridge as Master Tiin hunted down the rogue scoutships the Separatistmander had sent forward to harass them. So callously tossing aside subordinates once their value had run dry, it was simply to be expected from a Sith-backed state like the Separatists. Plo Koon supposed the fact that those ships were crewed by droids made the decision all the simpler.


    ¡°They¡¯re breaking their formation,¡± Wolffe observed warily.


    ¡°Not breaking,¡± the Jedi Master corrected, ¡°Developing at thest second. We¡¯ve seen these tactics before, haven¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°You think this is Rain Bonteri, General?¡± the Clone Commander turned his head in mild surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t he supposed to be in the Southern Theatre?¡±


    Plo Koon didn¡¯t answer. Dividing his fleet like that was a riskden manoeuvre on Bonteri¡¯s part, as it expanded his line of battle too greatly for the opposite formations to support each other. Master Saesee Tiin could take his fighter wings and strike each piece individually with local superiority, before pivoting to assault the next one, effectively defeating the enemy in detail.


    But Rain Bonteri would know that. From what the Jedi Master read on him, the Onderonian was infamous for dividing his formations precisely to lure out that line of action from his opponents. Dividing also expanded his tactical flexibility, after all, and with the main body of his fleet in the centre, it and its orbiting formations could support each other both ways. The main mass of battleships in the centre was thus the linchpin of the entire force. Once they were dealt with, the three secondary formations were too far apart to support each other.


    ¡°General Tiin reports all scoutships have been destroyed,¡± ams officer said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Master Plo Koon drummed his fingers on his arm, ¡°Inform him we will begin our main assault.¡±


    ¡°Understood sir.¡±


    ¡°Captain,¡± he addressed the patiently waiting-if visibly uneasy-man, ¡°Bring the fleet into the arranged formation. Fix forward batteries on <em>Castigation¡¯s </em>approach vector and standby to correct our intercept at the right points.¡±


    The taskforce condensed into a jagged cone, effectively concealing the fleet¡¯s true profile from the front. Resembling a barbed arrowhead, the point of naval bombers would concentrate all their attacking force against a limited but critical area-<em>Castigation </em>and its escorts-and clearing the way for the sessive waves of warships to sweep through the centre of the defenders and tear them apart from the inside without giving them a chance to recover.


    Once the arrowhead had pierced the defending formation, it could simply turn around and hammer the survivors against themselves.


    ¡°Those frigates beneath the Seps¡¯ main mass are going to try to Hydra us,¡± Wolffe predicted, pointing to the division of Munificents and Recusants gliding beneath <em>Castigation</em>.


    ¡°Ventral gunners standby to fire on my order,¡± Plo Koonmanded calmly, mentally counting down the seconds until the enemy ships entered the engagement envelope.


    Then, a hundred energy readings spiked on the readouts as the Separatist main body fired all retrothrusters-their formation glowing like a newborn star on the disy.


    ?


    <em>Do you see what I¡¯m doing, Jedi? Do you understand?</em>


    Unlike the orbiting squadrons, Division One was primarilyposed of a grim, solid mass of battleships and heavy cruisers. I felt weightless even as <em>Castigation </em>groaned in exertion, the mighty warship quivering as she strained her retrothrusters against her momentum. Some of the heavier ships were forced to swing around 180 degrees to reverse burn, each with varying degrees of power to keep the entire formation¡¯s velocity synchronised.


    ¡°They¡¯re catching us, sir!¡± the gunnery droid eximed, ¡°Do we open fire!?¡±


    I focused back on the tactical holo, realising the enemy LACs were concentrating in a spiralling point at the forefront of their formation. <em>So that¡¯s what your n is.</em>


    ¡°Deploy all of our Vultures forward,¡± I hastily ordered, ¡°Break up those flight wings.¡±


    ¡°Roger roger!¡±


    I wasn¡¯t a LACmander. Onderon didn¡¯t use starfighters, mostly orbital monitors and light cruisers that could roughly trante to capital ship warfare. I only knew the most elementary of starfighter basics. And since Vultures were droids, I couldn¡¯t rely on individual wingmanders to give orders out in the field. Considering that, I fell back on basic swarm tactics, which was about standard Vulture operating procedure anyway.


    As long as the Republic LACs couldn¡¯t get a clean strike on my battleships, it was mission aplished.


    My LACs immediately broke their defensive positions and surged forwards so viciously I could almost physically feel the phantom hurricane pummeling my skin. In response, the Republic escort LACs leaped into action to intercept them. Within moments, the once-empty abyss between the two parties was consumed by a thick fog of screaming fighters punctuated by a storm ofsers.


    With Base Division One effectively stopped on its course, the Head Divisions were now extended forward of the main body. And with every second the Republic ships elerated to catch the reversing Base Division, the further they were led into the gauntlet.


    I suppressed a triumphant grin, ¡°Base Division One, return to our set course. We will meet them here. Head Divisions,mence your attacks.¡±


    ?


    ¡°They¡¯reing down on us!¡± <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>captain shouted, ¡°Your orders, General!?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Plo Koon grunted.


    Frantic agitation was bubbling on the bridge at their apparent inactivity. He did not me them-the Battle Hydra had risen to a level of infamy after both Knight Skywalker and Master Kenobi¡¯s defeats against it. The Kel Dor Jedi Master Force-fully induced another period of serenity again.


    The Separatist secondary formations had pivoted on their central axes and were now hurtling straight towards their fleet from three directions. Space was suddenly popted with bursts of light as the enemy warships unleashed their first missile volleys, followed by a glittering torrent from their forward batteries.


    Jedi Master Plo Koon rxed, ¡°Fight with me, everybody.¡±


    He fell into his own mind, letting his consciousness envelope <em>Impavid, </em>and the entire fleet, entwining every mind and soul into his own. Momentster, the enemy missiles ran into a wall of point defence, littering space with harmless res of gold. Those that slipped through along with the turbsers bolts collided with Republic deflectors and disappeared in a boil of gas.


    Their formation consisted of a steady shell of heavy cruisers and battleships filled with lighter destroyers and corvettes-aplete apostasy from usual fleet doctrine-with a simple purpose. The heavy capital ships will be able to focus their ovepping shields on only one or two surfaces, using their great mass to break through the enemy line before opening up the phnge and disgorging the lighter warships to flood through the breach and sow chaos.


    Not too dissimr to how a Separatist Trident-ss assault ship operates, the ageing Master mused.


    In this context, no matter how the enemy tries to nk them, no friendly warship will be any more vulnerable than the one next to it.


    Commander Wolffe returned from the Battle Operations Room, ¡°General-¡±


    The Jedi Master knew the words before the man himself did, ¡°Open fire.¡±


    A <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>modified SPHA-Ts concealed within its ventral hangar tore through the darkness-a glittering bolt of lightning that tore into the first warship in its way and bisected it port to starboard. Two dozen more crackling beams shot out,ying destruction into the unsuspecting enemy, so much so it was as if someone had painted a sweep of ck with Zei flowers blooming from cracks in the wall.


    ¡°Match eleration and cut primary thrusters,¡± Plo Koon kept his expression dispassionate, ¡°We will ride our momentum into the enemy battle line. Divert power to tertiary drives.¡±


    ¡°Sir?¡±


    The Jedi Master held back, his goggled gaze intently inspecting the fleet¡¯s shield status. With the Separatist nks focusing to burn their way through at three points, Plo Koon waited until the shields reached critical saturation to issue his nextmand-


    ¡°Formation; oh-thirty-three degree portside rotation on our longitudinal axis, centred on <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>mark,¡± he ordered, ¡°Repeat this action when our deflectors are red again. Divert excess power to our forward batteries.¡±


    The arrowhead formation spun like the revolving cylinder of a rotary cannon, with each ship taking their new stations two vessels down the portside, breaking the targeting locks of the Separatist attackers in the process. Unable to hammer the same points over and over, the Republic¡¯sboured shield generators were able to recharge while fresh deflectors took their ce, sessfully retaining the formation¡¯s integrity.


    ¡°Understood, General!¡± <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>captain snapped to attention, rightfully more eager now that the Jedi Master¡¯s tactics have been proven.


    Plo Koon allowed a brisk nod. Soon, <em>Impavid </em>was surging into the tempest of intersecting ion trails and erratic spirals of dogfighting snubfighters. Soon, the cruiser¡¯s shields were registering not turbser bolts but shattered pieces of fighters and even some straight collisions from malfunctioning droids. The viewports were consumed by an epileptic mess of lights as <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>bow forged through the storm with all the sleekness of a Pamarthen liner cutting through waves and rain.


    And then, they were face-to-face with <em>Castigation¡¯s </em>malevolent stare.


    ¡°Captain, you have the bridge,¡± Plo Koon swung around, ¡°Commander Wolffe, prepare a boarding party. Inform Master Tiin we will be assaulting the Separatist gship directly.¡±


    Time to end this.


    ?


    I no longer had to suppress a smile. In fact, I was no longer in the mood for one.


    Sweat ran down my cheeks as I tried toprehend the enemy fleet¡¯s near-perfect joint manoeuvres. Tiny sparks on the tactical holo did not do the Venators¡¯ new ventral cannons justice as the blinding beams swept across Division Four red two frigates into vapour and scrap. They did not do the Republic¡¯s point defence justice as they tore down every missile and torpedo in the ck with almost insulting ease.


    I couldn¡¯t understand, even as I watched with my own two eyes, as the entire Republic formation <em>rotated on its axis </em>to disperse the Head Divisions¡¯ attack vectors over a greater area of shields. If each <em>individual </em>vessel was rotating, I¡¯d understand, but it was the <em>entire </em>formation in unison.


    What the fuck was the point of having droids if¡­ if <em>that </em>was possible without!?


    An unpleasant feeling rose up my throat as I checked my board¡¯s real-time status readout. Head Divisions Two and Three were drastically checking their eleration to avoid a physical collision; Division Three was all but crippled, with Zenith II rallying what remained for a orderly withdrawal; and Base Division One was about to get pummelled within every inch of their lives.


    All that¡­ and facing a Republic fleet only a third the size of ours. Well, half the size, considering a not insignificant amount of our vessels were fodder.


    Reluctantly, I forced myself to face the truth. ARENA boasted a pretty sizable catalogue of battles to review, and superimposing the current situation over the Republic¡¯s previous performances¡­ By every metric-coordination, uracy, efficiency-this battle was a statistical anomaly. A statistical <em>impossibility, </em>I daresay.


    An icy shiver ran down my spine. I could only think of one exnation.


    <em>This was the true power of a Jedi Master. Two Jedi Masters.</em>


    And not only Jedi Masters, but veteran leaders from a war two decades past. Who fought and won so decisively their names were engraved into the Republic¡¯s living memory. Whatever sorcerous Force power this was, it terrified me leagues more than hand-waving and neck-pinching.


    Shaking away my musings, I nced across the holo again. It didn¡¯t change the fact that I still outgunned the Republic taskforce, especially since I could bring all my guns to bear while they can¡¯t. Rotating or not, it was only a matter of time until their shields caved in.


    <em>Except time isn¡¯t on my side.</em>


    Impavid had smashed straight through the fighter screens, unleashing a wave of electronic jamming that sent the Vultures corkscrewing into suicide dives or outright detonating-as was coded to ur when they were no longer connected to their mothership. The Republic¡¯s unified particle shields shimmered as Vulture after Vulture rammed themselves like birds into a window pane.


    Then, the two fleets collided. The Republic formation¡¯s tapered front ttened into a hammerhead as they pounded Base Division¡¯sttice with wave after wave of torpedoes and turbser charges. I gave the order to return fire, but nothing was stopping the Republic¡¯s momentum.


    Their formation tore straight into Base Division, physically smashing my battleships out of the way while the smaller warships disintegrated under a typhoon of interlocking fields of fire. <em>Impavid </em>and her satellite cruisers retarded to stand off against <em>Castigation </em>while the rest of their fleet bulled their way through<em>-</em>and that¡¯s when I realised the extent of their n.


    ¡°He¡¯s nning to pierce straight through us, about-face and use <em>Impavid </em>as an anvil for their hammer,¡± I said out loud, ¡°Is their ECM inhibiting ourmand matrix?¡±


    ¡°No sir,¡± Stelle answered, ¡°Only our Vultures are being affected. But I¡¯ve already authorised <em>Queen </em>and <em>Battlecruiser </em>to exercise independent action over their Head Divisions in the case of a decapitation.¡±


    ¡°Gunship drive trails spotted!¡± the sensor droid rmed, ¡°It''s a boarding party!¡±


    I swung around, scampering to the viewport and straining my eyes to pick out the LAATs carving their way through the battle. A wing of Republic LACs headed by an Aethersprite emerged from virtually nowhere to deal with what remaining Vulturebat patrols attempting to intercept them.


    ¡°Close the hangar st doors,¡± I panicked, <em>¡°Now!¡±</em>


    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Stelle said bluntly, ¡°They aren¡¯t responding.¡±


    I rubbed my face, ¡°And we don¡¯t have a securityplement either.¡±


    ¡°Correct, sir.¡±


    <em>Castigation </em>thumped as the gunships swept into her hangars, vomiting out the clone soldiers who sought to capture her. It won¡¯t be long before the boarding party realised what was amiss. Because while the Providence lookedplete from the outside, within its hull was apletely different tale. Right now, the warship was a hollow shell, devoid of everything but the most criticalponents and skeletal of crews.


    She had been ripped from her graving docks before her time, and never will achieve her full potential as thetest gship of the Confederate Navy. Instead, she will die here, surrounded with the rest of her half-born brethren, fighting a hopeless defence of her home. <em>Impavid </em>slid beneath <em>Castigation, </em>granting the Star Destroyer¡¯s dorsal batteries wider firing envelopes to tear into the Providence¡¯s ventral hull.


    ¡°Hah¡­¡± I sighed, straightening out my uniform, ¡°I should at least be presentable for our guests, right? Off you go.¡±


    I waved my hand, and Stelle and the rest of my droid crew faded like a dream, leaving me alone in <em>Castigation¡¯s </em>pilothouse. The lights weren¡¯t working, and empty chairsid dormant before cked console disys that would never be turned on. Smoke and dust kicked through my body as <em>Castigation </em>shuddered at every breaching round she took. The world was gone, reced with confusion and panic as every ship of the White Hand fought their own desperate wars against the Republic onught. A numb coldness settled in my chest.


    <em>If every Jedi General can replicate something like this¡­ what chance do we have? </em>It was difficult not to stumble and lose myself in the frighteningly deep rabbit hole of implications.


    As I waited for them to reach the bridge, I took the opportunity to check the ammunition stores of my ships. After confirming there was still a sizable amount-plundered from Metalorn¡¯s ordnance nts, mostly-I heard echoing footsteps thundering down the deathly silent hallways.


    ¡°You are¡­ Rain Bonteri,¡± a gruff voice stated.


    I turned around in mild surprise,ing face to face with a <em>very </em>strange alien. A grotesque mask covered a leathery yet somehow insectoid face, deep blue lightsaber gripped tightly in a four-wed hand with thick, sausage-like fingers. Clone troopers with blood red wolf motifs painted on their helmets fanned out through the pilothouse, expediently searching every nook and cranny for things that weren¡¯t there.


    With a hiss, the Jedi Master¡¯s de retracted.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I shrugged, ¡°But your princess is in another castle. I¡¯d still enjoy a conversation, however.¡±


    Plo Koon slowly crept forward, circling around me with an inscrutable expression, ¡°Why do you fight Dooku¡¯s war? Because your does?¡±


    ¡°I can ask you the same¡­¡± I stood still, ¡°But to answer your question; it is because Dooku is the lesser evil.¡±


    ¡°General,¡± the Clone Commander stepped out, ¡°We¡¯ve secured the ship. But, there¡¯s nothing here. This isn¡¯t the control ship.¡±


    ¡°Care to exin your views?¡± the Jedi Master asked politely.


    ¡°I thought General Kenobi told you? That the Republic is under the control of the Sith Lord,¡± I shared.


    ¡°A wild and baseless im,¡± the alien chided, ¡°Dooku is the Sith Lord.¡±


    I stroked the captain¡¯s chair forlornly, feeling the phantom surface graze my fingertips, ¡°I assure you, Master Jedi, that I watched the <em>Attack of the Clones</em>. I know there are always two Sith Lords; care to guess which one is the lesser evil I speak of?¡±


    Plo Koon stilled his wolfish stalking, inspecting my face carefully as if to check if I was lying. I didn¡¯t react.


    ¡°You are not my enemy, Master Jedi,¡± I swept my gaze around the bridge, towards the troopers, ¡°But right now, I am yours. May I pose you the same question you asked me? Does your Jedi Order fight the Republic¡¯s war to rid Dooku, or is it because you are servants of the Gctic Senate?¡±


    ¡°We serve the people of the Republic,¡± he corrected.


    ¡°And I serve the people of the Confederacy, not Dooku,¡± I offered my proverbial peace treaty, ¡°Dooku¡¯s grip over the independent systems are slipping by the day, and the time <em>will </eme when the Separatist peoples no longer believe his lies. And when that timees, we will no longer want to fight you. When that timees, will <em>you </em>still want to fight us?¡±


    ¡°How are you so sure?¡± the Clone Commander marched towards me, ¡°Why should we believe you?¡±


    ¡°At ease, Commander Wolffe,¡± Plo Koon raised a hand, ¡°He is correct; innocent citizens should not be subject to the horrors of this war.¡±


    I brought up my tablet and keyed in amand, ¡°Good to hear, Master Jedi. Now get off my ship.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± the Clone Commander snapped, probably resisting the urge to sock me in the face. Not that he could, and he knew it.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I said again, ¡°Regretfully, we are still enemies right now. But when the timees that we need not be any longer, it is up to the Jedi Council to decide whether to continue sanctioning the Senate¡¯s war.¡±


    The clones stumbled violently as <em>Castigation¡¯s </em>sublight drives roared to life once more, straining the ship¡¯s internal bracing to its limit as several billion newtons of warship threw herself forwards without warning. With her beaked prow suddenly a battering ram, the t dorsal surface of <em>Impavid </em>looked suspiciously like a red-painted bullseye. Undoubtedly catching my intentions, the Jedi Master hastily rallied his men and raced back towards the hangar bay.


    The star destroyer lurched downwards, tearing her half-built construction apart as she bellowed her final battlecry in screams of rage and tortured steel. I waited until I confirmed the Republic gunships had left my ship,menting how great of a gship <em>Castigation </em>had been, even if only for the very temporary period.


    ¡°Stelle, do me a favour and detonate the ammo stores.¡±


    The connection snapped, and I blinked to find myself back in <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>lively bridge-the holoprojection of <em>Castigation¡¯s </em>bridge having whimpered out. With the viewport st shields having retracted and the HUD with it, I could once more stare out the transparisteel barrier at the once all-consuming battle, now little more than a small buzz of insects in the distance.


    I received a pair of macrobinocrs from Hare; and with them watched <em>Castigation </em>mming through <em>Impavid¡¯s </em>hangar doors, interlocking the two ships in the savage tango of destruction as one warship attempted to extract while the other drove deeper and deeper.


    Then, a blinding white explosion. <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>automatic sunscreens immediately darkened the viewports before I could blind myself, but with <em>Castigation </em>and <em>Impavid </em>directly in the centre of the battle, the scale of destruction was a foregone conclusion. I had packed that ship full of vtile, untested war materiel.


    Forcing myself to ignore the human cost of what I had designed, I swung around and sat back on the captain¡¯s chair.


    ¡°All avable vessels are to retreat to Wobani,¡± I instructed, ¡°Send a message to Ground Command; the rest are yours. Good luck and godspeed.¡±

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    <em>Quell, Quell System</em>


    <em>Nuiri Sector</em>


    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 tform aboard the freighter-cum-mobile shipyard <em>Rimma Express, </em>Barriss could just see themunications 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 whatary interference there was in an attempt to evade long-range system scanners.


    But also being interster merchantmen at their core, they weren¡¯t capable of atmospheric flight-they would copse under their own weight-and so had to <em>literally</em> skirt the fine line that still allowed them to utilise their bewilderingly powerful repulsors to stay afloat. And whatrge repulsors they were-great jets of cold blue that extended from their ventrals like celestial pirs holding up floating inds.


    ¡°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 <em>definitely </em>not these half-flying Atrakenite junkers!¡±


    Lieutenant Rame Cartroll winced inaudibly at the outburst. Barriss couldn¡¯t help but sympathise-they <em>had </em>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 upation. 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 <em>unique, </em>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 <em>any </em>of them were space-worthy.


    But they were, if not yet exactly<em> battle</em>-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 ur 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.


    <em>Those are all Horgo Shive¡¯s ships, </em>she thought, remembering the Muun, <em>they¡¯re being rotated from the front to keep up to snuff. </em>Unicorn Squadron must be an unwee 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.


    <em>¡°Your location has beenpromised,¡± </em>the Muun Commander exposed bluntly, <em>¡°And we¡¯ve interceptedmunications suggesting a Republic taskforce is enroute to Quell as we speak.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 outboundmunications from the Quell System since we arrived!¡±


    <em>¡°A spy has prated deeper into our ranks than we have realised,¡± </em>Commander Shive grimaced, <em>¡°Either Bonteri employs a far looser hand than he should, or someone with top level ess to the tracking of our military elements has fallen in bed with the Loyalists.¡±</em>


    ¡°You mean- from the general staff?¡± Jorm started pacing the deck, chewing nervously, ¡°This is outrageously-!¡±


    <em>¡°Neither of us are in any position to fret over a spy, Jorm,¡± </em>Shive said, <em>¡°You just have to get out of Quell as soon as possible. Anakin Skywalker wasst spotted moving Rimward on the Salin, and I will meet him at Vjun. We all y our parts.¡±</em>


    ¡°You said the enemy is enroute as we speak,¡± the auxiliary captain used, ¡°Did you trace themunications? Was it from within the region?¡±


    <em>¡°Fifteen-hundred parsec radius,¡± </em>he confirmed, <em>¡°You only have a day- or less. Look, Jorm, we can¡¯t afford to lose the Aurora Auxiliary Division. Yourmand is a mobile Ringo Vinda. Sacrifice my Havoc Squadron frigates to make your escape if you must. Nothing is more important than your survival.¡±</em>


    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, ¡°By 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 areing 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, ¡°<em>Caraya¡¯s soul</em>. Shive, you useless ster-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 <em>after </em>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 <em>behind </em>Separatist lines, and could strike from any direction.


    Extracting too early ran the risk of exposing themselves on the wrong side of the-or worse, running straight into the people they were trying to escape.


    ¡°Yellow Alert,¡± Tuff dipped his chin, ¡°I will take overallmand 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 n?¡± Jorm demanded.


    ¡°Sacrifice one or two auxiliaries,¡± Tuff replied curtly, ¡°And run in the opposite direction.¡±


    Cartroll made a silent<em> ¡®ah¡¯ </em>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 on his tablet, with twelve shing dots ced evenly on its circumference, ¡°-It also means that if the enemyes from any one spot, like here¡­¡±


    He tapped the screen, and a new shing dot appeared on the outskirts of the render. Two dotted lines spanned outwards, running tangentially from the node to the¡¯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; <em>which?</em>¡± 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.


    ¡°<em>Polyphemus </em>reports sensor contact sir,¡± Taylor said, ¡°Should we begin tracing aft of their inbound trajectory to plot an origin arc?¡±


    <em>Polyphemus. </em>A Corporate Alliance bulk carrier converted into a mobile manufacturing nt to quickly produce recement parts from raw materials procured by fleet tenders. Six corvettes orbited the giant starship, serviced by <em>Polyphemus¡¯ </em>autonomous limbs and a legion of crab-like repair droids.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Do so-¡± <em>Unicorn </em>jolted as she dislodged from <em>Rimma Express¡¯ </em>cranes, freefalling several metres before her repulsors kicked in, ¡°-And identify who we are facing. Have Lieutenant Cartroll¡¯s light warships move to <em>Polyphemus¡¯ </em>nks oh-four-five radial degrees from Quell¡¯s core. Begin evacuation procedures.¡±


    <em>Unicorn </em>and <em>Centaur </em>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 <em>Polyphemus¡¯ </em>position?¡± Tuff demanded.


    ¡°Havoc Squadron¡¯s <em>Sanction, Durandal, </em>and <em>Ulu</em>,¡± Barriss checked.


    ¡°Can they make the intercept in time?¡±


    She fumbled with the calctions 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,pared to a straight-shot discement figure.


    <em>¡°We¡¯ve identified the cruisers as you¡¯ve ordered,¡± </em>Rame Cartoll¡¯s voice was sharp, <em>¡°There are three Venators; Liberty, Defiance, and Independence. Only Defiance is in carrier outfit, from what our sensors can make.¡±</em>


    ¡°<em>Liberty </em>is General Aa Secura¡¯s gship,¡± Tuff stated, probably pulling the information from his databanks, ¡°And the trace?¡±


    <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    Tuff twitched unnaturally at the mentioned systems, as if his behavioural programming was glitching.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ the opposite direction of where they should being from,¡± Barriss stated, ¡°Has the Perlemian Front already copsed?¡±


    <em>¡°Eucer definitely has- no way else for them to get behind us,¡± </em>Cartroll stated grimly, <em>¡°We were supposed to rendezvous with reinforcements at Ord Tiddell right? I have a feeling we won¡¯t find them there.¡±</em>


    ¡°I must follow myst received orders, Lieutenant,¡± Tuff said, ¡°<em>Unicorn Squadron </em>will make for Ord Tiddell. Whether you decide to follow us is irrelevant.¡±


    <em>¡°That¡¯s not your strategic analysis software talking, droid,¡± </em>Cartroll chastised, <em>¡°That¡¯s your loyalty protocols overwriting your logic matrix. Who programmed you?¡±</em>


    If Tuff could blink, Barriss imagined he would have.


    ¡°<em>Aurora</em>,¡± the droid toggled thems, ¡°Have all your ships except <em>Polyphemus </em>retreat to the gctic bearing oh-three-eight and jump to Kodai.¡±


    <em>¡°And Polyphemus?¡±</em>


    ¡°Transfer its control codes to me.¡±


    <em>¡°¡­ I hope you know what you are doing, droid.¡±</em>


    ¡°My programming dictates that I always do,¡± Tuff replied stoically.


    The nearest auxiliary-<em>Winds of Trade</em>-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 <em>just kept going</em>-all ten kilometres of it.


    ¡°We have a visual,¡± Taylor reported, ¡°The enemy taskforce is entering the atmosphere.¡±


    ¡°Deploy all avable Vulture wings to lure away theirbat patrols,¡± Tuff ordered, ¡°Order <em>Polyphemus </em>to wait until they¡¯re on the edge of their firing envelopes before gradually descending to an altitude of twenty klicks.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯ll¡­ <em>Polyphemus </em>will implode,¡± Taylor refused ardently, ¡°And there are still hundreds of droids onboard!¡±


    TF-1726¡¯s white eyes were bright and merciless, <em>¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±</em>


    ¡®They are not <em>our </em>droids¡¯ went unsaid.


    OOM-2200¡¯s pitch ck 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-<em>or unable</em>-to disobey, <em>¡°Roger.¡±</em>


    Polyphemus dropped like a puppet with its strings cut,yer uponyer 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 trapid out for them.


    <em>How do you not see it, Master Secura? </em>Barriss wondered. It was so¡­ <em>obvious. </em>Was it arrogance to presume that Barriss herself would never fall for a trick like this?


    ¡°<em>Habatok</em>,¡± Tuff called, ¡°Are your corvettes armed with torpedoes?¡±


    There was a buzz of static- <em>¡°They are.¡±</em>


    ¡°When I give the order, attack the cruisers from dead astern, forty-five degrees upwards on their vertical axis.¡±


    <em>¡°Understood. The Atrakenites are eager to prove their worth,¡± </em>


    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 <em>Polyphemus¡¯ </em>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, <em>Defiance </em>deployed a counter-torrent of starfighters.


    ¡°Commence your attack run, Lieutenant,¡± Tuffmanded.


    Master Secura¡¯s taskforce must have realised something was amiss by then, as <em>Polyphemus </em>continued its uncontroble descent into the stratosphere. But it was already toote; the Atrakenite corvettes had burst forward in shimmering clouds of res 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 <em>extremely </em>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, <em>Defiance </em>heaved its bow upwards in majestic fashion, barely managing to angle its rearmost dorsal turbsers to bear and thunder off four well-ced 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, <em>Polyphemus </em>imploded in a way not unlike a ss 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 ofnd 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, ¡°<em>Habatok</em>, retreat in their blindspot. All frigates, climb one klick and lock targets on their dorsal barbettes. We will pound them into the itself.¡±


    <em>Unicorn </em>surged forwards, its superheavy forward batteries sting out a roaring barrage of bleeding fire that ripped out a chunk of <em>Independence¡¯s </em>gundeck and thoroughly mutted 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 <em>elementary </em>in her mind. <em>Liberty </em>and its satellite cruisers couldn¡¯t even dy their destruction, with how their shields were preupied fending off the onught of physics.


    ¡°Outbound hyperwave transmission detected,¡± Taylor reported, ¡°Looks like they are calling for reinforcements.¡±


    ¡°Trace its destination and determine which force ising,¡± 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 <em>Sanction </em>and <em>Ulu </em>finally cracked open <em>Defiance¡¯s </em>already weakened hull at the beam, snapping off the Star Destroyer¡¯s forward half and sending both pieces careening in the clouds below.


    <em>Thousands of lives written off just like that. </em>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 atary bearing two-two-seven,¡± Taylor calibrated the sensors, ¡°It¡¯s the <em>Harbinger¡­ </em>and two more ships; <em>Redeemer </em>and <em>Defender.</em>¡±


    Tuff shed down with a stiff arm, ¡°Unicorn Squadron, withdraw! Captain Jorm, what is your progress?¡±


    <em>¡°Four ships are still in-system,¡± </em>Captain Jorm replied, <em>¡°Winds of Trade isgging hard. We need more time.¡±</em>


    The droid paused as he silentlyputed their next course of action. Suddenly, he turned to stare at her, as if she had be a new factor in his equation. Barriss stumbled as <em>Unicorn </em>swerved away, firing its thrusters to escape the¡¯s grasp-and the pressure continued to build in her mind.


    ¡°<em>Habatok</em>, have your corvettes escort the remaining auxiliaries to Kodai,¡± TF-1726 decided, ¡°Am I correct to presume you will not be following us?¡±


    <em>¡°Sorry,¡± </em>he sounded truly apologetic, and Barriss wondered just who he was saying it to, <em>¡°But I can¡¯t lead my men into what is almost certainly enemy-upied territory.¡±</em>


    ¡°Very well,¡± Tuff acknowledged curtly, ¡°Havoc Squadron will exercise independentmand 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 turbsers and ion drives faded like a distant dream as the vacuum of space swallowed them once more.


    ¡°<em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>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 <em>Unicorn </em>and <em>Centaur </em>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 presentside.¡±


    ¡°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 calcted the possibilities,¡± he said, ¡°Jedipassion makes them predictable. Anakin Skywalker would rather rescue Aa Secura than downing four auxiliaries.¡±


    Barriss frowned, thinking, ¡°But <em>Liberty </em>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 dered 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, Aa Secura is unlikely to survive. But Aa Secura <em>will </em>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 theirrades, simply because a rescue has a much greater probability of sess than it logically should.¡±


    <em>Jedi will always prefer to surrender a strategic objective if the price is the rescue of one of theirrades. </em>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?


    <em>That Master Luminara was wrong on Teth all those months ago?</em>


    The mere thought was sphemous. 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.


    <em>Would I have done the same thing were I in your shoes then, Master? </em>Barriss did not know which answer was worse.


    <em>Is it your fault I am now trapped and fighting for the enemy? </em>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 <em>had been </em>her contribution.


    <em>Were you wrong, Master? Was I wrong?</em>


    An ugly sensation of jealousy bubbled in her stomach. <em>Why couldn¡¯t I have been saved too?</em>


    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 hisrade, not the destruction of the Auxiliary Division. As our means and goals are parallel, we have no cause for conflict. Your proactive mindset isudable, but unnecessary in this situation.¡±


    <em>I wish I never had one, </em>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.


    <em>Would she?</em>

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    <em>Orbit of Metalorn, Metalorn System</em>


    <em>Talcene Sector</em>


    ¡°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¡¯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 droidmand 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 gxy. Each and every trench and derelictpound would be trapped to Mchor 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 might take as long as the Clone Wars would rage, if it wasn¡¯tpletely impossible outright.


    ¡°What do you rmend, 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 g the¡¯s upper crust, and let the magma seep into the undergroundplexes, 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,unching every single one of their warships into orbit in ast-ditch attempt to destroy Master Plo¡¯s taskforce. Not that it seeded, but it proved their resolve and desperation.


    ¡°It might take months for us to crack theirary 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, General,¡± Admiral Block replied professionally, ¡°In my opinion, I see no other recourse. After the destruction of Metalorn¡¯s standing fleet, wemandplete and total orbital supremacy. We can station a handful of Acmator-Twos in orbit and free the rest of our fleet. There is simply no reason, moral or rational, to <em>not </em>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 epted 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 gxy.


    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 reasonspared 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-ce on themand 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 Separatistmander was to detonate his own gship in a half-fireship, half-scuttling action.


    Unfortunately, everybody who knew what had happened on the <em>Impavid </em>was dead, more than likely without even knowing what had killed them, so the only answers he will find will be with the handful ofatose troopers who were lucky enough to escape the st. Master Plo Koon among them.


    He chanced upon Saesee Tiin as the Iktotchi Jedi Master wasing 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 particr 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 <em>Castigation, </em>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.


    <em>Vignce¡¯s </em>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 upied, it already seemed too high a number. Master Plo was already sitting up, thankfullypletely 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 emte, and maybe that was a good thing. For all of her zeal and crity, 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 seconding of Anakin in that regard, oddly enough¨Cor simply mere worry for her old friend, Obi-Wan was grateful for it nheless.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see that you are well, Master.¡±


    Plo Koon looked up at Saesee Tiin slowly, ¡°The loss of <em>Impavid¨C</em>¡±


    ¡°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 <em>Castigation </em>was his gship since it was themand nexus, but in hindsight it was an obvious trap. <em>Castigation </em>was the ry, not the source.¡±


    ¡°yed us for fools thrice now,¡± Master Tiinmented gruffly, ¡°Clone Intelligence made a file on him. Rtive 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 theirary 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 contemtion 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 while also serving as a political asylum, as the navy was based in orbit.¡±


    ¡°And when the Separatist Crisis escted towards war, Onderon was forced to contribute their share of naval officers,¡± Obi-Wan finished, ¡°It makes sense¡­ even if it doesn''t particrly 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 <em>Castigation</em>,¡± 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 st radius before the detonation urred. 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 im Dooku himself made. In fact, he <em>knew </em>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 wereced with scepticism, ¡°Do you suppose he is trying to y all sides?¡±


    ¡°And you, Master?¡± Master Tiin asked severely, ¡°Do you believe what this man says? Is there <em>actually </em>an internal plot against Dooku¡¯s government?¡±


    ¡°I suspect he is using his anti-Separatist roots to leverage a bloc against Dooku¡¯s tform, 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 particrly 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 gxy 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 becking 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 coboration 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 Koonmented, ¡°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 forting in the first ce,¡± 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.¡±


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    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 promation. 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, <em>¡°I do.¡±</em>


    ??


    <em>Quell Departure, Quell System</em>


    <em>Nuiri Sector</em>


    ¡°You¡¯re needed in the Battle Room, General,¡± Commander Appo notified, helmet tucked under his arm, ¡°It¡¯s the Governor-General.¡±


    ¡°By the jump, Admiral,¡± Anakin swung around, ¡°Let me see what this is about first.¡±


    ¡°Of course, General.¡±


    Anakin started down themand 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 st 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 usibility. To both his and Anakin¡¯s surprise, however, Tallisibeth came forward with detailed charts of the local spes and exined how they would both be able to make it in time¨Cprovided they jump immediately¨Cand also a n to lure the Separatistmander 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 mymand. Twice is coincidence, thrice is a rule, as they say. Keep pulling this off, Skywalker, and I might just buy it.¡±


    ¡°d to hear it, General,¡± Anakin ced his palms on the table, ¡°So, what¡¯s the situation? You caught us right on time.¡±


    Renau curled his lips in a pleased¨Cif particrly 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 hypenes 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 hypene¨Cwhich showed, considering the low poption density. Tallisibeth hade forward with her personal tablet with a starchart describing an opposite, contiguous hypene 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 sses 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 personafortably, ¡°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 toote,¡± 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 Chandrn 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, <em>every </em>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 n, 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 <em>forcing a battle. </em>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 <em>Legacy of the Founders.</em>¡±


    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 n to gallivant off again, they¡¯re not your problem.¡±


    ¡°Master?¡± Tallisibeth questioned.


    Anakin struggled with himself for a minute. <em>High Command can¡¯t be this stupid. How the hell did KDY convince them to go through with this stupidity? </em>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 ce 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 zing w Fleet will have to take G, 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 <em>trap </em>Shive, Skywalker,¡± Renau lifted his chin in a calcting stare, ¡°You may score a tactical victory, but it would defeat the purpose if he retreats further to Centares anyway. Besides, Shive <em>knows </em>you¡¯re in Quell. How else would he know you <em>aren¡¯t </em>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 nced at her Master nervously, and swallowed, ¡°We¡¯re only a single jump from Nam Chorios. It¡¯s an isted system with no defences, due to its poption of drochs. If we station ourselves there, we¡¯ll be putting ourselves between Vorzyd and Centares, effectively pinning both until the zing w can catch up, <em>especially </em>if Shive is cautious of us.¡±


    Renau inspected his starmap with a keen eye, slowly nodding, ¡°Yes¡­ a sound n. 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 ry themands to Admiral Yren, 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!¡±


    <em>¡°Undermine my authority?¡± </em>Anakinughed unconvincingly, ¡°Do you think I care? I <em>made </em>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 <em>get to your head! </em>Did you think I didn¡¯t notice?¡±


    Tallisibeth kept her head down, passive as a porcin 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 <em>outright lie </em>of having the Vorzyd Sector as an assignment for astrocartography?¡±


    Anakin knew. He took astrocartography as well. There <em>was </em>a charting assignment, but you would never get a backwater Outer Rim sector like Vorzyd unless you <em>really </em>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 <em>most. </em>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 <em>did </em>chart Vorzyd for astrocartography,¡± Tallisibeth protested weakly.


    ¡°But not for your assignment.¡±


    She deted, ¡°...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. <em>I know that tone. I know exactly what she¡¯s feeling right now. </em>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 <em>would.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>everything. </em>I¨C I don¡¯t even know if they¡¯re still alive¨C but¡­!¡±


    <em>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. </em>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 me her? How could¨C after <em>everything </em>he did for his own mother?


    ¡°Wipe your tears, girl,¡± he told her gruffly, ¡°And clean up your face. Amander 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. <em>A child. </em>She was already mature beyond her years. If he faulted her for this, he would be no better than the stuffy old Jedi Masters <em>he </em>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''reposed. Well done today, Commander," he nodded, turning back around, "Oh, and I''ll tell you something someone told <em>me </em>once. Be careful. We''re Jedi. Our thoughts create our reality, so don''t think so hard about it."


    <em>I couldn¡¯t protect my family. I can still protect yours. That¡¯s the least I could do.</em>

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    <em>Orbit of Sy Myrth, Sy Myrth System</em>


    <em>Jospro System</em>


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you still a senator of the Republic, Senator Greyshade?¡± Calli Trilm used.


    Simon Greyshade guffawed, ¡°<em>Neutral </em>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, mostlyposed of the most derelict ships, was abandoned, the highly mobile Head Divisions were able to withdraw in the confusion following <em>Castigation¡¯s </em>gambit.


    Most significant of the new additions were the two Providence-ss dreadnoughts, christened as <em>Benevolent Mother </em>and <em>Olympus Mons</em>.


    ¡°Neutral or not, you <em>are </em>in direct vition 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, ¡°s, 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 eximed, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Friends on Raxus? </em>Christ Almighty, was this Palpatine¡¯s hand at y, 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 gctic 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 uing 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 bothmercial and defensive matters, they were a bed of rtive 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 <em>real </em>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 d you asked, officer. This makes matters simpler. <em>I </em>already have raised my protests in the Gctic Senate, but the political backing for Operation Trident is absolutely overwhelming. Palpatine thinks he can cate me, but I have already made preparations to present my resignation and hang my post. I <em>will </em>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 ind of Separatist space afloat while the isted 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:


    <em>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 ourst breath.</em>


    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 bes a signatory, that will be another massive boost to our legitimacy.


    ¡°Correct, officer. Euceron,¡± Greyshade¡¯s smile bled away, reced by the first semnce of seriousness I¡¯ve seen so far, ¡°Once the proud host of the Gctic 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 <em>¡®a senator looking out for his constituents¡¯ </em>all the better for him. For <em>us </em>however, well, as Calli put it sinctly, 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 bemanded 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 mmed 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 nheless.¡±


    I ttened my expression, ¡°Thank you, Senator. We will consider your proposal and contact youter.¡±


    Simon Greyshade fixed me with a calcting 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 <em>will</em>,¡± Calli raised another point of view, ¡°The Commonality is joining us as a <em>whole. </em>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 amon enemy, that is.¡±


    ¡°He has a point,¡± I said.


    Calli levelled me a re that said <em>shut the fuck up. </em>


    ¡°When Senator Greyshade said the Coalition is making waves in Parliament, he was not referring to our war out here,¡± she exined in a slow, measured tone; as if speaking to a child, ¡°The Coalition has enough star systems under its name that we have be a new voting bloc in Parliament¨Cone divided by militarists and pacifists. Do you understand? <em>We control the swing votes in a hung government.</em>¡±


    ¡°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 nce at me, ¡°May depend on your point of view.¡±


    This time, it was <em>my </em>turn to level her a stare that said <em>shut the fuck up.</em>


    The Neimodian scoffed, ¡°Whatever. Bring it up with the rest; just know that I rmend epting 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 n 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 n¡­¡±


    ¡°Will everything go to n?¡± Calli huffed in exasperation, ¡°We <em>don¡¯t </em>control the votes, Rain. The agreement they signed is to ¡®support the Coalition¡¯smon interests in the Senate,¡¯ which is as vague as it gets. <em>You </em>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 <em>any </em>Supreme Commander.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I sounded more confident than I really felt, ¡°I¡¯ve got a n.¡±


    ¡°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 rmendation.¡±


    ¡°What, are you going to prepare a speech for against every possible nominee in the Confederacy?¡± Calli narrowed her eyes at me, ¡°Or¡­ you <em>know </em>who Dooku is going to pick.¡±


    <em>Ah. Shit.</em>


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°<em>How? </em>How do <em>you </em>know but <em>I </em>don¡¯t?¡± she snarled, ¡°Are they going to be someone I know?¡±


    ¡°I¨C I don¡¯t think so?¡± I almost blurted out ¡®<em>I watched Revenge of the Sith¡¯ </em>there¨C ¡°I¡¯m quite certain Dooku is going to pull a literal nobody out of his ass.¡±


    <em>No-body, heh. </em>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 <em>in </em>the list and not <em>top </em>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 <em>am </em>Dooku¡¯s second, Rain. And I¡¯m not about to lose my position over a vote that may or may not seed. Unlike you, I have quite a bit to lose.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still working with us,¡± I pointed out, ¡°If you <em>are </em>Dooku¡¯s second, shouldn¡¯t you have¡­¡±


    I trailed off, a sinking feelinging onto me. It was as if someone increased in internal pressure of <em>Repulse, </em>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 sh 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.


    <em>I¡¯m saying you¡¯re a Republic spy. Or rather, you¡¯re Dooku¡¯s spy, and Dooku is a Republic spy. </em>Except, she wouldn¡¯t know that. Nor would she believe it.


    ¡°You broke radio silence to send ssified intel to Dooku, which included our fleet movements, and inadvertently got them intercepted by Republic Intelligence,¡± I used, ¡°That¡¯s why Dooku allowed you to take such a prime role in the Coalition. You¡¯re his <em>mole.</em>¡±


    <em>Which means my position has already beenpromised. Fuck.</em>


    Her gaze was frigid, ¡°I will neither confirm nor deny anything.¡±


    ¡°<em>Fuck you</em>,¡± I spat, ¡°Horgo and Jorm want <em>answers, </em>Calli. You¡¯ll be fucking ruined if I told them.¡±


    <em>¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±</em>


    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 <em>Calli Trilm</em>¨Cthe person who effectively <em>created </em>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 <em>lived </em>off her political standing. Her pride wouldn¡¯t let her take such a hit, or even the <em>chance </em>of it. I was betting that the Calli Trilm I <em>think </em>I know is the Calli Trilm she <em>actually </em>is.


    ¡°They think <em>I¡¯m </em>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 aplete unknown.¡±


    So this guy <em>is </em>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 <em>was </em>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 ck stare and not a single word. <em>Might¡¯ve burned a bridge there, buddy. Was it worth it? </em>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 themand 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 uing Supreme Commander election? Count Dooku himself attempted to buy the Commonality¡¯s votes. Let me guess¡­ you want us to vote <em>nay.</em>¡±


    ¡°Did he seed?¡± I heard my heart drum in my ears.


    There was a toothy grin¨C ¡°The Commonality is not a corporation, Commodore. <em>We cannot be bought. </em>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 epted.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough and you know it, officer,¡± Greyshade steepled his fingers, ¡°This is clearly your own initiative. What do <em>you </em>have to offer?¡±


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    ¡°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 <em>not </em>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, <em>how </em>do you know? Do you have a mole in his staff? Are you tapping hismunications?¡±


    Dear God, I <em>hoped </em>I was tapping hismunications. I even hired professional slicers¨C<em>read: bounty hunters</em>¨Cto supplement my frigates. s, 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 cane 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 onest thought lingering in my mind: <em>where the fuck is Sev¡¯rance Tann?</em>


    ?


    <em>Bothawui, Both System</em>


    <em>Bothan Space</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Rylle¡¯vak</em>¨Cthe Quiet Oceanpped 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.¡±


    <em>¡°Urval¡¯starn,¡±</em> Tereb Ab¡¯Lon snarled, his fur rippling in agitation, ¡°Laters to pick the scraps.¡±


    Tereb Ab¡¯lon, a t-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 theirary satellites to the Second Fleet, and fully pledge the Sp 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,unching a concurrent full-scale invasion of all eighteen nation-states on the 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 annihtion¨Cwould only beckon <em>ar¡¯krai</em>, the deration 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-tost 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 Sp. Sev¡¯rance Tann epted, and took her armies to thest capital city before Drev¡¯starn, Covepi¡¯starn. There, the city¡¯s ministers eagerly weed her forces into their capital, presenting simr terms for their allegiance.


    As she had expected of them, the Bothans reacted to her passive ¡®conquest¡¯ particrly emblematically of their so-called <em>Bothan Way. </em>Atypically from their gctic 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¡¯srgest starport along with the aristocratic estates and n holdings situated along the treacherous cliffs overlooking theary capital. At the same time, Geonosian-made air cruiserspleted 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 be amon urrence, 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 theirmander 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 Kayy 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 themandeered ptial 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-andrge 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 <em>I can take this city any time I want. </em>


    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 Kayy. After all, the harder Drev¡¯starn falls, the higher their homnds 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¡¯starnes to discuss¡­¡± Kre¡¯fey nced at the two other envoys, ¡°<em>Terms.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 ns have long been separated from those east of the Kurual¡¯grast, and we find their duplicitous means of political ascension¡­ <em>disturbing</em>.¡±


    ¡°General Tann¨C¡± Ab¡¯lon started.


    ¡°The eastern ns are not your allies, General,¡± Kre¡¯fey said boldly, ¡°There are <em>aks </em>circling around a <em>krusk, </em>waiting for it stumble. We have a saying¨C <em>to wait for a Bothan to gather enough stones to crush himself. </em>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 n ties with Gna She¡¯starn,¡± Kre¡¯fey pointed with his chin, ¡°Should you ept 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. <em>It was a good investment to study the Bothan Wrendui, </em>Sev¡¯rance mused inwardly. Compared to the west¡¯s two, the east offered the influence of <em>four </em>nations. Enough to tip the bnce 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¡­ <em>primitive. </em>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 theirpetitiveness and political ingenuity, the Bothans could achieve so much more if they¡¯d work <em>together </em>than against. Their whole cultural philosophy glorifies murder and mistrust, and without genuine trust¡­ <em>this. </em>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 sh of red light¨Cthe muffled discharge of a ster¨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 intimatelyfortable with the feeling. How many times had she died as a sky-walker, ripped apart by ck holes, vaporised by pulsars, wrecked in anarchic nebe, and crushed by sr dragons? The Third Sight was precognition, not intuition. Intuition came with experience, and experience came with learning how to navigate through hyperspace through <em>trial and error.</em>


    Most sky-walkers enter service at seven years of age and lose their Sight by fifteen. Sev¡¯rance Tann was <em>twenty-six.</em>


    She had more experience with dying than any Chiss alive.


    Sev¡¯rance blinked, drawing her lightsaber and igniting its golden de 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 rm, and the battle droid escort opened fire, saturating the assassin¡¯sst known position with fire.


    Holding out her saber before her, Sev¡¯rance slowly brought alink to her mouth, ¡°Colonel.¡±


    <em>¡°On it, General.¡±</em>


    ¡°The Sp must be growing desperate,¡± Kre¡¯fey hissed, ¡°To act so outwardly.¡±


    ¡°They are still here,¡± Sev¡¯rance said.


    His jaw mped 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 rity flowed through her, then¨C a sh of light, and she wheeled around to deflect it.


    But just as she was about to knock it aside, the bolt <em>curved </em>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 thest time.


    Just as she prepared for another shot, the forest suddenly came alive with the roar of discharging sters. 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 andmando droids behind them. The assassin will not get away.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance waited until her hackles died down before stowing away her saber.


    The Colonel nced 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 Sp. If that is the case, I rmend 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 shing from within its depths.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t the Sp,¡± she corrected, remembering how the bolt curved around her lightsaber, ¡°Whoever that was¡­ I sensed the Force in y. 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 sters 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 des.¡±


    ¡°I presume it¡¯s not just an aesthetic choice?¡± no doubt the Colonel was thinking about her own yellow de.


    ¡°Different subscription models, more like,¡± she mused, ¡°It is simple tell. How many red-ded Jedi do you know, Colonel?¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s Commander Ventress, and¡­¡± his features restricted, <em>¡°Count Dooku. </em>I hear he keeps a staff of Jedi too. Sir, this talk is¡­ dangerous.¡±


    Indeed¡­ she expected Dooku to attempt to rid her sooner orter, but she did not foresee <em>this. </em>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 <em>Dooku </em>wanted her dead, that could only mean he feared that she would get in the way of his ns. <em>What ns? </em>


    ¡°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 forwardmand base for Sev¡¯rance¡¯s campaign. She took a detour on the way to themunications 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 warilyconic.


    ¡°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 <em>you </em>waste our time and resources grinding away at these Bothan dogs, our homnd is being invaded by Loyalists! Count Dooku, in his great wisdom, has <em>personally </em>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¡­ be aware of your personal shorings. You are no longer his most favoured minion.¡±


    ¡°And you <em>are?</em>¡±<em></em>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 <em>whims </em>of politicians because they give the military <em>purpose</em>. Something for you to consider, with your unsanctioned and frivolous invasion of Bothan Space.¡±


    Tonith took a deep breath, straightening his Banking n uniform, ¡°It is in light of our prior cooperative rtionship 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 <em>politics </em>you despise so much.¡±


    The Muun Admiral looked to his side, and the connection was severed, leaving Sev¡¯rance alone with her thoughts. This¡­ <em>made no sense</em>, political <em>or </em>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 <em>perfect </em>location to intercept their forces.


    Why would <em>Dooku</em>¨Cthe leader of the Separatist Alliance of all people¨Csabotage the Confederacy¡¯s closest and greatest chance to unite two of its fourrgest theatres? It would not only free tied up military assets, but reopen trade between Separatist space and stimte the stagnating economies of <em>both </em>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 n.¡±


    ¡°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 particr.¡±


    ¡°Abandoning Operation Sidestep targets nobody but the Confederacy,¡± she said coldly, ¡°We are <em>this </em>close to closing the gap between our constituent sectors, and he wants to <em>sever </em>them again.¡±


    ¡°II think he isn¡¯t isting the Trailing Sectors so much as isting the Second Fleet, sir,¡± Colonel Farstar opined, ¡°He¡¯s isting <em>you </em>from something happening in Raxus that he needs <em>Tonith </em>for. The false g 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 <em>hearing </em>their instructor but finally <em>understanding </em>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 wepleted repairs on the <em>Negotiator</em>?¡±


    ¡°Both the <em>Negotiator </em>and <em>Carrion Spike</em> are ready,¡± Colonel Farstar lurched to keep up with her pace, ¡°Going somewhere, sir?¡±


    ¡°Good. I am giving you overallmand of our armies and fleets in the Bothawui System, Colonel,¡± she told him, ¡°Follow the n, 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. <em>Alive.</em>¡±


    ¡°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. <em>Dooku is a bit like a Bothan, </em>she thought suddenly. They call him the greatest politician of the age. <em>To risk our entire war just to spite me¡­ </em>either she should increase her wariness of the Dark Side, or she should consider all politicians mad in the head.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    <em>Jeyell Departure, Jeyell System</em>


    <em>Roche Sector</em>


    In the deep abyss of space, starry eyes watched the pair of droid destroyers lurking like leviathans beneath the sr ne, silent as death itself. There was a herd of twenty-seven supply cruisers 300,000 klicks above them rtive to the sr ne. 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 coulde to their aid.


    Unfortunately for them, <em>sisters Lexington and Saratoga </em>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. Calcting 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.


    <em>>Iing shortburst from CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV</em>


    <em>>Initiate handshake</em>


    <em>[From CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV] UKYIYOUZPCGXYQAUMDAWXIOZIWYBRHRCDTQXWKIETGPWLUVPXOOGGRSEOCQPKIDGORFRRKAEPEIGCTDRECENCGAZEZXNYK</em>


    <em>>ess naval encryption key rotors</em>


    <em>>Decrypt session</em>


    <em>[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] HANDLER ONE REPORTS ENEMY PATROL NINE PARSECS BEARING TWO FOUR NINE GALACTIC RELATIVE. EXTRACT IN TWO HOURS TO AVOID.</em>


    <em>[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED.</em>


    <em>[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] PLEASE ADVISE FLIGHT PLAN UPDATE.</em>


    <em>[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] TSSE¨CRMIN¨CGRYN¨CDHIA¨CRRQU. AGREE?</em>


    <em>[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] STANDBY TO CONFIRM WITH HANDLER.</em>


    <em>[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] AGREE.</em>


    <em>[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED. CONTACTS FOUR MINUTES TO INTERCEPT. PLEASE ADVISE.</em>


    <em>[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] NO HOSTILES DETECTED. STANDARD INTERCEPT PROCEDURE.</em>


    <em>[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED. TERMINATING SESSION.</em>


    <em>>Terminate handshake</em>


    <em>Lexington </em>jolted from her hibernation, warming up her shell as gases flowed through her systems. In a sudden shock of power, her triple ion pulse drivesunched her forwards, zing 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 reportedmerce raiding in the area, the Republic spacers caught onto <em>Lexington¡¯s </em>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 iing raider¨C


    Only toe face-to-face with <em>Saratoga, </em>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; <em>Lexington </em>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 ri-crystals as her hundred and twoser cannons erupted inshing whips of light, brutally shing through the stunned cruisers and tearing them apart as if they were flimsist.


    <em>>Iing shortburst from CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV</em>


    Down to a manageable 270 KPS, <em>Lexington </em>was already slinging her great length around to align with the hypene direction. Her scanners detected a squadron of extracting vessels eighty-three light-minutes away.


    <em>>Initiate handshake</em>


    Their astronavigationputers were synchronised, ensuring they would insert into the same hyperspace tunnel. Destination: Trasse System.


    <em>[To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] EXECUTING JUMP. AGREE?</em>


    <em>[From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] AGREE.</em>


    ?


    <em>Orbit of Aargonar, Aargonar System</em>


    <em>Perkell Sector</em>


    Aargonar was a deste dustbowl of a world. Stuck between two hypenes with no direct ess, the isted 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.


    Barriss didn¡¯t even know why they were there. Instead, she continued upying 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 nce 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 eptable 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 <em>was </em>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 n, 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 <em>Unicorn </em>came down on her like a three-hundred thousand ton sack of permacrete blocks. If she could convince Rain to just <em>let </em>her go, wouldn¡¯t that be better?


    Once the pot of stew¨C<em>sludge</em>¨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.


    <em>Score! </em>


    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 <em>that </em>thought.


    As Barriss eyed the pot, silently calcting how long it willst her, a battle droid entered the galley. His stride was looser and more rxed than the stiff, nking gait of a fresh-off-the-line model, leading her to decide he was one of Rain¡¯s.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Reinforcements have arrived,¡± he ryed, ¡°Tuff wants you transferred to the <em>Messenger in mes. </em>So head to the hangar when able.¡±


    Barriss stared at the droid, then at the pot, then at the droid again. <em>Do you know how long I spent on this thing? I¡¯m not going to start over.</em>


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t have told me himself?¡± sheined.


    ¡°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 ordion, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Oh. </em>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.¡±


    <em>Loyalty programming, huh? </em>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.


    <em>Might actually be easier to convince Rain than I initially expected.</em>


    ?


    <em>Raxus Secundus, Raxus System</em>


    <em>Calu Sector</em>


    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. Circr and massive, a monolith to the greatness and apparent unity of the Gctic 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 ce in the beating heart of the gxy.


    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 Gctic Republic.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the vition.


    Raxus¡¯ House of Parliament, once used to host theary 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, apanied by the bustle of Raxulon that rose to them.


    It was everything Bec Lawise could hope for. Everything he <em>strived </em>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 benchespletely 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, disying 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 onught, 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 Bws 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 governmentpletely 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 uncontroble, and perhaps even worse than tant corporate representation. <em>Military </em>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 use, and the Coalition senators knew it. They could not risk alienating the junta, and will vote for whatever they demand. The Coalition <em>had </em>to be ced back in check, and that was precisely the reason Bec¨Cdespite being aligned to the Peace Faction¨Cwill vote <em>for </em>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. <em>Admiral Trench. Admiral Tonith. General Ambigene. General Loathsom. General Durd. </em>And a thousand more names with ¡®captain¡¯ and mander¡¯ and ¡®colonel¡¯ blurring together. They wanted to see who would lead them, or more optimistically for those of higher rank, whether or not <em>they¡¯ll </em>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 dered 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, apuding 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 epted an invite from anyrger media outlet. Bec found Senator Singh in the stands and gave a subtle, grateful nod.


    Tawni Ames stood up to oppose themon consensus, patiently waiting for recognition. Senator Bonteri must¡¯ve chosen Ames to speak on the Peace Faction¡¯s behalf. Bonteri herself was too <em>obvious; </em>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 ce 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 <em>not</em>,¡± 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 <em>now </em>will only serve to disunify the already existing structure! It is too <emte</em>! 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 apuse slowly.


    It was masterful, Bec Lawise had to admit, both Bonteri¡¯s strategy and Ames¡¯ speech.


    Voe Atell was shifting ufortably, 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 muste to a vote. In ordance with the Bws 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 oue, 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.


    <em>Who is this person?</em>


    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 wed feet and hands. His cyborg nature was only shown through two cat-like eyes behind a skull-shaped facete.


    ¡°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 Gctic Senate sided with the Yam¡¯rii, which resulted in the envement of his people and exploitation of his homeworld. After prolonged fighting, he barely survived an assassination attempt that left his body brutalised. This exins the cyborg body.¡±


    Terrifying at first nce, 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, nic, 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 popr 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 apuse thatpletely 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 poprity 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 thest murmurings died, then spoke in a gravelly voice, ¡°I will speak inly. 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. Hispetence, arguable!¡±


    ¡°He won at Christophsis¨C!¡±


    ¡°<em>General Tann </em>won at Christophsis!¡± Senator Kushi rebuked loudly, but not fiercely, ¡°General Grievous entered the battle <em>after </em>she cleared out the Republic fleets in orbit. General Grievous was facing a trapped, demoralised, and undersupplied enemy! Mon Gazza, nic¨C that was a mop-up campaign! None of them are eptable 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 iming 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 toe 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, simrly, was unmoving as a boulder in stormy waves. As Bec mentally calcted 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. ording to the Bws 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, ncing 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, rmed beyond belief, ¡°When did you¨C¡±


    ¡°Just now,¡± the Senator from Raxus said conspiratorially, ¡°One of my aides informed me. He¡¯sing up to observe the vote. Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Nothing more?¡± Bec couldugh, ¡°His very <em>presence </em>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 me him?¡± Bec admitted, ¡°He would ept 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 epted 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 <em>¡®judge.¡¯ </em>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,¡± Becmented.


    Dooku hummed nomittally.


    The Speaker finally reached for his console and selected his vote. With all their necessary discussionsplete, the mainstay of the votes were now pouring in. <em>Three-hundred and six senators</em>, he reminded himself, <em>that¡¯s one-hundred fifty-four to pass. </em>


    ¡°How is the count proceeding, Speaker?¡± Dooku asked.


    Bec fixed his attention on the ayes/nays/abstain tally. <em>123/97/16</em>


    ¡°Hundred twenty-one ayes,¡± he said, ¡°Seventy votes to count.¡±


    ¡°Thirty to pass,¡± Dooku noted.


    <em>129/104/17</em>


    Bec nodded lightly.


    <em>136/111/17</em>


    <em>138/118/17</em>


    <em>There was a group holding off, </em>he realised. Taking a cursory nce, 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.


    <em>149/140/17</em>


    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 apuse while the War Faction screamed in outrage and cries of maniption. 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 urately 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 <em>your </em>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 seemedrger than ever.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    <em>Centares, Centares System</em>


    <em>Maldrood Sector</em>


    I handed the tablet back to hare, feeling a sense of perverse satisfaction. But that was the reality of this gctic 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 <em>five </em>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.


    <em>And that we shall, </em>I thought as I crossed the deck to the visual disy, mming down the st shields and activating the holoHUD. An interdiction minefield had beenid 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 Fleetsbined¨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 thergest 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 manymanders. Separatist fleet doctrine relied on overwhelming numerical superiority, justified with exemry 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 y by the book and avoid ying 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 dering sector-wide Red Alert; all personnel to battlestations. There are three-hundred¨C"


    "Six-hundred¨C" Stelle leaned forward, "No, <em>one-thousand </em>drive cones!"


    I watched in quiet dread as the icons began flooding onto <em>Repulse''s </em>holoHUD,pletely nketing 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 simr, 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 avable reinforcements immediately. Send it."


    <em>"Repulse?" </em>a voice asked.


    "I apologise," I stifled a choke, "There are <em>one-thousand </em>signatures approaching. Avoid allmunication but tightbeam and optical. Here theye."


    ??


    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 <em>just </em>the Cerulean Spear.


    Either way, someone in Naval Intelligence was about to get bent over a barrel.


    <em>Of course they''d know we''d outnumber them, </em>her brain berated, <em>so of course they''d bring even more!</em>


    "Tell me something, Tex," she demanded harshly.


    "They''reing 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 elerating again."


    An icon left of hers blinked on the expansive battle plot; Task Force Repulse¨CRain Bonteri''s formation in the Armada¨Csignalled steady eleration to 1,000G in line ahead. A hundred and twenty marks surged out of orbit, ships queuing into a <em>textbook </em>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," shemanded.


    "Mark bearing," Tex repeated.


    She nodded in satisfaction, "Signal Task Force Clysm into Battle Order One. el up to one-thousand gravs. Time to intercept?"


    "Fifty minutes. Intercept velocity thirty-thousand KPS," the droid vocalised his internalputations, "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 isposed 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 <em>them</em>."


    "The psyche is a troublesome factor," Tex replied tly.


    "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 nk of the Armada. Around one-hundred eighty warships in total. <em>Star of Serenno''s </em>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, nked by Battle Squadron Maldrood and Battle Squadron Jospro. Thergest 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 nk.


    <em>"The Sy Myrthians are getting left behind, Commander," </em>Captain Harsol tightbeamed, <em>"Their carriers cap out at three-hundred gravs."</em>


    "Forget the screens!" Vinoc snapped, "We shave half an hour off our transit without them. We''rest in the battle order, so as long as the LACs catch up before then, we''ll be fine."


    <em>"LACs?"</em>


    "Light attack craft."


    <em>"Slides off the tongue well, I''ll give it that," </em>Harsol mumbled¨C <em>"Understood. I''ll ry the order. What about the Columexi?"</em>


    The Commonality wanted to rendezvous every one of their avable 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, <em>"Looks like they''reing straight down our throats, sir. They''re wanting for a brawl, after all."</em>


    The captain of <em>Sa Nor </em>cut thems with that.


    "They won''t," TJ-912, his recently assigned tactical droid, pointed to the tactical disy, "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 eleration 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 nket fit for an eldritch god, Vinoc felt that the Republic had no idea what''s waiting for them.


    <em>Come right on then, bastards, </em>he thought viciously, <em>see what we''ve got for you.</em>


    ??


    "Velocity twenty-three thousand KPS, fourteen minutes to intercept range," Stelle reported.


    The Republic fleet was stilling straight on. <em>I can literally see your line of battle, assholes¨Chow much closer do you want to push this game of chicken? </em>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-ss dreadnoughts in the back¨Cwhich <em>we </em>had too¨Cthe main bulk of their battle line were Venators. The ten or so ISDs¨CTectors, apparently¨Cwere on our right nk, 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 cement¨Cthey do have <em>absolutely overwhelming </em>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 simrly, 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 nk of the ship. And of course, its tubr 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 eleration of 1000G, we were already <em>tearing </em>through space at 24,000KPS. And it was <em>nothing, </em>not when most Separatist capital ships came with inertial dampeners powerful enough topensate for up to 2500G. But a 1000G was hard enough to control¨Cwe don''t want to be sting straight through the enemy, right?


    Unless you were that onedy with purple hair. She''s kind of special. <em>What was her name again?</em>


    "Task Force Clysm is signalling hard to starboard," Stelle ryed.


    "Project <em>Queen of Beauty''s </em>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 session. Arm portunchers one to fifty."


    <em>Repulse''s </em>bridge shimmered, a curtain of light falling over the viewports and recing it with the illusory image of <em>Queen of Beauty''s </emmand deck. In a rare moment of queasiness, I could feel <em>Repulse </em>heeling over hard to starboard in a much sharper angle than <em>Queen of Beauty. </em>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 session was rather self-exnatory. When the van of a line of battle executes a manoeuvre, that same manoeuvre will be sessively 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 <em>they </em>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. <em>Repulse </em>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¡­ <em>Astarte?</em>


    Whatever the case, manoeuvring in session from a line ahead was preferable to a simultaneous manoeuvre from a line abreast, simply due to the sheer number of ships participating. <em>Especially </em>when there were Providences, Invincibles, Dreadnaughts, Kolivexes, Munificents, Recusants, Auxilias, and a dozen other sses 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 <em>Repulse </em>stopped turning, though a cursory scan told me <em>Queen of Beauty </em>still was.


    "They''reunching fighters!" the sensor droid cried in rm.


    The scanner disys were a sight to behold. Wave after wave of drive cones were spawning out of the Venators, radiating out in a blinding white fog thatpletely smothered the main signatures. Standard Venator capacity was 420 LACs. I yed 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 turbsers fired tibanna gas wrapped in a maic field. Gas that wanted to expand into the void, and a maic field that decayed exponentially with every klick travelled. Strangely enough, that meantser bolts theoretically had more range in-atmosphere than in-vacuum.


    What didn''t decay, however, was steel. Explosives wrapped in steel.


    "Ourst ship-of-the-line haspleted 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.


    <em>Star of Serenno </em>shivered as a zing wave of energyshed 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 hundredunchers per broadside respectively. Eachuncher 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 turbser 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 fighterplements to dish out missiles and torpedoes, as they didn''t have any of their own.


    <em>We must dictate the cadence of battle, </em>Calli Trilm mused in practised calm, <em>that is our only hope of victory.</em>


    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 portsideunchers 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. <em>Three salvoes in ten minutes, </em>Calli checked her chrono. eptable.


    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 targetingputers 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 notcking 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 iprehensible from the backdrop of stars.


    "Time to intercept?" she asked.


    "Their el-squared is dropping," Tex noted, "I calcte¡­ 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 disy and calcting the eleration. Six scanster, and Calli was rtively certain those were enemy starfighters. 2000G; twenty-three minute transit.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the vition.


    "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 ne."


    "There seems to be something wrong with our bloody carriers today," Calli grumbled.


    ??


    Vinoc stared at the tactical disy, weaving the Force into his mind as he enhanced his own cognitive abilities. This was his first timemanding such a massive fleet, albeit in arger 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 hismand. Nervous at the sheer amount of firepower he controlled.


    <em>This must be what Master Tann meant by true power. </em>What was a Jedi Knight under the onught of six-hundred thousand missiles? Against the collective will of three million spacers brimming with a kindred resentment for the Republic?


    <em>Crying Sun </em>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 fleetunched, 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 thergest of three, it was also the most sluggish. Both Battle Squadron Maldrood and Battle Squadron Jospro¨C<em>especially </em>Jospro¨Chave beenrgely 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 theirck 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, shing 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 <em>Crying Sun </em>blinked out a code with their rear lights.


    "Task Force Clysm is requesting fighter support," TJ-912 automatically tranted, "Shall we respond?"


    Vinoc nced at the progress of their LACs, "Aye. They''re here."


    Not a secondter, hundreds of thousands of screeching fighters sted straight through the columns, rampaging through the narrow intervals between ships to meet the enemy. The numerous tactical disys scrambled and hissed, formation images glitching as targetingputers and sensors all across the battle line found themselves half-blinded by the interference from just shy of a <em>million </em>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: <em>swarm.</em>


    And swarm they did, like an all-devouring hive mind. Just asst Jedi cruiserspleted their line of battle and released their firstser broadside, the droid LACs descended on them like a gue of stone mites. Bright bursts of point-defence and explosive tibanna-bolts carved open gulfs in the infinitely ck wavefront of destruction. But the gulfs closed, filled in by the endless numbers. Laser clusters zed in desperatest-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, toote.


    With the opposing column having their hands full swatting droids from the sky, there was perishingly little to impede Task Force Sol fromying into them with renewed viciousness. The enemy fleet was no longer 20,000,000 klicks in the unknown. <em>We have them dead to rights, and they aren''t fighting back.</em>


    <em>Crying Sun </em>roared like a living beast, unleashing fusides after furious fusides in ferocious rhythm.


    ??


    Sweet Mary, the sight was utterly <em>biblical.</em>


    The Vulture swarm was a legend ripped right out of the tales of Lovecraft, undting 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 droidspletely trampled over any resistance with hardly a hup, 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 singlergest fighter battle in the war. A new storm of pins speckled the battle plot as the enemy carriersunched a <em>second </em>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. <em>How </em>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 turbsers 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 gxy 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-ss frigates bum-rushed arcs of point defence tounch opportunistic waves of missiles at the nks 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. <em>Queen of Beauty </em>ate a shot at amidships, gouging out a deep scar in her hull and carving up twenty-one of herunchers. Even if I wasn''t physically present, <em>Repulse''s </em>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 <em>Queen of Beauty </em>joined the increasing ranks of battleships being folded out of battle, with a Recusant-ss battlecruiser taking her ce. The tactical disy spelled it out cleanly; the situation was untenable. Even with our preemptive strikes, and Task Force Sol <em>utterly </em>ravaging the Republic''s rear, the enemy still had better shields and better turbsers, 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 <em>two?</em>


    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 <em>fucking mauled. </em>Something had to be done, or the stars will be witness to our deaths.


    <em>Queen of Beauty </em>passed in front of Repulse on her way to Centares, giving me a particrly 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 teamsunched 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-ss cutters. Sometimes, some adjacent warships recognised the trajectory of iing fire and warned the rescue parties in advance, but most of the time most warships were too busy with their own problems.


    <em>''If enemy shells weren''t heading for us, it wasn''t our problem'' </em>was the reigning attitude. I couldn''t me them.


    Who I <em>could </em>me, 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 particrly bold Carrack-ss light cruiser with too little sense¨Cwhich itself was obliterated from existence by the shrapnel. <em>Repulse </em>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 areing, 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 <em>simr </em>to Simon Greyshade, despite their different appearances. Diedrich had that devious character floating about him, like his rtive, though his voice was harsher, harder, and made the uniform he wore convincing enough.


    Extra points for the honesty, too.


    "Want to exin?"


    Diedrich Greyshade rubbed his forehead, "I extend my apologies. I attempted to bring our fastest ships, but couldn''t gather enough support."


    <em>"Support?"</em>


    "The Joint Defense Fleet is a democracy, sir. We''re technically a civilian cooperative," he tried to exin, "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."


    <em>Sounds like a fat load of shit. Why''d you keep quiet then?</em>


    "Antemeridian is <em>literally </em>a hundred parsecs north of here¨C"


    "We don''t want to die for a <em>lost </em>cause, sir," Diedrich reiterated more forcefully, "The Commonality did not weather gctic 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 <em>real </em>stand¨C"


    "Well, can we expect <em>anybody </em>else toe!?" 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 wasing, and partly because Greyshade was <em>right. </em>Bncing military strategy and political strategy will never get easier.


    I had to give an order to retreat sooner orter. We created a n to retreat in good order, though we spun it as a ''measure ofst resort'' to the Centareans.


    <em>Now? </em>Maybe. But would the Salvarans, the Bryxi, the Wobanians ept 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. <em>In the worst way possible.</em>


    "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 sh 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 mmed its way onto the battle plot, dwarfing everything around it.


    That was the only warning I got before Battle Squadron Salvara just¡­ <em>disappeared. </em>Wiped off the map. The entire vanguard of our fleet simply gone<em>. </em>All three-hundred thousand souls in thirty, forty Dreadnaughts, dead in the blink of an eye. Thest 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.


    <em>Super Star Destroyer.</em>


    At <em>least </em>eight klicks stern to bow, and the whole length of it like a vengeful titan. It definitely wasn''t the <em>Executor, </em>as it didn''t have a city-like superstructure. Instead of the sleek, dagger-like deadliness that defined the <em>Executor, </em>it was bulkier, more <em>mighty. </em>An indomitable juggernaut that would not stop for nothing, casting a shade of foreboding inevitability.


    "essing registry¡­ Mandator-ss star dreadnought," there was a hint of panic in Stelle''s voice, "Registered callsign; <em>Legacy of the Founders.</em>"


    That literally meant nothing to me. But if the Republic was willing to name that ship something so <em>grandiose, </em>then they must be damn well sure she could live up to it.


    <em>Legacy of the Founders </em>unleashed another relentless barrage of turbsers, and Separatist warships erupted into mes under it, paying the ultimate price for their loyalty. Task Force Clysm swung around in good time, bearing broadsides and responding with a rippling st of torpedoes, missiles, andsers. 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, rying themand.


    Green cascaded down the repeaters as the whole fleet acknowledged and epted my assessment of our situation. <em>Repulse </em>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''s mass shadow, or straight up ramming into Centares before they couldpletely insert into hyperspace.


    The solution? Jump from <em>under </em>the system ne.


    Within seconds, each ship in the Armada had spun ny on their transverse axis to nosedive perpendicr to the Republic fleet, before spinning another ny on their long axis to have their dorsals face Columex. The ships already in the process of retreating such as <em>Queen of Beauty </em>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 g'' 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."


    <em>Repulse </em>burned again, this time vectoring her thrust upwards to swing herself ny-degrees again, along her short axis to parallel herself with the hypene egress on the opposite side of the.


    shes of light sprung from the readouts and ship after ship ignited their hyperdrives and sted themselves into hyperspace. Starlines appeared beyond <em>Repulse''s </em>viewport, and the star system of Centares was no more.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    <em>Orbit of Columex, Columex System</em>


    <em>Vorzyd Sector</em>


    The was arge luxury liner orbiting tightly around Columex, named the <em>Salin Mariner. </em>The poor thing was on one of its routine itineraries from Salin to Botajef to Lianna and back when it found itselfmandeered 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 spartanforts 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 therger side, fortunately. There was an utterly <em>vast</em> bed that was annoyingly softer than a cloud, a desk with a built-in holoprojector, a droid charging bay for Hare, and a fouryered wall-to-wall windowmanding 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 <em>major </em>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 <em>lost </em>at Centares. Excluding droid casualties, our death toll was over <em>half a million</em>. I would be lying if I said I could fullyprehend a number thatrge.


    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 <em>people </em>were dead after the high wore off¡­ it was numbing.


    Sure, a number thatrge 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 <em>saw </em>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 ¡®<em>thank God it was them and not me¡¯ </em>and now actually have the time to realise <em>I thanked God it was them and not me</em>.


    Especially when I wasn¡¯t even in the main line of battle¨Cinstead a column behind with the frigates. That one warship that shielded <em>Repulse </em>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 onemander 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 nced outside, and could not tell what the twinkling stars were trying to convey.


    ¡°When did you find out?¡± Mina asked, almost timidly.


    ¡°...Today¨C¡± <em>whatever today means to you, </em>¡°¨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 <em>¡®that I told you so,¡¯ </em>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¡­ <em>Coalition¡¯s </em>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 rtionship 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 <em>warlords </em>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 <em>Coalition </em>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. Manipting 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 <em>overreach,¡± </em>Mina said mildly, ¡°Especially not when you¡¯re a pot calling the kettle ck.¡±


    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 <emck </em>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 maniption¨Cnevermind that it was also manipted 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 apromise candidate of <em>their choosing. </em>As long as said candidate was not out of left field like Dooku¡¯s, the rest of the Senate wille 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 ¡®<em>a united front, atst!¡¯ </em>


    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 thepromise of their tform.


    ¡°Speak to Avi Singh,¡± I suggested softly, ¡°He voted with youst 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.¡±


    <em>He will be on board. </em>Politicians had long memories, doubly so when ites down to favours.


    ¡°<em>Trust me </em>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 <em>begging </em>you, <em>literally </em>because you didn¡¯t trust me thest 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.¡±


    <em>This was it, </em>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 <em>halfway point. </em>All the little pieces I¡¯veid out months ago will have <em>finally </em>created a picture that nobody can miss.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    The best way to convince someone to your side isn¡¯t by telling them to, but by making them tell <em>themselves </em>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 ckmail <em>works. </em>And when you can guilt-trip using someone¡¯s death? y that card too.


    Did I feel like a massive asshole? Absolutely. But emotional ckmail worked most effectively when you were also <em>authentic </em>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 be 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.


    <em>That¡¯s paranoia, buddy. </em>


    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 ying 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 ying both sides, that would still mean they were on our side. In fact, ying 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 dissimr to an interster policing force. They were also, fittingly enough, a microcosm of therger 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 gued 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 imed it to be a fool¡¯s errand. Sure, with the gift of hindsight it <em>was </em>a fool¡¯s errand. Any reinforcements would have been too little and toote; 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 Coalitionmander. Our decision was gridlocked.¡±


    ¡°Are you not the ranking officer of Columex¡¯s forces?¡± I used.


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Touch¨¦. </em>I had to give him that one, no matter how much I ground my teeth at it. The Coalition and JDF were a bit <em>too </em>simr for my liking.


    ¡°Sometimes¡­¡± Diedrich trailed off, eyeing the uing 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 wereing,¡± 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 theing 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 bodynguage. 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 zing w 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.


    rm rose sharply, ¡°The Sy Myrthians¨C¡±


    ¡°Will not be going anywhere,¡± Diedrich Greyshade said meaningfully, having swiftly made himselffortable, ¡°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 theary 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. Thergest 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.¡±


    <em>Fourth Fleet? </em>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 simplypromising 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 me Calli Trilm, of course. From her point of view, I recently ckmailed 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 Gctic 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 thergest independent fleets in the gxy, 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 Consr-ss 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 gctic underworld, not to mention other like-minded defectors.


    The problem child was none other than Calli Trilm, for reasons I shouldn¡¯t have to exin. 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 dirtyundry?¡± Calli drawled huskily.


    <em>You have no idea.</em>


    ¡°The information in there will have the Confederacy fall.¡±


    She sat up straighter at the daring im, 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 <em>did </em>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¨Cck steel or ck 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 dozenm frigates¨Cwhich must¡¯ve made me the most powerful bounty hunter this side of the gxy for a bit¨C¡± Gaib joked to lighten himself, before sucking in a breath, ¡°Uh¡­ right. You wanted me to tap into the HoloNet rys 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 <em>Dooku </em>in particr¨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 exined 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 me 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 dy, by the way. It took some time for me to find updated ry 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,¡± Vinocmented 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 <em>afford </em>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 rys and figure out the most efficient way to use twenty frigates to cover all of them. Turns out there were ¡®junction rys¡¯ where the fragments rpiled, 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 shed, 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 <em>feel </em>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 mped 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 reced by a wild acy.


    ¡°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 tranted a series of beeps and whistles from TK, ¡°This isn¡¯t the only one. I managed to catch at least two moreplete 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 vtile 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 <em>sent </em>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 legition¡­¡±


    Simon Greyshade chuckled derisively, ¡°You were wrong, Bonteri. The Confederacy won¡¯t fall with this. The Confederacy will <em>break.</em>¡±

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    <em>Orbit of Columex, Columex System</em>


    <em>Vorzyd Sector</em>


    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 dayes when the Commonality no longer bears the justification to exist, Simon will always be loyal to its cause.


    <em>Which was why, </em>Diedrich reflected, <em>I helped cover the death of our cousin for him.</em>


    A ck stain on both their careers, if it were to be found out. Simon¡¯s predecessor in the Gctic Senate was their elder cousin, Jheramahd. The old man was slipping up too tantly¨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 topromise the confederation, his position was forfeit. Arrange an ident, and enter the newly vacated office as a bereaved rtive. Simple as that. Diedrich only found out <em>after </em>the fact, but managed to leverage his own influence to help avoid a scandal. Some suspicions were raised, but nothing too untoward.


    <em>Why </em>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 ce¨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 Gctic Senate, or help Simon cover the incident up.


    That wasn¡¯t much of a choice. <em>Besides, </em>Simon would say, <em>Jheramahd had betrayed the Commonality.</em>


    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 urred to the Coalition Armada at Centares was much the same scheme. No, reinforcements would <em>not </em>being, but you¡¯d only find out <em>after </em>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. <em>Besides, </em>Simon would say, <em>you need the Commonality¡¯s warships and politicians.</em>


    But that left Diedrich with a most pertinent question; <em>why </em>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. <em>Should have. </em>As the forefrontmander of Columex¡¯sary 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 zing w 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 aplished. 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 ce Euceron did? And look what happened to them! The greatest threat the JDF fought in the past century was a self-proimed 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 cated, ¡°The situation has changed. We will cooperate with the Coalition without argument. I¡¯ll leave it to you, Diedrich.¡±


    Diedrich mmed his fist down, fingers still curled around the handle of the teacup. Twisted satisfaction filled him as Simon flinched at the shards of porcin shattering across the table and flying through his holographic person.


    ¡°That¡¯s not <em>enough</em>,¡± he snarled, ¡°If you believe I will keep covering your back, you are sorely mistaken. Let me spell this out clearly for you¨C<em>your existence is no longer necessary. </em>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. <em>Do not test me.</em>¡±


    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 thergest 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 <em>was </em>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 ofmunication. Both the Loyalists and Separatists would have their fingers all over thework, 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 Munificentwork 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 particr? Or was it¨Cas Bonteri imed¨Cmerely a case of luck?


    Perhaps he should introduce the idea of an intel coboration agreement¨Cthat would surely give him answers. Nevertheless, everything pointed towards a greater plot at hand that nobody in the gxy could fathom.


    <em>Count Dooku, </em>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 ce? Very little added up.


    ¡°He wanted the Coalition disgraced,¡± Simon finally admitted, ¡°To force his General Grievous through the Senate, he needed a <em>win.</em>¡±


    ¡°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 andmercial 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 pping it down on the table, ¡°You will return to Columex immediately. Do not make me <em>bring </em>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 aplish!¡±


    Desperation coloured his voice brilliantly, and Diedrich felt no small amount of schadenfreude from it. Enough of ying in the shadows with handshakes and backdoor deals. Columex will not be deprived of her glory any longer.


    <em>Counter Admiral Diedrich Greyshade</em> levelled his gaze beyond the porthole of his stateroom, scanning the length of his pride and joy, battlecruiser <em>Kronprinz. </em>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 <em>Grosstat</em>¨Cbut she has been fighting since the Fourth Jedi Schism and all the wars since.


    This tale has been uwfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Know this, Simon; when people expect you to y 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 manipte. 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 <em>Kronprinz </em>once downed a Jedi gship, 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 eachary 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 ck my nerves by goofing around with Hare.


    I extended a hand palm side up, and Hare hopped up to p it. I held it out again, and this time lifted my hand up as she tried to reach it, narrowly missing. Hare paused, annoyance tant into her bright yellow eyes, despite herck 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 calcting 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.¡±


    ¡°Rxed,¡± I corrected, ¡°I am rxed, 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¡¯splimentary refreshments. Realising we were looking¨Cor rather, realising <em>Vinoc </em>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 yed 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 regr 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 n, Hare.¡±


    ¡°As you will, Master Rain.¡±


    I tugged down on mypels and crept forward slowly, gradually keying myself back into the discourse as I <em>¡®excuse me¡¯d¡¯</em> and <em>¡®sorry¡¯d¡¯</em> 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, <em>again</em>,¡± Rel Harsol stood directly opposed from Diedrich, ying the crowd, ¡°Analysis from our sensor logs indicates the enemy fleet had been bolstered by elements from the Steel de Fleet and White Cuirass Fleet. We can expect two to three-thousand warships against us.¡±


    ¡°And you found that out <em>now</em>!?¡± an officer from Ampliquen mmed.


    ¡°Correct,¡± I cut in, drawing attention to myself, ¡°We had entertained the Republic¡¯s strategy before in one of our simtions, 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 <em>does </em>still harbour some of the brightest military thinkers in the gxy.¡±


    Manually taking control of the projection, I minimised the holotab and reintroduced the Perlemian Trade Route, highlighting Lantillies, Chandr, and Alderaan.


    ¡°The Republic used the Cerulean Spear and zing w Fleets as a shield, mming them in our faces and taking our attention with sieges and skirmishes. The Steel de 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 hypene 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 y the exact same game as the Republic.¡±


    Diedrich wasn¡¯t letting anything but stalwart confidence show, even though he must be gued with thoughts of sabotage and betrayal. The revtion 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 bepletely alone.


    Internally, I was praying to every god I knew that Sev¡¯rance Tann was hauling ass up the Salin Corridor. This was <em>the </em>chance she needed. She must know that. I¡¯ve made ns, 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, ring 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 bnce of power a little¡­ <em>a force multiplier. </em>That¡¯s right; wasn¡¯t this battle shaping up to be an erged version of Salvara? If Tectors were vulnerable to ground-to-orbit cannons, Mandators would be doubly, triply so.


    ¡°Does Columex haveary 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 for us to use them¡­ considering the number of ships, we may have already lost by then.¡±


    <em>Shit. </em>That¡¯s also a good point. Force multiplier¡­ what else could we do? I wracked my head, mentallybing through all my previous experiences¨Cboth practical and theoretical¨Cfor any inspiration.


    <em>Krant. </em>The Battle of Krant was a masterss 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 exactms and coordination matrix would be a vast undertaking, but it could be done. Theoretically.


    Imandeered the holoprojector again, zooming back into the Columex System and hungrily devouring any information on thes in the star system. There was Columex, some gas giants, a ringed¡­ <em>a ringed? </em>


    ¡°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¡­ <em>Tann Railgun. Oh, now that¡¯s an idea.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>power</em>.¡±


    ¡°Orbital tugs,¡± Diedrich immediately answered, ¡°Columex is thergest 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¡­ <em>freight </em>these asteroids over to Columex¡¯s orbit?¡±


    ¡°Er,¡± the Counter Admiral hesitated, ¡°We <em>could</em>. But that could mean wrecking the cargo holds of our freighters in the process. They weren¡¯t designed to hold <em>asteroids</em>, 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 gship product is the Field Secured Containment Vessel¨Cor FSCV for short¨Cthergest bulk transport in the gxy. 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 <em>damn </em>well. Dymurra inserted a datachip that he had on-hand for some reason, and a holographic representation of the FSCV reced the existing system chart.


    It was¡­ an odd ship, but one bewilderinglyrge. The bulk carrier carried its, well, <em>bulk</em>, in thirty field containment bubbles¨Ceach half a klick in diameter¨Csandwiched between two star destroyer-sized engine blocks. <em>Neen kilometres long.</em> 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. <em>The Republic won¡¯t know what hit them. Literally.</em>


    ¡°Consider me a patron of the Loronar Corporation, Commander Dymurra.¡±

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    <em>Somewhere in Hyperspace</em>


    <em>Auril Sector</em>


    Sev''rance Tann watched the swirling chaos of hyperspace dance beyond <em>Negotiator¡¯s</em> 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 spes 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 tribtions they must have endured throughout countless millennia to produce such aprehensive 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 interster aberrations.


    Lesser Space was more¡­ <em>empty. </em>It was the difference between a speeder race through the dense¨Cif lifeless¨Cblocks Csar spaceport, and a leisurely passage through the vast steppnds of Raxus Secundus. One might have to avoid a spot of forest or distant mountain ranges, but generally, Sev¡¯rance could <em>see </em>theming.


    It was still dangerous, of that there was no doubt, but it was also true that realspace is more sparse further away from the gctic ne. So long as Sev¡¯rance maintained their rtive position within the gctic border, theck of mass shadows made transit rtively simple. The greatest inhibitor of mass gctic exploration, she believed, was ack of courage. Spurred on by the mass adoption of the hyperdrive, the great Expansion Era of Lesser Space saw eager trailzers 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 be 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, hypenes were not dissimr to water bodies¨Calways choosing the path of least resistance. That meant they were safe, if not always direct. By forging out a new spe, she could cut ten-thousand parsecs from her route.


    Unfortunately, her skills were still foundcking. 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 aforting shroud. Dooku told her every person saw the Force differently; a sinuous luby, 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 nebe 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. <em>You are looking for something, </em>it appeared to ripple before her mind¡¯s eye, <em>what is it? Who is it? </em>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. Thergest 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.


    <em>I must arrive a step earlier, </em>Sev¡¯rance decided, <em>and no more. It must appear that I had led the First Fleet into battle, so that I can leverage my case to Parliament.</em>


    As her senses returned to the present, Sev¡¯rance found herself standing in the deathly quiet bridge of the <em>Negotiator. </em>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 n was to be aplished in totality, Sev¡¯rance had to arrive <em>first. </em>


    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 <em>Carrion Spike. </em>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 <em>had </em>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-ss Star Destroyer, there was one thing about them she could admire as a g officer. And that was that they aplished 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.


    ?


    <em>Columex Approach, Columex System</em>


    <em>Vorzyd Sector</em>


    <em>¡°Oh kriffing shit,¡± </em>Counter Admiral Diedrich Greyshade of the Commonality Joint Defense Fleet said to himself very, very quietly as the xons howled around his ship. The sandwich in his hand had disintegrated inside his fist, tes left half-eaten on the mess tables as his crew stared up at the wailing sirens nkly, as if this was the first time they had ever heard them ring.


    That wasn¡¯t true. This wasn¡¯t going to be <em>Kronprinz¡¯s </em>first scuffle, nor herst. But this was the first time hostile warships kept multiplying on the scanner disys 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¡¯sary 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 dering a system-wide Red Alert on my own authority. Clear the hyper-junction of <em>all </em>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 thems to internal, and leaned on it again, ¡°<em>Kronprinz, </em>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 ring sirens and cacophonous footsteps. The rampant orders thrown over the bulkheads, the stuttering pulse-burns of sublight drivesing 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 hade to Columex in millennia, and Columex was eager to respond.


    He wiped his hand on a napkin, and proceeded to the g bridge.


    Much like the Xolochi Dreadnoughts of antiquity, <em>Kronprinz </em>was chrome-ted 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 whenbat-standard deflector technology was still in its infancy.


    Fully extended and angled out, <em>Kronprinz </em>turned into a bird of prey gliding upon sr 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, missileunchers, and brutal pulse cannons for an unrivalled broadside.


    Unlike contemporary warships, <em>Kronprinz¡¯s </em>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 disys 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 urately reading the number of subsequent extractions.


    It was amon tactic, Diedrich decided. They themselves were doing the same thing. The Coalition Armada¨CJDF included¨Chad been arranged into a sorry excuse of a battlettice. Two-thousand warships, tightly knit and five ranks deep, arranged into a poor imitation of water¡¯s molecr structure¨Corck thereof¨Crather than the rigid covalentwork of graphite a <em>proper </em>battlettice should mimic.


    To Diedrich¡¯s great shame, it was ringly 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 particrttice formation in the first ce.


    Which was, staggeringly, to conceal thergest artillery pieces known to the gxy.


    Three behemothic Field Secured Containment Vessels travelled the distance between the edges of thettice, each releasing one of their thirty containment bubbles at regr 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 <em>Victoria Louise. </em>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 <em>moon </em>spoke spades of their mastery in irregr warfare. Only someone who had spent his professional career warring against the ¡®<em>Demon Moon¡¯ </em>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 el-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 disy, he ground his teeth at the sight of Columexi battleship <em>Hexenkoenig </em>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 theurels ofbat, while the more seasoned corvette boldly crossed her in order to force her down.


    <em>Almost foolishly brave, </em>he thought. The Corellian corvette must be no longer than two-hundred metres in length, while <em>Hexenkoenig </em>was well over a kilometre stern to bow. Diedrich browsed his registry for the ship¨C<em>Habatok II</em>¨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 de and White Cuirass Fleets taking the nks¨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 ny shells? Eighty-nine, excluding <em>Victoria Louise. </em>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 ofmandeered freighters, bulkers, dreadnoughts and battleships meant each bubble was going to have different stats and parameters.


    He eyed the integrated chrono, mentally calcting the time it will take to ry orders and manoeuvre intobat stations. Ten minutes, maybe less, with the enemy¡¯s el-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 n was to stall for half a local day, until Columex¡¯sary 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, thending grounds were being fortified, civilians drafted, and armies marshalled. They would not surrender without a vicious fight.


    But he hoped it would nevere to that.


    ¡°i¨COrder received!¡± thems officer mmed down his headset and sprung to his feet, raking his eyes across the bridge until it met Diedrich¡¯s, ¡°<em>Crying Sun </em>orders Hydra formation, sir!¡±


    Diedrich swung around to the navigator, ¡°Ventral thrust tforms¨C execute manoeuvring orders package immediately!¡±


    <em>Kronprinz </em>whistled, her reflective armour tes ruffling like feathers and she fluently tranted 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.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Every second they took tranting 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 battlettice moved into two affronting lines abreast above and below, the phnges 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 <em>front</em>, 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 ny three-point Cylinders that sheathed over the bubbles not dissimr 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 <em>backfiring </em>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 <em>Kronprinz </em>sensors were almost totally blind from the radiation, the bubble¡¯s containment fields dropped¨C


    ?


    Seven-hundred and twenty-nine asteroids and many, <em>many </em>more meteoroids sted 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. Minutester, the Republic formations scattered on the battle plot. The distance was too great for me to actually <em>see </em>anything visually, but <em>Repulse </em>certainly did.


    The empty ¡®casing¡¯ left behind was then dragged back to the rear by the tugs, apanied 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 disys, intensifying violently as the Republic fleets mmed 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, wepleted some feasibility tests withputerised simtions, 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 <em>micrometeoroid</em> contained enough kic 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 <em>roughly </em>the same direction. With the enemy speeding towards us at¨CI checked the repeater¨C<em>24,000KPS</em>, while the asteroids were reaching upwards of, I don¡¯t know, 96,000KPS at intercept? That meant the rtive impact velocity was <em>forty-percent </em>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, toote. Three minutester, they were at a range where we <em>couldn¡¯t miss.</em>


    One by one, the shells deactivated their containment fields, and a torrent of destruction was sted out into the abyss. ording to the readouts, they had under fifty-five seconds to get a fix on an iing projectile and intercept or evade¨Cand that number was dropping rapidly. It was as if the gxy 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 <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>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 <em>boom¨C </em>The numbers in front me sprung into the dozens of digits, consoles screaming in white noise as if they had been shbanged. And half a minuteter, a swathe of the White Cuirass was scythed into oblivion, sparkling like glitter thrown across the sky.


    A hundred mes were lit for a brief moment, like angels lifting candles in mourning of lives lost, followed by ck 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, reced 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 urred 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 gxy hadrgely 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 aplete one-eighty with any semnce of promptitude.


    Cylinder 28 boomed out into the darkness, followed by Cylinders 29, 30, and 31. It was nothing more than a turkey shoot. uracy 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 theck of real firing solutions, unpredictable dispersion, and the <em>sheer distance </em>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 disys like flickering wraiths. Big pieces, crashing into other big pieces and fragmenting. Small pieces¨Csome norger 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; <em>what have I done? </em>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 ack 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 <em>had </em>to calcte the Mandator¡¯s extraction vector for the next phase of our stratagem to carry out. The star dreadnoughts wererge and terrifying¨Ccapable of routing entire fleets from mere presence alone¨Cbut they were <em>slow. </em>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 <em>safe </em>by any means, but I suspected a Jedi was involved, considering the precision disyed at Centares.


    Stelle must¡¯ve gotten close, but with the Republic¡¯s formation shift, he likely had to return to square one.


    <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>proximity sensors suddenly screeched in rm, and that was the only warning I got before the cruiser next to us waspletely annihted, inadvertently shielding us from the worst of the fragments. Gaping pits cracked through its hull, splintering and copsing, with jets of atmosphere breaking free¨Cbefore her hull integritypletely failed, and she tore herself apart in a silent scream of agony. The readouts shed as <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>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!¡± thems droid shouted up at me, ¡°But the bulker <em>Hart Am Wind </em>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 stilling in!¡±


    <em>Well, that was to be expected! </em>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 <em>never </em>going to be safe, much less at <em>this </em>scale. This was an insane n borne out of desperation and ack 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 n for this as well¨Cand it was to bite the bullet.


    ¡°Withdraw the remaining Cylinders!¡± Imanded, ¡°Dispatch order to the White Hand Fleet, all forward at nk speed! We¡¯re leading by example!¡±


    ¡°Dispatch order¨C¡± Stelle recited my words, pausing at thest phrase, ¡°¨CShould I include thest part?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you will,¡± I replied, before grumbling quietly, ¡°As much as I hate doing so.¡±


    <em>Repulse </em>surged forwards, igniting her engines with the desire to do battle once more. <em>I¡¯ve missed this, </em>the star frigate seemed to howl as she shivered in delight beneath my feet, <em>it¡¯ll be just like old times! </em>Or maybe I was just high on my fight-or-flight response and actively hallucinating. It made me braver than I felt, nheless, and that worked for me.


    Not to be outdone, Counter Admiral Greyshade¡¯s battlecruiser <em>Kronprinz </em>surged as well, followed by the might of Battle Squadron Nardolin. If there was ever an alien ship, <em>Kronprinz </em>fully encapsted the idea, with armour ps undting 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 moreparable to disruptors than contemporary turbsers.


    The Battle Hydra roared, all two-thousand warshipsunching 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 <em>Repulse </em>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 iing dreadnought. The problem was the fact that there were <em>two </em>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 de on their right nk, 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 300bat-capable warships, judging from the drive signatures. The Steel de had 900, and the White Cuirass had 700.


    Looks like the Steel de was mostly untouched by the Cylinders.


    <em>I figured it out.</em>


    ¡°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 angr point¨Cjust as we practised!¡±


    Like a sluggish giant, the Coalition Armada began to move, with the rear ranks shifting over to our left nk, out of the Republic¡¯s view. Within ten minutes, our Battle Hydra had evolved into a ssic oblique order with the explicit intention of ramming straight through the opening and separating the Steel de Fleet from the rest of the enemy formation.


    On our right nk, 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 abined speed of almost sixty-thousand kilometres per second. <em>Repulse </em>shuddered as she registered wayward hits on her shields, even despite being deep in the mass.


    Republic turbsers 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 <em>ourselves</em>, much less the Republic¨Cand their targetingputers were struggling to recalibrate. By contrast, we couldn¡¯t miss. There were enemy ships all around us, and our missile volleys mmed into already weakened shields, dense barrages of particle beams and ion charges disabling and annihting warships which had yet to make the switch to ray shields.


    The enemy, instead of slowing down, elerated again, ostensibly in an attempt to crash through our line and hook around for a nk. 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 de 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 ast-minute fake andshing out with two torpedo fusides in quick session. 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 yed 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 <em>Victoria Louise. </em>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 iing transmission for Commodore Bonteri,¡± thems droid ryed, ¡°It¡¯s from <em>Messenger in mes.</em>¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve arrived!¡± I eximed, ¡°A bit early, but it¡¯ll do. Do they have the minyers I asked for?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± the droid confirmed, ¡°Sixteen minyers.¡±


    ¡°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 <em>Morgenlicht </em>reports that he is enroute from Arcan,¡± Stelle paused, ¡°And Admiral Tonith has just arrived in Belderone.¡±


    <em>Oh yeah, </em>I thought in gleeful anticipation,<em> it¡¯s alling together. Come on Republic, make your move so we can make ours.</em>


    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 Neb. 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 ce for all emotions.


    I simultaneously checked the Coalition Armada¡¯s status and the movements of the Steel de Fleet, checking for any untoward reactions as I timed my next order with every cell ofmanding experience I had in my body.


    ¡°Manoeuvre package fifteen, now!¡± Imanded 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 iste the Steel de 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 de was now sliding backwards into the spreading debris field, suddenly bing 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 ughter.


    Realising the predicament, the right nk 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 <em>beautiful </em>line ahead, crossing the Spear¡¯s ¡®T¡¯ and lighting up the space with a point-nk torpedo barrage. This wouldn¡¯t be the first time she had my back, and considering our admittedlyplicated rtionship, I doubted it would be thest.


    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 <em>finally </em>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 disy of magnificent power, <em>Legacy of the Founders </em>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 <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>bridge. I frowned, looking around. <em>Wasn¡¯t the sun behind us? </em>I nced at the battle plot, and to my numb surprise, I couldn¡¯t see <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>drive cone. Or <em>any </em>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; <em>Pride of the Core. </em>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.


    <em>Fuck. Fucking shit!</em>


    ¡°Evasive action!¡± I screamed.

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    <em>Columex Approach, Columex System</em>


    <em>Vorzyd Sector</em>


    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 ce. <em>Something is very, very wrong. </em>She flicked a nce towards Tuff, but the tactical droid was as impassive as ever.


    ¡°Plot to intercept with that dreadnought,¡± the droidmanded, ¡°And inform Task Force Nardolin of our presence.¡±


    <em>Dreadnought. </em>The word rang in her skull. She could see it in the distance; a great ind of steel buffeted by relentless waves of warheads andsers. 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 <em>supposed </em>to receive the suffering of others, and respond withfort and healing in return.


    But she could offer nofort. Not here¡­ no against <em>this. </em>


    As <em>Messenger </em>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 gctic 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 ughter.


    Barriss wanted none of it. She was a <em>Jedi. </em>She was <em>supposed </em>to have none of it. But as <em>Messenger </em>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.


    <em>Jedi Masters.</em>


    There were Jedi Masters in the bridges of cruisers, impassively looking on as theymanded the deaths of thousands. <em>It¡¯s people you¡¯re killing, </em>she wanted to scream, <em>not droids! Do you not realise!? </em>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 <em>this </em>the meaning of serenity?


    The Force once again pounded her psyche as if it was a shut door. Sinister difort continued to rise like bile as <em>Messenger </em>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. <em>We¡¯re sailing through a graveyard, </em>Barriss realised numbly.


    <em>¡°Messenger, Kronprinz,¡± </em>a staggered voice caught her attention, <em>¡°This is Admiral Greyshade. Do you have the interdiction mines we requested?¡± </em>


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Tuff confirmed, ¡°We are currently on course for intercept the dreadnought¡¯s port nk, please advise.¡±


    <em>¡°Very good¨C¡± </em>there was a sharp gasp, an abrupt disconnect, and two minutes of silence before he returned, <em>¡°¨CWe will proceed with the n. Locate our mark and follow our lead. Shields to starboard beam; you will be running the gauntlet.¡±</em>


    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 nt, with the Republic¡¯s right nk furthest away from the and left nk 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; <em>White Hand Fleet. </em>Aplicated 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, calcting 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.


    ¡°<em>Legacy of the Founders </em>is too unwieldy to navigate around the orbital cannons,¡± Tuff exined, ¡°And presenting a target thatrge, 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 <em>Legacy </em>were in full view, along with two more identifiable blips. First was <em>Kronprinz, </em>a Tionese warship that looked wholly out of ce. Her ssy armour shimmered in kaleidoscopic colours surrounded by the hail of red, green, and blueser bolts, gracefully minnowing through the torrential chaos. She swung around just within the dreadnought¡¯s blindspot, stern narrowly missing the battleship <em>Hexenkoenig</em>, who along with the rest of Task Force Nardolin was holding off the onught of the White Cuirass Fleet with determined steadfastness.


    Unicorn Squadron¡¯s vector was gradually spelled out on the plot¨Cto skirt the edges of <em>Legacy¡¯s </em>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 gxy.


    ?


    ¡°Dive, dive!¡± I roared as <em>Repulse </em>was bracketed by a cannonade of furious turbsers.


    The entire White Hand Fleet immediately turned on a dime, rotating ny-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, <em>Pride of the Core </em>was notcking in ventral firepower, and my personalmand was getting <em>savaged. </em>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 de was all but certain to eat them alive. <em>Benevolent Mother </em>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 <em>Pride of the Core, </em>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 <em>Renown, </em>sir!¡± thems droid shouted¨C


    <em>¡°Sir!¡± </em>Zenith-II hailed me, <em>¡°Cylinders Seventy-Five to Eighty-Nine are still loaded and ready! And with us out of the way, they have a clear shot!¡±</em>


    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!¡±


    <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>transmitters screamed out the order in the general direction of the, brute forcing its way through severalyers of Republic jamming. Almost immediately, the Steel de cut their pursuit and veered away, taking refuge behind the massive bulk of the Mandator.


    <em>Pride of the Core, </em>on the other hand, wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    <em>Thump, thump, thump. </em>I could somehow hear the sts 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.


    <em>Pride of the Core </em>tanked the first and second shots with hastily prepared kic 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 <em>disappeared into </em>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 <em>Pride </em>to literally tank the barrages with sheer bulk alone.


    I could¡¯ve sword the dreadnought was wracked by an internal ignition following another well-ced shot, with panels of armour bulging out briefly, but her bulkheads must have contained the detonation. A detonation that would¡¯vepletely 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,¡± Imanded, ¡°We will reorganise and sweep back around. Stelle, are we able to redeploy <em>Victoria Louise</em>?¡±


    <em>Victoria Louise. </em>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 <em>Pride, </em>the White Hand and Clysm can mop the fragile Steel de and nk around the Cerulean Spear and White Cuirass.


    ¡°Cylinder Ny is lining up their shot against <em>Legacy of the Founders</em>,¡± Stelle reported, ¡°It will take <em>at least </em>half an hour to modify their station, to say nothing about calcting a firing solution. They¡¯ll have to fire across the length of our battle line. If <em>Victoria </em>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 de.


    The Steel de attempted to take some pot shots with long-ranged missiles, but <em>Benevolent Mother </em>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 de frompletely 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 <em>Pride of the Core </em>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 <em>Pride. </em>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 <em>Repulse </em>unhesitatingly identified the ship as a Venator-ss star cruiser.


    <em>Even more enemy reinforcements? </em>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 corrting radiation involved, but Cronau radiation detection required specific sensors, and <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>had either been shot off of disabled for morebat-relevant ones.


    A heartbeatter, thirty more drive cones blinked into existence around the Venator. And <em>Repulse </em>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!¡±


    <em>¡°¨CThis is General Sev¡¯rance Tann of the Confederate Second Fleet. Reinforcements have arrived.¡±</em>


    Short, sweet, and to the point. I¡¯ve never heard more beautiful words in my life. <em>Why </em>the broadcast wasing 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. <em>Admiral Tonith and Admiral Trench. </em>It must be. We had won.


    ¡°The enemy is up,¡± I immediately dered, ¡°All remaining ships, full power to sublight drives and double-up bow shields! We¡¯re rendezvousing with the Second Fleet by taking the <em>direct </em>route!¡±


    In other words, smashing straight through the Steel de while they were still caught off-kilter, and hopefully, sandwiching them from above and below. At the same time, the Second Fleet¡¯s Providences¨C<em>Ascendant Sky </em>among them¨Cdived down and ripped out a fuside of ion torpedoes directly into the <em>Pride¡¯s </em>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 <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>muzzle velocity, even as she and her sister ships <em>Renown </em>and <em>Revenge </em>trumpeted out a series of bleeding bolts from their superheavy batteries in quick session. I resisted the urge to shut my eyes as <em>Repulse </em>in particr 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-gship was caught in some exceedingly queer docking procedure with the Mandator, flipped upside down and hugging therger 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 <em>hundreds </em>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 turbsers ravaging everything in arm¡¯s reach. Explosions rocked the dreadnought as isted gas storages were ignited, blowing up battery tforms 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 be its undoing, as the AT-TE¡¯s and clonemandos deployed to fight off the boarding party now had to fight off the boarding army over indefensibly vast surface area.


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    <em>We won. We won. </em>The mantra repeated itself over and over in my head. The Republic was surrounded on all sides. The Steel de Fleet had already seen the writing on the wall, and the first bursts of emergency hyperspace jumps were sparking on the tactical holo. Thest 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.


    <em>¡°Violent energy reading from starboard¨C!¡± </em>


    Without warning and like a hammer of God, a zing pir of bloody crimson smote Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s Venator, along with the <em>Pride¡¯s </em>entire bridge stalk.


    ?


    <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    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 <em>Messenger </em>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 turbsers and missiles rocketing from the dreadnought¡¯s artillery decks. All in order to protect the interdiction mines that would somehow¨C<em>somehow</em>¨Cwin them the war.


    ¡°Two klicks to clear,¡± Taylor reported, ¡°We¡¯ve lost three ships.¡±


    Unicorn Squadron was elerating alongside the dreadnought¡¯s tapering prow when Barriss felt herself inexplicably drawn towards the <em>Legacy¡¯s </em>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.


    <em>¡°Every conscious move you make, from the smallest to thergest, 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?¡± </em>


    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 st 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.


    <em>¡°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?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°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?¡±</em>


    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 <em>moved, </em>as if it had realised a pawn had wrested themselves from its grasp. Barriss stared up at the bridge of the <em>Legacy, </em>observing the invisible lines that stretched out, and realised that there was the nexus of the mentalwork. A Jedi Master, presiding over the battle like an omnipresent god, orchestrating the ughter.


    Any subservient captain¨CJedi or not¨Chad their rebellious thoughts forcefully expunged, their emotions mellowed in perfect obedience, making them numb to the ughter. 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.


    <em>This is not the Jedi way, </em>she reproached viciously, <em>who do you think you are!?</em>


    ¡°We¡¯re clear!¡± Taylor leapt to his feet.


    ¡°Inform <em>Kronprinz </em>that the minefield is in ce!¡± Tuff must¡¯ve raised his output volume to the maximum, by how his voice reverberated through the bridge, ¡°Where is Admiral Trench¨Cis <em>Victoria Louise </em>in position!?¡±


    ¡°Transmitting¡­ the Fourth Fleet is waiting a micro-jump away. <em>Kronprinz </em>is coordinating their extraction vector!¡±


    A series of friendly pins faded as Task Force Nardolin was finally overwhelmed and annihted by the White Cuirass Fleet. Only <em>Kronprinz¡¯s </em>g squadron managed to withdraw in any semnce of order, armour tes 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 isting 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 nk had broken down into headless, panicking ships. The closest reinforcements were thousands of klicks away.


    <em>¡°This is General Sev¡¯rance Tann of the Confederate Second Fleet. Reinforcements have arrived.¡±</em>


    The missing pins were reced with a boiling onrush of hundreds of Separatist-coloured markers directly behind the Republic¡¯s right nk. Soon after, the further star dreadnought¡¯s drive signature sputtered out and disappeared from the map, leaving behind only a faint outline that denoted itsst known position.


    <em>The Republic is going to lose,</em> she realised. The Steel de 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 <em>Legacy </em>and the White Cuirass Fleet.


    Her sightline was interrupted by six colossal freighters, each at least twice as long as the <em>Messenger, </em>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 nning to destroy the <em>Legacy of the Founders.</em>


    <em>¡°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 sumbed to the insidious energy.¡± </em>


    In a sh 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 <em>Messenger </em>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 <em>Legacy </em>in an <em>impossibly precise</em> extraction.<em></em>d in rippling grey steel adorned with navy blue markings that seemed to pulse with a stormy tempest¨Cdoubly so while cked, fractured and steaming from the mines¨Cthe deafeningly silent whine of its <em>sixteen </em>oversized ion drives reduced the carnage of the battlefield to a standstill.


    <em>The Separatists have star dreadnoughts. </em>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 zed to life, shining and crackling with ionic radiation like the birth of a newborn star.


    <em>Messenger </em>shut its eyes, viewports automatically ckening.


    And Barriss was still knocked back, shielding her eyes from the blinding discharge of energy. A great sphere of lightning crashed into the <em>Legacy¡¯s </em>portside beam,pletely overwhelming her deflectors in a concentratednce. Vicious ionisation ripped through the <em>Legacy¡¯s </em>nk like a horde of insatiable massiffs, burning straight through cannon towers and shield generators alike, frying the entire ship from the inside out.


    When thest sparkles finally dispersed, the oversized Star Destroyer was listing to portside, her entire left nk cked out and steaming. With no shields or weapons on the correct nk to defend herself, the Separatist dreadnoughtid into the half-disabled <em>Legacy </em>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 <em>second </em>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 gxy has to offer, aiming straight for the <em>Legacy, </em>and it open fired in a pir of me.


    A pir of me that sailedfortably over the <em>Legacy¡¯s </em>bridge and disappeared into the abyss, identally striking a warship further down the battleline andpletely <em>vaporising </em>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 Ny, I ammanding 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 <em>should </em>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 <em>Legacy, </em>and destroying it would put a definitive end to the ughter.


    <em>¡°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 bes 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 ims you for its own. If that happens you will be an enemy to all that the Jedi stand for¡ªand an enemy of all Jedi who hold to the path of right.¡± </em>


    Master Luminara¡¯s lesson echoed in her head, every fragmented pieceing together in her memory. Awareness came to Barriss sharp as a knife into her back, twisting in her spine.


    <em>But what if the entire Jedi Order has already fallen to the Dark Side, and it¡¯s that nobody has noticed yet? </em>


    Count Dooku didn¡¯t create the Separatist Alliance, he only helped them elerate 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. <em>For what reason? </em>Why do the Jedi partake in all of this bloodshed? Just for Dooku? Barriss couldn¡¯t quite convince herself that was the case.


    <em>What will you do, </em>the Force seemed to ask her, <em>what would a Jedi do?</em>


    <em>¡°This is Cylinder Ny,¡± </em>time was running out,<em> ¡°We have confirmed your codes, Messenger. Go ahead.¡±</em>


    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 aplish 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.


    <em>¡°I¡¯m trapped.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°I¡¯m only a Padawan.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Someone will save me.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°I can¡¯t do anything about it!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°¨CSo you expect someone else to do something for you?¡±</em>


    Barriss blinked.


    <em>¡°¨CJust who in Nine Hells do you think you are?¡±</em>


    Her eyes shed 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 mmed 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 themand 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 thelink 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 ckened 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 fallenlink. For the briefest moment, her eye¡¯s met Taylor¡¯s, and then the ster in his hand.


    <em>Of course¡­ </em>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,ing 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 ve!?¡±


    A small piece of her wanted to cringe at the mere thought of shouting at a Jedi Master, much less a Councilmember. But therger 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.¡±


    ¡°<em>Republic? </em>And what about the <em>Jedi!?</em>¡± she screamed, ¡°Look around you! Millions are <em>dead! </em>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 <em>Victoria Louise. </em>Still too weak to stand, Barriss pulled herself forward, scraping her nails bloody against the flooring as she did. xons red in the background; panicked footsteps crashing all around her as the <em>Legacy¡¯s </em>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 <em>stopping </em>the Republic from going too far?¡± she pleaded, tears bubbling up, ¡°Answer me! Why are you <em>enabling </em>the Republic!?¡±


    ¡°So you <em>have </em>fallen to the Dark Side,¡± the Jedi Mastermented, 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 <em>arrogance. </em>Has Master Rancisis always been this arrogant? <em>Have the Jedi? </em>Has Barriss been part of it for long she became ustomed to it? Something within her finally snapped.


    ¡°Are you willfully blind!?¡± she cried, ¡°It¡¯s the <em>Jedi </em>who have fallen to the Dark Side! We¡¯re perpetrating a war that means <em>nothing </em>to us! Instead of keeping the peace like we should¡¯ve, we are waging war on behalf of the <em>Senate! </em>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 ting 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 <em>tried.</em>¡±


    Tuff¡¯s emotionless voice reverberated through her skull¨C <em>¡°</em>Aim for the bridge. <em>Open fire.¡±</em>


    With a new determination settled in her chest, immovable as permacrete, Barriss closed her eyes one more time. This time, however, she resolved to <em>do something </em>about it the next she opened them.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    <em>Columex Approach, Columex System</em>


    <em>Vorzyd Sector</em>


    <em>Columex¡¯s hyper-junction is going to be inoperable for weeks, if not months.</em>


    That was what I thought. There was probably enough scrap in the star system to build the Death Star from scratch. Scrappers were alreadyying into the thick of it, like vultures and rats. Sanctioned scrappers, of course, who were only allowed to ess 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 FTLmunications, there was no underestimating the fog of war. With all thetent 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.


    <em>Repulse </em>cruised over the cracked hull of <em>Pride of the Core, </em>her holocams recording every bit of it and transmitting the scene to media stationsside. I could just imagine the news banner being livestreamed all over the star system: <em>BREAKING NEWS ¨C Victory! Republic General taken prisoner! </em>


    That¡¯s right. Governor-General Therbon of the 12th Sector Army, found and captured in one of the Mandator¡¯s internalbat information centres. These star dreadnoughts; they were being used as mobilemand centres. Perhaps they were so mind-bogglinglyrge 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 <em>Pride of the Core </em>still <em>looked </em>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 <em>nothing </em>left of the <em>Legacy of the Founders. </em>The warship that had given us so much grief at Centares;pletely vaporised. <em>Victoria Louise </em>essentially had the yield of a thermonuclear bomb at impact¨C<em>something </em>happened, for certain, whether it was a core meltdown or a gas detonation¨Cbut whichever the case, the <em>Legacy </em>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 gxy. Murkhana and the Shadowfeed most definitely have their hands on the intel, and so will the Senate on Raxus Secundus. It was in these seeding hours after the battle that spection 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 <em>drama. </em>All the <em>boring </em>numbers and figures can be left to the militarymentators. 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 ¡®<em>Republic General taken prisoner!¡¯ </em>instead of <em>¡®Sev¡¯rance Tann saves the day!¡¯ </em>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 <em>first. </em>


    I didn¡¯t know if it was a precious coincidence or impressive nning, but the 1st and 4th Fleets jumping in <em>immediately </em>after she announced that <em>¡®Reinforcements have arrived¡¯ </em>was going to be a huge publicity victory for her.


    ¡°<em>Carrion Spike </em>has docked to our portside airlock,¡± Stelle sluggishly whirred, clearly reaching the end of his rope, ¡°<em>Messenger in mes </em>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¨C<em>where did she even learn human gestures?</em>¨Cand saying, ¡°Don¡¯t ask a droid her secrets, Master.¡±


    And on cue, the holoproj shed with a response. I quietly received it.


    <em>¡°Rain?¡± </em>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-ss dreadnoughts.¡±


    Her brows drew closer, ¡°Those showpieces¨C?¡±


    ¡°Retrofitted for battle,¡± I exined, ¡°The casualty count ising in, Mina. We lost almost <em>two million </em>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 <em>lot </em>more, but I was trying to shape a narrative here. I wasn¡¯t lying; we <em>won¡¯t </em>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 Fleetspletely 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 <em>now, </em>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 feltpelled 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 waspletely 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 <em>right now</em>?¡±


    ¡°Now?¡± Mina unconsciously bit her lip, ¡°No, that¡¯s¡­ but I <em>can </em>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 <em>emergency</em>.¡±


    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 <em>Pride </em>away. The death toll was going to echo throughout the gxy, 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 gship, 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 calctions. Not to mention there was a good chance the Force¨C<em>read: plot armour</em>¨Cwas watching her back at all times. Still, I never quite expected her to use the <em>Carrion Spike</em>.


    I turned around, ¡°I still quite like her. What about the cloaked ship?¡±


    General Tann scraped her glowing red gaze across theparatively 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.


    <em>I am actually insulted, more or less because it¡¯s true. </em>Dooku¡¯s <em>seriously </em>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 n 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,¡± shemented, not untruthful, ¡°Would it not be wiser to consolidate my position among the Admirals and Generals before pressing my im?¡±


    ¡°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 mustmend 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 exin, sir. Both we and the Republic are spent. Neither of us have any more offensive potential. The war on the Perlemian is functionally <em>over.</em>¡±


    ¡°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 be undone.¡±


    The General¡¯s expression mellowed into one of introspection, mind no doubt already working through preliminary battle ns and strategies.


    ¡°If you would excuse me, General,¡± I started, tugging my cor, ¡°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 <em>every </em>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 willst?¡±


    <em>What a loaded question, </em>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 <em>want </em>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 g.¡±


    ¡°I concur, General. A false g 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 <em>over</em>, at least for now. And that means the fire underneath the Senate has died. With the ceasefire in ce, 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 <em>now. </em>


    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. Simrly, 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 spection, 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 <em>quite </em>beyond my paygrade.¡±


    ¡°I imagine that won¡¯t be for long.¡±


    ¡°Uh, pardon¨C?¡±


    The nking 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 iing bridge shift as we retreated into the darkness of <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>hull, with most of the lights dimmed orpletely 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 hemands 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 inurate shot, or that he was aiming at the <em>Pride </em>and disregarded the enemy Venator in the line of fire. I imagine thetter.¡±


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the vition.


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Trained Jedi killer?¡± </em>


    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 Vultureplement hung from rafters outside¨Cand what little there was had been reserved for shuttles andnding ships. Such as <em>Messenger¡¯s </em>stunt-legged Sheathipede-ss.


    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 simr 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 <em>perfect </em>time to hear General Tann¡¯s answer, instead of just repeating mine again. As such, I shot the her a meaningful nce 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 theirbined 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 nce, but I forced myself to remember why I¡¯m putting in so much effort in the first ce. 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 mylink.


    ¡°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 que in her hands.


    ¡°Like I said, I admire your conviction. Follow me; it¡¯s never toote to learn the truth.¡±


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    Sometimes, Padm¨¦ Amid wondered if she was ever shown the same datafiles as everybody else in the Gctic Senate.


    Every day the war continued to crawl forward, with every new Senate session, she felt as if the gxy was slowly bing insane. Or was it only the Senate? <em>Or perhaps, am I the one who is insane? </em>She was struck by a giddying sense of rity as her colleagues continued to shout and scream around her.


    <em>Yes, it must be me who has gone insane. That must be it. That must be the exnation. </em>


    What other exnation could there be?


    Padm¨¦ couldugh.


    It was only the shared, slightly bewildered, slightly concerned nces she had inmon with Bail Organa of Alderaan and Mon Mothma of Chandr that kept her grounded. If she was insane, then at least there was some constion in not being the only one who has lost their mind.


    Padm¨¦ couldugh, again.


    Her lips quirked upwards, drawing a worried look from Tec, 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, <em>sheepish </em>was too weak a word¨Cthe utterly <em>mortified </em>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 <em>was no silver lining.</em>


    <em>Ten million patriots are dead, and these so-called servants of the people are baying for more war!</em>


    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 <em>no </em>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 imed time and time again that the losses were a matter of operation, not product, and that the me 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 <em>already </em>near bankruptcy due to the cost of this war! The amount of funds necessary to rece our losses <em>will </em>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 <em>is </em>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 tantly <em>shameless</em>.


    ¡°¨CThis bill will essentially deregte the banks!¡± Senator Farr of Rodia rebuked in outrage, ¡°This is utterly uneptable!¡±


    ¡°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.


    <em>¡°Never!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°We must stop those animals!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Fund the war! Fight the Separatists!¡±</em>


    ¡°And what about those responsible for our crushing defeat?¡± Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth called for action, ¡°How will the Grand Army face ountability!? 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 proimed, ¡°We arepletely restructuring our staffs so that a disaster of this scale will never ur again!¡±


    <em>¡°And what does that mean!?¡± </em>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. <em>Money, money, money. It¡¯s all about credits, and not a single mention about those who died fighting for us! </em>She peeked at Chancellor Palpatine through a gap in her fingers, and found the man observing the proceedings¨Corck thereof¨Cin an almost dreamlike quality. It was the sight of Finis Valorume-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 semnce of reason into the Senate? Except, they are apparently as much to me as the Grand Army. If the media is to believe, Jedi Command sent their <em>best </em>Jedi General to battle, and now he too was dead.


    But she had more to worry about than that.


    <em>Where are you, Anakin? </em>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¨C<em>was he among the ten million dead?</em>


    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.


    <em>And oh, how I am failing mine. How we all are.</em>


    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 <em>she </em>doing? What was <em>she </em>thinking of?


    ¡°You need to say something, mydy,¡± Tec 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 tform 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 <em>continue </em>the bloodshed instead of end it.¡±


    Tec paused, craning her head up to look around, ¡°Your caucus will, won¡¯t they? Mydy, nobody here might care, but the <em>people </em>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 ountable to the people,¡± Tec 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 n began to form in her head. <em>Most of the Senators are just observing, </em>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 <em>his </em>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 downyed 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 <em>¡°HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MINDS!?¡±</em>


    Her voice boomed throughout the Grand Convocation Chamber, drowning everything out and stunning the Gctic 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¨¦ Amid: a measured, articte, and persuasive voice of reason in the Republic Senate. She knew the image she wore before the Senate, and the gxy. At that moment, however, she was the daring partisan guerri, the former queen of a world subjected to invasion and upation. Someone who knew first hand the consequences of war, and have had <em>enough </em>of it.


    ¡°Now that I have captured your attention, honoured colleagues!¡± she all but bellowed, ¡°Might Iment 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 <em>mortal cost!? </em>Must I remind every one of you that <em>ten million </em>people are dead!?¡±


    <em>You are fighting your war, Annie. I will fight mine.</em>


    ¡°They were <em>clones, </em>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 <em>ignorance, </em>Senator!¡± she roared, ¡°<em>Must </em>I remind this august body that there are only <em>two million </em>cloned troopers in the gxy 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.


    <em>This is where I belong.</em>


    ¡°What are you saying, Senator Amid?¡± Senator Paulness asked.


    ¡°What I am saying is that those were <em>our countrymen </em>who had fallen, not clones!¡± Padm¨¦ berated the Senate, ¡°They were <em>not </em>clones. They were loyalists! <em>Patriots! </em>Young men and women who have taken up the torch of the Republic, to <em>fight </em>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 <em>Mid Rim!?</em>¡±


    ¡°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 <em>ships </em>to rece, I am thinking about <em>who </em>has to crew them! Will you be personally visiting the homes of grieving families, offering your greatest condolences¨C<em>your thoughts and prayers!</em>¨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<em> million more of our constituents </em>to be thrown into the next battle and once more <em>BE SLAUGHTERED LIKE LIVESTOCK!¡±</em>


    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 Amid,¡± 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 Gctic 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 bepletely on her own and it wouldn¡¯t matter, <em>because she already had all of them by the throats.</em>


    ¡°Please conclude your statement, Senator Amid,¡± Mas Amedda requested.


    Padm¨¦ cleared her throat again, sharing a grin with her Tec 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 <em>your </em>countrymen were present too. <em>They were true patriots! </em>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!¡±


    ¡°¨CChandr concurs with the Senator from Naboo!¡± Mon Mothma announced.


    ¡°Rodia seconds the Senator from Chandr!¡±


    ¡°Alderaan is in <em>full </em>agreement with Naboo!¡± Bail Organa had the widest smile as he said so.


    Senator Bana Breemu raised a hand ¡°As is Humbarine!¡±


    ¡°<em>Traitors! </em>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 <em>you, </em>Senator? I am curious, as I imagine the gxy is, as are your <em>constituents. </em>The holocam eagerly awaits your answer, honoured Senator, so tell us; <em>whose side are you on?</em>¡±


    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 dered, ¡°Enough of the gxy has bled for nothing, and so I will say it once and now: <em>this war is over! Vote now!¡±</em>


    The Senate went wild, erupting into raucous cheering and apuse. The very air was now <em>buzzing </em>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 gxy 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 rx, because she knew that¨C


    <em>¡°THIS WAR IS OVER!¡±</em>

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    <em>Raxus Secundus, Raxus System</em>


    <em>Calu Sector</em>


    ¡°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 voicemanded 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 <em>Sovereign System of Japrael </em>was so measured and deliberate. First was that the Confederacy was supposed to be a non-partisan democracy¨Cpolitical parties were not <em>outright </em>banned, but there were legal stoppers in ce 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, colloquialbels 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 nomenture, cross-party deals weremon between the War and Peace Factions. Their antagonism only extends as far as international rtions are concerned, as most of the Independent Systems share simr economic principles¨Cwhich was why they joined the Separatist Alliance in the first ce. 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 enve and especially vulnerable. Onderon¡¯s treatment was simr 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 <em>¡®allied¡¯ </em>star systems.


    Neutral parties, so to speak. Secession wasn¡¯t illegal in Republicw¨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 gxy, nestled in the Core¡¯s backyard¨Cwhile Onderon was an inhospitable, barely popted backwater on the fringes of the Inner Rim. Thest 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 <em>hell on earth </em>for the Republic. Like Fondor, the Onderonian popce 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 <em>Onderon. </em>


    Onderon. The with a biosphere actively hostile to human life, not to mention the Demon Moon¡¯s yearly crusade. The 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 with an aeon-long history of bloodshed, with innumerable fortresses and mountain redoubts carved into its imprable geography.


    Any invader wouldn¡¯t even know where to start. Iziz<em>, </em>the so-called capital city? You might as well mark Japrael System¡¯s dot on the starchart as <em>Iziz, </em>because that¡¯s the only Onderonian settlement the gxy can name. Fuck, even <em>I </em>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 neen 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 ofposure, 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 tform to meet the War Faction in the middle in a rare disy ofpromise. If <em>any </em>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 <em>only </em>Separatistmander 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 <em>imagine </em>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-upied Salin Corridor, the Gordian Reach or the Listehol Run¨Cand still take days to reach Raxus even with thetest hyperdrive.


    He wasn¡¯t getting here in time. End of story.


    <em>Would you look at that, </em>I mused, <em>the Senate is in checkmate.</em>


    ¡°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 Bws 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 dered, though with an unmistakable tone ofment.


    Before I could even <em>begin</em> 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. <em>File, </em>themon thought seemed to be, <em>what file? What was there to look at, what was there to think about? </em>


    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 <em>Columex?</em>


    Usually, a hearing would begin by now. Nothing serious; just a meaningless audit for the books. Stuff like cross-referencing her achievements, confirming herpetency, 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 ufortable; only expounding by the pure <em>calm </em>General Tann disyed. I could be made to think this was just another military council.


    <em>All it would take is one person, </em>I thought, <em>one person to break the ice. </em>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.


    ¡°ording to the Bws 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 im. 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-d Skakoan beside him, ¡°This is Bunt Dantor of the Techno Union. We have a proposition to make.¡±


    I shifted my gaze between them, before ncing 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 coborative 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 <em>exclusive </em>contract with the Office of the General.¡±


    ¡°You seem confident in the vote¡¯s result,¡± Imented mildly.


    ¡°If you are not, officer, then consider that the Techno Union¡¯s worlds will vote for her if our proposition is epted.¡±


    I sucked in a wince. Alright, that was a bit <em>too </em>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-industrialplex. 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 thergest slice of the cake.


    A raised a t 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-ss and Recusant-ss 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.


    This tale has been uwfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    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 <em>me </em>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 ss of vessel.¡±


    The schematics burst out of the projector, detailing a warship that could only be described as an interster 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 <em>wasn¡¯t a railgun. </em>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 electromas¨Cthe gxy has a long history of kic mass drivers¨Cbecause the Tann Railgun was more urately a <em>warp drive </em>pretending to be a mass driver<em>.</em>


    A railgun can¡¯t elerate its warhead <em>anywhere </em>near rtivistic velocities¨Cthe most powerful could perhaps manage a muzzle velocity of 20KPS; and the Tann Railgun had <em>100,000KPS</em>. The drawbacks, however, were immense. Just to elerate 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 hup 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 myyman knowledge, this was essentially creating a <em>warp drive. </em>An <em>extremely unstable </em>warp drive that was bad enough <em>outside </em>the ship, but <em>inside? </em>


    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 semnce of uracy 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 apletely new weapon system from the ground up, with apletely new hull to hold it. Would it work? I can¡¯t tell, hell I might not even be alive by the time it bes 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 exined, clearly responding to my pensiveness, ¡°Our subsidiary Loronar Defense Industries will coborate 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 elerator 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 <em>after </em>the war, I may be able¨C¡±


    <em>¡°No,¡± </em>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 <em>after </em>the war. She is the <em>only </em>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 augh, ¡°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, theoryes first. Implementation cane 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 ofrgestmercial conglomerates in the gxy¨Cto General Tann <em>specifically. </em>The same Techno Union that was the parentpany of the Baktoid Industries that supplied almost <em>all </em>of the Droid Army¡¯s droids. There was a <em>lot </em>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 cane 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 ddens 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 re 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 obedientlyply 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 fieldmander.¡±


    ¡°...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 cybeics. 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 in.


    ¡°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. <em>I missed something</em>¨Cthe thought was a clenching first, squeezing my arms to my sides¨C<em>but what did I miss? </em>I overlooked something crucial, but it was something that the old Harch has already seen. <em>Just what was it¡­</em>


    ¡°¨CWhere is General Grievous?¡± I burst out, uncaring that I was probably overstepping.


    ¡°He and Tonith have absconded westward with the dreadnought <em>Devastation</em>,¡± 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 ced upon the helm of state,¡± a risingmotion 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 dered, ¡°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 apuse¨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 pping begrudgingly, the illusion ofplete 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.


    <em>So she really did¡­ </em>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 que, ¡°Commander Trilm ced herself in <em>my </em>debt to persuade me.¡±


    <em>What? That </em>Calli Trilm, cing 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 <em>will </em>be stepping out of our shadows. Your sesses will no longer be attributed to your superiors, but yourself. Your name will be spoken in the media, and appear on the desks of Senatemittees and even Dooku himself. You <em>will </em>need trusted friends, and it is apparent to me that Commander Trilm already trusts <em>you</em>.¡±


    ¡°...I find that hard to believe.¡±


    Senator Singh had shot to his feet and scampered towards Senator Bonteri, rying the messenger''s words. In a rare disy 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 findmon 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 upied by Loyalist armies. The Peace Faction, on the other hand, were far from celebrating. Instead, panicked buzzing ripped through their ranks. This was a <em>disaster. </em>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; <em>why was she so confident? </em>


    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 ount 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 rmendation that we respond to the Republic favourably.¡±


    ¡°In fact!¡± the Supreme Commander raised her voice,pletely gripping the Senate in her address to the point where neither faction could seek to oppose her, ¡°It is not just my official rmendation, but the <em>oathsworn duty </em>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

    Chapter 34


    <em>Boz Pity, Boz Pity System</em>


    <em>Ha Sector</em>


    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 bookkeepingbels, as mosts were self-governing orwless. While many astrographers colour this slice of space in Hutt green, worlds like Chcta¨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 ns¡¯ true wealth¨Cthe gctic underground, spice runs, and smugglingnes¨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 <em>seeded </em>in its primary objective to keep Separatist inds in north and south isted. The Republic¡¯s Perlemian offensive was a crushing sess, by almost every metric that mattered¨Cthe Confederacy had beenpletely 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 theirurels, 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 w back the zero-sum with the battles of Centares and Columex. The real loss for the Republic was the media bacsh¨Cexcept media bacsh fades sooner orter. 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-industrialplex, 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 spe 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-upied 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 industrialplex. 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 bing 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, Chcta and Sneeve in one of theplex¡¯s boardrooms, it was <em>my </em>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 <em>Pantoran? </em>Even if the 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 amerce guild, and Overseer Umbrag was only one of countless branch managers. By promising to always buy from <em>his </em>franchise before every other Techo Union or Baktoid nt 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 <em>keep up.</em>


    ¡°We will begin establishing branches in the neighbouring sectors,¡± Overseer Umbrag¡¯sment 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-d Skakoan a sideways nce as we approached an observation deck overlooking the parade grounds, ¡°You are confident in that im?¡±


    ¡°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 <em>two more </em>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 frompletion,¡± Umbrag proimed, ¡°We need something high profile¨C¡±


    We approached the railing; and there was a toon of BX-series droidmandos in rank and file below. Beefier than regr 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 d in the advertised titanium-reinforced steel, instead a murky ck 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 sters 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 <em>¡®Jedi killers¡¯ </em>would definitely draw the kind of interest he wanted. Once these droidmandos 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 toon 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 regtions, 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 exemry showing, I will give my personal rmendation 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 <em>really </em>have permission for.


    ¡°Well?¡± I prompted.


    If nothing else, I would have something tough aboutter.


    Umbrag took a strained, inorganic breath; ¡°I request we begin the licensed production of Decimator war machines.¡±


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°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 ce in the gxy 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 ss 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 withouting under scrutiny for tant favouritism. Either Decimator production went public, or nobody but Krant gets to produce them.


    Except, that¡¯s <em>exactly </em>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 <em>without </em>executive sanction¨Ceach and every move was being watched; military restructure, industry rtionships, 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 y.


    ¡°I do not know the Supreme Commander¡¯s ns 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 havee to a profitable conclusion. The Techno Union will be pleased.¡±


    I eyed Umbrag carefully, ¡°Yes¡­ let¡¯s hope this rtionship remains profitable for many more years toe.¡±


    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 oue 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 thepound.


    ¡°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 ck de. 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 de couldn¡¯t withstand the ultrasonic vibrations of the tech. As I held it, I felt its edge.


    ¡°Thosemando 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 de 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¨Cevenpletely 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.¡±


    <em>Jedi have been killed by less. </em>It pained me, the idea that the Jedi are stuck between a rock and hard ce 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 <em>Jedi </em>but as <em>soldiers. </em>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 orter 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 reced 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 <em>actually </em>need help, and see no recourse, then insert that into any long-range transmitter.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Barriss raised an eyebrow, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me <em>you </em>are going toe? I could do without that.¡±


    <em>Is it just me or has she gotten some of that Jedi spunk back into her?</em>


    ¡°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 augh, ¡°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.


    <em>¡°What¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°Are the negotiationsplete?¡±


    ¡°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 toon of droidmandos, before sniffing in disdain, ¡°The Ha, Kastr, 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 andmunication 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 rified, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Ah, so my prediction wasn¡¯t at all correct. Nearly there, but just off the mark enough that it mattered.</em>


    ¡°So the war will continue, then?¡± I prodded, ignoring Barriss¡¯ half-jolt.


    ¡°This so-called peace initiative has be a dying 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 uing 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 tion and anxiety show on my face, ¡°I prefer it this way.¡±


    <em>Rear Admiral. </em>Finally. But it was a double-edged sword; while I now had ess to resources beyond my imagination, it also meant other people would <em>know </em>I have ess 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 uing 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. <em>Shit, should¡¯ve expected this from a battlefield promotion. </em>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 gxy will be on the Confederacy¨Cif we want legitimacy, we need to <em>be </em>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 uing 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 exve?¡±


    ¡°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 exves was few enough, and assuming they had to be close to the border eliminated all but a mere handful. <em>Null, Co IV, the Red Twins, Fondor¡­ Onderon.</em>


    A strategically unimportant Separatist exve that¡¯s close to the border, with a rtively indifferent poption? <em>Oh¡­ so that¡¯s why she chose me.</em>


    ¡°Admiral,¡± the Supreme Commander at least had the tact to look <em>mildly </em>apologetic, ¡°I am afraid you will be returning to Onderon. There have been some reports of insurgent activity on the, but I am certain your skills will see it quelled.¡±

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    <em>Orbit of Vorzyd V, Vorzyd System</em>


    <em>Vorzyd Sector</em>


    The <em>Harbinger </em>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 t surface of his gship¡¯s bridge. The surfaces Scout had ved 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 <em>the </em>Anakin Skywalker. How could she have <em>not </em>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 asional 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,ms, helm, tactical, atmospherics, and everything else that kept <em>Harbinger </em>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 Knightmuned in leisurely silence with the newlymissioned cruiser. As though they shared a telepathic conversation¨C as if the ship were whispering secrets in his ear.


    <em>Anakin Skywalker loves machines as if they were living, breathing creatures. </em>


    She knew this. She knew this because each and everyponent was pristine and spotless; no ster 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 <em>had </em>a pristine, spotless cruiser before. His very first. The very firstmand he ever received following his ascension to Jedi Knight.


    <em>Resolute.</em>


    And on <em>Resolute¡¯s </em>very first major engagement, she was shot and torn apart. The very moment Anakin Skywalker departed his first gship 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. <em>Resolute </em>must¡¯ve felt like tangible proof that he was truly a Jedi Knight¨C<em>a Jedi General</em>¨Cmore so than any ceremonious Knighting or removal of Padawan braid. <em>And he failed that responsibility.</em>


    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. <em>No, no, no. Don''t think about that, don¡¯t think like that. I¡¯ve prepared for this, fought for this.</em>


    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.


    <em>I will not be the Padawan who gets the Chosen One killed. </em>


    <em>Even more so after everything he¡¯s done for me.</em>


    ¡°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 Yren¡¯s suddenment. 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 certainlyid 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 ry to the General, Admiral sir?¡± she asked.


    ¡°What do you suppose it will be?¡± Admiral Yren 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, asst 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 beenpleted, 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 Muunmander refused to leave the umbre of Vorzyd¡¯s orbital defences, and after the terrifying reminder of what GTO artillery could aplish at Salvara, Admiral Yren wasn¡¯t willing to risk approaching either. To make matters worse, Havoc Squadron and the Vorzyd System Defence Fleet had taken to forming a battlettice that hugged the hemisphere of the. Whenever Admiral Yren tried to manoeuvre around and prod for a weakpoint, the battlettice would shadow them.


    It was a stalemate.


    Scout hoped a Republic victory at Columex would soon arrive, prompting Horgo Shive and Vorzyd to surrender. <em>The battle must be over by now.</em>


    And now, Admiral Yren 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 Yren 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 themanding Jedi General of the battle group, even Admiral Yren 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 battlettice. 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 iing transmission from Horgo Shive¡¯s gship,¡± the Admiral informed bluntly.


    Her stomach leapt. <em>Iing transmission? Does that mean he¡¯s surrendering?</em>


    Master Skywalker shot her a brief re, and Scout crushed her internal monologue just as swiftly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it,¡± the Jedi Knight replied calmly,


    ¡°Put it through, Lieutenant!¡± Yren called.


    Lieutenant Avrey, their resident chiefms officer, hastily saluted and fiddled with her console, prompting a holographic bust of a Muunmander 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 Muunmander 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 youply with your government¡¯s wishes by lifting your blockade.¡±


    With an effort Scout smoothed her expression into uncaring ndness, mirroring her Master¡¯s simrly 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 imprable poise for even a moment.


    General Anakin Skywalker turned to face Admiral Yren, 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.¡±


    ¡°Theck ofmunications <em>is </em>concerning, and suggests great disarray,¡± Admiral Yren 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.¡±


    <em>We lost. The greatestrgest¨Cfleet in the history of the Republic lost against the Separatists.</em>


    ¡°Still, <em>peace?</em>¡± her Master muttered, ¡°I must speak to the Council on this.¡±


    ¡°I will send a request for orders,¡± Admiral Yren 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¡­ <em>inclement </em>as Master Skywalker. A confused sense of envy rose in her. <em>Would </em>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 nce down at her was severe, "The things I know that you don''t, Padawan, would fill a Corellian spice freighter. <em>Twice</em>."


    <em>O-oh, okay.</em>


    ¡°...Yes, Master.¡±


    The Battle Room was inhabited by the holographic Jedi Council, including Master Kcaj and Master Kr¨Cwho had reced 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 dered¨C ¡°How is it that I found out about this peace effort from a Separatistmander¨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 nket fell over the meeting, and even Master Skywalker sobered up¨C ¡°How?¡±


    <em>How did Oppo Rancisis fall? How did three Councilmembers lose their lives in the first year of the war?</em>


    ¡°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 thebined fleet.¡±


    ¡°And <em>peace </em>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 stoid armour, not unlike a cloned troopers¡¯. Even an entire gxy away, Scout still heard tales of the Jedi Knight from chit-chatting officers in the mess. It was said that the Coburn n 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 epass the entire Rimma Trade Route.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the vition.


    Most were pessimistic about the strategy. Even with both the Emerald Banner Fleet and embattled Night Hammer Fleet, thebined Separatist forces on the Rimma outnumbered Republic fleets three-to-one. That was, until Jedi Knight Rees Alrix tookmand 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 singlergest 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 takemand of thebined 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 ming the defeat on Master Rancisis¡¯ failure ofmand.¡±


    Anakin Skywalker mmed his fists on the table, ¡°Those chickenshit <em>bastards¨C</em>!¡±


    ¡°Anakin!¡± Master Kenobi snapped in a rare disy of ire, ¡°Control yourself! Remind yourself that you are no longer a Padawan.¡±


    Scout looked away as her Master silently fumed.


    ¡°Increasingly isted, the Temple is,¡± Master Yodamented, ¡°Return to Coruscant, Master Ti, Master Kenobi, and Master Windu will.¡±


    ¡°Master Windu as well?¡± Master Skywalker questioned, ¡°What about the Bothans?¡±


    ¡°I was toote,¡± 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 Sp, 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 <em>suggesting </em>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 intelligencework, 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¨¦ Amid. We do not need any more undue tension between the Temple and the Senate, won¡¯t you say?¡±


    ¡°The sponsor is¨C is Senator Amid?¡± 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 gxy 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 hase far indeed.¡±


    Master Gallia hummed nomittally, ¡°Is there a problem, Knight Skywalker?¡±


    ¡°No¨C¡± Master Skywalker answered quickly; a bit <em>too </em>quickly, ¡°No problem at all, Master.¡±


    Scout narrowed her eyes. <em>There is something up with Master¡­ but what is it? </em>She was taken back to her days in the Jedi Temple as she observed the normally unppable 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 Amid, 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. <em>That¡¯s where I¡¯ve felt this sensation! </em>Scout was reminded of the times in her old n 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 <em>always </em>on top of thetest gossip¨Cmore often than not, she had already long known before some bbermouth 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 <em>Chosen One </em>she¡¯s using of having a childish crush¡­ <em>nah, no way. You¡¯re being absolutely ridiculous, Tallisibeth. Stop getting carried away. </em>Didn¡¯t Master Gallia just mention that Senator Amid 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.


    <em>¡­I think. </em>Scout cannot recall an instance in which she had ever been wrong before, but decided that the real world was much moreplicated than the childish adventures her n 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 borate withoutplete 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 oue 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 orarymand posts.


    ¡°In that case,¡± Master Gallia mused, ¡°You can bring me up to speedter. Privately.¡±


    Master Skywalker edged forward, as if in anticipation to speak, but reined himself in a split secondter. <em>Maybe he¡¯s a little self-conscious? </em>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. <em>Okay, I wasn¡¯t expecting that.</em>


    ¡°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¡­ <em>use</em>, 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 <em>Skywalker </em>of all people<em></em>challenging mymand. 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 <em>kindly </em>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 andmand.¡±


    ¡°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 <em>this </em>sound.¡±


    ¡°Hey! I have my moments,¡± he protested, ¡°Besides, if anything my presence will only reinforce the peace effort, right?¡±


    <em>The Hero With No Fear, supporting the peace negotiations? </em>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 <em>¡®thanks for putting up with him¡¯ </em>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 gxy¡¯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 <em>anybody</em>, even those who would im 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 seed?¡±


    Master Adi Gallia scoffed derisively, ¡°<em>Of course not. </em>Were you listening at all, Skywalker? <em>Watch for both friends and enemies. </em>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 thest¨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 nce, realised the great ravine thaty between normal Jedi and a member of the High Council. She felt the <em>weight </em>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 spection 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 rity 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 upied 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 <em>was</em>. Because for all the Tholothian looked the age of Master Aa Secura or even Anakin Skywalker himself, Scout knew in her gut that she was anything but. <em>Tholothians were ageless. </em>


    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. <em>That </em>was his knowledge and wisdom; that of centuries of experience, observing the gxy 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 <em>¡®how much does she know?¡¯</em> but ¡®<em>how did she find out?¡¯ </em>Maybe, just maybe, the rumours that Master Gallia was the kingpin of a gxy-spanning intelligencework 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¡­


    <em>Councilmembers were Councilmembers for a reason, </em>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 <em>Chosen One¡¯s </em>voice.


    ¡°Look out for our dear Senators, will you?¡± Master Gallia asked sweetly, ¡°Onderon is an infamously dangerous after all. Keep close to them¡­ ah, but not <em>too close. </em>I¡¯m certain you can manage.¡±


    Though Master Adi Gallia continued to smile kindly, her eyes spoke a most un-Jedi-likenguage 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 swayingxly, ¡°That is exactly what I fear, Skywalker. Master Kenobi and Master Plo are far too lenient and forgiving. Stay on your toes, because <em>I am not.</em>¡±


    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. <em>I hope.</em>

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    Iziz. The oldest,rgest, greatest, and perhaps the <em>only </em>city of Onderon, as far as the gxy was concerned. But there were more¨C<em>many, many more</em>¨Chiding away in the imprable wilds of the. 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 me them. Still, the Onderonian Space Force was tasked with keeping tabs on them, and our rtionship 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 hintends, 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 nce 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 unassable 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-vignt.


    Not that they have shot a single round in a thousand years. But the Wave Gunner Corps remains, because no matter how much the gxy 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 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 <emsernces </em>as their standardised weapon, for fuck¡¯s sake. Onderonians were xenophobic, istionist, and culturally <em>incapable </em>of taking ideas from other cultures, whether it be military or art. We may as well be suspended in the gxy¡¯s definition of the mediaeval era.


    The city walls, the architecture; that brutal <em>massiveness </em>of Iziz that made the ce 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 <em>finally </em>bring Onderon out of its stagnation, to catch up with the rest of the gxy. 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 <em>knowing </em>the truth behind the Separatist Alliance¡­ well, in the end I still have to make <em>something </em>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 zas. Gilded repulsorlift carriages dragged by dalgos pushed aside the teeming crowds, many a symbol of lordly house emzoned on their nks, 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 <em>had </em>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. <em>That </em>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 Pce once stood there, but after its copse the Temple was built in its ce, to serve mostly the same function.


    As for <em>why </em>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¡¯stent 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.


    ¡°Best keep your head in, sir,¡± a female voice¨Cthe carriage driver, presumably¨Ccalled from outside, ¡°Nobles aren¡¯t all too popr 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 upation 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 <em>forced </em>to lean back as the sky ramp grew ever steeper and winding, with the noise and smell retreating behind us. In recement, 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 circr holding pattern around the Temple. <em>Almost like vultures around a wounded falumpaset, </em>I couldn¡¯t help but think, <em>how most fittingly foreboding.</em>


    ¡°There¡¯s an insurgency fermenting,¡± the driver warned once we were in the less popted 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 recing 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 <em>four-thousand years</em>; 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 emzoned 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, cing a hand on her hip, ¡°<em>Someone </em>had to fill in the hole you left.¡±


    Captain, then. Thest time I saw her, Ver Mishar was the rider of a particrly 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 nced upwards in a mild double-take, ¡°Ah, here hees.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to fill me in the detailster,¡± 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 alink, which she deftly caught with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Is that an order?¡±


    ¡°Like old times, unfortunately. I¡¯ll fill you in on the detailster, so keep an eye on thatlink.¡±


    The remark earned me a bruise on my shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s only been a year, <em>Admiral. </em>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 shed 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, wed 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-ss tactical fighters. Why would we, when our warbeasts could grow to the size of a krayt dragon and shrug off anything less than a turbser bolt with its jagged, brutal carapace?


    The rider of this particr warbeast, Captain Vander, peeked his head over the top of his drexl¡¯s huge shoulder de in an almostical 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!¡±


    This story has been uwfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    <em>He has a son, </em>I recalled, <em>of¡­ seven years? </em>Generally, only madmen or daredevils go anywhere near even a tamed drexl, much less a father. But Vander was a particrly 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.¡±


    ¡°d I won¡¯t be there to see it,¡± she grinned, waving mylink, ¡°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 <em>much </em>longer than you!¡± with a good-humoured scoff and a furious gust of wind, Vander;s warbeast sted 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 upying your thoughts and nightmares forever, which I supposed was why the Beast-Lords took such a liking to them.


    Thankfully, the image didn¡¯tst, as it was soon reced with the resplendent garments of the Pdins; the pce 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 disy the glory of Onderon to the gxy, King Sanjay Rash had dressed his entire pce 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 brilliantlyvender Onderon silk¨Cone of the few exports the 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 Pdins bade me on. With their wholly enclosed helms and tight-grippedsernces, 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 hangingmps and baskets of purple kings¡¯ crowns, and the banners and streamers that fluttered with every shade of rainbow hue.


    Horns red to herald my arrival, followed by the chambein¡¯s announcement; ¡°Presenting the Lord Admiral Rain of the House of Bonteri!¡±


    <em>Lord Admiral¡­ </em>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. <em>House of Rash, House of Dendup, House of Kaa, House of Tiree, House of Petryph, House of Tandin, House of Oarr¡­ </em>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 overheapmps.


    ¡°Wee home, child of Onderon!¡± he proimed, ¡°You have demonstrated your world¡¯s might and leal to the gxy, 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 cking of steel boots against stone as the Pdins 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, apanied 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 <em>something </em>you wish for.¡±


    <em>Just say it, </em>the King¡¯s eyes seemed to scream, <em>just say that you want the House of Bonteri, and I will give it! </em>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 sessionw.


    Not that I wanted any of it. See, like many monarchical worlds, many appointments were hereditary; chief among them gctic 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 gxy. I quite liked the sound of that, actually.


    ¡°I have been tasked to assume supervision over the uing peace summit¡¯sside security detail,¡± I started, ¡°And thus request that the totalmand 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 Kingzily nced at a moustached, white-haired man in bleak armour.


    Built like a great bear, the great General of Onderon easilymanded 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?¡±


    <em>When I left him, I was captain, </em>I thought, <em>now we stand at equal rank.</em>


    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 <em>confidence</em>.¡±


    ¡°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 n 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.¡±


    <em>¡­Are you kidding me? </em>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 orter. Not that Sanjay Rash was even at all that bad, rtively 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 ns. Thest thing we want is for the Republic to find Onderon embroiled in guerri warfare.


    ¡°My spotters have observed unidentified saddled rupings flying south, towards the hignds,¡± General Tandin admitted, ¡°However, that does not exin 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 n 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 tter. 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 anddies, let this be proof of Onderon¡¯s devotion! The gxy¡¯s finest will bear witness, and we must prepare ordingly. 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 tters 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 bing 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, ck-haired woman beside him, ¡°Lieutenant Slen. She is to be your adjutant.¡±


    <em>Awfully quick on the decision making¡­</em>


    ¡°nned 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 hignds 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 ns 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 upied.¡±


    A bit extreme, but that was Onderonian istionism in a nutshell.


    ¡°And that¡¯s for the city-folk, who live only a short carriage ride from the <em>only </em>starport on this whole,¡± I sniffed, ¡°Can you imagine what the Beast-Lords will think? First, the droids upy 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 ns 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 hism address¡­ ah, fuck me. <em>Should¡¯ve brought Hare with me.</em>


    Chatter andughter 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''sm, right? And she had mylink, which is connected to my datapad. <em>I¡¯m an actual genius.</em>


    I pulled out my tablet with a white-knuckled grip, so that it wouldn¡¯t be thrown out of my hands.


    <em>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.</em>

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    In the shade of low-hanging eaves, Ste Gerrera only had a single thought running through her mind; <em>we were toote. </em>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 tes from the rooftops.


    Ste 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. me-scaled rupings were amon 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, <em>drexls</em>? 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 <em>terrible </em>news for their budding rebellion, because there was as much information about the Space Force as there was about the <em>Beast Rider ns.</em>


    The Space Force was the home of political outcasts and disgraced soldiers, exiled to a forever-crusade against the Demon Moon. Ste had painstakingly cultivated sympathisers in both the Iziz Council and the Royal Army, only for all of that effort toe crashing down as the imprable, 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 <em>Separatist </em>ships, which could only mean the city will be crawling with droids even more than it already was in theing days, and she was not so confident to believe they will be able to remain under the radar for much longer.


    ¡°Ste!¡± 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 thergest, 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 <em>I </em>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 Ste¡¯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¡­ <em>rough </em>around the edges, and perishingly little of freedom fighting <em>actually </em>involved brute force.


    Ste 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?¡± Ste couldn¡¯t help but be concerned.


    ¡°Apparently they were banished by the current Lord General for protesting against joining the Separatists,¡± Dono exined conspiratorially, ¡°And they¡¯ve had a chip on their shoulder ever since.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave in two days,¡± she said with finality, ¡°We¡¯re thest 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 <em>big </em>was going on, and sooner thanter the droids were going to crack down even harder than they¡¯ve been before. Ste peeked inside the safehouse, at herrades 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?¡± Ste 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, Ste.¡±


    Her heart spiked¨C<em>that idiot!</em>


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said hurriedly, traipsing back inside, ¡°Fix yourself a drink.¡±


    Without waiting for a response, Ste rushed through the storeroom and mbered 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 wed up until she could see the soles of Saw¡¯s boots as heid t on his back, watching the Separatist fleet through a pair of macrobinocrs.


    ¡°What are you doing!?¡± she hissed loudly, ¡°What if they spot you!?¡±


    ¡°Rx, Ste,¡± 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 urrence. 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.


    Ste allowed herself to slowly dete, 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, Ste put her eyes to the binocs and scanned the Separatist warships¨Cand through the magnification, realised that beneath the battle weariness andser scars, each ship was d 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?¡±


    <em>Frigates, frigates¡­ were those cave paintings? </em>Cave paintings, and the other had what appeared to be indiscernible scriptures rakes across its hull. Saw was right, she <em>had </em>seen those before. The Halls of the Spirits was a series of caverns deep within Iziz¡¯s mountain, said to be the very ce 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 ce, 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 disyed in Iziz¡¯srgest university, the Ov Taraba. The first writing system of Onderon, it was said¨Cthe first ever stories and legacies of Onderon.


    ¡°You¡¯re joking,¡± Ste said disbelievingly, ¡°That¡¯s just coincidence. There must be hundreds of other worlds like Onderon¨C¡±


    ¡°Then look <em>there</em>,¡± he insisted, growing heated.


    A stark white hand, writrge. It wasn¡¯t everywhere, only in the central dozen or so ships, butrge and obvious enough to be the onlymon factor between the warships. Ste immediately, instinctively, knew what it meant. After all, what Onderonian didn¡¯t respect their ancient history? Offworlders, perhaps.


    The white hand meant<em> ¡®I was here.¡¯</em> In the primal time, when humans were still struggling for the survival of their species on this hellish, 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 ce was safe, or that you drew this particr 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 Separatistmander is an Onderonian.¡±


    ¡°A very sentimental one, I agree.¡±


    Ste flinched, nearly digging her face into the edges of the macrobinocs. Whirling around, she found a woman in coveralls bncing 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 uncontrobly down to the eaves¨Cand if it wasn¡¯t for Ste leaping to snatch her, she might have just found herself with a broken spine. Wrapping her arms around her, Ste slowly exhaled as she lifted the woman up to a sit.


    ¡°¨CShould I call you my saviour, or¡­?¡± Alvera trailed off, and as Ste backed away, she noticed a faded insignia on their shoulder.


    ¡°<em>You¡¯re </em>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,¡± Ste exined, ¡°But I didn¡¯t think¡­¡±


    ¡°I feel an insulting on,¡± Alvera held up a hand, ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I have everything Dono promised.¡±


    ¡°...Get yourself downstairs,¡± Ste 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.¡±


    ¡°ording to Dono, Alvera <em>is </em>an ex-guardsman,¡± Ste 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. Ste did trust her brother, ¡°Fine. Just don¡¯t scare her away.¡±


    ¡°If she really <em>was </em>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, Ste 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 pir, face scrunched up in thought.


    ¡°Ste, there you are!¡± Dono cried in wide-eyed panic, ¡°Onderon is going to host the peace talks to end the war!¡±


    Ste froze, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The Council of Lords was summoned to prepare for the peace summit,¡± Alvera leaned back, ¡°The reason they didn¡¯t dere it to heaven and earth is to keep it a secret for as long as possible. In fact, as far as the gxy is concerned, the location is still up for debate.¡±


    <em>Keep it a secret as long as possible. </em>Before Ste could even ask <em>why, </em>she noticed Alvera was staring at her with an extremely pointed look. <em>The reason, </em>she realised, <em>was to keep ¡®us¡¯ from finding out. </em>Not just them, but every group in the gxy potentially attempting to sabotage the peace efforts. All of that, by keeping the final location of the summit secret until thest 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.¡±


    Ste 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 n was to ask for Republic aid, but it¡¯s the <em>Republic </em>initiating the talks!¡±


    Even in the worst of times, Saw would somehowe up with an idea¨Cusually an incredibly foolhardy one¨Cbut this time he could do nothing but sigh in frustration and close his eyes. Ste suddenly found herself sorely missing his insane ns, because at this point any n 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.¡±


    ¡°<em>We?¡± </em>Saw sneered, ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®we¡¯ yet.¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Saw,¡± Ste crossed her arms, ¡°She¡¯s got a point.¡±


    ¡°What? Ask for the <em>Jedi </em>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¡¯sckeys?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to be peacekeepers, at least before the war?¡± Dono mused, warming up to the idea, ¡°Aren¡¯t they <em>supposed </em>to help fight <em>against </em>an illegal government?¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯re just supposed to trust them to do the right thing because they¡¯re <em>Jedi</em>?¡± Saw scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s stopping them from selling us out immediately? You realise if they <em>are</em>ing 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 <em>Jedi </em>of all people, who <em>can </em>we trust? They¡¯ve always been friends on Onderon, since ancient times.¡±


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the vition.


    ¡°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, Ste 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 n.¡±


    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, Ste?¡±


    <em>Are you worried about me, </em>Ste thought fondly, <em>thanks.</em>


    ¡°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 ssroom, ¡°What¡¯s the ¡®original n,¡¯ 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 <em>much </em>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 Consr-ss 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. <em>If this whole thing is a Separatist trap, </em>she thought, <em>this would be the perfect time to spring it. </em>


    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 turbsers and missileunchers, the painted warships remained silent.


    <em>Wait, painted? Since when were Separatist warships painted? Must be an Onderonian thing.</em>


    They came and went like a mirage, and when she finally ripped her attention away from them finally found their destination. Iziz.


    ¡°Woah¡­¡±<em></em>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 in its gargantuan walls.


    An ear -splitting scream pierced through the hull of their cruiser, followed by a wall of scales and spines epassing 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 wee, 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.


    <em>That thing is asrge as this cruiser! </em>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.


    <em>¡°Woah¡­¡± </em>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 Gctic War. These days, their navy intercepts the Demon Moon long before anythinges 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 arepletely 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 <em>equally.</em>¡±


    ¡°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 ce to know what¡¯s better for others. This will be a learning experience; you may hearments that upset you, or practices that may seem deplorable, but you must never forget to be patient. This goes for everywhere in the gxy, 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 weing party¨Cand her breath caught in her throat.


    What awaited them was an army.


    <em>Hundreds </em>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.


    <em>Ahsoka¡¯s right, </em>she decided numbly, <em>it really is like just stepped into thest millennium.</em>


    The ranking officer raised his sabre, and the ranks of soldiers split with a synchronous nk of armour, allowing the Separatist delegation toe forward. Scout spotted the sponsor of the summit and the Senator from Naboo, Padm¨¦ Amid, shooting a single curious nce 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 Amid 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 theborious proceedings continue, begrudgingly pulled away. There had been a hint of impatience there, Scout noticed, which made her wonder why her Master even wanted toe here if he knew he would be out of ce. 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.


    <em>Oh, right. We¡¯re supposed to be watching for¡­ assassins? Bounty hunters?</em>


    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 <em>click. </em>


    ¡°What is it?¡± Scout whispered back. She had known her friend long enough to know Ahsoka was the type to say whateveres 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 <em>can?</em>¡± Ahsoka asked, ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s¡­ blurred.¡±


    <em>Blurred.</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Resistance or immunity to the Force¡­ </em>haven¡¯t she heard of that somewhere? Scout could have sworn she found something simr 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 unppable Jedi Master flinching. <em>At least all my overpreparation finally proved useful, somehow.</em>


    ¡°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 nced 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. <em>Right, wasn¡¯t he the guy who thrashed our fleet at Christophsis? </em>Bonteri paused, flicking a nce 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 <em>normal. </em>Pained as she may to say it, men die all the time in war, and Rain Bonteri was no different from the thousand other Separatistmanders who plied his trade. Anakin Skywalker wasn¡¯t looking at Rain Bonteri, but something else. <em>But what? </em>Scout creeped forward, leaning forward so she could see his face¡­ <em>just what are you seeing, Master?</em>


    ¡°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 Pce.¡±


    ¡°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 nk the carriages, with the Senate Guards crowding around those bearing Republic devices, ¡°I have been ced 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 ess 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 nks 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 <em>is </em>going on as nned, 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 nkly, previously rxed palm morphing into a grip around his sabre¡¯s hilt, ¡°...Who?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a clone captain,¡± Master Skywalker exined impatiently, ¡°He was on my ship, at Christophsis. You were there, I know you were.¡±


    ¡°If he survived, he must have been transferred to <em>Battleship Fifty-Three</em>,¡± the Onderonian replied tersely, ¡°And if you did not find him there, he must have died as a result of your raid.¡±


    <em>¡°Raid?¡± </em>Anakin Skywalker¡¯s face reddened, ¡°It was a <em>rescue </em>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 <em>¡®I knew I shouldn¡¯t have allowed him toe here.¡¯</em>


    ¡°What <em>I would have done</em>¨C?¡± Master Kenobi¡¯s fears were proven right the next second, as Rain Bonteri¡¯s expression grew precariously brittle. Indignation was tant, 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 <em>each and every single one</em> of them here on Onderon. I realise there is no small supply for barbarism in this gxy, but do not think that we are all monsters just because we are Separatists.¡±


    ¡°<em>Anybody </em>can be a monster. It is a choice we make, not onebelled unto us,¡± he continued, and for the first time Scout found someone who could rival her Master¡¯s towering height, ¡°Even ughter 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 urs <em>after</em>.¡±


    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 particr¡­ <em>had he always looked like that? </em>She couldn¡¯t remember.


    ¡°Master Jedi, the ¡®monsters¡¯ you seek are those who are incapable of following <em>rules. </em>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<em></em>punish the collective for the crimes of the few<em>,</em>¡± Bonteri wasn¡¯t speaking in general, Scout realised, but directly at Master Skywalker, ¡°I will not lie, Master Jedi, this gxy is filled with men who sanction ughter. It is because they are fuelled by anger and loss, or merely sadism, or apathy. We do not call those people ¡®men¡¯¨C <em>we call them</em><em>savages.</em>¡±


    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 simr 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 im.¡±


    ¡°No you won¡¯t Anakin,¡± Master Kenobi snatched his arm, ¡°You will being 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, beforeposing 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 ckened, ¡°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 <em>Plo Koon </em>who raised the idea in the first ce, 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, ncing 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, ¡°<em>Anakin Skywalker¡¯s </em>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 ur <em>after </em>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

    Chapter 38


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    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 ufortable 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 ced their absolute trust into their sure-footed stances and bracednces to counterbnce 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. <em>One slip, </em>Scout thought morbidly, <em>and this¡¯d be thest I¡¯d see of her. </em>


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid,¡± Rain Bonteri observed, ¡°Don¡¯t be. You¡¯d be caught before you hit the ground, most of the time.¡±


    <em>¡°Most of the time?¡± </em>Scout felt sick.


    Bonteri shrugged, leaning back against a horn¡¯s nk, ¡°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¡¯trge 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 particr warbeast¨Ccaught her attention when she spotted him in the middle of a precarious bncing act creeping out to the tip of the warbeast¡¯s wing. A single p, 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 exined as a nearby drexl rose, tucked in its wings¨C and dove straight down with all the speed of a ster bolt, whips ofshing 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¡¯smand 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 Vanderughed 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 <em>anybody </em>fight for the Separatists? Because they believe in Separatism, or because they are simply fighting for their homeworlds. Why do <em>I </em>fight? To prevent something very, <em>very </em>bad from happening to the gxy.¡±


    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 rifying exactly what he meant, however, Bonteri rather simply kicked his boots over a protruding ridge or armour and closed his eyes. <em>He must be feeling much lessfortable than he¡¯s actually showing, </em>Scout decided. There was no way lying on a bed of thorns was anywhere pleasant¨Cshe definitely didn¡¯t think so. But these riders <em>slept </em>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 <emme </em>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.


    <em>This guy¡­ I can¡¯t tell what he¡¯s thinking. </em>


    ¡°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 drexlnded with a heavy thump,ically dwarfing the humble shuttle on the adjacentnding 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 nced 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 phnges, 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 n?¡±


    ¡°zca, looks like,¡± Vander said, ¡°Entertain our guests, Bonteri. I¡¯ll deal with them.¡±


    ¡°I thought you already did.¡±


    ¡°The zca don¡¯t hang around these parts, you know that,¡± offence leaked into Vander¡¯s tone, ¡°The Ezelk are the closest n, and they¡¯ve already allowed ess through their forests. The zca 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 <em>know </em>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; <em>oh, so this is where all the droids went. </em>There weren¡¯t any battle droids marching about, per se, but she easily recognised the Multi-Troop Transports and C-9979nding ships littering the parade grounds like out-of-ce 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¨Ctacticalbat gear and ster carbines instead of antiquatedsernces.


    The prisonpound 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 st 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 thepound. 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 particr were no less cramped than those on the <em>Harbinger</em>, 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 <em>not </em>riveting? <em>Was this what Master Tiin meant by potentially deciding the course of the war? </em>What a stupid question¨Cof course it was.


    The architect of the Republic¡¯s singlergest loss of life in living history, being a traitor? Questions raced through her mind; <em>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?</em>


    Uwfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°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 <em>Republic¡¯s </em>capability for reacting.¡±


    A thousand pairs of nk 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 dly bleed to thest 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 dy any action by the Republic in response to the Confederacy¡¯s¡­ housekeeping.¡±


    ¡°Then remove the Sith in the Republic first, before it is toote,¡± 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. <em>The Sith in the Republic. </em>She shared a look with Ahsoka. Disbelief at first, then horror as Master Plo made no effort to contradict the statement. <em>There¡¯s a Sith in the Republic? Are we allowed to hear this?</em>


    ¡°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 t, 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 cked 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 nce. She was a Mirin, 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¨C<em>almost</em>¨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 ring 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 withughing mes, 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 tters, punctuated with the clinks of blood-full wine sses. 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 Pdins 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 toomon, 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 <em>overzealous. </em>Not that Padm¨¦ had the heart to me 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 emzoned 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 Amid¡¯s career was initially buoyed by her momentous introduction¨Cresulting with the ousting of the Valorum Administration¨Cbut would havegged once that fleeting relevance faded. That was, if it wasn¡¯t for the seasoned Senator Bonteri, whomanded 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 ce 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 <em>proud. </em>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 bnce, ¡°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 <em>proved </em>peace was still possible! You were always one for big derations, 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 imed 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 aze in. And just by his side¨C<em>Anakin. </em>Padm¨¦ found herself inadvertently holding her breath when she realised she would be hearing him <em>speak, </em>and that she could finally¨C<em>finally¨C</em>hear 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 <em>he </em>could hear it too.


    ¡°Senator Bonteri, Senator Amid,¡± 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 <em>was </em>well. The most well she had felt in a time far too long¨Cand she couldn¡¯t remember thest time, because why should she, when she had the now?


    Padm¨¦ dipped her head, ¡°Master Jedi. Not at all.¡±


    <em>Just a little longer, Annie. </em>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 ss 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 reced by a stalking cold that never seemed too far away in this war, ¡°Your husband was a soldier, wasn¡¯t he?¡±


    <em>Husband. Soldier. </em>The words burned in her mouth as it did in her heart.


    ¡°Thank you for remembering, Padm¨¦,¡± Minaughed 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 de 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 <em>safe</em>,¡± Mina exined 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 <em>¡°A Tusken.¡±</em>


    <em>The Jedi have Tusken Raiders in their ranks? </em>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 be unwise.¡±


    ¡­Or not. Was there anything Obi-Wan Kenobi did <em>not </em>know? Sometimes, Padm¨¦ would catch him observing her closely, and there was never a moment the thought of her rtionship with Anakin being revealed terrified her¨Cfor his sake.


    Mina Bonteri, meanwhile, opened her mouth with a silent <em>¡®ah,¡¯ </em>a knowing glint in her eye, ¡°So <em>that </em>is why I am of interest to you, Master Jedi. I have weathered more than a few usations 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; <em>¡®and the murderer of ten million men.¡¯ I would like to meet himter, </em>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 onlye 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 be 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 ent 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 ce 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 ss, ¡°Come now, Anakin. The crowd is getting impatient. Please excuse us, Senator Amid.¡±


    Master Kenobi heeled around and swept away, his billowing robes like a g signalling that Senator Bonteri and Senator Amid 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 Inquestunched 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 wee 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 exined, ¡°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 Bws are well prepared for such scenarios,¡± Mina took a sip from her ss, ¡°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 ns? 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 oue 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 vignce for would-be saboteurs and assassins.


    The Demon Moon¡¯s gaze passed. There were none.

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it remarkable, that one can have all the power in the gxy¡­ and yet, the words of a single senator can sway the thoughts of <em>trillions</em>?¡±


    The Supreme Chancellor of the Gctic Republic was standing by the vast transparisteel window behind his desk, soberly gazing at the endlesslyplicated 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. <em>Padm¨¦ Amid,</em>¡± 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 <em>roughly </em>in the same direction¡­ <em>ah, </em>that¡¯s when they be cooperative. No trust¨Conly mutual benefit.


    A sort of¡­<em> ¡®I scratch your back, and you scratch mine.¡¯ </em>That is the onlynguage 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 otherdder-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 gxy 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 ce.


    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 <em>oh, did men like him love being in on secrets. </em>It made them feel <em>special</em>, like they were part of somethingrger, as if that made <em>them </emrger.


    And now, Senator Palpatine was the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, and Inspector Isard was Director of Republic Intelligence. A <em>most </em>profitable rtionship. And so long as Isard continued producing results, this rtionship will continue¡­ so it is most unfortunate that Republic Intelligence has been demonstrating less-than-satisfactorypetence as ofte.


    ¡°Senator Amid is not some sort of anomaly, Director,¡± Mas Amedda said dryly, ¡°Will you also ¡®do something¡¯ about Senator Organa and Senator Mothma as well?¡±


    ¡°Amid 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 Amid? 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 veryrge yer 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 intrinsk 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 phnges in a handshake, one tended to be <em>very</em> receptive. Even if she did not have the¡­ <em>entricity </em>of Onderon in her, Amid still picked up her mentor¡¯s pride and character, because as she had proved not too long ago, it made men <em>listen</em>.


    ¡°Amid would never have had the material to work with in the first ce had your department not failed so critically,¡± Amedda scathed, ¡°How did a Separatist <em>superweapon </em>slip past Republic Intelligence?¡±


    ¡°They did not <em>slip past</em>, Amedda,¡± Isard shot back, ¡°By every report, these ¡®superweapons¡¯ were not present in-system <em>prior </em>to the battle. Nor were they present <em>after </em>the battle?¡±


    ¡°Who do you expect to believe that?¡± the Chagrian Vice Chair scoffed, ¡°How did <em>scores </em>of dreadnought crushing mass drivers get assembled and disassembled in a matter of <em>hours?</em>¡±


    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 aposite tractor field based weapon-"


    <em>Boring.</em>


    ¡°Nevermind that, Director,¡± the Chancellor beckoned him to sit, ¡°What about the Separatist dreadnoughts? <em>They </em>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 <emrge </em>on Pammant. But Pammant has always been imprable to us. All the logs we <em>could </em>acquire indicated the massive amount of important resources had been earmarked for a new fleet. We now know <em>how </em>the Separatists are disguising the construction of these <em>Subjugator-ss </em>dreadnoughts. The next time we find a simr paper trail, we won¡¯t make the same oversight.¡±


    ¡°<em>Next time </em>is useless!¡± Amedda mmed 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 Cnon¨C <em>but that¡¯s not important!¡± </em>the Director insisted, ¡°As we speak, the war ising 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 <em>believed </em>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 unassable it would no longer matter if the gxy was still the same in the end.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Mas Amedda filled the Chancellor¡¯s silence, ¡°What do you suggest?¡±


    ¡°Our biggest problem is Amid¡¯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 <em>falls </em>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 <em>useful</em>, 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¡­ Amid¡¯s downfall will be a blow, but it will also be the spark that reignites the me of the Republic.¡±


    The two men paused, waiting for the Chancellor to break his silence. Palpatine ced his elbows on the table, knitting his fingers together. The death of Padm¨¦ Amid¡­ will be useful, especially if it is believed the crime wasmitted 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 <em>early. </em>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, bncing the fine line and convincing the gxy he was always forced to <em>¡®regretfully ept further expansion of my executive powers.¡¯ </em>


    Thepletion of the New Order, the destruction of the Jedi Order, and the fall of the Chosen One must coincide <em>perfectly, </em>lest one interfere and prevent the other.


    ¡°Amid 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 Amid getting hit by the Separatists.¡±


    ¡°Controlling all media in the Republic¡­¡± the Chancellor muttered, ¡°The entire gxy 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 preupied. If you would allow me, Chancellor.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Isard rose stiffly,mandeering the data feeds and holoprojector on the Chancellor¡¯s desk to disy a detailed star map of the Core. Jagged red lines sliced up the spes and sectors into Sector Army Commands, and glowing pins spawned all across the charts, over system markers and crawling along hypenes. An inconspicuous, easily overlooked pin bobbed just a few parsecs south of Coruscant itself.


    ¡°High Command wants to avoid our frontlines being <em>shattered </em>by the Therbon n,¡± the Director exined, 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 nning Amphitheatre by a vast majority. Themand of all existing fleets is to be centralised under the Navy of the Republic. In effect, it expands the Navy¡¯s role from <em>de jure </em>authority to <em>de facto </em>authority. The Governor-Generals will no longer be able to use the Sector Fleets as their personal ythings.¡±


    The Director ced 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 manipting 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.¡±


    <em>They don¡¯t have a say now. </em>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 guing 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 ced the entire Republic Navy in his hands.


    <em>Another step closer to my New Order. All without a whisper of dissent in the Senate.</em>


    Palpatine smiled. The Confederacy of Independent Systems was ying its role most wonderfully.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition.


    ¡°Your thoughts, Chancellor?¡± Amedda asked.


    His thoughts?<em></em>He thought it was time for the Confederacy to y its part again. Assassination, murder¡­ such methods were far from reliable. Too many things could go wrong. The Separatists could im ignorance, or even counter-use 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 Isardcked <em>imagination. </em>You did not have to make such an uncertain move when you could simply have your enemy make the <em>wrong </em>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 gxy 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; andstly 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 <em>much </em>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, <em>physical </em>shock.


    <em>Sev¡¯rance Tann was alive? She is the Supreme Commander?</em>


    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 <em>finally </em>time to rece 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 itsmander was nowhere to be found. A mere <em>colonel </em>was in charge of the ground troops.


    The Chancellor had been on the point of expressing hope andunching 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 <em>wasn¡¯t </em>dead?


    How¡­ <em>disappointing</em>.


    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 <em>epted</em>¡­ that Dooku would deal with her.


    That was his <em>function</em>. That was his <em>purpose</em>. That''s what an ageing apprentice was for.


    <em>Housekeeping</em>.


    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 <em>Fifth Deep Core Reserve Armada. </em>Have the Fifth Reserve Armada be redeployed to rece 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.


    <em>I have foreseen it. </em>Beneath the affable surface, Darth Sidious''s dark thoughts seethed.


    <em>The game has changed. That much is obvious. But this is a mere setback, a mere ripple in the pond. My Grand n 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. </em>


    And yet, the continued to whisper doubt in his ear. <em>Had </em>Dooku failed? He knew the threat of the Chiss girl even more so than Palpatine did. Such <em>carelessness </em>was unlike him. What if¡­ <em>what if¡­ what if Dooku had decided it was time to ¡®part ways?¡¯</em>


    <em>If this is true¡­ if this is true¡­ </em>


    Perhaps¡­ <em>perhaps </em>it was time to <em>test </em>his apprentice, to <em>ascertain </em>where his true loyalty lies.


    But test him <em>how? </em>It had to be a choice, between the Grand n and something¨C <em>someone </em>that mattered to Dooku. Yes¡­ that will do nicely. All that¡¯s left is to find an opportunity to do so.


    <em>And as for Sev¡¯rance Tann, I¡¯ll deal with her¡­ when it¡¯s time. She¡¯s still useful.</em>


    <em>The war will continue. I have foreseen it so. </em>


    <em>I will make it so.</em>


    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, ¡°<em>Foerost. </em>This is a security risk. What has Republic Intelligence gathered?¡±


    Armand Isard wetted his lips, flicking his datapad and directing the disy to focus on the Foerost System. The single red pin scattered into some seventy different warships, concentrated northward of Foerost. Aary ring orbited the world; the Foerost Shipyards, one of thergest and oldest in the gxy, 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, ¡°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.¡±


    ¡°Which means they are building <em>something</em>,¡± Palpatine pushed his palms t against the desk, rising to his feet, <em>¡°What are they building?¡±</em>


    ¡°Despite our best efforts,¡± Isard started, browsing his files, ¡°Techno Union shipyards remain as imprable 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. <em>However, </em>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 reced 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 urring 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 almostpletely obscured behind the orbital ring, ¡°...What looks like the drive blocks of multiple vessels hidden in the orbital ring¡¯s radar shadow.¡±


    <em>¡°Wait,¡± </em>Amedda physically recoiled, aghast, ¡°<em>All </em>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 <em>right under our noses, </em>only <em>five hours </em>away from Coruscant?¡±


    ¡°That is¡­ an urate 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 urately 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 havepleted construction and which haven¡¯t. Of the some two-hundred bays, only half have lowered activity.¡±


    ¡°<em>A hundred warships.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 thelink on his desk, ¡°Sly, my dear, could you pleasee 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 <em>there </em>was someone who knew how to keep the house clean. Sly Moore would have made the <em>perfect </em>apprentice; she was capable, deadly, and above all, <em>loyal. </em>It was so unfortunate, then, that she was only capable of wielding the Force to touch and manipte the minds of others, and little else. <em>Very </em>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 deres his New Order and rules the gxy 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 <em>direct </em>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 thesemittees will realise the danger of such critical information,as you did, Director,¡± Palpatine allowed a leisurely smile to ovee his expression, ¡°However, now that the data has been obtained by three differentmittees, 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¡­ <em>might</em> have enough support, if enough parties realise the implications of this information.¡±


    ¡°Precisely, my dear Speaker,¡± Palpatine scanned the list of senators in themittees, 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 <em>very </em>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 <em>must </eme first,¡± the Chancellor insisted, ¡°This¡­ Foerost fleet <em>must </em>be contained. The damage of them potentially breaking out will be unimaginable. Are there any avable 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 ourmitment to defence,¡± Palpatine slowly retook his seat, making no effort in <em>actually </em>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 estimatedpletion date has been brought forward by usefulbat 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-ss in months, if not weeks.¡±


    <em>¡°Immediately,¡± </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡°At Foerost?¡± </em>the Director mmed the desk, ¡°Chancellor, moving ourtest 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 gxy, Palpatine could see a macabre sense of appreciation bubble in the man¡¯s unppable heart.


    Armand Isard quirked a small, rare smirk, ¡°It will be as you order it, Chancellor. The Separatists, the Republic¡­ no, the <em>entire gxy</em> 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 intoughter.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    Saw wasn¡¯t stupid. He wouldn¡¯t deny that Ste has always been the clever one between the two of them, but that didn¡¯t mean he was <em>dumb. </em>Saw and his sister, they were raised as hunters, and you don¡¯t survive for weeks in the wilds without learning quickly. Ste nned 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 <em>gone</em>, 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 ws. 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 <em>him </em>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 partying 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 hignds, where their base¨Cthe Nest¨Cwas.


    This old ce? Just the rendezvous location for his and Hutch¡¯s cells. They waited a bit longer for Ste 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 ster 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 bnce 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<em>¨Cbeeeep¨C</em>and Saw drew his ster with the speed of a starving pritarr. The ster 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 <em>was </em>a guardsman.¡±


    ¡°Which one is it?¡± he demanded, jabbing the ster 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 ster 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. <em>By the Four Moons, this couldn¡¯t get any worse. </em>None of Onderon¡¯s flying warbeasts were easy to handle, but Dxunian raptors were the <em>worst </em>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 <em>skreev? </em>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 <em>could. </em>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 asrge as a drexl. It terrorised the eastern hignds 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.


    <em>¡°Where is it right now?¡± </em>


    ¡°You shoot me, and you¡¯re going to find out.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re bluffing,¡± Saw used, ¡°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 <em>Red Galia </em>is seventy feet across and <em>starving.</em>¡±


    <em>Stang, she¡¯s right. </em>Alvera had been with them all this while; that meant the raptor was unattended and mostly unfed. Saw involuntarily flinched at the thought, ncing 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 hisck 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 ring red dot blinked in the darkness. <em>Comlink. </em>Saw stomped down and crushed it.


    ¡°I underestimated you,¡± Alvera said sourly, with anguish that made him uneasy, ¡°I thought your sister was the hard part.¡±


    ¡°Ste 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 ster into her back and nudging her towards the camp, ¡°I see people for what they show. You¡¯re the one who nted the idea that we should find help from the Jedi, and now Ste 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,¡± Alveraughed, ¡°If your sister is as clever as I give her credit for, she¡¯ll stay alive by being <em>useful.</em>¡±


    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, ¡°Ste would never betray us¨C!¡±


    The silence that followed was loud. <em>You idiot, </em>he scolded himself, <em>you let her get under your skin too easily. </em>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 ster back, ¡°Is your skreev even <em>here?</em>¡±


    Alvera snickered, ¡°Your little rebellion means nothing, Gerrera. You are so <em>petty. </em>Billions of men are dying out there, but you would put your pride over the entire gxy.¡±


    ¡°A meaningless number. We all know that. Why should we care what happens out there?¡± Saw clenched his jaw, ¡°The gxy 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 <em>bases </em>in our jungles! If we don¡¯t drive them out, they will be here to <em>stay</em>.¡±


    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.


    ¡°<em>Unreasonable!? </em>No, <em>obviously </em>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!¡±


    <em>¨CBOOM¨C</em>the 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.


    <em>¨CBOOM¨C</em>another thunderous p echoed through the forest. Their camp¡¯s rupings screamed, sting off their lofty perches amidst falling leaves aze in hues of amber, purple, and gold.


    ¡°Saw!¡± Hutch shouted at him, dashing across the forest floor as he dodged vine nutsrge 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 shed to thelink 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


    <em>¡°Warbeasts,¡± </em>he whispered.


    Hutch nodded, swallowing thickly, ¡°What do we do, boss?¡±


    ¡°How many are there?¡±


    ¡°J-Just one, but it¡¯srge 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, apanied 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.


    <em>¡°What should we do!?¡± </em>Hutch demanded, unabashed terror in his voice.


    There wasn¡¯t any possible answer. There wasn¡¯t any time to <em>do </em>anything. The warbeast crashed through the forest in a wall of imprable scales without end, ws 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 red 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 ented voice howled from the top of the warbeast, ¡°Your machines steal our wilds, and now you march an army to ournds! 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 haveughed. The Demon Moon was smiling upon them. These weren''t the Space Force, these were <em>Beast Riders, </em>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 hundredrades fixed on his back.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°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 nging against his tactical gear as he did.


    ¡°You do?¡± the masked Beast Rider asked, ¡°Then the Amroth n wees you. The cowardly zca 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. <em>If only Ste had believed me! If only I had convinced her! </em>


    ¡°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 dered, offering a weathered hand, ¡°Our Beast-Lords, the Kira n, will be pleased by your fealty.¡±


    <em>Kira n¨Cthe House of Kira!? </em>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? <em>They were vying for the Royal Court? </em>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 Ste 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 expectationsid on him with all the pressure of a warbeast¡¯s stare. <em>You should be here, Ste, </em>hemented, <em>you always knew what people were thinking. You would have made the right decision.</em>


    Saw could only make what he <em>thought </em>was the right decision. He nced 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. <em>She¡¯s gone, and that means our movement is on borrowed time. The droids will soone down on us with all the wrath of Dxun. The only way out¡­ to survive¡­</em>


    ¡°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 zca Warlord, Olko Baz, shook his head, ¡°The Amroth and Dor-Drel have summoned their warriors for battle. They see the Ezelk n¡¯s arrangement with your machines as a sign of cowardice.¡±


    ¡°Not a single droid has stepped onto Amroth or Dor-Drelnds!¡± Vander fumed, ¡°This has nothing to do with them!¡±


    Olko grimaced, ¡°Fear makes men unwise, warrior.¡±


    Vander swore, ¡°<em>By the purple king¡¯s balls! </em>How many warriors do they have between them?¡±


    ¡°The Amroth have at least forty wings of warbeasts,¡± the zca replied, ¡°The Dor-Drel¡¯s numbers are unknown. They settle beyond the hignds.¡±


    ¡°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 theirnds.¡±


    Olko¡¯s expression dropped a shade darker, ¡°The Amroth and Dor-Drel would never unite. War is the only history between the insfolk 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 ns.¡±


    I seized Vander¡¯s shoulder and spun him around, whispering harshly, <em>¡°Where are the Jedi!?¡±</em>


    ¡°I sent them back on my swiftest warbeast,¡± the warbeast Captain pped my hand away, ¡°They will arrive in Iziz before nightfall. All of them will attend the prisoner exchange, as nned.¡±


    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, thene 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 <em>was </em>at this point. Vander wasn¡¯t lying when he said they retreated from Izizian politics; after the House of Dendup disced 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.


    s, 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 aary political crisis at the same time as a gctic political crisis is being resolved on said.¡±


    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 <em>right now. </em>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 zca allow us through theirnds, 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 cken our forests.¡±


    ¡°No machines,¡± I promised.


    The Beast Rider ns 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 upied until our army arrives. Will the zca 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 n¡¯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¡­ I was going to need royal sanction, which hopefully also meant the Royal Army would join us.


    ¡°We¡¯ll march at first light,¡± Vander pped me on the back, ¡°And you¡­ get permission from the Lord General, so that we aren¡¯t dered traitors to the realm.¡±


    As Olko Baz returned to his warbeast, I fished out mylink, ¡°General Tandin, I¡¯m going to be borrowing your army.¡±


    A fizz of static, then a response; <em>¡°What are you doing now, Bonteri?¡±</em>


    ¡°I¡¯m not doing anything,¡± I took in the twilight setting over Jyrenne, as xons red and guardsmen scampered to the briefing rooms, ¡°The zca came to us. The Amroth have begun making moves against them, and the Dor-Drel areing down the mountains. We suspect the Kirans are behind it.¡±


    <em>¡°That¡¯s because you marched the droid armies in the wilds.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 isted themselves from the world. I need your permission to take the Jyrenne Army and besiege Kira Fortress. At least that way we can upy them until the summit is over, however many weeks it takes.¡±


    <em>¡°...I did not expect the House of Kira to act so quickly.¡±</em>


    ¡°You <em>knew </em>they would do this?¡± I demanded.


    <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    <em>Asshole</em>. 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 n 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 <em>I </em>don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing, and in a gxy as fucked up as this there was little more I despised than not being in control of the situation. Because in a gxy 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 <em>my </em>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 <em>was </em>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 gxy 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 <em>mentor. </em>


    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 ce. 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 Ver¡¯slink, and waited for a response.


    In any case, the Kiran ys 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 rpensed 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 <em>knew </em>if they got captured, the only fate that would await them was their heads rolling down the steps of Yhn Square. I <em>had </em>to give them a way out, yet also dispense punishment severe enough for the Royal Court to swallow. A hard ask.


    Mylink shed red. No answer. My gut sank; it wasn¡¯t ¡®no response¡¯ but ¡®receiver unavable¡¯ which either meant Ver¡¯slink was out of juice, or it had been broken. Thetter was more likely, and could only suggest that she had beenpromised by the rebels.


    <em>Nothing¡¯s going my way, it seems. Which means its time to improvise.</em>


    Ver 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.


    <em>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? </em>Well, I would seek allies right¡­


    <em>Allies? Jedi? </em>A lightbulb shed in my head¨CVer 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 ept? 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. <em>Please be awake, please be awake, please be awake.</em>


    Mylink beeped green. <em>Yes!</em>


    <em>¡°...?¡± </em>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.


    <em>¡°If this has to do with the Kirans, the Lord General told me to tell you¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°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, <em>¡°...Is this confirmed?¡±</em>


    ¡°Yes,¡± I lied bluntly.


    <em>¡°Understood,¡± </em>a hard edge crept back into her speech, <em>¡°I will personally eliminate them.¡±</em>


    ¡°Uh, <em>no you won¡¯t?</em>¡± I coughed, ¡°You can capture them, but only <em>after </em>they contact the Jedi.¡±


    <em>¡°...Permission to speak freely?¡±</em>


    I sighed, ¡°We need to know the rebels¡¯ n, 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?¡±


    <em>¡°...Yes sir,¡± </em>she replied somewhat tly<em>, ¡°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 toote.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 rpense your squadter.¡±


    <em>¡°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 rpensation.¡±</em>


    ¡°I doubt getting pinned onto a Separatist admiral has much to do with Onderonian duty.¡±


    <em>¡°I volunteered.¡±</em>


    Now <em>that </em>took me by surprise¨C <em>¡°You did? </em>I assumed Tandin just assigned you to me. Why <em>did </em>you volunteer for this thankless role?¡±


    <em>¡°...This may be unpatriotic of me to say, sir,¡± </em>Kavia started after some initial hesitation, <em>¡°But I want to get off this world. Me and my squad. The Royal Court dished out Ov Taraba schrships and credit grants for engineering, astrography,ary science, and simr courses.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 n.¡±


    <em>¡°It started the year you left,¡± </em>Kavia admitted, <em>¡°And a lot of us in the Army were granted military schrships 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.¡±</em>


    ¡°The involuntary home of exiles and outcasts,¡± I agreed sympathetically.


    <em>¡°And look, with all these damned droids in Iziz now? We want out. Youing back? It¡¯s our chance to leave. So we volunteered. If you¡¯re still up on thatpensation offer¨C¡± </em>she barked out a wryugh, <em>¡°¨CThen I hope you consider saving us a ce on your ship before you leave.¡±</em>


    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 urately 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.<em></em>The device of the Space Force emzoned on its beaten hull, <em>Amanoa¡¯s Wrath </em>graced the stars with herplement of Aurek-ss 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 gxy. What starfleet, after all, would bear marks of closebat? <em>Amanoa¡¯s Wrath </em>proudly bore her battle scars. Scratches from ws powerful enough to tear its hull, and bite marksrge enough to swallow her interceptors whole. I couldn¡¯t name thest 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 ce on my gship.¡±


    <em>¡°Don¡¯t eat your wordster, sir.¡±</em>


    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¡­


    <em>Whatever. </em>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 nning¡­ <em>just couldn¡¯t make it easy for me, could you?</em>

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    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 exnation, but conveyed all due urgency with theck of protocol-approvednguage epted and expected for suchmunications. Regardless, it wasn''t a meeting he anticipated with any kind of pleasure. More and more ofte it seemed the Jedi were being drawn into politics, into matters of legition 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 be. 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 im growing thinner every passing day, ording 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 gxy and was now faced with the terrifying task of keeping their gging 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 ande to the aid of the man a gxy 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 unwee.¡±


    ¡°Attend you will, Master Galia,¡± Yoda said firmly, ¡°In these unfamiliar times, your expertise is a weed necessity.¡±


    ¡°<em>Unwee </em>times,¡± the Tholothian replied softly, ¡°The very fact that my expertise is <em>weed </em>bodes poorly for our Order.¡±


    When the Jedi Order epted the Republic¡¯s call to war, even the most consr 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 inbat 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 wing 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 ce 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.


    <em>¡°When I think of my new responsibilities I grow cold with fear,¡± </em>Palpatine had said,<em> ¡°Red grants me the illusion that I am warm.¡±</em>


    Senator Mon Mothma of Chandr 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 disyed 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 revtion that could threaten <em>everything </em>my colleagues are striving for on Onderon.¡±


    With the absence of Senator Organa and Senator Amid, Mon Mothma was one of thest major pirs 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 <em>at </em>peace. Director Isard, could you please show our Jedi friends the images from Foerost?¡±


    <em>Foerost. </em>One of thergest shipyards in the gxy, and one that had sided with the Separatist Alliance. Republic forces had swiftly blockaded the world after the Battle of Geonosis in hope that theck 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 newsing 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 borate before any of their untrained eyes decided to ask the obvious question¨C<em>what are we looking at?</em>


    ¡°What you are seeing here,¡± Armand Isard spoke inly, ¡°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-ss 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 nheless.


    ¡°Unforeseen was this development,¡± at the very least, he could assuage the Chancellor¡¯s self-me, ¡°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 <em>must </em>be passed before the Senate hears this. There is already a majority support in themittees and Core-aligned factions.¡±


    ¡°Bill!¡± Senator Mothma rebuked, ¡°It has not been introduced to the Senate, and will remain a <em>bill </em>if we have anything to say of it!


    ¡°<em>Media Security¡­ Bill,</em>¡± Master Gallia crossed her arms, ¡°I dislike the word ¡®security.¡¯ It¡¯s a pretty little wrapping themittees like to use to thinly disguise a new version of tyranny.¡±


    ¡°Because it <em>is </em>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 Amid, Senator Organa, and Senator Breemu are absent, and Chandr cannot shoulder the opposition alone.¡±


    ¡°Chancellor!¡± Senator Mothma pleaded in ast ditch effort, ¡°If the bill reaches your table, you <em>must </em>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 Armandmented 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 <em>any </em>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 exin <em>how </em>the Separatists are building a fleet from scratch while <em>under siege?</em>¡±


    ¡°It had been a shameful oversight,¡± Director Armand admitted sourly, ¡°Unlike most shipyard worlds, Foerost isrgely uninhabited. With no extraction regtions or limits, the entire 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 Mothmatched onto the argument, ¡°There isn¡¯t any way Foerost knows about the state of the gxy. 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 allmunications. They are utterly unresponsive to all of our attempts.¡±


    ¡°Well, are there any signs at all that the Techno Union is nning to use this fleet of theirs?¡± the desperate Senator tried onest 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 intow when it passes. We are nearly at peace. Once we are, thisw will be gone with your Administration. Onest sacrifice, Chancellor.¡±


    Slowly, painfully, Palpatine removed himself from his chair to stand staring through the transparisteel window into Coruscant''s teeming sky, hands sped behind his back, chin sunk to his velvet robes.


    ¡°Do you know, my friends,¡± he said atst, 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 eximed 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 me 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 <em>have </em>failed!¡± Palpatine retorted loudly, swinging around, ¡°I have failed, by allowing the Senate to <em>¡®overreact¡¯ </em>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 <em>this </em>close to putting the dreadful war behind us. <em>This close! </em>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,posing himself with a hint of shame, ¡°I must confess you surprise me, Senator. Given your close rtionship with Senator Amid, I wasn''t entirely certain you still supported me.¡±


    Senator Mothmaughed 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¡¯ <em>yet </em>¡®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 red at Director Isard, daring him to argue, ¡°You can still widen the road. Compromise with themittees. The bill is still a mere draft. It can still be edited. You must not even <em>allow </em>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 <em>enter </em>the Senate makes the next one that much easier to introduce, <em>even </em>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.


    <em>¡°Compromise,¡± </em>he muttered feverishly, ¡°Yes¡­ we can stillpromise. Mas, please tell our dear senators that I will <em>not </em>be the man who signs away the freedom of the Republic, even if in the name of peace.¡±


    Mon Mothma could have copsed 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 regtory 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 Amid¡¯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 themittees 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 ofte. 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¡¯slink, as if awaiting news from the peace summit¡­ Yoda could only think that this day could have gone much, much worse.


    <em>No, </em>Yoda shook his head as he left the office, <em>today is a good day. It is, after all, another day in which the Republic has not fallen.</em>


    ?


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    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 pce¡¯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 gctic 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 Yhn Square, with thettermandeering the innermost ring of buildings encircling the central avenue. The Square was shaped like a cross, inclined slightly upslope towards the mountain. The opposite avenuences straight through the city, defining the Merchant¡¯s Quarter and leading straight to the gatehouse, while the perpendicr avenues disappeared into the tangle of skyramps and rooftops.


    It was from those perpendicr avenues which the Republic and Separatist prisoners-of-war woulde 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 ce 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 story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    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 awful 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 thews he adheres to are evil?¡±


    ¡°That means thews 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 <em>because </em>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 <em>misguided</em>, by the dark side. I <em>hope </em>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.¡±


    <em>Master Luminara Unduli¡¯s lost Padawan. </em>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 eximed 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?¡±


    <em>Huh¡­? Wasn¡¯t she a prisoner¨C</em>


    ¡°I was onboard the Separatist destroyer <em>Messenger, </em>and frigate <em>Unicorn</em> before that, Master Skywalker,¡± the Mirin 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 <em>Unicorn </em>was the ship that warned us about the refugees. <em>You </em>warned us about the refugees.¡±


    Anakin Skywalker stared down at the lost Padawan, aplicated expression adorning his face. As abruptly as he used her, Master Skywalker rubbed his face tiredly, and relented.


    ¡°The Force works in mysterious ways,¡± he murmured, ¡°And it¡¯s not my ce to ask, Padawan; that¡¯ll be the Council¡¯s. But I¡¯d think they''d have your reasons, not me.¡±


    ¡°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. <em>The ground is trembling. </em>The citywide thoroughfares of Iziz were wide and spacious, but as the mass of miserable humanity marched towards them, packed in by shuttered storefronts ring tenement facades, Scout could only think they may as well be alleyways.


    ¡°The handover¡¯s begun,¡± Master Plo observed.


    ¡°Its happening like <em>this?</em>¡± Scout was aghast. She knew it was for the gxy 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, be 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 thergest battle the gxy has seen for a thousand years.


    <em>This </em>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 ck 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 bes 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 nced 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 <em>¡®boring,¡¯ </em>¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to keep an eye out for terrorists?¡±


    Scout nodded vigorously in agreement. Standing there with the politicians looking pretty was <em>boring</em>, 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.


    ¡°<em>I</em> will return to the Square,¡± Master Plo corrected himself, tinged with amusement, ¡°Will you join me, Barriss?¡±


    The Mirin 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 feltpelled 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.¡±


    ¡°<em>You </em>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 des. 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 ess, 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¨C<em>in an alleyway, an armoured arm trapping me in a deathly chokehold, lightsaber slipping from by grip. </em>Scout barely had a second to process the revtion before her body sprang into action, catching the unknown assant¡¯s arm as it reached to grab her. Wrenching them forward, she wedged her shoulder in their armpit and spun them around, before mming them into the brick wall with an arm crushing down on their windpipe.


    <em>Didn¡¯t actually think we would be attacked¨C</em>was the only thing that ran through head before the <em>snap-hiss </em>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 nted 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 pir 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 <em>are </em>terrorists out here,¡± Scout remarked as she pushed herself off the wall, letting Dono go, ¡°For all of, well <em>everyone¡¯s</em>, cautioning, I nearly thought we were about to go through the whole day without any interruptions.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t terrorists! I¡¯m Ste, and this is Dono,¡± Ste 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!¡± Ste 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,¡± Ste begged, ¡°The Jedi are ourst 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!¡± 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¡¯lle back the moment you¡¯re gone,¡± Ste 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 <em>Onderonians¨C </em>we <em>always </em>try to tough it out. The Separatists are stepping all over us; they overthrow our rightful king and rece 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 <em>let </em>you see that. But the Separatists <em>are </em>crushing us. Slowly enough that none of us notice it, until we do and by then it¡¯ll be toote. So <em>please, </em>help us.¡±


    Scout nced nervously at her Master. <em>What if they were telling the truth?</em> Onderon never told them about any rebellion going on¨Cbut if they had their 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 wille 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,¡± Ste 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.


    <em>Huh? These guys don¡¯t have any training? Then how did they even sneak past all the guards¨C </em>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, <em>armoured? </em>


    ¡°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 <em>army?</em>¡±


    Master Skywalker froze¨C ¡°Ah, <em>kriff.</em> Barriss, see anything out there?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Barriss answered tly, ¡°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 <em>¡®and you didn¡¯t think to tell us this earlier?¡¯ </em>as he snapped his lightsaber shut, ¡°You two should scram before I change my mind.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Dono hissed, <em>¡°But¨C¡±</em>


    Ste 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 s, just waiting for the right moment to strike. There was movement in the darkness.


    Scout shouted¨C<em></em>¡°Watch out! <em>Above you!</em>¡±


    Ste¡¯s head snapped up in surprise, but it was already toote. Before they could reach the safety of the street on the other side, the air above them erupted with the metallic ngour 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, pped 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 Ste and Dono to their feet, ¡°You helped us do our jobs.¡±


    <em>¡®And you should do your job too¡¯ </em>was left unspoken. If they wanted to, Slen could definitely force a diplomatic incident by iming the Jedi weremunicating 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 used, ¡°You wanted to see what would happen if <em>they </em>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 escte. Just as he made to stow away his lightsaber, however;


    <em>¡°W-Wait!¡± </em>Dono begged, ¡°Please help us! They¡¯ll kill us!¡±


    ¡°They will?¡± Anakin lifted his saber again, ¡°You <em>will?</em>¡±


    ¡°The punishment for treason against the monarchy is death,¡± Ste 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 nced up at her Master for guidance. <em>Our jobs here are to help the local security keep the peace, but as Jedi, shouldn¡¯t we preserve life? </em>Did these people really deserve to die? <em>Evilws</em>¨Cwas this what Master Kenobi meant by evilws? The Jedi had a responsibility to enforce thew, 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?¡±


    <em>¡°Please,¡±</em> 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 ve on Tatooine. My Master and <em>his </em>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 <em>ve. </em>Her Master never did talk about his past, though she couldn¡¯t me 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 ves 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 <em>didn¡¯t </em>he free all the ves on Tatooine? Why allow such evil to exist? The Hutts, the Zygerrians, they all practise very 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 <em>know better </em>just because we are Jedi. We cannot impose our will on an entire culture on the basis of <em>our </em>virtues. If every Jedi in the gxy could act ording to what they <em>think is right</em>, and act against what they <em>think is evil</em>, 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 ves, 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 <em>power, </em>or lightsabers, or skill with the Force. It is about <em>connection,</em> of being part of somethingrger 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 <em>where </em>you can, and <em>when </em>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 Pce cells. Barriss observed them as they entered the sunlight once more, taking in the now deste streets. A man¡¯s amplified voice echoed down the thoroughfare as they officiated the ceremony,rgely indecipherable at this distance.


    ¡°Do you believe what Master Kenobi said is true, Master Skywalker?¡± Barriss asked quietly as she took her ce 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

    Chapter 42


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    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 shed underneath the smoke of roaring starships, turrets meting out volley after volley of turbser bolts as they circled around the Fortress.


    And the mountain responded in kind. It reaped ughter; with the roiling mass of bodies all in one ce, 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 porcin. The mountainside glittered as hidden casemates roared out a blistering, creeping barrage that painted thend with mud and blood and swept entire battalions back to their siege trenches.


    Skreevs and rupings duelled each other in the air, wing 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-ss 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 asion, 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 <em>Amanoa¡¯s Wrath </em>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 ofnd 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 coagted 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 st this ursed mountain from the sky.¡±


    I fruitlessly called Ver again, hoping for an answer that wouldn¡¯te.


    General Tandin side-eyed me, ¡°You need to have more faith.¡±


    ¡°I dislike loose ends,¡± I told him, ¡°If she¡¯s caught up in <em>this </em>because of me¡­¡±


    Vaguely gesturing towards the siege, I grimaced at the mere thought of it. Not just her, but everybody here. <em>¡®It shouldn¡¯t havee to this¡¯ </em>was at the forefront of my mind. This could have been avoided. <em>Should </em>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 hignd ns 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 <em>had </em>to fall by then. If it didn¡¯t the possibility of this internal dispute bing an actual civil war would suddenly be 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.¡±


    ¡°<em>Retreat</em>, sir?¡± the orderly pronounced the word like it was a curse.


    ¡°I didn''t know the Army epted 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 rion 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. Killingnces 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 andsernces 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-thousandnces 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 ce and firing. For thirty long seconds, the entire valley was consumed by a blinding hail ofserfire 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 orsernces dropped to the dirt as men copsed. 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 ofserfire roared out, and then the squares mped 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. Thences 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 dyingrades 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.


    ?


    <em>This is all that woman¡¯s fault!</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°Saw!¡± </em>Hutch roared over the howling siege, ¡°This is <em>not </em>what we nned!¡±


    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 wed and bit their way to the generators, all while the ominous thumping of the Royal Army¡¯s massiveser 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 nevere here!¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t what I¡¯m talking about!¡± Hutch seized his cor 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 Ste 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 copse 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 fment 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 ce 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 hignds, 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!¡±


    <em>That </em>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 exined as calmly as he could in the middle of a raging battlefield.


    ¡°How?¡± Hutch whispered, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    <em>Ste and Dono invited them in, </em>he wanted to say. But he couldn¡¯t. Hutch was right; the vast majority of them joined Ste 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 <em>Onderonian, </em>not some Separatist puppet. Or Republic puppet, for that matter. He knew they only trusted him, followed him, because he was Ste¡¯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 iprehensible as the gxy. 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 gxy 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!?¡±


    <em>I can¡¯t say the name. </em>Saw kept his lips sealed, and that only incensed Hutch even more.


    ¡°Is that why you epted 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. <em>I </em>don¡¯t care who lives in that damned Pce. I only care that the Separatists and their puppets are <em>not. </em>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 ster 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¨C<em>Ste¡¯s </em>rebels¨Ccrowd around him in confusion, suspicion. Some rushed out to help him up, but Hutch dissuaded them with a furious wave of his ster.


    ¡°Does Ste 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.¡±


    ¡°Ste trusted you! <em>We </em>trusted you!¡± Hutch roared, ¡°You betrayed us all, led us here. And now we¡¯re all dead men!¡±


    ¨CA thunderp, and for a split second Saw believed it was his own heartbeat. A gust of hot air flooded in from the balcony, apanied 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.


    <em>Skreev. Dxunian raptor.</em>


    ¡°Now, I wouldn¡¯t say <em>dead </em>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 sidesid face down in the dirt, and those facing up stared nkly 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 toe, I thought.


    I shook my head, ¡°Just wondering what I could have done to avoid this oue.¡±


    ¡°What <em>you </em>could have done?¡± Tandin raised a thick white eyebrow, ¡°The answer is nothing at all. You did not have the information avable to you. You could have never known.¡±


    ¡°I should¡¯ve had all the information avable 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 oue, 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 <em>preferable </em>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, ¡°me the Royal Court, perhaps? It was their eagerness to introduce Onderon to the gctic stage that piloted the invitation to the Republic and Confederacy. I did not want this oue 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 ept that there were no good oues, 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, <em>Bonteri</em>, and allow me to impart on you the wisdom <em>you </em>taught me the day my men turned their spears on me; <em>men are unpredictable.</em>¡±


    ¡°I know that!¡±


    ¡°Yet you do not <em>consider </em>it when making your decisions,¡± the General rebuked, ¡°And neither did I, then. People are not puppets on a Malgan theatre y, Bonteri, and nobody is omnipresent! You convince yourself you know this, yet you expect everyone to y the roles you made for them. There will always inevitably be facts unknown to you, or third parties waiting for an opportunity to intervene. Therger and stricter you craft your n, your strategy¨Cthe harder it will crumble when something inevitably slips.¡±


    ¡°<em>You</em> slipped!¡± I used.


    ¡°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 <em>anything </em>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 <em>the </em>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 <em>that </em>person, with all the shiny effects that came with it and a fist thatmanded hundreds of warships and thousands of soldiers. There was one fact; <em>I made it. </em>I stood near the top of thedder, 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 <em>that </em>was how the world worked.¡±


    <em>What the fuck are you talking about?</em>


    ¡°Forget it,¡± I snorted, looking away, ¡°You¡¯ve gone senile.¡±


    ¡°<em>Listen to me</em>, 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<em>, </em>and the world around you is inhabited by <em>characters </em>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 Ver 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.


    ¡°Topromise the rebel forces,¡± I answered, ¡°Butmunications were cut, to which I could only assume meant she had beenpromised.¡±


    ¡°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 thest time someone did <em>anything </em>for you without direct orders?¡±


    <em>Thest time¨C </em>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 <em>job? </em>To <em>give </em>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 ce, you would have returned in order to risk your skin any more than you must. But I doubt Mishar thinks that way.¡±


    This narrative has been uwfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    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 particrly bloody chessboard. Then, I made my decision, and lifted mylink to my lips. If Ver was still out there, so was her skreev.


    The General lightly brushed his moustache, ¡°If Mishar is alive, and isn¡¯t here, <em>where </em>is she?¡±


    <em>She would have tailed the rebels. To Kira Fortress. </em>


    ¡°Get a zca wing ready for flight, Vander,¡± I ordered, ¡°We¡¯re going on a raid.¡±


    As I turned to leave, Akenathen Tandin called out onest time; ¡°You don¡¯t need to be in control of everyone and everything, boy. This may sound absurding 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.¡±


    <em>Why is fighting an interster war easier than this? </em>I decided on a suitable answer; <em>because Onderonians are far less rational than the gctic standard. </em>I supposed that was the reason why I found the gxy far more pleasant than this hellhole. People like Sev¡¯rance Tann, Calli Trilm, Simon Greyshade¨Cthey always wanted what was best for <em>themselves. </em>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 w 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 ster around.


    <em>Kriff! If she speaks, this is all going to be for nothing! </em>Saw eyed Hutch¡¯s unguarded rear, and resisted the instinct to jump the man from behind. He still had his own ster, 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 <em>rebellion </em>must. At any cost.


    <em>I need to stop her from speaking. How?</em>


    ¡°You¡¯re the defector from the safehouse,¡± someone recognised.


    <em>Stang. Stang stang stang!</em>


    Hutch lowered his ster 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 ster, however, was still aimed squarely at Alvera. <em>Hutch isn¡¯t professional, </em>he reminded himself, <em>just some thug from the lower city. </em>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 <em>you </em>dumbasses? When the Royal Army breaks down the doors, you drop your sters 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. <em>What in the Demon Moon is she ying at? What¡¯s her end goal? </em>Alvera grinned at him again, as if saying <em>¡®if I wanted you all dead, I could¡¯ve had the Royal Army drop on you in those ruins like a sack of bricks.¡¯ </em>He wanted to call out her bluff, except he didn¡¯t know if she was bluffing in the first ce.


    ¡°You went <em>back </em>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 <em>my </em>way out, but what about all of you?¡±


    Saw bit his lips. If she wasn¡¯t lying¡­ then they had to ept. That¡¯s what Ste 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 ster 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. <em>Well, </em>he rolled his shoulders, <em>considering the circumstances, I doubt she¡¯s lying. And if she is for any reason, we¡¯re all dead either way.</em>


    In a single action, Saw whipped out his ster 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 <em>doing</em>?¡±


    Saw flipped the safety with an <em>audible </em>click, ¡°Alvera is a <em>traitor! </em>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 sters were held up and aimed at him. His eyes darted to his peripherals¨C<em>Hutch¡¯s goons. The moment I shoot him they¡¯ll shoot me. Or maybe they¡¯ll shoot me first. </em>


    ¡°ept the traitor¡¯s offer and you¡¯re a traitor too,¡± Saw scathed, ¡°Ste 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 <em>live? </em>What would Ste say about this!?¡±


    <em>That¡¯s right, </em>he thought, <em>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.</em>


    ¡°Ste¨C¡± Saw choked, pretending that Hutch¡¯s words had struck a chord, ¡°Don¡¯t¨C is Ste even alive?¡±


    Saw got ready to lower his ster in ¡®surprise.¡¯ <em>Come on, Hutch, disarm me! </em>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.


    ¡°Ste¨C?¡± and then his blood ran cold when he heard Alvera echo the name¨C ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she be alive?¡±


    Hutch froze¨C<em>damn it!¨C</em>and tilted his head to face her, ¡°Ste¡¯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 <em>bang</em>, the ster¡¯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 ster 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 <em>kriffing head¨C!¡±</em>


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± another person screamed, ¡°He <em>shot </em>her! We need him alive! He shot her! We need him to convince the Army <em>we </em>didn¡¯t kill her!¡±


    ¡°Why the hell did you do it, Saw!?¡± Hutch roared again.


    <em>I needed to protect Ste, </em>Saw thought numbly, feeling his cheek blister and tear as it was pressed against the rough stone floor. <em>Did you? </em>Another part of him asked mockingly. <em>Did you pull the trigger, or did you panic? </em>


    At hisck of audible answer, Saw felt his skull mmed against the ground, and didn¡¯t feel anything else.


    ?


    I poked my head over the edge to watch Olko Baz¡¯s ruping, <em>Watchwing, </em>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 <em>Watchwing </em>was roughly level with Vander¡¯s warbeast, Olko tossed asso onto one of its wing spines, before leaping across. Almost immediately, <em>Watchwing </em>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 <em>dove. </em>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, zca 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 andpletely 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.¡±


    <em>My neck hurts. </em>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. <em>Watchwing </em>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 Ver¡¯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 <em>lone </em>raptor, rather than a mounted one. Because I doubted Ver would¡¯ve chosen the ¡®guns zing¡¯ approach to what should have been a stealth mission.


    We continued up the slope, massive, heavy warbeasts tearing up the ground as theyboured 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 wed feetid the missing scouts that it had run down. <em>Red Galia </em>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 reced 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 <em>Red Galia. </em>I gingerly sidestepped the bodies, trying my best to ignore her wet ws as I cautiously brushed my fingers against her scales. <em>Galia </em>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 <em>Galia </em>was the single meanest monster I knew, and the <em>only </em>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 <em>tame </em>raptor as if that terrified them more than the six gargantuan drexls towering over us <em>would¡¯ve </em>been funny, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that a <em>tame raptor</em> terrified me just as much.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± I whispered, now rubbing <em>Galia¡¯s </em>scale with as little fear as I could, ¡°Where is <em>Ver?</em>¡±


    The name all but sparked a dormant fire in the raptor¡¯s eyes. <em>Red Galia </em>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. <em>Galia </em>roared, lightly wing at the screens, as if trying to not damage something, before returning to us.


    ¡°Your best warriors, Olko?¡± I asked nkly.


    ¡°Pokk and Foth,¡± he offered two names.


    I activated mylink; ¡°General?¡±


    <em>¡°You¡¯re in position, Bonteri?¡± </em>


    ¡°We could use that distraction.¡±


    And just like that, the entire valley erupted in fire. Distant, intermittent artillery escted 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 yer.¡±


    ¡°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 zca riders saluted and climbed aboard their drexls, immediately leaping off the ridge without waiting for the go ahead. Soon enough, madughter, cries of rm, and drexl roars rose over the rooftops of Kira Fortress.


    ¡°Alright boys,¡± Vander announced, ¡°Here we go!¡±


    <em>Thump, thump, thump. </em>The rappelunchers 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 <em>Galia </em>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, <em>Galia </em>nudged me with her snout, lowering herself slightly.


    <em>Okay, now this is really freaking me out. </em>I climbed onto her saddle, carefully, as if a single wrong move would have me thrown off the cliff¨Cwhich I still wasn¡¯tpletely certain wouldn¡¯t happen. Without warning, <em>Galia </em>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 sters up and screaming <em>¡°hands where I can see them!¡± and ¡°drop all your weapons and nobody dies!¡± </em>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 forfort, 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 identally 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 ster by its barrel, before holding it out and dropping it on the pile. It took me a moment to understand the reason why¨C<em>Red Galia </em>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 me escaping her jaws. s, she was not a dragon.


    ¡°You were promised?¡± Vander slowly moved forward, aim jumping from person to person, ¡°Promised by <em>who?</em>¡±


    ¡°By Alvera!¡± someone else shouted a name none of us recognised, but <em>Galia </em>clearly did.


    The skreev released an ear-piercing screech, and the entire room recoiled even further as the huge beast tried to w 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 <em>Ver!?¡± </em>I demanded, ¡°Where is she!?¡±


    The rebels looked at each other nervously¨Ceven more nervously than they did looking at a raging Dxunian raptor<em>. </em>That uneasiness in my gut climbed into <em>dread. </em>


    <em>¡°Where is she!?¡± </em>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¨C<em>Ver</em>¨Clooked just as I had remembered. Coveralls, and zing red hair that matched her raptor¡¯s scales. There was just one problem; <em>she wasn¡¯t moving. </em>


    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 <em>Galia¡¯s </em>piercing cry from the thundering artillery or ngour 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.


    Ver wasn¡¯t moving.


    She was dead.


    <em>I killed her.</em>


    I tore my eyes away from her hair, but the red re didn¡¯t leave my eyes. The ster carbine suddenly seemed much lighter in my hands.


    ¡°She told you that?¡± I asked thinly, ¡°She promised your lives and you <em>killed her</em>?¡±


    <em>God damn you, Ver. 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.</em>


    ¡°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?¡±


    ¡°Ste¡­ Ste. She was in the city¡­ Jedi.¡±


    I snarled, finger curling around the trigger¨Cuntil Vander forcefully pushed my carbine down.


    ¡°Ver 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 <em>must </em>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 ept! Demon Moon take my soul if I¡¯m lying¨Ctake <em>all </em>our souls<em>. That¡¯s </em>why Saw killed her!¡±


    <em>I shouldn¡¯t have let her leave the city. That bastard Tandin said I should¡¯ve trusted her¡­ </em>Ver clearly knew what oue I wanted; that must¡¯ve been the reason she tried to reason with the rebels. <em>But what good is it if you end up dead in the process? </em>


    ¡°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 ster again, ¡°And if I <em>knew </em>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 halfughed, half-cried out, ¡°But we didn¡¯t know everything! And <em>you </em>don¡¯t know everything! You were stupid! She was stupid! People are stupid! We make decisions others don¡¯t understand! <em>You </em>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 <em>waiting </em>for you when you came back! If you had died out there¡­ we wouldn¡¯t even have a <em>body </em>to bury in the Hall of Spirits,¡± Vander pointed at Ver¡¯s peaceful form, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know how you feel right now? <em>Get over yourself</em>, 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.¡±


    <em>If you had died out here, </em>Vander¡¯s eyes seem to continue, <em>you would have just been another body in space. </em>And for an Onderonian, there was perhaps no bleaker fate. <em>But I¡¯m not an Onderonian, am I? Not truly.</em>


    The mour 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 Ver 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 Yhn 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¡±


    ¡°Ste 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 haveughed. <em>That¡¯s right. Onderonians in space? Talk about fish out of water.</em> But no, I had no intention of letting them all die.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± I snapped, picking up Ver¡¯s body and holding it up the <em>Galia.</em>


    The skreev crooned, nudging her rider¡¯s corpse as if expecting her to wake up. When Ver didn¡¯t, <em>Galia </em>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 ursed ce behind us.¡±

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    Padm¨¦ Amid hoped she looked moreposed than she felt as she and the rest of the Republic delegation followed an aide into the great hall of Ov Taraba¨COnderon¡¯srgest 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 <em>something </em>would go wrong, that <em>someone </em>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 ur 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 gxy from ending the war before it began in the first ce. 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 <em>and </em>Separatist space and orbital patrols, beforending at the <em>only </em>starport on the, 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 delegationrgely 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 ces on opposite sides of a long stone table,den 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 urred 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 hadpletely 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 eximed, 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 upied 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 ssy 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.


    <em>It is a good thing we now seek peace, </em>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 soldiersy dormant in the Rim, with never the opportunity to reveal their talents. War changed a lot of things.


    ¡°A blood rtion?¡± 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¡¯ste arrival hadrgely 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 rx 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 gxy 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 d 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. <em>Oh dear, </em>Padm¨¦ thought as she recognised the dangerous glint in Mina¡¯s eye, the very same glint that always urs 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 <em>very </em>good question, my dear,¡± Mina drawled, ¡°Might I refer you to a minute ago when the Admiral asked <em>politely </em>if the Jedi Order is to have a seat at this table? Ah¡­ I also mustn¡¯t begin to presume why you thought bringing <em>children </em>would contribute any meaningful debate to our negotiations¡­ or perhaps did you mistake this conference for a <em>school trip</em>?¡±


    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 res 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 oue 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. <em>This is where it begins, </em>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.


    <em>"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!"</em>


    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 <em>she </em>was one of those <em>¡®colleagues¡¯</em> 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 rtionship with the Separatists?


    Bail edged his chin down slightly.


    ¡°Allow me to begin,dies and gentlemen,¡± Padm¨¦ started, folding her hands on herp, ¡°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. <em>It¡¯s a good start, </em>Padm¨¦ decided, <em>we just need to keep this up.</em>


    ¡°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 eximed, ¡°Let me be frank, Senator Amid; 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 Armyunched the Battle of Geonosis. Believe me, we in the Confederacy are rightly justified in thinking that the Republic is <em>fully </em>responsible for the war, especially when diplomatic recourse was still avable 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 uwfully 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 wereplicit 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 Amid 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 <em>bloodsport</em>. Do we, perhaps, have differing definitions of ¡®diplomatic recourse?¡¯¡±


    Before the argument could escte, a dusky skinned Separatist senatorid her palm t on the table without a soft tap, catching their attention.


    ¡°I think,dies and gentlemen,¡± Senator Tawni Ames of Desix spoke softly, but meaningfully, ¡°That Senator Amid 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 Amid, 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 thest 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 theplete termination of hostilities on the Northern, Western, and Southern Fronts, with theplete 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 pped, ¡°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 nce 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 capitte 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 used 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 torge and small states alike.¡±


    <em>So that a war like never this could never ur again before pursuing all other means of diplomacy </em>was left unsaid. Notably, Senator Bremack specifically avoided saying ¡®between our two nations¡¯ and instead made sure to affirm rge and small states alike.¡¯ The Republic and Confederacy were not the only nations in the gxy, 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 isrgely 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 ¡®bnce 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 deration for the cessation of hostilities, both sides had continued to fight, and taken significant territories from each other.¡±


    Senator Darsana¡¯s jaw clenched. <em>There it is. </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡°Absolutely not!¡± </em>Bail immediately replied.


    It wasn¡¯t some knee-jerk reaction, Bail was far tooposed 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 gxy by andrge ended, most significantly on the Perlemian Trade Route, but not everywhere.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the vition.


    On the Separatist side, Auth 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 twos, 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 Ound Regions Security Force of Eriadu seized the opportunity to liberate the Seswenna Sector.


    The Induparan Crown Worlds, Sullust, and Seswenna Sectorbined represent the most powerful economic, industrial, and military powers in the southern gxy. It was not uwful for General Alrix or even Emberlene and General Vanto to keep fighting, as intention does not equatew, 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<em> Hundred Days Offensive </em>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 y 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 Sha 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 bes particrly incensed, thebined influence of the Jedi Order and Republic Navy could be 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 sess 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¨¦ Amid marshalled her features, presenting a cold front as she stated¨C ¡°We¡¯re afraid we won¡¯t be able topromise on this point. Our original demand stands; the demilitarised zone must be created on the <em>present </em>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 <em>exactly </em>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 Sha 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 rm 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 Amid 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.¡±


    <em>¡°Hey,¡± </em>Ahsoka nudged her, ¡°You hear that? Master Skywalker¡¯s friends with the <em>Chancellor!</em>¡±


    Scout shushed her, ¡°Can you not, right now? I¡¯m listening.¡±


    And yet, she would be lying if she said she was not surprised. <em>My Master and the Supreme Chancellor are friends? Since when? How am I only finding out now? </em>Questions like that ran through her mind. And she had to admit, this was the most interesting thing to happen in <em>hours. </em>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 toe.


    But <em>still. </em>How could the words that would decide the fate of billions, <em>trillions </em>of lives still sound so <em>boring? </em>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¡­ <em>non-casual </em>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 difort.


    <em>I should meditate more¡­ </em>Scout thought¡­ <em>wait, how long has it been since Ist meditated?</em>


    ¡°Hey Ahsoka?¡± doubling back on her words, this time it was Scout¡¯s turn to nudge her friend, ¡°When was thest 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.


    <em>¡°What!?¡± </em>Ahsoka hissed in shock, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ like a year ago!¡±


    ¡°Master Skywalker never asked me to!¡± Scout argued, ¡°And I¡¯ve never seen <em>him </em>meditating! He¡¯s always either standing on the bridge, talking with the crew, or¡­¡±


    Wait a minute, <em>has </em>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. <em>For hours.</em>¡±


    ¡°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,rgely 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 ss down with a dainty <em>clink, </em>lips stained a dark purplish hue.


    ¡°May we continue?¡± she finally raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Our apologies for the interruption,¡± Senator Amid wiggled in her seat, seeking afortable 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 Bremackid her tablet on the table, pushing it to the middle with two fingers, knocking several tters 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 regtions 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 use was better, or perhaps even <em>worse </em>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 ted 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.


    <em>¡°¨CYou must evacuate our delegates off Onderon!¡± </em>


    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 <em>¡®everything¡¯s going to be okay.¡¯</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°...Chancellor!¡± </em>a faraway voice shouted, <em>¡°The mirrors are falling!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Where¡¯s Admiral Honor!?¡± </em>the Chancellor shouted back as he gripped his desk.


    <em>¡°The Home Defense Fleet has been destroyed, Chancellor!¡± </em>the second person stepped into the frame, revealing Jedi Master Adi Gallia, <em>¡°Admiral Honor isn¡¯t responding! They¡¯re destroying all of our satellites!¡±</em>


    Chancellor Palpatine clutched his chest, gasping, but the Jedi Master caught him just before he keeled over.


    <em>¡°Our shields¡­!¡±</em> he muttered feverishly, <em>¡°Our shields¡­!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Theary shields are up, Chancellor, but I need to get you to safety,¡±</em> Master Gallia bent towards thelink, <em>¡°Skywalker, is that you? Thank the Force we were able to reach somebody. Our satellites are being targeted, so Coruscant¡¯smunications are about to be cut off. I¡¯m afraid the attack we feared wasing has finally arrived, just in the wrong ce. Get the delegates out of¨C!¡±</em>


    The hologram spluttered, then disappeared in a ssh 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. <em>Appo said something about Jabiim, how it was the worst battle the Jedi had ever fought.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>lead </em>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 <em>Hero With No Fear. </em>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 ces,¡± 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 dy 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 <em>friends </em>with the Chancellor. So I lived.¡±


    He smiled bitterly, then unhooked his lightsaber.


    ¡°Master?¡± Scout asked in rm, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>This isn¡¯t going to go well, </em>was the only thing Scout could think.


    ¡°The <em>Chancellor </em>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 Amid 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 exin how we managed to trick the <em>Jedi </em>of all people? Go on, confound my already low expectations.¡±


    Master Skywalker adjusted his grip, taking a deep breath in preparation for whates next¨C and then the Force <em>quivered, </em>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 <em>snap-hiss, </em>an edge of blue erupted out of Anakin Skywalker¡¯s lightsaber. The Admiral didn¡¯t waste any time drawing his sword with the de ringing out of its scabbard with a ghostly whisper. The strange ck metal seemed to hungrily drink in the light of the lightsaber, making the space a shade darker for it. Chairs ttered and fell as delegates and senators scrambled to get out of the way, many of them hastily dialling theirlinks to contact anyone they can.


    Behind them, the Onderonian Pdins 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 dered, obviously referring to not just the Jedi but the entire Republic delegation, ¡°I¡¯ve got orders from Master Gallia. Will you <em>let </em>us leave?¡±


    Master Plo and Master Kenobi twitched at the mention of their fellow Councilmember.


    ¡°<em>After </em>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 Amid 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. <em>He¨Cwe made a mistake, </em>Scout decided, <em>we thought the Separatists already knew. Now there¡¯s no easy way to diffuse the tension.</em>


    The problem only got worse when Admiral Bonteri decided to take it upon himself to defuse the situation. With no warning, the ck 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 de 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, ¡°<em>Pure </em>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, <em>inhuman</em>ly synchronised footfalls, apanied by an orchestra of whirring servomotors and pounding steel. <em>Droids.</em>


    Not any droids. <em>Commando droids. </em>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¨C<em>except, </em>every single one of them were d 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 nking stopped. They were surrounded on all sides.


    <em>We can still use the Force, </em>Scout thought, <em>but I don¡¯t think getting into a fight is what we want to do.</em>


    ¡°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 thest 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 <em>siege. </em>We are ordered to evacuate <em>immediately.</em>¡±

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    <em>Onderon, Japrael System</em>


    <em>Japrael Sector</em>


    The first name that came to mind was General Grievous.


    That robot <em>bastard </em>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 <em>how </em>Grievous reached Coruscant in <em>Revenge of the Sith. </em>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 <em>pretty </em>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 <em>considered </em>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 iplete 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 <em>suppose </em>an arbitrary surprise attack on the capital of the Republic might just do the trick as well.


    <em>Just can¡¯t get a break, </em>I internallyined, <em>thrown from one ce to another. That¡¯s what I get for fighting against the will of space magic, I suppose.</em>


    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 viin. 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 <em>not </em>being held by Anakin Skywalker now being directed at me, considering they were all being held by mentally stable individuals.


    <em>¡°¨CHome Defense Fleet has been destroyed, Chancellor!¡± </em>a Jedi,by the robes, stepped into the frame of the holoprojector, <em>¡°Admiral Honor isn¡¯t responding! They¡¯re destroying all of our satellites!¡±</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°...Is that you?¡± </em>the Jedi was so close to the sendinglink that her head was morbidly erged, as if she was afraid we couldn¡¯t hear her,<em> ¡°Thank the Force we were able to reach somebody. Our satellites are being targeted, so Coruscant¡¯smunications are about to be cut off. I¡¯m afraid the attack we feared wasing has finally arrived, just in the wrong ce. Get the delegates out of¨C¡±</em>


    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 <em>¡®I told you so¡¯ </em>through his expressive eyebrows. Bail Organa moved to speak, but the whirr of a ster being primed made him think twice.


    Padm¨¦ Amid 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 <em>done. For both sides. </em>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¨C<em>I suspect</em>¨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; <em>¡°Yes, Rear Admiral?¡±</em>


    ¡°We have an audience,¡± was the first thing I said.


    <em>¡°...Noted. Do you have a report for me?¡±</em>


    I eyed the Jedi carefully. Every bone in my body was screaming for me to get out <em>now, </em>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 ount?¡±


    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, unppably 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 <em>Coruscant? </em>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 discreetlymand 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 <em>get </em>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.


    <em>¡°I just spoke with Rear Admiral Trilm,¡±</em> the Supreme Commander said, <em>¡°I am afraid there is a Separatist presence in the Core Worlds. One that I was not aware of.¡±</em>


    I barely had the time to process the fact that Calli Trilm was now also an admiral, before my mind immediatelytched onto thetter half of the statement¨Cas did nearly everybody else around me.


    ¡°There is!?¡± Mina Bonteri demanded before I could, mming her palms against the table.


    The Supreme Commander couldn¡¯t have seen her, but she most definitely heard her. General Tann crossed her arms, <em>¡°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 hismission, 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.¡±</em>


    ¡°And Count Dooku never informed you?¡± Senator Bremack asked in disbelief.


    <em>¡°He did not,¡± </em>General Tann gave me a knowing look, <em>¡°I had to find out through one of his former subordinates.¡±</em>


    <em>That¡¯s¡­ not something you say unless you didn¡¯t care about legitimacy, </em>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¨C<em>has </em>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¨¦ Amid was despondent, holding her head in her hands, ¡°Everything we strived for, wiped clean by pure <em>bad luck</em>? A rogue fleet nobody couldmunicate with, that nobody knew <em>existed, </em>just chose this <em>precise </em>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¡­ <em>oh, that does make a lot of sense. </em>


    The Supreme Commander cleared her throat, <em>¡°There is going to be a lot of confusion and usations in theing 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 bepletely forting 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 tomunicate with him."</em>


    ¡°There¡¯s no chance that¡¯s happening,¡± Senator Darsana scoffed derisively, ¡°Give a line ofmunication from the Supreme Commander of the Separatist military to a suspected Separatist fleet? Try asking the Senate to decrease taxes on Core hypenes instead.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid what <em>we </em>think won¡¯t matter anymore,¡± he continued, slumping, ¡°The HoloNet will go on a rampage, and our standings in the Senate will bepletely gutted.¡±


    If he had it bad, Padm¨¦ Amid had it worse, and everybody knew it. All of the Republic senators present here would have their careers severely damaged, but not enough topletely 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 <em>speech </em>define her career post-Columex. I wouldn¡¯t pretend to know how Naboo elects its senators, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Senator Amid would be forced to tender her resignation, or even be recalled and reced.


    ¡°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, unppably calm, ¡°I imagine you will too. But for now, our priority is returning our delegates to Republic space safely.¡±


    <em>¡°Our warships will escort your diplomatic vessels as far as Commenor,¡± </em>General Tann promised.


    <em>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!</em>


    ¡°Commenor?¡± Obi-Wan Kenobi questioned, ¡°General, we would be satisfied with the edge of the Japrael Sector.¡±


    <em>¡°I insist,¡± </em>Tann returned, <em>¡°Considered a prerequisite of safety. Rear Admiral, I¡¯m sure your vessels are up to the task?¡±</em>


    Considering her tone suggested it was an order and not a question, I had no choice toply. 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.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Because the reason for my fleet escort was obvious enough; to dissuade any¡­ let¡¯s call them <em>¡®pirates¡¯</em> 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 be of my ships once they arrive at Commenor?¡±


    <em>¡°Make sure they contain nothing of value to the Republic,¡±</em> the General might as well shrugged, <em>¡°Scuttle them or let the Republic intern them.¡±</em>


    ¡°...Understood, General,¡± I blew out a furious breath, then pulled out mylink with my free hand, ¡°Tuff,e 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¨¦ Amid 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¡¯te to that.¡±


    The Jedi Knight shifted, ¡°Well¡­ sorry about earlier. I thought you nned 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 allmunications concerning Foerost, Master Jedi.¡±


    The old Kel Dor bowed his head, clearly catching my meaning, ¡°I willunch 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 aborious sigh, childishly flicking a wine ss 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 arger aperture, disyed 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 ofmunication 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 ce. 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 onesmitting 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 exined.


    ¡°<em>Oh, </em>my colleagues must <em>love </em>that,¡± Esu Rotsinu grinned vindictively, ¡°How many senators does the Armed Forces hold a sword over?¡±


    ¡°But we have also caught a specific line ofmunication 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 ountability,¡± 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 ssified assignments. using 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 <em>founder </em>of our nation for <em>treason </em>is simply a fool¡¯s errand. Abuse of office, on the other hand? That was a much more realistic goal, and it stillrgely achieves the same thing.


    ¡°Mina!?¡± Tyreca Bremack eximed 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 Senatemittee, 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 unbiasedmittee¨Ceven <em>I </em>still don¡¯t believe it, and I just read a frankly damning document¨Cit will be near-impossible to even use 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 <em>that </em>is ironic. If nothing else, it will be amusing watching him fail.¡±


    Mina Bonteri stood up so stiffly it was possible she had been reced 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 ce 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 catbs 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.


    ¡°Ste, 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!?¡± Ste 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!¡± Ste tried to stand, only to be jerked back down by the manacles chaining her to the table.


    ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s been ted 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 ce?¡±


    Ste 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 toe home.¡±


    ¡°...What!?¡± Ste 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 sumb 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.


    ¡°Ste¡¯s right,¡± Dono said hesitantly, ¡°Why would we fight the war we were fighting <em>against</em>? I don¡¯t want <em>Sanjay Rash </em>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 reim your lost honour? Saw Gerrera will reim 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, be a mercenary or bounty hunter, and return to Onderon to seek your revenge? Do you think you can be a second Modon Kira, and overthrow the Dynasty?¡±


    <em>That </em>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 ced 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.¡±


    Steugh-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 Ste 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 Yhn 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¡¯lle 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-ss shuttle lowered, I spotted Tuff¡¯s polished ting waiting for me on the other side.


    ¡°<em>Repulse </em>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 criticalponents 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 youmand.¡±


    I must have walked through everypartment 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 <em>Repulse </em>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 newmand, 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.¡±


    <em>¡­Nevermind. She¡¯s the same as always.</em>


    ¡°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 givenmand of the Perlemian AO,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Your new fleet possesses unique qualities unsuited for frontlinebat. Considering the vtile 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 nkly at the clouds.


    I rubbed my cheek. <em>This is why I dread new orders.</em>

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    <em>Nanth¡¯ri Orbit, Nanth¡¯ri System</em>


    <em>Kurost Sector</em>


    ¡°This is the star frigate <em>Repulse</em>,¡± TF-1726 spoke, ¡°We are seeking clearance and a berth.<em></em>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 spe running through a rather vtile 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 spe.


    On gctic 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 <em>literal </em>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.


    <em>¡°Repulse, this is battlecruiser Kronprinz,¡± </em>a familiar voice responded, <em>¡°We¡¯reying out a vector for you. Wee back.¡±</em>


    <em>Kronprinz? </em>I stood up and peered out the viewports, ncing down at the shing pins on <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>array of repeaters and scopes. Familiar transponders blinked back at me; Columexi battlecruiser <em>Kronprinz, </em>Metalornian dreadnought <em>Olympus Mons</em>, Salvaran heavy cruiser <em>Sarissa, </em>Sy Myrthian carriers, Ringo Vindan destroyers, Atrakenite corvette <em>Habatok II</em>. Familiar ships, captained by familiar names. It was as if the entire Perlemian Campaign hade to Nanth¡¯ri.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯rete to a party,¡± Chief Engineer Kavia Slenmented, 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 <em>Repulse¡¯s </emm logs,¡± I ordered.


    The tactical droid looked at me critically, as if saying <em>¡®seriously, now?¡¯ </em>but nheless pushed an indignant B1 out of the way tomandeer their console. Not fifteen minutes into our transit towards our designated orbital births, Tuff swiped the data into my chair¡¯s built-in disys, and I scrolled the list. There were almost a thousand warships in orbit that <em>Repulse </em>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.


    <em>1st Fleet Group; Commanding Officer Admiral Kirst. New Territories AO. </em>The only formation of the 1st Fleet Group present was the <em>19th Mobile Fleet; Rear Admiral Trilm.</em>


    <em>2nd Fleet Group; Commanding Officer Admiral Trench. Perlemian AO. </em>There were two subformations present in-system: the <em>21st Guard Fleet, CO Rear Admiral Merai; </em>and <em>28th Mobile Fleet, CO Rear Admiral Bonteri.</em>


    <em>That¡¯s mine, </em>I thought. The <em>28th Mobile </em>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 <em>Kronprinz.</em>¡±


    ¡°Roger roger. It¡¯s open, sir.¡±


    ¡°Admiral Greyshade,¡± I asked tentatively, ¡°Is that you?¡±


    <em>¡°...Your memory honours me,¡± </em>the Columexi replied, <em>¡°The Twenty-Eighth Mobile is yours.¡±</em>


    ¡°What on God¡¯s green Earth are you doing here?¡± I questioned, inwardly ted to see a familiar face, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you back on the Perlemian?¡±


    <em>¡°You can thank the Militia Act,¡± </em>Diedrich replied, and I could almost <em>feel </em>him shrugging on the other end, <em>¡°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.¡± </em>


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± I dragged out, double-checking the ring <em>Perlemian AO </em>on a nearby readout, ¡°But it says here the Second Fleet Group¡¯s area of operations is back home.¡±


    <em>¡°Need-to-know, I¡¯m afraid,¡± </em>Diedrich chuckled, <em>¡°We¡¯ll meet on the Invincible. You¡¯re thest to arrive.¡±</em>


    Star dreadnought <em>Invincible. </em>Two kilometres of hardened doonium and bristling with a fearsome array of over two-hundred torpedounchers. Once the most infamous warship of the Southern Theatre and bane of the Republic, the gship of Admiral Trench¡¯s scarred visage has been renewed with a fresh coat of paint and ting, almost as if mimicking hermanding officer.


    Once upon a time, <em>Repulse </em>served directly under her. Once upon a time, a certain General Tann pulled <em>Repulse </em>away from her. Strange how I¡¯ve seemed toe full circle. Maybe this was the Supreme Commander¡¯s idea of a joke¡­ or a measured disy 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,e 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 rtive to <em>Invincible</em>, 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 <em>thud, </em>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 ques on their shoulders. <em>Commodore, </em>the symbol read on both.


    Greyshade blinked, noticing my curiosity, ¡°Militia Act.¡±


    As if that exined everything.


    It sort of did. It exined 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 trante to the Confederate Navy. The system tantly favoured officers <em>already </em>on the federal payroll¨Cfor obvious reasons¨Cand pissed off everybody else. But it pissed off everybody else <em>equally. </em>


    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 <em>Invincible, </em>but no further.<em></em>I zeroed in on the nearby B1, wearing the colours of the hangar officer of the deck.


    ¡°Permission toe aboard, sir?¡±


    The droid startled in surprise, before snapping into a mechanical salute, ¡°Permission granted, sir. Wee 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 twomodores 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, ¡°<em>You</em> 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 ventted 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.¡±


    ?


    <em>¡°Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet, designate, arriving!¡±</em> the inte dered as I stepped through the briefing room¡¯s st doors, and the officers who had been seated around therge conference table rose.


    ¡°As you were, all of you,¡± Admiral Trench towered over the table and everybody around it, ¡°I extend my congrattions, Rear Admiral. You find the Twenty-Eighth to your liking, I hope?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t exin 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 ces, 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 g 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 g XO, the one-eyed Commodore Aviso, and to her right was Commander Rel Harsol, nowmanding a whole squadron of frigates.


    Then there were the officers of the 28th Mobile Fleet, the people under my directmand 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 C Rear Admiral Merai.


    I think I was starting to see a pattern emerge.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see all of you gathered in one ce atst,¡± 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 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 thest 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 ted for administrative punishment.¡±


    The Neimodian shrunk back, ¡°My apologies, sir.¡±


    ¡°Permission to speak freely?¡± Horgo Shive leaned forward.


    ¡°Granted.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re nning a coup?¡±


    ¡°In the case that he <em>refuses </em>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 sessfully 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 toment, as she usually did on political affairs. After so long, it was easy to think that Calli had be 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 shed across her face, ¡°...What?¡±


    The inte red,<em> ¡°Iing transmission from Raxus Secundus.¡±</em>


    The ttering of chairs filled the room as everybody shot to their feet, with Admiral Trench hastily vacating his position. Not a momentter, 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 Bws.¡±


    No one actually moved, but it was as if an invisible stir had run around thepartment. General Tann¡¯s choice of vocabry had been¡­ <em>pointed, </em>and almost usatorily 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 itsws. 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 gxy 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 ess to. ringly, there was a splotch of red hovering over Coruscant, a lone ind in a sea of blue. A question mark bobbed over the spot in ce 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 exined to a captured audience, ¡°We will be, in essence, allowing the Republic to seize the initiative.¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°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 be 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 poptedmercial and industrial worlds in the Mid Rim cut of the Corellian Run, from Anteen 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 Anteen 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 Anteen-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 themercial 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.


    ¡°Andstly, 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 nts?¡± Rel Harsol scoffed derisively,


    ¡°Not just any nt,¡± 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 sanemander 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 tounch a counteroffensive than <em>now</em>.¡±


    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 tounch said counteroffensive. And right on cue, Admiral Trench used his cane to point at one of the pins hovering over Nanth¡¯ri; <em>28th Mobile Fleet.</em>


    ¡°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 Cnon 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 <em>defenceless</em>?¡± I nearly fell out of my chair, ¡°<em>While </em>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 aplete one-eighty in theing 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 tomit to their offensives, before executing the second phase of Operation Storm-Door. Admiral Trench¡¯s Second Fleet Group willunch 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 bemanding 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 reim 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 simtions. 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 rifications supplied by Diedrich and Vinoc. Organising a whole new fleet wasplicated 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 topare 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 upy my mind, the rest of the conference went by in daze. Considering my name didn¡¯te up again, I regarded it as a lucky break.


    ¡°¨CAll files will be transferred, and any specific details can be found with yourmanding 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 herputing power to work organising the fleet. The robot bunny nced at oncest time before the st doors locked shut. Only Sev¡¯rance Tann, Trench, Calli Trilm, and I were left inside the suddenly spaciouspartment.


    Calli Trilm kicked her feet onto the table, and pped 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 ord 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 megacorporationys 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 InterGctic Banking n is solidly in Serenno¡¯s sphere of influence,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann crossed her arms, ¡°Unlike the Techno Union, the IGBC¡¯s core holdingsy 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-industrialplex, 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 n 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 ie.¡±


    ¡°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 n, 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 directary 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 HoloNetworks 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 <em>directly </em>linked to it,¡± Calli pointed out, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean¨C¡±


    ¡°Po Nudo and I do not share a homeworld, Rear Admiral,¡± Admiral Trench mmed his cane down with a piercing <em>bang!</em> ¡°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, apany ofmando droids can easily seize themunication 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 inparison to the Corporate Alliance, which was a <em>conglomerate </em>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 ovey onto the starmap. One that disyed 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 exined, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Shit. </em>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 gxy. 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, ¡°...<em>problem</em>.¡±


    ¡°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¡¯vee to attribute to Sev¡¯rance Tann by now¨CI was <em>not </em>expecting another set ofmands. 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 exined 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 Gctic 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 Stance. As you may or may not have noticed, the Neenth 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, shing 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, <em>insane. </em>The 28th Mobile had only 320 warships, and I imagined the 19th Mobile to have a simr outline. And now they wanted us to <em>rescue </em>an isted fleet in the Core Worlds!?


    ¡°Your fleets were designed to sustain themselves on the move, with mobile deepdocks, manufacturing nts, 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 gxy. 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 Stance will begin the moment Operation Storm-Door does, to disguise its purpose,¡± General Tann exined, ¡°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 anymunication 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, <em>again.</em> 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 ss of vessel,¡± General Tann snapped her fingers, and the projection warped into a 3D schematic a new warship, ¡°The Bulwark-ss 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 <em>exactly </em>how Dooku manages tomunicate 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 seemposed, ¡°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 gxy would know about it. If you find yourself toote, you may withdraw at your leisure. If not, expend every effort to search and retrieve¨Cor should that prove impossible¨C<em>destroy </em>everyst 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.


    <em>The Confederacy chooses its admirals and generals based on fear factor, seems like.</em>


    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 gships. As for Operation Stance, the both of you will <em>only </em>receive oral orders from me directly. This includes the beginning of Stance, and when you are allowed to inform your crews of its existence. Until then; dismissed.¡±


    As if on his word, the st doors groaned open, allowing a flood of clinical yellow light into the conference room. Calli marched out silently, almost petntly, 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 apanied 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 disy. Calli and I walked past it, somehowing 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]

    Addendum 3: Operation Storm-Door [CLASSIFIED]


    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 gxy has been spurred once more towards the mes 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 be 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 gxy-wide. With the Republic''s military industry ted to continue expanding, the Confederacy of Independent Systems must regard the unshakable truth; our final victory is only bing less certain.


    While the Confederacy may have enjoyed arge 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 nheless made no action to disguise the mobilisation of their reserve armies.


    Direct your attention to the disy above. Naval Intelligence indicates the mobilisation of three reserve armies; the 2nd Sector Army, 3rd Sector Army, and 4th Sector Army.


    ording 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,st 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 be untenable. Our intelligence efforts have already produced results; we have hard and presentable evidence that the GAR is nning two independent offensives in the Northern and Southern Theatres in an effort to seize keymercial sectors of the Confederacy.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    To this end, we propose <strong><em>Operation Storm-Door</em></strong>. We will mobilise everyst 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 Cnon. Considering ourck 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 Krba. 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 byunching 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 oue from this war. Political troubles on Raxus Secundus notwithstanding, we eagerly await your decision no matter the oue.


    <em>*can you edit this? the supreme cmdr. wants to present it to the oversightmittee</em>


    <em>**why? isn''t there a political crisis going on?</em>


    <em>***the gen. stf. wants more transparency apparently. makes us trustworthy</em>


    <em>****does this look good? i removed stance</em>


    <em>*****make the introduction longer and make it seem more urgent</em>


    <em>******now?


    </em>


    <em>*******LGTM</em>


    <em>*Edited for presentation to the Confederate Parliament</em>


    <em>Attachment CWY21M02: State of the Gxy:</em>

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    <em>Nanth¡¯ri Orbit, Nanth¡¯ri System</em>


    <em>Kurost Sector</em>


    ¡°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 <em>am </em>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 <em>KDY? </em>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-ss 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 floti to attack this fleet, and never return, for them to know it¡¯s trouble. They call it the Storm Fleet, because ites and goes like one. Not longter, 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 Auth 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.¡±


    ¡°<em>We </em>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. <em>¡®If you want to continue raiding Republic vessels, get yourself amission in the Confederate Navy, and do it legally.¡¯ </em>And now Celis Mott, one of the most infamous pirates in this region, is <em>Commander </em>Celis Mott. I found out from him.¡±


    ¡°So I checked nearly every shipyard in the gxy,¡± 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 ve-rigged, or at least ved 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 bepromised 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 ckout 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 <em>much </em>bigger than they seem¨Cstomping across the bays. <em>Invincible </em>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 re 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 Stance <em>doesn¡¯t exist. </em>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 toote to turn back. They know how suicidal this n is. And I still can¡¯t see the point of it.¡±


    For a moment, I struck with a sense of <em>deja vu. </em>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.


    Iughed.


    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 <em>Wheel, </em>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 <em>kidnapped </em>Jabba the Hutt¡¯s only son. That¡¯s the thing with the Pantoran; she is demanding, but <em>reliably </em>demanding, and reliably <em>rewarding.</em> 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 ites to politics.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem concerned at all,¡± Calliined¨Cshe was too dignified to <emin, </em>but I could tell she wasining¨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 tomunicate 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 coloure 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, <em>ever, </em>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 momentter 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 ce¡­ 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 <em>not </em>tumble back into the carriage. A hardndingter, 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 ce 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.¡±


    <em>In more ways than one</em> 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.


    ?


    <em>Sullust Approach, Sullust System</em>


    <em>Brema Sector</em>


    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 ce at the g 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 thergest military in the gxy.


    If not for one thing.


    Horn Ambigene was not just simply a Separatist. He was the <em>first </em>Separatist. He was a Separatist before <em>Separatism </em>was even coined as an ideology. He has been fighting the Gctic Republic for <em>decades, </em>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 <em>First General </em>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 Jedimanders. 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 <em>beneath </em>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.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    General Ambigene, by contrast, was a drill sergeant, a squadmander. His authority was <em>enforced¨C</em>usually with volume¨Clikely borne from a lifetime of organising militias and training soldiers. It was not an unwee thing, in many cases. People like Trench and Tann went to the academies of some form, and emerged ready tomand, bearing the certain expectations that came with it. Horn Ambigene learned how tomand by <emmanding</em>, 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 ¡®<em>let¡¯s raid the Core Worlds via a hypene that doesn¡¯t fucking exist¡¯ </em>and there definitely would be no <em>¡®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.¡¯ </em>


    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 <em>¡®you¡¯ve done it before, why can¡¯t you do it again?¡¯ </em>There was nothing wrong with data-driven assumptions, especially when looking at my admittedly outlying record, but fighting battles was¡­ well, <em>holistic </em>in every sense of the word.


    I honestly <em>didn¡¯t </em>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 appearedplicated, when the idea behind it was as primitive as <em>charge forward.</em> Doing something unconventional always seems to push them off-bnce, despite the preconception that Jedi <em>cannot </em>be pushed off-bnce.


    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 gxy¨Ccould only tryprehending it as we mightprehend the four-dimensional space. <em>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?</em>


    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 themencement 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.¡±


    Thest thing I saw before the connection cut was a savage grin, bearing all teeth.


    ¡°Contacts on scopes,¡± Tuff rmed.


    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,pared to Sullust¡¯s fourth. The enemy¡¯s position is well-ced, blocking the Rimward egress while simultaneously blocking Commander Ventress¡¯ fleet from escaping the star system.¡±


    Well ced indeed, and I had to struggle toprehend how Ventress even got herself in that position. See, the Sululluub Field was an asteroid belt that orbited the sun, except it was <em>closer </em>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 rtion 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 <em>shadowing </em>Sullust. Which was sensible, as she needed to keep a constant eye on the and her opponent, but the negative side effect I was now facing was that it would <em>always </em>put Sullust between her and any reinforcementsing 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 <em>see </em>us, right?¡± I wondered, ¡°Can wemunicate with her?¡±


    ¡°If we can see her, then she can see us,¡± Stelle confirmed, ¡°Butmunication 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 thetest 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 Stance, 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 themander 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.


    <em>¡°Admiral?¡± </em>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 <em>Aurora¡¯s </em>starboard bow<em>,</em>¡± Imanded, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Orders received.¡±</em>


    I turned back to Stelle¨C ¡°Now get me Vinoc.¡±


    <em>¡°Sir?¡±</em>


    ¡°Battle stations. I want the Fourth in portside echelon weighted towards the head and ranged two-hundred thousand klicks off <em>Aurora¡¯s </em>starboard quarter,¡± Imanded, ¡°Mirror the Third on our transverse ne at all times. If Alrix attacks, prioritise the safety of the Sixth above all else.¡±


    <em>¡°Understood.¡±</em>


    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, gged by <em>Aurora II, </em>a massive mothership that wasrge enough to fit the original fuel tanker <em>Aurora </em>in its spacious hangars. It really couldn¡¯t be stressed enough that if Operation Stance 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 <em>had </em>defeated a force over three times the size of her own before. Until I find out exactly <em>how </em>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 <em>Kronprinz </em>taking point and leading her fellow Tionese warships at the point, like ck sihouettes against the harsh sr res¨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 gship <em>Crying Sun. </em>The brutal form of star dreadnought <em>Olympus Mons </em>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 rmed 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 hypene 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. <em>However, </em>considering she had not yet engaged Ventress¡¯ inferior floti, 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 calctions.


    ¡°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 disy. 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 ayered 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 oneyer to ovee. Jumpzones were not a wide area. The end result was that a blockade looked like a haphazard strew of ships ced seemingly randomly¨Cuntil <em>you </em>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 <em>they </em>weren¡¯t going to attack, why shouldn¡¯t <em>I</em>? 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, <emrger strategic concerns </em>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.


    <em>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.</em>


    ¡°We have confirmation from the central database,¡± Tuff reached forward to tap the disy in front of me, ¡°<em>Taskforce Conciliator, </em>gged by star cruiser <em>Resilient, </em>Venator-ss.¡±


    ¡°Anything on the<em> Resilient </em>in particr?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the personal gship 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.¡±


    ¡°<em>Resilient </em>indeed,¡± I muttered, ¡°Get me a detailed report of everything we know about them, down to the fuel reserves if we can.¡±


    ¡°By yourmand.¡±


    ¡°Can we reach Ventress now?¡±


    By now we were directly perpendicr to Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s position, rtive to the hypene egress. The window for interception was quickly closing, and the enemy still wasn¡¯t moving.


    ¡°Patching a line to star dreadnought <em>Dark Rival,</em>¡± Stelle announced, finger hovering over her console as she nced for confirmation,


    I nodded, stood up, and cleared my throat. Thest time I spoke to Ventress was at Teth, at which I was d to see her leave soon after on that junker following the dicey skirmish over the. 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 ck dress ebbing at her feet¨Cat the edge of the holoprojector¡¯s frame¨Cshe was as very much a malevolent wraith as Ist remembered.


    <em>¡°Bonteri,¡± </em>she hissed, ¡°I hate to say it, but you are a wee presence.¡±


    I stared at her nkly, ¡°At least use the rank, Commander.¡±


    ¡°...Fine. <em>Rear Admiral</em>.¡±


    I beamed, ¡°Submit a report on the integrity and battleworthiness of all your vessels as soon as able, Commander. We¡¯ll work from there.¡±


    <em>¡°Report?¡± </em>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 nce over. Is <em>Dark Rival </em>your fleet¡¯s gship?¡±


    ¡°Ourmand centre is aboard the <em>Chakdrukke.¡±</em>


    I leaned away, whispering to Tuff, ¡°Which one is that?¡±


    ¡°The Inexpugnable-ss battleship, sir.¡±


    ¡°Never heard of that ss,¡± 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

    Chapter 47


    <em>Sululluub Asteroid Field, Sullust System</em>


    <em>Brema Sector</em>


    <em>Chakdrukke </em>was an Inexpugnable-ss 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 ss before, which shouldn¡¯t be surprising, as the gxy 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 <em>Chakdrukke </em>went through. The roar of angle grinders and welding torches filled thepartments 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¡¯mand, 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 tings, spares, and expendable ordnance.


    <em>This </em>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 Stance begins.


    Stepping onto <em>Chakdrukke¡¯s </em>pilothouse was an experience, to say the least. Instead of a traditional pilothouse, <em>Chakdrukke </em>had three floors of transparisteel instead, with the centralmand 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 ount when enacting the Militia Act. One of thews 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 wasmitted to providing her new military a fresh generation of Force-sensitive officers, considering her growingck 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 thates 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-Doormences¡­ which may be sooner than I¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°The sooner the better!¡± Ventress snarled, ¡°We have numerical superiority¨Cwe should seize it! Why must wenguish around while Loyalist reinforcements could be on their way at this very moment!?¡±


    <em>Definitely won¡¯t be, </em>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 asmanders by Dooku thus far, could no longer operate outside the cogs of the system. They were retroactively givenmissions, sries, and the <em>actual </em>authority afforded to their ranks. On the other hand, they now had superiors as well, and mander¡¯ 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 t voice said¡­ tly. It was a fair woman, dressed in a modest ck coat with a face so stiff and eyes so lightless one could imagine it was a ultra-realistic droid facete, ¡°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 momentter.


    ¡°...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 <em>must not allow </em>Alrix to retreat. Our victory must be total andplete. 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 boration?¡±


    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 <em>there</em>.¡±


    I pointed further down to Eriadu, floating in the middle of the floor beneath us.


    ¡°Our target is <em>this</em>,¡± my finger whipped through the air, and now I was pointed at a sparkling constetion 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 holodisy 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 Stance remained top secret until the moment arrived. Simrly, 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 hypenes, and gave us some much needed options.


    Not to mention, the native Givin of Yag¡¯Dhul were famous gxy-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 sess.


    ¡°Thank you for that,¡± I said loudly, ¡°Now please show us a chart of the star system.¡±


    Right on cue, the holodisy focused onto the star of Sullust, zooming in until the orbitalnes 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 andst known positions.


    ¡°Our order of battle will be as such¨C¡± I started, pausing until I was sure everybody was keeping up, ¡°<em>Chakdrukke, Dark Rival, </em>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 hypene egress as shees 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 <em>82,780,000 klicks. </em>


    ¡°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 <em>Rees Alrix</em> use?¡±


    If anybody knew, it would be someone who had the most experience fighting her all this time, right?


    Ventress nced 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 formationse with their weaknesses, so which will we use?¡±


    I rubbed my cheek, analysing the hundred or so ships of Taskforce Conciliator, beforeing 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 aplicated formation, she might know our weakness before we do. But a <em>standard </em>formation¡­¡±


    ?


    <em>¡°Bow-and-quarter line,¡± </em>Commodore Kendal Ozzel sniffed in disdain, ¡°They must think us fools.¡±


    Jedi General Rees Alrix stood upon the pilothouse of star cruiser <em>Resilient, </em>the former gship of Admiral Wieler, as her own former gship, <em>Conciliator, </em>had been boarded and scuttled at the Battle of Medth. Ozzel¡¯s own Star Destroyer, <em>Imperious, </em>sailed close to portside, the Tector¡¯s red-painted markings aze as Taskforce Conciliator crossed Sullust¡¯s terminator line, a curtain of zing sr radiation swept over the fleet¨Csunscreens automatically activated across viewports.


    Her earth-brown robes trailed on the polished metal deck, covering the extensive stoid 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 aside battle yet. At their feet, the crews in the data pits worked with a furnaced intensity, determined to avenge the loss of their formermanding 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 theing campaign known by <em>approving </em>the assignment. The Separatist strongholds of the Rimma Trade Route were too powerful, too unbreakable to be captured.


    <em>The Rimma Campaign would never go far, </em>High Command must have thought, <em>so why invest resources that could go to the Perlemian?</em>


    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 sess.


    To their starboard, theva 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 rmended 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 stilling to reinforce us?¡± the Jedi General inquired, keeping her gaze fixed on the menace before them.


    ¡°The Separatists have blockaded all spes 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 nks 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 enemymander must not be confident with Ventress¡¯ ships. There is, however, no exnation 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 hase to connect with the Force her order of monks had a rtionship 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 ce where data and logic should be held above all else.


    Tolerate, not ept.


    If only Jedi mysticism could have saved the fleet at Columex, hm?


    ¡°Or,¡± she turned back, ¡°They are <em>protecting </em>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 veteranmanders and veteran crews. We have identified the gships of numerous namedmanders, many of whom have battled Jedi such as yourself before. Captain Krett saw action against Jedi Generals Tir and Tiplee at Ringo Vinda, and Commander Shive against Jedi General Skywalker at Vorzyd-Five. We also spotted the star frigate <em>Repulse, </em>the reported gship 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 <em>is </em>fascinating,¡± Rees Alrix said, ¡°And what are these weaknesses?¡±


    <em>Is this a test? </em>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 nced 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 lightsaberbat herself. Is this not why I had called you upon my bridge, to seek your advice?¡±


    If <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>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 gship. 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 stoid boots pped against the ting, and yet they remained as pristine as they ever have.


    ¡°The bow-and-quarter line¡¯s greatest weakness is itsck of force concentration,¡± Ozzel exined, ¡°The inverted chevron creates a killzone that we must avoid, forcing us to attack the parallel line, to which the nking arm can then sweep around and envelop us from the rear. However, by trying to lengthen their front and envelop us, the line bes thin enough that a concentrated forward assault on the parallel may allow us to break the line before the nking 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 nks 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 amand 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 ourbat patrols return to hangars,¡± General Alrixmanded, ¡°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!¡±


    This tale has been uwfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°You have made your input, Commodore,¡± Alrix barely paid him any heed, ¡°Have thatmand package ready for execution on mymand. Helmsman; all ships full forward.¡±


    <em>Resilient </em>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 disys.


    Kendal Ozzel was a hardcore proponent of the constant offensive, of which he was proud to proim. But there was a difference between that and suicide, of which General Alrix seemed to bemitting 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 ring 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 anybat patrols in the ck to intercept them.


    <em>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.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>wait. </em>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 <em>more, </em>wondering if you were missing <em>something. </em>


    It was that <em>something </em>that lingered like a spectre over your head. Most of the time it was your own mind ying 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 <em>something </em>will always exist, and will never show itself until the critical moment you realise the <em>something </em>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 ordering in from thousands of parsecs away, one that mighte 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 eptable parameters,¡± Kavia followed.


    I tapped thelink on the armrest, ¡°Ventress, get your birds in the air. I¡¯m giving youmand of our Vultures.¡±


    <em>¡°Understood.¡±</em>


    I toggled the frequency, ¡°All ships, <em>Repulse; </em>all ahead full. You have your orders. Check your bearing at all times. Don¡¯t straggle.


    <em>¡°Repulse, Renown; roger roger.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Repulse, Kronprinz; understood.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Repulse, Crying Sun; got it.¡±</em>


    A hundred more affirmations poured in, and I quickly lost track of who was who. A quick look at the feed on thems repeater got my head back in the game, however, as a cascade of check-ins poured down the callsigns.


    <em>Repulse </em>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 closebat 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¡¯ fanded Ginivex-ss starfighter dropped out of a Sy Myrthian, followed by a whole¨Cand perhaps, only remaining¨Cwing of Rogue-ss 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 n was simple. ording to Ventress, Jedi General Alrix was the type to identify a weakpoint in her enemy¡¯s formation before mercilessly exploiting it, over usingplicated stratagems nned 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 ount 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, ovepping firing angles created an unassable 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 nked around,pleting a three-way encirclement.


    Alrix¡¯s objective was most assuredly to shatter the line abreast <em>before </em>we can nk her, splitting our battleline in two and opening us to be defeated in detail¨Cand this is where the starfighterse in. Starfighters can respond more promptly than warships, and can pin down the enemy until the nk could be executed fully.


    The trickid in disguising <em>where </em>the starfighters wille 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 sses 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 <em>because </em>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 aplish. 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 dy. A fieldmander 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 starfighterbat than all of the 28th field officersbined.


    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 rtive contact velocity skyrocketed.


    ¡°Their el-squared is rising,¡± Tuff noted.


    I nodded nkly. Our fleet was forging ahead at a reasonable el-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 eleration our retrofitted Lucrehulks can maintain. On the other hand, Alrix had mmed 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 ur.¡±


    ¡°I can imagine,¡± I observed the enemy formation¨Corck 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 elerations and bearings. Whereas our formation had neat, parallel lines with matching bearings, the Republic had a mess of constantly shifting figures.


    I frowned, ¡°Rtive intercept velocity?¡±


    <em>¨C13,859KPS</em>


    <em>¨C14,183KPS</em>


    <em>¨C16,431KPS</em>


    <em>¨C17,003KPS</em>


    <em>¨C18,098KPS</em>


    <em>¡­What the fuck?</em>


    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 <em>really </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡­What the hell is she doing? This isn¡¯t how you fight a battle!</em>


    I checked the time to intercept again; <em>she won¡¯t have enough time to deploy starfighters at this rate! </em>Wait, <em>is </em>she nning to deploy starfighters at all? I shook my head; that thought was absurd. <em>Everybody </em>knew that you needed starfighters to counter Battle Order 3.


    I needed to check our eleration, 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 nk 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?¡±


    <em>¡°...Something is up,¡± </em>Ventress hissed, telling me something I already knew, <em>¡°We¡¯re ying right into Alrix¡¯s game.¡±</em>


    ¡°And your response is to¡­¡± I wanted to say <em>desert, </em>but I knew that wouldn¡¯t be quite true, ¡°...<em>retreat </em>from the battle?¡±


    <em>¡°I¡¯m not retreating,¡± </em>she denied impertinently, <em>¡°I¡¯m reducing our intercept velocity.¡±</em>


    I toggled to the fleet frequency, ¡°All ships, <em>Repulse; </em>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 withsers. I rmend employing our shields and passive countermeasures to refract and scramble them.¡±


    I nodded absentmindedly, waving the go-ahead.


    <em>¡°Repulse, Crying Sun; copy,¡± </em>there was irritation in Vinoc¡¯s tone, <em>¡°What on Mchor is Ventress doing?¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°I am not going anywhere!¡± </em>Ventress bit in audible frustration, <em>¡°It¡¯s you who needs to slow down!¡±</em>


    ¡°Thirty minutes to intercept,¡± Tuff said dryly.


    ¡°Why!?¡± I shot to my feet, nearly shouting.


    <em>¡°¨CI don¡¯t know!¡± </em>Ventress screamed back, and it was then I realised she was not frustrated at <em>me, </em>but at herself, <em>¡°I have a bad feeling! Even I know Alrix should have her fighters in the ck by now! But she doesn¡¯t!¡±</em>


    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 res in the darkness.


    ¡°You¡¯re jeopardising our entire strategy off a <em>bad feeling</em>?¡± 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 calcting 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 <em>Fortressa.</em>¡±


    <em>Krett¡¯s gship.</em>


    ¡°Sir, Commander Krett is contacting us again.¡±


    ¡°<em>Oh for¨C</em> patch me in!¡±


    I waited as patiently as I could for the Neimodian to start; <em>¡°My apologies, Admiral¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°You have the Vulture overrides, Krett? Transfer them to me.¡±


    Krett went silent for a moment.


    <em>¡°...My apologies, Admiral,</em>¡± he said again, with an indecipherable tone, <em>¡°But I don¡¯t think our enemy is fighting the same battle that we are.¡±</em>


    ¡°...What?¡±


    <em>¡°The vector of the enemy gship doesn¡¯t intercept any of ours.¡±</em>


    I looked at Tuff, and he immediately brought up the vectors again. And indeed, the line leading out of <em>Resilient </em>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 <em>aiming </em>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 <em>us </em>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 calction 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 calcted, ¡°Ipute an eighty-six point nine-five-five percent chance of overwhelming victory, based on the parameters avable to me.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad¡­¡±


    But then what the hell was Ventress on about in the first ce? I squinted at the tactical holo. Even if Alrix wasn¡¯t aiming to intercept us, we were still aiming to intercept <em>her. </em>And without LACs on the field, we can easily envelop her smaller fleet and destroy itpletely. 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.


    <em>In the purple king¡¯s name, Bonteri, when was thest time someone did anything for you without direct orders?</em>


    An annoying voice I wish I had never heard again appeared in my head. <em>Fuck off.</em>


    <em>This may sound absurding 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.</em>


    ¡­


    ¡°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.¡±


    ¡°...Calctionsplete,¡± 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 rtive 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¡­ <em>where had I seen that before?</em>


    I checked my chrono for the time left to intercept. <em>Fifteen minutes</em>. I had to make a decision <em>now</em>.


    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 <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>vector.¡±


    The holo created a second instance of itself, simting 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 disy.


    ¡°What is she <em>targeting</em>?¡± I rubbed my eyes, ¡°The Sululluub Field behind us? Expand the scope of the disy.¡±


    The disy zoomed out, showing how the vector extended out <em>through </em>the Sululluub Asteroid Field before it curved due to some orbital influence or the other.


    <em>¡°¨CHostile intercept detected,¡±</em> Tuff announced, and there was a realised panic in his modted 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;<em> it looks like an arrowhead. </em>Thest time I saw that formation was at <em>Metalorn.</em>


    I checked my chrono.


    <em>Ten minutes. Not enough time.</em>


    <em>No. </em>The pieces suddenly clicked in my mind¡¯s eye. I should have realised from the start; Rees Alrix was by all ounts a master tactician. I was right from the moment I saw her suicidal charge; <em>this wasn¡¯t how you fought a battle. </em>Ventress realised the same thing, and abruptly acted on that instinct. Then it was Krett who realised why; because Alrix wasn¡¯t fighting <em>us</em>


    <em>It¡¯s not us who needs time. It¡¯s Alrix. </em>


    I mmed my fist down on the fleet frequency, ¡°All ships, this is <em>Repulse. </em>We are making aplete withdrawal! Hard left on etheric rudders and <em>retro-burn</em> 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 <em>Resilient </em>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 inertialpensators 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 eleration and heading.¡±


    ¡°Very good, sir.¡±


    Ozzel watched one of the readouts in silent astonishment; <em>rtive intercept velocity 35,000KPS. Over a tenth of lightspeed. </em>These weren¡¯t sane tactics; no amount of training could have prepared him for this. <em>Resilient, </em>nay, the <em>entire </em>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. <em>Contact, not intercept. They weren¡¯t intercepting this group.</em>


    ¡°Executemand 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 rtive intercept velocity started to fall. Drive-glows. Too bright to be facing away from them.


    <em>¨C34,000KPS</em>


    <em>¨C31,000KPS</em>


    <em>¨C27,000KPS</em>


    ¡°Hostiles are withdrawing!¡± an officer said hurriedly, ¡°They¡¯re decelerating!¡±


    The Jedi General was unmoved; ¡°Continue at present eleration and heading.¡±


    Ozzel was not so calm, ¡°I want details! Are they retro-burning?¡±


    ¡°Affirmative, sir! <em>They¡¯re presenting broadsides!</em>¡±


    rms immediately rang out in Ozzel¡¯s head.


    He climbed down into the data pit and observed the tactical disy 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 nning 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 exined, 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 thunderp.


    <em>¡°Sir?¡±</em>


    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, mbering 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 st 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 eleration and bring us back to Sullust orbit!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡±


    Ozzel swallowed his frustration as the bridge sprung back into action, the helmsman coaxing <em>Resilient </em>back to a manageable velocity for a reciprocal turn, handling the warship as one might a ss chalice. As the invisible pressure on his body retreated, he allowed himself to look at the tactical disy again, tracing <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>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¡¯ floti, but that¡¯s all they were; repair vessels. But the Jedi General thought otherwise. <em>Why did the enemy break off so suddenly? </em>He could think of one reason; <em>because they realised what our true intentions were, and it terrified them.</em> 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¡¯smon 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 onest time. If General Alrix¡¯s n 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 isted 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

    Chapter 48


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    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 gxy had seen in a millenia, the zing 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.


    <em>Coruscant was dying.</em>


    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 streetmp 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 aze as it descended through the atmosphere, oneyer 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¡¯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 Gctic 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 umted 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 ri-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 umted civilization. With power shortages and rolling ckouts 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 gxy 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 inplete 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 afortable 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 Barrissst saw her Master, and there were too many things to say, so much so that they lodged in her throat and refused toe 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 me you. I think so too. There is no need for words at this time. Maybe our rtionship 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. Wee back.¡±


    Barriss bowed her head, and for a brief moment the wind could not reach her, ¡°I admit myself back under your tutge, 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 sesses. With our reputation already leery, we cannot afford to say no. And with the rest of us preupied 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 Mirin 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 Mirin 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 toe.


    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¡­


    <em>I can¡¯t hear the screaming anymore. </em>


    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. <em>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.</em>


    How could she? How could she willingly deafen herself so ufortably, 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 simrly to Master Gallia, Master Allie was not known for any outstandingbat 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 prioritiesy.


    ¡°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 reced 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 <em>my </em>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.¡±


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the vition.


    ¡°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 beingplicit in the spread of ughter 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 pce 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 <em>enemy, </em>and I cursed myself more when I realised I wanted to <em>live, </em>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 <em>Jedi Master </em>from ughtering thousands of refugees?¡±


    A pulse in the Force. Pong Krell was an ursed 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 ¡®<em>Asajj Ventress was once a Jedi?¡¯ </em>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 <em>lying</em>, Padawan?¡± Master Windu¡¯s voice was deep, and sharp as a vibrode.


    ¡°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 <em>Jedi Knight </em>that saved my life.¡±


    Barriss continued her tirade, before they could interrupt, ¡°But maybe <em>¡®Jedi Knight¡¯ </em>is too good for a member of the AgriCorps. Maybe the title <em>¡®Jedi¡¯ </em>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. <em>I said what I wanted to say, </em>she thought slowly, <em>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.</em>


    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 <em>Jedi Master¨C</em>who cracked like a mere initiate at their first sight of wholesale ughter, 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, sighedboriously.


    <em>¡°Anakin¡­¡±</em>


    ¡°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 maye 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 de 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 exin to you that we have a dire need for more hands.¡±


    ¡°I would request for us to be assigned together,¡± Master¨Cno longer <em>her </em>Master, simply ¡®Jedi Master¡¯¨CLuminara¡¯s tone was intricate, and serenely imprable, ¡°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 cane with me to the Circle of Jedi Healers. We need healers now more than we do battlemasters, despite what Master Piell ims.¡±


    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 epted, 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 <em>try </em>to end it.


    No. Barriss had a n. A n 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 ess 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 imprable, 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 im, rightly so, that the Jedi Order¡¯s cooperation with Republic Intelligence is thergest sign of the corruption of our ethics. And despite that, you who had so tantly 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. <em>Master Gallia has ties to the Coruscanti elite. Master Gallia controls a secret intelligence agency. </em>It was all spection 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 Galliamanded 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 Mirin 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 contemted for a while, beforeing to her decision, ¡°Very well. It¡¯s hard enough recruiting, we won¡¯t turn down a volunteer. We shall discuss this at ater date. Don¡¯t worry; I will find you when you are ready.¡±


    She felt no tion 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. <em>Ah¡­ it¡¯sing back. </em>It was as if a bubble within her ears had popped, and the vibrancy of sound was returning to the Tower, to her. <em>I can hear it again, that roar of suffering. It was proof of life. </em>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 ordinarylink, and fitted squarely in the palm of her hand.


    <em>It is simply a bad feeling of mine, that this decision woulde to harm the Republic.</em>


    <em>Master Windu truly is terrifying. He was the only one who realised¡­ </em>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 silentlymented.


    <em>Why can¡¯t any of you hear the screaming too? </em>

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    <em>Sululluub Asteroid Field, Sullust System</em>


    <em>Brema Sector</em>


    ¡°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-Doormences.¡±


    Hope shrivelled into a confused frown, ¡°You did remember to tell him that the enemy is engaging <em>us, </em>right?¡±


    ¡°I have briefed the Admiral with all the necessary information, including the state of our forces and all actions that have transpired in thest sixty-one system hours,¡± the droid replied, ¡°This is our <em>third </em>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. Pirs, 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 andrge eliminated the former, mandating thetter 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 exined 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...


    <em>So is this all part of the n? </em>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 <em>actually </em>infuriating, how obvious Alrix¡¯s y 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 <em>why </em>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 <em>think </em>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 Stance, 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 n was tantly obvious from the start; allow Alrix toe 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 ted 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 isted in the ck, between two Separatist forces. We could have <em>easily </em>adapted and envelop her <em>anyway</em>,pletely 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-ss Star Destroyers and sixty Venator-ss 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 sess in future campaigns by a fifth.


    Sixteen system hourster, Taskforce Conciliatorunched 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 <em>confirm </em>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. 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 hourster, 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 isted 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 <em>four </em>times their size, albeit, somewhat equal tonnage. And infuriatingly, in all three skirmishes, she used insane tactics that should have never had seeded, if not for the chains bound around our wrists.


    It has been fifteen system hours since then.


    Horgo Shive contacted me.


    <em>¡°Alrix is out in force again,¡± </em>the Muun Commodore reported, <em>¡°She¡¯s headed right for us with her entire fleet.¡±</em>


    I shared a look with my tactical droid, before breathing out slowly, ¡°What mad strategy is she going to employ this time?¡±


    <em>¡°She¡¯s already employing it, Admiral,¡± </em>Shive possessed a tone one would have observing an exotic animal in a menagerie, <em>¡°She¡¯sing at us through the asteroid field.¡±</em>


    Despite myself, a note of beleaguered expectation dropped from my tongue, ¡°So she¡¯s <em>actually </em>doing it.¡±


    ?


    Commodore Kendal Ozzel observed the tactical disy 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 <em>bulkers </em>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.


    <em>We would.</em>


    Over thest 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. <em>They </em>could choose the time of battle, <em>they </em>controlled the initiative, and <em>they </em>could set the siege.


    ¡°Deflectors holding steady, sir,¡± a technician notified.


    ¡°I¡¯m not blind, ensign!¡± Ozzel snapped, ¡°Look in front of us! <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>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 shes of blue light battered the prised viewports. Turbser bolts, vaporising any asteroid that draws too close forfort.


    The Separatists have chosen their fortress cleverly. There was a clearing, deep within the asteroid belt, carved out by a derelict mining station,rge 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 whichid 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 capiry, they can evacuate their auxiliaries through the other. The tunnel-shaped voids were originally excavated by the Sullustans, to ess 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. <em>It must be a Separatist trick, </em>they say, <em>the enemy most certainly awaits us with a trap¨Cthat is in to see!</em>


    Ozzel had to remind them not to think so hard about it. No need to look at the guara in the mouth, as it were. The only thing they had to focus on was the destruction of the enemy fleet <em>before </em>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 sr winds.


    <em>But the Separatists have chosen a location where we can¡¯t trap them! </em>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 <em>Imperious </em>forged ahead at the head of nine Tectors and twelve Venators. Directly ahead of them, battlecruiser <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>ice-blue ion drives sputtered, then roared, leading the way for two dozen Venators and a score of escorts¨Cwhile on their starboard bowid the main mass of the Sululluub Asteroid Belt. And on the <em>opposite side</em> of the belt, little over four-million klicks starward, was the battlecruiser <em>Statesman </em>leading the remainder of Taskforce Conciliator.


    Said answer was of course approaching down <em>both </em>corridors, trapping the enemy.


    One of <em>Imperious¡¯ </em>batteries thundered off, vaporising an asteroid that dared to slip <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>reach.


    Ozzel diverted his attention to the radiation scanners, and the fiery red blots piercing through the cool blues and cks 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 hismand. Even if he wasn¡¯t privy to her exact n¨Cif she even had a n¨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. <em>Why did General Alrix split our fleet in two, for one</em>, <em>or three, counting my squadron. </em>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.


    <em>Jedi¡¯s still seeing something I¡¯m not. Again.</em>


    ?


    ¡°They¡¯reing in from both corridors,¡± Krettid out the basic details, ¡°Two-thirds led by <em>Resilient </em>to our starboard, and one-third led by <em>Statesman </em>to our port.¡±


    ¡°Splitting their force like this¡­¡± Horgo narrowed his eyes, ¡°Do they not understand that <em>Statesman </em>will have their positions overrun immediately?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll match them,¡± I said to the officers, ¡°Diedrich and Horgo will hold the line against <em>Resilient </em>and <em>Imperious.</em> They will give ground and buy time. Vinoc, Ventress and I will take our port nk, against <em>Statesman. </em>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 independentmand, and their ¡®2nd and ¡®3rd Divisions were nothing to scoff at either, with abined 115 warships¨Ctwice the number of the the Republic¡¯s left nk, 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 nk. 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 <em>Fortressa. </em>He was one of the first to figure out Alrix¡¯s y 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 sessfully stalemated not one, but <em>two </em>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 disys, it was spelled out inly. 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 ess to high quality ammunition, thanks to their heavily industrialised Core Worlds¨Cseen with the widespread use of their iconic blue ionised ster bolts. The Confederacy, on the other hand, was forced to rely on cheaper, unrefined gases, as apparent from our red bolts.


    As turbser 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-ss star destroyer was the product; boasting a heavy array of turbser batteries, indeed, but its main firepowery in its 306 torpedo tubes in 102unchers. 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 quartersbat.


    By contrast, Venators only had four torpedo tubes, and it has been discovered that the Republic¡¯s newest Tector-ss 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 me the girl, you know?¡±


    Sixteen hours ago, Alrix sent a Hammerhead a<em></em>bit <em>too </em>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 floti stuck here, we could be stationed safely outside of the Sullust System¡¯s termination shock, waiting patiently for Operation Storm-Door to begin. <em>However, </em>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 toote, 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 <em>listen to me</em>.¡±


    ¡°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, <em>¡°I know.¡±</em>


    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 pped with long, spindly hands, ¡°Let¡¯s get the show on the road!¡±


    ¡°Remember,¡± Krett said one more time, ¡°In a battle outside the bounds ofmon sense,monsensical thought is always found mostcking. The Jedi¡¯s first and final trick is not on the battlefield, but in our heads. Whatever happens, <em>do not </em>overthink it.¡±


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    The holograms then shed out of existence. <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>pilothouse dimmed into battle lighting, and the heavy thuds of st shields vibrated the bridge as they covered the viewports. The holographic HUD spun up a momentter, cycling through a dozen different sensor modes before settling on IR.


    I patted one of <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>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.¡±


    <em>Repulse </em>rumbled in agreement.


    ?


    A firefight was breaking out.


    Ozzel could only watch the shadowed backs of <em>Resilient </em>and her two-dozen battlecruisers as the first opening salvos trumpeted the deration 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 arge 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 soplicated. 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.


    <em>Don¡¯t overthink it. </em>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 notcking in firepower.


    General Alrix¡¯s battlecruisers roared ahead in furious forward assault, heavy DBY-827 turbser 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 nk had finallyid down a steady stream ofser 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 upied himself by reviewing the tactical disys 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 <em>Resilient, </em>nearly brandishing their torpedounchers, 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 <em>Resilient </em>right away, sir!¡±


    General Alrix¡¯s hologrammanded the deck of <em>Imperious </em>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 ordingly by retreating into arger region navigable space in the belt in their rear. It was difficult to parse on the tactical disy, 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 <em>Imperious </em>and Ozzel¡¯s rearguard, bypassing the bow-concentrated particle shields and tearing into their Tectors¡¯ armour ting. Superficial damage, and perhaps from some freak event.


    Two minutester, 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, <em>now</em>!¡±


    The General had not yet returned, leaving the holoprojector flourishing a mildly blue empty space, one intermittently interrupted by <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>deck officers passing back and forth like apparitions.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell, but it looks like our right nk is the cause, sir!¡± the sensor officer reported hastily, fingers dancing across his dashboard.


    <em>¡°How!?¡±</em>


    ¡°It¡¯s the <em>Statesman</em>, sir!¡± the lieutenant swallowed thickly, ¡°They¡¯re targeting the asteroids around them!¡±


    Ozzel fell into contemtion, but the sensor officer took his silence as confusion.


    ¡°...They are shattering the asteroids, sir,¡± he tried to exin, ¡°Creating a chain reaction of fragmenting asteroids that is now reaching us. Our right nk is trying to copse the tunnel, and make the space unnavigable¨C¡±


    <em>¡°I know that,¡± </em>Ozzel snarled, ¡°I want to know <em>why </em>they are doing that! It wasn¡¯t part of the n!¡±


    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, ¡°<em>Statesman </em>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 <em>Statesman.</em>


    ¡°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 aplish 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 ze in our foe¡¯s ranks. I need <em>you </em>to ignite that ze, 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<em>. </em>After a long moment, she lifted up an arm and pointed a finger.


    ¡°I sense a vulnerability right¡­ <em>there</em>.¡±


    Kendal Ozzel tried to trace her finger on the tactical disy, following it as a straight line until¨C <em>would you look at that, so that¡¯s why the Statesman was¡­ unbelievable. </em>He was starting to like his Jedi. Maybe Admiral Wieler had been onto something.


    ¡°That¡¯s not a target,¡± he had thepulsion to point out.


    ¡°A vulnerability can be many things, not merely a ce 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 zed 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 copse the tunnel by shattering the asteroids around us.


    Every time the disy 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 <em>Olympus Mons </em>led the charge, six-hundred missiles erupting from her hulls like the ck wings of a god of war incarnate, unfurling out as sheshed 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 ting from warships.


    ¡°The corridor is copsing,¡± Tuff reported, audibly concerned.


    ¡°We have them on the ropes. This is theirst ditch attempt to stop us,¡± I grunted, toggling thems, ¡°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 fusides of strikes against the enemy.


    Battlecruiser <em>Statesman, </em>buckled, then snapped under the pressure. <em>Olympus Mons </em>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 <em>Statesman¡¯s </em>dorsal turbsers 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 ast 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 disyed was something to be admired.


    <em>¡°Our shields are in the red,¡±</em> Kavia warned through the inte, <em>¡°Any longer in here and I can¡¯t guarantee hull integrity.¡±</em>


    ¡°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, ¡°<em>Crying Sun</em>, you alright?¡±


    Far ahead of me, I tried to make out <em>Crying Sun </em>through the array of battle. The ¡®4th Battle Division had pushed nearly 12,000 klicks ahead <em>Repulse, </em>hounding the remnants of Alrix¡¯s starward wing every step of the way.


    <em>¡°Going strong,¡± </em>Vinoc answered, <em>¡°We¡¯ve taken damage on our port bow, but the Second Division can still follow through with the n. There¡¯s a problem, though.¡±</em>


    Of course there was. I blew out a breath.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Is that the Force talking?¡±


    <em>¡°I can¡¯t tell the difference.¡±</em>


    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, <em>my</em> every instinct was still roaring to <em>push, push, and push. </em>Our opponent was on the back foot, their line was crumbling, and we had momentum on our side. <em>Just a little further, </em>the devil on my shoulder seemed to whisper, <em>just a little further and we¡¯ll crack them open.</em>


    ¡°Iing transmission from Ventress,¡± Taylor looked at me.


    ¡°Patch her in.¡±


    <em>¡°Bonteri,¡± </em>Ventress¡¯ naturally gravelly voice said, <em>¡°I¡¯m bringing my fighters to our right nk.¡±</em>


    Not even asking for permission, huh?


    <em>¡°Why?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Alrix has yed her hand.¡±</em>


    Sixty-five hours. The Republic rearguard of nine Tector-ss 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 mming through the supposedly unnavigable region. With rtively fresh shields, the Tectors rammed every asteroid it did not vaporise beforehand, driving a deep wedge into the gap and tantly posing the question; <em>¡®where am I headed!?¡¯</em>


    ¡°To do this <em>now¡­</em>¡± I started.


    ¡°The usibility of this action being a coincidence is exceedingly low,¡± Tuff finished, ¡°I will conduct a full recalction 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¡­ <em>unreasonable. </em>They had what, some thirty ships? Commodore Krett had almost ny 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 calcte every possible way those Tectors could break through Krett¡¯s line.¡±


    <em>¡°Don¡¯t need to tell me, Bonteri.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 collectiveputing power of <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>bridge plunged into calctions 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 usibility 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. <em>Did Repulse¡¯s radiators get destroyed? </em>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.¡±


    <em>Wait. Closer and closer?</em>


    There was no way to urately tell their vectors, as they were flying manually, weaving through the asteroid field as they avoided therger rocks and pushed through the smaller ones. However, if they were targeting our rearline, shouldn¡¯t they be proceeding <emterally </em>rtive to our stations?


    ¡°In that case¡­ you think they areing <em>here?</em>¡±


    ¡°I have included Commodore Krett¡¯s input into my calction parameters,¡± the droid all but confirmed, ¡°I can only conclude that the most probable answer is the correct answer.¡±


    <em>Don¡¯t overthink it. Once you do, the Jedi¡¯s got you in their trap.</em>


    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,pletely absorbed into the tactical holo, ¡°Let¡¯s meet them. Get me Krett and Vinoc.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re patched in, sir.¡±


    ¡°<em>Crying Sun, Repulse,</em>¡± I wasted no time, ¡°Withdraw to my position at best speed. <em>Fortressa, Repulse, </em>I¡¯m requesting reinforcements.¡±


    <em>¡°I already sent the forty ships to reinforce Greyshade¡¯s Battle Division,¡± </em>Krett replied first, with a tone of apology, <em>¡°I¡¯m seeing the same thing you are. Right now, those Tectors could either hit you or me, correct? If we were ying dejarik, then Alrix got us in a fork. If I reinforce you¨C my tactical droid calcted that the Tectors wille for me instead. I¡¯ve got my pride in Fortressa, but against twenty-one Star Destroyers? They¡¯ll have a straight run to Jorm.¡±</em>


    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 disy refreshed, those Tectors appeared inpletely different ces than the system predicted, splitting up and converging time and time again.


    <em>¡°I can dispatch a squadron,¡± </em>Krett tried, <em>¡°Make it linger half way between us. We¡¯ll observe how Alrix responds, and redeploy ordingly.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Shall I deploy Vultures?¡±</em>


    ¡°Let¡¯s not waste them.¡±


    <em>¡°That¡¯s all well and good,¡± </em>this time it was Vinoc who made his presence known, <em>¡°But I think I just found out Alrix¡¯s trick. We¡¯re stuck.¡±</em>


    ¡°Say again?¡±


    <em>¡°We used to fish back on Folende,¡± </em>he said, <em>¡°This is a fish trap. And we¡¯re the fish.¡±</em>


    I looked back at the tactical holo, spinning it to get a better angle on our port nk. With his words in mind and heart in my throat, I found the corridor¡­ <em>still there. </em>Confusion blossomed in my chest. From <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>scopes, it was true that the passageway had been constricted thanks to <em>Statesman¡¯s </em>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?¡±


    <em>¡°We are,¡± </em>Vinoc hastily swore, <em>¡°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 nned 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.¡±</em>


    In other words, I¡¯ll damn the 284th Battle Division to annihtion if I retreat, as I would be allowing the Tectors toplete the encirclement. If I remained in an attempt to buy time for Vinoc to extract, however, it may be signing off my own annihtion. Munificents were capable warships, and could punch far above their weight ss¡­ but against <em>Tectors? </em>Those things were triple <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>size and had quadruple <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>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. <em>Demanding foolish acts made in desperation are unlike you, </em>they seemed to say.


    Then the Tectors <em>turned, </em>finally settling onto their ultimate heading¨C<em>straight towards us.</em> My mouth dried. <em>I have to make a decision. </em>The thought seemed so far away. <em>Do I stay or retreat?</em>


    <em>¡°Get your game together Bonteri!¡± </em>


    For a moment, I thought it was conscienceing back to haunt me again. Then I reasoned there was no way my conscience would have the grating voice of a chainsmoker.


    <em>¡°Alrix isn¡¯t kriffing invincible!¡± </em>Ventress berated.


    As if illustrating her point, a thundering explosion roared through thelink¨Cbriefly deafening me¨Cfollowed by a sh of light and blinking pin. The drive signature of a single Tector-ss Star Destroyer was wiped off the map.


    <em>¡°There¡¯s no trying to outwit her game,¡± </em>Ventress snarled, and a second drive signature disappeared. But for each Star Destroyer downed, it cost dozens of her own pilots, <em>¡°So just y it!¡±</em>


    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¨C<em>to me. My frigates will bemb to the ughter.</em>


    ¡°The odds have reversed on our right nk. <em>Conciliator </em>is now being pushed back, due to Commodore Krett¡¯s reinforcements,¡± Tuff notified, ¡°This battle <em>will </em>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 copsed tunnel. <em>Repulse¡¯s </em>scopes could just faintly make out a great ze tearing apart the asteroid field on the other side as <em>Olympus Mons </em>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 <em>Repulse, Renown, Revenge, Unicorn, </em>and <em>Centaur; </em>and twenty smaller ships.¡±


    <em>And each and every one of them had an open palm painted onto their hulls. </em>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 simr vein, the cement of the open palm on distants or moons was a message to the universe, a deration 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 ce, and that someone might have recognised the symbol as I gained notoriety in the gxy. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, nothing ever came of it. Maybe that simply meant that this was <em>my </em>gxy now, and there was no point looking back.


    I made a cursory check of the White Hand¡¯s overview, confirming something I already knew. <em>Depleted shields, major structural damage, hull integrities failing. </em>There would be noing back. And yet, in exchange for saving the heaviest and most powerful warships of the 28th Mobile? A more than fair trade.


    <em>Demon Moon smile upon me, I¡¯m going to do something stupid.</em>


    I tapped thelink, ¡°<em>Crying Sun, Repulse; </em>take your time¨Cwe¡¯ll hold the door open for you.¡±


    <em>¡°Force be with you.¡±</em>


    I took the constion as it was, despite my boiling <em>hatred </em>of this unreasonable ¡®Force¡¯ right then, "Tuff. I will have some <em>choice </em>words for Trenchter."


    "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 <em>dared </em>to attempt to outy 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. <em>Intercept the enemy</em>.¡±


    Sixty-six hours. Star Destroyer <em>Conciliator </em>and the Republic left wing made a bloody withdrawal under the onught of battlecruiser <em>Kronprinz </em>and destroyer <em>Havoc. </em>Star Destroyer <em>Imperious, </em>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 nk, 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 <em>Statesman </em>and twenty-one other warships, including seven of nine Tector-ss Star Destroyers. The 28th Mobile Fleet lost <em>Olympus Mons </em>and sixty-six other warships, including fifty of the fifty-five strong White Hand Division.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    Palpatine smelled the suffering, heard the screaming, and <em>relished </em>it. He could feel the pulse of the dark side strengthening, <em>fuelling </em>him. Not just from Coruscant, but from all across the Gctic 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 <em>hatred </em>and <em>rage </em>from the millions who lost much by the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s warpath, and he drink feel the <em>terror </em>and <em>panic </em>from the billions who feared that they would be next.


    ¡°After he struck Coruscant, Admiral Ningo led the Bulwark Fleet east to Ixr, 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 difort 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-ss dreadnought <em>Defender of the Arrowhead </em>in-system. He then reached the Shawken System further north, where he was intercepted by Admiral Honor and forced back south to Corg. 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, wlessly disying the progress of the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s warpath through the Interior.


    ¡°What are they <em>doing?</em>¡± Senator Sha Paige-Tarkin of Eriadu snarled, ¡°This <em>Dua Ningo </em>is running circles around the Bloodhound! It has been <em>one standard month, </em>and the Bulwark Fleet remains no more than <em>five-hundred parsecs from Coruscant!¡±</em>


    ¡°Might we remain professional in the Chancellor¡¯s Office, Sha?¡± Senator Mon Mothma of Chandr 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. <em>The Bloodhound. </em>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,unched 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 <em>may </em>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-ss 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, apromise was reached; the Bloodhound could continue her pursuit unrestrained, so long as she sent regr updates to Strategic Command.


    ¡°Admiral Honor is a woman of few words, and has failed to borate on her strategy,¡± Admiral Barton Coburn¨Cmastermind behind the Coburn n that resulted in the crushing sess 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 ce 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 <em>ironic </em>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 <em>seeking </em>battles and forcing engagements wherever possible.


    ¡°If she is so <em>talented,</em>¡± Senator Tarkin sneered, jabbing at the projection, ¡°How do you exin 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 theirplete <em>destruction. </em>Observe the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s progress to Shawken, where they attempted to escape, and was thwarted by the Home Fleet. He then jumped to Corg, where Admiral Honor ordered Captain Dodonna to strike from the <em>Rimward </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡°This¡­¡± </em>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 ipatibly different ways. Admiral Coburn, Director Isard; might I suggest that the reason Admiral Honor has not been forting with her ns may be due to the fact that she has <em>none at all?</em> 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 annihtion of the former.¡±


    ¡°In that case, there is no point in further discussion of this matter,¡± the Chancellor dered 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!¡±


    <em>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. </em>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 greats swept away orbital debris and cleared the way for recement satellites and mirrors.


    This was not the first time the Coruscant had been attacked. This would not be thest. 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 gxy, the single one that turns all the others, and she herself <em>cannot stop turning</em>. The Chancellor was well prepared for the Bulwark Fleet.


    After all, was it not him who staged the Attack on Coruscant in the first ce?


    It was such a simple matter. Palpatine couldugh 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-ss Star Destroyers to Foerost. Not in mass, no, but one by one, gradually instilling fear in the mind of Admiral Dua Ningo. ¡®<em>The GAR intends on ending the Siege of Foerost,¡¯ </em>the old Sullustan must have thought, ¡®<em>I must break out as soon as possible, but in which direction?¡¯</em>


    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 constion, 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¨C<em>north. </em>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 <em>did </em>cackle, as Separatist warships scoured the skies above him and as his aides begged for his evacuation. Nothing was quite so stirring as a ning together.


    And now? The fruits of the seeds he so carefully nted? The collective consciousness of the Gctic Republic will ept nothing less than theplete destruction of the Separatist Alliance. Every day the Bulwark Fleet spends rampaging through the Interior, every day the HoloNet fans the mes 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.


    s, the oue was not <em>perfect. </em>If only those annoying Separatists had <em>killed </em>the peace delegates on Onderon¡­ then the Chancellor would have no real opposition left in the Gctic 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 apany them. Warships now interned at Commenor for investigation.


    Most irritating.


    <em>No matter, </em>the Chancellor thought, <em>it dys some of my ns, but causes no real effect. </em>The Loyalist Faction within the Senate was now ineffective, trapped in a power struggle between Senator Sha 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¨¦ Amid 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 Amid 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 <em>Senate Building itself</em>, 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 Chandr 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 eximed, ¡°I <em>will </em>admit, my friends, I share every sentiment our good Admiral possesses. I would rather find the Bulwark Fleet¡¯s sted wrecks in the Core than allow them to return as <em>heroes </em>to the Separatist Alliance!¡±


    Palpatine injected just the right amount of fervour and anger into his voice to unbnce 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 ces, he could effectively convey exactly what his audience wanted to hear.


    <em>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. </em>


    Nevermind that allowing the Bulwark Fleet to escape towards the Rim would be detrimental to his Grand n. He needed the Republic to ept his New Order with open arms, and allowing the Separatists to sow havoc was the perfect vector to that oue. Despite Senator Tarkin¡¯s fears, the Bulwark Fleet was by andrge 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.


    <em>It was perfect. </em>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 <em>exactly </em>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, Sha,¡± 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 <em>not </em>be swayed so easily. My cousin, Gideon Tarkin, has assured me that our citizens will take up arms against the droid menace, to thest 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 ns, if his Empire was toe to fruition. The Outer Rim will continue being a bed of discontent for years toe, 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 <em>will </em>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 arge-scale endeavour?¡±


    ¡°Correct, Chancellor,¡± Director Isard confirmed, ¡°Our agents have been unanimous across the Rim. The Separatists have been mobilisingrge concentrations of ships and soldiers onto the Perlemian and Rimma Trade Routes. No action has been taken yet, despite the obvious deployments, however.¡±


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°This is no coincidence,¡± Admiral Coburn dered 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 ce, the Core will be well-defended once more. We can focus entirely on crushing the Separatists once and for all.¡±


    ¡°The Senate has also sessfully 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 ncing at Mon Mothma, ¡°It vote was unanimous¡­ if we ignore those the senators in¡­ <em>indefinite </em>recess.¡±


    ¡°An unfortunate necessity of the times,¡± Senator Mothma sighed, ¡°The Security Act was a matter of hot debate in the Chandrn 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,¡± Sha Paige-Tarkin patted her colleague¡¯s back.


    The two senators were friends, no matter how distant their views may seem in some ces. Both were still members of the same Loyalist Committee for a reason. It was simply a matter of culture; Chandr 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 Sha Paige-Tarkin genuinely cared for the well-being of their people.


    A perishingly rare trait in the Gctic 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 ryed 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 ns. 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 Galliamented 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 Amid 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.


    Sha Paige-Tarkin was not soposed, ¡°Padm¨¦ is!? I didn¡¯t hear anything about this!¡±


    ¡°She was just informed,¡± Anakin exined, ¡°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 <em>was </em>concerned. It would be much harder to manipte young Skywalker should Amid leave Coruscant¡­


    Queen Neeyutnee of Naboo was the sessor of Queen Jamillia, who herself was Padm¨¦ Amid¡¯s sessor. He had heard that Neeyutnee was particrly strong-willed, evenpared to Amid herself, but this was most unexpected of her¡­


    ¡°Queen Neeyutnee isn¡¯t sending a recement,¡± 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 Amid¡¯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 dering neutrality as Corellia did?¡± Senator Tarkin questioned usatorily.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything about that,¡± Anakin answered.


    ¡°What do you think of this matter, personally, Anakin?¡± Palpatine asked worriedly, ¡°Senator Amid is a friend of all of us. This matter is <em>most </em>concerning to me.¡±


    ¡°She will be safer on Naboo,¡± Anakin said, though Palpatine recognised a hint of disappointment, ¡°Her transport will bending directly on one of Five-Hundred Republica¡¯s skydocks tomorrow. Tallisibeth and I will be there as well.¡±


    <em>I see¡­</em>


    ¡°...Thank you, Anakin,¡± Palpatine leaned forward, ¡°I am confident I speak for all of us when I say¡­ ah,<em> may the Force be with her</em>.¡±


    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.¡±


    ¡°Orzy.¡±


    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 Amid¡¯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, rying a transmission from Jedi General Rees Alrix.¡±


    ¡°She is requesting reinforcements,¡± Admiral Coburn exined 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 Neenth Mobile Fleet,¡± Director Isard paused, allowing Anakin Skywalker to question¨C


    ¡°And this has to do with Rees, why?¡±


    A sh of irritation crossed Isard¡¯s features, ¡°Because the Neenth Mobile is three-hundred strong, and formed entirely of veteran warships and crewsst seen at the Battle of Columex. The gship is the Providence <em>Star of Serenno, </em>belonging to Rear Admiral Calli Trilm. This is not just any formation, this is half of the <em>Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada, </em>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 gship is the Munificent <em>Repulse, </em>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.


    <em>Such a significant name, and yet I have not heard of it once? </em>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¡­ <em>hanging out?</em>¡±


    ¡°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, simrly to his counterpart at Trandosha, has made no aggressive action. This has allowed General Alrix to strike with near-impunity, reportedly engaging inbat on five separate asions.¡±


    Senator Tarkin giggled, thenughed. A loud, harmonious cheer that swelled throughout the office. She wiped a tear from her eye, ¡°She is? I would <em>love </em>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 n 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 myck 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 youngdy with no feats of her own to one of the most important fronts of the war. One only recently knighted, at that. My staff <em>did </em>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?¡±


    ¡°ording to General Alrix¡¯s report¨Cat Sullust,¡± Director Isard said, ¡°While General Alrix¡¯s ability may y a role in her victories over Admiral Bonteri and Ventress, what ys an evenrger role is the fact that just like the Admiral Trilm¡¯s half, they arepletely on the defensive. She suspects that they are under orders to not engage. To that end, the same phenomena is urring all across the gxy. 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 gxy, 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 enemymunications 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 ofmand beyond <em>¡®hold your position.¡¯</em> 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 <em>Pantoran </em>we are dealing with. Have you considered that we are ying right into her hands?¡±


    ¡°And that is why we must destroy the trap before it can be sprung!¡± Admiral Coburn dered, ¡°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 Generalsmanding the Second Army?¡±


    ¡°Senior General Ry-Gaul and General Aa 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 <em>snap-click </em>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 isrge, 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 prate. 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 Amid¡¯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 being 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 simr, 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 singrly reliant on the one ability that has never failed her yet.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that if it <em>does </em>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 <em>Rain Bonteri? </em>You know this man better than I do, Anakin, you met him.¡±


    Anakin Skywalker¡¯snguid stance abruptly stiffened as he processed Adi Gallia¡¯s words, all as Palpatine and Director Isard watched on in silence. <em>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</em>


    Palpatine decapitated his inner musings as he detected the Tholothian Jedi Master¡¯s presence in the Force, worming its way over to him, <em>feeling </em>for<em></em>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. <em>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? </em>


    ¡°Director,¡± Palpatine continued pretending to ignore them, under the guise of having pleasant conversation with Isard, ¡°I want to know <em>everything </em>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 ce 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 <em>allowed </em>to escape with his life.¡±


    <em>¡°Kriff,¡± </em>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.¡±


    <em>I can afford to elerate my n now, </em>Palpatine thought, <em>loose threads like Amid 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 ordingly¡­ and deal with that useless apprentice of mine at the same time.</em>


    ¡°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

    Chapter 51


    <em>Star Station ¡®Independence¡¯, Murkhana System</em>


    <em>Auril Sector</em>


    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-ss star dreadnought <em>Pride of the Core </em>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 <em>Independence </em>was definitelyrge enough to serve as the CAF¡¯s primary arcology, should it had been establishedside. 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 personalmand room was found in the citadel of the <em>Independence, </em>repurposed from one of manybat information centres the old Mandator possessed. It was Trench¡¯s first time visiting the station, since thepletion 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 <em>Independence </em>itself, if the Supreme Commander was not found in hermand centre, then she most certainly was supervising the progress of her personal project.


    The walls and ceilings of themand centre were covered with viewscreens and holograms, each disying 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 nowpletely 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 <em>sixth </em>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 disy, at the same time, ¡°He has fought Jedi General Alrix half a dozen times, never getting the upper hand. Hisint, 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 <em>trust</em>, General,¡± Trench said, ¡°He has served under both of us, for a time. He knows we wouldn¡¯t give orders¨Cor ack thereof¨Cwithout reason. He now asks for us to return that trust.¡±


    Tann¡¯s finger curled, and the nearby disy shed 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 <em>bait</em>,¡± 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. <em>We are losing territory all across the front</em>.¡±


    The two greatest g officers stared at each other, a singr conclusion arriving to both their minds; <em>Operation Storm-Door has seeded. </em>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 wasunching an all-out offensive, poised to knock the Confederacy out of the war. The public motivation for the ¡®no first action¡¯ policy was a facy 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 <em>nothing </em>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 wille next to the citizens of the Confederacy<em>. </em>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 alreadymon belief in this nation that the Republic staged a false g 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 <em>possibly </em>be a CAF fleet in the Gctic Interior? That was simply astrographically and strategically <em>impossible</em>.


    The ¡®no first action¡¯ policy would preserve their moral high ground in the eyes of the Separatist people, and lure the Republic tounch 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 housepletely 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.¡±


    <em>And what will happen then? When the Republic faces not one, but three fleets marauding through the Core Worlds? </em>The Republic will no longer ept peace unless it was at the end of a turbser battery. The Supreme Commander was determined it was not the Confederacy, but the Republic, staring down the smoking barrel of peace.


    ¡°The Republic will <em>panic</em>.¡±


    ¡°The Republic will <em>overcorrect.</em>¡±


    ¡°The Republic will <em>bring their fleets</em><em>home.</em>¡±


    ¡°And then we can cross the border unhindered,¡± Admiral Trench finished, ¡°And pressure the Republic into a treaty with overwhelming force.¡±


    <em>This is the true nature of Operation Storm-Door. </em>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 Stance, and Operation Stance 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 Stance 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 <emst shot </em>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 Stance.


    They <em>had </em>to draw the Republic¡¯s armadas as far away as possible from the Core for Stance to have any chance of sess. And simrly, Operation Stance had to draw as many Republic armadas back to the Core for Storm-Door to have any chance of sess.


    It was for this reason the 19th and 28th Mobile Fleets will be provided a nk 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 deted in relief. If not for Trench¡¯s keen, six-fold and artificial eyesight, he would not have noticed the briefpse 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 thergest military in the gxy, but a mere girl, too many times his junior, wearing a uniform and rank that still seemed far toorge 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<em>, </em>General.¡±


    ¡°Then it all the more crucial Operation Stance produces the intended effect within the Republic,¡± Tann remarked, ¡°We must prepare ordingly. 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 disys, ¡°Rear Admiral Merai¡¯s Dac Offensive has secured the Quarren shipyards of Cmari Space, including the Pammant Docks. With this, the dreadnought <em>Subjugator </em>has finally entered service. With both <em>Malevolence </em>and <em>Subjugator, </em>my Second Fleet Group can pierce even the strongest enemy positions.¡±


    The Subjugator-ss 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 <em>Malevolence, </em>followed by her sister ship <em>Devastator. </em>With the newfound security of the Pammant Docks however, the original testbed and namesake, <em>Subjugator, </em>can finallyplete its retrofit and enter service.


    After the damning sess of the designs at the Battle of Columex, a fourth ship of the ss had been ordered, and its keel recentlyid down in the Quarren shipyards of the Enoth System.


    In any case, with two Subjugator-ss 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 quietlyposed herself, then toggled the integratedlink 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 Neenth Mobile to proceed with Operation Stance.¡±


    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 tobat 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 gctic north. By fighting for every inch of ground and calctively permitting the Republic to advance through the New Territories, every system lost ripped away another pir of Count Dooku¡¯s support.


    When the Republic captured Banking n 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 sess 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 nk at Krba. Then, Commodore Karoc¡¯s 224th Strike Division, awaiting at Dang, would proceed down the Gamor Run to Mgro, effectively cutting off the 16th Sector Army from its supply lines.


    ¡°Admiral,¡± then was Trench¡¯s turn, and the Supreme Commander gave him the oralmand; ¡°Be notified that all actions pertaining to Operation Storm-Door have been authorised. I don¡¯t believe it necessary to borate upon the strategy you personally devised. You may order the Twenty-Eighth Mobile to proceed with Operation Stance. They will first jump to Yag¡¯Dhul to cut off the 2nd Sector Army¡¯s supply line, then begin their incursion with the Neenth Mobile. Inform them the Fourth Fleet will take their ce in Sullust.¡±


    ¡°You seem confident Admiral Bonteri can still defeat General Alrix. He has been engaged in battle on six separate asions,¡± Admiral Trench observed, ¡°And not once has he been able to take the upper hand. What makes this asion so different?¡±


    ¡°Themanders of our two Mobile Fleets are very different people, but unbeatable when the battlefield ys 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 seed, the Republic must grow suspicious of our Mobile Fleets and redeploy their most dangerous assets to the front ordingly. Considering one half of the Open Circle Fleet was retasked to Kashyyyk, this ploy has seeded.¡±


    ¡°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 amon 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 annihted General Alrix¡¯s fleet before the Republic could even <em>realise </em>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 <em>Republic </em>who understands how he fights more than anybody. I imagine they must have panicked, realising the inexperienced General Alrix has been pitted against <em>the viper himself</em>. 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 Stance,¡± 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 Stance, 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 torge-scale campaigns. He was a field officer, his experience andmand 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, <em>the entire Republic</em>¨Cfly into a hysteria, it was Horn Ambigene.


    ¡°We must be prepared to shoulder eternal damnation if Operation Storm-Door is to seed, 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 nomander in the CAF better suited toary warfare.¡±


    <em>¡°Invasion?¡±</em>


    <em>There will be no invasion. This is Horn Ambigene we are speaking of.</em>


    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 Crat¡¯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 apletely different calibre.¡±


    ¡°A smaller orrger calibre?¡±


    ¡°An <em>older </em>calibre,¡± Trench stressed, ¡°He is a gueri 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 killedpared to allied soldiers lost. Even <em>I </em>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 im 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 <em>¡®brutality.¡¯</em> The Republic took from him his allies, his friends, his family, and everything he held dear. And yet, the <em>Ghost of Tydane </em>was a man who would still rather tear his homeworld apart than surrender to the Republic.¡±


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Admiral Trench did not fault the Supreme Commander for her ignorance of Horn Ambigene¡¯s true character. In the grand scheme of the gxy, 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 ite 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 hade to learn of the so-called <em>Ghost of Tydane; </em>the vengeful guardian deity of a rich star system on the fringes of civilization. The Ghost that brutalised every prospecting fleet,mercial convoy, and Judicial Force escort that coveted a foothold in the Tydane System, until even thergest megacorporations considered the ce more trouble than it was worth. If strange turns of fate and amon 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 aplete 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 themon 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 disying the 4th Fleet Group around Eriadu, ¡°The Republic <em>will </em>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 <em>I </em>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 gxy <em>exactly how long it takes to turn a of twenty-two billion souls into a tomb</em>.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann levelled with him, her fingers edging towards thelink once again, as if contemting 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 herp. She stared nkly over his shoulder, and Trench distantly realised she was in one of those trances of hers, from which she made a thousand calctions 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, ¡°<em>Anticipation.¡±</em>


    ?


    <em>Sululluub Asteroid Field, Sullust System</em>


    <em>Brema Sector</em>


    Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri marched onto themand bridge of battleship <em>Chakdrukke </em>with a tempest in his step, his cape billowing at his back like a purple me. 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 nkness in his eyes that conveyed nothing but a chill, merciless fury, framed by dark shadows that belied hours of non-stop nning and strategizing. <em>The air is suffocating, </em>Ventress thought. It was not heavy, or oppressive, or any way simr to that of standing under Dooku¡¯s presence. No, the air was¡­ <em>empty. </em>


    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¡­ <em>exposed. </em>She felt cold, and naked, as one would miss the familiar weight of clothes.


    Across the table, a simrly ufortable 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 <em>immediately.</em>¡±


    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 flightputers; they contain a variety of possible encryptedmands, covering for every scenario that might arise, and they will be automatically activated when it detects satisfactory conditions from your ships. ept 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,¡± Ventressmented dryly.


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± the Muun, Horgo Shive, steepled his bony fingers, ¡°There will be nomunication 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, directmand in the 4th Skirmish at Sullust, in order to protect three of themanders and their divisions under hismand. 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 n... 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 mymands in battle. My gship will take the lead, followed by Ventress, Vinoc, Diedrich, and Horgo. Until the datacards are activated, simply obey this standing order; <em>follow the ship in front of you. </em>Pass this on to your subordinates, and every ship under your directmand. 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 gxy 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 ording 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 <em>cheat, </em>but ultimately, Alrix is the <em>cheater. </em>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, <em>¡°</em>Forget trying to outwit the Force<em>. </em>We are going to y Alrix at her own game, <em>and beat her at it.¡±</em>


    ?


    <em>Eriadu Orbit, Eriadu System</em>


    <em>Seswenna Sector</em>


    ¡°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 Ound 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 ce, revealing her burning orange eyes clearly, like two raging suns. A sinister aura clung to her ck battle robes,shing 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 gxy.


    ¡°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 <em>his </em>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 <em>his </em>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 <em>fire</em>,¡± 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 <em>Antecedent, </emid 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 turbser 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 <em>everything </em>he strove and fought for. <em>If you could see this now, </em>he wanted to tell his fallenrades, <em>if only you could see that we were never alone</em>, ¡°This is the <em>Outer Rim. </em>This is the umted 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 <em>vindication.</em>¡±


    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 deste wastes of Sanrafsix, and the exploited mines of Sharlissia. A hundred systems, a hundred gs, 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.¡±


    <em>Take Eriadu will all haste, hm? This Supreme Commander of ours is quite the troublesomess, isn¡¯t she? </em>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 ns 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 dyed here, let us send him some help. Don¡¯t we have a ck 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 themencement of Operation Storm-Door, this is the perfect opportunity. Send a hidden transmission to Naradan¡¯s gship, and let¡¯s put her on her way¡­ under the guise of pursuing Maarisa Zsinj, let us say.¡±


    ¡°Very good, General,¡± Wiffa Zett then ryed 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 alsomanded the Perlemian Coalition, and supported the rise of the Pantoran over Dooku¡¯s own rmendation. 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 ce? I think not. Not for our means.¡±


    He didn¡¯t care about the Confederacy¡¯s politics¨Che didn¡¯t care about the Confederacy <em>at all. </em>No, he utterly <em>despised it, </em>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 ves in chains, the open pit mines carving up worlds alive, the sprawling industrialplexes that swallowed entire biomasses. <em>None of them.</em> 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? <em>Bah¨C</em>she was a military authoritarian who wanted nothing less than tomand the gxy¡¯srgest 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 <em>coveted </em>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. <em>This world is entirely at my mercy, </em>he thought, <em>and yet I shall give them onest chance to surrender.</em>


    ¡°Contact Gideon Tarkin. I wish to offer one final chance of mercy.¡±


    <em>Mercy the Republic never gave me. Mercy I never gave the Republic. </em>Perhaps he was a changed man? He nearlyughed at the absurdity.


    Wiffa Zett bowed and departed, and not a momentter 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 wees Eriadu as one of its own. Do not force me to shed the blood of your world.¡±


    Eriadu, <em>Coruscant of the Outer Rim. </em>As if that was a name to be proud of. Eriadu has been many times subject to offers ofmonwealth from the Confederacy, and each time this sted world turned down the weing hands of their brothers and sisters of the Outer Rim in favour of the pittances from the Core.


    Eriadu was thest 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, itsary shields cracked and broken. There was no resistance left, but that foundside.


    <em>¡°I must decline again, Ambigene,¡± </em>Gideon Tarkin was a poorly hidden disgust, as if he could hurl at the mere reminder of Eriadu being a Rimworld, <em>¡°You will find us quite willing to spill our blood. Our loyalty to the Republic is absolute. If you wish to take this, then meet us on the ground. We shall fight for everynding ground, for every mountain fortress, every hill, and every city, and every street.¡±</em>


    Horn Ambigene sneered at Tarkin¡¯s grandstanding, ¡°As you wish. I shall say this out of whatmon 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 ordance with the Yavin Code rtive 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.¡±


    <em>¡°It is your arrogance that will undo you, mad dog!¡± </em>Gideon Tarkin snarled back, <em>¡°We are not the same as you. We do not flee. Every citizen of Eriadu will do their duty for the Republic!¡±</em>


    ¡°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 nonbatants 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 everynding ground, every mountain fortress, every hill, every city, and every street.


    The bridge of battleship <em>Antecedent </em>was silent in pregnant anticipation. Horn Ambigene reached into his overcoat and produced an old metal sk, 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 thest fragment of a young soul, who would spend his life in single-minded pursuit of justice, warring against the gxy that wished to carve open his homeworld and extract its blood and flesh. It was thest 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 thest 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 gxy 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 veryst breath. Atst, after over half a century, that moment hase.


    ¡°My friends,¡± he told men long dead, unconcerned of his captive audience, ¡°I stand here in your ce. 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.¡±


    <em>¡°With pleasure.¡±</em>


    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 pirs of energy that left nothing but ash behind. Massed fire from turbsers, a ceaseless hail of missiles and torpedoes. From the surface, one could only look above and feel the stomach-churning certainty that the gxy 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 thekes and ponds vaporised into dry, cracked earth under the stormfront of atmospheric hellfire.


    Not on thending grounds churned into fields tilled with blood and ughter and baked into fields of shattered ss.


    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 poptions crying out in a terror that rang the gxy 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 gxy 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 cor all.


    It would take forty-eight hours and seventeen billion lives, and the entire gxy would know without question;<em> thest and greatest offensive of the Confederacy has begun.</em>

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    <em>Sullust Libration Point ¡®L5¡¯, Sullust System</em>


    <em>Brema Sector</em>


    <em>Atst, </em>Kendal Ozzel thought, nervous despite himself, <em>the Hydra awakes. </em>Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s lines had been disturbed by a burst of hyperwavemunications from the gctic south, which they had partially intercepted via Sullust¡¯s captured satellites. Not an hourter, the Separatist fleet stirred in its stone nest, like a beast awakening from its dormant slumber.


    Commodore Ozzel stood aboard the Star Destroyer <em>Imperious, </em>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, thest 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; <em>follow the ship in front of you. </em>


    Themand 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.


    <em>Follow the ship in front of you. </em>


    Those words echoed through two-hundred minds over and over as two-hundred ships converged into a single column in line ahead, bearing perpendicr 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 <em>the </em>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 gship <em>Harbinger, </em>clenching and unclenching his fist as he silently urged his fleet to <em>hurry up. To hurry up and reach Sullust in time. </em>s, he could only stare nkly 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.


    ?


    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 bnce 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 mes in the Force once more.


    From the far right wing of the Republic formation, fleet gship <em>Resilient </em>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-ss carrier-destroyer <em>Chimeratica, </em>built in the orbital shipyards of Ringo Vinda.


    After a brief moment¡¯s hesitation, the next ship of the line, the battlecruiser <em>Weisser Sand, </emunched its great mass after the <em>Chimeratica, </em>followed by the frigate <em>Centaur</em>, 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 ced within the asteroid field, many million kilometres behind. Should the Separatist fleet continue their perpendicr strafe, the vector ahead will open up.


    <em>This had to be some sort of trap, </em>they all thought.


    They remained transfixed, nerves frayed, as <em>Chimeratica </em>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.


    Minutester, just as she reached Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s absolute right wing, opposite <em>Resilient, </em>and <em>Chimeratica </em>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, <em>Chimeratica, burned </em>harder, until her bow had caught up with thest Separatist ship of the line, the battlecruiser <em>Feranmut. </em>But as she burned harder, so did <em>Weisser Sand </em>behind her, and <em>Centaur </em>behind her, until the unspoken order fell down the chain like a wave through a whipped rope, until <em>Feranmust </em>also sped up. And when <em>Feranmust </em>sped up, so did <em>Chimeratica </em>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; <em>it was unsustainable.</em>


    Every warship in the fleet was of a different size. Every warship in the fleet possessed different turning radii, and different eleration 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 neversts long within constantly evolving formations, and especially not when there was absolutely nomunication 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 <em>them. </em>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 <em>Chimeratica </em>melting into the turmoil. ¡®<em>Follow the ship in front of you¡¯ </em>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.


    ?


    Aboard the <em>Imperious, </em>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, t, 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 urately 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 hup, any break in the rhythm, any singr mistake could result in them crashing into their allies, and creating a chain reaction that would have the entire 28th Mobile Fleet copse in on itself.


    But for Kendal Ozzel, he saw something <em>different. </em>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.


    <em>This looks like an ant mill, </em>he confirmed to himself.<em></em>Known as a death spiral, or a death march, it urs 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 orter, if there is no interruption in the death spiral, they would die of exhaustion.


    Ozzel looked at the spiral on the holodisys again, and transferred the data to thebat 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 thanter, 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¡¯reing 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 discement across a single rotation of the spiral. Should it be a stationary rotation, the ultimate discement of the ship should be zero¨Cas the tag would end up in the same ce from which it began. Instead, just as Ozzel initially observed, the tag would be disced towards the Republic¡¯s lines by around a thousand klicks every rotation, consistently, without fail.


    The only question was: <em>is it intentional?</em>


    ?


    Aboard the <em>Resilient,</em> Rees Alrix <em>knew </em>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 zing 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 headsying 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¨C<em>and found no single vulnerability. </em>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 ce, she remembered a cognomen she overheard from two spacers in the mess hall¨C<em> so this is the man they call the Battle Hydra¡­</em>


    ?


    Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri watched in satisfaction from the bridge of his gship, 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 thest five days, so did Rain Bonteri experimented on how to defeat Taskforce Conciliator. After six separate engagements, he had finally ced his finger on the pulse of her ability.


    Rees Alrix <em>finds </em>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, orplicated, 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 <em>only </em>the weakest link, then, or all hundred? If it showed only the weakest, did it ount for all future moves as well, as a chessputer 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 trantion 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 <em>all </em>weaknesses.


    So instead of trying to outy 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 <em>one </em>formation that he could not find any exploitable vulnerabilities in¨C


    <em>Jedi Master Plo Koon¡¯s revolving arrowhead. </em>


    It was the one tactic no normalmander could ever hope to ovee, 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 pance, said supernatural means was known to the Jedi Order as <em>battle meditation. </em>


    By creating an all-epassing 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 schrs 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 anyplicated or esoteric means, but by enforcing a singr, 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 sessfully created a hivemind not dissimr 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


    <em>Follow the ship in front of you, and don¡¯t crash. </em>


    But that was enough.


    That <em>had </em>to be enough.


    Because this death spiral was a product of two traits you couldn¡¯t find <em>in any other fleet</em>.


    First was an absolute and unshakable trust in theirmanding 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 n they knew <em>nothing </em>about.


    But she wasn¡¯t <em>there. </em>She wasn¡¯t there on the <em>Perlemian Front</em>. 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, <em>and then broke the back of the Republic.</em>


    The gxyuds 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, <em>there to watch Columex shatter the Pride of the Core. </em>And after the sacrifice of his personal directmand to save seventy-five ships of theirrades, 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 cing 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 ce.


    Because they were, without a doubt, currently the most veteran spacers in the gxy, 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 theirrades were sted 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 imusible tactic.


    And so the death spiral inched closer and closer to the Republic lines, gunports opening and missileunchers gleaming with steely res.


    ?


    Kendal Ozzel gritted his teeth. There was ack of orders from their gship, 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 <em>was </em>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 <em>despite </em>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 seeded 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 withpletefort and trust in their Jedi General, and knew how to cover for her blindspots.


    So when Ozzel gave themand 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 theirmanding officer devise a n. 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 nce harmlessly off the swift-moving deflector shields of the enemy¨Cwhich could be entirely concentrated on their starboard beam¨Cas each warship constantly reced 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. Simrly, 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.


    ?


    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 gxy. Not only did she know this, she <em>saw </em>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 ting¨Cbut because the vulnerability was constantly and randomly <em>changing. </em>As the death spiral grew more and more chaotic, that me she tried to chase would leap from one location to the other. In one ce, 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 <em>could </em>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 <em>through, </em>or <em>around </em>the great whirlpool. She chose thetter option, recognising that the revolving circle, for better or worse, wasrgely a stationary tactic, despite its slow advance, and could not change the direction of its heading easily.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The order was transmitted, and Taskforce Conciliator¡¯s line of battle tranted from a line abreast to a line ahead as each individual ship turned 90-degrees to starboard, with <em>Resilient </em>herself at the head of the line and <em>Imperious </em>now<em></em>in the middle. The n 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


    ?


    <em>Chimeratica </em>shot out of the hurricane like a stone cast from a shepherd¡¯s sling, following an intercept tangent aiming straight for Star Destroyer <em>Imperious. </em>


    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 herunchers and unleashed her horde of self-propelled droid starfighters.


    There was a period of stunned silence, where it seemed the gxy 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.


    <em>Follow the ship in front of you.</em>


    The closest ship behind <em>Chimeratica </em>at this point was the ¡®2nd Strike Division¡¯s <em>Durandal. </em>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;


    <em>¡°Bloody stars¨C follow that ship!¡±</em>


    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 zing and starfighters roaring out of their hangars and racks. After <em>Durandal </em>came <em>Hound¡¯s Tooth; </em>then <em>Sarffgadau; </em>then <em>Gleaming Fey </em>and <em>Melodiosa; </em>then <em>Repulse, Renown </em>and <em>Revenge; </em>then the rest of the fleet.


    <em>Imperious </em>barely had time to respond as <em>Chimeratica </em>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 <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>starfighters mmed straight into the two remaining Tectors, briefly blinding their scopes as the battleships¡¯ point-defence cannons spat out ck andsers into the void. By the time <em>Imperious </em>had swatted away the Vultures, <em>Chimeratica </em>was gone, having raced ahead to reach Alrix¡¯s gship <em>Resilient </em>at the head of the line.


    ?


    It was then that aboard the destroyer <em>Havoc, </em>Commodore Horgo Shive was the first to receive his order.


    <em>TO HAVOC: INTERCEPT AND DESTROY FRIENDLY CONTACT ¡®REPULSE.¡¯ OVER.</em>


    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 particr 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¨C<em>literally, </em>as the coiled snake undid itself¨Cgleaning off as much information as he could. Simrly to the Givin of Yag¡¯Dhul, the Muun were notorious gxy-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 calctive 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 themanding officer of the ¡®2nd <em>Strike </em>Division. But that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t just as every bit calctive 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?¡±


    <em>¡°Repulse.¡±</em>


    <em>Repulse </em>was the seventh ship from the front, racing away to meet the <em>Resilient </em>along with <em>Chimeratica </em>and the rest<em>, </em>and she was a crippled thing. She had been one of the ships thrown headfirst against the Tector-ss Star Destroyers in the 4th Skirmish at Sullust, and despite managing to escape, had paid a dear price. Much of spaced armour had beenpletely melted off by <em>Imperious¡¯s </em>brutal turbsers, revealing her frail superstructure, and her starboard radiator-wing had beenpletely torn off by a stray starfighter torpedo, making her prone to overheating. She was barely space-worthy, much less inbat condition at all.


    But the Rear Admiral was insistent she, and the five remaining frigates of his directmand, be brought to battle, ostensibly to go out in onest ze of glory. Horgo had his reservations; he would have rmended 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 ce. From the death spiral, to Alrix¡¯s modification of her line of battle, to <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>decision to shoot ahead. Eachmander 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 <em>he </em>who would make the finishing blow, and by the time the enemy realises, it would already be toote.


    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 form¡¯s in his mind¡¯s eye, he could navigate this storm as easily as exploiting the vtile economic situations and opportunities his kin were famed for doing.


    ¡°There,¡± he pointed at an invisible gap, ¡°Bring us around! Burn, <em>now!¡±</em>


    Star destroyer <em>Havoc </em>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, <em>Havoc¡¯s </em>crew all bracing themselves for an impact that may or may note, 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 theplete 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 <em>Havoc </em>was not alone.


    A dozen other ships had somehow followed them out of the storm.


    <em>This will do, </em>the Muun ensured the parameters of his ship and newfound squadron were all in green; <em>yes, this will do quite nicely.</em>


    ¡°Destroy the <em>Repulse,¡± </em>he ordered, ¡°This is an order from the Admiral.¡±


    Thirteen starships disappeared among the stars, elerating 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.


    ?


    Meanwhile, many tens of thousands of klicks away, Kendal Ozzel seethed with rage,shing whips of fric 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 <em>Dark Rival, </em>Commander Asajj Ventress received her order. The Dark Acolyte opened themand package with a eager curiosity, and came face to face with a single string of encrypted code;


    <em>TO DARK RIVAL: INTERCEPT AND DESTROY HOSTILE CONTACT ¡®IMPERIOUS.¡¯ OVER.</em>


    She recognised that callsign. <em>Imperious </em>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 <em>Dark Rival </em>all ahead full. Despite themand ¡®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 gship of the 28th Mobile Fleet, in the boots of the man who yed the entire battle as one would an borate game of dejarik.


    <em>And she felt like a god.</em>


    ?


    ¡°Commodore!¡± <em>Imperious¡¯ </em>XO shouted in rm,<em> ¡°That ship¡¯s headed right for us!¡±</em>


    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 hemandeered the station. <em>Imperious¡¯s </em>scopes turned straight to the offending ship¨C<em>Dark Rival¨C</em>and plotted out her iing vector.


    ¡°That¡¯s not an intercept vector,¡± Ozzel stumbled backwards, panic forcing open his eyes, ¡°They¡¯re on a <em>collision course! </em>Helmsman, take evasive action! <em>HARD RIGHT, HARD OVER!¡±</em>


    <em>Imperious </em>violently swung to the right so suddenly her inertialpensators 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 mmed against the walls, into corners, or crushed by unsecured ordnance and skidding starfighters.


    The manoeuvre was made just in time. Not a momentter, the second head of the Hydra sted through the empty space where the <em>Imperious </em>would have been, gnashing its teeth at a failed kill. Since only <em>Dark Rival </em>received themand package, all the warships behind her were still operating under the standing order of <em>¡®follow the ship in front of you.¡¯ </em>In this way, Ventress had inadvertentlymandeered 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. <em>Imperious, </em>along with the half of Taskforce Conciliator behind it, had been effectively cut off from their gship. Allmunications were being jammed by the enemy; they were isted, alone, and about to be trapped. With this in mind, Ozzel made the fateful decision as the ranking officer of his division; <em>all ships, retreat! Escape the encirclement!</em>


    Unfortunately for him, Asajj Ventress was out for blood and vengeance. <em>Dark Rival </em>turned starboard to meet <em>Imperious, </em>effectively creating a ¡®hook¡¯ and forcing <em>Imperious </em>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 iled against shimmering shields, pinions of energy melting hull ting into gold liquid that rapidly cooled and ckened within seconds.


    It was at this crucial juncture that thest two ships received their orders.


    ?


    <em>TO KRONPRINZ: INTERCEPT AND DESTROY HOSTILE CONTACT ¡®RESILIENT.¡¯ OVER.</em>


    Commodore Diedrich Greyshade stared at the single sentence with disbelief. His ship, the Tionese battlecruiser <em>Kronprinz, </em>had just followed the <em>Dark Rival </em>across the Republic line of battle. He looked to the right, where he could see Ventress¡¯ ship locking horns with <em>Imperious</em>, 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 <em>Resilient </em>all the way at the end. Over there, <em>Chimeratica </em>was hammering Alrix from their portside¨Cand then he understood. Should <em>Kronprinz </em>manage to reach <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>starboard beam, the entire forward half of Taskforce Conciliator would be sandwiched between them.


    No normal ship could reach <em>Chimeratica </em>and <em>Resilient </em>in any reasonable timeframe from so far away. But <em>Kronprinz </em>was no normal ship. She was a Tionese battlecruiser, and with sr wind in her sails, there was no warship in the gxy she could not outpace. Diedrich took a cursory nce 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 sr 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 sr sails, catch that wind boys! Prepare portside casemates, <em>I want us right next to Alrix in ten minutes!¡±</em>


    Once again, maintaining the standing order of <em>¡®follow the ship in front of you,¡¯ </em>the battlecruiser <em>Kronprinz </em>split off with half of the 28th Mobile at her back, leaving Ventress and <em>Dark Rival </em>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 <em>Crying Sun </em>recognised this from behind <em>Kronprinz, </em>that despite barely outnumbering Ozzel, Ventress in actualitymanded less tonnage and starfighters than Ozzel. In close quartersbat such as this, the Star Destroyers of Taskforce Conciliator would ultimatelye out on top. Just as <em>Crying Sun </em>moved to trace the Separatist battle line through the Republic¡¯s shattered line, Vinoc¡¯s holoscreen chimed.


    <em>TO CRYING SUN: STARBOARD TURN AND ANNIHILATE ALL HOSTILES. OVER.</em>


    It was as if his mind was read¡­ or was this all nned from the beginning? Vinoc did not know which possibility awed him, or terrified him, more.


    ¡°Ny-degree turn to starboard,¡± hemanded.


    His tactical droid, TJ-912, protested, ¡°Our turning radius at this velocity is too shallow. Calctions project collision with Republic vessels¨C¡±


    ¡°Failure to obey orders from themanding officer of the fleet will result in you getting reprogrammed,¡± Vinoc reminded dryly.


    ¡°¨CNy-degree turn to starboard! Meet her parallel to the Repubic line!¡± TJ-912 ryed themand 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 <em>Crying Sun¡¯s </em>turn as much as possible. And even as she did, TJ-912¡¯s calctions were proven correct when <em>Crying Sun </em>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 andser bolts whipping out at point nk range.


    Nevertheless, the turn waspleted, albeit by the paint of one¡¯s hull, and now <em>Crying Sun </em>and the remaining quarter of the 28th Mobile Fleet had trapped <em>Imperious </em>on three sides. Simrly, <em>Chimeratica </em>and <em>Kronprinz </em>had sessfully nked <em>Resilient </em>both port and starboard. With the two halves of Alrix¡¯s fleetpletely surrounded, velocities matched and unabating fusides 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 <em>Resilient </em>was smashed against both nks, as one by one the friendly contacts on the holos disappeared. silently, or in great congrations of gas and cinder and gged steel. Not even as her crew sunk into silent eptance, that their once-unstoppable conquest of the Rimma Trade Route hase 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 <em>knew </em>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 aze.


    To her starboard, there were several, but nonerge enough to ignite fully, not with that persistent Tionese sailboat matching them shot for shot. To her portside, however¡­


    There were three Munificent-ss frigates, half a dozen positions aft of <em>Chimeratica. </em>


    <em>Repulse, Renown, and Revenge.</em>


    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, <em>Repulse </em>was the gship 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 turbser batteries having been shorn off during their battle with <em>Imperious </em>and its Tectors. And the fire in the Force¨Cit was already a great congration, and frustrated by tiny, fleeting embers until now, Alrix instinctively, unknowingly, found herself drawn to it like a moth to a me.


    ¡°We will break through the enemy lines <em>right there</em>,¡± Alrix felt the target through the Force, the correct time and ce 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 sted out orders, ¡°And transfer all power to the shields. Hard left, hard over!¡±


    <em>Resilient </em>swung around, dodging a fuside 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 sted straight through them. <em>Repulse </em>snapped in half under a hail of blue pinions while a squadron of ARC-170s unleashed a chain of torpedoes that vapourized <em>Revenge¡¯s </em>spine<em>, </em>and <em>Renown¡­ </em>the Star Destroyer <em>Resilient </em>rammed straight into <em>Renown, </em>shattering the frigate as superheavy turbsers thundered off round after round into her maimed husk until, that was left were miniscule pieces of debris norger than kes, and the lifeless bodies of battle droids drifting out of the punctured hull.


    And as <em>Resilient </em>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 <em>Resilient </em>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. <em>This won¡¯t even be a fight.</em>


    He gave the order; <em>¡°Destroy them.¡±</em>


    In the span of seconds, from the moment a great bolt of red shed from the enemy destroyer¡¯s jaws to the moment <em>Resilient </em>was disintegrated by enough firepower to melt a small moon, Rees Alrix wondered; <em>where had she gone wrong? </em>She did as the Force told her, and yet¡­ and yet¡­


    In those precious few moments, her eyes flitted from ce to ce, instinctively searching for another me. But there were none. Not on the <em>Chimeratica, </em>sailing away. Not on the <em>Havoc, </em>bearing right down on her. Not in the enemy battle line she had just smashed through. The me¡­ <em>was right on top of her.</em>


    Did she lose the moment she decided to attack the <em>Repulse? </em>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?


    <em>It is so unfair, </em>Rees Alrixmented. <em>She </em>conquered the Rimma. <em>She </em>prevailed against the odds where the arrogant bastards on the Perlemian failed. <em>She </em>achieved what everybody thought was impossible. The Hundred Days Offensive was <em>her </em>achievement! And what, the Council wanted her to hand everything she won to the <em>Chosen One? </em>Alrix just <em>knew </em>the moment the Open Circle Fleet arrived, the Republic would praise that upstart¡¯s infuriating name to the skies above Coruscant, while her own waspsed.


    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? <em>Of course</em> he could, he was the <em>Chosen One, </em>after all. She was sick of hearing that damned title.


    <em>So, so unfair.</em>


    But Rees Alrix was a Jedi Knight.


    <em>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.</em>


    <em>There is the Force¡­ and here there isn¡¯t.</em> 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 imprable void that she could not have ounted for. At the precipice of her life, she finally saw it, felt it. It burned like a fire on her skin, and around her.


    <em>I¡¯ve got you now, Hydra.</em>


    If she could not defeat the monster, then at least she could lend Skywalker a helping hand. Rees Alrix reached towards the great ze burning upon her, throwing in her own spirit to fuel the fire until someone found it. <em>Appreciate my dying breath, Chosen One. </em>


    No, there is no death.


    The Hydra¡¯s jaw mped down.


    Rees Alrix closed her eyes, and revelled like a fire in the Force.


    ?


    From the bridge of the carrier-destroyer <em>Chimeratica, </em>Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri watched thest remaining warships of Rees Alrix be devoured entirely, and ticked off thest 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 topletely annihte their Rees Alrix¡¯s fleet. The Republic would not find out about the defeat until three dayster, 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 ssed, and General Horn Ambigene¡¯s 4th Fleet Group was advancing up the Rimma Trade Route en masse with 1,500 warships.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    <em>Sullust Libration Point ¡®L5¡¯, Sullust System</em>


    <em>Brema Sector</em>


    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-ss 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 ck.


    It was a surprise, because Sullust was <em>the </em>premier foundry world in this patch of space, the entire 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 uing campaign, we would have been forced to either abandon them to the void, orunch a search and destroy mission¡­ which honestly may be a kinder fate for the survivorspared to what the Sullustans had in mind. Not that asked¨Cit¡¯s just that the word <em>¡®processing¡¯</em> in the Sullustannguage 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.


    <em>Speaking of reinforcements¡­</em>


    Just as Calli promised, there were Emberlene warships on the system ne, jumping in dramaticallyte 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 nche to rampage and conquer the entire Auth Sector, razing and salting everything they couldn¡¯t carry back to Emberlene. With Emberlene being the homeworld of the Mistryl Shadow Guards¨Cgxy-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 gxy.


    ¡°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 <em>anybody</em>,¡± Tuff stated coldly, ¡°Widebeam transmission. Request identification.¡±


    ¡°Unknown starcrafts,¡± Stelle tapped down on the sublight transceiver, ¡°This is the Confederate Navy destroyer <em>Chimeratica. </em>You are flying cold in Confederate space. Please identify yourselves.¡±


    <em>¡°This is the star destroyer Sharihen,</em>¡± a woman¡¯s voice returned, speaking with deep maturity and regality, <em>¡°Your target is in the Itopol Sector.¡±</em>


    ¡°That¡¯s one way to get the message across,¡± I muttered, waving a hand, ¡°Let¡¯s have them borate 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 des. Did she secretly carry a whetstone in her internalpartments 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 ryed, ¡°Upon arrival, deactivate your main reactor and standby for tractor beam-guided docking. Acknowledge upon receipt.¡±


    <em>¡°Acknowledged.¡±</em>


    <em>Chimeratica </em>broke away from the debris field, leaving the burnt out husk of star frigate <em>Repulse </em>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 st 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 <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>main port airlock as <em>Nightshade </em>approached the rendezvous, portside docking nge 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 ck mane of hair that fell down in a dozen gold-tasselled braids, and prominent cheekbones that framed her blue-ck lips. What caught my eye the most, however, were the luxurious purple robes draped over her ck body suit¨Cwhich all Mistryl Shadow Guards wore¨Ctied at the waist by avender sash.


    Indeed, the rest of the Shadow Guards that emerged at her back only wore the hooded ck 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.


    ¡°Ooton kelp weave,¡± the lead Guard said, ¡°A gift from the Princess of Ooto 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¡¯splete recall of all deployed Shadow Guards.


    ¡°It looks like quality¨C¡± <em>maybe even better than Onderonian silk, </em>I thought as I inspected the fabric¡¯s lustre,<em></em>¡°¨CHare, remember Ooto for me.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t be wee,¡± 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 Ooto?¡±


    ¡°Morshdine Sector, in the New Territories.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to invade themter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Now <em>that </em>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. Wee aboard the <em>Chimeratica.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 ispleted.¡±


    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 amodate the other two dozen or so Shadow Guards, ¡°How did you get past the Fourth Fleet Group?¡±


    ¡°General Ambigene was more than amodating,¡± 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 dering it; the Emancipation of Eriadu. General Horn Ambigene¡¯splete and utter eradication of Eriadu¡¯s crust. A of twenty-two billion souls, the most popted world in the Outer Rim outside the Tion Cluster, reduced to a sted wastnd.


    Even the mere indirect mention of the event was enough to make the turbolift lobby freeze. <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>everypartment 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 thest 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 Stance 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 particr 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 yed host too.


    But how about those, as Naradan so tactfully put it, <em>had nothing left to lose? </em>The Bryxi, the Pzandians, whose worlds were left devastated, and still remained in GAR hands; they <em>celebrated. </em>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 urring 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 ughter that naturally spilled forth from them. Their homeworlds suffering under the yoke of military upation, their people persecuted as popr insurrections them; they must be weeping tears of blood. Tears of joy.


    <em>They had iting. </em>


    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 Gctic Interior. They were already <em>traitors, </em>in a sense, pariahs to therger Rimwardmunity. There were adverse reactions, <em>obviously, </em>but if Horn Ambigene wanted to make an impactrge enough to shake the gxy to the core, yet limit bacsh 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 ounted for, or even <em>nned </em>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 anyws 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 <em>Gctic Republic</em>w.


    Ultimately, however, Ambigene couldn¡¯t be tried in civilian courts. The shadow of the Pantoran loomedrge over the CAF, which now operated more or less as its own autonomous stratocratic state <em>within </em>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 ountable for its actions.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Now, Sev¡¯rance Tann built her military legitimacy off the back of <em>civil </em>legitimacy, as she waswfully elevated to Supreme Commander by the Parliament. I had no doubt that <em>if </em>the Raxus Government summoned her, she would y by the rules. If she doesn¡¯t¡­ well, Trench would be more than happy to rece her, I¡¯d imagine.


    <em>And myself? </em>The only thing I cared about was how this event would affect my political calculus moving forward.


    <em>We are at war. </em>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 mymand. 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 opposingmander 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 <em>could¨C</em>it would definitely keep me up at nights toe.


    But Eriadu? Too many zeroes. Too manymas. 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 <em>allowed </em>Euceron to happen, as a warning to the rest of the Near Perlemian.


    <em>We are at war. </em>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 urring <em>right now</em>, an event that single-handedly changed the astrography and astropolitics of the entire gxy, one that would be remembered for a thousand years. <em>That </em>was something to marvel at in its own right.


    The most important consequence is how the Republic reacts¨Cor more urately, how the <em>Core Worlds </em>react. The way I saw it, there were three possible oues; outrage, indifference, or fear. They were all pretty self-exnatory, 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 <em>just </em>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 <em>necessity </em>for my n, 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 <em>she herself </em>nned.


    ¡°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 toorge, both numerically and bureaucratically, to turn around on a dime. Not to mention, will they really dare to turn their backs against <em>the </em>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 avnches levelled right on a collision course for each other.


    I daresay it would be just as our Supreme Commander had nned. 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 <em>forcefully </em>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 Neb, in the Top Sector.¡±


    <em>¡°And where is that?¡±</em>


    ¡°Standard Gctic Grid K-Fifteen,¡± Hare ryed 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 waspared to Fondor, one fleet would arrive sooner than the other, allowing us to defeat them in detail.


    <em>All the more important we move before the news of Alrix¡¯s defeat spreads towards the GAR.</em>


    ¡°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 themunications interface.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Naradan Du¡¯lin demanded, ¡°Are you nning 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 n which you will then carry out. Depending on which backup n 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 ncing around at herrades. 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?¡±


    <em>¡°Dark Rival.¡±</em>


    There was a pause, thenughter. <em>Myughter. Looks like even the powers that be are finding their pants lit on fire. </em>Did Ventress really think she could pull the same stunt twice? After nearly sabotaging our mission at Teth? The 28th Mobile Fleet had <em>seven </em>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 zing 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 gxy from its empty cocoon, curling up and dying. It was a never-ending choir, singing through the waves of the Force, expanding,pounding, as a million new voices joined to its intive 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 gxy 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 gxy cluttered with hate, it was easy to fuel oneself with fury¨Cbut blind fury was asmon as sands in a desert. It was easy to dip into the dark side of the Force and let it control you, but to <emmand </em>the dark side¡­ that was what Vinked, and she had.


    <em>Direction.</em>


    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.


    Simrly, 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 gxy from the beginning. Twenty-two billion lives? <em>Just another day in the gxy. </em>


    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 cked 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 epted 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 hadst 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 be with the Force.


    ¡°She has always worn a streak of rebellion,¡± Dooku said, ¡°But always manageable. Until now.¡±


    <em>Until now. </em>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 wee. 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, neverining 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 calctive impartiality. Ventress considered the rest of the acolytes beneath her¨Cthey weren¡¯t so <em>worthy </em>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 ns and secrets. <em>Everybody has their strengths, </em>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 rtionship 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;


    <em>¡°I know. It is the unhappy hazard of embracing the dark side.¡±</em>


    <em>But it was never about the dark side, was it, Sev¡¯rance? </em>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, shorterdder, she would reach away without a moment¡¯s hesitation. She <em>did </em>find anotherdder, in the halls of politics and military might.


    <em>And¡­ I had a taste of that power. </em>Ventress had already ced her foot on the first rung of thisdder, 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¨C<em>thousands¨C</em>die 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 sh of irritation that she was so familiar with crossed his face, before it was reigned with patricianmand 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 seeded,¡± Dooku told her coldly, ¡°Was because of traitors within our ranks.¡±


    <em>And who¡¯s to be faulted for that but yourck of action and political blunders? </em>This time, Ventress kept her inner thoughts concealed. Who were the pirs 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 aplete 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, thetter a nameless noble from Onderon. Could they have been ounted 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 <em>Independence, </em>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 tantly just yet. The <em>Independence </em>has been summoned to Raxus Secundus for a hearing on Horn Ambigene¡¯s actions. I will <em>deal </em>with her <em>personally</em>.¡±


    ¡°And I, Master?¡±


    ¡°You will eliminate her two closest vassals,¡± her Master instructed icily, ¡°Calli Trilm, and Rain Bonteri.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Ventress said.


    <em>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? </em>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 gship 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, ¡°Bonterimands a legion of cortosis battle droids. Even if he does fall to your de, 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 takemand of this fleet?¡±


    ¡°The Llon Neb.¡±

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    <em>Sullust Libration Point ¡®L5¡¯, Sullust System</em>


    <em>Brema Sector</em>


    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 <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>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 rtivistic shield, all y their part, down to the smallestponent. A hyperdrive was no moreplicated than Anakin¡¯s cybeic arm, yet no lessplicated 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 thepany of machines over men. And the result? <em>Harbinger </em>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¨C<em>conventional</em>munications whilst in the simu-tunnel. Nor was hypem tech currently advanced enough to breach the walls of a simu-tunnel without hyperwaves being distorted beyond recognition.


    Thus the onlymunication avable was between ships within the same simu-tunnel instance, in which the entire division of the Open Circle existed. It was for this reasonmercial freighters, supply vessels, and even military warships regrly 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 gxy. All the more in war, when the possibility one¡¯s destination had changed hands was <em>very </em>real.


    But Anakin wouldn¡¯t risk it, couldn¡¯t risk it. Leaping out of hyperspace, ounting 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 uing hyperspace buoy sooner thanter.


    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 ce even then.


    ¡°General,¡± Admiral Yren¡¯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 Separatistmander,¡± Yren tugged at his moustache, and despite hisposed demeanour, Anakin knew his colleague¡¯s habits enough to recognise the sign of difort, ¡°I think you can forgive me for exercising severe caution on this instance, General.¡±


    ¡°What do you rmend?¡±


    ¡°I understand you intend on using Sullust¡¯s mass shadow to force an extraction as close to the as possible,¡± Yren said, ¡°But might I suggest we extract at the outers, 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 ¡®toote¡¯ 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 ur.¡±


    ¡°...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¡¯ rys,¡± Admiral Yren 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 therties, and pilots to their squadrons. Where is Tallisibeth?¡±


    ¡°In her bunk, General,¡± Yren 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 Yren 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 apliment, considering I chose her,¡± a shortugh spilled out naturally, releasing some of the tension coiling in his muscles, ¡°Get her up here. And get the men ready.¡±


    ¡°Very good, General,¡± Yren dipped his chin, and disappeared back towards the battle room.


    rms rang wildly, xons ring the sound of uing 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 prebat 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 ce, ¡°You wanted us to fight the Coalition Armada, Master, back on the Perlemian.¡±


    ¡°Not like this,¡± Anakin breathed out.


    With a shimmer and thud, <em>Harbinger </em>lurched out of hyperspace,ing face to face with the rocky, barren mass of Munumubb. Behind the cover of the, a hundred Republic cruisersunched theirplements of starfighters andbat escorts, massive turbsers 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. <em>Too silent. </em>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 ster audience of a battle only they witnessed.


    ¡°...We¡¯re not picking up signs of either fleet, Admiral,¡± Anakin could hear Lieutenant Klev inform Yren, ¡°The system¡¯s empty.¡±


    ¡°Deploy our recon fighter wings,¡± the Admiral immediatelymanded, ¡°Bring our fleet across Munumubb¡¯s orbit and plot a vector towards Sullust.¡±


    ¡°Were we toote¡­?¡± 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 Yren¡¯s concerns unfounded, as the Open Circle Fleet carefully cut its way through the stillness of the ck ocean, long-range scanners systematically sweeping everyoid, 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 eximed.


    ¡°Your training, Lieutenant!¡± Admiral Yren 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 rtive, range¡­ ten system astro-units! It¡¯s faint, sir, but it''s there! Must be running for days¡­¡±


    <em>Days. They were toote by entire days. </em>


    ¡°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 Yren 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 <em>Harbinger </em>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 sr radiation, half-gged 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 ckened. 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 ry 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 gship, which will be at the head. So, we¡¯ll need to retrace the line of battle.¡±


    Anakin raised an eyebrow, but turned to Admiral Yren anyway.


    ¡°Helm; hard right,¡± Yren nodded, ¡°Meet her there.¡±


    To their left, a colossal durasteel corpse drifted past the viewports, almost twice asrge as a Venator, its wedge-shape far more pronounced. A Tector-ss Star Destroyer. Its hull had been punched in several ces, and half of its bridge had been shorn off the stalk.


    ¡°...Callsign <em>Imperious,</em>¡± an officer said aloud as he recorded each wreck they passed, ¡°Callsign <em>Red Fox¡­</em>¡±


    ¡°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 <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>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.


    <em>¡°I know,¡± </em>his apprentice gasped, ¡°It¡¯s getting hard to breathe. Helm¨C <em>left</em>, 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.


    <em>But it did not exist here. </em>Something was consuming it, drinking it in like a desert would water. Like a me 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 Yren appeared ufortable 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 <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>transponder. If her ship was destroyed, it would be right here.¡±


    And <em>Harbinger </em>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 <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>transponder. The transponder of any starship was located in the deepest recesses of their hull¨Cthe citadel, in the case of warships. Nothing but theplete obliteration of a starship couldpromise its transponder, outside of internal foul y. 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 <em>that </em>wreck?¡±


    Anakin followed her finger¨Cto the drifting husk of a Munificent-ss frigate, the beaten Separatist Hex still proudly disyed on the hull. The ship had been bisected, its entire engine block missing. But upon that red 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.


    <em>¡°Repulse. </em>gship of Separatist Admiral Rain Bonteri.¡±


    The entire bridge was silent. The name was spoken with trepidation. Much of <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>bridge crew were survivors of the 1st Battle of Christophsis, having barely escaped with their lives aboard the <em>Pioneer, </em>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.


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    From the beginning, they feared Rees Alrix¡¯s chances.


    ¡°Did¡­ did she win?¡± someone asked hopefully.


    ¡°Escape, more likely,¡± Admiral Yran 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 <em>attempted</em> to break out right here. And she failed.¡±


    ¡°But the <em>Resilient </em>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. <em>I believe in you</em>.¡±


    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.


    <em>¡°That¡¯s the Resilient?¡±</em>


    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 urately; all that¡¯s left of Rees Alrix.¡±


    In this case, the ship broke before the crew. There was nothing recognizable left of the <em>Resilient, </em>the famed warship that terrorised the Separatists for months on thergest hypene in the gctic 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 ce where <em>Resilient </em>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 toote.¡±


    ¡°...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,¡± thems officer said, ¡°It¡¯s, uh, coded Priority Alpha, sir.¡±


    <em>Priority Alpha.</em> Skin prickling, senses jittering, Anakin held his breath. Now he <em>really </em>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; <em>no, Anakin, you really can¡¯t ignore this one.</em>


    ¡°Put it through.¡±


    Avrey¡¯s eyes widened imperceptibly, ¡°Right here, General?¡±


    ¡°Questioning instructions, Lieutenant?¡± Admiral Yran raised a stern eyebrow.


    ¡°I mean¨C right away, sir!¡±


    ¡°Anakin Skywalker,¡± Master Mace Windu said, his deep,manding 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 <em>two-thousand ships.</em>¡±


    ¡°Eriadu!¡± Tallisibeth repeated in rm, ¡°But¡­ in such a short amount of time? Eriadu is¡­ <em>Eriadu!¡±</em>


    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¡­ <em>drastic.</em>¡±


    <em>Drastic. </em>The word was heavy in the Force, carrying its horrible meaning, and the Hero With No Fear clenched his fists. <em>These damn Separatists¡­ nothing is too low for them. What can you expect from people trying to rip the gxy apart? </em>He couldn¡¯t imagine ever making peace with these¡­ <em>what would a certain person call them? </em>Ah, yes. He couldn¡¯t imagine ever making peace with these <em>savages.</em> 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 zed 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 annihtion 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 unounted for. Find him. As for Rees Alrix¡­ I will make the necessary preparations.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°General,¡± Admiral Yren scratched his chin, staring towards what he could not see, ¡°Rain Bonteri could have gone in any direction. Without <em>Resilient¡¯s </em>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 ck steel mottled a deep purpure, and eyes like prismatic crystals. He saw Alrix¡¯s fleet trapped within itsbyrinthine 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 ying its game from the start.


    Thest 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. <em>Battle Hydra.</em>


    ¡°Tallisibeth.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Tallisibeth spun around, ¡°Admiral Yren, 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¨C<em>Alrix¡¯s final thoughts rang over and over in his head</em>¨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 Yren questioned, ¡°Are we rendezvousing with the Second Army?¡±


    ¡°We are still chasing the Hydra.¡±


    Yren¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°You are certain he jumped into <em>enemy territory, </em>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¡­ <em>tangibly.</em>


    If they wanted to find where Rain Bonteri <em>was</em>, all they had to do was find where the Force <em>wasn¡¯t. </em>


    A mission easier said than done. The gxy 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 <em>fire</em>.


    ¡°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, <em>¡°Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s ame.¡±</em>


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    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.


    <em>Something happened.</em>


    That much was clear, even to those who knew nothing. Servants and caretakers and even younglings, all infected by the gue of anxiety infecting the unppable 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 gxy 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 popted and industrialised as Eriadu.


    Neary a weekter, the first news of the Devastation of Eriadu reached Coruscant. Satellite telescopes from Uvena Prime had discovered Eriadu¡¯s biosphere had been almostpletely eradicated, and its atmosphere a chaotic, hellish mess in which otherworldly storms and hurricanes wreaked havoc across the surface of the. 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¡¯sndscape.


    Senator Sha Paige-Tarkin, blood in her eyes, made a historic speech that mirrored Senator Padm¨¦ Amid¡¯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 independentary 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 tomit 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; ¡°<em>if the Separatists were willing to purge a Rimworld, what will they do to us?¡±</em>


    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 <em>anything </em>that would punish the perpetrators of such a horrid act, they instead feared for <em>themselves. </em>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 <em>exact same thing to Atraken. </em>


    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 <em>special? </em>Was it because it imitated the Core? Was it because its representative was a charismatic, powerful woman? Sha Paige-Tarkin¡­ watching her through the holoscreen, at that moment Barriss felt more for her than she did for every other senatorbined.


    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. <em>War </em>was the enemy. The longer this ughter drags on, the deeper both sides would dig their heels, the further the lines are drawn for depravity, the more atrocities appear ptable. 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 nopromise. Not even as the shadow of the dark side enveloped the Temple. Not even as its ws 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; <em>maybe the problem isn¡¯t whether we are holding funerals or not, but that we have to in the first ce? </em>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 n were dead in the snows and sands, their bodies forever unimed? 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. <em>They are all one with the Force now¡­ </em>something along those lines. There were some shed tears, some exhausted sighs, and what else? Nothing else.


    <em>There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity. </em>That was the Jedi Code, after all.


    Barriss could ept 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 epted. 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? <em>Feeling </em>emotions was proof of <em>life</em>, not the dark side. It was letting emotions <em>consume </em>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, <em>fuelling </em>her. Fear of the precipitous chasm the gxy spiralled into. Sadness at the great losses suffered. Anger against the injustice and unfairness running rampant across the gxy. Rage against the terrible atrocities, mounting with each and every day. If desiring <em>change </em>was the path to the dark side, then she would dly 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 im 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,nky 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 ack 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 ck in the darkness, and ignored it.


    On the opposite side, was the opposite of Iskat. A simrly tall, but muscr human, with tan skin and a strong, round face that was the kind tough boisterously. She found a ster holster and no lightsaber, just as he wore not Jedi robes, but a casual garb one would not find out of ce 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. <em>A spy, </em>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. Wee 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. <em>Did he just call Master Gallia the ¡®wrong folks¡¯ right in front of her? </em>Iskat was not soposed, 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 oveing his stance. Both Barriss and Iskat did their best to emte 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. <em>So it begins, </em>Barriss Offee narrowed her eyes, <em>I¡¯ve made it. Here, I will change the Republic. </em>And if she couldn¡¯t do that, then she would <em>break it instead.</em>

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    <em>Yag¡¯Dhul Approach, Yag¡¯Dhul System</em>


    <em>Harrin Sector</em>


    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 rte to. The Yag¡¯Dhul System presided over the intersection of the tworgest super-hyperroutes in the southern half of the gctic ne; 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 be 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 <em>thousands </em>of supply vessels surrounding us like deers caught in the headlights. Frommandeered 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 allpletely <em>freezing </em>as they pointed their scanners at us.


    <em>Well, aren¡¯t we in the spotlight, now? </em>I thought amusedly as I observed the readouts shine brightly, shing 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. <em>That </em>would be thergest concentration of heavy warships in-system, with likely enough firepower to force a pitched battle against us.


    Not a momentter, the answer blinked into existence on a glowing repeater, right next to the tiny digital marble representing Yag¡¯Dhul. <em>Bearing 044 degrees rtive, mark 013. Range 151,100,000,000 klicks. </em>At sublight travel, this distance¡­ I did the mental arithmetic.<em> That¡¯s at least a 48 hour transit with a constant 1,000G eleration¨C35 hours if the GAR decides to push their ships to 1,500G eleration. </em>They <em>might </em>micro-jump, but it was risky considering the heavy traffic in-system, and I did have my ns for that scenario as well.


    ¡°Tuff?¡±¡°Yes, Admiral.¡±


    ¡°Calcte 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 youmand.¡±


    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 spes¨Cthe intercept ETA would naturally shrink. Thus, we had to weigh our distance to the siege fleet <em>and </em>the most efficient raiding run, in order to make the most of our limited time.


    <em>Chimeratica </em>assessed and reassessed the situation, dozens and then hundreds of curved red vector lines appearing and disappearing on the tactical holo as the navputers 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 disy spelled it out clearly; even with the massive blindspot that was the dark side of the sun to contend with, there were still <em>2,710 hostile contacts detected. </em>And with this plot; <em>500 to 800 possible strikes before interception by enemy warfleet.</em>


    ¡°Wrap it up and transmit it to the fleet,¡± I said, ¡°And get me onms. 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 themand 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 sessfully calcted 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 <em>Chimeratica </em>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; <em>transmission sessful, </em>followed by a cascade of green lights as the 28th Mobile Fleet acknowledged and epted 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, togglingms to internal fleet scramble, ¡°All ships, execute orders. Godspeed.¡±


    <em>Chimeratica </emunched the raid by unleashing a hundred proton torpedoes,shing 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.


    <em>27 down. 2,710 left to go. A hundredth of the way there.</em>


    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, ourbat 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 outserfire 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 spes began to ck out, like an urban highway following an electrical ckout.


    ¡°Have the First Recon Division precision jump here<em></em>and <em>here</em>,¡± I pointed at two sides of the sun, at the northern egress points of the Rimma and Corellian hypenes respectively, ¡°And alert us immediately if any enemy reinforcements arrive. <em>Chimeratica, Centaur, </em>and <em>Unicorn </em>and the Intelligence Division<em></em>will maintain position right here in between the southern egresses.¡±


    Connecting the three points created an equteral triangle that presided over the entire star system, mostly eliminating any blindspots formed by the dark side ofs or the sun itself.


    ¡°And tell the Mistryl to remain on standby,¡± I continued, ¡°Keep an eye on <em>Dark Rival. </em>If Ventress is going to make a move, it¡¯s going to be here.¡±


    Or rather, I was <em>forcing </em>her to make a move here. By splitting up the fleet into a raiding stance, this was thergest opening she had to escape to the Llon Neb 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 Neb without something pesky like <em>the star </em>in her way. All that¡¯s left is to wait whether she actually would.


    ¡°As youmand.¡±


    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 spes 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 urate make-up of the enemy fleet started trickling back upstream to <em>Chimeratica. </em>The besieging force had a little over four-hundred ships, but the vast majority of them were naturally Acmator-ss 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 enemymander 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, Acmators 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 enemymander 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 outers were all gravitating to thest 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 calcting eye. Those weren¡¯t actions symptomatic of a panicking, headless series of convoys. Instead, I felt like I was watching a pre-nned evacuation of ships. It was then that the Yag¡¯Dhul siege fleet formed battle lines, arrayed out like a to cover the arriving supply ships, and my jaw finally set. <em>Practised. This was practised.</em>


    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the enemymander?¡± I asked with deathly calm.


    ¡°Unknown,¡± Tuff answered, ¡°The Twentieth Sector Army hasn¡¯t made anyrge and visible efforts on the frontlines, relegated to sieges in the Inner Rim and Colonies such as this. Theirmanding officer is Governor-General Octavian Grant, but information about the Twentieth is sparse otherwise.¡±


    <em>No well-renowned officer? I have a bad feeling about this.</em>


    ¡°...Widebeam to the fleet,¡± I said suddenly, ¡°By thest order. All ships are to advance on Yag¡¯Dhul and break the siege. Helm; sublight drives set all-ahead full!¡±


    <em>Chimeratica </em>sted 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.¡±


    <em>¡°So why aren¡¯t they here?¡±</em>


    Yag¡¯Dhul <em>must </em>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 <em>premeditated.</em>


    Tuff paused, his bodynguage shifting, then mbered 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. <em>Shit¡­ shit! </em>How could I have not noticed? Actually, how did <em>they </em>notice!? What gave us away!? I clenched my teeth. The noose was closing on the Siege of Yag¡¯Dhul, but it was not closing <em>fast enough.</em>


    I was led to believe <em>we </em>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 tranted droidspeak scrawled across my holoscreens as the transmission came in, but my eyes were glued to the starchart. I took a cursory nce at the sender.


    ¡°Just give them a fucking voice and read it out!¡± I hissed.


    ¡°¨CRoger roger!¡±


    <em>¡°Hostile fleet detected from the northeast,¡± </em>Recusant-ss destroyer <em>Lexington </em>reported with the voice of¡­ well, I <em>think </em>it was a BD-3000 service droid, <em>¡°Designations indicate Twentieth Sector Army. gship¡­ Venator-ss battlecruiser Prominence;manding officer Governor-General Octavian Grant. We are observing two-hundred and fifty-two ships.¡±</em>


    There they are. General Octavian Grant wasst 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 articted shoulders, ¡°The system assigned her one based on her personality matrix.¡±


    ¡°What the¨C¡±


    <em>¡°Hostile fleet detected from the northwest,¡± </em>Recusant-ss destroyer <em>Saratoga </em>reported, this time with a LEP droid¡¯s vocabtion¨Celsewhere in the pilothouse a pair of metal ears perked up in recognition¨Cand a peppy tone, <em>¡°Designation Taskforce Swift Justice. gship Tector-ss battleship Swift Justice;manding officer Jedi General Empatojayos Brand. I see¡­ a hundred ships. Maybe a little less¡­ uh¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°What is it!?¡± I demanded, mild panic crashing back down onto my chest like a tidal wave.


    <em>¡°There are Fondor ships with them,¡± </em>Sister Sara sounded a little nervous as Hare waddled up to stare at thems panel curiously.


    <em>Fondor ships. </em>My mind immediately wandered¨C<em>has Fondor fallen? </em>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 Stance¡­


    In any case, a <em>hundred </em>ships? That meant with the Yag¡¯Dhul siege fleet¡¯s four-hundred and the 20th Armada¡¯s two-hundred, there were now <em>seven-hundred </em>GAR warships in-system with us. A far cry from merely twenty-five hours ago, when we were thergest fish in this pond¨C


    ¡°Cronau radiation detected south of us!¡± the sensor droid raised the third rm, making me leap out of my skin, and my chair. ¡°Two¨C no, <em>three-hundred drive cones! </em>gship¡­ gship <em>Harbinger! </em>It¡¯s the Open Circle Fleet!¡±


    I numbly pulled up the tactical holo¨Cat three spots of the equteral triangle there were now three Republic fleets. <em>One-thousand warships. </em>The noose was now around <em>our </em>necks. And all three different fleets arriving at <em>precisely </em>the same time?


    ¡°They were prepared for this scenario,¡± Tuff deduced from below, ¡°They knew Yag¡¯Dhul was our target. We have beenpromised. We have no vector of retreat. Stelle, order the Recon Division to go dark. We cannot afford to lose them.¡±


    <em>How did they find out? </em>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 ns existed¨Conly for a local text document to appear. My own personal notes. No inbound or outbound transmission with even the name <em>¡®Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯ </em>in its contents. The only transmission the GAR could have <em>usibly </em>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 <em>really </em>have deduced our target from such a conversation?


    I ran another scan, this time of <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>entiremunications matrix.


    <em>Nothing. </em>


    I felt a troubling sense of <em>deja vu, </em>that of muscles tensing and fingers jittering as they hovered over the screens. I dare say it; it was <em>impossible </em>for the Republic to figure out our n 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 exnation.


    <em>Haven¡¯t I beaten you before, you intangible cheat!? </em>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.


    ¡°Iing transmission from <em>Sharihen!</em>¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re going to tell me there¡¯s yet <em>another </em>enemy fleet<em>¨C!¡±</em>


    ¡°Not another fleet,¡± Naradan Du¡¯lin¡¯s voice was stark and humourless, ¡°We¡¯re picking up erratic actions from <em>Dark Rival. </em>Ventress isn¡¯t obeying orders.¡±


    I all but <em>grabbed </em>the tactical holo and spun it violently until it focused in on <em>Dark Rival, </em>the lone Providence snaking its way towards western fringe of the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System, even while the closest other friendly warships were all zing in the opposite direction. <em>About time¡­ </em>my mind whirred like a droid¡¯s, attention bouncing between screens and disys.


    <em>This is a trap¡­ no. This is a battle. And all battles are puzzles to be solved. </em>I took a deep breath,posure returning to my form, and the gears in my head churning once more. <em>Let¡¯s start by getting the most dangerous enemy off the board. I can do that, at least. Anakin Skywalker. </em>He was the only person capable of such a feat. It <em>must </em>be him, somehow. <em>Somehow, </em>he trapped <em>me. </em>Now I must undo the trap, one fleet at a time.


    ¡°Mute yourself,¡± I hastily told her before snapping towards thems droid, ¡°Get me on a¡­ <em>widebeam </em>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.


    <em>¡°...Not yours.¡±</em>


    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 yourmanding 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 ofmand. 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.


    <em>¡°...It will. It must be.¡±</em>


    ¡°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. <em>Because betrayal is an unhappy hazard of the dark side. </em>Godspeed.¡±


    I cut the connection. For a long moment, I tracked <em>Dark Rival¡¯s </em>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 sh of light, a spike of radiation, and <em>Dark Rival¡¯s </em>pin froze, and shed, no longer indicating her current position but instead herst known position. <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>long range scanners swept the area of space, then responded with no return.


    We had lost her.


    <em>¡°Sharihen, Chimeratica,¡± </em>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 Neb to secure the Storm Fleet. I am confident we can hold against the Republic until she <em>returns </em>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.¡±


    Thems droid nodded and adjusted the scramble back to standard operational level.


    <em>¡°Acknowledged,¡± </em>the Mistryl confirmed, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Hold? That¡¯s part of the lie, Naradan,¡± I stood up and stretched again, ¡°Upon your return, you will find but one fleet here. <em>Mine.</em>¡±


    <em>¡°I cannot say I dislike the confidence,¡± </em>Naradan admitted, <em>¡°But not even Alrix could win against four-to-one odds.¡±</em>


    ¡°I am not Alrix,¡± I chided mildly, ¡°And I am not fighting four-to-one odds. I am fighting <em>one-to-one </em>odds, <em>four </em>times.¡±


    <em>¡°...Very well,¡± </em>Naradan allowed, <em>¡°Stars shine on your soul, Bonteri. You¡¯ll need it.¡±</em>


    ¡°Remember the <em>ns</em>, Naradan.¡±


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    <em>¡°We will fulfil the mission, rest assured, no matter what scenario may arise. That is the way of the Mistryl.¡±</em>


    Twenty Mistryl destroyers of the Emberlene Warfleet and fifty ECM frigates of the 287th Intelligence Division raced after <em>Dark Rival, </em>jumping into hyperspace the moment they cleared most of the debris and escape pods suspended around the egresses.


    ¡°Fleet frequency,¡± I requested, ¡°Get mymanders on the deck.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re on fleet frequency, Admiral.¡±


    One by one, themanders 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, ncing at Horgo and Vinoc in mild distaste. Vinoc, dressed in his bastardization of mystic robes and naval apparel, wearing an easygoing grin. The Neimoidianmander, Krett, already analysing the battlezone on an offscreen disy.


    Andstly, 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 used, ¡°When you had us all suddenly target the siege fleet around Yag¡¯Dhul.¡±


    ¡°I predicted toote,¡± I corrected apologetically, ¡°And now we are surrounded, with no means of escape.¡±


    ¡°Then we simply have to win,¡± Horgo Shive¡¯s ck eyes glinted as his rested a closed fist in his palm, ¡°We simply have smash them all, <em>one by one.</em>¡±


    ¡°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 <empletely </em>and <em>promptly</em>, 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


    <em>¡°Not at all, Admiral.¡±</em>


    ?


    ¡°This is perfect,¡± said Admiral Yren, anding 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.¡±


    <em>It certainly seems that way, </em>Anakin thought from a mere look at the tactical disys, <em>but we would be fools to underestimate him now. </em>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 sess.


    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 <em>finally </em>put an end to the Battle Hydra, and now the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System was littered with broken wrecks and strewn munitions and sh-frozen foodstuffs. Anakin could only hope this would pay off.


    ¡°We¡¯ll micro-jump to Yag¡¯Dhul once we cross thisrge 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 shes of light as they navigated through the debris fields of their own making.


    ¡°It is the sensible approach,¡± Admiral Yren agreed, ¡°The siege fleet is a <em>siege </em>fleet. Once they break it, they can use the to cover one of their nks, preventing a total encirclement.¡±


    ¡°They would know a lot about encirclements, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± Anakin retorted rhetorically.


    Tallisibeth frowned, her red hair ring like a dull me, ¡°Even if they can destroy the siege fleet and prevent a <em>total </em>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 rtionship between Yag¡¯Dhul and its three moons was special. The itself was small and dense, and what one could describe as a ¡®death world.¡¯ Its threerge moons produced tidal forces so extreme that often the''s water and atmosphere were drawn to different parts of the, leaving the rest of the world in vacuum, making it absolute hell fornding 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 bepletely 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!¡± Yren clicked his heels into gear, barking outmands, ¡°Scan every sheet of scrap metal and unturned asteroid! Leave nothing out!¡±


    <em>¡°Yes, sir!¡±</em>


    ¡°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!?¡± Yren demanded.


    ¡°They¡¯re flying cold!¡± Klev finessed his instruments in a frenzy, ¡°No drive cones, only attitude thrusters!¡±


    <em>That </em>raised rm 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 nning something nefarious.


    ¡°...Wait,¡± Lieutenant Avrey clutched her headpiece, ¡°I¡¯m picking up an enemy transmission.¡±


    Yren rushed to her station, ¡°Unscramble it! What does it say!?¡±


    Thems officer looked up, ¡°Llon Neb. Asajj Ventress is headed to the Llon Neb 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 nning on breaking out! The Llon Neb can¡¯t be that far away, if that is their n!¡±


    ¡°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 <em>entire </em>Open Circle, General?¡± Yren 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 beforeparing metrics and performance statistics¨C


    <em>¡°Pioneer, </em>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 vacuumbat and boarding action, and transfer them to the <em>Pioneer,</em>¡± Anakin swung around, marching down the bridge, ¡°Yren, 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 <em>you </em>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 Yren warned, even forgoing his usual adherence to rank, ¡°I am more than willing to lead the Open Circle against Rain Bonteri, but we <em>must </em>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, <em>¡°Me!? B-But¡­ </em>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 Yren to mentor you was for nothing?¡±


    ¡°So <em>that¡¯s </em>why Admiral Yren tutored me!?¡± Tallisbeth spun around to the Admiral in surprise, ¡°Wait¨C <em>no, </em>I still can¡¯t do this! This is the Battle Hydra we are talking about! I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not <em>you!</em>¡±


    The desperation was painfully apparent in her voice. <em>She¡¯s capable, </em>Anakin made sure of that, <em>she is only still afraid of responsibility. </em>Anakin wasn¡¯t, back when he was first made a Knight. He <em>wanted </em>the responsibility, he so eagerly <em>yearned </em>for it. The responsibility ofmand, 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 <em>I, </em>exactly?¡±


    <em>¡°...You¡¯re the Chosen One.¡±</em>


    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 gxy was at peace, and I was taught to be a keeper of that peace. I learned aliennguages, distant cultures, ballroom diplomacy, and senatorial politics. Did I teach you any of that?¡±


    ¡°...No.¡±


    ¡°The gxy 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? Yren taught you everything you need to know about navalbat, 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. <em>I can¡¯t do that, Tallisibeth. </em>I¡¯m a warrior, and a mechanic, apparently. I can swing a lightsaber real well and fix a brokenlink, but that¡¯s all.¡±


    Anakin patted her, ¡°Trust me on this, you know <em>a lot more </em>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 des with Rain Bonteri, right?¡±


    That elicited a chokedugh, followed by a loud sniff.


    ¡°But what if I fail?¡±


    ¡°Stop thinking like a <em>Jedi</em>, 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 me 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.


    ?


    <em>Trandosha Orbit, Kashyyyk System</em>


    <em>Mytaranor sector</em>


    It has been four standard days since the beginning of Operation Stance. In azy, sun-synchronous orbit around the arboreal 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 rtive peace the Kashyyyk Star System offered.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    It was not despite the Republic-aligned Wookies and the Separatist-aligned Trandoshans sharing the same star system that the two speciespromised with a mutual agreement to uphold neutrality in a gxy-spanning war, but <em>because </em>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 ce.


    As such, despite nevermitting 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 ess to both the GAR and CAF respectively, on the mutual condition that a strict no-first strike policy was enforced.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    <em>What a strange, ¡®phoney¡¯ battlefield this is, </em>Rear Admiral Calli Trilm mused, <em>the Open Circle and the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada peacefully coexisting in the same star system. How quaint. </em>Maybe ¡®peacefully¡¯ was too strong a word. ¡®Uneventfull¡¯ would be much more urate, would it not? She would much prefer it if she could adjourn in this star system for the remainder of the war, ying an not-insignificant role checking Loyalist influence in the sector, yet safe from the worst trappings of it.


    s, that was all but impossible. Calli Trilm had been given themand 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 hermand 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 <em>Bronze Serpent </em>shimmered violently, ¡°The men are getting impatient.¡±


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    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 urate that way.


    ¡°You need to rx, Aviso,¡± Commander Rel Harsol of <em>Sa Nor </em>was Aviso¡¯s direct opposite, ¡°Calm is a luxury in war. We should enjoy it while we can.¡±


    <em>Ah, now there was a man who spoke for her soul. </em>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 <em>also </em>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 ces, 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 <em>natural, </em>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! <em>But no, </em>now she was a Rear Admiral, expected to lead the most bloodthirsty gathering of Separatists this side of the gxy into a suicide mission!


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    <em>Ahh, where did I mess up!?</em>


    ¡°...Rear Admiral?¡± Commodore Aviso questioned.


    Rear Admiral Calli Trim mmed the Republic Starpath unit down with a sharp <em>bang</em>! 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.


    <em>¡°Every Republic Navy asset within six radial parsecs is tracked on that thing in real time, and it¡¯s a one-way uplink,¡± </em>so he told her, <em>¡°Untraceable.¡±</em>


    During the GAR¡¯s Operation Trident, it was this Starpath unit that all Separatistmerce raiders in the Near-Perlemian were enved to. It¡¯s codename; <em>HANDLER ONE. </em>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.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    Calli did enjoy the noises it made, however.


    She kept it anyway. After all, every Separatist raider that had been enved to the Starpath <em>still were. </em>And one might never know when a trump card as such mighte in useful. <em>Maybe </em>there was a little sentiment involved, as well, considering the individual who gifted the object to her, but that was <em>arguable¡­ </em>and Calli would never admit it anyway.


    She released aborious 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.


    <em>¡°Rear Admiral?¡± </em>Commodore Aviso repeated.


    Calli Trilm looked up, not at her audience, but past the viewports of her gship, the <em>Star of Serenno, </em>at the Open Circle Fleet orbiting Kashyyyk ahead of her. <em>Obi-Wan Kenobi, </em>was it? <em>You are standing in between me and my target. </em>Behind Kashyyyk? The star. Behind the star? The jumpzone of the Trellen Trade Route, aimed straight at the Core Worlds.


    <em>Oh, right, my fleet doesn¡¯t know about Stance 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 toote for them to shirk? Storm-Door has already begun.</em>


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    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 Gctic 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; <em>¡°¨CAdmiral?¡±</em>


    Calli Trilm stared at him coldly, ¡°What? Are you a broken record? I said <em>fine</em>.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­¡±


    The Rear Admiral of the 19th Mobile Fleet stood up, gesturing towards her tactical droid, ¡°All ships, this is yourmanding officer. All ships; advance! Do so gracefully, so that our Jedi audience can enjoy the resplendence of your resolve!¡±


    <em>Star of Serenno </em>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 nned?¡±


    <em>¡­Can I tell them? Ah¡­ really, what would Rain say in this situation? Right. Fuck you, Pantoran. Operation Stance is all about surprise, so I¡¯m going to surprise you too. Twice the surprise, twice the effectiveness¡­ or something along those lines. Yep,</em> Calli nodded in self-satisfaction,<em> Rain would definitely say that, the idiot.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>visit</em>. And as guests, must make a majestic first impression, would you not agree?¡±


    ?


    ¡°They¡¯re moving,¡± Ahsoka raised the first rm, ¡°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, zing a fiery trail towards them. At the same time,motion simrly erupted throughout <em>Vignce¡¯s </em>kilometre-long hull.


    <em>The Separatists are finally attacking us, </em>everybody thought, <em>it is about time.</em>


    ¡°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 Kashyyykpletely.


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Or unless she fires first.</em>


    ¡°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 understandpletely,¡± 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 n in any way, her fleet did not show it as they continued proceeding calmly on their heading.


    <em>I have a bad feeling about this, </em>Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi thought, <em>thest time I felt something like this¡­ was at Christophsis. </em>


    <em>Something isn¡¯t right, </em>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 gxy¡¯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 rued over a distant time of peace, now used for war.


    <em>Would the Trandoshans really allow Calli Trilm to attack? </em>


    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; <em>is it rational to drag this star system into the Clone Wars? </em>Most certainly not. It was far more rational to allow the Clone Wars to y out, and reap the benefits of their longstanding neutrality through the arms trade and state-sponsored mercenaries. And even if igniting the war <em>was </em>logical for some reason; <em>why now?</em>


    So if the Trandoshans had <em>not </em>given Calli Trilm the go-ahead, <em>why was she advancing? </em>Calli Trilm was, by all indications, not an antagonistic fieldmander. She preferred to sit back and allow her opponents toe to her. But if she wasn¡¯t looking for a fight, <em>what was she looking for?</em>


    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 ovepped 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 outmands, ¡°Ready the guns! Prepare for battle!¡±


    xons 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 ying 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 nted 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.


    <em>Where¡­ </em>


    The revtion 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!¡±


    <em>Vignce </em>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 <em>towards </em>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, <em>Vignce¡¯s </em>inertialpensators struggling to match pace with the ship¡¯s aggressive eleration. And as if mocking them, the 19th Mobile Fleet simply hastened into a light jog, discarding their leisurely pace easily, the bright res of their drive plumes blinking, sneering at them.


    ¡°Cronau radiation detected!¡±


    <em>Cronau radiation only appears when a hyperdrive tears a seam in space-time. </em>The little factoid Anakin would likely say came like a hammer blow.


    They were toote.


    ¡°Prepare to jump to Commenor!¡± Obi-Wan barked, much unlike him, ¡°It is their most likely destination!¡±


    Commenorid 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,unched 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

    Chapter 56


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    ¡°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. <em>There is a Sith Lord in the Republic. </em>The Jedi Master made the unthinkable deration as naturally as one would say the gxy 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 viin 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 <em>that </em>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 <em>one </em>mission since Geonosis¡­ and apparently I screwed it up so badly I had been cklisted from any other offworld mission since then!¡±


    Iskat¡¯s tone started with surprise, then morphed into trepidation. Not out of humbleness, but out of ack of self-worth. Barriss had little skills withbat, 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 apany of clone troopers. A more than adequate task force. <em>Infiltrate and sabotage. </em>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 <em>¡®job well done¡¯</em> on your lips.¡±Iskat released a guttural, beastly growl, ¡°<em>Infiltrate and sabotage. </em>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, <em>you gave us faulty intel. Your intel </em>got our leader killed, and <em>your intel </em>forced me to improvise. The nature of our mission was to <em>disable </em>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 exin 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.


    <em>¡°She definitely isn¡¯t¡­¡±</em> 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 <em>Jedi-like.</em>¡±


    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 <em>control, </em>all roads lead back to a single person; the Supreme Chancellor.¡±


    ¡°You think <em>Chancellor Palpatine</em> 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.¡±


    <em>¡°Power-hungry?¡± </em>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 <em>power-hungry; </em>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 umtes power without end. First was control of the fleets, then direct oversight over the media¡­ and nowplete hegemony over the Core Worlds. The Sith Lord <em>will </em>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,pletely 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 eptable 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 regr 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 imprable 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. <em>Do I make myself clear?</em>¡±


    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 <em>un-Jedi-like, </em>and even touching the sinister form of the dark side. Adi Gallia knew <em>everything </em>about them, perhaps even more than they knew themselves. <em>Leak a single thing, and that will be thest anybody will see of you. </em>That was the message hanging in the air like a sword over their heads as the three Jedi Knights exchanged wary nces.


    ¡°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 aplete 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 im 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 thew. 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 ced a holoprojector on the shrouded corpse¡¯s chest, ¡°But the recent Attack on Coruscant had given us a great opportunity. With the destruction of themunication 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 therger sphere in what seemed like half a hundred different orbital configurations.


    ¡°These are the new satellites brought in to rece the destroyed ones,¡± the Jedi Master exined, ¡°Greens are for meteorological applications; orbital mirrors, climate observation, remote sensing and the like. Blues are for civil applications; navigation,munications, and astronomy. Reds are the most important¨Cand our focus¨Cas they are military satellites. If our Sith Lord ismunicating outside of Coruscant, any and all transmissions are going through encrypted channels via these militarymunication 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 umted 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 centralwork. If we sabotage one, there¡¯s a good chance we can sabotage all of them.¡±


    <em>It was funny, </em>Barriss thought, <em>because this was the exact same way Rain rooted out Dooku. </em>Except, Rain Bonteri was forced to spread out his assets over millions of lightyears, infecting thousands of transceivers and nting hundreds of spy frigates to snuff out a mere handful of non-concrete evidence. Because the one ce he couldn¡¯t touch was the nexus of the Sith scheme; Coruscant. If Barriss could extend the Hydra¡¯swork to Coruscant¡­ then the¨Cthe trap¨Cwould beplete.


    ¡°A full recement 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 rece 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 <em>all </em>by sabotaging <em>one</em>, 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 thework 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 newputers operate through a very restrictive vetting process with a hierarchicalmand and ess structure. As Bode had surmised, our intentions are to infect <em>all </em>satellites by infecting <em>one. </em>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 ispared to their ess levels. If a system programes in without an ess 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 <em>subtlety, </em>Iskat,¡± Master Gallia said sharply, ¡°If the mission cannot bepleted 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 ess to the Chancellor¡¯s office.¡±


    <em>¡°Luckily?¡± </em>the Tholothian Master asked rhetorically, ¡°I <em>put </em>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¡¯llst in the ck 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; <em>you¡¯re flying it. </em>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 ce.


    <em>I can¡¯t¡­ control my limbs. Paralysis? </em>Mild panic blossomed in her chest as her brain tried to contact her non-responding body, before she mercilessly crushed it. <em>No, not paralysis. I¡¯m being held in ce.</em>


    ¡°Barriss?¡± Iskat turned back at the door, ¡°Youing?¡±


    Barriss stared at Master Adi Gallia, who was staring back at her curiously, arms rxed 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 inmon? 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 <em>spy</em>. Why not ask him?¡±


    Adi Gallia crouched down to eye-level, ¡°Because you are the only one <em>aware, </em>Barriss. I <em>know </em>why you are touched by the dark side¨Cor rather, it is because <em>you </em>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.


    ¡°<em>Now</em> 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 nning 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 yed into Adi Gallia¡¯s hands nary a half-secondter. 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 apaniment other than her own emotions, and a shrouded corpse.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ?


    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 emzoned 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.


    ¡°<em>I </em>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. Nothingpromising, promise¨Cran that by the Master already.¡±


    <em>¡°You have Separatist acquaintances?¡±</em>


    ¡°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 <em>without </em>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¨Carge enough number for the public to swallow¨Cthen left. The <em>real </em>evacuation¨Cthe exodus of millions of people¨Cwas organised by local authorities. This ship we¡¯re on once ferried hundreds of thousands to safety <em>by itself.</em>¡±


    ¡°Must have been an effort,¡± Barrissmented 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.¡±


    <em>Oh. </em>A simple sound, not even a word. But it summed up every emotion that could be brought forth by the name <em>¡®Atraken¡¯ </em>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 <em>¡®big thing¡¯ </em>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 n 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 rm 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 surveince 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 upied.¡±


    ¡°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. <em>However, </em>sters only, at least until I break into the surveince systems. From then, lightsabers away.¡±


    ¡°<em>Very</em> simple job,¡± Iskat corrected herself.


    ¡°And Barriss,¡± the Jedi spy turned to her, ¡°You have two datacubes, for twoyers to the ¡®disguise.¡¯ The first cube is the dummy program, and our cover. What it is is a ¡®re¡¯ 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 <em>second </em>cube <em>while </em>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 exined, ¡°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 downside, 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 <em>¡°Unidentified freighter, be advised you are approaching a restricted orbital zone. Please alter your course immediately. I say again; be advised¨C¡±</em>


    Iskat mmed her fist down on a button, and the voice was cut short, ¡°Toote for it <em>not </em>to sound good now. We¡¯reing up on the satellite.¡±


    Indeed, the militarymunications 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 <em>snap-hiss </em>of the ignition, and then an unfamiliar bleeding red de. A red lightsaber.


    ¡°Synthetic crystal. The ck market for lightsabers isrger than you¡¯d think,¡± he exined as he shoved on his crude helmet, ¡°Remember; noms 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 tomunicate through them, either, meaning they would have to take them off to speak into theirlinks. 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 ster. Barriss hadn¡¯t even noticed him drawing it. And then they were in, splitting up and dashing through the cramped corridors and sting 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 <em>thud, </em>and were reced with dim, emergency red.


    Then there was a beeping of another kind; thelink on her wrist was active. Barriss peeled off her helmet and took a breath full of harsh, poorly circted air. <em>There¡¯s air. And atmosphere. This ce was actually meant to be crewed by people, not droids. </em>Barriss couldn¡¯t imagine anybody living here, in these terrible conditions.


    She tapped herlink.


    <em>¡°Security cams and feeds are down,¡± </em>Bode informed, <em>¡°I¡¯m gonna knock out as many systems as possible.¡±</em>


    ¡°Copy!¡± Barriss shouted into thelink as struggled her way towards the centre, tripping over the thresholds of airtight doors as she crossedpartment afterpartment¨Cand even a crew lounge fitted with a sab table¨Cuntil she reached the centre.


    The centre. The control room was bubble-shaped, with a pair of chairs and an unfathomablyrge number of panels and dashboards and doohickeys. The room looked empty of life to her, though theputers 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 rm.


    ¡°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 shing light caught her attention¨C<em>proximity rm. Our ship? No, not our ship. Someone else¡¯s entering the restricted zone right now. </em>She struggled with the panel for a moment, before managing to disy the data onto an overhead holoscreen.


    <em>¡°Is there an issue, Barriss?¡± </em>Bode was audibly worried about an unforeseen hup in their n.


    ¡°Iskat,¡± Barriss kept her eyes fixed on the approaching contact, ¡°Gunship, inbound.¡±


    <em>¡°How many?¡± </em>Iskat was breathing heavily.


    <em>¡°Gunship,¡±</em> she repeated, ¡°Singr. One.¡±


    <em>¡°Thirty troopers,¡± </em>Iskatughed nervously, <em>¡°I can do that.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Good,¡± </em>Bode said tightly, <em>¡°I¡¯m making my way to the escape pods. See what I can do to mask our escape.¡±</em>


    Leaving the iingpany to Iskat, Barriss returned back to the data upload module, running her fingers over the scintiting surface and kicking the headless droid body away with her foot as she felt her way to her target. <em>There it is. </em>She flipped open atch and tugged out two lengths of cable.


    Fishing out the two datacubes, she identified the real program first and hooked it into the localputer. Then, she fished out the device hidden deep in her clothes, and hooked it up to the <em>datacube</em>. She breathed out to still the nervous jitter. <em>Hopefully I can piggyback the Hydra¡¯s code onto the second program, so that they share the same ess code. </em>She essed the two datapacks with a nearbyputer and nested the Hydra¡¯s code into the datacube, using the local system so as to not rm the centralwork.


    <em>If this doesn¡¯t work¡­ I¡¯m in for a world of hurt. </em>


    Once the datacube was newly formatted, Barriss unplugged all of them and wiped theputer clean. She then hooked both cubes up and smashed down the install key, beginning the upload to the interconnected satellitework. Two holographic progress bars appeared, one slightly behind the other. As the contents of the dummy was a mere broadcast, the datafile size was rtively small, and the progress ran ahead of therger, 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 shed.


    There was feminine shout¨C<em>Iskat¡¯s</em>¨Cand the roar of sterfire echoed down the corridor.


    Barriss swore. As if in response, the dummy upload finished, and was run through the clearance protocols.


    <em>¡°Come on,e on,e on,¡± </em>she muttered, pping at the panel as if it would make the second upload quicker.


    The second uploadpleted, and disappeared. Barriss double-checked to ensure it had been sent into a subsidiary databank for temporary storage in the queue. <em>It¡¯s there. Good. Great.</em>


    Theputer beeped, and a scrawl of text appeared on the overhead screens


    <em>[SYSTEM] ERROR 401: PACKAGE UNAUTHORISED</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] REPORT FILED</em>


    And then the <em>real </em>program in the queue was brought up to be run through the clearance protocols.


    <em>¡°Barriss, are you there?¡± </em>Bode shouted through thelink, <em>¡°Got an ETA!?¡±</em>


    ¡°Second program¡¯s being vetted,¡± Barriss replied, eyes darting to the radar disy, ¡°I see another gunship approaching.¡±


    <em>¡°Leave it! Help Iskat clear the clones and get here ASAP! If it fails, then it fails, and we¡¯ll deal with itside!¡±</em>


    ¡°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 ster bolt speared through where her head once was.


    She drew her lightsaber, newly built, clear sapphire de bursting out and mixing with the red lightning for a deep purple mist. She approached, recognising the path as the one out of the sab lounge, knocking out stray bolts out the way as she did.<em></em>ster bolts gnawed away at the walls, leaving them serrated and ming.


    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, singr focus and goal.


    <em>Kill.</em>


    <em>Kill!</em>


    <em>KILL!</em>


    <em>KILL! KILL! KILL! </em>


    Until it was a harmonious choir in her head, spurring her every limb to leap forth and ughter. 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 ughter, time and time again using the Force to drag out any trooper camping down in the corridor and pulling them into her des.


    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 <em>out of the way. </em>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 stoid, painted slimy red with a slick waterfall of blood that ran down and pooled at the threshold.


    And thest 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 ster 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.


    <em>¡°W-Why¡­!?¡± </em>the clone choked out, <em>¡°J-Jedi¡­¡±</em>


    ¡°Iskat,¡± Barriss said.


    Iskat sneered, her eyes glowing in the dark, and clenched her fist. And the trooper <em>imploded. </em>Barriss was intricately aware of the stoid 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. <em>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 calctions too?</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>¡°S-So¡­¡± </em>the red-skinned devil choked out, <em>¡°I m-made it¡­¡±</em>


    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 herlink, ¡°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 dly handed off thenky 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.


    <em>Thud. Thud.</em>


    The two other escape pods wereunched.


    <em>Thud.</em>


    And then it was their turn. Barriss¡¯ stomach leapt up to her throat as they hurtled back down to Coruscant.


    ¡°Where are wending?¡± 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. <em>That¡¯ll be the counter-thrust.</em>


    ¡°So?¡± Bode then asked, ¡°Check the upload. Is it sessful?¡±


    Barriss fumbled the datapad into her hands, activating it and reading the logs with trembling apprehension.


    <em>[SYSTEM] PACKAGE UPLOAD SUCCESSFUL</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] INITIATING UPLINK</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] ERROR 424: FAILED DEPENDENCY</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] ERROR 409: CONFLICT</em>


    <em>SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] ERROR 409: CONFLICT</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] CREATING REPORT</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] ERROR 409: CONFLICT</em>


    <em>[SYSTEM] UPLINK ESTABLISHED</em>


    <em>[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] BYPASSED SECURITY PROTOCOLS</em>


    <em>[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] CONTACTING HANDLER ONE</em>


    <em>[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] NETWORK COMPLETED</em>


    <em>[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] RECONFIGURING SATELLITE SYSTEM</em>


    <em>[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] WELCOME BACK, PRIESTESS. WAS YOUR MISSION SUCCESSFUL?</em>


    Barriss released an explosive, held breath. She looked up at Bode, smiling.


    ¡°Yes. It was <em>very </em>sessful.¡±

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System


    <em>Harrin Sector</em>


    At the bridge of battlecruiser <em>Chimeratica, </em>Confederate Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri observed the approaching enemy. His hand shed over the screen, and a pair of spinning scales strung out around the holographic disy of Yag¡¯Dhul like an armiry sphere, miniscule increments denoting the absolute bearings with regard to the gctic ne. The holographic spun, just as the star system spun, but these absolute bearings would always be aligned with the arbitrary constants set by the Standard Gctic Grid.


    The New Territories will always be nested in the absolute north, just as the Unknown Regionsy in the west and Trailing Sectors in the south. That will not change, even as the gxy itself traversed the cosmos, spiralling at a steady 250 klicks a second. One of the joys of a gctic civilisation. <em>Standardisation. </em>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 calcting impetus behind every battle and every war, the tform from which mass destruction and ughter would be nned 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-linebat element, most of their fighting force consisted of smaller vessels around a core battlecruiser squadron. Numbers and tonnagebined, 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 thismand, including new Tector-ss 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, isted from theirrades approaching from the north, was Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Open Circle Fleet, numbering three-hundred ships. Bringing over a hundred Venator-ss 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 evenbat.¡°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 gxy, 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 <em>always </em>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 rxed.


    ¡°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 <em>¡®us,¡¯ </em>and use <em>¡®you¡¯ </em>in its ce? Is the Mathematocracy not a constituent state of this Confederacy? Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s shipyards are well-regarded, and the reputation of their Wavecrest-ss frigates precedes themselves. Will you not fight with <em>us</em>?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid that the Body Calculus is hesitant ofmitting 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¡­ imusible. Defeating a numerically superior enemy in detail has merit, but that is the obvious conclusion the enemy wille 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 <em>single </em>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 umted over the long millennia of gctic warfare. The Body Calculus has all the data on hand, should you have the capacity to analyse it.¡±


    <em>To analyse every battle ever fought since the foundation of the Mathematocracy in the span of hours just to prove a point, </em>the Rear Admiral mused, <em>is such an unnecessary effort that speaks to exactly how the Givin operate. </em>


    ¡°Then this battle will be a statistical anomaly,¡± the Rear Admiral promised, ¡°You speak of our defeat in the uing battle, Senator, but the battle has already begun.¡±


    ¡°You speak of¨C¡±


    ¡°Indeed I do,¡± the Rear Admiral gestured again, this time at a disy, 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 <em>near-peer </em>force.¡±


    ¡°At the cost of seventy of your own ships.¡±


    ¡°Seventy <em>frigates.</em> It is a fair trade. And one we would immediately recoup if your Wavecrests aremitted to our cause.¡±


    ¡°Even so,¡± Daggibus Scoritoles¡¯ hologram shimmered, ¡°It is unlikely for any fleet to defeat three peer enemy fleets in quick session. The dataset proves as such; there is no historical precedent for such an event ever urring.¡±


    ¡°It appears Body Calculus fails to understand that the historical precedent will <em>begin </em>with this battle,¡± Commodore Horgo Shive said leisurely, ¡°The Twenty-Eighth Mobile is not <em>any </em>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 <em>everything.</em> That is the case for the entire Confederacy. This entire war is a vtile venture, and yet it is one that three of the most intelligent species of the gxy 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 ck, 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 facy that a ¡®defeat in detail¡¯ is anything but eloquent vernacr created by military strategists to make a simple premise more sophisticated than it really is.¡±


    Daggibus Scoritoles then questioned, ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°<em>I will defeat the enemy.</em> No matter how many times I must,¡± the Rear Admiral stood up, spreading his arms, ¡°Once. Twice. Thrice. <em>Four times. </em>Do you know why I must defeat three enemy fleets? It is because <em>I have already destroyed the fourth.</em>¡±


    On the disy, 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. <em>Once. </em>If Anakin Skywalker¡¯s n 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 activebat,pletely destroyed over the course of three hours under thebined 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 <em>stand on history</em>. I have destroyed a <em>near-peer force, </em>one in an defensive posture no less, and I will do it again <em>three more times</em>.¡±


    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, <em>¡°And twice is?¡±</em>


    If the Rear Admiral saw something within the Givin¡¯s sunken ck 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 <em>intent.</em>¡±


    ?


    On the opposite side, a shared unease rippled through the threemanders 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 and each other as the acted on them, creating erratic and powerful gravitational forces that wouldplicate 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 n was for the siege fleet to pin down the Separatists until the main force arrived, but considering the sudden radio silence, the three Republicmanders could only conclude their allies had already been destroyed. That left an issue, as they now had no way of knowing the <em>exact </em>location of the Separatist fleet. The quaternary system was filled with asteroids ripped from the moons by <em>extreme </em>tidal forces, and clouds of thick atmosphere hanging between them that refracted many sensor systems.


    They <em>had </em>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 ne, as theck 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 stillmand thrice their numbers. All the conditions point towards a decisive victory.¡±


    ¡°Not <em>all </em>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 toe to <em>yours</em>. 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 beingspared 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 popted 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-andrge allowed General Grant to operate independently in the 20th Sector Army, dominated by the Tapani Oversector itself, to appease him.


    Thankfully, on this asion General Octavian Grant had tempered himself for battle, and considered his allies fellow militarymanders 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 isted from each other.¡±


    As the three allied fleets entered the quaternary system, their sightlines andmunication 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 rtive to the 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, rtive to the. 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 dered with such force his hologram quivered, ¡°A predator will always attack the most isted 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 therge, 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 couldsh out during the interim where the moon interrupts themunication corridor between the two fleets, andpletely overwhelm Taskforce Swift Justice before using said moon to disappear once again.


    <em>Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Padawan lives up to her master¡¯s reputation</em>, that is what the Jedi Knight decided then.


    What Tallisibeth <em>didn¡¯t </em>mention was that she could <em>see </em>where the Battle Hydra was. Rees Alrix¡¯s funerary me 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 rtive to the, 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 formted 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;plete 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 w 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 ismunication, 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 sess in very high¨C<em>however, </em>close attention to force concentration, flexibility, and promptitude in advance and withdrawal is required. To coordinate as such between three separate fleets, requiresmunication.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying we are unable to coborate with each other, General?¡± Empatojayos Brand raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°We will be, if the enemy attacks the <em>Twentieth Armada </em>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,munication 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 ept that the Twentieth Armada will be the Hydra¡¯s initial target. In fact, attacking the Twentieth Armada is the <em>worst </em>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 <em>between </em>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 <emmand </em>you to rendezvous with my Twentieth Armada¨C¡±


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    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 <em>Governor-General, </em>the top leader of the Grand Army of the Republic. Governor-Generalsmanded 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 amand, it was unlikely Commander Esterhazy and General Brand could refuse without dire consequences.


    <em>Master Skywalker would know what to do, </em>for a moment, that was what Tallisibeth thought.


    And then Admiral Yren, 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 yourmands.¡±


    General Grant¡¯s jaw clenched, ¡°Then we find ourselves at an impasse. However, I will <em>not </em>risk my fleet for a strategy I <em>know </em>is critically wed. I will repeat myself one more time; once the enemy fleet engages and jams the Twentieth Armada, allmunication 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 <em>immediately.</em>¡±


    ¡°The General has a point, Commander,¡± Yren, who had already retreated out of the hologram, told Tallisibeth softly, ¡°In a coborative battle like this,munication 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. <em>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? </em>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 thest 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 facilitatingmunications. 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?¡±


    Tallisibethughed nervously, ¡°I was going to ask you, Master. I¡¯m only a Padawan¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re <em>Anakin Skywalker¡¯s </em>Padawan,¡± Brand corrected, ¡°And you¡¯remanding the <em>Open Circle Fleet</em>. I think you underestimate just how far your reach goes.¡±


    Tallisibeth wanted to sit. Her legs felt tired. But there was nowhere to. <em>Does Master Skywalker have to deal with this everyday? I can¡¯t imagine. This is exhausting. </em>


    ¡°...There¡¯s a mooning 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 yourmunication. Send a surveince 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 Yren 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; <em>¡°Separatist warships closing rapidly!¡±</em>


    The entire disy screen of fleet gship <em>Prominence </em>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-ss 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 <em>Battle Hydra, </em>but maybe he should be known as <em>Jedi Killer </em>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. <em>Maybe¡­ maybe there¡¯s a weakness there to be exploited, </em>Octavian Grant suddenly thought.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he continued anyway, ¡°Admiral Bonteri wants to defeat three fleets in quick session, 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 singrly 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. Requesting immediate support.¡±


    The Governor-General gave the order, but themunications officer of the battlecruiser <em>Prominence </em>could only respond with desperate actions and an expression to match. Jamming signals from the Separatist fleet were eating into the 20th Armada¡¯sms voraciously. Try as they might, there was no oveing the staple weapon of the Confederate Navy and the bedrock of their battlefield might; the ECM capabilities built into every Munificent-ss 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 <em>¡®identally¡¯ </em>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 ce 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, andter the Battle of Atraken, with a Jedi Master put on trial for the gxy to witness.


    But Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy¡­ now she was something close to special, wasn¡¯t she? So young, and yet alreadymanding 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 cing his <em>apprentice </em>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 ce 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 thatposed 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 battlettice 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, simrly 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 XOmented.


    The General hummed in agreement. Lucrehulks were massive vessels, being three-klicks long and three-klicks wide. They were essentially mobile defence tforms, built to survive pirate attacks long enough for reinforcements to arrive, and that war <em>before </em>their wartime refits. But despite their size, they were surprisingly light, by virtue of beingrgely 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<em> ¡®win.¡¯</em>


    ¡°Nevermind the fleet,¡± Grantmanded, ¡°We must target the enemymander. Considering the enemy fleet gship 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, sting out a flurry of raking point defence that caught the vast majority of iing projectiles, with the few that slipped through the crashing harmlessly into deflector shields. As both fleets showed no signs of slowing¨C


    ¡°Prepare for close quartersbat!¡± 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 shed into each other, creating a fiveyered sandwich; with Munificents on the top and bottomyers, Venators in the second and fourthyers, and Lucrehulks in the centralyer. The tactical holos shed bright white as the ferocity of the brawl doubled, tripled, as the vast outputs of energy and apanying bursts of light threatened to burn out the eyes of the sensor operators.


    shes 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 ting of the freighter-turned-weapons tform, 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-ss battlecruisers had evolved topensate for the critical weakness that enabled the fearsome tactic in the first ce. 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 <em>Prominence </em>and the rest of the 20th Armada¡¯s battleline returned fire with their ventral turbsers, the overclocked batteries easily tearing through theparatively weak shielding of the Munificents, piercing the thin doonium ting and churning their interiors into a grotesque glowing, liquefied metal. Some frigates thus exploded, vaporised by sudden and violent reactorbustion, 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¨C<em>Battleship 53</em>¨Cthe damage of being mmed from both top and below by the powerful main batteries of Republic battlecruisers were beginning to umte, with more and more bolts slipping through failing shields and gging the topmost coat of armour ting.


    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 <em>Battleship 53</em>, ¡°Have the <em>Consequence </em>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 <em>Consequence </emunched its salvo of sixteen heavy proton warheads, prating the the Lucrehulk in multiple ces, with two detonating right next in the engine room of the main hypermatter annihtor reactor, unleashing a great swell of raging, killing particles that had swept through the entire ship, instantly turning <em>Battleship 53 </em>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.


    <em>¡­184? It was reported the Battle Hydramanded 259 ships. Where is the remaining 75?</em>


    Grant¡¯s smile faded, though not quite to the point of worry. As the two fleets burned past each other, and <em>Prominence¡¯s </em>staff officers began nning 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; <em>why had Rain Bonteri foregone bringing his whole force down on the 20th Armada?</em>


    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. <em>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.</em>


    Which means the missing seventy-five ships¡­ are <em>also </em>targeting this 20th Armada.


    <em>From where?</em>


    Octavian Grant¡¯s eyes sharpened.


    <em>From there.</em>


    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 singr moment to hit them from behind in a spectacr hammer-and-anvil¡­


    ¡°I see,¡± the General spoke aloud, catching the attention of his bridge crew, ¡°It appears we may have been outyed.¡±


    ¡°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 themg 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.


    Inparison, only sixteen Republic battlecruisers were taken out ofmission 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 <em>Crying Sun </em>and the seventy-four warships of the 284th Battle Division. At the same time, a sensor officer cried out on the deck of the <em>Prominence¨C</em>


    ¡°Hostile contacts! Bearing zero-three-nine rtive to the, range twenty-thousand klicks! They¡¯reing out from behind the moon!¡±


    ¡°How many?¡± General Grant asked a question he already knew the answer to. One ship stood out in particr to him, gleaming brightly on the scopes with chrome armour and fabulous sr sails that would not be out of ce on a luxury yacht. <em>A Tionese battlecruiser. </em>


    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 foundcking 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, shes 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 torpedounchers.¡±


    ¡°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 Divisionunched 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 turbser bolts and torpedoes collided at terrific speeds, annihting 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 sted outwards and towards the 20th Armada¡¯s engine blocks, smaller shards being incinerated in ion thrust plumes whilerger chunks of debris crashed straight into aft bulkheads.


    <em>¡°Order all ships to shut down all power feeds to the thrusters immediately!¡± </em>


    Simrmands rang out through the bridges of the battlecruisers present, each captain skillfully takingmand of the situation and preventing what should have been an inevitable disaster¨Ca chain reaction of engine explosions¨Cfrom urring. 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 hadpleted 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 ckouts gripped the <em>Prominence </em>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 hadst 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 <em>was </em>us, General,¡± his XO raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°How many of our ships are <em>permanently </em>out ofbat, Captain?¡± Grant asked.


    ¡°...I would say around a hundred, General.¡±


    ¡°And the other hundred-fifty will be able to re-enterbat once repairs arepleted?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°This was an indecisive engagement,¡± Grant assessed, ¡°Bonteri realised with General Brand and I so close to each other, one fleet coulde to the reinforcements of the other. But he also realised the importance of taking out our Twentieth Armada, to severmunication between Swift Justice and the Open Circle. Thus, he engaged us not to annihte 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 longermunicate. And yet, Bonteri was not forced to engage in a lengthy battle in which he could be 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 <em>that </em>would exin it,¡± the Tapani noble nodded seriously, ¡°For now, prioritise our bringing ourmunication suites back to life. Have every stillbat 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 ckness beyond <em>Prominence¡¯s </em>viewports. <em>It was a good duel, Bonteri. I look forward to our next bout.</em>


    ?


    Meanwhile, thirty-thousand klicks away, there was a conversation going on between the Tionese battlecruiser <em>Kronprinz </em>and the Separatist fleet gship <em>Chimeratica.</em>


    <em>¡°He¡¯s good, that one,¡± </em>Commodore Diedrich Greyshade said, <em>¡°Octavian Grant. We will have to keep an eye on him.¡±</em>


    Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri nodded distantly, though Greyshade was unable to see it. They had intended topletely obliterate the 20th Armada there, using the battlettice to upy 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 sted scrap metal, and they had only been able to destroy less than half of the 20th Armada.


    ¡°We will have to circle back aroundter 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.¡±


    <em>¡°No mercy for your countrymen, Admiral?¡±</em>


    ¡°The only homnd the Jedi know is Coruscant.¡±


    <em>¡°That is a good point.¡±</em>


    Internally, Rain Bonteri stirred. Octavian Grant was a new yer 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 popted byparative unskilled men, with all of the most talented officers being relegated to the front lines. However, if all of the 20th¡¯smanders were as skilled as their General, then he may have to re-evaluate this supposition. Operation Stance may encounter an initial obstacle far more troublesome than he had anticipated.


    <em>¡°As for Octavian Grant,¡± </em>Greyshade mused aloud, <em>¡°He might be a problem in the future if we don¡¯t deal with him now.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Kronprinz, ¡°Right. He missed the forest for the trees.¡±</em>


    ¡°He did. Only this time, however.¡±


    For now, however, a singr thought was present in the minds of every Separatist captain; <em>two down, two to go.</em>

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    <em>Eastern Veil, Llon Neb</em>


    <em>Itopol Sector</em>


    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 <em>Dark Rival </em>like a starved acy. 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.


    <em>¡°Because betrayal is an unhappy hazard of the dark side.¡±</em>


    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 nning a stratagem down to the most minute detail, deconstructing his opponent¡¯s psyche piece by piece, or calcting each and every word in order to elicit the most favourable oue in a mere conversation. If she wanted to be on the same mental wavelength as the Battle Hydra, it was worthbing through every detail.


    And there was one detail that gued 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-ced missile could have taken out <em>Dark Rival </em>before Ventress and the Storm Fleet ever became a problem, but no such missile came.


    Instead, he simply imparted that maxim.


    <em>¡°Betrayal is the unhappy hazard of the dark side.¡±</em>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 ce, 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.


    <em>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.</em>


    And then in her mind¡¯s eye, that sentence was reced by a single name. <em>Count Dooku. </em>


    What if¡­ what if Dooku¡¯s instructions were meant to lure her away from a ce of safety¨Cwithin the most dangerous fleet of the CAF not under Dooku¡¯splete control¨Cand into a hidden, isted neb of the Mid Rim where he could kill her? Did that not mean she wasn¡¯t actually tasked to takemand of a powerful, secret fleet to use against their enemies, but instead to <em>sail straight towards her own tomb?</em>


    In that frenzied hurricane of thoughts, Ventress had not even considered <em>how </em>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.


    <em>But made it where? </em>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. <em>Dark Rival </em>lurched beneath her feet, and Ventress braced herself for the ckness of deep space, and perhaps, the blinding light of a thousand turbser 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 <em>Pioneer </em>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 theirst 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 <em>Harbinger </em>anymore.


    Klev, and Avrey and Yren 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 <em>Harbinger </em>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 Neb ain¡¯t ying nice.¡±


    Anakin nodded sharply but understandingly, nary a me or rebuke on his lips, and brought his attention towards the viewports. It was a sight to behold; the Llon Neb 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 ster nurseries of the gxy, and they were within it, soon to vite 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¨C<em>below us</em>¨Cbefore raising a single finger and twirling it. The helm kicked <em>Pioneer </em>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 disys 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 Neb, 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 wererge and geometrical; massive flying boxes exactly eight-hundred metres long and sheathed in dull ck 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 popr and ubiquitous ships sses in the gxy.


    <em>PCL 27, </em>designed by Maxwell & Son. It also went by another more popr name, whether it be in the private circles of shipping magnates, dockhands living paycheck-to-paycheck, or the trillions of spacers who share the hypenes with such vessels; <em>A-ss bulk freighter. </em>Such a ssification was not official, but merely being called the <em>¡®A-</em>ss¡¯ was enough of a testament to its omnipresence across the gxy. <em>Pioneer¡¯s </em>scans reflected as such, with a gleaming <em>¡®PCL 27¡¯ </em>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.


    <em>So this is it? </em>Anakin had to ask himself in disbelief. <em>The vaunted reinforcements the Battle Hydra was relying on is an abandoned, derelict merchant convoy?</em>


    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. Freightpanies 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 materialposition of the ting. <em>It¡¯s not just durasteel¨Cit¡¯s a military-grade doonium alloy. </em>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.


    <em>These ¡®freighters¡¯ are built like military-grade warships.</em>


    <em>So why are two-hundred of them sitting in some middle-of-nowhere neb?</em>


    ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± the sensor chief frowned, ¡°There aren¡¯t any bio-signs.¡±


    ¡°Did we identally stumble on the Dark Force or something?¡± another officer half-joked.


    <em>Dark Force. </em>A rush of memories flooded Anakin¡¯s mind. The officer was talking about the <em>Katana </em>fleet, a task force of two-hundred Dreadnaught-ss heavy cruisers built ten years ago. The <em>Katana </em>fleet was meant to herald a new era for Republic military warships, each ship outfitted with a then-advanced set of full-rig ve 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 ve circuitry implemented cut that number down to little over two-thousand. These days, ve circuitry was even more advanced, but hardly utilised due to the great scare caused by the scandal. Despite that, ve circuitry was absolutely ubiquitous in the Separatist navy; present and essential in basically every Separatist warship ever built. <em>The joys of droid crews,</em> Anakin decided, <em>and organic manpower deficit.</em>


    Ten years ago, full-rig ve 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 ve-rigged fleet could be.


    Before the ve-rigged fleet took half a million men to their graves.


    ¡°A-ss 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 ve circuitry, and droid crews¡­ one could run apletely 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 <em>kill </em>the sleeping krayt dragon. Inform the secondary bridge;unch all starfighters! Bring us in¨Cdestroy them all!¡±


    <em>Sorry, Appo, but if we¡¯re lucky your men won¡¯t have any fun at all. If we¡¯re lucky.</em>


    Anakin Skywalker wasn¡¯t a lucky person.


    ¡°New contact!¡± the sensor chief rmed, ¡°There¡¯s a Providence almost right above us, headed on the same vector!¡±


    <em>That¡¯d be Asajj Ventress. </em>Anakin traced the vector¨Cit was Ventress¡¯ ship, indeed, <em>Dark Rival, </em>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 neb, sir,¡± the sensor chief replied as calmly as he could, ¡°You can ask the stars and they¡¯ll likely give you a more urate answer than I.¡±


    Anakin twitched, ¡°Then by thatst order and bring <em>Pioneer </em>to bear on Ventress! Have all starfighter wings target that ship¨Cthe <em>Dark Rival! </em>The rest of the fleet will proceed at pace!¡±


    <em>As long as those fake freighters don¡¯t get activated, this spot will mark Ventress¡¯ grave. </em>Anakin¡¯s scar burned. <em>And it''s been a long timeing.</em>


    ?


    Ventress found herself within her Ginivex-ss fande before she knew it, the <em>Banshee </em>screeching out of <em>Dark Rival¡¯s </em>through-deck hangar bay with all two-hundred droid starfighters and a hundred morending 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 <em>Pioneer </em>was right below <em>Dark Rival, </em>both ships longitudinally spinning perpendicrly to bring their broadsides to bear. Without herbat escorts, however, <em>Dark Rival </em>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.


    <em>Dark Rival, </em>knowing her end was at hand, overloaded her turbsers, turning into a cylinder of zingserfire and torpedoes,shing out in one final tantrum against death before her capacitors blew out. <em>Pioneer </em>responded in kind, leveraging an almostical number of starfighters¨Cwell over four-hundred¨Cagainst the single Providence. Ventress hadn¡¯t the luxury to watch her gship¡¯s end either, as she kicked<em> Banshee¡¯s </em>drive to full power and set off towards the indicated <em>Storm-001, </em>gship 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.


    <em>Skywalker.</em>


    One of the Vulture droids warbled, the trantion scrawling across the holodisys in <em>Banshee¡¯s </em>cockpit.


    <em>¡°What!?¡± </em>Ventress gritted her teeth, kicking out her engines and whirling <em>Banshee </em>around so she could see behind her¨Cand saw a <em>second </em>fleet extracting out of hyperspace. Separatist frigates shot out of lightspeed and slugs from a chamber, each deafeningly silent <em>thud </em>seemingly vibrating the dust clouds of the Llon Neb, ¡°Bonteri followed us!?¡±


    The Vulture warbled again, alerting her to the twenty spearhead destroyers zing a golden trail towards them, outpacing the frigates and even the Republic Star Destroyers. <em>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?</em>


    Regardless, it was a wee reprieve. The Mistryl fleet had appeared almostterally across the Open Circle, with <em>Dark Rival </em>and <em>Pioneer </em>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 <em>Dark Rival </em>and <em>Pioneer. </em>


    <em>Or, </em>Ventress narrowed her eyes, whirling <em>Banshee </em>back around and pushing its drives to their limits, <em>Bonteri sent them to track me after all. </em>The Llon Neb was, like all nebe, utterly vast, spanning many light-years. Only Ventress knew the <em>exact </em>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.


    <em>Banshee </em>barrelled between the first two Storm-ss 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.


    ¡°<em>Storm-One,¡± </em>Ventress punched them 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 shed 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.


    Stolen story; please report.


    <em>¡°Dooku,¡± </em>Ventress hissed, mming his contact into the panel, ¡°<em>Count Dooku!¡±</em>


    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, <em>now,¡±</em> Ventress told him as urgently as she could without shouting, ¡°There is a¨C a situation.¡±


    A Vulture droid warbled¨C<em>damn you!¨C</em>and Dooku¡¯s eyes narrowed. At that moment, it took every fibre in her body to not wheel on the stupid droid and st 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, butposedly, ¡°Against one or the other, perhaps the Storm Fleet could prevail. But both? The Storm Fleet will no longer be yours tomand.¡±


    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 ofserfire 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 gxy! Tell me! Why am I no longer part of the gxy you envision!? What did I do!? Where did I go wrong!? What does the Confederacy mean to you!?¡±


    <em>¡°Nothing,¡± </em>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 aplish something as simple as secure a fleet I had all but ced at your fingertips. This failure will be yourst.¡±


    Thelink clicked and went dead. One of the Sheathipede shuttles apanying her released a loud burst of electromaic waves. <em>Banshee </em>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 <em>thud thud thud</em>. The running lights of two-hundred dormant warships exploded to life simultaneously, ck armour ting rolling back to reveal perfectly aligned rows of turbser barrels and missileunchers.


    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 rm as each ponderous vessel executed surprisingly sharp turns, considering their design. Anakin <em>had </em>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¨C<em>not good. Ventress made it. </em>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 toy into <em>each other </em>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 <em>¡°they¡¯re shooting each other?¡±</em>


    ¡°No,¡± Anakin thinned his lips, ¡°They¡¯re shooting at something <em>between </em>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 ordingly, however, a light blinked on his console. R2-D2 whistled again, informing him of an iing 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 ce <em>exactly </em>where he felt this sensation before.


    <em>Atraken.</em>


    ¡°Next thing you know, those fake freighters are filled to the brim with civvies,¡± he muttered bitterly, keying in the transmission.


    <em>¡°General Skywalker,¡± </em>a female voice greeted him, <em>¡°Might you be interested in a temporary alliance? I¡¯m sure our efforts would be better spent against amon enemy than each other.¡±</em>


    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 popr.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the Storm Fleet yours?¡± he shot back, ¡°I don¡¯t recognise your ship; what¡¯s your affiliation?¡±


    <em>¡°I am Naradan D¡¯ulin of the Mistryl Shadow Guards,¡± </em>the voice returned, <em>¡°To answer your question; the Storm Fleet has gone rogue. The only thing controlling it is rampant code.¡±</em>


    <em>Just my luck, </em>he grumbled, <em>now he had to deal with an omnicidal droid fleet, instead of a deactivated one. </em>That said, he <em>did </em>recognise the Mistryl Shadow Guards.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know the Battle Hydra dealt with mercenaries.¡±


    <em>¡°I don¡¯t know an aristocrat who doesn¡¯t.¡±</em>


    ¡°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?¡±


    <em>¡°My frigates can jam the ve circuitry between their ships, breaking up their coherence,¡± </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡°Precisely. I will lend you¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°That¡¯s all right,¡± Anakin interrupted, eyes gleaming, ¡°My fleet can handle such an elementary task.¡±


    <em>¡°I beg your pardon? They have two-hundred ships. You have fifty.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Isn¡¯t this the second time now?¡± </em>Oddball¡¯s voice came on.


    ¡°You got that right,¡± Anakin grunted, ¡°<em>Pioneer, </em>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 <em>reason </em>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 singrly 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 ovee basic geometric principles.


    All he needed was one good look at these ships to realise a single Venator-ss 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¨C<em>Pioneer </em>included¨Croared forward as one, facing down an enemy four times their number, yet matching in all ferocity and crity.


    The two fleets crashed into each other before the painted backdrop of the Llon Neb, 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 nk 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 simtions.


    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 toe 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 t hulls he had just darted past. His headpiece was aze 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 st of droidpeak aired over the openms, 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 t 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.


    ¡­


    <em>Finishing blow? The Storm Fleet is a rogue Separatist element. Are they here to destroy it¡­ or recapture it?</em>


    Anakin hooked up a connection to <em>Pioneer, </em>squinting in the general direction of the ship through a cloud of ming debris,<em></em>¡°Appo, this is Skywalker. Come in.¡±


    <em>¡°Present, General,¡± </em>Appo¡¯s voice came on, <em>¡°Looks like a major scrap¡¯s shaping up out there.¡±</em>


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t be more right, Commander,¡± Anakin instinctively ducked as a pair of proton torpedoes thundered right over him, R2 mming down the nose of the Aethersprite with a terrified shriek, ¡°I need as manyrties out here for boarding action as possible. Up for the task?¡±


    <em>¡°My men are all ready, sir.¡±</em>


    <em>Ah, </em>that was Appo-speak for <em>¡°you didn¡¯t even have to ask.¡± </em>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 nearlyplete, with thest frigate sliding into ce and¨C


    Anakin¡¯s Aethersprite <em>screamed, </em>R2-D2 screamed, a chorus of frantic yelling and panicked droid beeps sting out of his headpiece, right before being abruptly cut off by an ear-piercing screech of somehow <em>blinding </em>white noise, injected straight into his eardrums. <em>Anakin </em>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 ck hole. The battle went mute and monochrome,sers 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 st of eleration 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 flightputer, 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. <em>What was happening? </em>He could sense such thoughts and emotions bubbling through the Force. <em>Are the Seppies attacking us? Were we betrayed? Is this still part of the n? Is the truce still effective? How do I contact the flight chief? What should I do? </em>


    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 andserfire as adjacent fighters wheeled on each other without warning.


    Anakin cut through all the k, 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 disy screen of his dash to read out R2¡¯s response. It read; <em>HOW?</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Pioneer </em>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 <em>Pioneer, </em>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¨C<em>him. </em>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. <em>Twelverties, </em>Anakin counted, <em>I caught the attention of twelverties. That¡¯s three-hundred and fifty troopers. It¡¯s enough.</em>


    All of the Storm Fleet destroyers had all but frozen up post-jamming, sluggishly reacting to even the most devastating of turbser fusides 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, st 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 mming into the freighter¡¯s shell ting like a fist of thunder. The smoke and debris cleared, revealing a gouged¨Cbut not prated¨Ccrater in the freighter¡¯s shell ting.


    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 ting 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 ce, the Jedi Knight affixed the helmet on and checked the gear to ensure it was in proper working order. Once he confirmed¨C<em>no leaks</em>¨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 <em>not </em>join his men.


    ¡°Thanks, Artoo,¡± Anakin grunted as he forced up his cockpit and stood, ¡°You can head back to the <em>Pioneer </em>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 tes 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-ss bulk freighter, but definitely designed for living spacers.


    One sign that there <em>weren¡¯t </em>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 abination 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 ce¡­ was theck 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 upperpartments, 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 st 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 boardingpany poured in, sters 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 shing 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-ck from soot and ash, and her ck dress had been torn up and still smoking in several ces, 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 copse, ¡°How nice of you to join the fun.¡±


    The third thing he noticed was the Mistryl Shadow Guard, garbed in their distinctive ck suits. They were positioned directly across thepartment, 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 <em>other </em>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

    <em>Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System</em>


    <em>Harrin Sector</em>


    ¡°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 isted.¡±


    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 Brandmanded, ¡°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 <em>offensive</em>?¡±


    ¡°The Hydra has failed to realise we have discovered their intentions,¡± the Jedi General ced his fist in his palm, ¡°And it is obvious their intentions are to use the moon to cover his nking 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 theyplete 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 gmanders did not go unnoticed by the crew of the <em>Swift Justice, </em>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. <em>Do not presume to frighten me with your mysticism, Jedi, </em>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 ovee such a numerically superior foe.¡±


    ¡°We are not fighting alone, Admiral,¡± General Brand admonished his counterpart, ¡°The Open Circle ising 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 iplete¨Cblow to the Separatists here, the Open Circle¡¯s total victory is all but assured! We must merely dy them long enough for Commander Esterhazy to reach us, which she already intends to do.¡±


    <em>¡°However,¡± </em>Admiral Jerjerrod stomped down, ferociously jabbing at the ground, ¡°You cannot deny that we will be <em>destroyed in the process</em>. The original n was for the Twentieth toe to our aid first¨Cthe possibility of the Open Circle even reaching us in time is perishingly minimal!¡±


    The crew of the <em>Swift Justice </em>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 bnce 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 be 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 <em>real </em>to follow you.¡±


    And the bnce 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 reopenmunications 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 actionpared to your frankly foolhardy n to <em>¡®ambush¡¯</em> them.¡±


    The umted store of unease aboard the <em>Swift Justice </em>was just about to reach saturation point. Like many Jedi Order¨CRepublic Navy rtionships, 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 hade to a breaking point, an invisible thunderhead brewing right over the heads of the many spacers trapped between them.


    <em>So which would snap first? </em>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 ofmand.


    In most cases, the answer to this question usually boils down to which personality overpowered the other. The more reserved Admiral Wullf Yren, 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 takemand, 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 personalitiesplimented the other well. Thete Admiral Cede Wieler and General Rees Alrix was one case, and a reason why thetter 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 rtionship between Admiral Jerjerrod and General Empatojayos Brand was a microcosm of the greater interservice rivalry that gued the Republic Navy.


    Ultimately, and perhaps thankfully, seeing the situation not particrly 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, deted in relief.


    ¡°We will <em>not </em>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; <em>¡°Contact lost with the recon craft!¡±</em>


    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; <em>run in the opposite direction</em>.


    ¡°Very good, General,¡± Admiral Jerjerrod nodded sharply, ¡°Helm,e right to oh-six-seven rtive, 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. Merely half an hourter, they detected the sharp drive cones of Separatist battlecruisers emerging from behind the moon in battle formation.


    ?


    Meanwhile, nearly two-hundred thousand klicks away, the tension that had just released <em>Swift Justice</em> now gripped another gship in its talons. The Open Circle Fleet¡¯s gship, <em>Harbinger, </em>has been attempting to contact the Twentieth Armada for the better part of an hour, to no avail. Just as General Octavian Grant rationalised,munication was key in a cooperative battle, and in trying to finalise her battle n 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 onmunication 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 Yren 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.


    <em>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? </em>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 rtionship.


    If she had listened to Octavian Grant¡¯s orders¡­ would the battle already be decided?


    Now, the Open Circle Fleet was zing towards Yag¡¯Dhul,pletely 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. <em>There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity. </em>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.


    This narrative has been uwfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°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 Yren 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 <em>Swift Justice </em>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 <em>Swift Justice </em>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 Yren answered immediately, ¡°One that works to our advantage. Considering our position rtive 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 particrly violent there, which will throw off the aims of Separatist missileunchers, forcing them to fight in close quartersbat, 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 nked 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- <em>General </em>Brand¡¯s fleet is massacred!?¡± Scout eximed,pletely askance, ¡°General Skywalker would never abandon a friendly force!¡±


    ¡°General Skywalker is not present,¡± Yren¡¯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 Yren¡¯s counterpart was Anakin Skywalker, the hierarchical status quo was predisposed into thetter¡¯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 andmand presence of Admiral Yren. She was no longer in her Master¡¯s shadow, and in that decisive moment, Yren¡¯s calcting 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 gued 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 unexpectedmunication.


    ¡°We¡¯re receiving a transmission from¡­ from the <em>Prominence</em>!¡± despite Admiral Yren¡¯s well-known dislike for exmations in the pilothouse, thems chief couldn¡¯t help herself, ¡°It¡¯s General Grant!¡±


    Half a hundred heads poked up in hopeful anticipation, Scout and Yren among them. The Admiral, especially, was particrly impatient, though he hid such sentiments incredibly well.


    ¡°Read it out, Lieutenant,¡± he all but snapped.


    <em>¡°</em>E<em>-Engaging enemy seventy-thousand klicks northeast of Yag¡¯Dhul, bearing zero-three-one degrees absolute to the. Requesting immediate support.¡±</em>


    Scout¡¯s heart lodged in her throat, <em>¡°They¡¯re still fighting? But¨C¡±</em>


    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 <em>Prominence </em>has lost her ability to <em>create </em>transmissions, but not her ability to <em>send </em>transmissions. So the system¡¯s shot, but not thems tower. Best she can do now is shout thest stored transmission within her cache, which would be the distress signal.¡±


    ¡°Which means¨C¡± Scout swallowed, ¡°There¡¯s survivors.¡±


    Thems officer nodded hesitantly, ¡°There''s as good a chance as any.¡±


    The Jedi Commander whirled on Yren, 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 thest 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 <em>Prominence. </em>Have them know help is on the way!¡±


    ¡°...Very good, Commander,¡± Admiral Yren nodded sharply at the helm messenger, a miniscule smile present beneath his furred upper lip.


    <em>I can¡¯t save them all, </em>Scout was thinking at that moment, <em>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.</em>


    ?


    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 <em>Swift Justice</em> and the Open Circle were directed on counter-clockwise orbital vectors around the. In other words, as <em>Swift Justice </em>raced south to find an openmunications 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 <em>Swift Justice </em>had on her tail were not any ordinary battlecruisers, but the sr-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 gxy that could hope to match their truly furious swiftness, their radar signature made two-to-three timesrger due to their expansive sr sails.


    It was due to these sr sails that reflected and smeared sr radiation across <em>Swift Justice¡¯s </em>sensor disys, in addition with the tight pursuit formation the Separatists had adopted, that prevented the Jedi from urately 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.


    <em>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 unounted for. </em>Now, General Brand found himself in the very same position General Grant did, upon the discovery of this discrepancy within the enemy numbers.


    <em>We¡¯re fighting the Battle Hydra, </em>the Onderonian Jedi closed his eyes, <em>we¡¯re fighting an enemy with multiple heads.</em>


    ¡°Admiral,¡± he alerted Jerjerrod quietly, so as to not rm 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 minuteter, that wary stance was now poised towards <em>Swift Justice </em>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 interster 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 <em>¡®I told you so¡¯ </em>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 y.¡±


    ¡°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 calcte 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 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 ying 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 gxy.


    ¡°Then there is but one course of action,¡± Empatojayos Brand dered, 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 andmunication 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 <em>Swift Justice, </em>then the two fleets should be seeing eye-to-eye.


    However, the Open Circle had veered east, and was <em>still </em>on theplete opposite side of Yag¡¯Dhul to <em>Swift Justice. </em>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 Armadamunications uplink would be the undoing of all three allied fleets. Nor did Brand or Jerjerrod have any time to consider that fact; only that thest light hope was crushed in their chest as they wondered where theirst ally had disappeared to.


    <em>¡°Enemy fleet to our port bow! W-We¡¯re looking at a hundred-fifty warships, sir!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Orders, General!? They¡¯re bearing down on us!¡±</em>


    Separatist battlecruiser <em>Crying Sun </em>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 <em>Kronprinz </em>was already folding her sails into battle configuration, and <em>Chimeratica </em>close behind her. The Republic fleet had themselves caught in a pincer.


    <em>¡°Orders?¡±</em> Empatojayos Brand drew himself to his full height, his presence in the Force filling his crew with fighting spirit against all odds, <em>¡°Fight back!¡±</em>


    ?


    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 Yren, despite not being Force-sensitive, was well-versed enough with the Jedi to extrapte what Scout was experiencing just then.


    ¡°We couldn¡¯t have possibly reached them in time.¡±


    They couldn¡¯t. One nce at the ticking chrono could have proven that.


    <em>¡°I know,¡± </em>Scout whispered.


    Just like the <em>Swift Justice </em>before its demise<em>, </em>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¨Cflung out and sucked in erratically as the three moons orbited the, and each other. It was a near-imprable curtain that blocked all but the most powerful signals from piercing through.


    The Open Circle was more isted 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 <em>Swift Justice </em>shed 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. Thete 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 inexperiencedmander.


    An inexperiencedmander would take such information at face value, and lead them to make dangerous assumptions. Fatal assumptions. Over-reliance on the Force, ultimately, makes an inexperiencedmander forgo their conventional tactical wisdom and training in preference of the<em> ¡®easy way out.¡¯ </em>Such an effect was only made worse in the hands of Jedi; the Jedi, who had been trained from birth 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 formting a strategy¨Calbeit a sound strategy¨Caround the information she could glean from Jedi Knight Alrix¡¯stent 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. <em>¡®The Force tells me the enemy is on the opposite side of the system,¡¯ </em>Tallisibeth drew such a natural conclusion, <em>¡®thus the enemy is not here.¡¯ </em>It was as simple a mistake as taking iplete information forplete information.


    Seventy Givin starships exploded out of the asteroid field, ice-blue drives glowing as boiling atmosphere curled off their streamlined, fin-shaped hulls. <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>scanners identified them almost instantaneously¨Cthey were the crown jewel of the Yag¡¯Dhul Shipyards, and the backbone of the Givin Defense Fleet: the <em>Wavecrest-ss frigate. </em>With two Republic fleets now dealt with, the Body Calculus has finallymitted the full might of their personal fleet to the cause.


    Scout could only watch as the swift and nimble Wavecrests joined the battle,ing crashing out of the supposedly imprable asteroid field and crossing the ¡®T¡¯ forward of the Open Circle Fleet. Hundreds, <em>thousands </em>more bright pinpricks appeared on the tactical holos; the Givin frigates wereunching 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 me 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.


    ?


    <em>¡°Two down, one to go.¡±</em>

 Chapter 60

    <em>Eastern Veil, Llon Neb</em>


    <em>Itopol Sector</em>


    ¡°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 <em>any </em>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 ck 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¡­ <em>unstable, </em>maddened, even panicking. <em>Ventress is riding high on adrenaline, </em>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 de. 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.¡±


    Simrly, Commander Appo seized the opportunity to secure the bridgepartment, a sh of hand signals ordering the 501st troopers to tactically mirror the Mistryl on the opposite side of the room. Anakin eyed the dimensions of thepartment, 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 outnk the Mistryl.


    He could not hear the clones¡¯ internalm circuits, or even if Appo noticed the order. But when Anakin¡¯s Force-enhanced hearing picked the muffled mour of moving boots elsewhere on the ship, he knew the Clone Commander did.


    Anakin made a second signal: <em>expectbat.</em>


    Two Mistryl destroyers had split off to target this ship, <em>Storm-001, </em>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 ck,¡± Ventress bit.


    Irritance shed across the Mistryl¡¯s beautiful features¨C<em>there was something on that starfighter she wanted</em>¨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 dered, ¡°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,dies. 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 toe to Coruscant for trial. Your miserable existence mightst 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 ck swords, shock whips, zenji needles and holdout sters, ¡°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 de between Count Dooku¡¯s eyes? Not in your state.¡±


    <em>¡°Count Dooku?¡± </em>for a brief moment, Anakin was taken aback, ¡°Count Dooku <em>betrayed </em>you?¡±


    <em>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?</em>


    Then, Anakinughed.


    ¡°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 <em>Sith</em>.¡±


    If his intentions were to goad Ventress on, he seeded 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 morepact 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 calcting 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 nning out its next hunt. A cornered animal and starved beast may appear simr, but were very different battles to tackle altogether.


    The 501st troopers must have noticed their General¡¯s newfound wariness, because they levelled their sters and carbines. The tension in thepartment 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, herck of aggressiveness¡­ <em>Ventress is stalling, </em>he realised. <em>She¡¯s protecting something. But what? Something behind her? That would exin the reverse grip. So¡­ the data console? Should I allow her to stall? </em>Anakin had no choice but to wait for his troopers to nk around the bridge, however, as there was no way to decisively win the uing firefight without them.


    ¡°He needs the Storm Fleet,¡± Naradan answered easily.


    Anakin narrowed his eyes, ¡°I thought you needed her starfighter?¡±


    ¡°I need <em>proof </em>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, ¡°Themon 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, <em>¡°I put Pong Krell in chains myself!¡± </em>


    As thest word left his mouth, a thunderp shook <em>Storm-001, </em>filling the bridge with sounds of boots stomping against the panels as men and women restabilised themselves. The holoscreens shed 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-ded 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 shed 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; <em>how did Ventress survive the initial betrayal? </em>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 ve-circuited ships would so sharply about-face would be¡­ because they received conflicting orders.


    <em>Ventress was stalling. Why?</em>


    Now he knew the answer. The final piece of the puzzle clicked into ce 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,mandeered the fleet to turn against thebined 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 gship privileges and control code rotors out of the <em>Storm-001, </em>so she couldmand the Storm Fleet from anywhere she was.


    Another st rocked the ship.


    Appo broke the uneasy silence, ¡°General, our squads have engaged the Mistryl in the operationspartment.¡±


    A beat passed.


    <em>¡°Open fire!¡±</em>


    The 501st broke the deadlock withsers zing,ying 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 stoid armour. And suddenly, the pitch of a different ss of weapons joined the cacophony as the Mistryl opened up on the 501st, drawing out their holdout sters and energy-absorbant phrik vibrodes.


    ¡°Get to the <em>Sharihen</em>!¡± Anakin could hear Naradan shout, <em>¡°Ventress!¡±</em>


    Ventress was a whirlwind of red light, an ote 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 themand 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 thest 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,serfire tearing through bulkheads and panelling like a necrotising disease.


    Sith and Jedi levelled their sabers at each other.


    Ventress struck first, any and all semnce 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, Ventressunched herself at him and Anakin turned, again nearly moving too slowly to prevent her from slicing him in half. Their des shed 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 aze with an obsessive desire to live.


    ¡°Let¡­ me¡­ <em>go!¡± </em>she yelled, executing a backward flip andnding 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, rxed 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!?¡±


    <em>That </em>struck a chord. Ventress released a guttural roar, any semnce 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 shing 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 <em>admiration </em>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 ce!¡± 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 tounch 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.¡±


    If youe across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°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 me 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 rtionship,¡± he smiled wryly, ¡°If she is defeated, it won¡¯t be because she couldn¡¯t trust the crew of the <em>Harbinger.</em>¡±


    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 ces her entire life; the Jedi Temple, and the <em>Harbinger. </em>She had never been able to embark on the gctic adventures and missions that made the bedrock foundation of every Padawan Learner¡¯s experience.


    For Tallisibeth, the <em>Harbinger </em>was her Jedi Master as much as Anakin Skywalker was. Whether it be Admiral Yren, the sensor chiefs with Lieutenant Klev, thems specialists like Avrey, or even down to the gunnery officers. Everything, anything she wanted to learn, Anakin never restrained her. The gship of the Open Circle <em>was </em>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 <em>wasn¡¯t. </em>Anakin made sure of that. He made sure Tallisibeth was in goodpany, among friends andrades, of men and women far more capable than he.


    ¡°And if she <em>dies?</em>¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Anakin Skywalker inserted with such utter confidence that for a moment, Ventress believed him wholeheartedly, ¡°After all, <em>I </em>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 nheless.


    ¡°I¡¯ll await that day eagerly.¡±


    A tense silence settled as the two warriors circled around the centralmand console, squaring each other off as they analysed and reacted ordingly, 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 shed 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 upied with her sabers¨Ccareful not to damage it with teeth,nded in roll, and raced out of the bridge.


    <em>¡°Ventress!¡± </em>Anakin roared as he dashed after her.


    By the time he caught her, she had already hidden the datachip away. Their lightsabers shed, and then she darted down the next corridor. Their battle carried down the maze-like interior of the Storm Fleet destroyer, sabers zing to the background roar of mouring footsteps, yells, and sterfire. They crashed through narrow cross corridors lined with battle droids and clone troopersying 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 theybated through the corridors and across the bulkheads, Anakin started mapping out a mental diagram of the ship¡¯s interior,paring it against what he knew of the PCL 27¡¯s interior. Already knowing the roughyout, 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 shed and scrapped, the harsh golden glow of liquefied steel illuminating the dust-filled corridors.


    Ventress would run, Anakin would catch up, they would sh, 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 <em>Sharihen, </em>was docked to <em>Storm-001. </em>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 hadid down, Ventress had to somehow make her way through a narrow junction nked 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 herst legs, having withstood the Chosen One¡¯s onught 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 forfort.


    ¡°Go on, make a run for it,¡± he taunted her, ¡°See if you can.¡±


    Ventress looked at him with wild eyes, ncing 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 withserfire. 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 thest 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 couldunch a second wave, Appo¡¯s troopers closed their ranks andid 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. <em>All in working order. </em>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,nding 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 theparatively small woman into the air easily, her legs kicking helplessly, and slowly began to crumple her windpipe. With a final, desperate blow, Ventress mustered thest 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 phnges 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 sterfire. Jedi and Sith met eyes once more, and the Sith¡¯s eyes were full of <em>fear. </em>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.


    <em>But that wouldn¡¯t be the Jedi way, would it?</em>


    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. <em>I gave her a chance, </em>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 sh 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 <em>burned </em>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 <em>other arm. </em>Anakin writhed as another agonising pulse seared him, but bit back a cry.


    His clones were pressing onwards, but Anakin knew they would be toote. Mistrylid 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 thest 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 deted, 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-insted 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 thest 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 <em>Emberlene</em>!¡± the Mistryl yelled, rushing at him with her vibrode.


    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.¡±


    <em>And the Seppies don¡¯t? </em>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 rece the negative numbers on their datapads.


    ¡°Well,¡± Anakin rubbed his face as reality settled in, ¡°Shit.¡±


    Ventress escaped his clutches, <em>again. </em>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 seed in that endeavour, however, Anakin had no way of knowing right then.


    He punched a bulkhead in frustration. <em></em>


    <em>¡°Kriff!¡±</em>


    And the bulkhead crumpled.


    ?


    Pain was no stranger to Ventress, but Anakin Skywalker had a way of making her forget that immunity she <em>thought </em>she built up over her tenure as Dooku¡¯s premier apprentice.


    Sprawling against the polish steel panelling of the Mistryl gship, Ventress could scarcely recall her own pride and dignity as she clutched at her throat, her one remaining hand desperately wing 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.


    <em>¡°Pick her up,¡± </em>a female voicemanded, 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 rtively intact as well. Ventress tried to take in a breath¨Conly toe 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.


    <em>¡°Kriff¨C losing her!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Get her¨C bacta¨C codes!¡±</em>


    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 openingpartment sted her with the fresh, sterilised scent of cleaning chemicals and bacta. <em>Medbay, </em>she realised hazily.


    Shadows swam in and out of her vision. She felt herself being dropped onto a bed, followed by the soothing wetpress 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.


    <em>¡°W-wha¨C?¡±</em> 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¡¯smand codes.¡±


    <em>No! </em>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 gxy¡¯s grand ns. Whereas once she believed she was a critical piece of Dooku¡¯s vision of a better gxy¡­ she now realised she was utterly expendable.


    Naradan herself said she only needed either the <em>Banshee, </em>the Storm Fleet, or Asajj Ventress herself. If Ventress gave away the one thing that still made her <em>valuable, </em>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 <em>live, </em>Ventress?¡± Naradan hissed mere inches from her face, ¡°Then give us the codes! We need the Storm Fleet to <em>escape</em>! 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.


    <em>Hah¡­ Dooku. What was it you said about these battlecruisers? </em>Ventress thought humorlessly. <em>And yet, they are so easily struck down by Anakin Skywalker. Bringing them against the Battle Hydra would be little more than an borate method of suicide.</em>


    ¡°What¡­¡± it took her every effort to speak, her vocal muscles flexing and somehow <em>scraping, </em>and Ventress could feel blood pooling at the back of her throat from thecerations caused by Skywalker¡¯s grip, <em>¡°...what is to be of me?¡±</em>


    ¡°Dooku might have thought you expendable,¡± Naradan quickly said, ¡°But you are crucial to the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s ns. In that, you have my word.¡±


    ¡°The word of a¡­ mercenary.¡±


    ¡°The word of a <em>Mistryl Shadow Guard.</em>¡±


    Ventress silently reached into thepels of her suit, and drew out the thin, tiny chip in shaking hands.


    <em>¡°Thank you,¡± </em>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 hypene.¡±


    Her arm drooped, thest 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; <em>Geonosis.</em>¡±


    <em>Geonosis. Geonosis. </em>


    The name rang over and over in her head like a bell.


    ¡°Sleep well, Ventress.¡±


    <em>Dooku, </em>Ventress felt her consciousness slipping from her grasp, <em>you should have killed me twice.</em>


    As she inserted the control codes into <em>Sharihen¡¯s </em>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 toy 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 Neb, 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 seeded.

 Chapter 61

    <em>Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System</em>


    <em>Harrin Sector</em>


    Admiral Wullf Yren did not hesitate, even as Tallisibeth was frozen in her own surprise, and hismand came as decisive as swift as a lion¡¯s roar.


    <em>¡°All ships!¡± </em>the Admiral shouted, ¡°Flip and burn! Divert all power to dorsal attitude thrusters! Watch our portside shields!¡±


    Three orders in quick session, but each and every one rife with purpose. The first order¨C<em>¡¯flip and burn¡¯</em>¨Cto slow down the rear-heavy Star Destroyers before they could strike the oing minefield, and the second order to have the fleet dive under the obstacle at the same time. Thest and final order, to maintain strict vignce 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 <em>downwards </em>so as to avoid collision altogether. She had a second to wonder why ships almost always sought to <em>¡®dive¡¯ </em>down instead of <em>¡®climb¡¯</em> 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 hastilyid 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 me, and explosions rippled down their lengths, copsing 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 session, 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 <em>Harbinger </em>to be rocked by debris and secondary explosions.


    The entire bridge instinctively ducked as mes unfurled overhead, like fingertips brushing their heads as the rest of the Open Circle passed underneath the minefield rtively untouched. With a second flip, the entire fleet was once more well on its way towards the Twentieth Armada.¡°Anomalous action 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 ying tricks on her mind.


    ¡°Bring our heaviest cruisers to our port nk, in line ahead,¡± Yrenmanded 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 <em>her </em>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 Yren had grownfortable being in the presence of Jedi abilities, and had epted them as another integral facet of the fleet hemanded. It stood to reason, then, Admiral Yren knew from the moment they made the decision to return to Yag¡¯Dhul that some greater power was in y one way or the other.


    ¡°They are¡­¡± Tallisibeth swallowed, eyeing a nearby disy as she gathered her bearings, ¡°Bearing two-nine-six, rtive to Yag¡¯Dhul. I don¡¯t know the range.¡±


    Admiral Yren narrowed his eyes, and confirmed his long-standing suspicions. Bearing 296 was directly on the opposite side of the, in the blindzone of the Open Circle Fleet. Unless the girl had ess 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 <em>main </em>Separatist fleet?¡± Admiral Yren asked again, just to clear the inherent distrust he bore for the esoteric energy.


    <em>Is it? </em>Tallisibeth echoed the question in her head. <em>What am I looking at? </em>She had touched a me 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 candleme in the distance as a <em>shatterpoint </em>in the Force<em>, </em>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 <em>an </em>answer in the palm of their hand, one they were certain was <em>the </em>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 <em>yes, </em>she had identified the Separatist fleet, she had also <em>erroneously </em>identified the Hydra¡¯s initial target before.


    ¡°All I know¡­¡± the Padawan continued, before frustration could visibly creep onto Yren¡¯s stern visage, ¡°Is that that¡¯s where the <em>Battle Hydra </em>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,¡± Yren marched past the girl, brushing her shoulder with a palm, ¡°I want an update every ten minutes. The rest of you; <em>get plotting!</em>¡±


    ¡°Alright folks,¡± in the Battle Operations Room, the senior navigation officer pped, ¡°We know there¡¯s a hostile division bearing <em>two-nine-six</em>!¡±


    ¡°Range, sir?¡±


    ¡°Where would <em>Swift Justice¡¯s </emst known position be?¡±


    There was one natural conclusion, looking at the astrography of the quaternary system. If the <em>Swift Justice </em>was bearing 296 from the, 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.


    <em>¡°First mark; bearing two-nine-six, mark oh-oh-nine. Range hundred-seventy thousand klicks!¡±</em>


    Precisely ten minutester, Tallisibeth gave the second bearing;


    <em>¡°Second mark; bearing three-one-five, mark oh-four-five. Range unknown!¡±</em>


    ¡°Plot out all possible vectors they could have gone!¡±


    Another ten minutes passed.


    <em>¡°Third mark; bearing three-one-six, mark¡­ three-two-six! Range¡­ around hundred-ten thousand klicks!¡±</em>


    Hearing the report from thems, 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, Yren was keenly aware of the confusion swirling in the girl, and thus gave her a hint;


    Yren folded his arms, ¡°The enemy fleet is bearing three-two-six vertically. Our point of reference is not the <em>Harbinger, </em>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 ne.¡±


    ¡°They are also bearingterally¨Cthree-one-six. What could they be <em>diving under</em>, in this case?¡±


    Realisation dawned on her, and Tallisibeth¡¯s cheeks flushed at such a <em>critical </em>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 <em>two-nine-two.</em>¡±


    ¡°Then it is all but confirmed, is it not?¡± Yren shed a rare, if grim, smile, before speaking into hislink, ¡°Chief, hostiles are bearing three-one-six, mark two-nine-two. Plot it.¡±


    A moment passed¨C


    <em>¡°Fourth mark; bearing three-one-six, mark two-nine-two. Range hundred-and-five thousand klicks!¡±</em>


    <em>That¡¯s right, </em>Tallisibeth realised, <em>if they¡¯re vertically bearing 292, then they must be almostpletely beneath Yag¡¯Dhul¡¯s south pole¨Cwhich is bearing 270. </em>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 oue of the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul.


    <em>But what is it? </em>


    At that thought, Tallisibeth fell back on the one constant she¡¯s had since bing a Padawan, and Jedi Commander: her Master. <em>What would Master Skywalker do? </em>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.


    <em>¡°Stop thinking like a Jedi, Tal,¡± </em>Anakin Skywalker told her,<em> ¡°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.¡±</em>


    <em>So this is what he meant, </em>she thought bitterly; if she had simply consulted the <em>Harbinger </em>before the strategy conference¡­ <em>no, there¡¯s no time to dwell on that. </em>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 Yren 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 ne and hit us from below. I¡¯ve got my active sensors tracking them, though. As soon as we <em>can </em>see them, we <em>will </em>see them.¡±


    ¡°So they¡¯re trying to intercept us.¡±


    ¡°Not much else in-system to intercept,¡± Klev didn¡¯tugh at his own morbid joke, ¡°<em>They </em>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 <em>aren¡¯t</em>?¡± Yren questioned.


    Tallisibeth produced her ownlink, ¡°Battle Room, bridge, can we plot a straight intercept vector from the enemy fleet¡¯sst known position to ours? Can you give an ETA?¡±


    <em>¡°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 fullbat el, they¡¯d be right on top of us¨Cor below us, rather¨Cin fifteen minutes.¡±</em>


    ¡°...Transmit the plots to my datapad, please,¡± <em>¡®Scout¡¯ </em>asked politely, thetent abilities that earned her such a cognomen swiftlying 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 extrapted the enemy direction. She traced the lines again, slowly, one by one, checking for that single crucial piece of the puzzle she <em>knew </em>she had overlooked.


    However¡­ everything appeared to slot nicely. The Battle Hydra had maintained the momentum he rued from defeating <em>Swift Justice </em>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 in their way. Scout rubbed her eyes, half in exhaustion, half in frustration. <em>There had to be something else to it, </em>in this she was utterly adamant.


    <em>Something is off. </em>If Scout was confident in one thing, it was her uncanny ability to detect the slightest details from somethingrge. 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 Yren snapped his fingers, and it was done. Time was ticking, Scout knew¨C<em>fifteen minutes¨C</em>but Anakin Skywalker¡¯s stubborn streak had rubbed off her, and she <em>had </em>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 ne, when they could have simply traversed another 45 degrees ¡®climbing¡¯ instead of ¡®diving.¡¯


    <em>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?</em>


    <em>Unless¡­</em>


    ¡°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¡¯s north pole instead!? What would be their ETA to intercept then!?¡±


    Admiral Yren, 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 <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>sensors locked into ce and sted out just about every wavelength on the electromaic spectrum, Scout blinked around a hundred contacts materialised into being out of the ck.


    ¡°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 <em>they </em>know that <em>we </em>know.¡±


    True to word, the skies over the Open Circle exploded out in hundreds of gleaming sublight drives, thruster plumes zing 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 t, rectangr shape, with capital ships anchored at the centre and corners.


    A picture-perfect Separatist battlettice.


    In a split-second, <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>innumerous disys were ring 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 defencesers while bright-hot res filled the empty spaces between ships until it seemed the formation was set aze 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 Yren 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 y 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 <em>now. </em>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 herlink 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 Yren¡¯s watchful gaze.


    <em>We¡¯re being attacked from above and below. I need something that can leverage the firing arcs of our Star Destroyers¡­</em>


    <em>What about the ¡®Zei¡¯? But that¡¯s only effective in one direction, and will leave our carriers vulnerable¡­ </em>Scout drew out the hypotheticalmand package on her datapad¨C<em>but if we can make use of our battlecruisers¡¯ SPHA-Ts¡­</em>


    ¡°Admiral!¡± Scout gasped, ¡°If we use the Zei formation¨C¡±


    ¡°The Zei is only effective in a single direction.¡±


    ¡°But our battlecruisers have ventral SPHA-T batteries!¡±


    Yren 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, Yren <em>roared, ¡°Hard right, hard over! Bring us around!¡±</em>


    ?


    ¡°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¨C<em>Harbinger </em>herself¨Cwere circling around starboard. Just as the <em>Harbinger </em>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 session, until the ¡®top-most¡¯yer 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 topmostyer and forming a second array of petals, with each ship strategically ced in between the petals of the topmostyer. This time, however, they were ¡®upside down,¡¯ so that their ventral turbser batteries were facing the top.


    All fifty Venators promptly executed such a formation, creating fouryers of petals, eachyer facing alternating directions, with such facility Horgo Shive could conclude some Jedi trick was in y¨Csuch as the one reported to ur at the Battle of Metalorn¨Cor there was a truly skilledmanding officer behind these joint manoeuvres. As soon as the fouryered formation waspleted, the Venators cut their engines, so that they were now driftingterally on their resultant vector.


    Then, toplete the formation, the Open Circle¡¯s escorts speared themselves through the hole in the centre of the formation, organised into a simrly tubr 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.


    <em>¡°They overextended their escorts!¡±</em> Vinoc eximed, <em>¡°We can destroy them piecemeal as we move towards the capital ships!¡±</em>


    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 battlettice at the same time.¡±


    <em>¡°So we destroy them systematically. They are overextended.¡±</em>


    ¡°If we slow down the <em>entire </em>battlettice 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.¡±


    This narrative has been uwfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    There was a brief pause from the <em>Crying Sun, </em>likely as Vinoc analysed the enemy formation once again¨C <em>¡°And if we attempt to bypass the spindle, they can attack our nks with impunity. We¡¯ll be forced to decide whether to defend against the spindle or the petals.¡±</em>


    ¡°It seems so. They¡¯ve outnked us without nking us.¡±


    Commodore Vinocughed, <em>¡°Then we¡¯ll revert back to the spindle formation as well.¡±</em>


    Horgo nearly doubled over in surprise, ¡°What?¡±


    <em>¡°No¨C ¡®spindle¡¯ isn¡¯t the right word for it,¡± </em>Vinoc mused, <em>¡°What about ¡®tube¡¯? We¡¯ll form a tubr shape that sheathes right over the Republic¡¯s spindle. That way we canpletely destroy the spindle, and if the Venators attempt to fire back¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°They¡¯ll also be shooting at their own ships,¡± Horgo finished, eagerness gleaming in his ck eyes once more.


    <em>¡°Inform the Givin. Tell them to alert the Third Division to the Republic formation,¡± </em>Vinoc said, <em>¡°We can pin them here, while Rain and Diedrich devise a strategy to cripple them. We¡¯re going on the attack.¡±</em>


    ?


    Scout could¡¯ve only watched on in awe as Admiral Yren expertly facilitated the double-Zei 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 battlettice condensing once more into a spindle with an open core.


    The enemy spindle then crashed into Republic spindle¨Cand the Republic spindle all but <em>melted away. </em>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 Yren 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-Zei came into y.


    The secondyer of petals consisted of eleven ¡®upside down¡¯ Venators. In other words, their hangars were facing <em>away </em>from the view of the Separatist forces.


    ¡°Layer B,¡± Yrenmanded 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,ing 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 theirbat 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, twopletely 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 <em>Swift Justice</em> and the <em>Twentieth!</em>¡± someone whooped as explosions bloomed over the viewports.


    ¡°This<strong><em></em></strong><em>is</em> swift justice!¡±<em></em>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 uracy afforded by <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>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,unching a renewed offensive of droid fighter-bombers apanied by a fuside of torpedoes.


    But away from the spindle, the quadruple-ranked envelopes of the double-Zei formation now had them dead-to-rights.


    ¡°All ships: open fire!¡± Admiral Yren 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-Zei exploded out in volleys of superheavy turbser fire and raking charges of energy beam weaponry from their SPHAs. Scout watched on the disys 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 Zei formation had one critical weakness, it was that it waspletely immobile. Just as a constantly evolving formation such as the Whirlwind employed at the 7th Battle of Sullust was unmaintainable, apletely static formation such as the Zei was also unmaintainable, simply for different reasons. The former was due to the limitations of crews and hardware, while thetter was due to the evolving nature of a battlespace.


    The Zei 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 rtion to each other. Once that rtionship 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 <em>battlettice!¡±</em>


    Scout shared a look with Admiral Yren.


    ?


    ¡°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.


    <em>¡°Strange formation?¡±</em>


    ¡°Aesthetic formation,¡± he finished, marvelling at the tight lines of rtion each Republic cruiser maintained with each other, ¡°Is our battletticepleted?¡±


    <em>¡°Just so.¡±</em>


    ¡°Perfect.¡±


    The battlettice 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 rectangr formation. This battlettice was arranged differently to that of the ¡®2nd Battle Division, with the heaviest capital ships in the centre with sessively lighter escorts fanning out until the edges were anchored by light corvettes.


    The very moment the centremost warships¨Cincluding <em>Chimeratica </em>and <em>Kronprinz </em>themselves¨Cwere directly beneath the Republic¡¯s ¡®downward¡¯ spindle, the entire battlettice erupted forwards as one. Just as urred on the topside of the Zei formation, the Republic spindle crumpled under the onught of the Separatist offensive, <em>Kronprinz </em>leading the charge down the spindle with all the speed afforded to her. The battlettice 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-Zei formation, their hangars simrly 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. Theirrades 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 andttice. 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 gship <em>Harbinger, </em>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 toote. 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 Zei, weaving in and out the corpses of their fellowrades, using their floating bodies as cover to do so. The entire Separatist formation was burning forward now, maintaining that cup-shape as theyunched a renewed offensive towards the Republic centre.


    This way, when the Separatist centreunched its missiles and starfighters, the Republic spindle could not intercept them without being struck at by the Separatist nks with impunity. Rain Bonteri watched on the disy as the 28th Mobile swept into range, rapidly closing the range. He had positioned his ships and positioned his fleet, given hismanders 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.¡±


    <em>Half our fleet is gone. </em>Those five words rang out through the silent pilothouse. Rain Bonteri was unmoving as he judged those words. <em>If they managed to send that transmission, it must mean they are individually fine, </em>he reasoned, thinly hiding his ire from his droid crew, <em>but amander 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!</em>


    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 amander could swallow, whatever the circumstances.


    ¡°So¡­¡± he muttered, furious, ¡°<em>This </em>is the capability of Wullf Yren?¡±


    It was a natural conclusion. Anakin Skywalker was at the Llon Neb, and all Jedi take their Padawans wherever they go. As such,mand of the Open Circle Fleet naturally fell into thep of the ranking officer, Admiral Yren. It was also the <em>correct </em>conclusion. Wullf Yren was a cautious and orthodoxmander, but that also made a skilled organiser and masterful formation fighter. It was only with Yren¡¯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-Zei, without the admittedly effective unorthodox actions and brash impulses of Anakin Skywalker curtailing him, Wullf Yren was in his element.


    This, however, was not the only conclusion the Battle Hydra drew from the loss. One of his heads was not <em>participating.</em>


    ¡°This will <em>not </em>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 samems channel right then, the former Commonality officer would be cringing down to his toes.


    ¡°Tuff, get me a line with the Givinmander!¡±


    ?


    On the visual disy, spots of bright light red as Separatist missiles struck Republic shields. The Open Circle¡¯s shields were firing back, but the <em>Harbinger </em>still quivered from the impacts of weapons on her shields and tallying the damage from an asional hit that had made its way through the screening spindles. That, however, paled inparison to the devastation the Open Circle wasying into the Separatist¡¯s ¡®2nd Battle Division.


    The double-Zei 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 copsing 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, ring and dying around the stronger inds formed by the surviving capital ships.


    ¡°There¡¯s our vector of escape,¡± Yren 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!¡±


    Yren 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 <em>Swift Justice. </em>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,¡± Yren 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 theirbat 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 Neb 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 Zei 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, theplicated expressions and attitudes of the double-Zei modification meant there would be a greaterg in manoeuvres between the sessiveyers, 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 wasgging behind the rest of the fleet.


    As much as Admiral Yren tried to rectify the sluggishness, there was no oveing an inherent weakness of a static formation attempting to move onto one vector. It was thew of inertiaing into y. 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 thest man in the line.


    A standard Zei formation would only have twoyers, but Scout¡¯s modification to it gave it two more. Not simply two moreyers, but two moreyers facing the <em>other way. </em>


    It wasg, that gap, that the Givin Defence Fleet capitalised on. Seventy Givin starships burst out of the atmospheric cloud,unching a flurry of torpedoes at a specific battlecruiser in Layer C<em>. </em>Under that hail of fire, the mighty Republic warship lost its shields¨Cthen took a hit in the wrong ce, and its reactor blew while the ships from Layer D were catching up and gaining momentum.


    The adjacent ship¨Ca carrier called the <em>Brilliant Light</em>¨Cin Layer C was too close. Scout stared at the disy, as the shockwave from the exploding Venator reached out like a great hand pped the <em>Brilliant Light </em>off course and tumbling out of formation. That alone would have been recoverable, if the <em>Brilliant Light </em>hand not so identally tumbled right onto the resultant vector of a fast approaching battlecruiser from Layer D, the <em>Starseeker. </em>


    It was then, that everybody on the deck of the <em>Harbinger</em>¨Cnay, <em>every officer and sensor operator spectating, </em>damn allegiance¨Cknew the Givin had calcted <em>precisely </em>this oue. After all, how else would such an unlikely series of perfect coincidences ur?


    Not even theputerised collision avoidance systems of the <em>Starseeker </em>could avoid the reeling <em>Brilliant Light. </em>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 rtive shelter of <em>Harbinger¡¯s </em>bridge but must have urred at many thousand klicks per second¨Cturned both ships into single titanic ball of heat, light, and outward gases that blossomed like an actual Zei flower in the dark of space, a twin-reactorbustion that within a fraction of a second, annihted up to <em>7,000,000</em><em>tons of hypermatter</em>. For reference, the main reactor of a capital ship such as a Venator would typically annihte <em>four </em>tons of hypermatter for every light-year travelled. The result; a terrible, <em>man-made</em><em>star, </em>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 exmation, 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 <em>violently. </em>


    The three closest warships to the explosion were all but vapourised into rampant gases and superheated g 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 rtive safety of Layer B and Layer A, while the ships in Layer D were shoved <em>down </em>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 <em>Harbinger. </em>Or rather, the events urred so quickly that by the time people were reacting, they were already mostly over.


    Admiral Yren, finally seeming shaken for the first time since¡­ since <em>ever, </em>called outmands to refocus his crew; ¡°Damage report!?¡±


    ¡°N-Nothing got past our shields, sir!¡± a stunned techie bbered 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 <em>advertently </em>sted back towards the Separatist lines were already sting out white g frequencies. They obviously weren¡¯t nning on fighting and dying if they could surrender, and the Battle Hydra has been known to ept 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 veryst moment, but as far as Scout and Yren 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 gued the quaternary system, inadvertently brought them back downrange of the Givin line of battle and made an intercept possible. The Wavecrest-ss frigates all but swam around the battered Republic lines, shing across their deck over and over as the Open Circle continued elerating 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 coulde from the enemy frigates. A massed, alpha strike such as the one that took out <em>Brilliant </em>and <em>Starseeker </em>could not ur again.


    ¡°Fleet hyperdrives are ready and synced, Admiral,¡± Avrey reported, with ack of her usual enthusiasm.


    Yren chewed his cheek, and Scout took onest look at the battlefield. <em>Sorry, General Grant. I made a mistake, and we all paid a dear price. </em>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 candleme over the shatterpoint finally winked out as it burned away thatst of its fuel.


    <em>Sorry, Master Alrix. </em>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 <em>Prominence, </em>a different scene was ying 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 <em>Harbinger </em>wasing to rendezvous with the <em>Prominence</em>, 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 <em>Prominence¡¯s </em>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 mes 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: <em>should they? </em>


    ¡°We can withdraw to another orbital system around a different,¡± 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 <em>actually </em>attempt to engage us if we <em>did </em>withdraw to anotherary body in-system.¡±


    The XO took a single brisk nce at the rebooted disys, 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 hismanding 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 sopletely 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, ¡°<em>We </em>were able to use this system as a supply depot and juncture <em>without </em>capturing Yag¡¯Dhul. If they wished to cripple the Second¡¯s logistics, they would have already done so the moment they drove the anciry ships out of the system, crushed the siege fleet, and turned the orbital supply depot into scrap metal. But no, they <em>need </em>to secure this system <em>totally</em>.¡±


    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 <em>Core?</em>¡±


    It would certainly be sensible. Yag¡¯Dhul sat on the nexus of two hypenes leading into the Gctic 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 <em>both </em>hypenes, 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 itsst legs. They hardly have the operational capabilities to conduct a prolonged,rge-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.¡±


    <em>Fortress world Commenor. The eastern gateway of the Core Worlds. </em>The hearts of every spacer aboard <em>Prominence¡¯s </em>bridge sank as one. If Commenor was the eastern wee mat of the Core Worlds, then the <em>southern </em>wee mat would be the <em>Tapani Sector</em>. If their General was correct, the war wasing <em>home.</em>


    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 umbre of the Gctic Republic. On the opposite side of the Gctic 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 foreignmander. 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 uniquelymanded by Senior Jedi General Ry-Gaul and Jedi General Aa Secura, both of whom were nowbating General Horn Ambigene on the Rimma. The other was of course the 20th Sector Army, which wasmanded 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 <em>over </em>the Gctic Republic. With this in mind, Octavian Grant¡¯s next decision was natural and even expected, if not at all <em>loyal. </em>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 <em>not </em>allow <em>any </em>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 Stance was about to get a whole lot more <em>impossible.</em>

 Chapter 62

    <em>Yag¡¯Dhul Orbit, Yag¡¯Dhul System</em>


    <em>Harrin Sector</em>


    ¡°I am pleased to report that the Republic presence in the Yag¡¯Dhul Star System has beenpletely 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 supplynes.¡±


    ¡°They will undoubtedly target Mstare in order to secure their short-term fuel requirements,¡± the great Harch calcted, 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 Republice,¡± 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 Mstare is their own deaths.¡±


    ¡°What my overzealous adjutant is trying to say, Admiral,¡± the<em> ¡®Tombmaker¡¯ </em>said curtly, as if he was not at all overzealous himself, ¡°Is that we will be expecting the Republic at Mstare.¡±


    ¡°Make sure you do not destroy Mstare with the Republic fleet, General Ambigene,¡± Admiral Trench chuckled throatily, if not a little snidely, ¡°Be aware the Confederacy requires Mstare¡¯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 overmand 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¡­ <em>other endeavours¡­ </em>will be foundcking. It is for this reason I must request additional reinforcements to fill our ranks before the next offensive.¡±I did not point out Operation Stance, because I was unsure if Horn Ambigene was in the know and decided to y 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 gxy 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, d in ck armoured robes and visible signs of supernatural corruption around her eyes, made tantly 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 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 Mstare 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 ck, but the armies of Jedi Generals Ry-Gaul and Aa Secura are making each a quagmire to liberate. In fact¡­¡±


    Wiffa Zett nced 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 Neb, 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 <em>undertaking </em>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 <em>click</em>.


    ¡°Then I will not hear the start nor end of it,¡± Ambigene said, ¡°If there is nothing else that muste 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. <em>Only </em>Ambigene, notably, and I then realised he and Wiffa Zett were not in the same ce 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 do you do it, Admiral?¡±


    ¡°Pardon me?¡±


    ¡°How do 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 eptance 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 mustunch Operation Stance 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 <em>now.</em>¡±


    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 nned, 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¡­ <em>what happened?</em> If you don¡¯t mind my frankness.¡±


    ¡°Something happened in the Kashyyyk System,¡± Trench grimaced, ¡°Something that prompted the Neenth Mobile Fleet to act prematurely. Rear Admiral Trilm had given the Open Circle the slip and struck Commenor.¡±


    Fortress world Commenor. A single hypene route entered the Commenor System from the Rimward side, and <em>four </em>hypene 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 Stance. Because there was only <em>one </em>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¡­ <em>jumped the gun?</em>¡± 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 Neenth <em>immediately, </em>before the GAR can react. Your timetable has been elerated.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ I need to repair my ships!¡± I argued, ¡°<em>Half </em>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 thest seven days. Not to mention they also need to be briefed¨C¡±


    Trench nipped my fretting in the bud, ¡°The Twenty-Eighth is a <em>Mobile </em>Fleet. I do not need your fleet to <em>attack </em>the Republic, I simply need them <em>present </em>in the Core<em>. </em>And I need the Republic to <em>know </em>your fleet is <em>present </em>in the Core. Find some out-of-the-way system and repair there, and lead the GAR on a wild bantha chase with what avable ships you have. At least until your fleet is operationally capable once more. We simply need to take pressure off the Neenth.¡±


    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¨C<em>not brooding</em>, 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 <em>did </em>turn out to be him, I was half-tempted to just withdraw elsewhere and abandon Operation Stance.


    The only reason I was <em>half-</em>tempted was because abandoning Operation Stance 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 n, 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 <em>Sharihen </em>is hailing us, sir,¡± Kavia Slen informed me. It was just Kavia, Tuff, and I in the pilothouse of the <em>Chimeratica </em>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.


    <em>¡°We returned as swiftly as possible,¡± </em>Naradan¡¯s voice greeted us, <em>¡°But I see my fears were unfounded.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 gxy¡­ and more importantly my mental health. Sorry, Anakin, it¡¯s not anything personal.


    <em>¡°You¡¯ve certainly made your mark on the gxy with this one. As for Skywalker¡­ unfortunately not,¡± </em>Naradan replied, <em>¡°That man was a walking nightmare. We ended up using n E.¡±</em>


    I nearly doubled over in surprise, ¡°Dooku <em>actually </em>betrayed Ventress?¡±


    <em>¡°Seems that way. She¡¯s currently recovering from wounds Anakin Skywalker dealt her. Will we now proceed to Geonosis as nned?¡±</em>


    So Ventress was unconscious? I could breathe a sigh of relief. n E meant Skywalker was stuck in the Llon Neb 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 <em>every </em>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 gxy. 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 rm 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 <em>something </em>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 nce 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,¡± Imanded, ¡°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 rm, ¡°Even¡­ even <em>them?</em>¡±


    ¡°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 ce. I don¡¯t see why not.¡±


    Kavia skipped over to Tuff and punched him the shoulder cheerfully, somehow <em>knocking back </em>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 calcting just how much strength was necessary to push him in the first ce, 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 <em>bench press</em> Tuff without breaking a sweat, for that matter, much less snap me in half like a twig.


    ¡°Alright, <em>Sharihen</em>,¡± 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?¡±


    <em>¡°We need to get onto the Harrin Trade Corridor before the Republic cuts it off,¡± </em>Naradan answered as my fifty frigates broke off from her fleet, even as the Storm Fleet continued navigating to the jumpzone, <em>¡°So we¡¯ll have to decline.¡±</em>


    I shrugged, though she wouldn¡¯t be able to see it, ¡°Have it your way. Continue with n E, and send Ventress my regards. Godspeed.¡±


    <em>¡°I might start believing in your God if he promises neverending victory.¡±</em>


    ¡°He promises a final victory,¡± I replied, ¡°It¡¯s aforting thought, where I¡¯m concerned.¡±


    <em>¡°...It is.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    Naradanughed, and it was a harmonious thing, <em>¡°I will have to take you up on that offer¡­ if you are willing to shoulder the tab for my entire squad, that is.¡±</em>


    ¡°If that¡¯s the price for good work. dly.¡±


    I stood up, popping my spine satisfyingly as I did so. Tuff was dispatching orders, and four outdated-looking ships¨C<em>Amanoa¡¯s Wrath, Nausicaa, Gleaming Fey, </em>and <em>Wandering Castle</em>¨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 tinypared 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.


    But that was only one half of it, wasn¡¯t it? Even as Kavia marshalled together <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>marines and organised them into the shuttles, my mind was still filled with half-baked strategies to prate 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. Recalcting probability matrices¨C¡±


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    <em>Holy shit! She actually did it! </em>I pped Tuff in the back, ted, 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 <em>usibly </em>resuscitate and bring back to life. As much as I flirted with the idea ofmandeering 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-ss battlecruiser was simply not worth it.


    As such, that was the state of the 28th Mobile Fleet as its six g officers sat around a sullen table in one of the <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>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 g 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 particr 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 turbser 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 <em>really </em>don¡¯t have the gas.¡±


    I nearly smashed my forehead against the table. The only reason I didn¡¯t do so was dignity.


    ¡°Well <em>why don¡¯t we?</em>¡± I demanded, resisting the urge to pound the armrest of my seat anyway, ¡°The auxiliaries werest resupplied at Sullust! How could you already be out of battle damage repair materials?¡±


    In hindsight, the answer was <em>really </em>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 <em>less </em>battles,¡± Jorm¡¯s answer came like a crashing brick wall regardless, ¡°And taking much <em>less </em>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 <em>rebuild </em>a hundred more is a fool¡¯s errand. You¡¯re better off asking a Hutt for alms.¡±


    One could just here Jorm muttering <em>¡®fucking fools¡¯ </em>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 toy into all of their bucket-headed skulls, I audibly winced. And in the contrite silence of the boardroom, <em>everybody </em>heard me. I could basically <em>hear </em>Jorm¡¯s neck creaking as he turned to stare at me.


    ¡°Anything you need me to know, <em>sir?</em>¡±


    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 me 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 busyzy¨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 ess the Gctic 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 <em>Independence </em>introduces Operation Stance. Take a good look,¡± I didn¡¯t take a good look at their faces, focusing on the papers before me, ¡°Our mission is to prate the Core Worlds, wreak as much havoc as possible, and extract, hopefully with Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s Bulwark Fleet in tow. Now, ourrades in the Neenth Mobile Fleet have alreadyunched 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 contemtive silence, with each officer deeply engrossed with the material before them, even Jorm. Maybe it was the mention of Star Station <em>Independence </em>that quietened them, or maybe it was the mention of our sister formation that went ahead. Whatever the case, I epted 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 hypenes 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 tforms. Thyferra and Mechis-Three are <em>under siege, </em>mind you. Have you seen <em>defence </em>tforms 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 pped 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 <em>supposed </em>to have, and a criticalck of materials to repair any more. So¡­ any ideas?¡±


    A lull in voices followed as the table fell into pensive silence, thepartment 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 Stance been in the works? The originalposition 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 Stance was formted 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 Stance to the Separatist cause means we will be forgiven for operating as if we are in possession of a nk cheque from the CAF?¡±


    I perked up, d 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 <em>ships themselves </em>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. <em>Theoretically, </em>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 andpartments¡­ it¡¯s a quality trade-off we must make for ourck of shipyards; but are Republic warships too?¡±


    We shared nces, 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 sophisticatedponents and military-grade alloys all in one ce. Let¡¯s not ask the stars to blink at ourmand too. What¡¯s more important¡­¡±


    Vinoc fixed his attention to Commander Jorm, <em>¡°Can we really make this work?¡±</em>


    ¡°...It¡¯s going to be inefficient,¡± Jorm said atst, ¡°Dismantling the pressure hull is simple enough, but the internalpartments? It¡¯s not just alloys and bulkheads that make a warship, it¡¯s also the machinery and its vitalponents. 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 hyperdriveponents 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 n 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 Stance 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 Neenth¡¯s designated AO is the Arrowhead.¡±


    The Gctic 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, whichid 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 Enve, 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 exined, ¡°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¡¯vest 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 gxy¡¯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 Givin make their decisions in binary,¡± Horgo exined, ¡°There¡¯s nopromise in their society, because that would meanpromising their decision-making process, which is hard mathematics. There¡¯s no nuance in mathematical equations, only <em>the </em>answer. That¡¯s how they operate on a societal level. Notice how the Givin only came to our aid when we were fighting the Open Circle Fleet, and not a moment before? I¡¯d wager the reason behind <em>that </em>can be boiled down to the gambler¡¯s facy.¡±


    I slowly found myself nodding along, bing convinced of his argument. The gambler¡¯s facy is essentially the oft mistaken belief that a statistically independent event can affect the probability of the next event in a series. For example, consider the repeated toss of a fair coin. It <em>appears </em>logical from afar then should a coinnd on heads five times in a row, it is far more likely for the next toss to result in a tails. This is the facy in action, since each toss is statistically independent, and thus a 50-50 probability of heads or tails each time, as unintuitive as that sounds.


    In the case of the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul, consider each engagement to be a coin toss. There had been four engagements in total, and if we simplify it so that the probability of victory at each one to be 50-50, it could be argued that to achieve victory against the allied Republic fleets, the 28th Mobile Fleet had a one in five chance of winning. Once we defeated the siege fleet, the odds of victory were then one in four, then one in three once we defeated the 20th Armada.


    Improving odds, it appears. That was incorrect. Every engagement we fought was an independent 50-50 percent chance of victory or defeat. Simr to a series of independent coin tosses.


    Following this argument, the Givin <em>only </em>came to our aid once we were on our <em>final </em>of <em>four </em>coin tosses, against the Open Circle Fleet. Because if they came any earlier, they could weigh the coin that one instance, and only that once because the enemy would then adapt to make the coin ¡®fair¡¯ again. If they came in on the <em>final </em>coin toss, however, they could weigh the coin in our favour and can decisively bet on our victory. Which was exactly what urred.


    Obviously the real statistical calculus behind the Mathematocracy¡¯s decision making would be far moreplicated, but for some reason I found myself convinced by Horgo Shive¡¯s theory using the gambler¡¯s facy. Because in other words, it means that so long as we can prove the likelihood of sess was greater than the likelihood of failure, the Givin would be more or less convinced by their own forms 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 calctions that weighed the probabilities of victory and defeat. If we wanted them to participate in Operation Stance, 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-numbinglyplicated mathematical equation. It was rted 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, nk-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 eptance. 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 hypenes to ess to Core Worlds,¡± I pleaded, ¡°Hypenes 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 ce in this very star system. The seventy ships that came to the aid of your fleet are all willing and able to <em>permanently </em>reinforce the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet, and you will realise, that while the Body Calculus is disappointed at theck of care in the nning of this offensive, it is not <em>averse </em>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 orter, the Body Calculus had calcted, the Republic would copse, 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 hase to the conclusion, independently of the Confederate Armed Forces, that the existing Separatist State will copse before the Gctic Republic does,¡± the Givin Senator bluntly dered, ¡°And it is already far toote to avoid such an oue.¡±


    The three of us shared a wary nce.


    Diedrich was standing a little straighter, hackles raised, as if he had been personally threatened by the prediction, ¡°So¡­ both states will copse?¡±


    ¡°Correct. What matters now is not when¨Cthat has already been determined¨Cbut rather <em>why, </em>and <em>how,</em>¡± the Senator said dispassionately, ¡°This operation¨C¡±


    ¡°Operation Stance,¡± I provided.


    ¡°¨COperation Stance is a method of changing <em>how </em>the Republic copses,¡± 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 <em>here </em>and <em>now, </em>¡°How do we get the vote to pass?¡±


    ¡°Incorrect question. The vote <em>will </em>pass. The correct question is <em>how long will it take to?</em>¡±


    For a moment, confused silence hung in the air. I was <em>pretty </em>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 calcting how to make Operation Stance a sess,¡± the Muun muttered to us, ¡°So that ording to their probability models, they have no choice <em>but </em>to pass the vote.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Scoritoles heard him anyway, ¡°Currently, the Givin-Paigun Probability Calculus suggests that Operation Stance has a forty-six percent chance of seeding as per the objective of facilitating the copse of the Republic state in rtion 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 <em>feel </em>the Givin¡¯s urge to say <em>¡®incorrect.¡¯ </em>


    ¡°...Correct,¡± I almostughed 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 oues.¡±


    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 calctions of the Givin.¡±


    I wordlessly transferred the Senator an ess grant to the PRIESTESS Network. Thework that oversaw every encoded transmissioning in and out of Coruscant. It was a virus, self-replicating and quasi-sentient, spreading through the airwaves and S-threads to every GAR-administeredmunications 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 <em>definitely </em>doesn¡¯t trigger any red gs about artificial intelligence and <em>definitely </em>won¡¯te to bite the entire gxy 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 arge data set to build their probability model¡­ there was nonerger 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-ss frigates, an attached engineer corps, and a hypene route through the Deep Core.¡±

 Chapter 63

    <em>Commenor Approach, Commenor System</em>


    <em>Quellor Sector</em>


    ¡°Standby for hyperspace extraction on my mark,¡± TX-103 said, ¡°Extract in ten¡­ nine¡­ eight¨C<em>!?</em>¡±


    The 19th Mobile Fleet,posed of seven sub-divisions virtually identical to their sister fleet, exploded out of hyperspace in multi-peaked shes of Cronau radiation just 180,000,000 klicks outside the hyper-limit of the star Commenor-A caused by its gravity well. rms wailed throughout the <em>Star of Serenno </em>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 of unknown scope,¡± TX-103, ¡®Tex¡¯, evaluated, ¡°All ships are to submit preliminary damage reports!¡±


    It was a phenomenally advanced piece of technology, interdictions were, but Rear Admiral Calli Trilm was unable to appreciate it properly as she fought the mind-wrenching, stomachshing dizziness the crash extraction sent smashing through her. She heard others on <em>Star of Serenno¡¯s </em>g bridge retching and knew hundreds of thousands of spacers throughout the fleet were doing the same. Even in her nausea, however, Calli Trilm¡¯s calcting 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 aspletely 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 avable 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 disys through her fugue. To her silent distress, she realised there were organic casualty numbersing in along with the expected engineering and astrogation reports. <em>Click. Click.</em>


    ¡°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¡¯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 alreadyunching repair drones while the fleet wed its eleration 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,pletely 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 the Loyalists have erected here, especially after the Pantoran¡¯s Sarapin Campaign. Still, she had not expected the Commenori interdiction array to be so¡­ <em>thorough.</em>


    Now, however, all prioritiesy in getting their hyperdrives back online¨Ca difficult feat for any other fleet that <em>didn¡¯t </em>possess six auxiliaries tending over it like an obsessive coven of fairy godmothers¨Cand escaping the Commenor; the much harder task. After all, the CAF had no hard data on the Commenor, 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. <em>Theoretically.</em>


    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 exin: there were two main types of interdiction arrays; those centred on <ems, </em>and those centred on <em>suns. </em>Simrly, there were two main types of fortress worlds; those that prioritised protecting the <em, </em>and those that prioritised <em>blocking </em>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 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 <em>maintain </em>the interdiction uplink, and a peculiar trait of interdiction technology is that it <em>does not discriminate</em>.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    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 <em>supposed </em>to see them. That was the entire point of pairing Operation Stance 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 rtive,¡± the tactical droid gave her the brief as he had down a thousand times before, ¡°Velocity is three-thousand KPS, with the fleet maintaining eleration of a five-hundred gravities until. On current eleration 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 disy. The Commenor System was host to a number ofs, but none as brightly lit and populous as Commenor. The 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 ndly, ¡°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 ande 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 nced 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 <em>Obi-Wan Kenobi.</em>¡±


    ¡°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.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    ?


    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 backside, and now he found himself aboard <em>Anteluma Terminal, </em>the Commenorian Navy¡¯s rtively 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 <em>Anteluma-T, </em>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 nted in his chair. Partially out of pride; in thepartment filled with pilots, he didn¡¯t want to show weakness; and partly out of responsibility. After all, he <em>was </em>amissioned officer, one gained by his own merits¨Cdespite what his family¡¯s detractors would im¨Cand he had men under hismand. Men he would be leading out in the ck.


    Once they found out what the hell for, that is. Because they don¡¯t tell you <em>why </em>you¡¯re summoned, only that you <em>were </em>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 thepartment, and she was a Jedi General, because she was wearing those baggy drapes over the ck bodyglove he could see peeking out at the corbone and hands. <em>She was a pilot too, </em>Vrad realised, <em>and will be flying with us. </em>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 vi-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 xons roaring across the multimegaton <em>Grade V </em>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 <em>us¨C¡±</em> her gaze swept over them again, sharpened into daggers, ¡°<em>¨C</em>as 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 thest 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.


    Thest 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 was nted in the star system. Commenor was ¡®gifted¡¯ twenty new orbital battlestations, including two brand new <em>Grade V </em>tforms. The Commenorian Navy had suddenly found itself in possession of Star Destroyers to bolster its existingplement of Dreadnaughts, thenter 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 Gctic 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, <em>¡°Thirty-eight hundred thermonuclear warheads.¡±</em>


    ?


    <em>¡°Open Circle¡¯s right behind us,¡± </em>Commander Rel Harsol¡¯s warning came like a thunderbolt, his 192nd Strike Division acting as their rear picket for the time being, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    The 19th Mobile Fleet was making a retrograde burn below the sr ecliptic, the star of Commenor-A so close ¡®above¡¯ them its sr res 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 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 <em>Star of Serenno, </em>Aviso of the <em>Bronze Serpent </em>had his own situation report to make;


    <em>¡°They¡¯reing out,¡± </em>Commodore Aviso informed.


    ¡°Strength estimates?¡± she asked.


    <em>¡°Still too far out for any positive count, Admiral, but it looks like they¡¯re in considerably lower strength than predicted,¡± </em>he told her seriously, <em>¡°We can confirm six to eight capital Star Destroyers, thanks to their drive cones, and an unknown number of Invincible-ss and Dreadnaught-ss heavy cruisers.¡±</em>


    ¡°Shoot a hard number, Aviso.¡±


    <em>¡°...No more than two-hundred ships.¡±</em>


    Calli Trilm frowned, ¡°We¡¯re staring down a <em>fortress world, </em>Aviso. Unless the GAR and CAF have different definitions of ¡®fortress world,¡¯ I¡¯m certain there should be more ships than this.¡±


    <em>¡°I did say they¡¯re out in lower strength than expected,¡± </em>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, <em>¡°Will this affect our battle n, Rear Admiral?¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°What¡¯s to say they won¡¯t just raise their shields and let us slide on by?¡± </em>Rel Harsol asked, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    The GAR would not allow Commenor to reenact what urred 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¡¯sary shields remained down.


    <em>¡°Dark stars, Admiral,¡± </em>Aviso reported two hours into their 800G retro-burn towards Commenor, <em>¡°There¡¯s twenty orbital battlestations sitting on the jumpzone.¡±</em>


    ¡°Make?¡±


    <em>¡°Ten Grade-Threes, eight Grade-Fours, two Grade-Fives.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 mostmon in the gxy, having been in widespread use¨Cat least, amongst the most affluent worlds¨Cbefore the war even began, and they were <em>ten kilometres wide. </em>Ten kilometres of fighter bays, turbser ranks and missile pods. Grade IVs had been introduced sometime during the Separatist Crisis,ing in at twelve klicks wide.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Grade V battlestations? She hadn¡¯t seen one before, but she could imagine two Mandator-ss star dreadnoughts welded together rear-to-rear and decided that might as well be urate.


    <em>¡°They¡¯re being tugged into key positions around the fleet,¡± </em>Aviso observed, not quite answering the question, but giving just enough, <em>¡°...Admiral, those Grade-Fives are fifteen klicks wide on my scopes.¡±</em>


    ¡°The GAR must¡¯ve spent a fortune on them,¡± Calli murmured, ¡°Maybe we can start here¡­¡±


    <em>¡°There¡¯s another thing, sir. We¡¯re picking up thirty to forty ships orbiting one of Commenor¡¯s moons, Folor.¡±</em>


    ¡°A nking force?¡±


    <em>¡°Unlikely. At zero intercept, Folor would still be behind the enemy fleet. Furthermore, they¡¯re cold.¡±</em>


    Calli Trilm pursed her lips. Commenor <em>was </em>a bustlingmercial 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 y out as nned, they would not be a factor even if they were reserve warships.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    ¡°We shan¡¯t have to worry about them. But keep an eye out for any movement.¡±


    <em>¡°Understood, Admiral.¡±</em>


    ¡°Harsol,¡± the Rear Admiral then snapped in a sharp, clipped tone, ¡°Any sign of the Jedi?¡±


    <em>¡°None whatsoever.¡±</em>


    ¡°Tex, velocity and range?¡±


    ¡°Eighteen-thousand KPS, range from zero-intercept with the is twenty-million klicks.¡±


    ¡°Mark and match velocity fleet-wide,¡± Calli Trilmmanded, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Not with those battlestations we aren¡¯t, Rear Admiral,¡± </em>Aviso warned as the xons red.


    ¡°Who said anything about those battlestations? I want my <em>Railguns</em>, Aviso!¡±


    Aviso¡¯s single eye widened, and then narrowed into a sliver, ¡°Understood, Admiral.¡±


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    ?


    Jedi General Olge vi-Dol watched as the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada came in hell for leather, zing through space at some 20,000KPS and not slowing down, and she did not me them one bit. It was <em>the </em>Open Circle Fleet, after all, hot on their heels, invisible to both of them if not for the Commenor ACS¡¯s sensor giving Olge a full view of the star system.


    <em>All we have to do is hold them back for a couple hours, </em>she thought nervously, <em>we can do that, right? </em>


    In truth, Olge possessed a personality far removed from the front she put up. She was a young Jedi Knight, not so different from thete Rees Alrix, if not for the fact that she was never an <em>officer. </em>Olge was a Jedi healer, a battlefield medic, and never trained or even suited formand. She had neither an authoritative voice nor amanding 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, sterfire and artillery thunder booming overhead. It was in the worst of times where her skills and talents shone, as morbid as it was.


    <em>But this isn¡¯t the Battle of Argul anymore, </em>she thought, and she hadn¡¯t the umbre 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 y, 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 gxy 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 <em>Anteluma-T, </em>she locked her eyes resolutely on her plot. The thought of the political circumstance way over her head, after all, was far and away unimportantpared 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 themerce that poured through the star system daily, and she shivered.


    If the Separatists defeated them here, they will destroy every instation in orbit of Commenor and her two moons. Commenor could raise herary 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 ur. Not just from her side, but <em>their side </em>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 vi-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. Secondster, a key was turned, and the surface of Commenor glittered with twelve-hundred shes of light, an entire continent burnished with golden rays up to pierce the atmosphere, wide-open silos smoking like discharged sters. 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¡¯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.


    <em>Die quickly, and let this be a mercy for both of us.</em>


    ?


    <em>¡°Holy mother of meteors,¡± </em>Rel Harsol was breathless, <em>¡°They must¡¯veunched an entire hemisphere¡¯s worth of missiles at us.¡±</em>


    Rear Admiral Calli Trilm felt her heart spasm for the second time that day as her gship¡¯s scopes screamed out the existence of the thousand or so missiles dotting the plot.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    <em>Evasive action! </em>She wanted to shout, but she <em>couldn¡¯t </em>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 <em>six standard hours</em> 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 warheadsing 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 onlyunched 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 ck! 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 iing 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 ce like a fireworks disy 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 iing missiles would be unable to prate, 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 iing 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 ck left and right. But it wasn¡¯t enough, nowhere near enough. And then the missiles were so close the <em>screens themselves </em>were moving in to intercept them, entire frigates and corvettes preemptively throwing themselves onto the iing vectors and sacrificing themselves to shield the capital ships behind them. Entire crews submitting the worth of their lives to the sess 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 gship on her starboard nk. The missile had crashed bow-first, the resulting shockwave peeling awayyers of the battlecruiser¡¯s hull not dissimrly 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-defencesers 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. <em>They had already won.</em>


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    <em>¡°We¡¯re within effective range, Admiral!¡± </em>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!¡±


    <em>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.</em>


    As one, the forward ranks of the 19th Mobile Fleet peeled back, pushing out towards the nks 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 disys spasmed, shooting heavenwards, though the system was able to capture a snapshot at time of release; <em>1,749,155Gunch eleration. </em>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 <em>something </em>had happened¨Cno doubt their scopes must be ring rms all over the ce too¨Cbut not nearly enough time to <em>respond. </em>Countermissilesunched desperately, andser clusters trained onto the iing 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 <em>virtually </em>1.12 times the speed of light, a furious prative explosion roaring out the far side of the mass. Indeed, within a fraction of a second, all of Aviso¡¯s missile clusters hadunched 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 <em>1.12c</em>, 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 tounch 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 <em>folded space </em>in front and <em>expanded space </em>behind the projectile respectively. As such, the proton warheads were not travelling any <em>faster </em>than lightspeed¨Conly a significant fraction of it¨Cmerely travelling a much <em>shorter distance </em>due to the ¡®warped space¡¯ created by the tractor beams. This was, however, enough to sell the illusion to the <em>Star of Serenno¡¯s </em>scopes¨Cwhich existed in ¡®unwarped space¡¯¨Cthat the warheads were superliminal, thanks to rtivity. Thus the operative word <em>¡®virtually¡¯ </em>in ¡®<em>virtually </em>1.12 times the speed of light.¡¯


    This exnation 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. Instead, the missiles essentially disintegrated upon impact with the upper atmosphere, copsing into atomic particles which themselves flung outwards and struck adjacent air molecules with enough force to trigger<em> nuclear fusion reactions</em> and rapidly expanding shells of superheated sma. The 19th Mobile Fleet could only look on in scarce shock and awe as dozens of short-lived fusion chain reactions tore across the, massive white trees of degrating vapour blooming out in mushroom forms visible from space, apanied 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 itsary shields to prevent any more damage. Nothing was getting in, and more importantly, <em>nothing was getting out.</em>


    <em>¡°HAHAHAHAHA!¡± </em>Rel Harsol all but screamed, <em>¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!¡±</em>


    Calli Trilm suppressed a smile. She will have to have a little discussion with Harsol aboutmunications discipline, but she didn¡¯t at all feel like detracting from the moment. Hard to do so, after all, when her entire gship was <em>vibrating </em>with all the stomping and raucous cheers of her crew.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    ¡°Sitrep, Aviso?¡± she toggled thems, ¡°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 simtions they had done, there was not a single instance the fleet came away withoutsting injury from performing such an act.


    <em>¡°Five of my capitals came away with internal failures,¡± </em>Aviso was much calmer inparison, though Calli could still hear his bridge crew in the background, <em>¡°But the failsafes we installed that isted 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.¡±</em>


    That was Aviso-speak for <em>¡®if we hadn¡¯t installed those failsafes, half our fleet would have been kriffing vapourised¡¯ </em>but Calli took his word for it. They were only nning 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 <em>literally gone</em>, and another five were effectively out of action. Not to mention all the escorts and cruisers lost Commenor¡¯s missile barrage. A brisk, pained nce at the sitrep all but confirmed that nearly a <em>third </em>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 avable.


    <em>Gnifmak Dymurra, you better not screw this up! </em>Calli had invested <em>a fortune </em>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 ce for the birth of the first functioning <em>gravitic wavegun</em>.


    ¡°Very good,¡± she nodded in blissful satisfaction, despite their heavy losses, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    As the Commenorian Navy withdrew from the stzone and reformed, the 19th Mobile Fleet took the opportunity to deflect their course onto a tangential vector rtive to the, 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 turbser bolts.


    Unwilling to lose any more ships, the Rear Admiral ordered a hasty escape, her fleet mounting their eleration once again as they zed towards the interdiction field¡¯s hyperlimit. Calli Trilm watched as the Commenorian Navy opted not to pursue, content to leave that to the iing 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 <em>Grade Vs. </em>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.


    <em>Click. Click.</em>


    Hourster, 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 hypenes 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?¡±


    <em>Click. Click. Beep!</em>


    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 GARwork 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 disy.


    <em>[PRIESTESS] HANDLER ONE UPLINK ESTABLISHED</em>


    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 youmand.¡±


    The answer was, of course; <em>all of them! Good luck guessing where I¡¯m going when I¡¯m going everywhere, Kenobi! Eat stardust!</em>


    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 <em>four different vectors</em>. 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.

 Chapter 64

    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    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 spywork was just that; <em>personal. </em>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 <em>around </em>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 <emfortable. </em>Comcent. Comcent with the stagnation of the Jedi Order, andcent 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 <em>¡®discovered¡¯ </em>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 spywork.


    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 bing a legend was that you became <em>legendary, </em>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 <em>obviously </em>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 herwork. Because <em>obviously </em>the Jedi Council, led by Master Yoda, would have forced her to shut it down. So she kept her head low, quietly expanding herwork throughout Coruscant under the guise of eptingside 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 <em>modus operandi. </em>When Jedi were dispatched for peacekeeping missions, the idea was to talk first and solve the problem <em>diplomatically, </em>and if that failed, out came the lightsabers. It was simple and direct. But out of sight, Gallia took it one step further¨C<em>to deal with the problem before it ever came to the table of the High Council. </em>Thus saving the trouble and the effort. By then, her intelligencework had grown sorge 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 cumtive evils in the gxy. Until a single Jedi Master reached his breaking point, and dered the founding of the Separatist State in a fiery speech over Raxus Prime. And hundreds of Padawans, Knights, and Masters flocked to his cause, <em>his alternative, </em>because they had been chafing beneath Yoda¡¯s shadow for so long just waiting for someone to have the guts to <em>point out the stench.</em>


    It was only in the zing fires of the Clone Wars, did her personalwork burgeon into <em>Jedi Intelligence </em>out of necessity. Especially since Republic Intelligence remained less than forting about sharing what they knew with the Order. For Adi Gallia, it meant an explosion of managerial affairs to upy 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 herlink, the cheerful chime muffled by her flowing robes.


    ¡°Gallia speaking.¡±


    <em>¡°Are you alone?¡± </em>was the first thing she heard in Bode Akuna¡¯s voice.


    Adi Gallia nced 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.¡±


    <em>¡°Admiral Trilm just invaded the Core Worlds. The Commenorian Navy was unable to stop her.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°...And the Battle Hydra is missing?¡±</em>


    There was a serious undertone that made Gallia pause, ¡°...Missing is one way to put it.¡±


    <em>¡°...I see. I want to confirm something.¡±</em>


    ¡°What is it?¡± the Jedi Master skillfully manoeuvred through the traffic, ensuring nobody got close enough to enter her Force bubble.


    <em>¡°Where was Anakin Skywalker at the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul?¡±</em>


    ¡°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. Amanding Jedi General, <em>abandoning </em>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 ring tempers. Because a victory <em>was</em> expected; <em>three </em>battle fleets against a single Separatist task force? The very <em>idea </em>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, oneparable to the Battle of Christophsis. <em>Fortunately, </em>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 Yren¡¯s AAR came, and merely mentioned the victory at Llon Neb 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 <em>terrifying </em>prediction, for a southern invasion would mean the monster known as the Tombmaker was about to be unleashed upon the Gctic Interior.


    Regardless, Admiral Yren 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 <em>really </em>was during the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul, <em>for now. </em>


    <em>¡°...I need the truth this time, Master Gallia,¡± </em>Bode Akuna said urgently, <em>¡°I need to know whether we''re dealing with a credible threat or not.¡±</em>


    Gallia¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°Is this Republic Intelligence knowledge?¡±


    <em>¡°From an apparently reliable source. But I need to know whether it is a threat to us,¡± </em>Bode put heavy emphasis on the word <em>¡®need.¡¯</em>


    ¡°Where does it say Skywalker was?¡±


    <em>¡°...Llon Neb.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>¡°...No point. It¡¯s already been disseminated,¡± </em>he replied hesitantly, <em>¡°I¡¯d only be raising suspicions. Master¡­ this means¨C¡±</em>


    ¡°I know what this means¨C¡± <em>concrete proof Republic Intelligence had a mole in the Jedi Temple, </em>¡°¨Cjust tell me the codename of the threat.¡±


    <em>¡°...Republic Intelligence calls it the Delta Source.¡±</em>


    ¡°Copy. Keep an eye on it, but don¡¯t try to intercept unless it¡¯s especially damning for the Order. I trust your judgement.¡±


    <em>¡°Got it. I¡¯ll try to dig up any leads on the Delta Source in the meantime.¡±</em>


    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 <em>Delta Source </em>before the news got into the hands of the Republic Navy. <em>That </em>was a mercy, no matter how small. Less than ideal, but Gallia could now at least <em>prepare </em>for the debate and set up a credible defence, rather than be blindsided in the courts.


    What concerned her more was just how <em>rooted </em>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. <em>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. </em>She mentally indexed the Delta Source away for ater, 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 prate 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 weed into the Chancellor¡¯s Office by the pale white visage of Sly Moore, she came face to face with her prime suspect¨C


    <em>Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself.</em>


    It was hard to believe such an audacious im, even as the person who made the im, 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 <em>Battle Hydra </em>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 nkness¡¯, 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 <em>once </em>before in thest century in the form of the son of a fallen Jedi, who went by Granta Omega.


    It took <em>eight </em>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, particrly if it was a <em>strong </em>Force-sensitive, not dissimrly 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 <em>Battle Hydra</em>¨Cor simply by keeping journals or notes as an amnesiac would. But to do that, one would have to first <em>recognise </em>the importance of such a void-like individual in the first ce.


    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 Jedimanded 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 <em>¡®Rain Bonteri.¡¯ </em>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 Sha Paige-Tarkin, Jannie Ha¡¯Nook, Mon Mothma, Canny Bertar, and Bail Organa.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°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 <em>as we speak!¡± </em>she yelled furiously, at Armand Isard in particr, ¡°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 <em>intelligence, </em>Senator, not orders. After the Sarapin Campaign, we have rmended that Commenor be equipped with everything they need to prevent another incursion like this.¡±


    ¡°Evidently, you didn¡¯t rmend enough,¡± Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrmented dryly, eliciting a scoff from Kohl Seerdon, her countryman.


    Ire crossed the Intelligence Director¡¯s expression, ¡°We did not ount 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 <em>twenty </em>Core systems along the Commenor Run and Hydian Way. Or habe you been focused too much on <em>internal </em>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 <em>should </em>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 <em>will </em>root out the Separatist cells that aided the terrorist attack,¡± Armand Isard met her re, ¡°We have already traced the freighter used to ferry the terrorists back to the owner. All that remains is to <em>convince </em>the Separatist cells to tell us who they loaned it to. We <em>will </em>find which of Dooku¡¯s pawns are hiding in the Underworld.¡±


    <em>So that¡¯s your progress on the investigation, </em>Gallia confirmed, <em>and I was right to presume your Temple mole was not Bode Akuna or Iskat Akaris. </em>Good. Time to lead Homeworld Security on a wild goose chase. She had, after all,unched a ck market operation to get contraband lightsabers and Separatist weapons into just about every Underworld cell, warlord, and shadow state she could ess. And thanks to her-spanningwork she had cultivated for <em>decades, </em>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 proiming revolution in the Core Worlds. The picture painted for Republic Intelligence would be¡­ <em>pointed. </em>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-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 <em>let </em>Calli Trilm continue running rings,¡± Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan suggested, almost treasonously, ¡°She will be hard-pressed to find a Core World <em>without </em>aary 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 Chandr 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 spes. Moreover,s may have shields, but they do not extend to orbital and system instations. 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 <em>wants </em>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.ary shields are two-way instations. If nothing can get it, it also means nothing can get out.¡±


    ¡°We need to react,¡± Senator Sha Paige-Tarkin¡¯s hoarse voice was powerful and severe. Ever since the <em>loud</em>¨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 gxy 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¡­ <em>control</em>¡­ 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 Gctic 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 notst 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 mentalndscape. 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 wasposing 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. <em>Two fleets, </em>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 cor, ¡°The Bulwark Fleet had fled to Skako for safe haven and repairs. The Home Fleet is currently cracking open Skako¡¯sary 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 cing 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 poption waspletely Skakoan, and any offworld influence the had was concentrated solely in the hands of the Techno Union. This was the reason all Skakoans in the wider gxy 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 eximed, ¡°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 epting 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, ¡°<em>And she knows it. </em>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 dere her a mutineer, one of two things happen; we dere almost every elite n in the Core traitorous, or she holds the entire Core hostage. Admiral Honor might be <em>hard, </em>but she¡¯s not <em>stupid. </em>She¡¯s only acting the way she is <em>because </em>she has the support of the noble ns.¡±


    ¡°Some of my rtives 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 be a point of contest.¡±


    Once again, Adi Gallia found it equal parts amusing and horrifying how <em>easily </em>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 ns and families. Prominent ns and families whose members and children disproportionately serve in the Home Fleet.


    Because the Home Fleet was meant to be a safe, reservist sinecure. <em>Meant to be.</em>


    ¡°...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 assemge, ¡°Allow me to present my point of view, as a military man. Calli Trilm is wielding irregr warfare to its greatest effect, orchestrating hit-and-fades across the Arrowhead. No single fleet can contend with this. The <em>only </em>solution is <em>constant </em>and <em>consistent </em>patrols of our spes. 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 aplish one, but not both. It was never meant to. The role of garrisoning star systems was <em>supposed </em>to fall upon local system fleets and navies, whilemon patrols remained the responsibility of the national judiciary and military. The recent Reformation Directive introduced by <em>this very office, </em>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 <em>¡®you did this!¡¯ </em>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 regtions and, Force-forbid, <em>rules. </em>It was satisfying to see theireuppance, however, Gallia had to admit.


    Kohl Seerdon whipped around, as if daring someone¨C<em>anyone</em>¨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. <em>Recall the fleets</em>.¡±


    ¡°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 nning Amphitheatre.¡±


    General Seerdon nodded sharply and decisively, ¡°Very good, Chancellor! Now, Director, what of our missing Admiral Bonteri? Octavian Grant ims the terrible Tombmaker intends to invade the Tapani Federation? Surely our Admiral Bonteri would love to apany 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 rece their traitorous one on Coruscant. With Fondor back in Loyalist hands, however, Gallia idly wondered what had be 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 ourst count,¡± Armand noted, ¡°And they are currently fighting both the Second and Neenth Armadas on the Rimma Trade Route.¡±


    Adi Gallia perked up. The League of Tapani Freeworlds was the alliance of the Southern Core¨Cnot dissimr to the Commonality of the Perlemian Trade Route¨Cdominated by andrge 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 pushe 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 Gctic 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 <em>survive </em>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 mentionrge enough to be self-sufficient. They were one of the few polities in the Gctic Republic that could secede without any immediate ramifications, and that made them worth courting, if worsees to worst. It was also an additional boon that Octavian Grant had met the Battle Hydra inbat, 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 upied 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 hisp. 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 dered for the Separatist State. All signs point to¡­ a second fleet has invaded the Core.¡±

 Chapter 65

    <em>Skako Orbit, Skako System</em>


    <em>Bormea Sector</em>


    Captain Jan Dodonna pushed down his unease as his shuttle made the transit to fleet gship <em>Arlionne, </em>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 particrly 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-ss heavy cruiser, and it took all he had not to gawk like a cadet on his first deployment. <em>Arlionne </em>was neitherrge nor menacing¨Cin fact, his own ship the Venator-ss <em>Prudence </em>boasted almost twice her length. But the hollow throats of missileunchers and the ominous snouts of turbsers heavy and light crouched in her open artillery decks betrayed the truth of it. Within thatpact frame, <em>Arlionne </em>possessed an entire battleship¡¯s worth of guns, and with its two massive shield generators and an almostically oversized sr ionisation reactor that bulged out from its hull, she could take on two or even <em>three </em>Venators and beat them all bloody.


    <em>Pocket battleship. </em>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 g from the traditional gship of the Coruscant Home Defence Fleet, after all.


    Regardless, <em>Arlionne </em>was not the Victory-ss 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 andmissioning would be far more extended, stifled by regtions and treaties and all sorts of other bureaucratic devilry. But there was no time for that now. The tempo of construction andmissioning was almost scary, if not even careless, but the <em>reason </em>for such a hurry was enough to convince even the most fastidious of ssification 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 fighterunch 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 toe aboard, officer?¡±


    ¡°Wee aboard, sir.¡±There wasn¡¯t even a pause in the Captain¡¯s stride as he crossed the demarcation line, officially stepping aboard Star Destroyer <em>Arlionne. </em>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 simrly muted corridors, and appreciated how much shorter a distance it waspared to the <em>Prudence. Arlionne¡¯s </em>bridge was a wholly different beastpared to <em>Prudence¡¯s. </em>It was smaller, for one¨Cas a Venator served not just a ship-of-the-line but also amand 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 <em>Prudence </em>found necessary as abat carrier. <em>Arlionne</em> was smaller, more focused, <em>sharper. </em>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 g captain of the <em>Arlionne, </em>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 des to his name were impressive. Which they ought to be. The Home Fleet was now the most modernmand in the Republic Navy, and the Admiralty wouldn¡¯t have picked its g 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 nked and cut off every avenue of escape the old Sullustan had. It was a well-nned 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 thergest 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 <em>pinning </em>an enemy that can appear and disappear at will.¡±


    ¡°They believe we did it for the Bulwark Fleet,¡± g 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 canprehend is that ofrge 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 itsary shields like rain falling upon a stillke. Missiles. Turbsers. The entire Home Fleet was pounding away at Skako¡¯s shields, having seeded the 1st Reserve Armada¡¯s role in that purpose. One might believe a¡¯s shield was homogenous, and they would be wrong. There was no shield generator in the gxy yet powerful enough to epass an entire in its protective shell. Instead,ary shields were more or less aposite of densely packed shield generators all activated to create ovepping shells across the entire surface of a.


    This meant that to break aary 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 insertedside 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 gxy, 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 <em>preupied </em>with kissing Palpatine¡¯s wrinkled toes, they would have advised the delusional old fool <em>against </em>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 singr 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 inmand 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 gship 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 preupied panicking about Empress Teta¡¯s secession,¡± Admiral Honor vexxed, ¡°By a Separatist fleet travelling <em>through </em>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 ying straight into the Pantoran¡¯s hands? This is exactly what she wants.¡±


    Jan looked down, ¡°The Core¡¯s about to be 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 <em>¡®cesspit¡¯ </em>and <em>¡®pit of snakes¡¯ </em>she called home. It had been widely circted on both military and mediaworks 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 ess to all hypene 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 Admiralmanded, ¡°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, shing right against theary shields with a zing flurry of bombs and torpedoes right within the atmospheric purgatory between ck and blue. <em>Prudence¡¯s </em>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 kic 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 urs against warships. Againstary 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.¡¯


    Thetter was Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s n 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.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°The results?¡± Jan asked.


    ¡°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¡­ <em>make it?</em>¡±


    ¡°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¡­¡±


    <em>Doable. This is the best case scenario as far asary shields go.</em>


    ¡°...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 salutester, and Jan joined them at therge holotable.


    ¡°I was just about to submit thetest 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 ess to the hypene registrars. With this, we can plot an elementary chart of all Separatist sightings in the Gctic Interior, and start formting 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 iplete 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 aprehensive 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 hypene, and rather jumping between hypenes in a zigzag motion. But if you ounted for all the different squadrons and ships¡­


    <em>Sector searching. </em>Jan Dodonna almost gaped in awe. He had seen the manoeuvre made before, but never on such a¡­ <emrge scale. </em>It was a search and rescue pattern, usually meant to find missing objects or persons stranded in the ck, 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 equteral triangle.


    The search vessel would continue through the datum point, recreating the series of turns until another equteral triangle was made and it was back at the datum point. The pattern would repeat, ounting for known drift if there was any, until the entire sphere was thoroughly raked.


    ¡°Are the Separatists¡­ <em>searching </em>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 <em>too </em>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 thebined data of every hypene 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¨C<em>Bronze Serpent</em>¨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; <em>Pria, Seyugi, Columus, Thoadeye, Loretto, Samaria, </em>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 <em>apparently </em>random fashion, but not quite upon closer inspection.


    ¡°But¡­ what could she be searching for?¡± Jan mumbled, beforeing to a realisation, ¡°If not¡­¡±


    ¡°Admiral Dua Ningo and the Bulwark Fleet,¡± Admiral Honor confirmed his suspicions, ¡°The Bulwark-ss 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 n, ¡°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 g officer in surprise, ¡°Why not here at Skako, sir? We¡¯ll be dragging Calli Trilm even deeper into the Interior.¡±


    ¡°Bait needs to be <em>believable</em>, 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 <em>smoke them out.</em>¡±


    Jan Dodonna¡¯s stomach dropped. <em>Orbital bombardment. </em>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.¡±


    <em>Not like this. Never like this. Commenor wasn¡¯t even harmed; the explosions all urred in the upper atmosphere, on the edge of space! </em>But Honor Salima was hismanding officer, and while Jan Dodonna didn¡¯t consider himself particrly 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 willy 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.¡±


    <em>If there is a silver lining, </em>Jan thought bitterly as <em>Prudence </em>painted the shield sector for the Home Fleet, <em>it would be that we wouldn''t be razing all of Skako. </em>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 asion. Theary shield grid of Skako was designed as a multitude of ovepping atmospheric containment domes that, from orbit, appeared like one unified surface. But in truth, their ary 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.


    <em>What damnable constion that is.</em>


    <em>¡°All ships,¡± </em>Honor Salima¡¯s authoritative voice boomed, <em>¡°Siege formation! Load proton torpedoes and open fire upon mymand!¡±</em>


    Jan could only watch as <em>Arlionne </em>took her ce 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 pir of violet fire and smoke rained down on Skako like the infernal roar of a sr dragon¡¯s breath. The pir of energy smashed straight into the target, and the shield seemed to <em>buckle </em>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.


    <em>What am I looking at? </em>Jan Dodonna asked himself as even more overly-eager warships moved closely to take their own potshots with torpedoes and turbser batteries. <em>Eight-hundred missiles every thirty-five seconds, </em>he thought, <em>the average rate of fire of a Victory-ss missile tube.</em>


    It took forty-six standard hours for <em>Prudence¡¯s </em>finely calibrated scopes to discover a hole in the shield section. And upon the report of his sensor officer, the Captain of the <em>Prudence </em>struggled with the decision to inform hismanding 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 gship <em>Arlionne </em>was teeming with activity. <em>Prudence </em>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 <em>Arlionne, </em>as fire and thunder ran rampant across the viewports. <em>Arlionne </em>had halted fire now, in order to better focus her fire control. The target? A <em>tiny¨C</em>no more than a couple klicks in diameter¨Chole directly above theside shipyard harbouring the Bulwark Fleet, currently being painted by the <em>Prudence. </em>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, themand 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 ns and families, and this would be their first siege.


    ¡°Vacuum missiles have been loaded, Admiral,¡± g 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 cier scraping across a frozen sea, ¡°You were correct.¡±


    Screed smiled ndly, ¡°We have a history. His conscience weighs heavily, but he is¡­ dutiful.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I require.¡±


    Hands flew over controls, confirming targets, ounting for atmospheric interference, finalising trajectories. In the void, <em>Arlionne¡¯s </em>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 ce, and for a methane-rich world like Skako¡­ specially engineered to exploit the trace oxidizers in theary atmosphere.


    ¡°Open fire.¡±


    There was no ceremony or fanfare or even weight to her words. It was just anothermand. Swift and sharp like an executioner¡¯s axe.


    With a shudder that resonated through the hull, the missilesunched, streaking towards the below, outer shells glowing with the friction of re-entry as they plunged into hazy blue skies. Terrinald Screed impassively watched the disy, as dozens of missiles crashed into the outer edges of the aperture, blooming out in great, but short lived congrations, briefly blinding the scopes. But some made the insertion, and that¡¯s all they needed.


    In the high pressure depths off theary surface, all it took was a blinding sh, 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 bing a weapon as a crushing wave of overpressure that pulverised everything in its path. Buildings crumbled, what little flora there was spontaneouslybusted, and flesh was rendered to ash in an instant. From the surface, it must¡¯ve seemed like the entire world had be a hellscape of fire and thunder.


    But from orbit, such a description couldn¡¯t be further from the truth. The ming atmosphere was just that; <em>mes. </em>Andary shields were designed to withstand much more than that. The inferno was boxed in by the ovepping deflector shells, curling up against the shields like screaming souls trying to escape an urn. And so, there was only one ce left for the fires to go: <em>up.</em>


    ¡°Shields, forward,¡± Admiral Honor ordered calmly. It was unlikely the mes would reach them, but there was no reason not to be careful.


    Skako spat out the inferno, a colossal tongue of me not unlike a miniature sr re bursting through the weakened shields above. Without fuel or oxidiser to burn, however, the re swiftly died out in the void. Energy washed over the fleet, their deflectors bristling as if prickles of gooseflesh hade over them.


    ¡°Prepare for ship-to-shipbat,¡± the Admiral ordered, watching intently for any action from the Bulwark Fleet.


    A great shadow moved within the me, and Honor¡¯s eyes gleamed like a hawk having found its catch.


    ¡°Retrothrusters!¡± she ordered with a sh, ¡°Allow the Bulwark Fleet to pass!¡±


    Dua Ningo¡¯s gship, the battlecruiser <em>Unrepentant, </em>burst out of the inferno first, followed by his Bulwark Fleet, turbsers zing. The Home Fleet returned fire with all its might, its lines ttening 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 aplished, 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 g 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, <em>¡°It¡¯s the hunt.¡±</em>


    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 of armoured troopers and marines, specially equipped to fight in a worldpletely 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

    <em>Empress Teta, Empress Teta System</em>


    <em>Koros Sector</em>


    If there was anything to expect from an essentially blind jump into the Gctic Interior, it was definitely not an affluent Separatist-aligned superpower in the Deep Core. But the Empress Teta Star System was exactly that; <em>seven </em>inhabiteds 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 trantion, 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 <em>heard </em>of Empress Teta before¨Cmyself included¨Cnor did we ever expect Operation Stance to even <em>touch </em>the Deep Core. How could we? We were Outer Rimmers, and the Gctic Core was as foreign to us as the stars to a fish.


    And did I forget to mention the star system was <em>Separatist? </em>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 Gctic Mining Guild. A more or less powerless figurehead beholden to one of the oldest,rgest megacorporations in the gxy. And while Empress Teta was a name I¡¯ve never heard before, by contrast I was <em>very </em>familiar with the Mining Guild. The Guild, after all, dominated billions of resource-rich Outer Rim worlds; it simply never really urred 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 isted 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 <em>was </em>a war because Empress Teta had been upied by a GAR Sector Army.


    I nced out the porthole of my small stateroom aboard the <em>Chimeratica, </em>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 spunzily, the shining golden lines of the capital city Cinnagar cutting concentric circles through her hazy purple atmosphere. Cinnagar was thergest of Empress Teta¡¯s cities, spanning half the globe. From afar, the entire 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 imprability 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 havee 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.


    <em>¡°Chimeratica, Kronprinz,¡± </em>Diedrich Greyshade¡¯s recorded voice started, tinged with a note of pride, <em>¡°The Third Battle Division had pushed all remaining Loyalist elements in-system to the outers, particrly around Ronika and Phoros. We believe they are attempting to maintain a foothold in order to facilitate arger counterattack on reinforcements from Coruscant arrive¡­¡±</em>


    Letting the oral report continue on, I casted my attention towards what was written on the datapad.


    <em>[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.</em>


    <em>[1146 hours] Pursued enemy force to Ronika. Encountered heavy resistance. Weisser Sand and Andraste sustained moderate damage but remain operational.ary instations captured.</em>


    <em>[1855 hours] Engaged the main enemy fleet over Phoros. Heavyary 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. </em>


    <em>[2009 hours] Search and rescue of friendly survivors sessful. 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.</em>


    <em>[2200 hours] Intercepted enemymunications indicating regrouping effort nearoid Keres II. Please advise. </em>


    I closed my eyes, letting the ambient hum of <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>reactor envelop me. That rtive peace continued until the stateroom¡¯s door wasunched open and two heavy metallic footfalls alerted me to Tuff¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Do you rmend 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 <em>Habatok-Two. </em>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 <em>Unicorn, Centaur, Shadow Price, </em>and <em>Anemone. </em>Request the Tetan Guard for ten of their Supremacy-ss 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?¡±


    ¡°<em>Rimma Express </em>is currently resupplying over Tryast.¡±


    ¡°Captain Cartroll will rendezvous with the <em>Express </em>at Tryast before reinforcing the Third Division. Notify <em>Kronprinz </em>and inform her that<em></em>she¡¯s allowed to respond to the field at her own discretion.¡±


    ¡°As youmand. 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 hypenes 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 west. 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 gxy of Empress Teta¡¯s secession, raid the agricultural spes, 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 Gctic 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 <em>back, </em>in order to split some of the pressure.


    Because unlike ourrades, we <em>had </em>a way out if things went awry. Right at this moment, the ¡®4th Battle Division under Vinoc was retracing the hypene that took us here, capturing any obscure Republic worlds thatid on it. In fact, ording to his report¡­ his fleet had just discovered a world called Prakith.


    <em>[0530 hours] Discovered mass shadow on Nexus Route, preliminary scans indicate industrialised system at gctic coordinates -44.579, -88.820, -7.393 in grid square K-10. Will extract to investigate.</em>


    <em>[0900 hours] Confirmed hostile star system. Data raid indicates GAR designation ¡®Prakith System¡¯. </em>


    <em>[1402 hours] Launched coordinated attack on outer system instations. Enemy fleet presence confirmed near the third orbital body, designated ¡®Prakith¡¯.</em>


    <em>[1846 hours] Ambushed main enemy fleet. Sessfully neutralised two enemy battlecruisers and four heavy cruisers. Superficial damage taken. Pursuit ongoing.</em>


    <em>[0230 hours] Enemy fleet jumped further south. We have declined to pursue further. Ground forces have been deployed to secure key enemy instations on ¡®Prakith¡¯. Moderate resistance; discovered iplete fortifications and graving docks. Possibly interrupted an ongoing fortress world construction.</em>


    <em>[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.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 south of us and shut the door.


    However, the Mining Guild also told us the vast majority of the 5th Armada went <em>north, </em>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 <em>too </em>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, ¡°...<em>Crying Sun, Chimeratica. </em>Your orders are to hold position andplete 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 sesses 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 g 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 gxy, right under the shadow of the supermassive ck hole of the Gctic Center.


    And most importantly, it was a hermit state that, <em>technically</em>, wasn¡¯t separated from the rest of Confederacy at all. So long as the other end of the Nexus Route¨CYag¡¯Dhul¨Cwasn¡¯tpromised, trade and supplies could <em>technically </em>continue flowing into this new Separatist star sector. You know,ing into this whole Operation Stance, 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 thest of my orders, and prepared to seek an audience with Emperor Alor Keto and his Mining Guild masters to secure furthermitments. 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 fleetmander and not a politician or court noble¡­ <em>cough.</em>


    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 gctic megacorporation. Besides, this branch of the Mining Guild was already as isted 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 iingmunication. Curious, I epted 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 themander of the forces who aided us in the final stages of the Battle of Yag¡¯Dhul, and themander of the seventy Wavecrest-ss frigates the Body Calculus deigned to loan us. Since his frigates were most useful as scoutships, as soon as we made ourselvesfortable at Empress Teta, Illiet had taken his division¨Calong with most of our intelligence frigates¨Cto trailze alternative spes out of the Deep Core, which would prove useful in the case that the Nexus Route ever getspromised 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, copsed hypene 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 hypemunication rys, as there would be no other way tomunicate. In fact, I couldn¡¯t contact Illiet at all, since his fleet was nowhere near any known ry and constantly on the move, not to mention the sheer astrogational chaos of being only 1500 parsecs away from a supermassive ck 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 spes.


    In its current iteration, PRIESTESS was only able to inform us of any iing and outgoingmunique 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 dy¨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 atrge, and ying in the GAR¡¯s backyard meant contending with possibly dozens of minor spes at their disposal but not ours.


    ¡°¨CLeading to a world that only exists in our databanks as <em>¡®Tython¡¯,</em>¡± Illiet continued once the connection was restored, ¡°We advise towing a new hyperspace and hypemunications ry 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¡­¡±


    <em>Hold on. </em>An interdiction checkpoint? On <em>this </em>side of the spe?


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡­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 makingndfall. We require this star system as a forward base to continue trailzing potential spes.¡±


    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 makingndfall 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 rys.¡±


    ¡°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 thoughtparable to a supeputer 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 ourp 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 ount for the political factor. The GAR does not have that much time,¡± Illiet exined, with more than a little haughtiness, but moved on the borate 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 <em>reason </em>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 <em>entire </em>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 onlypound as the Deep Core is brought back into the Tetan sphere of influence, courtesy of Commander Krett.¡±


    <em>Not to mention the sheer loss of face caused by a world as influential and venerable as Empress Teta seceding. </em>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 mylink, ¡°Hare. Please get me a line to Commodore Horgo Shive.¡±


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    ¡°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 regrly 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 ughter 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 gxy. 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,pletely 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 ces. They weren¡¯t alone. The Room of a Thousand Fountains was a ce 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 unavable 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¡¯h trees, a nearby fountain spraying a cool and pleasant mist into the air.


    ¡°Many of these nts and trees were gifted, you know?¡± a husky voice caught her marvelling the garden in amazement, s 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 nted 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 andnguid, 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¡¯h trees. Both were equally ostentatious and beautiful and exotic.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know staff were allowed in here,¡± Barriss admitted.


    If thement bothered the techie, he didn¡¯t show it, ¡°Someone¡¯s gotta take care of the ecosystem in here. You think the Force maintains these nts?¡±


    <em>Yes. </em>Barriss thought internally.


    Heughed, as if having read her mind.


    ¡°The waterfalls and fountains¡¯ gotta keep flowing. The sky¡¯s gotta keep revolving. These nts 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 nts 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 apanying 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 ce¨Conly to find Iskatying 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, reced 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¡­ <em>regrly? </em>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 nced 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 be of the Jedi Order, if the only person who¡¯ll listen¨C<em>actually listen</em>¨Cis an old Selonian techie?¡±


    She deted, 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 titudes in return. And if that doesn¡¯t solve what¡¯s ailing you¡­ well, now <em>you¡¯re </em>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 <em>that </em>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 ttening, and his answer was measured, ¡°Forty years. It¡¯s been a long time.¡±


    ¡°Forty years,¡± Barriss echoed, ¡°Do regr 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 <em>Knight. </em>I didn¡¯t pass the Jedi Trials.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take an empath to sense the whole chest of bitterness that apanied 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 livebat get Knighted.¡±


    ¡°Lot¡¯s of Padawans die,¡± Heezo grunted, ¡°Lot¡¯s of <em>fake </em>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 herp, 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 regrly 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 nced 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 pped his paws and hooked the false panel back onto the walls, insetting it so perfectly Barriss nearly forgot where it was in the first ce. 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¡­ <em>read his mind. </em>Or his emotions, more exactly. Perhaps not exactly the Jedi way, but it <em>was </em>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 rm, 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.


    <em>Something just happened, </em>Barris looked around instinctively, <em>something terrible. Like a million voices screamed out and the universe stopped to listen.</em>


    Heezo nced around, his ears upright and swivelling like a periscope, before he sighed and settled down, ¡°Getting more violent, these things are. I mislike it.¡±


    ¡°Moremon?¡± Barriss inquired, not quite yet so sure of herself.


    ¡°...Well, I like to call ¡®em <em>¡®events¡¯</em>,¡± the Selonian hesitantly exined, ¡°The war goes on like background noise for many of us, but when something so dreadful that could make even the Force <em>flinch </em>happens¡­ we flinch with it. There was a parade of <em>¡®events¡¯</em> 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 <em>¡®event¡¯ </em>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. Herlink. 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 herp as Iskat sat up, rubbing her eyes as she did so.


    ¡°Wee back,¡± was all she said as she pressed down on thelink, ¡°Your friend was nice.¡±


    <em>¡°Barriss,¡± </em>Master Adi Gallia¡¯s voice was impatient, <em>¡°Meet me at the funerary halls.¡±</em>


    <em>Again? I thought that was a one-off thing.</em>


    Barriss nced at Iskat, who was ring daggers at thelink as if it had personally insulted her, ¡°Iskat¡¯s with me. Should I bring her along?¡±


    <em>¡°...If she needs to stretch her legs.¡±</em>


    ¡°I take offence to being treated like a restless dog,¡± Iskat¡¯s gravelly voice said ndly, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    <em>¡°If you want to find out¡­¡± </em>Master Gallia¡¯s voice tailed off¨Cand then cut, leaving the both of them on an ufortable 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 ess 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 <em>against </em>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 imed 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 rified, 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 ce is such a¡­ dreary location?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the only ce 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 <em>listen,¡± </em>Adi Gallia emphasised, ¡°You <em>might </em>just <em>find out</em>.¡±


    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.¡±


    <em>¡°...What?¡±</em> 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 difort 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 ce. 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 eximed, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not good.¡±


    ¡°Do we even have a fleet to take to Empress Teta?¡± Barriss asked.


    ¡°The Strategic nning Amphitheatre had convened an emergency session,¡± Master Gallia exined, ¡°Where Master Plo had requested a fleet to take to Empress Teta. While it¡¯s true he nearly died at Metalorn, it¡¯s <em>also </em>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 fullmand of the task force, and I will only be present in case Admiral Bonteri declines a peaceful discussion, which I doubt would ur. 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 amander, 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 <em>do </em>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

    <em>Outer Los Approach, Recopi System</em>


    <em>Humbarine Sector</em>


    ¡°Right where the Admiral said they would be,¡± Commander Adar Tallon murmured, ¡°So <em>this </em>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 <em>at least </em>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, <em>Prudence¡¯s </em>sensors were picking up satellite signatures around the two vessels, likely tenders previously shuttling back and forth from the to resupply their motherships. They had kicked up the ho¡¯s nest, and now those tenders were racing back to their hangars and berths, while the auxiliaries¡¯bat 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-ss carrier? We just couldn¡¯t have it easy, could we?¡±¡°Get out there, Commander,¡± Janmanded, 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 iting, I promise you that.¡±


    Captain Jan Dodonna breathed out, visualising his n 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,unch all starfighters!¡±


    Victory-ss Star Destroyer <em>Nike </em>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 dying effort.


    <em>¡°Firebolt Squadronunch, Talon Squadronunch, Nemesis Squadronunch¡­¡± </em>an impassive voice rang out over the speakers as <em>Prudence¡¯s </em>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 perpendicr 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 disys, reced with a blinking <emst known vector </em>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 ssical 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 gctic 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-ss Star Destroyer.


    <em>Nike </em>plunged headfirst into the droid swarm, like a shark scouring through a school of fish, her teeth-like clusters of turbsers and point defencesers 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 nk. We¡¯ll push the Separatists into the damned if we have to!¡±


    <em>Prudence </em>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 momentter, when Commander Adar Tallon¡¯s fighter-bomber wing pounced out from behind Outer Los, having circumnavigated the entire world, leaping onto the rtively defenceless auxiliaries and all but <em>tearing </em>through whateverbat 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,¡± Janmanded.


    ¡°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 nk, and Talon Squadron approaching from the rear, the lone Lucrehulk waspletely 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,¡± themunications officer inserted weakly, but pointedly, ¡°This <em>is </em>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 thest of the Dreadnaught-ss cruisers shattered apart, as <em>Nike </em>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.¡±


    ?


    <em>Sarapin Orbit, Sarapin System</em>


    <em>Humbarine Sector</em>


    <em>Click, click. </em>


    Calli Trilm held up the Starpath unit to the light, inspecting it from every angle. She wasn¡¯t so sure as to what had be of it, and she had half the mind to believe it had be 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 <em>before </em>it had been attached to a mainframe? And if there <em>was </em>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 <em>better </emmunications 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,munications, and most things electronic.


    ¡°Tex,¡± she called out to TX-103, ¡°Have you prepared the istion chamber?¡±


    ¡®Istion chamber¡¯ she called it. Simply put, it was just a digitally isted spacepletely separated from any critical systems or essibleworks. It was amon 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 ws.


    ¡°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 thems module of her chair caught her attention. Cursing softly underneath her breath, Calli took a brisk nce 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 rys. 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 Gctic Interior¡­


    At the cost of making a <em>single world </em>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,pletely cking 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 arge slice of that particr 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 spes 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.


    <em>¡°Mission aplished, leader,¡± </em>heavy cruiser <em>Sarissa¡¯s </em>captain reported, the Rendili Dreadnaught¡¯s running lights shing in salute as she smoothly slid past Calli¡¯s gship.


    ¡°Damage report?¡± Rear Admiral Trilm asked.


    <em>¡°Nothing that couldn¡¯t get past our shields. Rendili builds them sturdy.¡±</em>


    That was a lie. Calli knew that was a lie because <em>Sarissa </em>was sporting a nasty ck 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 <em>can </em>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 urs when said warship¡¯s heatsinks get shot.


    Nevertheless, <em>Sarissa¡¯s </em>scar was more representative of a direct turbser strike than an overloaded ray shield. <em>But nothing short of a direct hull breach would even make them flinch, wouldn¡¯t it? </em>That was what Calli Trilm had concluded. <em>The Salvarans simply have nothing left to lose. </em>Most of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s Armada was of simr 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,¡± shemanded, ¡°Tex, bring us around! We¡¯re going back to Recopia.¡±


    <em>Star of Serenno </em>swung herself over, sublight drives igniting and afterburners zing like great blue me all the way to the nearest hypene egress. They spotted the wrecks of Sarapin¡¯s trifling defence fleet drifting aimlessly on the way there, gradually heading out the outers 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, ncing out the viewports, ¡°I do suppose there¡¯s no reason not to.¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    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 isted?¡± a swell of nervousness rose up within Calli, ¡°I¡¯d rather not brick my gship.¡±


    ¡°I am certain,¡± the droid replied, configuring the disy and unceremoniously essing 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, <em>trillions </em>lines of encrypted data erupted forth through the console disy like an unstoppable, endless cascade of information. Voices, holofeeds, transmissions¨Cwhat seemed like an entire gxy¡¯s worth of data surged onto the single console disy.


    And each and every transmission started with the exact same prefix: <em>[QIXRB MCMH]</em>


    ¡°They¡¯re alling from the same ce,¡± 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 rm, ¡°Theirst transmission was¡­ <em>ENEMY CONTACT.</em>¡±


    ¡°Contact lost with Task Force One-Nine-Eight!¡±


    ¡°Contact lost with the Ny-first Recon Division!¡±


    ¡°Contact lost with ry frigate <em>Ravana!¡± </em>


    ¡°<em>Second Auxiliary Squadron?¡± </em>Calli¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°That¡¯s at Recopia! Tex!¡±


    <em>Recopia¡¯s no more than a ten-hour jump from Sarapin!</em>


    ¡°Plotting emergency jump to the Seyugi System,¡± Tex was already bounding away from the console, leaving a rather stumped B1 battle droid nkly watching the cascade of datastrings on his disy.


    ¡°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 ry frigate we have left in the Intel Division,¡± Rear Admiral Trilm gritted her teeth, ¡°We¡¯ll stick to the n 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 <em>with </em>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 orter, one of our intel frigates will catch a glimpse of the Bulwark Fleet.¡±


    Tex nodded slowly, ¡°As youmand, 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 ess 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 ved 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 bemunicating 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.¡±


    ?


    <em>Rendili Orbit, Rendili System</em>


    <em>Rendili Sector</em>


    The sound of explosions woke him.


    Arch-Provost Beng Un didn¡¯t <em>immediately </em>realise they were explosions. Thunderstorms weremon enough on any terrestrial world, and Rendili was no exception. But as he roused from his groggy stupor he realised it <em>couldn¡¯t </em>be simply a thunderstorm. Thunder didn¡¯te so frequent.


    He roused further and sat up quickly in bed, and his pulse quickened as more explosions boomed in the distance. They wereing 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 ster.


    The door to his bedroom flew open, and he spun in a half-crouch, ster rising. The man in the doorway had his hands in the air before he knew it, and Un 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 Un dropped his arm, pulling him to his feet and hastily ushering him out the door.


    ¡°What is going on!?¡± Beng Un 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 downy it. Beng Un was the Arch-Provost of Rendili, not any ignorant citizen, and he had infochants all across the gxy. The Perlemian Coalition had smashed through the gate at Commenor, and now¡­ they were at Rendili, thergest shipyard system in the Core Worlds save for Kuat itself. He would not have been surprised.


    But he <em>was </em>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, Acmators, 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 spes.


    A fleet of that calibre should have never been able to break through the Rendili Home Defense Fleet, much less even break through Rendili¡¯sary shields. He knew that much. Arch-Provost Un <em>built </em>the Rendili Defence Fleet as it existed in its current state. It was <em>he </em>who renewed Rendili¡¯s shipyards, who waged a shadow war against Kuat to diminish their influence in the shipbuilding industry. It was <em>he </em>who secured the contracts for the Victory Initiative Project, and <em>he </em>who oversaw theunch of the very first Victory-ss Star Destroyer here at Rendili.


    Beng Un 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 rms over the roaring inferno rippling its way towards his suite. Un was almost surprised by the power of his own fear as the entire world seemed to quiver to the fury of explosions andbat. 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 <em>living the war.</em>


    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 red out of it in an attempt to <em>finally </em>understand what was going on¨C


    And saw Rendili Dreadnaughts in the skies over his world. Acmators, 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!¡±


    Un 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, <em>his fleet, </em>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¡­¡± Un 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 <em>I¡¯m </em>the Arch-Provost, and I¡¯m still alive!¡±


    Arch-Provost Beng Un looked up in rage and fear, and saw the State Security trooper¡¯s ster aimed straight at his head.


    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate, sir,¡± the trooper said, ¡°But you burned in the fires of the pce. But worry not¨CRendili will remember your legacy forever.¡±


    "If you would have me disgraced like this, at least tell me why," if Un 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."


    <em>I should¡¯ve kriffing shot you at my door, </em>the Arch-Provost thought, and he thought no longer.


    ?


    <em>Caamas Approach, Cirius System</em>


    <em>Alderaan Sector</em>


    ¡°Priority Alpha transmission from Coruscant, Admiral.¡±


    Admiral Honor Salima hardly registered her g 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 thatid waste to the Northern Core with three-hundred ships, had been, in its two month pursuit, whittled down to a paltrymand of just over a hundred vessels. Most of the surviving warships were the eponymous Bulwark-ss battlecruisers that gave the fleet its name, butpared 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 Honormanded as a listing Bulwark began driving her thrusters hard forward, ¡°And target that ship. Where¡¯s <em>Arcenciel?¡±</em>


    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 ring 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 st, ¡°Have <em>Arcenciel </em>form a wall of battle and drive up the enemy right!¡±


    The Home Fleet had caught the Bulwark Fleet on the hypene 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.


    Asmanded, Captain Autem bravely led from the front of his Victory squadron, <em>Arcenciel </em>a ming speartip as she raked Dua Ningo¡¯s nks. As soon as he reached the starboard quarter of the enemy formation, <em>Arcenciel </em>hooked right and began pushing the Bulwark Fleet <em>away </em>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 whichid 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 cybeic eye fixated sternly on hismanding 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 dered 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.¡±


    <em>¡°...What?¡±</em>


    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.


    ¡°<em>Who? </em>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 nk 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 battlefieldmander, she allowed, as the Bulwark Fleet reacted promptly to the Home Fleet¡¯s enigmatic actions. <em>His age has not dulled his senses, </em>Honor thought, as the Sullustan tranted his most powerful Bulwark-ss battlecruisers to oppose the Home Fleet¡¯s weakened right wing. <em>Shame he doesn¡¯t realise he is reacting as I wish¨Cor rather, he has no choice but to react as I wish. </em>With <em>Arcenciel </em>and her sister ships now opening fire on his vulnerable aft nk with their powerful missileunchers, 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 <em>suggested </em>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 evenrger quarry. And the Perlemian Coalition was thergest there was, in these parts.


    ¡°Have we calcted 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

    <em>Empress Teta Approach, Empress Teta System</em>


    <em>Koros Sector</em>


    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. 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 ss of ship in the Republic fleet, one unknown to our registries, and thus unknown to our ssifications.


    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 dissimrly to a wedge of storks at the front of the enemy formation, I would hazard a guess at their purpose confidently.


    Byparison, 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 Imanded, the lieutenants of the 28th Mobile Fleet closed in from all directions. Diedrich Greyshade with fifty warships from the outers 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 uing 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 ughtered Jedi General Echuu Shen-Jon¡¯s warfleet with the very same stratagem. Using herself as bait, she lured the Jedi General to makendfall 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 gship <em>Chimeratica </em>disseminated her orders, and the division straightened into a hasty battlettice the way amand caught off-guard would. In truth, this strategy was borne of the necessity to defeat arger 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 enemymander 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 theirst legs. However, if the enemymander was as capable as I suspected, then they may realise the precariousness of their own situation. If the enemymander 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 <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>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 enemymander of the existence of the ambush, but the prior strategic calculus behind the original n was more or less disregarded that we now boasted a three-to-two advantage against the foe.


    ¡°They¡¯re slowing down,¡± Taylormented, ¡°Are they supposed to slow down?¡±


    ¡°Have they discovered the ploy?¡± Tuff¡¯s photoreceptors shed, his servo-joints flexing his metal fingers, ¡°Inform the fleets to execute the battle n. 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, <em>Chimeratica </em>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, <em>Fortressa, </em>and the enemy warfleet. Contrary to expectations, however, the enemy warfleet abruptly shifted <em>right, </em>counteracting against <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>deflected vector and tranting <em>away </em>from the weaker 5th Division.


    It was then I realised the enemymander 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 alreadymanding, ¡°Get us on an intercept and inform <em>Kronprinz </em>to meet us there!¡±


    I shot to my feet, suitably unnerved, ¡°Will we make it time?¡±


    ¡°My calctions posit so,¡± the tactical droid replied, ¡°I am attempting to identify the enemymander. 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 <em>Fortressa, </em>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, <em>Kronprinz¡¯s </em>hasty manoeuvres saved us from most of the halfmitted blunder and wrested control back in our favour. With the Republic threatened to be caught in a nasty pincer from both nks, the enemymander once again pivoted, swinging around his dozen-so Star Destroyers around to starboard in a headlong charge into <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>division. It was an unnecessarily bold manoeuvre, ordering heavy cruisers at best to dy a muchrger fleet. Right then I wished I had half as much faith in my warships as the enemy had in theirs.


    But then the nks 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. Missileunchers. The Republic Admiralty had, evidently, wizened up to Separatist naval doctrine, and invented a ss of warship to match.


    ¡°Prepare for evasive manoeuvres,¡± I muttered, ¡°And fake portside on mymand. Prepare our ownunchers; first wave countermissiles, second proton warheads. They¡¯re making a mistake. We let them.¡±


    <em>Kronprinz </em>headed the sun and stars of Tionese naval supremacy, and had proven time and time again to be the 28th¡¯s swiftestmand. 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 theparison 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. Byparison, 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 muchrger in diameter than our own torpedounchers. 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 gship. Should I patch it through?¡±


    ¡°...They must be extraordinarily confident,¡± I clenched my fists, ¡°Do you have anything for me, Tuff?¡±


    ¡°I suspect the enemymander 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¨Corck thereof.¡±


    ¡°...I will talk to them,¡± I said atst.


    <em>¡°¨CGreetings, Admiral Bonteri,¡± </em>a familiar voice was heard over the receiver, <em>¡°I am Jedi General Plo Koon, and I havee to you with a proposal of peaceful parley, so that we may continue our conversation cut short a year ago.¡±</em>


    I stared down the twelve disconcerting Star Destroyers in the same, but darker light. <em>Plo Koon. </em>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. s, 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 hernky height, ¡°He already has us surrounded.¡±


    ¡°He knows that wouldn¡¯t be enough,¡± the Jedi Master sped 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 ofoids and moons and flooding into the battlespace. Beyond the two fleets directly on their nks, there was another fleet approaching from their starboard quarter¨Cwhich included an infamous Lucrehulk known to the GAR registry as <em>Fortressa¨C</em>and a final force approaching from directly behind them, ostensibly the very one preying upon the Core¡¯s food supplies.


    Instead ofpleting 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 battlettice, eight by ten and two ranks deep. Curiously, the wholettice was just slightly concave, with thicker nks 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 gship finally gave their reply; <em>¡°I would have your terms, Master Jedi.¡±</em>


    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?¡±


    <em>¡°And what convinces you of the efficacy of your desperate measure?¡± </em>the Battle Hydra replied, <em>¡°For what reason must I humour the Republic that seeks toy waste to my country?¡±</em>


    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 ce.


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Forgive me, Master Jedi, but that seems to me an improbable oue,¡± </em>the Battle Hydra paused¡­ before adding on, <em>¡°Especially with the sad state of affairs in which the gxy wars.¡±</em>


    Adi Gallia hesitated, as the bridge of the fleet gship <em>Hyperion </em>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. <em>My name, </em>Barriss realised, <em>Master Gallia used my name to get to him. </em>


    ¡°In exchange for a temporary truce,¡± Master Gallia continued whereupon theck 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.¡±


    <em>¡°...You will bring forward one ship, and only one,¡± </em>the Battle Hydra said atst, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°For whichever reason?¡± Master Gallia rified.


    <em>¡°I care not if a rogue asteroid strikes or a pirate floti appears from the ck, the first fleet to have a vessel activate its main drives will be at fault,¡± </em>the Battle Hydra said clearly, <em>¡°Inform your captaincies of this promptly, as I have informed mine, and we will meet under a banner of truce.¡±</em>


    Master Plo Koon immediately turned to <em>Hyperion¡¯s </em>captain, and ordered the agreement disseminated across all fleet channels.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Master Gallia told the Warlord of the Perlemian, and <em>Hyperion </em>fearlessly plunged towards the Separatist battlettice.


    ¡°One point to port!¡± the Venator¡¯s captain ordered, swiftly identifying a portal in the enemyttice, created by a single ship vacating its station. <em>Chimeratica, Hyperion¡¯s </em>scopes identified.


    It seemed almost as if the <em>ship itself </em>were holding her breath as they ceaselessly approached the yawning jaws of the Perlemian Coalition, until they were right within the enemyttice and Separatist ships seemingly stretched on endlessly to the left and right, above and below. Barriss could all but <em>hear </em>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 nevere 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. <em>Hyperion </em>passed silently through the portal, sliding right past the concealed gunports bearing on either side of her nks, and quickly caught up to the <em>Chimeratica.</em>


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    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 <em>Chimeratica. </em>Barris and Iskat followed the Master¡¯s gaze, and paused at the sight of the Separatist Hex adorning the gship¡¯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. <em>Artisan.</em>


    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 thending zone of the ostentatious Tetan Royal Pce. Golden minarets glinted like torches in the sunlight, dozens of spires thrusting valiantly towards the sky and connected below by awork of walls and arcologies.


    It seemed as if they were whisked away into the pceplex by an august wind the moment they stepped off thending 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 rtionship 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, ncing around in awe of the gilded halls of the Royal Pce.


    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, apanied 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 andvender, ¡°Wee 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 cor 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. <em>She seems easily pleased, </em>Barriss thought, <em>she can¡¯t be any older than¡­ eighteen.</em>


    ¡°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 tant show of insubordination by his client, he did not show it, ¡°I am certain we cane 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 nonchntly, ¡°Though he seems hardly awake on the best of days, after my cousins <em>ident</em>.¡±


    ¡°Let us speak reservedly,¡± the Battle Hydra offered one of his nomitted 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 tookmand 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 Gctic 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 nced at the Princess Eara Lota, a youthful glee still dancing in her shining eyes despite theplexities of the dialogue. Noticing her attention, the Princess met the Mirin Knight¡¯s eyes, and Barriss realised her gaze was the make of finely sharpened daggers. <em>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, </em>exactly, <em>did that take? Since her cousin, the Heir Apparent, died in an¡­ ¡®ident.¡¯</em>


    <em>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 alreadye to an agreement? But against a Separatist-aligned corporation? Equally unlikely. But Rain Bonteri holds distaste for corporatists, if I recall rightly. </em>


    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 thetter appeared remarkably confused. Peering into her heart, however, Barriss could sense a great deal of internal calculus within the Tetan royal.


    ¡°Wait, <em>what</em>?¡± it was not any of the opposing side, but rather Iskat Akaris who said that.


    <em>Right, </em>Barriss winced, <em>she wasn¡¯t supposed to be here.</em>


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the Battle Hydra mused, and the next time his eyes opened, they were ofpletely 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 disce 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 ite 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 disce him peacefully, I fear.¡±


    ¡°Is¡­¡± Iskat furrowed her short ck 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¡­ <em>splinter faction?</em>¡±


    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¡­ <em>radical </em>act.¡±


    <em>Master Mace Windu, </em>went unsaid between them. <em>Master Yoda, even, maybe.</em>


    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 revtion, 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.


    <em>¡°Knew it,¡± </em>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 im youy 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.


    ¡°Interceptedmunications,¡± he supplied, ¡°Between Count Dooku and¡­ <em>someone, </em>on Coruscant.¡±


    ¡°No definitive proof it is the Chancellor?¡± Adi Gallia gently picked up the datachip, as if it were a shard of ss. No, it was far more fragile than a shard of ss.


    ¡°Count Dooku is arrogant, the Sith Lord hides his arrogance behind sense,¡± Bonteri exined, 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 avable¡­ 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 gxy a favour, undertaking this bloody work. Nobody will thank you for it, not even the generations toe 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, Chandr, 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 <em>real </em>Master Adi Gallia was. <em>This is real, this treason, fomenting a rebellion in the Core and beyond! It isn¡¯t just all smoke and mirrors¡­! </em>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 gxy. 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 <em>real </em>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 <em>mundane </em>than yours. But the final pieces are being brought into ce, 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¡­ <em>splendid, </em>but what of me and mine, which the Jedi havee to settle? Or¡­ or was the invitation from the Senate some sick sort of jest? I care not for the gxy¡¯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 theing 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.


    ¡°Exin,¡± 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 Princessughed 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 sped his hands, ¡°You are aware I used a hidden Givin hypene to ess this star system?¡±


    ¡°No, but this would exin 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 recement measure. My lieutenants wage a campaign in the Deep Core, deeper than here, to flush out thest remnants of any Loyalist fleet that can challenge this hypene. Once this endeavour isplete, 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 sinctly, 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;<em> I hope this to be a totally diplomatic affair, whereupon we can both depart without a feeling of loss. </em>It was truly, <em>truly, </em>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 they I fear I am unable to fathom the scale and depth of it. To see that future neveres 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 gxy.¡±

 Chapter 69

    <em>Somewhere in the Cato Neimoidia System</em>


    <em>Quellor Sector</em>


    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 <em>would </em>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 <em>truly </em>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 predictablymunicate 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 ce, then their raids would simply be 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 sessful 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 iparable 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, orck 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 ster; storming into the Core well before Operation Stance was ready¨Cbut even then, ording to the itinerary, the 28th Mobile was supposed to have already been inserted into the Core. But they were nowhere to be seen¡­


    <em>Stars damn you, Bonteri! Where are you when I need you!?</em>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? <em>Shit, but it''s still my fault, isn¡¯t it? </em>What if¡­ what if she had been abandoned, and the 19th Mobile was acting alone? What if <em>Independence </em>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¡¯tmunicate with the Confederacy whilst in the heart of Loyalist space. At that moment then, Calli wondered the feasibility of simply¡­ <em>withdrawing</em>. 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 dly pay it.


    ¡°Rear Admiral,¡± her tactical droid attempted to catch her attention again, ¡°We have sessfully decrypted the Starpath unit.¡±


    The Rear Admiral nced down at the data, but her gaze remained hazy, and her attention unfocused, ¡°Iste the priority targets. Military channels, fleet deployments, anything that can help us prate 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 hypene registrars, followed by a report announcing the Invasion of Skako.¡±


    ¡°Skako¡­ invaded?¡± <em>was such a thing even possible, </em>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 thest 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. ording 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 thest known location of the Home Fleet.¡±


    ¡°Did the Home Fleet not report the victory?¡±


    ¡°Unless Handler One¡¯s archives are iplete, Skako was thest 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 <em>where exactly </em>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, ¡°ording to my calctions; 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. ording 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¡¯spetition. 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 reestablishmunication with Star Station <em>Independence, </em>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 <em>a </em>decisive engagement, but <em>the </em>decisive engagement, in which she can destroy the Bulwark Fleet, the Neenth 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¨Cwhosest 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.¡±


    <em>Stang. </em>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 reportsing 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 particr transmission caught her eye. Calli lifted it up to show the tactical droid. It was an inquiry from Coruscant, requesting any avable 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 nheless. Fiddling with the datapad, she managed to filter out all the tangentially rted transmissions. There were much more of the same; mostly inquiries from nearby star systems for any avable warships.


    <em>¡°To suppress the raids in the Agricultural Circuit,¡±</em> 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 raided within <em>walking distance </em>of Coruscant itself?¡± Calli suppressed augh, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Bonterist fighting at Yag¡¯Dhul? The homeworld of the Givin? What are the chances he used some bespoke spe 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 usible, if the Twenty-Eighth is within range of the GAR¡¯smunicationswork. But that runs the risk of the GAR noticing a rogue, even perhaps unauthorised, transmission in theirwork. We <em>do not yet understand </em>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 ess 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?¡±


    ¡°<em>I¡¯m </em>sending it. <em>Me.</em>¡±


    ¡°...Very well, sir.¡±


    ¡°Dispatch a fleet-wide order; we will regroup in the Rendili Star System!¡±


    <em>Have I ever, ever, asked you outright to trust me? </em>


    That stupid voice echoed through her head. <em>No, </em>she answered anyway, <em>never.</em>


    <em>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.</em>


    ?


    <em>Recopia Orbit, Recopi System</em>


    <em>Humbarine Sector</em>


    ¡°They¡¯ve taken the bait, Admiral,¡± g 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 spes. 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?


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the vition.


    ¡°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 me at Skywalker without ming Admiral Yren, 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 thatment. How many of the officers on deck were <em>¡®sheltered nobles who don''t know bow from aft¡¯? </em>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 g 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 thebel 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 prate 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,¡± ams officer beckoned her, ¡°We have an iing 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. <em>Togruta, </em>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 <em>after </em>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 g 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 nning.


    ¡°In truth, Admiral, the reason High Command failed to specify which Jedi ising 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-nned boarding action. Without that blunder, his victory would have been near perfect.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re terribly well-informed of his exploits,¡± the Togruta girlmented.


    Screed levied a steady re at the girl, ¡°When ced 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 forside warfare. Naval veterans the likes of Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin are hard toe 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 toplete 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 <em>still </em>the Battle Hydra.¡±


    ¡°And General Plo Koon is <em>still </em>the hero of the Hyperspace War,¡± Obi-Wan Kenobi shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I will have to request that you dy the Battle of Rendili for a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°We cannot loiter <em>too </em>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. <em>Hyperion </em>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 <em>Hyperion </em>has reported an operational sess,¡± General Kenobi offered a lopsided smirk, ¡°If you had maintained contact with Coruscant, you should be well-informed. With his support, the Gctic 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 Salimaughed. 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 formted 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!¡±


    ?


    <em>Empress Teta Approach, Empress Teta System</em>


    <em>Koros Sector</em>


    ¡°Something you have to tell us, Barriss?¡± Iskat Akaris asked her once they were back aboard <em>Hyperion.</em>


    Barriss nced 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 <em>Battle Hydra </em>of all people ask us to confer with you? Something to do with the satellite operation, Barriss?¡±


    <em>Ohe on! You already know! </em>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. <em>She¡¯s having fun with this, </em>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?¡± Iskattched on sharply, unwittingly ying 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.


    <em>¡°You¡¯re a Separatist spy?¡± </em>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. <em>Help. </em>Adi Gallia¡¯s eyes sharpened, and with a whisk unclipped Iskat¡¯s lightsaber and whipped it towards her. <em>Except, Iskat has two lightsabers, doesn¡¯t she? </em>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.


    <em>¡°She¡¯s a spy!¡±</em>


    ¡°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 everythinging in and out of Coruscant to the Separatists on a silver tter! Every fleet deployment, every major order, every armymand! How will we win the war like this?¡±


    ¡°The war, Iskat, will be won when we rid the gxy of the Sith,¡± Barriss exined calmly, ¡°<em>That </em>is my mission. <em>That </em>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 gxy 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 <em>try, </em>Iskat,¡± Master Gallia offered her lightsaber back, ¡°We try our best<em>, </em>and we seed, 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 reimed 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¡±


    <em>¡°Adi,¡± </em>Master Plo Koon¡¯s voice rang out from thelink, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Chimeractica </em>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-ss Star Destroyers ripping into our front ranks as hisrger battlecruisers spread out onto the wings and pinned down our nks. 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


    <em>¡°Twenty ships bearing down on our portside, bearing three-one-one rtive, range two-hundred thousand klicks,¡± </em>Diedrich Greyshade warned, <em>¡°It¡¯s the Tetan Guard.¡±</em>


    ¡°Just great,¡± I muttered¨Cwe were about to get outnked<em>, </em>¡°Tuff; order a general retreat. Peel off ten droid warships on our left to dy the Tetans.¡±


    ¡°As youmand, sir.¡±


    Almost instantaneously in the droidmanded style, ten Recusant-ss destroyers separated from thettice and formed a tight line of battle opposing the Tetan warships, led by <em>Lexington </em>and <em>Saratoga.</em>


    ¡°Great, great,¡± I breathed out, ¡°All going to n. Dodecian Illiet, is our vector of escape open?¡±


    <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Perfect,¡± I mumbled as I facilitated our withdrawal, beating back any straggling warships back into line with strictmands whenever any drifted out of course. I couldn¡¯t me them <em>too </em>much, it was difficult enough maintaining a battlettice inbat, especially against a hardass opponent like the Jedi, and it was even more difficult to maintain attice while going <em>backwards, ¡°Melodiosa, </em>you¡¯re falling behind!¡±


    Falling forwards, rather, since we were retreating.


    <em>¡°Our retrothrusters are shot, sir!¡±</em>


    I blinked, then honed in onto the adjacent ships, ¡°<em>Riposte, Ronin Huntress, </em>use your forward tractor beams to drag <em>Melodiosa </em>back into line!¡±


    <em>¡°Chimeratica, Riposte. Understood.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Chimeratica, Ronin. Yes, sir.¡±</em>


    ¡°<em>Lady Lex </em>is being boarded,¡± Tuff noted calmly, and my attention snapped back around.


    Two Tetan Supremacy-ss 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 gging under the Tetan assault. Soon, even <em>Saratoga </em>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, <em>Lexington </em>and <em>Saratoga </em>will be sessfully stationed in the Empress Teta System without drawing suspicion from the GAR, as the Tetans have imed 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.


    <em>¡°Fleet navputers have been synchronised, Admiral,¡± </em>Dodecian Illiet notified, <em>¡°Confirm Tython as our destination?¡±</em>


    ¡°Confirmed!¡± I barked, ¡°Tuff, bring us around!¡±


    Retrothrusters were abruptly cut all across thettice, 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 aplish was opening up our vulnerable aft nk to the enemy.


    ¡°Iing transmission from <em>Lady Lex!¡± </em>Taylor suddenly shouted in rm, ¡°I¡¯m putting it through!¡±


    I squinted at the tactical holo again. <em>Lexington was </em>getting boarded, and my eyes were not mistaken. What could be so important¨C?


    <em>[FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] FWD: RENDILI TRUST ME</em>


    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¨CBy that order!¡± I roared into thems, ¡°<em>All ships are to bear oh-seven-oh! </em>Illiet, is the Daragon Trail still open!?¡±


    <em>¡°Only until the Vulpter System. The rest of the hypene copsed millennia ago.¡±</em>


    ¡°But we can break into Arrowhead from there!?¡±


    <em>¡°Correct.¡±</em>


    ¡°Change of destination; plot a course for the Rendili System! We¡¯re reinforcing our sister fleet!¡±

 Chapter 70

    <em>Rendili Orbit, Rendili System</em>


    <em>Rendili Sector</em>


    Rear Admiral Calli Trilm could not care one mote about the fate of Rendili. Empress Teta¡¯s secession attempt has emboldened the more brazenary 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 theirpetitors¡­ 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 fewpetitors in the field of military engineering, possessing a rich shipbuilding tradition that the rtively young Confederate shipyard industry desperately needed.


    s, 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 Gctic 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 oue 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 could 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 amodating to her sudden departure.


    Even with the remnants of the Bulwark Fleet, Calli still onlymanded half that number.


    Except, the Rendili Home Defence Fleetmanded 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 norger 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 suprememander 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?¡±


    Calliughed 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 dly suffer a thousand defeats to avoid being defeated. The Confederacy seeks not victories, Captain, only victory<em>. </em>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 ent, ¡°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 uing 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 nheless 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 isted 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 hermand 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¡¯sary 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 upying 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 gship¡¯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 <em>precisely </em>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 <em>us.</em>¡±


    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,rgely 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 immediatelytched onto the name, ¡°Reinforcements from Empress Teta areing? You are absolutely certain?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Calli confirmed with more confidence than she felt, but she needed <em>something </em>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.¡±


    ?


    <em>Exodeen Orbit, Exodeen System</em>


    <em>Quellor Sector</em>


    ¡°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 ount 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¡¯s gravity well no longer posed a direct danger to hyperspace insertion and well out of range of theside 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 wouldmand 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 n any earlier than they had to. But if she was about to depart already, then there could be noter 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 andrade well enough to discern the unsurety in his tone nheless.


    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 <em>¡®clone¡¯ </em>in his presence. Commander Cody barely had to wait for Obi-Wan¡¯s gesture to dash away.


    A moment¡¯s pauseter, and the familiar form of the old Kel-Dor had joined them at the holotable.


    <em>¡°I have extracted at Leria Kerlsil,¡± </em>Jedi General Plo Koon inserted immediately, before either Obi-Wan or Honor could even eke out a word, <em>¡°There has been aplication to whatever n you may have devised.¡±</em>


    ¡°Leria¨C¡± Honor started severely nheless, ¡°Leria Kerlsil is still halfway between Empress Teta and Rendili!¡±


    <em>You better have a good reason for wasting valuable hours in realspace when you could still be transiting! </em>Was what Honor Salima left unsaid.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°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 ofmunication 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 revtion in mind, it was obvious why Plo Koon had decided to dy 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 <em>Hyperion </em>will be dyed 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 y 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.


    ?


    <em>Rendili Approach, Rendili System</em>


    <em>Rendili Sector</em>


    As thebined 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 bing a jumbled mess. The vacuum itself seemed taught with energy, and everywhere frantic eyes darted to the stars, misidentifying every twinkle as a sh 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 disys. 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 thest thing between them and that.


    Thebined fleet of five-hundred ships had been arranged into a sharpened arrowhead. Rendili Victory-ss Star Destroyers took the vanguard, backed by a solid mass of Providence-ss and Dreadnaught-ss heavy cruisers to supply the proper impetus necessary to overwhelm the enemy line of battle. On the wings, Dua Ningo and his captainsmanded the Bulwark-ss battlecruisers, providing ample a solid wall against any potential nking manoeuvres undertaken by their numerically superior opponent.


    In the centre of the formation were two Lucrehulk-ss carriers and a host of support vessels, such as Captor-ss 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-ss frigates, while screening ahead of the main body were Recusant-ss destroyers among other smaller escorts.


    They were travelling at best speed, limited by the slowest ship in the fleet. Even then, it was a zingly high velocity, and they would cross the hyperlimit within ten minutes. Not that anybody in thebined 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 rtive! Checking registry¡­ it¡¯s the Open Circle Fleet!¡±


    ¡°Another three-hundred on our port bow, bearing three-oh-five degrees rtive!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Home Fleet!¡± a Skakoan on Dua Ningo¡¯s gship, <em>Unrepentant, </em>shivered, his modted voice tinged with apprehension, ¡°It¡¯s the Bloodhound!¡±


    Data flooded onto the screens of the gships, 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. <em>So the die is cast.</em>


    Just across the hyperlimit, three-hundred warships of the Open Circle Fleet were travelling line ahead, just about to cross thebined 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 vi-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 poorermander, 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. <em>The </em>Obi-Wan Kenobi had assigned her to the <em>vanguard </em>of the Open Circle Fleet, and her gship <em>Convivial </em>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 <em>Convivial </em>wouldn¡¯t be on the receiving end of any Separatist missiles, despite being the vanguard, but despitecking the experience or knowledge to refute such a im, 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 <em>Defender, </em>the temporary gship of Admiral Block. Lastly, at the very end of the line and singrly remarkable for herpletely unconventional cement, was the fleet gship of General Obi-Wan Kenobi, <em>Vignce. </em>


    All three gships were Venator-ss 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 aplish that objective.


    However, as Admiral Block engages the Separatist mass, the front and rear under Olge and Kenobi respectively would strike around and nk the enemy, effectively epassing therger force with a smaller one. The single catch¨C<em>Defender </em>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 toe 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 gship <em>Star of Serenno. </em>From the vantage point of the Providence''s bridge, clusters of luminous points indicated the unceasing approach of thebined 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 simr 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 nk, 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.


    <em>On the other hand¡­ </em>Calli squinted at her tactical holo. The Home Fleet <em>wasn¡¯t moving. </em>They werepletely stationary, save for some small drive cones which she surmised to be screening vessels, and apparently content to observe how theirbined 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 thest minute, decided to execute her hastily conceived n, and ordered thebined 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 gship.


    Thankfully, both Jace Dallin and Dua Ningo had conceded ultimatemand of thebined 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 vi-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 <em>Vignce, </em>Obi-Wan Kenobi was seeing the least of the action, and thus upied 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 <em>Vignce </em>to <em>Defender </em>across the tightbeam burst¨C


    And the <em>Defender </em>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 rtive 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 <em>an </em>incorrect decision, as allowing the Open Circle to match velocity with them went against their objective of <em>breaching </em>the enemy lines, but for Calli Trilm who was considering therger strategic situation, it was <em>the </em>incorrect decision at that moment. The speartip of Victorys raced forward, forcing the main body of thebined 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 n.


    Rather than grieving on the loss, however, Rear Admiral Trilm simply shrugged and byed 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 nks. 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 nned, 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 minyers 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 gship <em>Arlionne. </em>Her g 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 thest 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, wereying 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 orter 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 ur.


    The Home Fleet¡¯s part, on the other hand¡­


    <em>¡°Cronau radiation detected!¡± </em>Captain Jan Dodonna forwarded a report from his sentries.


    ¡°Home Fleet!¡± Honor Salimamanded 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 <em>Arlionne¡¯s </em>viewports.


    ¡°A Wavecrest-ss frigate,¡± hemented, ¡°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.


    Andst 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 ounted for?¡±


    <em>¡°Positive, Admiral,¡± </em>he replied, <em>¡°All the enemy vessels detailed in the fleetposition General Plo Koon had provided us are ounted for.¡±</em>


    ¡°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

    <em>Rendili Approach, Rendili System</em>


    <em>Rendili Sector</em>


    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 <em>exiting </em>hyperspace. Simply put, whilst in hyperspace transit, you had absolutely no influence with the rest of the gxy 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-dimensionmunications, to the chagrin of the gxy¡¯s brightest minds. It was for this reason that fleets often extracted and inserted multiple times over a particrly long travel itinerary, <em>especially when travelling in hostile territory. </em>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 bymon gctic 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 stipted amount of time with the all clear, jump the final leg; if the scoutships do not, consider the destinationpromised, 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, ve navputers, 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 misced 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 calcted 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 gship, and I would not renege on it.I stood up slowly as thest shes 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.


    <em>We have less than two-hundred, </em>I thought, <em>Vinoc and Jormmand near another seventy, but they¡¯re campaigning in the Deep Core. </em>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.


    <em>Is this my first time on the receiving end of a ready and anticipating fleet?</em>


    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 ording tobat extraction procedure¨Cand though they were hardly urate 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 arger. 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 turbser fire, our nks were rtively free for a precious few minutes.


    The Home Fleet had tried topensate for this by cing their missile cruisers on <em>their </em>nks, those Victory-ss Star Destroyers of theirs, but our Givin captains reacted much faster than anyone could have predicted. Wavecrest-ss frigates spun out to the wings, their PDCs cutting down missiles from the void with an uracy that would have made even Jedi impressed; and to think they were doing all the calctions and firing patterns in their heads alone, withoutputers much less the Force.


    I had the honour of touring a Wavecrest once. Its pilothouse was the definition of ¡®spartan¡¯. Noputers or calctors in any form, just plots, inputs, and a helm. Everything else that made a ship a ship took ce in the brains of her crew.


    ¡°Tuff,¡± I forced myself into an artificial calm, ready to hatch the escape n, ¡°We need to buy time.¡±


    The droid nodded sharply, practically taking over my role as battlefieldmander with all of his objective pragmatism. Droid brain whirring, TF-1726 plugged himself into <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>plot and ordered Diedrich Greyshade¡¯s 3rd Battle Division forward. Spearheaded by <em>Kronprinz, </em>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.


    <em>¡°Looks like your calctions fell short of something, Dodecian!¡± </em>Diedrich Greyshade roared with an indescribable emotion, his shining gship¡¯s brutal pulse cannons raging with him.


    <em>¡°Incorrect,¡± </em>Dodecian Illiet replied, bringing his ships around now that the 3rd Division has relieved them of the pressure, <em>¡°Our presence has saved the Neenth, as intended.¡±</em>


    I immediately looked to the plot, at his words. It was difficult for <em>Chimeratica </em>to see through the storm ofsers 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 thebined firepower of both halves.


    ¡°How many ships does the Neenth have?¡± I asked, relying on Tuff to cover my back as I came up with a n to extricate us out of this mess.


    <em>¡°Four, five-hundred warships,¡± </em>Illiet reported, using his better sightlines, <em>¡°They have beenpletely encircled by the Republic fleet, however, and I am uncertain.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Encircled!?¡± </em>Horgo Shive demanded, leading our rearguard, <em>¡°Surely our Countess Clysm can do better than that?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°She can,¡± </em>the Givin observed loftily, <em>¡°The Neenth is breaking through.¡± </em>


    ¡°Then we must work to join them,¡± I grunted, finalising my manoeuvre package and cursing at theck 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.


    <em>¡°Easier said than done, sir,¡± </em>Krett threw in his two credits.


    ¡°Dodecian,¡± I summoned, ¡°How many mines do you have left?¡±


    <em>¡°Our stores are adequate, Admiral.¡±</em>


    ¡°Transmitting you themand package now,¡± I told him, fingers dancing over my console, ¡°Execute it forthwith.¡±


    <em>¡°¨CUnderstood.¡±</em>


    ¡°The rest of you¨C¡± I sucked in a deep breath, ¡°All ships; <em>dive!¡±</em>


    ?


    ¡°What is he doing?¡± g Captain Terrinald Screed murmured.


    ¡°Trying to slip under us,¡± Admiral Honor Salima ordered.


    The Separatist fleet was splitting in twain, its main body tranting downwards, attempting to circumnavigate theparatively vertically shallow Republic formation and break for their allies on the hypene ingress. At the same time, Givin Wavecrests rose up like a school of ckfish rising up to nip at crumbs thrown onto a pond¡¯s surface, before diving back down. In their ce, ayer of homing mines, preventing the Home Fleet from straightaway pursuing and biting into the enemy¡¯s exposed ventral nk.


    ¡°Captain Dodonna,¡± Honormanded, ¡°Launch all fighters and intercept the enemy. Home Fleet; trante 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 Gctic Republic. They elerate 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 tounch their own droid starfighters, but the Republic''s wings, under themand of Adar Tallon, surged forward with calcted precision. Tallon¡¯s pilots dove headlong into the enemy formation with an unhealthyck 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,unch your missiles underneath the enemy fleet, right along their vector!¡±


    <em>¡°Orders received, Admiral.¡±</em>


    Captain Sagoro Autem brought his Star Destroyers into a sharp descent, their angr hulls tilting downward and missile banks erupting with re 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 nk 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 <em>Arlionne¡¯s </em>relentless bombardment and <em>Arcenciel¡¯s </em>devastating missile volleys. They were running out of time, as even their mightiest battleships couldn¡¯tst forever under the Home Fleet¡¯s ws. 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 <em>couldn¡¯t </em>control the battlespace? The Battle of Centares¨Cwhen Oppo Rancisis splendidly ripped away control by introducing a Mandator-ss 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 gued 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 formte a n was another moment he couldn¡¯t control the battlespace, forcing him to improvise. From there, it was a simple matter, one drilled into everymander from the moment they raised their g;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 sr 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 <em>Prudence </em>to intercept the <em>Kronprinz </em>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 disy with meticulous focus, tracing the vectors and calcting the next likely response from Rain Bonteri. Simtions ran in her mind¡¯s eye as she assessed how to puppeteer the enemy fleet next.


    ¡°Our left wing, Admiral,¡± her g Captain advised, ¡°With our main firepower shifted to our right, I¡¯d reckon Greyshade wille around in full circle with all his momentum to punch through our left, <em>Chimeratica </em>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¨C<em>when¨CKronprinz </em>crosses the vertex of her turn, have the rest of our ships trante portside to meet her as shees around,¡± Admiral Honor Salimamanded.


    ¡°That will put a gap in between us and Captain Autem, sir,¡± Captain Screed warned.


    Honor chewed once, then personally held down the transceiver, ¡°<em>Arcenciel, Arlionne, </em>have your rearguard prepared to double back the moment you see a gap widen between our divisions.¡±


    <em>¡°Arlionne, Arcenciel. Prepare to double back, copy that.¡±</em>


    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 <em>somewhere, </em>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 <em>Kronprinz </em>crossed <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>vector, thetter''s sublight drives ignited in a sudden burst, propelling the Separatist fleet gship violently forward toward the <em>Arlionne</em>.<em></em>Meanwhile, the rest of the Home Fleet steadily shifted to their left nk, amassing strength in anticipation of the expectant Separatist counter-charge¡­ to the point where the area between <em>Arcenciel¡¯s </em>aft and <em>Arlionne¡¯s </em>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 <em>Arcenciel¡¯s </em>rearguard to spin around and plunge straight back into the gap.


    <em>¡°HARD RIGHT, HARD OVER!¡± </em>g Captain Terrinald Screed roared at the top of his lungs, more beast than man in that very moment, and <em>Arlionne </em>swung around, missile bays roaring upon like a proud lioness baring her steel fangs.


    Honor Salima marched up the bridge of her gship, 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; <em>sink the Battle Hydra! We¡¯ll ram him if we have to!¡±</em>


    The Home Fleet roared in reply, and the noose snapped taut.


    ?


    <em>¡°THE TWENTY-EIGHTH¡¯S HERE!¡± </em>someone whooped in glee over openms, 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 <em>wanted it to be true. </em>Those four words became the hope every spacer and soldier clung to like a lifeline,<em></em>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 stic centre and break free from Olge vi-Dol¡¯s and Obi-Wan Kenobi¡¯s tightening encirclement. Calli Trilm, Dua Ningo, and Jace Dallin, the threemanders of thebined 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 ws, 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-nk range, filling the rift with smoke and fire as they fought to pry open an escape route for the rest of thebined fleet.


    At that point, the noise filling all three gships must have sounded the same.


    <em>¡°Forwards!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Forwards, forwards!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Forwards, forwards, forwards!¡±</em>


    It became a pounding drumbeat of battle that reced the heartbeats of every spacer, filling them with a single-minded focus to smash free into open space¨Cand towards <em>home. </em>The Separatist arrowhead formation honed itself into a razor-sharp spindle, focusing all their impetus on piercing the breach. On the nks, Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s Bulwark-ss battlecruisers extended outwards, seizing the shattered ends of the Republic battle line.


    With the spent Victorys falling forwards and out, the Bulwarks locked into ce like the armoured phnges of two ck iron gauntlets, holding the breach open just long enough for the rest of thebined fleet to surge through. It was a wall of ck 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 <em>Independence </em>were willing to sacrifice a fleet for. No more than fifty Bulwark-ss battlecruisers held the line against thebined might of three-hundred Republic warships, the steely mettle of Admiral Dua Ningo holding them in ce like stones defiant against a storm.


    For an entire heart-stopping minute, Calli Trilm forced her eyes held open as <em>Star of Serenno </em>thundered her way through the breach, rocked to and fro and Republic fire and Separatist counterfire. Systems red and rms shed red, screaming warnings in her ears as the ship shuddered with each impact. And then¨Csuddenly¨C<em>silence</em>. The explosions and the thunder of turbser 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 reced the chaos. Her gship, scarred and battered, had made it through. The bridge lights flickered, the rms 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 couldugh. 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 toote 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 ourbined 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 gship <em>Unrepentant. </em>They had been <em>this close </em>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 livebat 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, ¡°<em>Our </em>fleet. The Neenth 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. <em>Half. </em>The word echoed hollowly in her mind, stripped of any real meaning by the stark reality of their losses.


    But¡­


    <em>¡°We did it,¡± </em>Rel Harsol said breathlessly, as if trying to convince them along with himself, <em>¡°We did it.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Well done, Rear Admiral,¡± </em>Admiral Dua Ningo praised, <em>¡°We can finally go home.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°For you, maybe,¡± </em>Captain Jace Dallin was far more reserved, <em>¡°It was my fleet that cleared the way for you¡­ and we¡¯ll be leaving home, if we follow through with this.¡±</em>


    ¡°Cold feet, Captain?¡± Calli Trilm asked, not unkindly.


    <em>¡°I have my orders¡­¡± </em>he breathed, <em>¡°But when the Confederacy achieves its final victory¡­ promise me we will return for Rendili.¡±</em>


    ¡°I can make no such promise,¡± Calli replied, ¡°Only the Pantoran can make such assurances.¡±


    <em>¡°...Very well.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Indeed,¡± </em>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, <em>¡°Shall we make for Manaan?¡±</em>


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    At that moment, Calli Trilm was so desperately inclined to agree. They could finally, <em>finally, </em>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 disced 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 thebined Separatist fleet enjoyed. They were trapped, and dying.


    If it weren¡¯t for them upying 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 calctions.¡±


    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 nned.¡±


    <em>¡°And you will not?¡± </em>Admiral Ningo replied, sensing the undertone across the transmission.


    ¡°We will join youter,¡± 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 <em>must </em>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 atrge, the Republic would never be able to snuff out the embers of Separatism in their home turf.


    <em>¡°...Blessed are those who help their friends in need, Admiral,¡± </em>Captain Jace Dallin told her, <em>¡°And upright are those who repay their debts. May the Force be with you, and stars watch over you.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°I will await you at Manaan with drinks, Rear Admiral Trilm,¡± </em>the old Sullustan bid his farewells, clearly unwilling to argue her intentions or stay behind any longer himself, <em>¡°I am forever in your debt.¡±</em>


    With some two-hundred shes 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.


    <em>¡°Once more into the fray, eh, bossdy?¡± </em>Rel Harsol chuckled as <em>Sa Nor </em>swung around onto a vector towards the rear of the Coruscant Home Fleet.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to follow me thisst time, gentlemen,¡± Calli Trilm gently led her battered fleet back towards the enemy.


    <em>¡°That¡¯s the duty,¡± </em>one-eyed Aviso grunted, <em>¡°That¡¯s the fight. We won¡¯t leave our allies behind.¡±</em>


    And was that not the founding principle of the Separatist State, the very deration of the Confederacy of Independent Systems? <em>If we are to leave the Republic, we are to leave together. </em>


    ?


    <em>This isn¡¯t good.</em>


    That much was obvious as the Coruscant Home Fleet crunched down its jaws around us. The air aboard <em>Chimeratica </em>felt suffocating, as if I was one with my fleet, being strangled alive by the enemy. Two nks of Victory-ss 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 ughter; frigates and light cruisers managing to minnow through the enemy lines and slipping into open space. Our heavier ships however, <em>Chimeratica </em>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-ss battleships, four in number and all under themand of the Neimodian Commander Krett. Their rtively 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 thest of his attitude thrusters to draw his ships into a tight, cube-like formation, the bristling wings of the Lucrehulks ring outward like the petals of a steel flower.


    <em>¡°This might be the end for us, frog,¡± </em>Horgo Shive grunted as he struggled to screen Krett¡¯s battleships.


    <em>¡°Your ships are not disabled,¡± </em>Krett replied harshly, <em>¡°Mine are. Get out of here!¡±</em>


    There was a pause in thems¨C


    <em>¡°¨CDon¡¯t have to tell me twice,¡± </em>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-ss battleships were still one of the most if not <em>the </em>most terrifying conventional warships the Confederacy could field. Each battle-fitted Lucrehulk was one-and-half <em>billion </em>tons of hull and guns, and over a hundred times as heavy as a Venator-ss Star Destroyer.


    The Home Fleet had no choice but to eliminate thebat 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 apanied by swarms of Vulture droids and screening vessels; without that support, they were prey for starfighters¡ªalbeit veryrge and heavily armed prey. With all of their LACs already in the ck, the remaining warships of the 5th Division closed ranks, less than twenty in all, and prepared to go down in mes, determined to take down as many of the enemy with them.


    ¡°Krett is pinning down a number of their ships!¡± I wrangled control of thems, shouting into the electrically-charged void and using our superior Separatistms 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!?¡±


    <em>¡°They¡¯re cycling their ships along our vector,¡± </em>Dodecian Illiet gave the grave news, <em>¡°They won¡¯t let us leave.¡±</em>


    Ultimately, the Home Fleet now outnumbered us nearly two to one. Despite Krett¡¯s efforts to hold off her rear divisions, the Bloodhound stillmanded 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¨C<em>Chimeratica </em>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. rms red throughout the bridge as the lights flickered, casting shadows in the usually well-lit pilothouse. <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>sublight engines sputtered, then died with a final, agonising groan, leaving the 28th Mobile¡¯s fleet gship 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!¡±


    <em>Do we even have an aft section anymore? </em>I was forced to wonder. It was not just the lights, too many of <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>disys 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 ourmunications array, which vastly outstripped anything the GAR could levy against it. Small mercies.


    ¡°Dispatch an engineering squad to the aft!¡± Tuffmanded hastily, before turning to me, ¡°Rear Admiral, we need to get you off the ship. <em>Chimeratica </em>is no longer in any shape to escape.¡±


    ¡°Off the ship¡­¡± I croaked, looking up at the cracked viewports, at a gxy consumed by steel and fire in every direction, <em>¡°And to where?¡±</em>


    ?


    ¡°Behind us, Admiral!¡± g Captain of the <em>Arlionne, </em>Terrinald Screed, roared as enemy contacts zed 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 <em>Arlionne </em>that the Separatists clearly didn¡¯t <em>consider themselves intercepted.</em>


    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 disy, 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¡­ <em>what are they doing? </em>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¨C<em>at all costs!¨C</em>let the enemy fleets link up! The rest of you; sink the Battle Hydra! I say again; <em>SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA!¡±</em>


    At that moment, it was as if the Nine Hells of Corellia rose to consume the gxy 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 ites 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 gship duelled three enemy destroyers at once, even as half her primary armamentsid dead, ¡°Do not let them reorganise!


    Scores of Separatist frigates unleashed all of their power, filling the whole battlespace with an imprable electronic fuzz that made any and all Republic coordination impossible.


    Against all odds, the Separatists had turned the tide, indiscriminately ughtering the Loyalist forces asrades 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 avable 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 <em>open fire!¡±</em>


    ¡°B-But sir!¡± the messenger spluttered, ¡°We¡¯re still¨C¡±


    <em>¡°That¡¯s an order!¡±</em>


    Outside the fleet gship <em>Arlionne, </em>however, Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s orders were very different. Cut off frommand by berserk Separatist frequencies, the Loyalist captaincies,pletely drunk with carnage and havoc, fell upon <em>Arlionne¡¯s </emst known standing order.


    <em>SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA!</em>


    <em>SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA! </em>


    <em>SINK THE BATTLE HYDRA!</em>


    The Home Fleet¡¯s most valiantmanders¨CDodonna, Autem, and Screed¨Ceachunched 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 epting 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 ce in the Rendili Star System, Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi heard the pilot¡¯s orders aghast.


    ¡°Admiral Honor wants us to do <em>what?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°That¡¯s what the orderly told me, General,¡± </em>the wing leader ryed, <em>¡°Fifty-six of my boys died getting her orders to you, sir. Better make it count.¡±</em>


    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 be 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 vi-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.¡±


    <em>¡°We will be shooting at our own allies, Master!¡± </em>Knight Olge cried, <em>¡°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!¡±</em>


    ¡°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!¡±


    <em>To the north? On the other side of the brawl? </em>Obi-Wan checked his chrono¨Cit¡¯s been half a standard day since the battle began.


    <em>Then its Task Force Hyperion. Master Plo Koon. Atst!</em>


    ¡°Hail them!¡± he barked.


    The officer frantically returned to his station and patched the Jedi Master through.


    <em>¡°I see I¡¯m not toote to the party, Obi-Wan,¡± </em>the Kel-Dor Master¡¯s presence was a reassuring one, and Obi-Wan felt like a mere Knight once more, under the tutge 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 <em>Senate </em>finds out we fired upon the feathers of Core nobility¡­¡±


    <em>¡°At our ally¡¯s behest,¡±</em> the Jedi Master corrected, not unkindly,<em> ¡°We have the transmission, and the sender¡¯s transponder?¡±</em>


    ¡°We do,¡± Commander Cody confirmed quickly.


    Plo Koon nodded decisively, ¡°Then we must steel our hearts for the battles toe, Obi-Wan. We save Honor Salima, and she will be a terrific ally to have. Come, let us end this terrible affair.¡±


    <em>By being more terrible than the Home Fleet and Perlemian Coalitionbined? </em>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 nce with Olge vi-Dol as Commander Cody departed to carry out the orders. Meeting her eyes, the young Knight deted, 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 ughter 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 ofnce-like missiles into the fray. And from the south, the Open Circle Fleet spat out ming tongues of energy and gas, starfighters leaping into the ck and plunging into the chaotic stormden with fresh torpedoes and missiles.


    The explosions were so bright it was as if the arms of the gxy 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 thepartments, mmed 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 ce 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 energyncing out from everywhere at once, seeking targets known only to them. Starfighters turned into flowers of me all around me asser 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 ming wrecks of destroyers carved through the ck 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 interster 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 <em>Chimeratica </em>was remaining rtively untouched, like we were in the eye of the storm. And then I realised that we <em>were </em>in the eye of the storm. <em>Chimeratica </em>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 thergest Star Destroyers to smallest corvettes, charged at <em>Chimeractica </em>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-ss 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 <em>aiming directly for the Chimeratica. </em>Like a heated knife poised to cut through a b 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 st doors.


    Taylor seized be my the arms as he all but dragged me into the ming depths of the gship¨Cand as the st doors groaned towards each other, I caught a glimpse of a <em>second </em>ship¨Ca Separatist Providence ramming straight into iing Victory right in its ventral nk and shoving it off to the side. A split secondter, an explosive shockwave burst outwards¨Cand I heard the telltale crackle of shattering transparisteel just before the doors thudded shut.


    The interior of <em>Chimeratica </em>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-filledpartments, the maze of st doors closing off here and there to iste damages and hull breaches I could not see. There was a terrible gale blowing through the hallways, tearing the breath from my lungs. Sirens red, lights shing 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 beenpromised!¡± Artisan shoved us in another direction, on hand holding onto an emergency repair nk.


    ¡°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 gship 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 <em>Chimeratica¡¯s </em>organic crew¨Cthe officers, marines, and the like¨Chad they managed to reach the escape pods? Were they remaining on the ship?


    The hull ting of the artillery deck bulged inwards right in front of us.


    <em>Oh, fuck¨C!</em>


    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 thest 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 ckened. 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 distantser 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.


    <em>Aha, </em>I thought in dry humour, <em>Chimeratica had been cut in half. </em>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, ttened 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 <em>had </em>been detonations.


    My heart faltered as I studied the livery of the Providence. It¡¯s callsign, splendidly scrawled across her shell in cursive script. <em>Star of Serenno.</em>


    <em>Calli, </em>I whispered. I heard nothing, only the sensation of vibrations dispersing through my head to my ears, giving the illusion of noise. <em>You saved my life¡­</em>


    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 semnce 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 vocabtor 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.


    <em>Kronprinz </em>was a sight for sore eyes, and a sight that <em>made </em>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 ckened 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 facete, or a metre wide and the length of anding field away? Watching <em>Kronprinz </eming, I tried to remember howrge she was, tried to figure out how far away she was, tried to calcte if she would hit me.


    When I realised I was able to count thedder 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 thedderwell. A B2-series super battle droid, and one evidently equipped with a booster pack. Itunched itself off the <em>Kronprinz </em>and towards us. I let myself go ck, still holding onto Hare and the chip, and allowed the droid to drag us towards one of <em>Kronprinz¡¯s </em>airlocks, hidden behind her sails.


    The very moment the airlock was sealed and regr gravity returned, I unceremoniously copsed like a sack of spuds. My entire lower body was numb. <em>Fuck. My legs. I can¡¯t feel my legs. </em>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!¡± Diedrichmanded one of his apanying orderlies.


    ¡°Right away, sir!¡±


    ¡°You should bemanding 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 <em>ship </em>is¨Ccan¡¯t really miss it¨Cbut herself? She told me toe find you, before ramming the <em>Arcenciel. </em>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, ¡°Youmand the fleet now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get us out, Admiral.¡±


    ¡°As for the Neenth¨C¡± I let out a gasp as some drug was injected into me.


    ¡°I¡¯llmand them too,¡± Diedrich Greyshade reassured, ¡°As for Calli Trilm¡­ she¡¯ll be fine. She dislikes the idea of dying more than all of usbined.¡±


    ¡°That I agree with you,¡± I chuckled¨Cthen hacked out a cough.


    <em>That I agree with you¡­</em>


    ?


    Commodore Diedrich Greyshademanded 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 Gctic Interior for Operation Stance. Two monthster, the retreat from the Rendili Star System saw only one-hundred make it to Manaan.

 Addendum 4: Historia Galactica, Vol. 71

    The Clone Wars. The periodmonly 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 gxy in the second decade following the Great ReSynchronization. In fact, the entirety of this gxy-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 gctic stage. As the war unfolded, thebel ¡®Clone Wars¡¯ proved increasingly inadequate, for the scope of the conflict far exceeded the initial skirmish that had given rise to its name.


    The Gctic 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 gxy, 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 gxy-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 encapsted 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 urate, 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 Gctic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systemsmit the full weight of their military and economic resources to the struggle, convinced that victory was just within reach. No region of the gxy remained untouched.


    To the north, the New Territories are under siege by the GAR; in the east the CAFunches a brutal counterattack to recapture their lost territories; in the south Eriaduys silent a tomb, the entire Rimma Trade Route engulfed in a bloody crusade against the Core Worlds. Indiscriminate bombardment had be 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, escted 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.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    A massive, gxy-wide mobilisation saw every avable soldier, fromary 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 theplex and chaotic nature of the war makes it nearly impossible to determine the exact number ofbatants. 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 Gctic 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 personnelmonly 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 Chandr might simultaneously serve as a military contractor transporting heavy artillery to Mimban. Despite theseplexities, well-preserved service records allow us to estimate that the number of actual frontlinebatants, 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 Gctic 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 avable data, the number of actual Confederate frontlinebatants, excluding droids, is estimated at around 900 trillion. The heavy reliance on automation for support roles furtherplicates 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 bothbat 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 im numbers in the quintillions, most if not all respected military historians widely dismiss these as wildly exaggerated. More usible estimates ce the number of battle droids between 2 and 5 quadrillion, with the highest reaching up to 10 quadrillion¡­ ¨C Excerpt from <em>Historia Gctica</em><em>Vol. 71</em>, by Wottlet Scarsir


    <em>Attachment CWY21M06: State of the Gxy:</em>

 Chapter 72

    <em>Roche Asteroid Belt, Roche System</em>


    <em>Roche Sector</em>


    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 nheless been able to push the Separatist State to the edge of the cliff with their lightning Operation Trident. Once it had be apparent they wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the Tion Hegemony as initially nned¨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 seed. 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, be the worst nightmare of any military officer. There was <em>quick and dirty</em>, as General Ambigene and Admiral Kirst tended towards. There was <em>clean and thorough</em>, as General Tann and General Farstar would like it. Traditional military convention stresses that there was <em>no such thing </em>as <em>quick and clean</em>. 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 tomand 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 hisurels, and if he is not, she shrugs off the me.


    Admiral Trench naturally had no intention of shouldering <em>any </em>me.


    From their base of operations at Columex, the Confederate 2nd Fleet Group made their ns for the uing 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 spe, Phindar. Second, a thousand-ship strong contingent under themand of Rear Admiral Merai, including both star dreadnoughts <em>Subjugator </em>and <em>Malevolence, </em>wouldunch themselves down the Perlemian Trade Route. This central thrust would upy 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 hypene.


    Despite Separatist Naval Intelligence¡¯s best efforts, these fortresses remainedrgely 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 <em>main</em> thrust of the attack woulde 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 Stance, 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 <em>consumable </em>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.


    <em>¡°Progress report, Admiral?¡± </em>came the stern volume of Supreme Commander Sev¡¯rance Tann.


    The Harch Admiral clicked his mandibles and shook his head, ¡°The Verpine are proving¡­ <em>contentious</em>. More than expected.


    <em>¡°This strategy is of your making, Admiral,¡± </em>the blue-skinned alien reminded pointedly, opaque red re boring into him, <em>¡°We cannot afford to fail here.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 sessfully blockaded, and there has been no more Loyalist supply fleets reaching the front.¡±


    <em>¡°Then what appears to be the issue?¡±</em>


    ¡°The nature of the ¡®battle¡¯, General,¡± Trench answered without shame, ¡°Or rather, <em>¡®campaign¡¯ </em>would be a more urate description.¡±


    There was a special quirk about the Roche Star System that set it apart from the rest. It had nos. Instead, the entire star system was dominated by a single massive asteroid belt, an endless expanse of rock and ster 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 gxy, with a particr expertise in starship manufacturing. Since their entrance into gctic 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-quartersbat, 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 theirrger ships, camouged against the dark stone,unched 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 sting 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 arger toll than he had calcted 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 thest 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.


    <em>¡°But you can take Roche?¡± </em>the Supreme Commander questioned sharply, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


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    It has been two, three months since the threat of Operation Stance had drawn the 3rd Sector Fleet back to the Core. Trench had hoped for arger 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 gged the¡¯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 nds, ¡°How did youe about this development?¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s features were set grim, <em>¡°The Republic made no secret of it. The HoloNet has been broadcasting a great Loyalist victory at Rendili for the entire gxy 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 imed Separatist gships wrecked in the debris field.¡±</em>


    ¡°Can we <em>confirm </em>that those wrecks are authentic?¡± Trench asked carefully.


    <em>¡°From the footage?¡± </em>the Supreme Commander rified, <em>¡°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 gship post-Yag¡¯Dhul. They want us to know. They are counting on it.¡±</em>


    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 shes erupting from the depths of one segment as sixteen Separatist warships punched through the Corridor G147 towards a suspected Verpine industrial colony. Simr sights were happening concurrently all across the system. A whole thousand warships, dedicated to flushing out a single asteroid field.


    ¡°Have they <em>shown </em>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 ck 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.¡±


    <em>¡°Unlikely,¡± </em>Sev¡¯rance Tann said.


    ¡°I tend to agree,¡± Trench concurred, ¡°And have <em>any </em>survivors of the battle contacted us yet?¡±


    <em>¡°Not,¡±</em> she paused, <em>¡°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 Neenth, 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.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Not at all unbelievable, considering the nature of space battles.¡±</em>


    ¡°I will not argue with you there,¡± Trench conceded, ¡°But this means¡­ I imagine Parliament is mouring for answers from you, and in the midst of the Serenno Transmissions affair as well.¡±


    <em>¡°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,¡± </em>the Supreme Commander of the CAF told him,<em> ¡°I need your support in this regard.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 dere Calli Trilm, Rain Bonteri, and Dua Ningo to be missing in action until further notice. That can dy Parliament¡¯s demands for answers for some time, at least.¡±


    Now, more than ever, at least <em>one </em>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 <em>only </em>thing holding the Separatist State together. Hopes and dreams.


    ¡°However,¡± Admiral Trench continued, ¡°You did not <em>foresee </em>this? I¡¯ve heard the Jedi can sense if a man is dead or alive, even from a gxy away.¡±


    <em>¡°I am not like most Jedi,¡± </em>Sev¡¯rance Tann studied him carefully, <em>¡°And I foresee little where Rain Bonteri is involved. I foresaw a sessful Operation Stance, which was why I permitted General Ambigene to bombard Eriadu.¡±</em>


    ¡°And is that vision of yours still urate?¡±


    <em>¡°I see possible futures, ever in flux as they are,¡± </em>she replied with no small amount of disdain, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°I can imagine so,¡± </em>Trench grunted, in no mood to speak on the metaphysics of time and causation,<em> ¡°Tell me this; will we win the war?¡±</em>


    Four pairs of red eyes met, and the Supreme Commander told him with all the conviction and belief he could only expect from her;<em> ¡°Yes.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 nd smile, <em>¡°I wonder what is the purpose of foresight if you can see through me so easily, Admiral.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 youngdy 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 gxy''srgest 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-ck waves.


    Trench was not so heartless. He hated to break the smile.


    ¡°Operation Stance achieved its primary purpose,¡± Trench made an attempt to console his rival andrade-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.¡±


    <em>¡°Has it?¡±</em> the smile waned, <em>¡°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. Axx and Vinsoth are under siege, and Loyalist fleets are poised to strike at Cnon¨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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Dooku will not make such a drastic and foolhardy move,¡± it was Trench¡¯s turn to frown, ¡°That is not the man I know.¡±


    <em>¡°That is the man I know,¡±</em> the Pantoran murmured,<em> ¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Does confidence fail toe 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 minutester, her eyes opened.


    <em>¡°The oue of the war will draw to a knife¡¯s edge,¡±</em> she told him, nk faced,<em> ¡°Who¡¯s knife, I am unsure. But I do not recognise the gxy-to-be, and that can only be a good omen.¡±</em>


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Trench chittered, ¡°A gxy without a dominant Republic is one nobody who''s lived in the past thousand years would recognise. Whatever happens, we have shaken this gxy to a state where it will never be the same again.¡±


    <em>¡°My¨C our legacy will be intact,¡±</em> the Supreme Commander decided, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    Trench epted 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,<em> ¡°Keep up the good work, Admiral. For the Confederacy.¡±</em>


    ¡°For the Confederacy.¡±


    <em>Everything for the Confederacy. If four fleets and a million veteran spacers was what it would take, then so be it.</em>

 Chapter 73

    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca System</em>


    <em>¡°Bode, Barriss, I want you two to keep an eye on PRIESTESS. If Palpatinemunicates with Dooku, I want to hear it.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Copy that leader.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Understood, Master.¡±</em>


    Plotting a scheme to depose the most powerful man in the gxy was no easy feat, but it was a simple feat. One <em>could </em>make the scheme extraneouslyplex and opaque, Jedi Master Adi Gallia could attest to, but in this instance she decided the oue 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 manymittee 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 herwork had to contact¨Cndestinely 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 particrs leak; which Adi Gallia had already ounted for. No doubt some of them were puppets of the Chancellor, standing by the ry every word spoken back to their dark master.


    Some took less effort, in other ways. The Palpatine Administration¡¯s poprity 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 Chandr, 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.


    <em>She will be important, </em>Master Gallia made a note. Uyter was one of the most productive agri-worlds in the Mid Rim, especially in recent years as they reced 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 leastpared to the downright ostentatious plumages sported by her predecessors. A simple red dress, covered by a sleek ck topcoat of Cyrene silk.


    It was a striking message, and one representative of her character. By all ounts, Queen Neeyutnee was <em>not </em>Padm¨¦ Amid, 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 <em>principle </em>as Padm¨¦ Amid 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 <em>was </em>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 Gctic 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.


    <em>Not just one Councilmember, but two? </em>A wave of recognition washed through the seated audience. A simr 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 d 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 yetpelling 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 dered ¡®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 <em>Hyperion </em>for their conduct and timely assistance during the battle. Well, the Tholothian Master might say <em>¡®for some reason¡¯, </em>but she had a strong suspicion she knew why. Regardless of the reason, few could oppose the awardsvished upon the Home Fleet.


    <em>They had destroyed the Perlemian Coalition! </em>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 Jedii 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 theirmand, however, earned everything from Medals of Valour to Bronze Crescents.


    By all ounts, the Battle of Rendili had been a massive victory for the Gctic Republic. The Perlemian Coalition¡¯s leaders were dead, its fleets renderedbat ineffective. The Bulwark Fleet was near annihted 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 prolongedck 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


    <em>¡°Would the death of the Battle Hydra affect our agreements with the Separatists?¡± </em>Adi Gallia had asked Plo Koon upon his return.


    The Kel Dor Jedi had paused upon her worries, <em>¡°I find it unlikely that he is dead, despite what the HoloNet may im. 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.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°You believe his death changes nothing?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Nothing at all,¡± </em>Plo Koon confirmed, <em>¡°The Pantoran will y her part, and we will y ours. Then, we will simply forge asting 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.¡±</em>


    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 stand 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 ofpartmentalising 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 bnce¨Cnot all of whom <em>wish </em>to be bnced. After spending his entire term curbing the autonomy and influence of the noble ns, only to double back and honour them as he loses favour with the military and citizenry? It is a precarious bncing 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 asrge as the one he started the war with.¡±


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the vition.


    A flutter of metaphorical butterflies took to the air, rampant murmurs like the pping of their wings. Until now, the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s position seemed bedrock solid, unassable 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 themotion, ¡°I would like to hear from the host herself; Master Jedi, what is the purpose you intend to unify this assemge 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 yourpromise?¡±


    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 Chandr 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, whosemercial 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 nce with her Jedi partner. <em>It¡¯s now or never.</em>


    ¡°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 assemge¨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 <em>hadn¡¯t </em>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 Gctic Senate is in his pocket. I doubt we will even find enough supporters for a vote to impeach him. The words you speak arerge, 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 legition, there would be no legal way to remove him from office.¡±


    ¡°So you would¡­ consider an <em>illegal </em>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.


    <em>War.</em>


    ¡°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 Chandr 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 legitive 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 <em>enough.</em>¡±


    ¡°At which point,¡± Adi Gallia hammered down, ¡°Does the Republic cease being a republic, and begin being a dictatorship? From my perspective, <em>it already is. </em>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 dere himself on for life. And with the courts, legition, and even the media¨Cit would be <empletely legal.</em>¡±


    There was a shaky breath. Adi Gallia reached into the Force, felt the atmosphere, and felt it favourable enough to continue. <em>The perks of being a Jedi are paying off in spades, </em>she thought humorlessly<em>, yet I¡¯m using them to foment a civil war.</em>


    ¡°Civil war is a <em>possibility, </emdies and gentlemen,¡± she insisted, ¡°Whether it bes a <em>necessity </em>depends on the Supreme Chancellor. But in the case it does ur, 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 <em>democracy </em>is worth to all of you, and whether it is worth shedding blood over.¡±


    It was a difficult decision, matched by simrly difficult expressions. At this point, Adi Gallia might have said something along the lines of <em>¡®sleep on it¡¯, </em>except she needed their answers <em>now. </em>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 furtherplications.


    If they dered 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. Simrly, if they didn¡¯t¡­ vice versa. But for that to happen, <em>somebody </em>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 ur,¡± the Mrlssi said slowly, ¡°The Tapani Federation and her Freeworlds would be willing to offer military ess through Tapani space. <em>However, </em>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 spes. That is the most we can pledge.¡±


    <em>The most you can pledge? </em>Adi Gallia had not the mind for warfare, and thus prodded her partner for his decision. Master Plo Koon urged her to ept. <em>This is nearly everything we can hope for, </em>she suddenly found herself thinking, <em>a quarter of the Gctic Interior off-limits to anything Palpatine can muster. </em>


    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 ess to one side and not the other, however, they were clearly dering to the gxy 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. Simrly to the Tapani, the Mandalore Sector would give Jedi fleets full ess 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 gxy? 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 assemge, ¡°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 oue 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 youngdy 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, Anteen-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 themotion, ¡°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 nned 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 ce. I will air all of his corruption and his treason, including themuniques 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 im that the <em>Supreme Chancellor of the Republic </em>of all people wasmunicating with the Separatists for his own gain, ¡°It is following this deration that I hope all of you will make your own announcements. Dere to the Republic and to the gxy. You are all popr 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 dere his neutrality, setting a precedent. The Second Sector Army ismanded 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 sybus struck like a drumbeat, ¡°That Sheev Palpatine is that kind of man?¡±


    <em>No. I think he¡¯ll get news of this meeting and panic, andmunicate 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.</em>


    ¡°I pray that he is.¡±

 Chapter 74

    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    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. <em>Thousands of Jedi on Coruscant to oppose the Dark Lord of the Sith.</em>


    As soon as she entered the circr 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.


    <em>¡°Today, we stand in the wake of a monumental victory,¡± </em>the holoimage of the Supreme Chancellor dered, <em>¡°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!¡±</em>


    There was an apuse, 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, beforeing 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, pping enthusiastically.


    <em>¡°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 gcticmunity, and for this, they will forever be remembered.¡±</em>¡°A show of force, this is,¡± Yoda remarked.


    Dressed in robes of deep red, the colours of the Republic, Palpatine continued.


    <em>¡°In recognition of the service, we must honour our heroes ordingly¨C¡± </em>another raucous cheer, <em>¡°¨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, whosemand 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 impable 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.¡±</em>


    Adi Gallia muted the holorecording just before a second standing ovation apuded the liberal bestowment of military des. 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 rtionship¨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 <em>¡®all the brave fighters who took part in this campaign¡¯ </em>was originally supposed to be <em>¡®all the brave troopers of the Open Circle Fleet, who struck the decisive blow against the Separatist forces.¡¯ </em>Honor Salima may not be the most¡­ <em>endearing</em>¡­ 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.¡±


    <em>¡°However!¡± </em>Palpatine¡¯s voice cut through the budding debate, <em>¡°Honoured senators, my fellow countrymen¡­ while we celebrate this victory, we cannot allow ourselves the luxury ofcency. 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!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°We have driven the menace from our home! With every battle, with every siege, we are one step closer to restoring peace across the gxy. 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!¡±</em>


    ¡°Apuse,¡± Adi murmured, just as it happened. Because she had been there.


    <em>¡°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!¡±</em>


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Adi Gallia said just as the Senate broke into another extended apuse. 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 toote 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 ims, 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.¡±


    ¡°nning 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, Chandr, 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.¡±


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The only reason they did not outright say that Palpatine <em>was </em>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 oundish ims.


    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 muste 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.


    <em>¡®Found the mole.¡¯</em>


    ?


    ns never go to¡­ n.


    That was one reality Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was extremely well-versed in, daresay more than any man alive. He had made a lot of ns in his lifetime, after all. ns to seize the megacorporations, ns to seize the Republic, ns to seize the gxy. It was the Grand n. His n. The only n that mattered.


    But it was not perfect. It never was, and was never meant to be. The Grand n 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 gxy, 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 bestid ns can be ensnared by the unexpected, however. There were moments when the gxy 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 n so carefully kindled. And the Dark Lord of the Sith admired her for it.


    <em>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.</em>


    s, that door was shut to him. Sev¡¯rance Tann was no longer a candidate for apprenticeship¨C<em>she was a rival</em>. 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¡­ <em>as for Dooku¡­ his usefulness is drawing to an end. Pitiful creature, thinking he is still a part of my New Order. </em>But Palpatine was nothing if not resourceful, and even discarded pieces could still prove themselves¡­ <em>valuable. </em>Count Dooku still controlled half of the Separatist State, and with a masterstroke, Palpatine may as well ughter three birds with one stone; shatter the Confederacy, dispose of Dooku, and purge the Jedi.


    <em>All with a single sentence. </em>In the privacy of his suite, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic smiled to himself. The Grand n of the Sith was a snake, writhing and coiling, changing its n 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 circr 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 <em>remove </em>them. And thus Palpatine was forced to entertain and cate them time and time again, for together their caucuses master a not insignificant fraction of the inner worlds.


    <em>Ah, but there is one thorn evenrger than these three. </em>Jedi Master Adi Gallia. He could gnash his teeth at the mere mention of her alone. <em>To organise a coup right under my nose! </em>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 simplycked the evidence to act on it.


    <em>The Tholothian must be eliminated, sooner thanter.</em>


    But there was also <em>another </em>emotion that came to him; <em>excitement. The thrill of the game. </em>For so long he had yed a one-sided game of dejarik, with no opponent capable of opposing him¨Cor even knowing they were ying. For once, he had met a capable adversary¨Cdare he say <em>rival</em>¨Cin Adi Gallia, and it aroused his eagerness to y once more.


    The Supreme Chancellor showed none of his thoughts as he patiently waited for the three senators to take their ces, 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¡¯lle 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 <em>even more </em>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¡­ <em>drastic </emws will do much to smooth over these frictions.¡±


    ¡°The Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act in particr,¡± 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.¡±


    <em>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 ims is necessary is truly necessary at all. A minor setback.</em>


    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 contemtion, ¡°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 ept whatever oue 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 ording 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¡­ exhtion of power,¡± Bana Breemu allowed slowly.


    Palpatine grinned faintly, ¡°Of course.¡±


    <em>Nevermind. Not sooner thanter. It must be now. </em>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

    <em>Raxus Secundus, Raxus System</em>


    <em>Calu Sector</em>


    Loyalist propagandists often painted the Outer Rim as awless, 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 poptions 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 maniption by the self-proimed 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 gxy. 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 Stance. Such¡­ <em>barbarism</em> could have only been cast from the hands of aliens¨C<em>if they even had hands¨C</em>as 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 birthce of human civilization as the gxy knows it. It was this deep-seated pride that made the Tionese particrly receptive to Separatism. The prospect of reiming their ancient glory as the gxy''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 circr city rising towards the centre like a ziggurat, towards the mighty pce in which the Confederate Parliament took its seat.


    Count Dooku loved the ce, 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 interster sloop rested on itsnding gear in the House of Parliament¡¯s vast private docking space, Dooku ordered the Punwoa 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 ck trousers were neatly tucked into polished dress boots, and a broad belt of fine leather cinched his simrly ck 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 red eyebrows gave him the unmistakable air of a dignified noble, all meticulously groomed as always.The staffers that popted the halls of the Parliamentary Pce gave him a wide berth, splitting before him as a river would before a stone, undoubtedly recognising his distinguished features from just a nce. 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 nced 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 Stance, culminating in the crushing defeat at Rendili. If the Pantoranmander 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 de 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 ce 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 theing 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, sibntly.


    ¡°A calcted risk, my lord.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe you can sway the result of the usations 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 gxy¨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, InterGctic Banking n, Commerce Guild, and Retail Caucus. Likewise, the Techno Union, Corporate Alliance, Hyper-Communications League, and Quarren Istion 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¨Cdering 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 ims on Raxus Secundus in order to maintain some level of authenticity.


    ¡°Then my instructions were carried out?¡±


    ¡°They were,¡± he confirmed, ¡°The preparations areplete, 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¡­ <em>Asajj Ventress?</em>¡±


    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 ying him as Sidious yed gueis before him.


    To that end, he ordered Ventress into a death trap in the Llon Neb. The Storm Fleet reported the death of Ventress, but not long before Dooku lost contact with the entire Storm Fleet soon after. It was onlyter he learned that the Open Circle Fleet had followed Ventress into the Llon Neb, 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, ¡°<em>Anakin Skywalker </em>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. <em>Where is the Storm Fleet?¡±</em>


    <em>The Storm Fleet could be anywhere. </em>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 avnche, 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 <em>must </em>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. <em>Geonosis must not fall into enemy hands.</em>¡±


    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 avable fighting Jedi with their clone armies to Serenno¡­ <em>and deal with all of them in one fell swoop</em>.¡±


    <em>Order 66. The secret order imnted 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 n? 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¡­</em>


    For a moment, Dooku imagined himself as a part of <em>¡®all of them¡¯ </em>Sidious had mentioned. Then he wondered if it was even <em>imagined. </em>He marshalled himself, and looked up into Sidious¡¯ baleful yellow eyes.


    ¡°The Jedi mean to expose you, my lord,¡± Dooku realised. <em>That¡¯s why you now act so drastically.</em>


    ¡°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 atst.¡±


    <em>I, not we?</em>


    ¡°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.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°She represents such a forceful threat to our ns?¡±


    ¡°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 remainposed, resisting the instinct to swallow or gasp for air, for it was impossible anyway under the Sith Lord¡¯s re. 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.


    <em>¡°Do not take this matter lightly, Lord Tyranus,¡± </em>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 <emst time.</em>¡±


    ¡°And¡­¡± Sidious lifted his grip as he continued, ¡°Prepare Geonosis for any unwee 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.¡±


    <em>Adi Gallia. </em>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.¡±


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    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.


    <em>The Sith government, </em>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, deste cityscape. Many of them were hidden ces, 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 ces 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 herst 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? <em>The Battle Hydra is dead. </em>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 hisp.


    ¡°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 someside mission.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Compound raid, from the looks,¡± he rified, 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.¡±


    <em>Did she tell you that, </em>Barriss wondered, <em>or did you overhear?</em>


    ¡°A mission from Master Gallia, I presume.¡±


    The Selonian shrugged, ¡°Maybe.¡±


    <em>Only Master Gallia would know to give Iskat Akaris such bloody work. </em>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 herside was a way to keep Iskat upied 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.¡±


    <em>A lie. </em>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 thetest 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 ttened, away from his view. <em>That girl¡­ Master Gallia put her in my care; I will have to speak to Iskat. </em>As soon as the thought passed, however, the Mirin stered 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,passion 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.¡±


    <em>The truth. </em>Barriss wrapped the Force around her fingers, wielding it like invisible threads branching through the space. <em>It seems I underestimated Iskat. </em>A part of her felt bad for thinking the worst of her friend¨Cbecause Iskat <em>was </em>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 poptions die because the Council choses to ¡®wait and see,¡¯ because Knights are sent to thes 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 wererge, 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 gxy, 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.¡±


    <em>It would be on mine, </em>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 nced 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 ce.


    ¡°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 nts and animals alive requires somewhat regr on-site intervention.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­¡± Barriss mused, ¡°Who did you report to again?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Heezo pushed thest corner into ce, the whole tile fitting into the wall with a satisfying <em>click, </em>¡°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, dting 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 herlink and sent¨C


    <em>¡®Found the mole.¡¯</em>


    Barriss left the garden, leaving no trace save for some freshly weeded flower beds.

 Chapter 76

    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    Master Adi Gallia¡¯s scepticism was justified, if rather ironic.


    ¡°You are <em>certain </em>this is the Delta Source?¡±


    After all, how could a mere <em>staff technician </em>be the mole supplying the Sith Lord with the closest secrets of the Jedi Order? And yet, was that very thought not <em>arrogance? </em>The oh-so very Jedi-like belief that their Order was upromisable, 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 surveince 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 Neb,¡± 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 Mirin 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 rm 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 Mirin 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 formid 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 popted halls of the Jedi Temple, and this funeral chamber was the only ce she could reliably trek to through the narrow and maze-like maintenance shafts.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be right¡­¡± there was a ze of disbelief and anger in Iskat¡¯s eyes, though at whom that anger was directed at Barriss did not know. Iskat¡¯s vtile 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 constion, ¡°I was acting on suspicion.¡±


    Iskat¡¯s eyes shed, and in that split second her anger <em>was </em>focused. At Barriss.


    ¡°Were you using me to get close to him?¡± the red-skinned alien hissed, ¡°Did you be 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.


    <em>The original suspicion was you, </em>Barriss wanted to say, <em>and it might still be. </em>


    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 nk of stuncuffs jerking him back down, the weight of his body mming into the cold, unyielding stone of the altar with a harsh thud. His confusion turned to rm 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 im.¡±


    ¡°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 onest 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 Mastermanded, 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 Mirin 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.


    <em>¡°Tell us the name of your master,¡± </em>theymanded 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.


    <em>¡°Tell us the name of your master!¡±</em>


    ¡°Lord Sidious!¡± Heezo gasped violently,


    ¡°Sidious,¡± Bodetched 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 outwardmunications are monitored!¡±


    <em>Allmunications are!? </em>Barriss hardly had time to evenprehend 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 ss, 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, <em>¡°Please.¡±</em>


    Master Gallia shot Barriss a look, and Barriss breathed in. <em>Onest push. </em>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 <em>give. </em>Like mming against a bolted door just as the hinges snapped.


    Heezo screamed.


    <em>¡°The Works!¡± </em>he shouted, his spine arching in agony, pinned down to the altar, <em>¡°I meet him in the Works!¡±</em>


    Master Gallia abruptly spun around on her heel, sping 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.¡±


    ?


    <em>Raxus Secundus, Raxus System</em>


    <em>Calu Sector</em>


    It was raining on Raxus Secundus, harder than usual. Not enough to deserve the name of a storm, but not light either. The winds hade up, rolling clouds gathering over the prairie beyond the city outskirts. <em>Like an encroaching thunderhead, </em>Sev¡¯rance Tann mused, <em>a foretaste of the carnage toe. </em>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 andbat instations across the length and breadth of the gxy. Each little splotch leaving the imprint of its death on the ss, then dissolving into a featureless wet spill and trickle.


    Little on their own, but relentless nheless, and against the walls she built and deceptions she yed, ultimately meaningless. The Supreme Commander of the Confederate Armed Forces held the countless admiralties and captaincies of hermand 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 iste the fronts from affecting each other.


    It was no responsibility of the CAF¡¯s generals to distract themselves with the petty usations of the bureaucratic courts, not when they already bnced 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 <em>only </em>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 ¡®regtion¡¯ and ¡®ountability.¡¯ 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 <em>win </em>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 <em>Independence </em>high above the atmosphere, though she knew it impossible. The mobile headquarters of the CAF was far toorge to bring into the atmosphere; the massive vessel would copse 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 Gctic 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 thergest war the gxy has ever seen; s, more pressing issues entangled herside 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 oundish 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 be rather well-known for leading the Confederacy¡¯s political efforts from the front.


    If youe across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    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 Pce, 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 st 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 epted 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 austerepared to herbat 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 thetter. 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 theck 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.¡±


    <em>Oh, but you must be, </em>Sev¡¯rance thought silently, <em>after preaching for hours to your captive Parliament.</em>


    ¡°Then I presume you are not here to go through the motions either,¡± Sev¡¯rance folded her hands on herp, ¡°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 que of the Supreme Commander, then at the dark clouds beyond the casement window.


    ¡°Diplomacy,¡± he said atst.


    ¡°Diplomacy?¡±


    ¡°War is a failure ofmunication,¡± Dooku rubbed his fingers, ¡°And we must war without first attempting diplomacy. I did note from across the spiral arms to gloat and prattle.¡±


    ¡°Indeed? But that is what you do best?¡±


    Dookuughed, 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 sped 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. Asting victory. A victory that would etch my name into the fabric of this gxy. 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 sters and warships that hold power and sway. Imand the sters 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 <em>Master. </em>You know of that too, as you know of his <em>Grand n?</em> 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 upied 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 usations, 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 gxy; 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. <em>Her banner. </em>


    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 mockingugh, ¡°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 articte, it is pleasant to have you so lost at words that you must you mine own against me,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann scathed lightly.


    ¡°Just as yourck of artiction 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 Stance 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 upied. The ipetent Kirst fumbles backwards in the north, and begs <em>my </em>generals for aid. Trench has his many hands full rooting out the remnants of Loyalist upation in the Near-Perlemian. The superficial Farstar struggles against the onught on Corellian Run. Lastly, the bull-headed Ambigene grows ever duller, mming his skull on Anakin Skywalker¡¯s defences in the south.¡±


    ¡°You preach to me of my pride, but I see it is <em>your </em>pride inhibiting our dialogue,¡± Dooku admonished her, ¡°Your four fleets are upied, 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. <em>The enemy of my enemy is my friend, </em>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 <em>after </em>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 <em>her </em>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 aser de 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 <em>so much more </em>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 umtes. 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 ts of what you think a military <em>should be. </em>The dark side <em>fuels </em>you. It is <em>so strong </em>in this ce, 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. <em>That is you!</em>¡±


    ¡°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?¡±


    <em>No! </em>Her inner voice seemed to echo hungrily off the walls. It was a snake, ck and oily, slithering around her. There was no lighting through the window now, and outside might as well be nocturnal. The rain roared with shouts of thunder. <em>My army, </em>the serpent hissed in her ear, <em>my fleets, my Confederacy! I will not let them have it! They owe me their pathetic existences¨Cthis entire country does! </em>


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Dooku¡¯s eyes glinted darkly, ¡°You¡¯ve let it in. You¡¯re <em>swimming </em>in it. Hear that? Those are your <em>true </em>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¡­ <em>proposal?</em>¡±


    ¡°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 amon 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 bnce gone and the world seemingly turned inside out.


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°I am human,¡± Dooku rified, as if that needed rifying, ¡°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<em> it </em>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 <em>will </em>have your legacy. A legacy without me in it. All you require is a little¡­ <em>patience</em>.¡±


    ¡°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 manipte. The dark side will show you the stiff ces 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 pce, but I live in an even bigger one, capable of razing entires to ash and salt at but a word. You have armies, but I have armiesrger and more powerful than yours. Youmand 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 canpel 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¡­ <em>patience.</em>¡±


    <em>Patience I will require with or without you, </em>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 abilitiesbined, we could forge a new gctic 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 <em>click, </em>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 hismand over the dark side or hismand 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. <em>Am I so weak that you don¡¯t even need to take me by surprise? </em>Sev¡¯rance raged at the thought, at Dooku¡¯s dispassionate expression and elegantly heldbat 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 gxy.¡±


    The suite burned red as Dooku ignited his lightsaber, ¡°I will try. And you will defend yourself, because I <em>will </em>be trying to kill you. It seems the ns Sidious set into motion have be unavoidable, thanks to you.¡±


    There was a smirk on his face, as if this oue 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 oue? Sev¡¯rance could not fathom it, and perhaps that was why Dooku was smirking, mocking her. <em>Not smart enough to figure it out? </em>His eyes seemed to gleam.


    ¡°You are but an old man unable to ept 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 shed with red as she pointed her saber at him, the point but an inch from his nose, ¡°I order that you surrender, and silently ept that your names will be etched into history as one of the vanquished.¡±

 Chapter 77

    <em>Geonosis, Geonosis System</em>


    <em>Arkanis Sector</em>


    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 themotion on the deck. The gship of the Storm Fleet, <em>Storm-001</em> and the ships it led were all designed with the cover of a PCL 27 A-ss freighter in mind, to disguise their true nature as warships.


    Which meant they all possessed utterly massive bow cargo doors that spanned nk-to-nk, ostensibly to facilitate the off and onloading of the vast volumes of freight these ships fueled the gxy with. Cargo bay doors meant cargo bays¨Csmaller ones, not on the scale of a <em>real </em>A-ss freighter¨Cbutrge 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 tform 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 wing in their restraints. <em>Dxunian warbeasts, </em>Ventress rubbed a phantom itch on her newly acquired mechno-arm, and <em>lunar dragons. </em>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 <em>inside </em>the ship than <em>outside.</em>


    Asajj Ventress absorbed their emotions, their frustrations, their pent up <em>rage, </em>umted 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. <em>Rting to beasts are you now, Asajj? </em>Dooku¡¯s voice asked her, <em>look at how far you have fallen.</em>


    <em>But they are not so mindless, are they Asajj? </em>Ky replied, <em>the Force flows through all living beings.</em>


    <em>Are you? </em>Ventress thought quietly, <em>anybody would be resentful, trapped in a cage where they could not spread their wings. </em>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 mbered up the gangway with two women in tow, ¡°I don¡¯t think these warbeasts wouldst another day in here.¡±


    <em>All it would take was one going on a rampage to kill all of us, </em>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.¡±


    <em>The smell. </em>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.


    <em>I don¡¯t think this is what Dooku imagined his secret fleet would be used for, </em>Ventress thought humorlessly at the sight. <em>Not that it would even be on his list of grudges when I¡¯m done with him.</em>


    ¡°We space the waste regrly,¡± 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¡¯s surface. The air was thick and still, reeking of dirt and sweat. Thest Onderonian warbands were hooking themselves onto the bridles of their warbeasts¨Cactions that the lunar dragons recognised. The ship shuddered again¨Cthis time as thergest 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, ¡°<em>Sharihen </em>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. 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 zca 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 upied being bombed back to the Old Republic, Captain Vander¡¯smandos 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 umitted 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 aforting rhythm in counterpoint to the ship¡¯s engines, a focal point that brought her consciousness into a state of calm. <em>Focus. Find your centre, Asajj.</em>


    ¡°Your hand alright?¡± Kavia asked curiously.


    Asajj lifted it and flexed its bearings, listening to the whirr.


    ¡°It¡¯ll serve,¡± she decided.


    <em>But it¡¯ll never be the same. </em>There was no recement for flesh, nerves, and blood. The mechno-arm was crude and improvised, crafted out of what limited materials were avable 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 inbat.


    She counted her stars; she wasn¡¯t about to duel a Jedi, or anyone for that matter. Just kill some bugs. <em>That¡¯s easy enough, isn¡¯t it?</em>


    ¡°Anytime now¡­¡± Kavia murmured, unconsciously bracing.


    <em>Storm-001 </em>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 ck shadows.


    A distant explosion rocked the ship.


    An even closer one knocked it off its vector.


    Then, the <em>strangest </em>feeling. <em>Storm-001 </em>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. Therger 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 sters 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 <em>big,</em>¡± 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 <em>¡®couple?¡¯</em>¡±


    ¡°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,dy!¡±


    The Onderonian Captain wasted no time bolting off onto the hold deck, animatedly waving his arms and holleringmands in a tribal tongue. The Beast Riders recognised themands¨Cas did their wyverns, and the warbeasts all stirred in anticipation.


    ¡°Open the doors!¡± Kavia shouted into alink, 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, sting 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-ss 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 sted 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 re, trying to cover her datapad with her sleeve, ¡°The engineering crews areing down! Once we¡¯re all here, we¡¯re good to go!¡±


    ¡°¨CWait, <eming down?</em>¡± Ventress couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You¡¯re joining us out there?¡±


    Kavia looked at her as if she was out of her mind, ¡°<em>What? </em>You want us to stay <em>here?</em>¡±


    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 <em>this </em>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 <em>out there</em>.¡±


    She pointed out to the skies beyond the open doors, filled with fire and k and ck 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 re that seemed to imply she was insipid.


    ¡°Live fast, die young!¡± Kavia vaulted over the rails andnded 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 themandos there. As the bridge crew followed her lead, Naradan leaned closer to Ventress¡¯ ear.


    ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the gxy fighting Dooku¡¯s war, but you¡¯ve never fought with the <em>people </em>Dooku ims to be fighting <em>for,</em>¡± the Mistryl told her, ¡°It¡¯s a whole gxy 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 <em>boring death</em>.¡±


    In no mood to continue the argument¨C<em>death is death</em>¨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.


    ¡°Wee 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 nsmen learn to ride before they could walk! The best of them <em>are born </em>on the backs of their warbeasts! That¡¯s why we call them the Beast Riders!¡±


    Vander barked inughter 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 sters andnces 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.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°The punishment¡¯s exile, but we don¡¯t want a band of grudgeful traitors gallivanting around the gxy, do we?¡± Vander asked rhetorically, with a sly smile, <em>¡°They¡¯re here to die.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 zca 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 k sound mute. A rush and lurch¨Cand they were in the air. Ventress wrapped the rope around her arm tight, though her natural bnce kept her steady nheless. All around them, hundreds of dragons and wyverns and warbeasts were taking to the skies over Geonosis, all screaming out as if to im their new domain.


    Ventress felt the pull of the beast beneath her, its wings beating against the storm of dust and k, rising higher and faster with every surge of its powerful body. The air was thick with the smell of scorched sand and burning sma, 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.


    <em>Now isn¡¯t that a sight?</em>


    Geonosian beak-winged starfighters rushed up to meet them, theirparatively diminutive formspletely dwarfed by the massive warbeasts. sts ofser shot up from below, but werepletely 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 thansers,¡± Kavia dered 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 ryed 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 herlink, standing upright despite the winds and gazing through a macrobinocrs, ¡°Slen to Storm Fleet! New directive; saturation bombardment, fire for effect!¡±


    A droid vocoder replied; <em>¡°Affirmative.¡±</em>


    The oue was immediate and devastating¨Chundreds of cannons emerged from the hidden ventral gunports of the freighters, unleashing a hail of bleeding sma 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 ssing hundreds of square metres of desert and mountain in glowing molten ooze.


    They descended low, through the k and smoke, into the mountain passes and out of view of Geonosian long-range artillery. The k cannons on the cliff faces were swarmed by wyverns, whilst nsmen aboard the drexls open fired with grenadeunchers and mounted rotary cannons, the warbands sweeping a zing 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 ce where the beasts were felled, Onderonian and Beast Rider Commandos dropping down with disruptors zing, curses on their lips and sky in their lungs.


    ¡°Olko Baz!¡± Kavia shouted into herlink again, ¡°Cover us as we approach the shield!¡±


    If there was a reply, Ventress didn¡¯t hear it. The warbeasts and their apanying wyverns thundered higher into the sky nevertheless, aloft massive beating wings. The Storm Fleet were now like ck dots behind them, though they steadily pushed forward,ying 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 rtively unscathed. Everything was going to n.


    Captain Vander slowed down to pass through the ray shield, beforending 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 thembined. 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 clickingnguage 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 thest 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 ifpletely 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 toorge for that. Not the standard AAT-1s either. The pieces¡­ <em>Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s Devastator tanks. So that¡¯s where we are.</em>


    ¡°I¡¯m taking point. I know the way.¡±


    ¡°You know where the master codes are?¡± D¡¯ulin questioned sceptically.


    ¡°There¡¯s only one ce they could be,¡± she grunted back, taking the lead with or without the confirmation.


    <em>Drone nest up ahead, </em>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 sh, her arm shot out as if of its own volition. As her de 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 ces, 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 de 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.


    <em>Because dead is dead.</em>


    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¡¯ulinmented, 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 ce, she used the holotable to n her Operation Sidestep, which turned the tide of the war in the southern gxy. 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 themand centre, a huge room with arge circr 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 hismanders as the widening battle raged on the tabletop when they entered the room. The Mistryl strike team fanned out, hairpins shing 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 enemybatants left in the room, they spread out to cover the exits¨Creminding Ventress of the same tactic they used back the Llon Neb.


    ¡°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. <em>The same cowardly old bug as always, </em>Ventress grinned viciously. <em>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. </em>


    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 blownugh¨Ca loud, terrible thing that made Ventress realise they had been outyed.


    ¡°What is he saying!?¡± Naradan D¡¯ulin demanded, piercing Zenji needles held between her fingers.


    ¡°Dooku was right!¡± Poggleughed 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 toote. Haven¡¯t you heard? <em>There¡¯s a war being fought</em>.¡±


    ?


    <em>Attahox Approach, Attahox System</em>


    <em>Hocatar Sector</em>


    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 formte a reasonable timeline to retrace her steps and figure out where she wasst seen. She wasn¡¯t among any of thebined 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. <em>She saved my life. </em>


    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 <em>not </em>hoping, however.


    Nevertheless, we made it to Manaan. Calli chose the ce, 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 nearestrge hypenes. The Loyalists <em>could </em>trace our jump vector, but the resulting search cone was sorge they might as well be looking for a needle in a haystack. Interestingly enough, the world was once a thriving production world¨Cproducing <em>kolto, </em>an earlier alternative to the famous <em>bacta </em>healing agent.


    The stuff wasn¡¯t as potent as bacta, however, and its supply was incredibly limited¨CManaan was the only world in the gxy where kolto could be harvested. After a couple devastating wars that left the surface of the 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 gship 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, <em>I </em>gained nothing from the whole venture. Only losses.


    The Confederacy, however? We bought the Confederacy <em>time, allies, </em>and <em>resources. </em>And most important of all; <em>morale. </em>We didn¡¯t just punch the Republic where it hurts, we <em>rampaged </em>through their backyard¨Cno, <em>front porch</em>¨Cfor two whole months. That had to be worth <em>something. </em>


    The Confederacy could still punch well above its weight ss, 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 <em>time, </em>not <em>victories. </em>At least, not victories on the home front. It was up to the Pantoran¡¯s admiralties to ensure Operation Storm-Door was a sess. 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 g on Diedrich¡¯s ship, <em>Kronprinz. Kronprinz </em>didn¡¯t have any viewports, and it was during that agonising transit that I personally answered an old question of mine.


    <em>Why do warships possess huge bridge viewports?</em>


    Kronprinz conducted herself exceedingly well without any.


    Well, personally, I <em>love </em>viewports. <em>Because they didn¡¯t make me so ustrophobic on board a ship. </em>We had been orbiting Manaan, but I couldn¡¯t see it with my own eyes, only through a camera disy, 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 steelpartments day in and day out¨Cno offence to the <em>Kronprinz, </em>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. <em>Farstar was Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s XO during the Bothan Campaign! </em>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¨Cif they had any¨Ca fright. It must have been a sight for the local astro-service. Separatist Providences apanied by Bulwarks and Dreadnaughts, and Venators and Victorys. We immediately sted 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 <em>Kronprinz. </em>And there was not a warship in the gxy that looked like her.


    <em>¡°Commodore Diedrich Greyshade!¡± </em>a voice hailed us from the transmission, <em>¡°I am Commander Celis Mott of the Three-Hundred and Thirty-First Strike Division. Wee back home.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Was it Calli who told me that?</em>


    ¡°Why plunder and steal illegally when you can plunder and steal legally?¡± Diedrich joked, before toggling thems, ¡°d to be home, Commander. It¡¯s been a long journey. But it is not my ce to say.¡±


    The Columexi gestured for me to take his ce. I cleared my throat and did so.


    ¡°Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri of the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet speaking,¡± I spoke into the silentms, ¡°My apologies for trespassing into your AO, Commander Mott.¡±


    <em>¡°...Rain Bonteri. You¡¯re a dead man.¡±</em>


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid my death has been greatly exaggerated,¡± I swallowed, ¡°If I am <em>going </em>to die, I¡¯d at least like to know why.¡±


    <em>¡°No¡­ my apologies, Rear Admiral sir,¡± </em>Celis Mottughed nervously, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°I am indeed pleased to know,¡± I replied patiently, ¡°May I speak to General Farstar?¡±


    <em>¡°Right¡­¡± </em>Commander Mott paused,<em> ¡°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?¡±</em>


    I shared a confused look with Diedrich and the other bridge officers, ¡°We are on speaking terms, Commander, if that is what you meant.¡±


    <em>¡°She listens to you.¡±</em>


    ¡°She does.¡±


    <em>¡°That¡¯s¡­ good to hear,¡± </em>Celis dragged out his words, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°What is your purpose, Commander?¡±


    <em>¡°I¡¯d like for you to speak some sense into the Supreme Commander,¡±</em> the former pirate told me, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    Diedrich leaned into thems, ¡°Speak clearly, Commander!¡±


    <em>¡°...¡±</em>


    <em>¡°While you were dead, Star Station Independence has upied Raxus Secundus,¡± </em>Celis Mott dropped the bomb on our heads, <em>¡°The Parliament and Senate have been suspended by the Supreme Commander, and state of martialw has been dered in the Tion Hegemony.¡±</em>

 Chapter 78

    <em>Columex Approach, Columex System</em>


    <em>Vorzyd Sector</em>


    There was a battle fought here, now over a year ago and honestly a distant memory, but thergest battle the gxy had ever witnessed in thest one thousand years nheless. There was also little to no physical evidence it ever took ce 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 disys as the green-blue pearl known as Columex grewrger andrger, suspended in space like a turquoise star and twinkling with the lights of hundreds of satellite foundries and shipyards. There was silence in <em>Kronprinz¡¯s </em>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 <em>true </em>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 <em>Kronprinz, </em>¡°It¡¯s too silent.¡±


    And as I ingested his words, it too gradually dawned on me how diforting the approach to Columex was. The Columex System, the beating heart of the Commonality¡¯s trade, was quiet. That alone was rming in itself. The hyper-junction sat at the crossroads of two major hypenes; the Perlemian Trade Route and the Salin Corridor. There was trade flowing through here mere <em>hours </em>before the Battle of Columex erupted. By all means, Columex should not even <em>know</em> the meaning of empty and quiet.¡°...We¡¯re being hailed, sir,¡± thems chief looked to Diedrich, then to me.


    ¡°Who?¡± Diedrich¡¯s attention didn¡¯t move an inch from the disy.


    Not so enraptured by the sight of Columex myself, I took the chance to slide over to thems station, eyes gliding over the transponder code scrawled over the console: <em>CNBC_91.42.291.43921.25_1001SM</em>


    ¡°Battlecruiser <em>Invincible</em>,¡± I would recognise the code anywhere, leaning over the chief¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s Admiral Trench¨Cput him through.¡±


    ¡°Right away sir!¡± thems chief replied hastily, fingers shooting to the toggles.


    ¡°<em>Invincible, Kronprinz,¡± </em>I spoke into the open channel, ¡°This is¨C¡±


    <em>¡°¨CI will hear an oral report in-person, Kronprinz,¡±</em><em>Invincible </em>replied with the unmistakable crackle of Admiral Trench, <em>¡°Shut down your main engines and prepare for docking. Have the fleet hold position and maintain formation.¡±</em>


    Diedrich finally peeled his eyes off the disy, as the prowling shadow of <em>Invincible </em>slid onto the scopes and obscured the sight of Columex, ¡°<em>Invincible, Kronprinz, </em>affirmative.¡±


    <em>¡°Good to have you back, Coalition forces,¡± </em>Admiral Trench said atst, <em>¡°Wee home.¡±</em>


    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 disy, counting the numbers of Trench¡¯s personalmand arrayed in Columex¡¯s orbit, ¡°Think we can run <em>that</em> blockade<em>?</em>¡±


    The Columexi chuckled apprehensively, ¡°We don¡¯t know if Trench is in Tann¡¯s camp or not.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t even know if <em>we¡¯re </em>in Tann¡¯s camp or not,¡± I pointed out.


    The proximity rms started ring as the <em>Invincible </em>pulled up beside us, easily dwarfing the <em>Kronprinz</em> 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 nced at thems chief, ¡°Get Admiral Ningo and Captain Dallin on the line. Let¡¯s have them aboard the <em>Invincible </em>as soon as possible.¡±


    The gship 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¡¯smand ship wouldn¡¯t often be found in activebat 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 specte, as it would befit theirmand style.


    If that was the case¡­ <em>Invincible </em>was here, and the Jedi was not.


    Diedrich and I were the first to enter the <em>Invincible¡¯s </em>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 vigntly than he was on Raxus during the Supreme Commander¡¯s confirmation vote. He was watching¨Cno, <em>judging </em>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 ndly, 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 yourmanding officer.¡±


    ¡°The Neenth Mobile Fleet¨C¡±


    ¡°Will be managed by Calli Trilm¡¯s second inmand, should she be missing or dead.¡±


    ¡°Her second inmand is <em>also </em>missing or dead,¡± I inserted myself again, more forcefully this time, ¡°And the Neenth Mobile Fleet has been transitorily absorbed into the Twenty-Eighth¡¯s operative structure.¡±


    ¡°...The Neenth has suffered enough losses to warrant such a severe action?¡±


    ¡°I believe so, sir,¡± I answered, ¡°As do the Neenth¡¯s ranking officers.¡±


    Trench did not even hesitate to ponder the information, ¡°Then the Neenth will be subsumed by the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet until further notice. I will <em>still </em>be taking your report.¡±


    I shared a wary nce with Diedrich, our attentionpsing for a brief moment as the Sullustan Dua Ningo entered thepartment with Jace Dallin in tow¨Cthetter visibly nervous about something. Meeting the infamous Admiral Trench, perhaps? I doubt it¨CDallin was abat veteran and survivor of the Stark Hyperspace War. More likely, he was nervous about meeting an <em>enemy admiral </em>in their home turf. <em>He¡¯ll have to get over it, </em>I mused internally, <em>the Republic is his enemy now.</em>


    I eyed the man. <em>But that remains to be seen.</em>


    ¡°Take a seat,¡± Trench awarded them a passing look before settling back on me.


    ¡°Returning to our conversation, Admiral,¡± I continued after greeting the neers 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 <em>is </em>the Neenth¡¯s CO.¡±


    ¡°Admiral Kirst is dead,¡± Trench said bluntly. The atmosphere in the room settled, as if someone had upped the internal pressure in thepartment, ¡°And the First Fleet Group has been dmissioned.¡±


    <em>¡°Dmissioned!?¡± </em>Diedrich nearly shot out of his chair, ¡°The <em>entire </em>fleet has been destroyed!? The Firstmands over two-thousand warships!¡±


    ¡°The final remnants of which were destroyed in the Battle of Cnon,¡± Trench¡¯s testy voice forced Diedrich back down like an admonished dog, ¡°Along with Admiral Kirst himself.¡±


    ¡°...The <em>Starcrusher </em>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 <em>personally,</em> ¡°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 <em>anger </em>in Dua Ningo¡¯s voice, like an ireful disbelief than <em>any </em>Loyalist general could outsmart an admiral of the Confederacy¡­ which, and I would hate to break it to him, was a moremon urrence 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 exined, ¡°What urred next is unclear. As far as we know, he retreated to the Separatist stronghold of Cnon, seeking further reinforcement from Count Dooku¡¯s personal fleets under Admiral Pors Tonith and General Grievous.¡±


    ¡°We lost Cnon?¡± 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 Cnon, Admiral Pors Tonith lifted the sieges at Axx and Vinsoth,unching a counteroffensive back up the Salin Corridor to Shaum Hii. Meanwhile, General Grievous hasunched 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 y from Dooku¡¯smanders?¡±


    ¡°That is hard to say,¡± Trench bluntly danced around the question, ¡°That bodes the question; who do <em>you </em>support, Dua Ningo?¡±


    The Sullustanughed 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 ce to insert ourselves, for we would never be on equal footing. Despite Dua Ningo¡¯s diminutive form¨Cespeciallypared to the great Harch¨Cthe Sullustan held himself to the same <em>weight </em>as Admiral Trench. It was a conversation between equals, and ever since joining the CAF, it was something I was rather unustomed to. <em>True equals. </em>Not just equal in rank, but equal in age and experience and simply, <em>standing.</em> 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 thispartment, depends on who <em>you </em>support. Who are <em>you </em>fighting for, Trench? <em>What happened? </em>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 militaryms?¡±


    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 spection. 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 <em>every </em>business of the military!¡± Dua Ningo mmed his fist down. Even Jace Dallin looked appalled by Trench¡¯s statement, ¡°The military fights for the state! Whoprises 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 particrly violent extension of politics, but politics nheless!?¡±


    I internally winced. Unlike those of us who have grown familiar with the Pantoran¡¯s rather <em>unique </em>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 im 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 promation, if it was even at all possible. A stifling silence gripped us, and I was only able to choke out: <em>¡°W-What?¡±</em>


    I knew Count Dooku was¡­ <em>twisted, </em>by what ever dark side sorcery he had his fingers dipped in¨Cbut attempting something so tantamount to <em>political suicide </em>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 im.¡±


    This content has been uwfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°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 Pce 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 <em>both </em>of them were out to kill?¡±


    The Harch Admiral nodded grimly, ¡°<em>Both of them. </em>I specte that this is the primary issue of contention. First is the sheer unbelievability of the im, even with everything the Supreme Commander has put forward. usations of foul y, forgery¨Cevery excuse and justification under the stars that you could imagine.¡±


    <em>Of course! </em>I wanted to facepalm. Count Dooku was not only the Head of State, he was also a <em>former Jedi</em>¨Ca beacon of virtue!¨Cand the very <em>founder </em>of the Confederacy itself. He¡¯s had <em>decades </em>to build up his reputation and cause. Byparison, Sev¡¯rance Tann has only been a household name¨Cif even that¨Cfor little over a <em>single year</em>! It was likeparing an underground idol to a superstar.


    I <em>wanted </em>to say that Tann could have acted with more <em>tact, </em>to say the least, but I feared that she had little other choice. Their duel on Raxus had been a very <em>public </em>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 used 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 ofposure, ¡°Which only lends more credence to the Serenno Government¡¯s ims that the Supreme Commander was attempting to seize power by killing the Head of State. Because she <em>did </em>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 ims 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 dered martialw 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 spection, based on my limited knowledge of the events and my personal appraisal of her character,¡± Trench warned, ¡°You will have ess 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 sess of a coup, much less a civil war? <em>Legitimacy. Legitimacy, legitimacy, legitimacy! </em>On one side was the <em>legitimate</em> and <emwful </em>Head of State and his Serenno Government, and the other side was a usurping military general who had just publicly overthrown the <em>rightful </em>national government.


    <em>Fuck me! Assigning Calli Trilm to Operation Stance was a grievous mistake.</em>


    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 <em>nothing </em>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? <em>Everything was in flux. </em>People were neither logical nor sensible, and pulled between two sides like this most would simply choose who they <em>trusted </em>more.


    Who would naturally be the Father of the Confederacy, Count Dooku.


    Maybe we could rely on the species and races who <em>actually were </em>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 gctic scale.


    <em>However¡­ </em>Sev¡¯rance Tann had one major thing going for her. <em>Legitimacy means nothing if you didn¡¯t have the might to back it up. </em>


    ¡°What¡­¡± I raised my voice tentatively, ¡°What does the CAF think?¡±


    <em>In other words: what do you, Admiral Trench, think?</em>


    ¡°The Supreme Commandermands the absolute obedience of the Confederate Armed Forces,¡± Admiral Trench straightened, ¡°Myself included. That is how she was able to bloodlessly upy Raxus Secundus.¡±


    I mentally pumped a fist. <em>That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! </em>


    Finally, a silver lining. No, not just a silver <em>lining. A silver fist.</em>


    ¡°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 thest 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 ce, ¡°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 <em>part </em>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 pped 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.¡±


    Dallinughed, ¡°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 mymand. 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 newmanding 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 ced under mymand, 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 wee 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 newmanding 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. <em>Maybe. </em>


    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 <em>secret </em>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 thepartment, 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?¡±


    <em>Admiral Bonteri. </em>Something about the way I said it made me pause. I was, of course, <em>Admiral Bonteri. </em>It was a casual shorthand for the more mouthy <em>Rear Admiral Bonteri</em>, 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 Stance has done?¡± Trench dug into my soul.


    ¡°I consider it a sess, 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 <em>beyond Salvara. </em>All the way to Roche. All the way to Phindar. Stance has struck such a terror into the heart of the Core that it was enough to convince systems as major as Rendili to secede. Congrattions, 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 sess 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 <em>another.</em>¡±


    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: <em>Aggressor-ss long-range artillery tform.</em>


    It was a designpletely alien to the gxy, and nothing that has preceded it looked simr to it in any capacity. In fact, it looked like it had jumped out of apletely different video game from my old homeworld. From a cursory look at the spinning projection, the Aggressor-ss was a little over 1,600 metres long, shaped like a tuning fork with a four-pronged w-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 <em>front, </em>however, I saw two open bores, and realised that two prongs were thergest ship-mounted artillery pieces I¡¯ve¨Cno, the <em>gxy </em>has ever seen.


    ¡°This is the Aggressor-ss 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<em> gravitic waveguns, </em>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 oue of a battle, and thus a war, and Columex is currently building <em>two </em>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 oundish designs, but this¡­ I recalled Gnifmark Dymurra¡¯s original prototype presented to me on Raxus, which appeared sort of like an interster 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 <em>own </em>waveguns.


    ¡°If¡­ if these battleships are being built here in Columex,¡± Diedrich sounded like he couldn¡¯t decide whether he was ted 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 finalponent that can only be sourced from one ce in the entire gxy; Gravlex Med,¡± Trench waved his hand, and a high-gravity reced 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, internallymenting my situation. Was this how Calli Trilm felt? I am certainly empathising with her now. There was a certain¡­ <em>exhaustion, </em>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 that prevented the local Anx from achieving interster flight. Their solution? Massive fuck-off cannons that <em>fired </em>their spaceships into orbit, and towards the nearby star systems. The Gravlex Launchworks were still manufacturing those cannons, both tounch their ships into space, but also for a different purpose; to <em>fire </em>the¡¯s umted trash into their <em>sun</em>.


    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-ss <em>are </em>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 regrly 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 inmand of an Aggressor-ss 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, ¡°<em>Operation Stance was simple.</em> 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 <em>sojourn there </em>for stars know how long? Before just <em>waltzing </em>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 <em>stupid secret fleet!?</em>¡±


    Admiral Trench clicked his mandibles, ¡°Not Count Dooku. <em>The Republlc. </em>The reason Serenno was so easily able to take over the New Territories is because Raxus Secundus has <em>never </em>been able to exercise authority over the north. <em>Phindar, </em>Bonteri, our problem is <em>Phindar. Fortress world Phindar.</em>¡±


    I shut my eyes in frustration, but I could understand what he meant. There was only <em>one </em>major hypene 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 ovee 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 ce. Not even Trench could disce 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!¡±


    <em>¡°Then don¡¯t do it again,¡± </em>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 n for Phindar,¡± Trench interrupted him.


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°We try to convince the Republic to let us through.¡±

 Chapter 79

    <em>Wroona Orbit, Wroona System</em>


    <em>Harrin Sector</em>


    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 gxy, 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 <em>had </em>been put to a stop, by thebined efforts of Admiral Honor, Master Plo, and Master Kenobi, in the Rendili Star System. He was not¡­ <em>undefeatable</em>.


    But standing in the Battle Room of the battlecruiser <em>Aurodia, </em>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 disys, that horrible sinking feeling only embedded itself deeper and deeper into her gut; <em>Horn Ambigene did not know the definition of ¡®defeat¡¯.</em>


    <em>¡°Commander A¡¯din to Wroona Command, can you hear me!?¡± </em>Scout was hunched over ams station, headset pressed against one ear, <em>¡°The Seps haveunched another assault on Lohopa-Two. We¡¯re requesting urgent reinforcements!¡±</em>


    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 thest. And yet here he was again, Horn Ambigene, pushing his relentless offensive up the Rimma Trade Route, unwilling to ept 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 goaly in reach. ¡°I hear you, Commander A¡¯din,¡± Scout checked her mental list, ¡°How many men do you need?¡±


    <em>¡°The Seventh Legion¡¯s thinned¨C¡± </em>she was briefly deafened by the scream of atmospheric thrusters followed by a chain of rampaging explosions roaring out the headset, <em>¡°¨Csixty troopships to recoup our losses!¡±</em>


    Scout looked down at thems 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 themand, ¡°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 Acmators and a million troopers to shore up its defences just in time! The Seps aren¡¯t letting us breathe.¡±


    ¡°So Ambigene¡¯s trying to outnk 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!¡± thems 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 Acmators left in reserve,¡± thems officer squinted at the transcript, ¡°They¡¯re saying they¡¯ll try to procure andmandeer 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 me 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 <em>must </em>contest the Tombmaker¡¯s fleets above every they fought over, lest there wouldn¡¯t even be a <em>left </em>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?¡±


    Thems 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 Aa 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 aze 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,rger than anything he¡¯d marshalled before.


    ¡°But we¡¯recking 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 mynguage, sir.¡±


    ¡°The Seps are bleeding us dry,¡± Scout murmured, silently wishing for the wisdom of Master Skywalker or Admiral Yren to turn to¨Cright before mentally berating herself for even <em>considering </em>that. The General and Admiral had <em>entrusted </em>her and her staff to directing the war effort, even giving Scout her ownmand gship¨C<em>Aurodia</em>¨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.¡±


    <em>And supplying those raiders in turn. </em>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 tounch their Wavecrests into the Southern Core to harass their supply lines in tandem with the Confederate Fourth Fleet. ¡®<em>Conjuring resources from thin air¡¯ </em>was how Octavian Grant described the phenomenon. Either they¡¯re arithmetic sorcery was more <em>sorcerous </em>than they had let on, or the Givin were in on some secret hypene from Force knows where. One was more likely than the other.


    ¡°What do you rmend, 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 nk copsing. 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. <em>What should I do? </em>She asked to the void, and received silence in return.


    ¡°Sir?¡± thems 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 Aa 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 thems 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?¡±


    <em>Ord Vaug¡­ it¡¯s right off the Rimma Trade Route. If it falls, the nks of the Rimma will be put in jeopardy. That¡¯s our main front.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Aurodia¨C</em> ¡°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 simtions bay, ¡°Run the viability assessments. As soon as there¡¯s a clear projection, ry 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 mes, 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.


    <em>Fighting a man who refuses to taste defeat¡ªthat¡¯s one kind of military hell,</em> Scout mused bitterly. <em>But coordinating with the Sector Armies? That¡¯s another brand of bureaucratic hell entirely.</em> 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.


    <em>They¡¯re my allies!</em> She thought with a scowl. <em>Why must I sacrifice more to them than to the enemy?</em>


    She forced herself into a meditative calm, summoning the Force like a balm over her fraying temper¨Ca moremon urrence these days than she¡¯d prefer to admit. <em>Pride,</em> she reminded herself, <em>what I¡¯m sacrificing is only my pride. If there were any of it left to speak of. </em>She now understood why General Skywalker disliked dealing with them. <em>Good for him, pawning the work on me.</em>


    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.


    <em>257th Legion on Gapraxis requesting additional troops and close air support. 45th Armoured Battalion on Tregillis needs more medical supplies. 64th Shock Division on Alchenaut requests immediate evacuation. </em>


    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 simtions bay, ¡°Ord Vaug, sir.¡±


    <em>You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Operations, get those seventeen down to Alchenaut immediately,¡± Scout ordered hastily, ¡°Tell the Sixty-Fourth the rest are on their way!¡±


    <em>¡®It might be toote by then, though¡¯ </em>was left unspoken. Scout didn¡¯t linger on that thought¨Cshe couldn¡¯t afford to for one, and she was by now far toofortable 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.¡±


    <em>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! </em>


    ¡°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 nk at Nkllon. They¡¯ll rendezvous in the ck before inserting into Alchenaut.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ry it toms, 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 holodisys. 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: <em>it¡¯s my fault, it¡¯s my fault, it¡¯s my fault!</em> 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 shed through her mind, ¡°Does Jurzan have priority?¡±


    ¡°I¨C I don¡¯t know sir!¡± he squeaked. <em>Right, not his department.</em>


    <em>Jurzan, Jurzan¡­ there! </em>


    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 ites 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 thems bay like a vengeful wraith, ¡°I¡¯ll put in another request with RPDO.¡±


    <em>What the pfassk is going up there? The situation can¡¯t be any worse than it is down here. </em>She swore, taking a cursory nce at all the negative red numbers transmitted to her datapad. <em>I¡¯ll have to use General Skywalker¡¯s transmission code to get them to listen to me.</em>


    ?


    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    ¡°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 vtile situation in Separatist space.¡±


    <em>Vtile situation is one way to put it, </em>Adi Gallia thought wryly. Sev¡¯rance Tann had pulled the cord, just as Rain Bonteri said she would. But it was too early¨C<em>far too early</em>¨Cfor her Jedi conspiracy to exploit fully. In fact, the timing was so soon it was even <em>detrimental</em> 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¡¯Nookmented 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 nning 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 Cnon, leaving <em>two </em>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 <em>either </em>Raxus or Serenno, let alone <em>both.</em>¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting we let the Separatists <em>get away¨C!?¡±</em>


    ¡°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 Isardmented, ¡°Or weaker.¡±


    <em>What a surprising admission from Isard. </em>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 thedder, he wouldn¡¯t care about the state of the gxy, whether the Republices out on top or not¨Cso long as hees 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 nce 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 ce, usually popted 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 particr; 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 nning Theatre, all the arguments and debates and strategies and nning, all of it was just that: <em>theatre.</em>


    However named the ce, 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 Cnon.¡±


    ¡°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 ce,¡± 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 Intelligenceid his files on the table, ¡°And that is because he is an idealist. The Separatist State was built on the foundationsid by his demagogy and rhetoric. He will <em>never </em>consider a peace with the Republic. Byparison, 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 imant 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 CAFmanders. 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 sphemous 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?¡±


    ¡°<em>Count Dooku¡¯s </em>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 ourmon 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 pped 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?¡±


    <em>The worst part about it? </em>Gallia could feel that Seerdon was being <empletely honest, </em>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 <em>also </em>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 toe 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 entires, now left entirely abandoned aspanies were driven elsewhere by rising costs and cheaper off-world alternatives.


    It was the perfect ce for a secret hideout. Something that innumerous criminal and smuggler gangs were well aware of, considering how many underworld kingpins and warlords called the ce their home. It would take weeks tob the ce 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 singlergestbined Jedi fleet in the gxy in one ce¡­ excluding the Open Circle Fleet, of course. Being the only major fleet element in the GAR not upied by one front or another, this is one of the only forces we have to quickly redeploy to the New Territories.¡±


    ¡°We are currently upied 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 <em>all </em>the Jedi are preupied, 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 rece.¡±


    ¡°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 <em>Sith Lord, </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡°Perfect,¡± </em>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 <em>dripped </em>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 y, 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 manybat-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

    <em>Wroona Orbit, Wroona System</em>


    <em>Harrin Sector</em>


    ¡°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 tantly falling asleep in the Battle Room¨C<em>and being woken by her XO, no less!</em>¨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.


    <em>Just one more sector to review, </em>she initially thought,<em> just another set of troop movements to confirm probably.</em>


    But it was the name of the world that jolted her to full attention, like a pike through her skull.


    <em>Jurzan¡­ that sounds familiar. </em>


    Commander Fajinak took her sudden alertness as his cue to continue; ¡°The Hundred-Thirty-Eighth Armoured Corps is requesting an immediate extraction.¡±


    ¡°Do theyck 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 Acmators 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 stimnts and sheer grit, her skin mmy 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 ryed orders that seemed to vanish into the air. There was a sense of¡­ not <em>hopelessness¡­ </em>more like <em>futility </em>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 iing 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 semnce of control they clung to.


    <em>Aurodia </em>was a ghost ship, crewed by ghouls and spectres. Themand nexus presiding over the Near-Rimma AO was a vast andplex structure, a living of information spanning thousands of light-years, connecting battlefields with strategicmand nodes, entangling local data points with the pulse ofrger objectives. <em>Aurodia </em>was one of those nodes, overseeing the dozen othermand vessels that drifted in her shadow in the Wroona System, each one tasked with supervising their assigned star systems.


    It was <em>Aurodia </em>who tranted their localised webs into something whole, pushing the flood of intelligence Coreward to the headquarters of the 20th Sector Army on Taan. <em>Aurodia </em>was the middle-management between the greater strategic impulses of the Sector Army and the local tactical practicalities of her satellitemands. Despite fully understanding the severity of her duties, she still wished she could be anywhere else¨C<em>even on the battlefields of Vandelhelm!</em>


    ¡°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 nk. 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, gged up by a satellitemand vessel. A messenger materialised at the holotable within moments, bringing her the transcript from thems bay.


    ¡°The Separatists haveunched an all-outary assault on Lohopa-Two, sir,¡± the messenger passed her the transcript, ¡°Boeus Command rmends 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 isted offensive on Lohopa doesn¡¯t sound like the Tombmaker,¡± Commander Fajinak told her, ¡°We must assume that this is <em>it</em>.¡±


    Scout¡¯s pulse quickened as more alerts began appearing, from a slow trickle to a mass, spreading across their eastern nk 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 unusuallyrge Separatist activity?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll secure a line to Vandelhelm at once, Commander,¡± the messenger nearly tripped over his own feet in his haste to thems 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 hase to bite him back.¡±


    <em>And it means we made a mistake, </em>Scout thought, <em>that I made a mistake. I sent the vast majority of our avable reserves to Vandelhelm and Wroona on the Rimma Trade Route, anticipating the main Separatist offensive to materialise there. </em>


    ¡°We need tomit 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 ofmand 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 rtionship 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 inte, ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Acknowledged, Commander¨C¡±</em>


    <em>[ATHALLIA HQ] REQUESTING IMMEDIATE REINFORCEMENTS¡ªENEMY FORCES BREACHED PLANETARY DEFENCES; CIVILIAN EVACUATION INCOMPLETE.</em>


    An urgent transmission from Athallia caught her attention, with the news that reinforcements have already been authorised by the relevant station.


    <em>[ARMATH HQ] HEAVY CASUALTIES REPORTED; REMAINING FORCES ARE HOLDING PERIMETER BUT URGENTLY NEED SUPPORT TO PREVENT COLLAPSE.</em>


    But before she could even catch her breath, her console chimed yet again, somehow with increasing urgency. This time, there weren¡¯t any avable units on hand to redeploy, and the localmand centre was seeking advice¨C


    <em>[MIKASTER HQ] SEPARATIST BOMBARDMENT ONGOING; POPULATION CENTERS AT RISK¡ªREQUESTING EVACUATION CORRIDORS FOR NON-COMBATANTS.</em>


    <em>[DERRA HQ] MULTIPLE ENEMY DIVISIONS CONVERGING; LAST LINE OF DEFENCE COLLAPSING¡ªURGENT REINFORCEMENTS OR FULL EVAC NEEDED IMMEDIATELY.</em>


    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.


    <em>[ATRAKUS HQ] SUPPLIES RUNNING CRITICALLY LOW; WE CAN''T HOLD FOR MORE THAN THREE SYSTEM DAYS WITHOUT RESUPPLY OR EXTRACTION.</em>


    <em>[PELOMAT HQ] GROUND FORCES OUTNUMBERED; NEED AERIAL SUPPORT AND ORDNANCE DROPS, OR WE RISK TOTAL LOSS OF DEFENCES.</em>


    <em>[AVILES PRIME HQ] ARTILLERY UNITS OVERRUN; REQUESTING EXTRACTION AND REDEPLOYMENT TO SAFER SECTORS.</em>


    Frantic messages poured through the din, a steady stream of urgent updates that began to ovep, voices merging into a panicked cacophony. Thepartment 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, escting from the sluggish, dull exhaustion of days gone without sleep into something sharp, bristling and electric.


    <em>[GALLAPRAXIS HQ] SEPARATIST GROUND ASSAULT INTENSIFYING; CASUALTIES MOUNTING¡ªNEED IMMEDIATE EVAC FOR INJURED AND VULNERABLE.</em>


    <em>[HYTHROPE HQ] PERIMETER DEFENCES FALLING BACK; ADDITIONAL ARMOUR AND INFANTRY REQUESTED TO PREVENT ENEMY BREACH.</em>


    <em>[OOLIDI HQ] RESOURCE SHORTAGES CRITICAL; FRONTLINE FORCES LOSING MORALE¡ªREINFORCEMENTS REQUIRED TO STABILISE POSITIONS.</em>


    <em>[GENISERIA HQ] ENEMY FLEETS MASSING ON SYSTEM OUTSKIRTS; NEED REINFORCEMENTS TO SECURE TRADE ROUTES AND PREVENT SIEGE.</em>


    <em>[EDAN HQ] PLANETARY SHIELDS FAILING UNDER SUSTAINED FIRE; EVACUATION OF ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY.</em>


    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 iing reports, ¡°Inform our troops on Jurzan that no help will being. 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 Separatistmander on the was more sympathetic than their General.


    ¡°General Skywalker¡¯s on thems, Commander!¡± ams officer announced.


    Commander Esterhazy¡¯s fist immediately mmed down on the push¨C ¡°General Skywalker, this is Wroona Command. I need a status report of your front on Vandelhelm!¡±


    <em>¡°Wroona Command,¡± </em>Skywalker¡¯s cadence was rock solid, <em>¡°We are engaged in a stalemate with the Separatist forces on the. Little progress has been made on either side.¡±</em>


    Scout shared a look with her XO, ¡°Acknowledged, General Skywalker. It appears the Confederate Fourth Fleet haveunched 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.¡±


    <em>¡°...Is that your honest evaluation of the situation, Commander?¡± </em>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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    <em>¡°Then where will you have us, Commander?¡±</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>¡°Clone Commander A¡¯din¡¯s Seventh Legion holds Lohopa-Two,¡± </em>General Skywalker recognised


    ¡°It is the only world fortified enough to halt the Separatist advance,¡± she exined.


    <em>¡°So you have decided to liquidate the Jurzan and Hythrope salients,¡± </em>General Skywalker murmured, and Scout involuntarily tensed at her Master¡¯s iing judgement, <em>¡°...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.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 shing 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.


    <em>¡°General Secura is also fighting on Derra-Four, maintaining the Mikaster salient,¡± </em>he continued, <em>¡°Have her withdraw her forces to Lohopa and rendezvous with me there.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 <em>now!</em>¡± she hissed.


    <em>¡°We can¡¯t!¡± </em>Fajinak hissed back, cajoling a nearbyms chief for an answer, ¡°Derra Command isn¡¯t responding!¡±


    Scout felt her stomach twist. <em>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. </em>


    ¡°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!¡± thems chief suddenly shouted out, and her heart leapt, ¡°Commander¨C!¡±


    <em>¡°¨CIs this Wroona Command?¡± </em>despite sharing the same voice as every other clone trooper, Commander Bly¡¯s voice was hardly recognisable, raw and scratchy through thems.


    ¡°This is,¡± Scout answered hastily, ¡°Marshal Commander Bly, this situation on Derra¨C¡±


    <em>¡°...Derra-Four has been lost,¡± </em>the Marshal Commander¡¯s words came down like a sledgehammer, <em>¡°Reinforcements from the Sixteenth Sector Army never came.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 hypene egress¨Can Acmator-ss assault ship from the transponder code. There were sixteen more Acmators 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 singr warship that caught her eye, its destroyed hull and armour tesrge 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 <em>Antecedent, Hammer of the Outer Rim. </em>


    And it was firing upon Derra IV. Spiralling clouds of superheated maelstroms churned over its vast oceans, visible from outer space. Across the¡¯s atmosphere, skyscraper-sized turbser 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.


    <em>¡°...Be notified we¡¯re withdrawing to Lohopa, Command. General Secura¨C¡± </em>Commander Bly breathed sharply, <em>¡°General Aa Secura has been killed in action on Derra-Four.¡±</em>


    ?


    <em>Korphir Approach, Korphir System</em>


    <em>Gordian Reach</em>


    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 gxy¡¯s natural barriers, blocking easy fleet movement between the two super-hypenes. It was a chaoticbyrinth of ster graveyards, empty voids, and dense nebe¨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 spe running between Korphir and Arkuda that was the only known route to cut through the otherwise imprable neb known as the Roil. With time, maybe the Givin could calcte another path through the cosmic mountain range, but time wasn¡¯t exactly a luxury we could afford.


    And so the Roilid before us, a great ssh 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.¡±


    ¡°Well, I am assuming it is not one of ours,¡± I murmured, appraising the scans.


    ¡°Caution: the Confederate Armed Forces possess no documented military instations 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,manding the crew of battleship <em>Conqueress </em>with precision efficiency. The massive warship¡¯s scanner suites immediately activated, ring to life as they swept the star system ahead of us, its inners 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 gxy.


    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 <em>Conqueress</em>'' first deployment, and given theyers 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 sr orbit.¡±


    <em>Six billion¡­ what a mind-boggling number. </em>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!¡±


    <em>nk-thud! </em>The deck shuddered as the first round was locked into the firing chamber, a gargantuan tunqstoid kic kill vehicle about the size of a small apartmentplex, equipped with attitude thrusters for mid-flight manoeuvres. The KKVs were sorge that <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>a lot of gold, </em>because tunqstoid was notoriously dense. They made st 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. Sr 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 to make the jump?¡±


    ¡°Affirmative.¡±


    I nodded, taking a moment to inhale and let my heart settle. His answer was simple and firm, as ording 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 calcte the jump to Arkuda.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative.¡±


    ¡°Intercept n has been copied and sent!¡± the fire control officer called, his voice tense and sharp.


    ¡°Copy n!¡± the weapons officer replied, ¡°Awaiting approval!¡±


    ¡°Affirmative: approved as nned, 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¨¦manded, ¡°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 ck as the targeting array concentrated on the target six-billion klicks forward. <em>Number 1,</em> 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 <em>Conqueress¡¯ </em>four tritium fusion generators directly fed into concentrated, ovepping gravitational pulses herded along <em>Number 1¡¯s </em>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 <em>Conqueress </em>herself was tensing up in anticipation. My vision dted, like staring through a magnifying ss, the long snout of <em>Conqueress¡¯ </em>bow squeezing inwards as Number One contracted the fabric of space as if folding paper. The stars burned brighter, the outers appearedrger, 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 syncplete!¡±


    ¡°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.


    Themand had barely left my lips before <em>Conqueress </em>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 unstoppablence of molten light disappearing into the inky ckness 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 disced <em>Conqueress</em> 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 ce.¡±


    A sniper can¡¯t stay in ce after firing a shot, after all. Even as <em>Conqueress </em>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 holodisys. And continued to hold it that way for eight whole hours, tracking the redshift of the superluminalet we just fired.


    Until the contact disappeared from the screens, the tiny blip of light fading out of existence¨Creced by a re 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 has dropped. We are free to insert into hyperspace.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur¡¯s response was swift, ¡°Weapons, depower Number Two.¡±


    ¡°<em>Scepter, Conqueress,¡± </em>I spoke to Dodecian Illiet¡¯s frigate, ¡°Sync navputers for insertion.¡±


    <em>¡°Conqueress, Scepter,¡± </em>the Givin officer replied, <em>¡°Orders acknowledged. Syncing fleet hyperdrives for insertion.¡±</em>


    ¡°¨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 has copsed. We will <em>not </em>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, <em>¡°There¡¯s nothing left but smoke.¡±</em>

 Chapter 81

    <em>Coruscant, Coruscant System</em>


    <em>Corusca Sector</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Separatist </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡®Especially after they swept them all in the wake of the terrorist attack¡¯ </em>was left unsaid. The fact that PRIESTESS¨C<em>whatever it was</em>¨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 <em>wanted </em>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 <em>already </em>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 <em>could¡¯ve¡­</em>¡± 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 <em>love </em>the Republic¨C?¡±


    ¡°You love the <em>idea </em>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 <em>not </em>civilization<em>,</em>¡± she continued, ¡°That¡­ <em>misunderstanding</em>¡­ is the <em>idea </em>the Sith so desperately peddle. The <em>idea </em>that the Republic is order and civilisation, and that the Confederacy is chaos and barbarism and primitiveness and savagery because they are <em>not the Republic</em>. I¡¯m sure this propaganda is of passing familiarity to you?¡±


    The three Jedi Knights were quiet, listening intently.


    ¡°This <em>idea </em>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, <em>seductive. </em>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 <em>his </em>version of it. That¡¯s why he puppets this war.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ then what?¡± Bode demanded, ¡°We <em>destroy </em>civilization? Is that what we are doing?¡±


    Adi Gallia sighed like a teacher whose student didn¡¯t absorb her teachings, ¡°No, Bode. Only <em>this </em>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.


    ?


    <em>Argazda Orbit, Argazziis System</em>


    <em>Kanz Sector</em>


    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. <em>Is it the gun, or is it the Techno Union? </em>It took five standard days to silently travel from Korphir to Argazda, and in the entirety of that time Number One was under repairs. <em>One week of downtime between shots! Practically 125 hour reload cycle! </em>What kind of batshit insane weapons engineer thought this was eptable!? <em>Oh wait, </em>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.¡±


    <em>Ah, I see. </em>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 <em>very first time Conqueress¡¯ </em>fired? The notion sent shivers down my spine. <em>What if something had gone wrong? </em>I was half urged to ask, but decided it would be better for my health to remain ignorant.


    <em>Fuck. I should change gships. </em>


    But to what? <em>A Givin Wavecrest? </em>


    ¡°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<em>, </em>as had been stationed in Korphir. And, if I had reviewed this ship correctly, I recall that <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>Conqueress</em>, the CIC was nothing short of monumentalrger, even, than themand spaces on most Providence-ss battlecruisers. Of course, it had to be. <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>wasn¡¯t </em>expecting, however, was the details upon his console. A familiar silhouette shone there, shaped like a finned dagger. Below read: <em>Munificent-ss frigate, Repulse. </em>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. <em>Silly droid, you will always synergise with me. It was never my concern.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Repulse.</em>¡±


    Iughed out loud, catching the attention of some nearby droids. <em>That¡¯s because you served aboard it, </em>I answered in my head, <em>only with a different name. </em>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 <em>Conqueress, </em>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¡­ <em>temperamental, </em>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<em>so they¡¯ve begun, and the die is cast</em>¨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.¡±


    <em>Ten-thousand warships. Ten-thousand warships. Ten-thousand warships.</em>


    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 <em>Independence. </em>


    The question is: <em>what should I do? </em>Ten-thousand warships and countless soldiers were descending on Serenno, determined to seize it for the Republic. Was that eptable to <em>Independence, </em>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.


    <em>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¡­ </em>


    We would miss the entire campaign.


    <em>What to do, what to do¡­ </em>I could feel Augur¡¯s gaze levelled on me intensely.


    ¡°...Can we reach <em>Independence </em>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¡­ <em>it¡¯s the endgame now. </em>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 <em>Independence. </em>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 <em>Conqueress¡¯ </em>maw. An old, nearly forgotten memory. <em>Hold on, don¡¯t I have my own secret personal transceiverwork!?</em>


    <em>Where are we right now? In Serenno¡¯s backyard!</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>The best of the best. </em>If they were talking about the <em>best of the best¡­ </em>then wasn¡¯t there one Jedi conspicuously missing? Or rather, <em>one Jedi</em><em>fleet? </em>


    Anakin Skywalker¡¯s Open Circle Fleet. <em>The best of the best. </em>


    ¡°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 <em>¡®at war¡¯ </em>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 <em>real invasion </em>should look like. Mere raids would never be mistaken for an <em>invasion </em>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 <em>four </em>Sector Armies to fight¨Cand <em>struggle¨C</em>against 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 <em>eight times. </em>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 <em>ongoing. </em>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<em>how many of our sons and daughters will die this time?¨C</em>and all clutching awe to their chests.


    <em>May the Force be with you.</em>


    Whichever face the coinnds on¡­ <em>it would be thest and greatest offensive of the Gctic Republic.</em>

 Chapter 82

    <em>Phindar Approach, Phindar System</em>


    <em>Demetras Sector</em>


    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 <em>fortress world Phindar.</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°So that¡¯s fortress world Phindar,¡± </em>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. <em>Invincible </em>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 <em>Kronprinz. </em>To her starboard, the battle-hardened veterans of the north, fresh off their recent victories in Cmari Space led by <em>Prosperous.</em>


    Three-thousand warships of the Confederate 2nd Fleet Group, and Trench would rather lose none of them to the fortress ahead.


    <em>¡°This is my second time here,¡± </em>Rear Admiral Merai said bitterly, <em>¡°And that station continues to haunt me yet.¡±</em>


    <em>As it does I</em>, 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: <em>Phindar Station</em>. 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.


    <em>¡°We¡¯ve brought enough ships this time to ovee Phindar by sheer numbers alone,¡± </em>Admiral Greyshade assessed, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>¡°We¡¯ve brought a surprise of our own as well, Admiral,¡± </em>Admiral Merai suggested, <em>¡°Malevolence and Aggressor are ready for deployment. Either of them can render Phindar Station defenceless with a single shot.¡±</em>


    Indeed, far in the rear of the 2nd Fleet Group and far out of sight, were their two superweapons. <em>Malevolence, </em>who made her debut in the Battle of Columex, couldpletely knock out Phindar¡¯s defence grid with her massive ion cannon; whilst <em>Aggressor </em>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 <em>secrecy of its existence. </em>This doctrine was proven at the Battle of Columex.


    This was precisely why <em>Malevolence</em>, despite her dramatic reveal at Columex, had not been hunted to destruction. <em>Malevolence </em>demonstrated her worth by turning the tide of the battle¨Cand the war¨Cat Columex, but the moment the battle concluded, <em>Malevolence</em> 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 <em>no other alternatives, </em>in a moment at which only <em>it </em>could achieve the strategic goal. <em>Malevolence </em>turning the battle at Columex was a feat only <em>she </em>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 <em>never </em>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, <em>¡°Somewhere?¡±</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Invincible¡¯s </em>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.


    <em>¡°Admiral Trench,¡± </em>Rain Bonteri¡¯s voice greeted him, <em>¡°I consider it a miracle that I was able to reach you.¡±</em>


    ¡°...As do I,¡± the Harch Admiral responded in kind, ¡°Might I remind you that the nature of your mission is of total secrecy?¡±


    <em>¡°You need not, Admiral. I am acting in total secrecy,¡± </em>Trench could somehow see Bonteri¡¯s smirk on the other side, <em>¡°Unless, of course, you are able to extrapte from where exactly I am sending this transmission.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°I have no interest in being punished for breaching radio silence without good reason,¡± </em>Admiral Bonteri mollified, <em>¡°This is a matter of utmost importance, I assure you.¡±</em>


    ¡°Indeed? Then I am listening.¡±


    <em>¡°The Republic hasunched an all-out assault on Serenno,¡± </em>Bonteri exined, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°This is from PRIESTESS?¡±


    <em>¡°It is,¡± </em>he continued, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°...Severe news indeed,¡± Trench clicked, ws curling around his cane.


    <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>¡°If you shatter Phindar immediately, you could hope to intercept the Expeditionary Fleet,¡± </em>Bonteri mused, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Our Supreme Commander wants peace,¡± Trench answered, ¡°Peace and stability to solidify her position amidst Raxus¡¯ constant ebb and flow.¡±


    <em>¡°Then we must eliminate her only rival, Count Dooku.¡±</em>


    Trench nodded, ¡°We will side with the Jedi.¡±


    <em>¡°In that case¡­¡± </em>Admiral Bonteri paused, <em>¡°If themander of Phindar¡¯s garrison is a Jedi, then I may have a way to open their gates. But first, your orders sir?¡±</em>


    Trench did not linger on his decision, ¡°Is <em>Conqueress </em>fully operational?¡±


    <em>¡°Not fully, but operational.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Conqueress </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡°You think too highly of me, Admiral,¡± </em>Rain Bonteri sighed, <em>¡°Far too highly¡­ but I understand. Your orders have been received, Admiral.¡±</em>


    ¡°Very good,¡± Trench chittered in satisfaction, ¡°Now tell me this method you have devised to seduce the enemy.¡±


    <em>¡°This will only work if themander is a Jedi,¡± </em>he warned, <em>¡°But if so, then keep this channel open as I send you a manifesto. This is what you should do¡­¡±</em>


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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?


    <em>Since when, </em>Trench found himself wondering, <em>have you been spinning your web to tear the Republic apart from within?</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>¡°This will all be for nothing if the Supreme Commander cannot image where and when the war ends,¡± </em>Rain Bonteri warned, <em>¡°There is no point in war without purpose.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Admiral Trench,¡± </em>Bonteri measured his name carefully, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    <em>¡°I will take my leave.¡±</em>


    ¡°As you should.¡±


    Trench held his stance even as a <em>click </em>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.


    <em>No cloned troopers? That is interesting for a Jedi General.</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>And now Phindar Station is the most powerful battlestation in the Outer Rim.</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>And no clones.</em>


    ¡°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 <em>responsibility </em>as a <em>Jedi </em>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 <em>insurance. </em>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 <em>speed of light. </em>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 <em>superweapons</em>.¡±


    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 <em>see </em>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.


    <em>¡°Lies! </em>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 <em>Confederate Admiral Trench.</em>¡±


    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. <em>Is this Admiral Trench known to lie?¡±</em>


    ¡°...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¡­ <em>Master Yoda,</em>¡± the lines on Rahm Kota¡¯s face deepened, ¡°Supported by Alderaan, Naboo, Chandr, Humbarine, Ithor, Mandalore, Brentaal, Procopia¡­¡±


    <em>And a thousand other worlds besides.</em>


    ¡°You believe it,¡± Trench stated factually.


    ¡°I believe it,¡± Rahm Kota replied cautiously, ¡°Nay, I not only believe the veracity of this document, but <em>I believe it. </em>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 <em>leaving </em>Coruscant. General Kota, the coup is <em>imminent</em>, 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.¡±


    ¡°<em>Former </em>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

    <em>Bandomeer Approach, Bandomeer System</em>


    <em>Meerian Sector</em>


    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 <em>Hyperion, </em>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 <em>Wanderer </em>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 <em>Wanderer </em>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 <em>Albedo Brave¡¯s </em>flight n.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Master.¡±


    The projection shifted again, a cluster of green icons moving toward the¡¯s asteroid field.


    ¡°Battle Group <em>Selfless </em>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. <em>Not such a dissimr plight as Obi-Wan¡¯s, </em>Master Plo mused lightly, <em>considering his tribtions with Ahsoka. </em>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 <em>Insolent </em>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.


    <em>May the Force be with you, Master Piell.</em>


    ?


    <em>Taris Approach, Taris System</em>


    <em>Ojoster Sector</em>


    <em>¡°Knight Swan thought to warn us of General Grievous,¡± </em>Master Luminara Unduli¡¯s hologram smiled wanly, <em>¡°How considerate of her.¡±</em>


    ¡°Plo Koon¡¯s words,¡± Jedi Master Even Piell said gruffly, crossing his arms.


    <em>¡°We should heed them,¡± </em>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 <em>Insolent, </em>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. <em>Insolent¡¯s </em>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 <em>Gand¡¯s </em>scanners were pointed at the closest of Taris¡¯ four moons.


    ¡°Something the matter, Master Unduli?¡± he questioned.


    <em>¡°The Battle Hydra once ambushed me by hiding his warships behind moons after luring my ships closer to the.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.


    This novel is published on a different tform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°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 <em>Insolent </em>and prepare tond on the opposite side of the. Make every attempt to contact theside authorities.¡±


    <em>¡°Understood, Master Piell. May the Force be with you.¡±</em>


    With a <em>click, </em>the connection was severed, and Task Force <em>Gand </em>began pulling away. The holographic disy shimmered as Master Luminara''s image faded, leaving Even Piell alone on the bridge deck. <em>Gand¡¯s </em>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 <em>Insolent¡¯s </em>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, <em>¡°Refugees?¡±</em>


    ¡°We got a transponder! <em>Iron Gull, </em>out of Corsin! They must¡¯vee here on a routine freight run until the Separatists fell on them!¡±


    <em>They¡¯re all legitimate, </em>Master Piell thought as he scanned the codes, ¡°I want to talk to them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re patched through on open, General.¡±


    <em>¡°Iron Gull, </em>this is the battlecarrier <em>Insolent </em>of the Republic Navy,¡± Even Piell spoke forcefully, ¡°State your purpose at once, or we must consider you a hostile vessel!¡±


    <em>¡°...W-Wait!¡± </em>a young, frantic voice suddenly responded, <em>¡°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!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Iron Gull!¡±</em> Captain Tarkin marched forward, ¡°Cut your engines at once! Where are the Separatists!?¡±


    <em>Iron Gull </em>didn¡¯t cut her engines, and the small convoy of four continued burning hard towards <em>Insolent.</em>


    <em>¡°N-No! You need to help us!¡± </em>the voice¡¯s desperation was genuine, the Jedi Master could sense it, <em>¡°The Separatist fleet left after they destroyed the¡¯s shields with a giantser! They could st the entire to¨C¡±</em>


    There was a dull <em>bang </em>followed by a loud yelp in the background, followed by stark silence.


    ¡°...Cut your main drives, <em>Iron Gull!¡± </em>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 <em>Iron Gull¡¯s </em>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 <em>Insolent </em>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 <em>will </em>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 <em>Iron Gull</em>.


    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: <em>they weren¡¯t stopping</em>.


    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, <em>¡°Iron Gull, </em>this yourst warning! Shut down your main drives now or we will open fire!¡±


    They waited a beat, and another, and the <em>Iron Gull </em>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!¡±


    <em>Insolent¡¯s </em>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 <em>Iron Gull¡¯s </em>forward freight door yawned open, breaking off shards of ice and¨Csuddenly, the cargo bay <em>was no longer empty</em>.


    One of the deck officers sucked in a breath. A tight-packed mass of <em>something </em>was in there, totally filling the space where <em>Insolent¡¯s </em>sensors had read nothing. A mass that was even now exploding outward like a ho¡¯s nest out of the <em>Iron Gull¡¯s </em>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! <em>Interdiction mines!</em> Hundreds¨Cno, <em>thousands of them!"</em>


    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!¡±


    <em>Insolent¡¯s </em>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<em>they¡¯re right on top of us!</em>¡±


    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 <em>Gand </em>at once!¡±


    ¡°A <em>second </em>fleet just exited from hyperspace, bearing oh-three-three mark three-oh-four! Range pending!¡±


    <em>Insolent¡¯s </em>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 <em>Insolent </em>deliberate and focused.


    <em>Grievous is aiming for my head. He even brought in a second fleet to box us in.</em>


    ¡°Enemy gship on direct intercept course!¡± Captain Tarkin reported, his voice taut with urgency, ¡°Registry confirms¨Ccallsign <em>Invisible Hand!</em> Range nine-thousand klicks and closing fast!¡±


    <em>Insolent</em>¡¯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 <em>Invisible Hand </em>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 <em>Insolent</em>. 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.


    <em>¡°</em>They¡¯re <em>swarming!¡± </em>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 <em>Insolent</em>.


    ¡°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 <em>Invisible Hand </em>loomedrger in the viewport with each passing second, its prow glowing ominously with the light of charged energy weapons. <em>Insolent</em>¡¯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.


    ¡°<em>Gand¡¯s</em> engaging the of Separatist rearguard, sir!¡± another officer reported. ¡°ETA for closest reinforcements¨Cseventeen minutes!¡±


    <em>Insolent </em>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 <em>Insolent</em>. ¡°All batteries, concentrate fire on the <em>Invisible Hand!</em>¡±


    ¡°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 <em>Insolent''s</em> 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 <em>Insolent</em>. 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.


    <em>¡°They¡¯ve breached onto deck four!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°We¡¯re engaging droidekas on deck six! Reinforcements needed immediately!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°They¡¯reing into the portside hangar!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°This is the engineering team! We¡¯re pinned down in the main reactor room!¡±</em>


    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. <em>Insolent</em>¡¯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.


    <em>¡°Run, Jedi,¡± </em>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, <em>¡°Run, Jedi, run!¡±</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°Hah¡­ hah-hah¡­ HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!¡±</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°Run, Jedi, run!¡± </em>General Grievousughed from the other side, knowing full well there was nowhere for them to go, <em>¡°Ruun! Ruuun! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!¡±</em>

 Chapter 84

    <em>Somewhere in the Cathar System</em>


    <em>Quelli Sector</em>


    ¡°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<em>it would be a race, then</em>. 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<em>and it will, that I had no doubt</em>¨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.


    ¡­


    <em>Shit, I totally forgot about the cyborg. Where the hell is he?</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>Hmm? Nothing I said indicated we would be doing anything but simply observing the situation.</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>Otherwise why the hell would he give me the rank?</em>


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have any formalints, plug yourself into <em>PRIESTESS </em>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 <em>through </em>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.¡±


    <em>Out of left field, I must admit, but strategically sound. </em>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.


    <em>¡°There,¡±</em> 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. <em>Then, after the war is over¡­</em>


    <em>Perhaps I should go searching for a distant star in the night sky? A gxy far, far away¡­</em>


    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 <em>must </em>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 <em>Scepter </em>on the line and have Illiet plot the most direct course for the Taris System!¡±


    ?


    <em>Taris Orbit, Taris System</em>


    <em>Ojoster Sector</em>


    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 <em>should </em>have been more cautious whenever engaging a new Separatist foe.


    <em>It seems some lessons are not so easily learned when taught only once, </em>Luminara Unduli thought dryly as shemanded Task Force <em>Gand </em>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.


    <em>Too hasty, </em>the Jedi Master frowned lightly, <em>we were too hasty to act.</em>


    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 <em>Insolent</em>?¡±


    Task Force <em>Gand¡¯s </em>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 <em>Gand </em>to break through¨Cand Master Luminara knew why.


    Through a fleeting gap in the frigatettice, she could see the <em>Insolent </em>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 <em>Invisible Hand</em> was relentless as it ran its beam alongside the <em>Insolent, </emunching breaching cutters toward the struggling warship. On the far side of thettice, Luminara¡¯s gship was forced to hold position, unable to aid against General Grievous¡¯ single-minded warpath.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the vition.


    ¡°Droid-crewed warships,¡± Commander Gree¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°They will not break their line even if we blew their reactors out from behind them.¡±


    ¡°We have fought so many Separatists, against their vigor and stubbornness, that we havee to look forward to fighting against droids,¡± the Jedi Master replied simply, ¡°Whilst forgetting that droids are oft as stubborn as men and women with a cause, many times moreso.¡±


    ¡°Droids aren¡¯t capable of thinking like men and women with cause.¡±


    Luminara Unduli gestured at the unbreakable battlettice before them, ¡°They need not to, when the single mind behind them is capable of thinking for them.¡±


    Clone Commander Gree grimaced, but did not refute it.


    Droids areputers and programs given form and lotion; they are only as capable as the orders given to them, and they will do no less and no more. The Separatist Alliance¡¯s greatest mistake at the beginning of the war was deploying their droid legions with inexperienced minds behind them, who thought tomand droids as they could organics. The greatest general in the gxy could be given a droid army, and flounder against any professional droid slicer given the same resources.


    The Pantoran rectified this mistake with the Militia Act, and the likes of the Perlemian Coalition and General Horn Ambigene¡¯s 4th Fleet Group proved the value of her military reforms.


    <em>However</em>, when a droid army <em>is </em>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. <em>Magnolia¡¯s </em>moving forward<em></em>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 <em>Insolent</em>?¡±


    ¡°...With all due respect, General Unduli,¡± the Clone Commander answered stiffly, ¡°the best thing General Piell can do now is blow the <em>Insolent </em>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. <em>Insolent </em>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 <em>Magnolia </em>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, <em>Gand </em>will be boxed in as well.


    ¡°Order all ships to break contact. Cycle <em>Magnolia </em>with <em>Celosia </em>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. <em>Magnolia </em>banked hard to port, allowing <em>Celosia </em>to charge forward and absorb the brunt of iing fire with her broadside. <em>Celosia¡¯s </em>shields red and buckled, but held, responding with her own blistering salvo of fire. At the same time Task Force <em>Gand¡¯s</em> 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 <em>Insolent</em>. 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 <em>Insolent''s </em>main reactor detonated in a blinding cascade of energy. The shockwave shattered the surrounding Separatist boarding craft, tearing through the <em>Invisible Hand¡¯s</em> 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 <em>Gand¡¯s </em>fighting retreat. Beyond the frigatettice, the outlying warships of Battle Group <em>Insolent </em>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, <em>Gand¡¯s </em>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 <em>Gand </em>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.


    <em>Bearing oh-two-four mark oh-one-one rtive! Range¡­</em>


    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¡­ <em>star dreadnought Devastation!¡±</em>


    And the great, ck mass then gleamed a bright, burning <em>red</em>.


    ¡°Last sighting report¨CCnon System!¡± the readout continued, ¡°Before that¡­ <em>Columex System!¡±</em>


    <em>Subjugator-ss star dreadnought, Devastation. </em>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 <em>Devastation </em>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 <em>Gand. </em>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 <em>Gand </em>throughout its retreat¡­ to the one spot they knew <em>Gand </em>would <em>stop</em>: 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 <em>Gand¡¯s </em>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!?¡±


    <em>¡°I-I¡¯ve never seen anything like it, sir!¡±</em>


    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 <em>Gand </em>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 <em>Devastation!?¡±</em>


    First, the <em>Devastation. </em>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 <em>Gand </em>had seen before. Though, from the sensor readings taken prior, it could have been a <em>gravitationally </em>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<em>tzzk¨Ctzzk¨C</em>


    <em>General Grievous. </em>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.


    <em>¡°¨CWe finally meet¨C¡±</em>


    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. <em>Hydra. The Battle Hydra? That man was dead, killed at Rendili. </em>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.


    <em>¡°¨CI have looked forward¨Cto this day¨C¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Hah¡­ hah-hah¡­ HA!¡±</em>


    <em>Click¨C</em>silence. A loud, heavy silence that settled over the bridge of the <em>Gand </em>like a nket of uncertainty knitted with dread. <em>He¡¯s alive? How? </em>


    <em>Wait, General Grievous lived through that?</em>


    <em>Did he just mention the Battle Hydra?</em>


    <em>Is this a trick? </em>


    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 <em>Gand</em> like ripples in a pond, touching every soul aboard.


    <em>Click¨Ctzzt¨C</em>


    <em>¡°...So you lived through all that,¡± </em>a dead man growled through the open channel, <em>¡°You really are one damnable metal cockroach, Grievous.¡±</em>

 Chapter 85

    <em>Taris Approach, Taris System</em>


    <em>Ojoster Sector</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Devastation¡¯s </em>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 <em>Devastation¡¯s </em>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<em>Conqueress, </em>however, operated on an entirely different level.


    Her twin gravitic waveguns propelled her projectiles at such extreme velocities that they essentially <em>friction-welded</em> 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, <em>Conqueress</em>¡¯ 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 <em>fast enough </em>in the first ce. And by fast, I meant over 70% the speed of light, <em>at least. </em>¡°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 <em>Devastation </em>pointing its moon-cracker at Taris. If we had waited for <em>Number 2 </em>to finish fully charging, the <em>Devastation </em>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 <em>charcoal. </em>It is clear to me that the <em>Devastation </em>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 <em>do not </em>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 <em>believe </em>the Chief is trying to say is that we just expended one of our seven <em>remaining </em>shots, which evidently failed to even permanently disable the target. Compared to the destruction we wrought at Korphir, this can hardly be considered an <em>equivalent exchange</em>.¡±


    <em>Fact that Taris is a Loyalist world notwithstanding, </em>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 <em>Devastation </em>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. <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>Conqueress </em>from being jumped by some hotshot Jedi pilot.


    Because <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>Devastation </em>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 <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>right moment, </em>anyway? Admiral Trench may have his own doctrine, but I do not agree with it.¡±


    <em>Keeping Conqueress unused? </em>That wasughable, as was the idea of keeping <em>any </em>weapon unused. Yes, a weapon as powerful as <em>Conqueress </em>should not be so carelessly wielded, but that goes for <em>any </em>weapon. A superweapon was first and foremost a <em>force multiplier¨C</em>adhering to Trench¡¯s strict conduct of secrecy was tantamount to hoarding strength potions in your inventory and giving yourself excuses to not use them.


    <em>Oh, but what if I need these for the boss level? </em>


    <em>Oh, this boss is easy, what if there¡¯s a stronger boss ahead? </em>


    <em>Oh, this boss is hard¡­ but doable, I should keep these for the final level.</em>


    <em>Oh, the game is over?</em>


    I had six shots left¨C<em>six potions left</em>¨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 <em>two </em>shots a day, <em>at best. </em>And what the hell is a ¡®<em>right moment¡¯ </em>in the first ce? Standing where I am now, was this not the <em>¡®right moment¡¯ </em>to use <em>Conqueress</em>? There was an enemy general in front me, a hostile superweapon wielded against me, and a to save. What concerns my <em>conscience </em>concerns <em>me</em>, 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<em>rolled, more urately</em>¨Cto the foot of the captain deck, ¡°They will learn about everything <em>Conqueress </em>has to offer!¡±


    <em>¡°So?¡±</em>


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur¡¯s deep bass told everyone <em>exactly </em>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 <em>Conqueress</em> first<em>,</em>¡± 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 <em>Conqueress, </em>angling against the hypene. Two rear divisions of ten Wavecrests each, were directly off the port and starboard bow of <em>Conqueress, </em>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 <em>Conqueress¡¯ </em>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 <em>Devastation </em>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 <em>capture the g</em>.¡±


    ?


    ¡°Warship¡¯s approaching from Taris¡¯ celestial shadow!¡± the sensor chief shouted, ¡°If we are to jump, we need to do it <em>now</em>!¡±


    ¡°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 <em>Gand¡¯s</em> 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.


    <em>Boxed in on all four sides¡­</em>


    ¡°It was Rain Bonteri¡¯s superweapon that interrupted the <em>Devastation¡¯s </em>firing sequence,¡± Luminara droned out the thunder of <em>Gand¡¯s </em>batteries as they tore the Munifexes to shreds, ¡°Could it be that they are hostile to General Grievous?¡±


    ¡°<em>If </em>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¡­ <em>feeling</em>.¡±


    <em>Orck of feeling, more like.</em>


    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 <em>us.</em>¡±


    ¡°Despite our prior experiences with him,¡± Master Luminara blinked as a Separatist cruiser detonated in a brilliant reactor bloom, <em>Gand¡¯s </em>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! <em>Celosia </em>had been caught by the enemy! <em>Zei </em>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 <em>Zei </em>and <em>Celosia </em>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: <em>¡°Missiles iing! Starboard side!¡±</em>


    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 <em>Gand</em>: I want a port echelon formation, with <em>Zei </em>at the front and <em>Gand </em>at the rear. Understood?¡±


    Then came the chorus of affirmations as <em>Gand </em>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 <em>Gand </em>shifted like a school of fish under threat, each ship breaking formation and pivoting to new positions with precise, if hurried, movements.


    ¡°<em>Zei</em> 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 <em>Gand </em>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 <em>Gand </em>ordingly. Thus, by pushing <em>Gand </em>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; <em>Zei </em>and <em>Celosia</em>, at the front, desperately staved off their pursuers. It wasn¡¯t enough; the damaged <em>Magnolia </em>finally buckled, and the mass of Separatist frigates stormed the breach, threatening the integrity of the formation.


    ¡°Order <em>Anagallis </em>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 <em>Bachani¡¯s </em>point-defense systems sprang to life, followed by <em>Mycosia¡¯s, </em>then <em>Geranium¡¯s, </em>then <em>Begonia¡¯s, </em>then <em>Marg Sabl¡¯s. </em>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, <em>Gand</em> 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 <em>Gand</em>.


    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 <em>Gand</em>. 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 <em>Mycosia </em>and <em>Geranium</em>. 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 <em>Mycosia¡¯s </em>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 <em>Bachani </em>and carving deep scars into <em>Anagallis</em>. 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 <em>Gand </em>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.


    ¡°<em>Zei</em> 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 <em>Magnolia </em>to cover <em>Zei¡¯s </em>position!¡±


    ¡°<em>Magnolia</em> is gone, General!¡±


    And yet, Master Luminara Unduli felt entirely calm, the Force feeding a constant stream of confidence into her soul. <em>As if¡­ </em>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 <em>Gand</em>. 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. <em>Gand¡¯s </em>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 <em>Gand</em>, 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 <em>Gand</em>, 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, <em>Gand¡¯s </em>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 <em>Anagallis¡¯ </em>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 <em>Gand¡¯s </em>firing envelopes.


    <em>¡°To all Republic vessels, this is Dodecian Illiet, on behalf of Admiral Rain Bonteri of the Confederate Navy,¡± </em>a stiff-voiced alien spoke on openms, <em>¡°We heavily advise that you loosen your formation and extricate yourselves from the battlespace, preferably via the Z-axis.¡±</em>


    Master Luminara Unduli immediately had a <em>feeling </em>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, <em>¡°¨CWe need to get out of the way!¡±</em>


    ?


    <em>Gand </em>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 <em>Gand </em>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.


    <em>¡°We have a firing solution!¡±</em>


    At her heart, <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>Conqueress</em>, ¡°Number Two at critical charge.¡±


    I sucked in a breath¨C


    <em>¡°Open fire!¡±</em>


    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 <em>still alive</em>?¡± I eximed in disbelief, ¡°What will it take to kill him?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully less than the same amount of effort needed to kill <em>you</em>, sir!¡±


    I froze, then snapped my fingers and pointed at him, ¡°You make a good point. Patch him through.¡±


    <em>¨Ctzzt¨Ctzzt¨C</em>


    <em>¡°You have allied yourself with the Jedi, Rain Bonteri?¡± </em>Grievous¡¯ scratchy, eternally tormented voice crackled out of thems, <em>¡°Traitor¡±</em>


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to kill the Jedi, General,¡± I replied dryly, ¡°I¡¯m trying to kill <em>you. You </em>are the traitor, and have been since your master Count Dooku attempted to overthrow the government <em>he </em>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. <em>Number 2¡¯s </em>full power<em></em>discharge had damaged its barrel, but <em>Number 1¨C</em>whose low-power discharge allowed another power cycle¨Cwas still avable. If nothing else, it would give us another chance at killing Grievous.


    <em>Five shots left.</em> 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 <em>chance</em> to take his life? The <em>Devastation</em> 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.


    <em>¡­No, it wouldn¡¯t work. </em>


    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.


    <em>Unless we find the Devastation. </em>


    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 <em>Devastation </em>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. <em>Conqueress</em>, 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 <em>Devastation</em>. 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 <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>Conqueress''</em> specific capabilities remain undisclosed, we can still salvage the situation. Thus far, we¡¯ve detected no scanning or visual locks on the <em>Conqueress</em>. They don¡¯t know where we are.¡±


    "Wouldn¡¯t taking prisoners riskpromising that secrecy?" I inquired, prompting him to continue.


    ¡°<em>Conqueress </em>remains a secret, but <em>your </em>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, "<em>Conqueress</em> is a strategic asset, Admiral. Her very <em>presence </em>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 <em>atomic disintegration</em>."


    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 <em>Number 1 </em>for a potential shot at the <em>Devastation, </em>¡°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 <em>Conqueress,</em>¡± Augur announced.


    ¡°Foolhardy,¡± Bunt Dantor scorned, as if he was insulted at the thought of <em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>stupid. </em>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 <em>Standard Battle Order 4, </em>one of the five basic building blocks of Confederate fleet doctrine. By design, <em>there was quite literally nothing simpler. </em>That simplicity was the basis of the formation¡¯s strength.


    <em>So what modifications have been made to counter Conqueress?</em>


    <em>Alright Grievous, let¡¯s talk basics. </em>I unconsciously thinned my lips, and Augur, the perceptive three-eyed droid he was, immediately took notice. <em>What¡¯s the first thing a junior officer must consider about Battle Order 4?</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>Four-hundred warships, at least. He made two ranks, </em>I squinted, <em>typically done to add mass and momentum. Perfect for breaking into the opponent¡¯s own line of battle. But then why¡­?</em>


    ¡°Why does his battlettice look so <emrge?</em>¡± 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¨C<em>if you want your enemy to break, you need as much massed firepower in one ce as possible. </em>And that meant as tight a formation as possible.


    I magnified the disy, taking a closer look at thettice. <em>Except, Grievous¡¯ formation was the opposite of that.</em> It was difficult to tell in the vastness of space, but <em>Conqueress¡¯ </em>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 <em>immediately. </em>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?¡±


    ¡°<em>Conqueress </em>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 <em>sorry excuse </em>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 <em>Gand </em>out of the line of fire, were now scrambling back into a formation¨Ca defensive chevron around the <em>Gand </em>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!¡±


    <em>Against Grievous?</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>Large vessel. </em>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.


    <em>¡°To all Republic vessels, this Admiral Rain Bonteri of the Confederate Navy,¡± </em>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, <em>¡°I am offering a temporary ceasefire. General Grievous is no friend of the Confederacy, and I find moremon cause with you than him.¡±</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>¡°...Master Jedi. It has been a long time,¡± </em>the Battle Hydra almost purred, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°Consider me suitably educated, Admiral,¡± the Jedi Master replied, eyes fixed on the storm ofserfire beyond <em>Gand¡¯s </em>viewports as both Republic and Confederate warships erected a barrier of fire against iing warheads, ¡°Now, what do you suggest?¡±


    <em>¡°I have already secured a line of retreat to Ord Sigatt,¡± </em>he informed her, <em>¡°Permit the Givin to synchronise your drives, and we may withdraw from this situation with our hair still on our heads.¡±</em>


    Master Luminara smiled, ¡°Is that superweapon of yours no longer an option?¡±


    The reply was apologetic, <em>¡°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.¡±</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>¡°We make an ord, or go our separate ways. Has Barriss Offee told you anything?¡±</em>


    ¡°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?¡±


    <em>¡°Not the cause, simply the impetus.¡±</em>


    ¡°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

    <em>Botajef Orbit, Botajef System</em>


    <em>Belsmuth Sector</em>


    ¡°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 <em>Bad Kitty </em>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¨C<em>you¡¯re dead!¡±</em>


    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 <em>the </em>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 <em>this</em>?<em>One day, I¡¯ll be just like you. </em>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.


    <em>Bandomeer was a walk in the parkpared to this. </em>


    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.


    <em>I hate space, I hate space, I hate space!</em>


    <em>Whose idea was this in the first ce, anyway?</em>


    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 <em>not </em>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.


    <em>¡°Kitty, this is Crumb Bomber,¡± </em>Ahsoka overheard on the circuit, <em>¡°Do you read?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Loud and clear, Bomber.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Jag¡¯s vac-heads say the birds got kicked up over the dropzone!¡± Crumb Bomber¡¯s </em>pilot ryed, and Ahsoka¡¯s stomach dropped, <em>¡°Ro-Ti-Mundi¡¯s moving in to clear out the nests but we gotta drop early to make it!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°I hear you. You¡¯ve got the point!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Copy. Tell your boys and we¡¯ll start our runs ASAP!¡±</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°General Kenobi!¡± Bad Kitty¡¯s </em>pilot wasted no time.


    <em>¡°We heard you, Captain,¡± </em>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. <em>¡°Get us there in one piece, and we¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Copy that, General!¡±</em>


    The Jedi General nodded sharply at Commander Cody, and the clone marshal immediately started barking out the brief.


    <em>¡°You heard the big man!¡± </em>he snapped over thems, <em>¡°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!?¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Yes, sir!¡±</em>


    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. <em>Suits sealed tight¡­ hopefully. Mag-boots? </em>She clicked her heels and stomped, feeling herselftch to the deck. <em>Lightsabers? </em>She fondled her belt, grasping at her waist until she came across the two familiar cylinders.


    Then she checked it all again.


    <em>I hate space.</em>


    <em>¡°Heads up, boys,¡± </em>the pilot announced over thems, <em>Bad Kitty¡¯s </em>drives purring louder than before, <em>¡°We¡¯re making the run!¡±</em>


    <em>And I hate the run!</em>


    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.


    <em>Hope you¡¯re having a better time than I am, Scout. </em>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. <em>Probably not, though. Can¡¯t imagine going up against the kriffing Tombmaker. </em>


    Ahsoka ultimately decided to count her lucky stars that she was here and not there.


    <em>¡°Standby for depressurisation!¡±</em>


    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 <em>Ro-Ti-Mundi</em>¨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.


    <em>¡°Holy kriffing shit,¡± </em>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.


    <em>¡°Eyes up, Ahsoka!¡± </em>Master Obi-Wan snapped, a rampant urgency coloured his tone, <em>¡°Stay focused!¡±</em>


    ¡°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. <em>Those aren¡¯t Vultures, </em>Ahsoka thought, <em>those are citizen starfighter designs. </em>


    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.


    <em>¡°Iing!¡± </em>the pilot barked, <em>¡°Brace!¡±</em>


    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 <em>Bad Kitty </em>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.


    <em>¡°Keep it steady, Captain!¡±</em> 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.


    <em>¡°Thirty seconds to drop zone, boys!¡± </em>the pilot called back, <em>¡°Hold on!¡±</em>


    <em>Bad Kitty</em> 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; <em>¡°Jetpacks ready! Grapples primed! Keep your tethers tight¨Cwe¡¯re not losing anyone out there!¡±</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°Remember the n,¡±</em> General Kenobi said, <em>¡°Wend, secure thending, and hold it until army reinforcements arrive. Stay close, and keep your heads together!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Five seconds!¡± </em>


    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.


    <em>¡°Go! Go! Go!¡±</em>


    <em>¡°Move, move!¡± </em>Commander Cody roared, and the troopers around erupted into action, leaping into the ckness one by one, jetpacks igniting in bursts of blue me.


    <em>¡°Rendezvous on the skyhook!¡± </em>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.


    <em>¡°Ahsoka!¡± </em>Master Obi-Wan shouted at her through thems, <em>¡°Focus!¡±</em>


    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. <em>How far out are we? </em>She could only wonder¨C<em>one klick, or one-hundred? </em>


    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.


    <em>One, two, three¨C!</em>


    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, <em>Vignce </em>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; <em>and I¡¯m not about to get shot.</em>


    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. <em>A Jedi Commander must be seen by their troopers! </em>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.


    <em>¡°Enemy artillery sighted on the upper decks!¡± </em>someone shouted in thems.


    <em>¡°Calling in a suppressive bombardment! Standby!¡±</em>


    Ahsoka spun around just in time to see <em>Vignce¡¯s </em>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.


    <em>¡°Snipers!?¡± </em>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!¡±


    <em>¡°Copy that, Commander!¡±</em>


    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. <em>This is it, </em>she breathed heavily, eyeing the oxygen gauge on her HUD, <em>this is what it¡¯s all about. </em>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.


    <em>¡°Push forward!¡± </em>General Kenobi¡¯s voice boomed through thems, <em>¡°Secure the airlocks! We need ess to the superstructure!¡±</em>


    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.


    <em>¡°nting charges!¡± </embat engineers rushed forth, the breach held open by the cloned troopers.


    <em>¡°Transmission from the Selfless!¡± </em>abat tech with alink booster pack announced, <em>¡°The Four-oh-Fourth Siege Battalion has sessfully seized their skyhook! General Reus ising around with the Selfless to provide supporting fire!¡±</em>


    Ahsoka spared a nce toward the horizon, trying to spot the <em>Selfless. </em>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.


    <em>¡°Do we have an ETA?¡± </em>General Kenobi asked. Ahsoka had lost sight of her Master in the chaos, but it was relieving to hear his voice.


    <em>¡°Half a minute tops!¡±</em>


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>¡°Walkers, take out those hardpoints! Standby for breaching charges!¡±</em>


    Ahsoka deactivated her mag-boots and <em>leapt, </em>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¡¯ <em>Selfless </em>roaring into view with a vengeance.


    <em>¡°The airlocks¡¯ open!¡± </em>


    <em>¡°Move, move! Secure the skyhook! Take the turbolifts!¡±</em>


    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.


    <em>That¡¯s one, </em>she thought, staring towards the other inds floating amidst the sea of fire, <em>how many more to go?</em>


    ?


    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 <em>one </em>skyhook,¡± she murmured. <em>Hundreds of thousands¨Cif not millions¨Cdead before we even set foot on the.</em>


    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.¡±


    <em>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.</em>


    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 <em>never </em>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.¡±


    <em>¡°Admiral Trench!?¡± </em>Ahsoka hissed, ¡°You mean <em>that </em>Admiral Trench!? The Old Spider?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Ahsoka. I mean <em>that</em> Admiral Trench. Which is exactly why I must take this im seriously.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ <em>he¡¯s the enemy!</em>¡±


    ¡°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.¡±


    <em>Rahm Kota? That man has always been a maverick, but he is also a soldier through and through. </em>There was a reason the Republic assigned him to the critical stronghold of Phindar. <em>To think he would find reason to let Admiral Trench, however¡­ </em>


    ¡°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 <em>Admiral Trench </em>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¡­ <em>but to aid the Republic?</em> 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.


    ¡­


    <em>What if Admiral Trench isn¡¯t aiding the Republic so much as he is aiding the Expeditionary Fleet specifically?</em>


    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 <em>conspiracy¡­</em>


    ¡°How many Jedi are cooperating with the Separatists?¡± seeing no reason not to ask, Obi-Wan did.


    <em>¡°What?¡± </em>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 <em>everyone who wants this war to end.</em>¡±


    <em>¡°A conspiracy,¡± </em>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?¡±


    <em>Radical, more like it!</em>


    ¡°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.


    <em>¡°Why?¡± </em>Obi-Wan whispered, <em>¡°We¡¯re at the war¡¯s end.¡±</em>


    ¡°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 <em>that </em>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.¡±


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 87

    Ord Sigatt Orbit, Ord Sigatt System


    Noonian Sector


    Jedi Master Luminara Unduli¡¯s face gave no hint of her inner unrest as she stared through the viewport of the shuttle. The shuttle¡¯s cockpit was silent except for the low hum of its systems and the occasional crackle of the comm. Outside, the void was dominated by the immense silhouette of the Separatist superweapon. Her lightsaber felt heavy at her hip¨Cnay, her entire body did¨Cas if there was a great weight in the air, the very presence of the warship almost tangible force of its own. The Jedi Master could believe it.


    She could feel the pilot¡¯s nervous energy as they brought the shuttle closer, Clone Commander Gree¡¯s jaw setting as they were brought alongside the massive behemoth lurking in the void, as if it took all of the clone¡¯s willpower not to gawk like a new like a trooper on his first deployment.


    ¡°How generous of the Separatists,¡± the Clone Commander said tightly, ¡°Inviting us to a tour of their latest superweapon.¡±


    The superweapon was a battleship, longer than a Venator and twice as heavy. It was shaped like a tuning fork, two great prongs jutting out from the bow of the hull housing the two largest artillery pieces Luminara had ever seen put to space. She stared down their hollow throats, each large enough for their shuttle to fly down their lengths, and traced the lines of the hull, the glowing lines of power conduits and faint glimmers of running lights that seemed to pulse like the veins of a living thing.


    Repair dogs and their remotes floated about it and crawled in and out of its guns like tiny, furious ants, coordinated by a small army of EVA suited engineers and technicians clambering throughout the network of gangways and catwalks spanning the length of the vessel. External and internal damage from its latest engagement, perhaps? But how so? There was no name plaque, but the mid-section of the dorsal prong bore a distinct emblem: a modified Separatist Hex, but from each of the six faces extended the reared head of a serpent, all snarling in a clockwise arrangement.


    The shuttle lurched, captured by the warship¡¯s tractor field, and was drawn closer and closer to the prongs¨Cuntil they slipped into the space between them, engulfing the shuttle in darkness. The only light source now was the bright horizon of stars bound top and bottom by the prongs, and the small, glowing hangar bay at the end of the tunnel, from which a steady traffic of repair drones buzzed to-and-fro. The heavy weight she felt before was now magnified tenfold, like being crushed by an ocean¡¯s depths.


    ¡°Take it as a sign of goodwill, Gree,¡± Master Luminara murmured softly, ¡°Not all intentions are borne out of hostility.¡±


    Clone Commander Gree was silent, all but pressing his face against the viewports as he inspected the superweapon¡¯s dark underbelly.


    ¡°...Something of interest, Commander?¡±


    ¡°¨CI hate to speculate, General,¡± Gree replied after a brief hesitation, ¡°But this looks to me like Anx technology.¡±


    Commander Gree took his name from an obscure alien species deep in the Outer Rim, known as the Gree. It was fitting, after all the 41st Elite Corps specialised in far-afield deployments on alien worlds, such as Teth, and Gree himself soon became an expert on rather esoteric alien cultures to better prepare for the hostile environments the 41st became known for operating in. As for ¡®Gree¡¯, the clone figured that if anyone recognized the source of the name, he would know they shared his interest in alien culture.


    Which was why if Gree figured he had an insight to the nature of the weapon they were dealing with, Master Luminara was more than willing to humble herself to the expertise of her Clone Commander.


    ¡°The Anx?¡± she wondered, ¡°The same Anx of Anx Space?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± he nodded, narrowing his eyes, ¡°Their homeworld¨CGravlex Med¨Cis a high-gravity world, and to get off-world, they had to build massive cannons to launch their vessels into orbit. But to counteract their homeworld¡¯s gravitational field, they had to specialise in tech that directly acts against it: repulsors, tractor beams, and the like.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying¨C¡±


    ¡°This weapon is nothing more than an oversized mass driver,¡± Gree finished, ¡°As Republic Intelligence has suspected¡­ but to think they would use gravitic technology to accomplish the feats they were able to¡­ I would hazard the Seppies seeked Anx expertise¨Cif the Anx did not have a frontal role in the engineering of this thing in the first place.¡±


    ¡°It appears the Battle Hydra is getting more than he bargained for,¡± Master Luminara mused lightly, tone neutral as the shuttle drew closer.


    ¡°I thought the Seps are doing this out of goodwill, General?¡±


    The docking protocols engaged, and the metallic hiss of the landing clamps echoed through the hold. A moment later, the shuttle¡¯s ramp lowered with a hiss of decompression, revealing a welcoming party already waiting at the end of the docking corridor.


    Master Luminara stood up, a slight tug at her lips, ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we should be, Commander.¡±


    Luminara brushed off her dress, stepping down the ramp with Commander Gree close behind her. The air aboard the warship was sharp and sterile, the faint hum of the ship¡¯s systems a constant undercurrent. A tall, stern Human officer stood at the forefront, his grey uniform pristine and sharply creased, and shoulder patch bearing the mark of a commander. Behind him, droids and Skakoan naval commandos flanked the corridor in silent formation. The officer stepped forward, inclining his head slightly in a gesture that could almost be mistaken for respect.


    ¡°General Unduli,¡± he greeted, his voice smooth but cold, ¡°Welcome aboard the Conqueress. Commander Gnifmak Dymurra, at your service. The Admiral is eager to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I trust this visit will proceed without incident,¡± she said evenly.


    Dymurra¡¯s lips curved in a faint smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°The Confederacy did not unite the Outer Rim in common cause by force, Master Jedi. Diplomacy is greatly valued here, rest assured.¡±


    ¡°Some of the Confederacy¡¯s generals fail to hold that sentiment in high esteem, Commander Dymurra.¡±


    ¡°Which is why you are here, and not them,¡± the officer replied politely.


    They moved deeper into the ship, the Jedi General¡¯s detail of clone troopers falling in lockstep with the Separatist escort. Clone Commander Gree had refastened his helmet, more than likely to hide his roving gaze as he analysed the Conqueress from the inside out. As did Master Luminara, extending her senses out to feel her way through the corridors and make a mental map of the warship¡¯s interior. For a battleship of this size, however, its interior accommodations were surprisingly small, with almost claustrophobic compartments and hallways.


    Almost as if all the livable spaces had to be shoved out of the way to make room for something else¡­ something large. Every passageway felt like a compromise, as if the living quarters and operational spaces had been deliberately minimized.


    Her suspicions deepened when she noticed the abundance of maintenance doors lining the walls. Each was sealed tight, reinforced with bulkheads and clearly marked with warning signs. Then there were the Skakoan combat engineers stationed at intervals along these corridors, scanning her party through their inscrutable pressure suits as they passed.


    Well, it¡¯s now clear what role the Techno Union played in the making of this ship.


    Just then, Commander Gree fell into step beside her, his voice a low murmur transmitted through her commlink, ¡°General, I¡¯ve been tracking our movement relative to the exterior hull. According to my scans, we¡¯ve been circling around a massive hollow section that takes up most of the ship¡¯s body.¡±


    ¡°The size is impressive,¡± Luminara noted out loud. Dymurra didn¡¯t deign to comment.


    ¡°And judging by the bulkheads¡­¡± Gree continued inconspicuously, ¡°I¡¯d hazard that the space isn¡¯t habitable either. It¡¯s a huge vacuum.¡±


    This weapon¡¯s projectiles aren¡¯t plasma or ionic in nature, Luminara mused silently, they were very much physical slugs. And judging by the size of the barrels we just saw¡­ the vacuum hold was more than likely a gigantic ammunition locker. The ship was likely rearmed through a huge cargo door on the ventral surface, directly connected to outer space. The physical slugs¨Ceach the size of a tenement block¨Cwould then be stored in a zero-gravity, vacuum hold in the centre of the hull, before being fed into the guns.


    ¡°...Hah,¡± Commander Gree said aloud, likely reaching the same conclusion as her, ¡°What a ¡®battleship¡¯ this is. She¡¯s just a shell, and what¨Cseventy, eighty percent empty vacuum? One well-placed shot will rip this warship to shreds.¡±


    Gnifmak Dymurra¡¯s shoulders tensed, but he did not deny the claim, ¡°Which was why Conqueress was target-locked not once at Taris.¡±


    ¡°Does she even have enough room for a hypermatter-annihilator reactor?¡± Gree pressured further.


    The most powerful hypermatter reactors¨Cones able to sufficiently power a capital ship¨Cwere notoriously difficult to house due to their always-spherical shape, and the Republic Navy¡¯s latest warship, the Victory-class, was known for their reactors bulging out from the bottom of their hull. Ironically enough, the Venator-class Star Destroyer¨Cwhich was also vastly empty inside due to its central hangar¨Cfaced a similar issue. Venators did possess hypermatter reactors, however, albeit with similar compromises.


    ¡°Restricted information, I am afraid,¡± Commander Dymurra slowed to a halt just before a turbolift lobby, his posture not betraying a hint, ¡°Please, after you.¡±


    The ride up was a silent one, save for two Skakoan commandos exchanging terse words in their native tongue. They were watching her closely, or rather Gree, as though expecting him to pry even more. He did not.


    Nevertheless, the dorsal superstructure presiding over the warship was far more fitting for accommodations of a warship of this calibre. As soon as the turbolift emptied out, Master Luminara could feel as if she had just stepped out of a mechanical shop and into proper crew quarters. The corridors were more spacious, more brightly lit, with a constant traffic of uniformed personnel rather than combat fatigues and engineering coveralls.


    ¡°Is it safe to show us so much of the vessel?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but question.


    ¡°I advised against it,¡± Dymurra¡¯s answer was clipped, showing her to a door, ¡°I will have to ask for your detail to remain here. The Clone Commander may join you.¡±


    That was acceptable. The door opened, and they stepped into the compartment.


    There was a small table draped in the most vibrant purple silk tablecloth waiting for them, and a dead man standing on the other side.


    ?


    There wasn¡¯t anywhere on Conqueress acceptable to entertain guests. Most of the ship beneath the bridge module was reserved for the ammunition hold, and what¡¯s in the limited superstructure was already crammed with all the necessary crew accommodations necessary to maintain the vast engineering corps keeping this overdesigned piece of shit running properly.


    Seeing how I couldn¡¯t very well host a Jedi Master in a mess hall or a command bridge, I compromised by commandeering one of the larger unused cabins. There was a table, but nothing to cover it with. Seeing as I wanted to make a good impression on the woman I¡¯m hoping would turn the tide of the battle at Serenno later on, I had to improvise.


    The single most expensive piece of cloth onboard Conqueress was my purple Onderon silk cloak. These days, I¡¯m not really in the business of sucking up to superiors as I was before, so I might as well give the disused piece of silk some purpose. Besides, the House of Bonteri was in the business of silk back on Onderon anyway, and I was planning on pivoting to Ootoolan weave for personal fashion after the war too.


    Don¡¯t ask me how the stupid thing survived the Battle of Rendili. I don¡¯t know. Hare magically procured it from her dimensional storage at Manaan, with something along the lines of the thing being with me since I was a child. I glanced at my feet, and the LEP droid in question stared up at me. What a little incomprehensible thing you are.


    I heard the door open.


    ¡°Welcome!¡± I snapped up, beckoning in my guests, ¡°Come, come! Sit.¡±


    Master Luminara sat, the Clone Commander did not. What¡¯s his name, again? Shit.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°I am Admiral Rain Bonteri,¡± the words rolled off my tongue easily, ¡°Though ¡®Admiral¡¯ is a new addition.¡±


    ¡°I am Jedi Master Luminara Unduli,¡± the Jedi Master reciprocated, ¡°And this is my Clone Commander, Gree. Gree, you can take off your helmet now.¡±


    The clone removed his green-painted helmet, revealing¡­ well, a clone, but with two thick stripes of reddish-brown atop his head rather than the usual black buzz most cloned troopers wore. I¡¯m guessing this one is more individualistic than most.


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± I vaguely waved a hand, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have any refreshments¡­¡±


    ¡°May I ask how you survived Rendili?¡± Master Luminara leaned forward, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes, ¡°Everybody in the Republic thinks you¡¯re dead. Is Calli Trilm alive too?¡±


    With dumb luck,¡± I answered honestly, having reimagined that horrible affair over and over again every time I slept, ¡°And with the help of some extremely capable droids. As for Calli Trilm¡­ you would know more than I in that regard, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    ¡°The HoloNet reported her dead,¡± her lips twitched, ¡°But then again so were you¡­ Rendili was a messy affair, you understand. Especially the post-battle clean up.¡±


    ¡°You have captured my interest,¡± I narrowed my eyes, ¡°How so? If you would, of course.¡±


    ¡°The Jedi and the Navy don¡¯t exactly cooperate nicely, but you would know that,¡± Master Luminara explained, ¡°The less said about the prisoners Home Fleet took, the better; Admiral Honor Salima had ordered the capture of prisoners-of-war, but¡­ Calli Trilm¡¯s mad assault had broken the Home Fleet¡¯s communications, and ¡®pockets of fighting¡¯ still persisted hours after the battle ended. At least, that¡¯s the official narrative.¡±


    In other words, those unlucky enough to be recovered by the spacers of the Home Fleet were likely summarily executed on the spot. I could just imagine it¨Cthe accumulation of pent up frustration, anger, and rage. The Battle of Rendili was one of the bloodiest and chaotic of the war, at least relative to its size, mostly thanks to the 19th Mobile Fleet. Whose to stop some vengeful gunners from popping escape pods? What about hangar crews claiming prisoners were resisting capture and thus killing them ¡®out of self-defense¡¯?


    They were exercising revenge. Who was going to call them out on it? Who was going to try to stop them? Their dead comrades?


    ¡°On the other hand¡­¡± Master Luminara continued, ¡°The prisoners taken by Obi-Wan Kenobi¡¯s Open Circle Fleet, though few, I have it on good authority Jedi Command offered them asylum so as to escape the horrors of whatever Republic Intelligence had waiting for them.¡±


    I could feel a tiny bud of hope blossom in my chest. The clones of the Open Circle Fleet, however, were much more disciplined than the spacers of the Home Fleet. Not to mention, the Open Circle hadn¡¯t taken on the brunt of the fighting as the Home Fleet did. There was a chance¨C


    ¨CBut I crushed the underfoot the next moment. Just as the Open Circle hadn¡¯t been in the swirl of the melee, they had also not been in any position to take prisoners¨Cphysically speaking. As Master Luminara had said herself, the POWs taken by the Open Circle were few, simply because the Open Circle had been outside the melee when it ended. And the Star of Serenno¡¯s grave was right in the heart of the battle, where the fighting was thickest. There was no point hoping against hope. That time had long passed.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know where they were taken, would you?¡± I asked anyway.


    The Jedi Master shook her head regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m afraid only the Jedi High Council is privy to that information. You would have better luck asking Master Adi Gallia¨Cthis sort of thing is her field of expertise.¡±


    Despite doing my best not to hope, I deflated at the news anyway, ¡°Well, it soothes me to know some of my comrades survived that ordeal¡­ In any case, I hope we could have a fruitful discussion about our future cooperation today; I understand I¡¯m no Admiral Trench, but¨C¡±


    ¡°¨CWhat does Admiral Trench have to do with this?¡± Commander Gree cut in tersely.


    I glanced at him, then back to the Mirialan Jedi, ¡°You were not informed? Maybe it¡¯s the timing¡­¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± the stern-faced clone was leaning so far over he almost slammed a palm on my tablecloth.


    I raised my hands up in surrender, ¡°Admiral Trench had negotiated the safe passage of his Second Fleet Group to transit the Salin Corridor with Jedi General Rahm Kota. If he continued to Botajef, he should be meeting the Expeditionary Fleet there right about now.¡±


    Commander Gree¡¯s jaw tightened, his gloved fingers curling into a fist as he processed the revelation. His gaze snapped to Master Luminara, his tone edged with disbelief. Master Luminara¡¯s expression remained impassive, though a flicker of concern crossed her eyes.


    ¡°General Kota allowed the Old Spider to transit the Salin Corridor? That¡¯s... treasonous at worst, reckless at best!¡±


    ¡°Commander,¡± she said calmly, grabbing Gree¡¯s arm to steady him, ¡°We don¡¯t yet have the full context. Let¡¯s not leap to conclusions.¡±


    The Jedi Master then looked at me, boring straight through my eyes, ¡°And I¡¯m sure you will gladly provide said context, Admiral?¡±


    I blew out a harsh breath, mentally and physically preparing for the conversation ahead. How the hell did you do it, Trench? Then again, he was like¡­ a six-feet tall bipedal spider. When Trench spoke, people tended to listen, whether they liked it or not, especially when every primal instinct in your body was screaming at you to not get eaten.


    ¡°As I had briefly explained before,¡± I started off lightly, ¡°Count Dooku¡¯s Serenno Government is an unrecognised splinter state of the Confederacy. Admiral Trench and General Kota must have found common ground. After all, there is no reason for the Second Fleet Group and the Expeditionary Fleet to fight when they have a common enemy.¡±


    ¡°War is rarely that simple, I am afraid,¡± Master Luminara returned, equally lightly, ¡°Nor is Master Rahm Kota that sort of character. If that maverick allowed Trench through, then there must be something larger at play¨Clarge enough that Master Kota decided the severity of it outweighed the risks.¡±


    I eyed the demure Jedi Master, then the stone-cold Clone Commander. They played a very natural carrot and stick, even if they did not intend for it. There was a pause as I mulled over whether to take the plunge, a pause that Commander Gree decided was far too long. I would hear none of it, however, and as soon as the stick opened his mouth, I decided to take the plunge.


    ¡°It¡¯s because the Expeditionary Fleet is about to collapse,¡± I prophesied, ¡°And General Kota wants Admiral Trench to save as many Jedi as possible before or during it.¡±


    ¡°Collapse¨C¡± Commander Gree startled, ¡°What sort of¨C!¡±


    Master Luminara raised a hand, stilling him like a dog, ¡°I am afraid we will need context for the context, Admiral.¡±


    ¡°...Hare?¡± I opened a hand to my side.


    The clone¡¯s expression sharpened as he snapped down to the two rabbit ears just poking above the table. Oh yeah, my droid¡¯s able to escape an elite trooper¡¯s senses¡­ what the fuck are you, Hare?


    The LEP droid in question reached into her storage compartment and produced a tablet and holoprojector, depositing them both in my palm. I carefully brought both devices to the table, sliding them onto the silk and hooking them up.


    ¡°We intercepted this from Coruscant,¡± I offered the Jedi Master the tablet, ¡°Read at your own pleasure. It is the exact same thing Trench showed Rahm Kota.¡±


    Master Luminara¡¯s eyes hovered over the front page, and her expression slowly went blank. The air went stagnant, as if the Force was bringing all airflow to a halt. I felt a sudden and urgent urge to increase the ventilation in the compartment, but put the suffocating sensation aside to inspect Luminara¡¯s expression. Unfortunately, if she was a Jedi Master of anything, it was being a master of the poker face. It was as if I was watching a statue, the only evidence of life being her thumb scrolling the tablet.


    ¡°General?¡± Commander Gree questioned.


    ¡°I am afraid I will have to keep this from you for now, Commander,¡± her voice was flat as still water.


    ¡°Understood, sir.¡±


    ¡°¨CAnd¡­¡± Master Luminara¡¯s gaze flicked up to mine, ¡°...how exactly will the Expeditionary Fleet collapse?¡±


    I could tell that Gree was immediately curious about his General¡¯s sudden receptive attitude the the outlandish claim, but had more than enough discipline to remain still.


    ¡°I suspect that it will come by way of one of the Grand Army¡¯s contingency¡¯s codes,¡± I leaned back, far far back, and knitted my fingers together, ¡°I assume you have heard of them?¡±


    ¡°I am surprised you know of them,¡± Master Luminara replied.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain they existed,¡± I shrugged, but spoke honestly. There was no reason not to. ¡°And besides, I only know one by name and purpose. Order Sixty-Six.¡±


    Both Jedi and Clone Commander paused¡­ or rather, the Clone Commander paused. The Jedi already had all the posture of a lifelike statue. Despite that, Commander Gree waited for Luminara to wordlessly place down the tablet¨Cthe manifesto¨Cto speak, heeding an unsaid permission.


    ¡°Reason for it aside, only the Supreme Commander could issue that order,¡± Gree said slowly, as if explaining to a child, ¡°And it would never work besides. Even if there had been some disagreements, the Jedi are still the generals and heroes of the Grand Army, if not the Republic. Nobody in their right mind would betray it.¡±


    ¡°With no disrespect, Commander,¡± I started, ¡°But I was under the impression cloned troopers were trained to obey every order, as long as they come from the proper authority.¡±


    Bred. Bred to obey. That was left unspoken, but they knew what I really meant.


    Clone Commander Gree bristled, ¡°The Clone Army has fought with the Jedi for two years now. I will admit that some may obey, but many will not, and definitely not the Grand Army.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    This complicates things. The only thing I knew about these ¡®contingency orders¡¯ was basically a single scene in Episode III, and even then, my memory grows fuzzy. I had entertained the idea of intercepting Order 66 as it left Coruscant with PRIESTESS, but that would immediately blow PRIESTESS¡¯ cover, and there were at least sixty-five more contingency orders, one or two of which Palpatine could fall back on to accomplish a similar feat. For all I could know, there were hundreds, thousands more contingency orders to account for every conceivable¡­ well, contingency.


    Then, what about replacing Order 66 with another order, one beneficial to us? PRIESTESS¡¯ existence would still be revealed, but there was almost certainly an order to overthrow the current administration or something¡­ right? Except¡­ we don¡¯t know the authentication key of each contingency order.


    For example, Order 66 could only be issued by the Supreme Chancellor¡­ but there were certainly more keys than that. It was simply multiple-factor authentication. The Chancellor was one thing, but what if he was issuing the order under duress, or was unfit for duty? What if the transmission was faked?


    The Supreme Chancellor¡¯s voice and image¨Cbiometrics¨Cwere one key. Was the exact frequency of the hyperwave another key? Was there also a transponder ID, biscuit code, and approval from the Vice Chair? These sort of drastic measures required checks and balances, so that they could not be abused.


    And not all contingency orders would have the same authentication keys, that was for certain. A hypothetical order to depose the Supreme Chancellor, for example, should only be issued by another party. A Senate majority? The Security Council? The Supreme Court? The Strategic Planning Amphitheatre? A mix of all four?


    These sorts of things were most likely kept on the most need-to-know basis, under heavy lock and key. PRIESTESS was omnipresent, not omnipotent. She can¡¯t do the impossible, such as finding out about every possible contingency order in existence, finding out their respective authentication keys, and forging said keys¨Cat least not in any reasonable timespan.


    But most importantly of all¡­


    ¡°Should the Supreme Commander issue such an order,¡± I looked Luminara Unduli dead in the eye, ¡°The Clone Army will obey. The Grand Army may or may not, but the Clone Army will. I say this with an absolute certainty.¡±


    Both of them opened their mouths to talk, but I pressed forth.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know how,¡± I continued, ¡°Nor do I know why. But I know it will happen. I put my faith in this outcome as much as you put your faith in the Force. I have no reason to lie.¡±


    ¡°...If you know about this,¡± Master Luminara tapped the manifesto with her knuckle, ¡°Then so does Republic Intelligence, almost certainly. Why hasn¡¯t the Supreme Commander issued such an order already?¡±


    Commander Gree shifted, but said nothing. It was actually impressive. If I was in his position, I would be leaping out of my skin in equal parts worry and curiosity.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Master Jedi,¡± I purposefully leaked a touch of real, pent-up frustration into my voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can only suspect he is waiting for something, or someone. Waiting for a moment, the moment this¡­ conspiracy is sprung, giving him cause for action. At that moment, he will strike¡­ and the Expeditionary Fleet will fall into chaos.¡±


    ¡°Can we warn them?¡± Luminara asked, ¡°Or warn the Jedi Temple?¡±


    ¡°They both know, I suspect,¡± I replied, ¡°Look at the names in that document. Everyone involved knows the risks. They¡¯ve already thrown the coin, and are waiting to see how it lands.¡±


    ¡°Barriss¡­¡± she murmured, ¡°Adi had taken Barriss under her wing.¡±


    ¡°So she has.¡±


    The Mirialan Jedi looked at me, ¡°And this was part of your plan as well? Barriss is in the know¨Cto all of this?¡±


    ¡°Master Jedi,¡± I smiled sheepishly, ¡°Barriss created this plan. The spy network we used to intercept this document¨Cit¡¯s all Barriss Offee.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Master Jedi,¡± I tried again, ¡°The Jedi Temple is out of our hands, and we can only put our trust in Barriss and Master Gallia to pull through. We are, however, in the position to influence the fate of the Expeditionary Fleet. This is what General Rahm Kota realised, and this is what I hope you realise now.¡±


    Master Luminara¡¯s face remained impassive, but I could see the gears turning behind her sapphire eyes. Her tattooed fingers rested lightly on the edge of the manifesto, unmoving, save for the faintest. Was it tension? Hesitation? Perhaps a flicker of doubt? I wasn¡¯t sure. The Jedi were trained to control their emotions, to mask their thoughts, but even the best of them weren¡¯t infallible. And I had spent my entire adult life learning to read people.


    I rested my elbows on the tablecloth, the silk so smooth it took more effort to prevent said elbows from sliding, squinting at her. Her breathing was steady but shallow. The faint twitch of her brow. The way her eyes flicked, ever so slightly, to Commander Gree, then back to the document.


    She¡¯s weighing the risk, I thought. The risk of acting. The risk of not acting.


    This was the part of the plan that always went wrong. People could be influenced, convinced, but people¨Ceven the most straight-laced of them¨Cwere also unpredictable. For all my careful planning, for all my confidence in the information I presented, and the way I presented them¡­ everything could be undone with a single rogue thought. I felt a cold knot of doubt coil in my stomach.


    There was always the chance I had overplayed my hand.


    And all the while, Commander Gree stood like a statue beside her, his silence as deliberate as hers. Yet his tension was palpable, the slight tightening of his jaw and the rigidity in his stance betraying the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior. Like a dog awaiting their order.


    Then, suddenly, Master Luminara Unduli straightened, and I snapped upright in response. She handed the manifesto to the clone beside her, her gaze not once straying from mine.


    ¡°Admiral Bonteri¡­¡± she started, ¡°You are the best naval tactician I know. How do you suggest we save the day?¡±

 Chapter 88

    Serenno Approach, Serenno System


    D¡¯Astan Sector


    ¡°Stars aligned,¡± Ahsoka murmured, ¡°Master Plo was right¨Cwe¡¯re here.¡±


    Here. Serenno. An idyllic garden world, fostered and grown by Count Dooku himself. Lush rainforests and mountain ranges visible from orbit, as well as savannas, which gave way to mighty rivers that spilled into vast oceans. The gleaming silver pearl of the Confederacy.


    And the end of the war.


    Obi-Wan sighed deeply. Oh how I wish that to be true.


    Chancellor Palpatine, a Sith Lord? Not even that, the Sith Lord. On impulse, the Jedi Master could¡¯ve immediately thought the idea utterly preposterous. The Chancellor was an old, fatherly man who championed the Jedi Order at every hurdle, even as he single-handedly kept the bickering Senate from falling apart at the seams, and holding on to the many pieces of the crumbling Galactic Republic.


    But Obi-Wan Kenobi was also absent from Coruscant more often than not, fighting the Chancellor¡¯s war on the frontlines. For every acclaim the Chancellor lauded on the Jedi Order in public, he disparaged their characters in private. For every Senate convention he prevented from devolving into the squabbling mess, the more corrupted caucuses he folded into his vast pockets. For every facet of the teetering Republic he kept from collapsing, there was another constitutional wall he eroded for his own means.


    The Supreme Chancellor was the single most powerful man in the galaxy, having just completed his third four-year term in office¨Cin an office that limits its chancellors to only two terms¨Cand he had no intention of letting go.


    As a bloody war of lasers and steel was being fought in the galactic rim by brave troopers and heroic knights, a shadow war of secrets and credits was being fought in the capital of the galaxy, by spies and politicians.


    And all of it was culminating on two fronts.


    One was here, at Serenno, to dismantle the Sith Apprentice. The other was on Coruscant, to undo the Sith Master.


    It didn¡¯t matter that they only won one battle¨Cthey had to triumph in both. Completely and utterly. The Sith were insidious; any victory over them that wasn¡¯t complete gave them ample room to escape, scheme, and return.


    Obi-Wan Kenobi closed his eyes and clenched his fists, feeling the linger of the dark side swirl around him like silken brocade. He felt stupid. Stupid and guilty.


    Because he knew the truth from the start.


    The Truth.


    What if I told you the Republic was now under the control of the Dark Lord of the Sith?


    Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord, called Darth Sidious.


    And now the Sith waged a proxy war to bring the galaxy to its knees, and hundreds of senators have ballooned into thousands. Obi-Wan Kenobi ignored the truth, even when it was spoken right to his face, to the galaxy¡¯s peril.


    ¡°Master?¡± Ahsoka¡¯s chip voice shook him from his reverie.


    Far from the youthful energy and confidence the young Togruta had presented to him at the start, his second Padawan had been tempered by years of constant battle, lurching from one front to another. Anxiety laced Ahsoka¡¯s tone, as if she was unsure whether they should be facing forwards or backwards, and Obi-Wan knew as a Jedi Master he must not let his doubts infect her too.


    ¡°Yes, my young Padawan?¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we start sending out the beacons?¡±


    Obi-Wan blankly nodded. Ahead of them¨Cspearhead to groups of needle-nosed pickets that were screening the capital ships¨Cslued hundreds of enemy craft. Some were thirteen year-old Vulture fighters with paired wings that resembled seedpods; others were compact tri-fighter droids; and still others were space-capable Geonosian twinbeaked Nantex-class starfighters.


    The tactical holos displayed the signatures and deployment of the Separatist capital vessels: Trade Federation Lucrehulks and core ships; Techno Union Hardcells, with their columnar thruster packages and egg-shaped fuselages; Commerce Guild Diamond-class cruisers and Corporate Alliance Fantails; frigates, gunboats, and Banking Clan communications ships featuring huge circular transponders.


    The whole Separatist parade.


    Thousands of warships, all gathered to defend the jewel of the Separatist Alliance, and the seat of their master. He eyed the Techno Union and Corporate Alliance warships within the gathered Serenno Defense Fleet. Not even the Separatist Schism could prevent Count Dooku from calling upon their forces, it seems.


    The Open Circle Fleet was massively outnumbered, and outgunned.


    But not for long.


    ¡°Send it out, Ahsoka,¡± Obi-Wan ordered.


    Ahsoka grinned, a rare sight after the revelations at Botajef, ¡°Don¡¯t have to tell me twice, Master.¡±


    The metaphorical flares were released, and within moments the first battle groups of the Expeditionary Fleet warped into the Serenno Star System, having been waiting for precisely this all-clear signal just up the Hydian Way.


    ¡°Albedo Brave reporting in,¡± first came the imposing voice of Jedi Master Jaro Tapal, ¡°The rest of the Expeditionary Fleet in en route.¡±


    ¡°Battle Group Selfless, reporting,¡± then came the stern and blunt tone of Jedi Master Keelyvine Reus.


    Despite his seniority, Obi-Wan couldn¡¯t help but tense at the recognition of Master Keelyvine. She was a¡­ harsh Jedi, to speak lightly. Having been recently made a Jedi Master to fill in the gaping holes of the Order¡¯s ranks, Keelyvine Reus was a difficult person to work with. Having apprenticed under Count Dooku himself, she inherited every bit of his lightsaber mastery, and perfectionist tendencies.


    Needless to say, her character ran completely counter to Obi-Wan¡¯s and Anakin¡¯s during a cooperative assignment to the Valdesian System two years ago, and she levied constant grievance at their constant¡­ well let¡¯s say banter. Still, she was an immensely skilled blademaster, albeit of singular focus at times, and had done them a great favour by imparting her teachings unto Ahsoka and Scout¨Ceven if her exacting methods did temper the two excited Padawans by quite a bit.


    ¡°Task Force Anvil, reporting!¡±


    ¡°Battle Group Majestic, reporting in.¡±


    ¡°Battle Group Demolisher, present.¡±


    More and more fleets leapt into the system, the volume of which soon grew into a constant influx of warships, dissuading any notion of a pre-emptive strike from the Separatist defenders.


    ¡°Battle Group Integrity, reporting.¡±


    ¡°Task Force Dominance, present!¡±


    ¡°Battle Group Endurance, reporting to the AO.¡±


    Obi-Wan¡¯s attention was seized by the Endurance, Master Mace Windu¡¯s flagship.


    ¡°Admiral Kilian, this is General Kenobi of the Open Circle Fleet,¡± he recognised the Admiral¡¯s voice, ¡°TF Hyperion should be joining us shortly.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, General,¡± Admiral Shoan Kilian replied, ¡°General Plo Koon is currently clearing the Toprawa Star System. He has, however, already imparted on us the intended battle order. Standby for the formation package.¡±


    Plo Koon is late, to his own battle? Obi-Wan couldn¡¯t help but feel a nervous energy, and an unnatural urge to look over his shoulder. Both Admiral Trench and General Grievous remained at large as well, with the former located somewhere on this side of the Salin Corridor but completely at large, and the only signs of the latter being a mass debris field around Taris.


    The wreckage of the Insolent was recovered, having suffered from a cataclysmic reactor detonation. No hands aboard survived the explosion. It could only be concluded that General Grievous had crossed another Jedi off his hit list, despite the completely absent Task Force Garland. Obi-Wan could only hope Luminara had escaped that grisly fate.


    Nevertheless, before he could take a look at the formation package, Endurance reemerged on the comms¨Cwith Admiral Kilian¡¯s voice replaced by the grim delivery of Mace Windu.


    ¡°Count Dooku,¡± the Master of the High Council declared with his unmistakable cadence, ¡°This is your final chance to surrender. Turn yourself in, and you will be treated with all the respect and dignity you deserve. And to the spacers of the Serenno Defense Fleet¨Clay down your arms and I guarantee on behalf of the Republic that all of you will be treated in accordance to the Rights of Sentience clause of the Galactic Constitution.¡±


    Not a single Separatist warship, from the largest battleship to the smallest torpedo boat, made any signs of standing down.


    ¡°Master Windu¡­¡± Count Dooku¡¯s polished tongue tutted chidingly, ¡°That offer would have been more convincing two years ago. What has the Republic done to convince these brave men and women of your benevolence? You have burned down every world from Salvara to Centares, reduced Metalorn to slag, turned Mimban into a muddy hell, slaughtered the cities of Cyrillia, and now you destroy their homes. You crush Bandomeer under your heel, and tear down the skyhooks of Botajef¨C¡±


    ¡°Lies!¡± Mace Windu swore, ¡°All lies! Dooku, even when we offer you quarter you reply to our goodwill with lies! You entrench your unbelievable claims, you stubbornly dig in your heels, you further immerse yourself in the dark side of the Force! Time and time again we have given you every chance at peace, at salvation, and this is how you respond? Misleading the people of this galaxy, feeding them lies, turning them against each other! When will this end? When will you have enough?¡±


    ¡°How defensive of you, Master,¡± Count Dooku chuckled lightly, so breezily Obi-Wan could have almost forgotten he was a man with nowhere left to go. Serenno was at the end of the road, and there was no way out. Count Dooku was trapped, and yet it was¡­ it was as if Count Dooku thought himself free. Freer than he has ever been, like there was a weight lifted off his shoulders, ¡°Or is that what you truly believe? That your precious Republic could do no wrong? That our Separatist Alliance is the source of all evil in the galaxy?¡±


    The Force trembled. If one was to ask that very question¨Cor is that what you truly believe?¨Cto every member of the Jedi Order, it may as well cause the Third Great Schism. And all Jedi knew which side of this schism Mace Windu would fall on. There were Jedi aware of the faults and corruption of the Republic¨Cthose who have exchanged words in the labyrinthine halls of politics; and there were Jedi who were blind to it, willingly or not so¨Cmostly those often absent with off-world assignments.


    Obi-Wan Kenobi was once the latter. He was a man who would love nothing more than to distance himself from the complexities of the Republic and sit alone in a cave and meditate. Jedi Master. General of the Grand Army of the Republic. Member of the Jedi Council. Inside, he feels like he¡¯s none of these things.


    Back when he was learning to be Anakin¡¯s master, the two of them were dispatched off-world to faraway missions often enough to miss the intricacies of domestic politics. Back then, Obi-Wan was still learning how to be a Jedi; because it is a simple truth of the Jedi Order that a Jedi Knight¡¯s education truly begins only when he becomes a Master, that everything important about being a Master is learned from one¡¯s student.


    Despite then Obi-Wan¡¯s constant headaches and exasperations about a young and rowdy Anakin Skywalker¡­ looking back on it, it was a peaceful time. A peaceful time that made them ignorant to the growing darkness in the heart of the galaxy.


    Now? Obi-Wan Kenobi was no longer the latter.


    He was not Adi Gallia, who could only describe the Republic as a rotten, stinking corpse shrouded in satin, but nor was he a man who loved the Republic as if it were his parent. He valued peace above all, and for time immemorial the Republic was the symbol of it. No longer.


    Alas, there were Jedi who truly loved the Republic. There were Jedi who believed they owed the Republic their lives. There were Jedi who loved the Republic as if it were their parent. There were Jedi who felt the filial obligation to protect the Republic and its Constitution. Or as Master Gallia would describe it: there were Jedi who felt duty-bound to guard a morgue, even as the world burned down around them.


    Unfortunately, Master Mace Windu could be described as one of those Jedi.


    Even now, Obi-Wan could sense the growing rift in the Expeditionary Fleet. The confidence they shared at the start of the Hydian Campaign, that eagerness to end the war. It was gone; eroded, grinded down to dust. Now, the Jedi looked over their shoulders at enemies imaginary and real. They look at their soldiers, who have fought alongside them for years, with suspicion. They look to each other with uncertain eyes, wondering who to trust, wondering if they were on the same side.


    Wondering if they were in the know.


    The Jedi Expeditionary Fleet was a tapestry unravelling at the seams. And Master Plo Koon needed this tapestry to just hold together long enough to smother Count Dooku with it.


    ¡°When will you see?¡± Dooku took on a tone of grandfatherly disappointment, ¡°When will you see that we are not evil? When will you see that you have torn the galaxy apart to protect a Republic that does not protect you? I ask the same to you; how many people must you kill? How many planets must you burn? How many more years must the galaxy suffer before you realise you are fighting the wrong war?¡±


    The Force trembled again. Uncertainty hung in the air over every warship. Every word Dooku spoke, the Expeditionary Fleet grew more uncertain, and the Serenno Defense Fleet grew more confident.


    Before Master Windu could make another diplomatic blunder in his blunt, admittedly brusque way, Obi-Wan decided to step in.


    ¡°Count Dooku,¡± he announced himself to the captive audience of well over three-thousand warships, ¡°Let us not engage in this war of words and settle this conflict simply; what would you have us do for you to surrender?¡±


    There was a period of long silence from the normally savvy Dooku. Ahsoka was staring at him with wide eyes. Admiral Block was tensed on the deck, clenching and unclenching his fists.


    And finally¨C


    ¡°Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan¡­¡± Count Dooku mused, with a certain lilt that told Obi-Wan exactly what he was thinking of right then.


    ¡°I would presume,¡± he started carefully, pushing down the guilt creeped into his throat, ¡°That your intention is not to gloat.¡±


    ¡°I prefer to think myself above such things,¡± Dooku replied loftily.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Naturally,¡± Obi-Wan agreed.


    A beat of deafening silence passed between the two fleets.


    ¡°That said¨C¡± Obi-Wan could sense Dooku¡¯s bitter smile behind the transmission, ¡°¨CI told you so.¡±


    The silence returned, somehow louder than before. In that silence, the two men shared a conversation longer than a thousand words, unbeknownst to all but those who had learned of the truth.


    ¡°It¡¯s not too late to fix things, Dooku,¡± Obi-Wan pleaded, ¡°The Republic¨C¡±


    ¡°The Republic can no longer be repaired,¡± the Count of Serenno declared preemptively, ¡°It is far too late for that. The only way to save the galaxy now is to tear down the Republic, and build it anew from the ground up. Alas, that will never happen. As such, this Confederacy is our only means to protect our slice of this galaxy we love.¡±


    Obi-Wan squeezed his eyes shut. If only you knew.


    If only you knew just how true and real that is. If only you knew that we have every intention of tearing down the galaxy and building it anew.


    ¡°...You are pleased,¡± the Jedi Master spoke to their fallen member, ¡°Is there a reason for that?¡±


    ¡°Know that the Confederacy will not end with me,¡± Count Dooku said, ¡°Know that this Confederacy has carved its existence into the stone of this galaxy. Know that we will fight here for this existence, and we will continue to fight¨Cuntil the light at the end of the tunnel of this dark age emerges to us in its good time.¡±


    How much of it was the truth, and how much of it was posturing to raise the morale of his spacers and soldiers? Obi-Wan Kenobi honestly could not know. He swallowed thickly.


    ¡°Then I believe there is nothing more to be said.¡±


    ?


    Toprawa Orbit, Toprawa System


    Kalamith Sector


    Rear Admiral Diedrich Greyshade observed Task Force Hyperion through his flagship¡¯s scopes as they departed to join the looming battle at Serenno. In Kronprinz¡¯s receiving databanks laid what the 28th Mobile Fleet came to Toprawa for; the battle order of the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet.


    He slowly pulled away from the scopes, ¡°Get me a tightbeam to Admiral Trench.¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir!¡±


    Kronprinz¡¯s CIC was located in the deepest citadel of the vessel, where the bulkheads were thickest. The battle plans were already laid out across a variety of holos and displays, officers bustling at their stations and already vivisecting the great formation of well over a thousand warships. The room was a subdued buzz of murmured commands and the hum of consoles, punctuated occasionally by the clipped responses of the comms station.


    He crossed the compartment with an air of urgency, taking no mind to avoid the plethora of scrawling holograms and cutting straight through them. The communications station flared to life, and just as arrived, the imposing visage of Admiral Trench filled the display. The arachnid¡¯s multifaceted eyes gleamed, and his mandibles clicked faintly, the sound somehow managing to convey both curiosity and seriousness.


    ¡°Mission objectives accomplished, sir,¡± the Admiral of the 28th Mobile Fleet reported sharply, ¡°We have the Republic¡¯s battle plans.¡±


    ¡°And what of General Plo Koon¡¯s task force?¡±


    Diedrich shifted, ¡°He commands his task force¡¯s loyalty, or at least enough of it to treat with us openly. As for the Expeditionary Fleet¡­ it¡¯s mixed. The conspiracy¨Cor rumours of it¨Chas spread through their ranks, but even the Jedi are a mixed bag, let alone the Grand Army. Honestly, Admiral, my personal assessment of the situation is this whole Serenno affair is so high up in the air nobody can realistically predict how it will turn out. There are simply too many factors in play.¡±


    ¡°We must remain focused on the strategy,¡± Admiral Trench chittered, folding his many arms together, ¡°We are here to cement the legitimacy of the Raxus Government.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s military junta, in other words. I fear that woman has no intention of letting go of the power she has accumulated. Why would she? But Admiral Trench¡¯s cadence gave Diedrich room for thought. The Raxus Government? Not Sev¡¯rance Tann? Was it really a synecdoche in this context?


    ¡°Sir?¡± the Columexi officer asked for clarification.


    ¡°The Supreme Commander¡¯s justification for martial law is that a traitor to the Confederacy is at large, and that the existence of the Confederacy is at stake due to the competing claim to its sovereignty,¡± the Old Spider gripped his cane tightly, ¡°In order to force her to lift martial law and reestablish the Confederate Parliament, we must destroy Count Dooku and his Serenno Government. Only then will she have no more basis to her current overreach.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Trench continued, ¡°We have no intention getting between the Republic and Serenno, if they can bleed each other down without us lifting a muscle. Earning the aid of the Jedi radicals was a fortunate turn, but hardly critical to our main strategy.¡±


    ¡°We will be aiding the Jedi, however?¡± Diedrich questioned. Despite the war, turning against the Jedi of all people after they have made an accord made his stomach sour.


    ¡°Rest assured, our role until the battle is over is to guard their rear against General Grievous,¡± the Harch answered sympathetically.


    Diedrich nodded slowly, ¡°About General Grievous. I will be transmitting an after-action report of the Battle of Taris, and how the Expeditionary Fleet believes the battle played out. One thing of critical interest, however¡­ I believe the Conqueress was used at Taris.¡±


    ¡°Bonteri was?¡± surprise crept into the Old Spider¡¯s voice, ¡°Was the play so critical that his hand was forced? That he had to reveal himself?¡±


    ¡°Uncertain, sir. The Republic doesn¡¯t know about Conqueress, obviously, but they concluded a weapon of the description was wielded at the site. This conclusion of mine is an educated leap of logic.¡±


    ¡°Then I will hear his reasons from himself personally¡­ and relay them to Star Station Independence,¡± Admiral Trench tacked onto the end, as if getting out of the habit of assuming himself as Rain Bonteri¡¯s superior. ¡°For now, we should make preparations to intervene at Serenno should the situation turn¡­ drastic. Has the Master Jedi mentioned anything about our plans?¡±


    ¡°The Master Jedi was convinced Republic Intelligence will make their move during the battle; ¡®they wouldn¡¯t miss their most opportune moment¡¯ as he described it,¡± Rear Admiral Diedrich explained, unconsciously wiggling his fingers, ¡°Personally, Admiral, I think it¡¯s the space magic voodoo telling him as such.¡±


    ¡°And what do you make of that?¡±


    Diedrich Greyshade was an officer of the 28th Mobile Fleet. He had more experience with space magic voodoo under the Battle Hydra than any other Separatist fleet in the galaxy.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s something to take seriously,¡± he told his superior as such, ¡°He is a Jedi, after all.¡±


    Admiral Trench nodded in agreement, ¡°Then let us take a look at their battle order.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Admiral,¡± Diedrich waved a hand and brought the tactical projection before them.


    The Expeditionary Fleet adopted the vague shape of a pointed cone, with a tapered vanguard as traditional of Republic formations and a convex base. At the spearhead were the subformations of the Republic Navy, with their heavy-hitting Tector-class Star Destroyers and Victory-class battlecruisers; and at the curve base lined the Open Circle Fleet with their Venator-class starfighter carriers. Outside the main formation were smaller task forces of pickets and escorts to screen the main body.


    Finally, in the centre of the formation were divisions of Acclamator-class assault ships and other troopships.


    ¡°...Metalorn,¡± Admiral Trench decided.


    ¡°You share my thoughts, sir.¡±


    This was the very formation Plo Koon used at the Battle of Metalorn. One might call the Jedi General a one-trick pony, if not for this one-trick never failing. The express purpose of the formation was obvious to anybody with a brain to put the pieces together: to punch a hole through the defensive line and disgorge its payload protected inside.


    At Metalorn, this Arrowhead Formation was used to smash through Rain Bonteri¡¯s formation before opening up its ranks and unleashing hell from within. Not so much unlike an armour piercing naval slugs, or even boarding pods.


    In this case, however, it was evident Plo Koon intended on using his vanguard¡¯s heavy armour to pierce Serenno Defense Fleet¡¯s line of battle, and hold open that breach long enough for all the troopships to insert into the planetary atmosphere. It would be a decapitation strike, one typical for the Jedi, to take out Count Dooku and break the spirit of his fleet.


    Everything was just so¡­ typical.


    That was, until you look a little deeper.


    The Master Jedi handed the Republic Navy the honour and glory of being the vanguard over the Open Circle Fleet, ostensibly due to the proliferation of heavy armour among their ranks. Unless, of course, the Master Jedi also knew these divisions of the Republic Navy were not part of the conspiracy.


    And once you begin cross-referencing the locations of each division and the signatories of the manifesto, a certain trend begins to emerge.


    Fleets belonging to Jedi and system signatories were placed in safe position in the rear and flanks, whilst Palpatine¡¯s loyalists were placed in ¡®positions of honour¡¯ such as in the vanguard, where they were to take the brunt of the fighting. Chandrilan, Brentaalan, and Humbariner troopships were placed in the rear of the invasion force¨Cwhilst Alsakani, Tepasi, Fedallan and Ixtlari troopships were put nearer to the front.


    The same went for the Jedi battle groups. Those who supported the manifesto were placed among the Open Circle, whilst those who did not were dispersed among the troopships to lead the invasion force.


    The entire battle formation was designed to weed out those disloyal to the conspiracy, all the while not lifting a single eyebrow.


    ¡°Dark stars,¡± Diedrich murmured, ¡°Would you look at this.¡±


    ¡°The Jedi are far more underhanded than we give them credit for,¡± Trench mused in admiration.


    ¡°Is this the act of one man, or¨C¡±


    ¡°No single man would be allowed to dictate the order of a fleet this size,¡± the Old Spider said, ¡°Not even a Jedi Master. This was almost certainly designed by committee. Which can only mean the conspiracy has reached enough of the Expeditionary Fleet¡¯s general staff that the conspirators outweigh the loyalists.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good news, is it not?¡± he wondered, ¡°With some luck, we truly wouldn¡¯t have to do anything at all.¡±


    Right as Diedrich uttered those words, as if the universe itself spited him specifically, the comms chief nervously raised their head.


    ¡°Sir? We¡¯ve got an incoming transmission.¡±


    The severe attention of both Admirals snapped onto the comms chief, making him flinch.


    ¡°From who?¡± Diedrich demanded.


    ¡°I-It looks like¡­ Conqueress, sir.¡±


    ¡°...Looks like we won¡¯t so lucky after all, Rear Admiral,¡± Trench¡¯s gruff voice was tinged with a sick amusement, ¡°I will receive the transmission. Prepare your fleet for imminent combat.¡±


    Diedrich Greyshade deflated. Never a quiet operation when Rain Bonteri is involved.


    ¡°Right away, Admiral.¡±


    ?


    Coruscant, Corusca System


    Corusca Sector


    Macrobinoculars pressed to her eyes, Jedi Master Adi Gallia studied the distant building top to bottom, her gaze lingering on broken windows, fissured ledges, canted balconies. Central to an industrial arcology the size of a small city on any other world, the building was more than three centuries old and going to ruin. For two-thirds of its towering height it was an unadorned pillar with a rounded summit. Support for the superstructure was afforded by a circular base, reinforced by massive buttresses. Where the superstructure and the sloped tops of the buttresses met, the building was dotted by windows and antiquated gear-toothed docking gates. Many of the permaglass panels and skylights were intact, but time and corrosion had done their worst to the ancient facade.


    An investigation was underway to determine which company had raised the building, and who owned it¨Calthough, judging by its location and prominence in the Works, it appeared to have served as corporate headquarters for the factories and assembly plants that surrounded it.


    Adi Gallia and her team of Jedi, clone shocktroopers, and Republic Intelligence operatives were a klick east of the structure, in an area of squat, peak-roofed foundries, lorded over by smoke-belching permacrete stacks. Five hours spent here could take five years off someone¡¯s life, she thought humorlessly, I would be doing less damage to my lungs on Skako than here.


    All in all, the perfect environment for a Dark Lord of the Sith.


    ¡°Probe remotes are away, General Gallia,¡± Clone Commander Thorn of the Coruscant Guard reported.


    Adi wordlessly trained her macrobinoculars on the flock of meter-wide spherical droids that were maneuvering with purposeful unevenness toward the building. The Senate Intelligence Oversight Committee overseeing the Senate Bureau of Intelligence had attempted to interdict the redeployment of Homeworld Security and Coruscant Guard forces to what they considered fanciful Jedi fearmongering, but Republic Intelligence overruled them, perhaps not so surprisingly.


    After all, Republic Intelligence was still on high alert for Separatist strongholds in the Coruscant Underworld after the satellite terrorist attack¨Cand the abandoned Works just so happened to be the perfect place for the Underworld to bubble up to Coruscant¡¯s glittering surface. A lucky break for her, so it would seem, if not for the fact that Republic Intelligence was comfortably pressed beneath Palpatine¡¯s thumb.


    So what are you up to this time?


    ¡°No indications that the probes are being targeted,¡± Commander Thorn updated.


    Adi watched as the black probes drifted through the shattered windows and disappeared into the building¡¯s broken facade. The team she had gathered waited patiently, comprised of the Coruscant Guard, with Commander Thorn in the lead, and a squad of Advanced Recon Commandos led by ARC Commander Valiant. Further supplementing the main strike force of shocktroopers and commandos were Republic Intelligence operatives ¡®overseeing¡¯ the operation, led by one Captain Dyne, and a team of highly capable Jedi Knights.


    ¡°Holoimages of the interior coming in,¡± Thorn announced.


    Adi lowered the macrobinoculars and shifted his gaze to the field holoprojector. Dazzled by diagonal lines of static, the 3D images were of dusty rooms, stretches of dark corridor, vast empty spaces.


    ¡°The building appears to be completely abandoned, General. No organic signatures detected. Some droids, but those commonly found in similar manufacturing slums.¡±


    ¡°Abandoned, perhaps, but not forgotten,¡± Intelligence Captain Dyne said from behind Thorn, ¡°The building still has power. The lights are active, and the door control panels are live.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean much,¡± ARC Commander Valiant inserted gruffly, ¡°Many industrial arcologies like this are self-powered. Otherwise we wouldn¡¯t be breathing in this much black smoke.¡±


    Captain Dyne nodded begrudgingly, but pointed at the holo again, ¡°Except this building shows periodic and recent use of power. Recently cycled, and the circuit breakers are well-maintained.¡±


    ¡°...Is this our quarry?¡± Jedi Master Shaak Ti asked softly.


    The two Jedi squads accompanying the strike force were nervous¨Cnot visibly, they were far too trained for that¨Cbut whilst Homeworld Security and Republic Intelligence were informed that this was a Separatist hideout, the Jedi were given the truth: they were hunting down a Dark Lord of the Sith. The Dark Lord of the Sith. They had every right to be nervous in the Force. The only one who wasn¡¯t¨Ca certain red-skinned Iskat Akaris, leaning slightly as she put her weight on one leg.


    Adi Gallia felt¡­ boredom, maybe a tint of eagerness at the notion of the operation finally starting. They had, after all, been combing through all the arcologies in this district for weeks. This conversation, this very scene, has already played out dozens of times. It was a first for them to be so sure they had finally found their mark.


    ¡°Inform Master Yoda that the operation is a go and that he is to arrive ASAP,¡± Adi Gallia stood up, nodding at her fellow Councilmember, ¡°Commander Thorn; give the green light. We will be going on ahead!¡±


    ¡°Understood, General!¡±


    ¡°We will split into two teams!¡± Adi Gallia announced, clapping her hands to catch the attention of the gathered strike force, ¡°I will lead Aurek Team, while Master Shaak Ti will lead Bacta Team! You have your assignments! Board your gunships!¡±


    There was a subdued cheer from the combined strikeforce, a last minute battlecry to amp themselves up for the imminent operation, and they began breaking off in lines towards their assigned gunships.


    ¡°May the Force be with you.¡±


    ¡°And you!¡±


    ¡°Force be with you!¡±


    ¡°May the Force be with you!¡±


    Soon, the Jedi Knights began breaking off into their squads too. Adi Gallia and Shaak Ti shared a grim look. As beautiful as a flower and as deadly as a viper, Shaak Ti was the Jedi Master one wanted by one¡¯s side in these circumstances. Despite appearances, she was a hunter through and through, in the Togrutan nature. A sense of smell was keen, her eyes sharp as a hawk¡¯s¨Cand when augmented by the Force, comparable to that of a macrobinocular¡¯s. Not to mention her striped montrals and lengthy head-tail allowed her to sense the movement of objects around her through echolocation, and her six ears proved a devastatingly effective auditory system.


    Graced with the ability to move quickly through crowds or tight spots, she was often the first to wade into close-quarter engagements, and her blue lightsaber quick to find its mark. Master Mace Windu was completely correct to have her remain on Coruscant for the operation. Adi Gallia was lucky to have her.


    Because Shaak Ti was a natural predator dressed in silk and beads.


    ¡°May the Force be with you,¡± the Tholothian Jedi Master bowed. So this is it.


    ¡°And with you,¡± the Togruta Jedi Master replied demurely. So it is.


    Aurek Team¡¯s gunship was already packed with commandos and Knights by the time she clambered inside. Lifting off, the LAAT aimed straight for the summit of the building. All around her, red-painted LAAT gunships lifted off into the smoke-filled sky, doorway gunners traversing their repeating blasters and commandos standing ready to deploy from the gunship¡¯s troop bay. Elsewhere, AT-TEs and other mobile artillery vehicles began to lumber across the dilapidated urbanscape toward the target. Overkill, perhaps, considering their true target, but this operation was officially a siege on a Separatist stronghold.


    Inside the troop bay, ARC Commander Valiant turned to the troopers who made up the Aurek Team; and boomed out the ARC rallying cry. Hearing it disturbed her on some level, even though it was no different from what the clone troopers heard when the Jedi said to one another ¡®May the Force be with you.¡¯ Maybe it was the guttural way it was roared out, or perhaps the communal nature of it¨Cin stark contrast with the call-and-response of the Jedi.


    ¡°The building is a free-strike zone. You are to consider anyone we find inside to be hostile,¡± Commander Valiant slammed a fresh power pack into his short-stocked blaster, ¡°Troopers, you know the drill!¡±


    ¡°FIND!¡±


    ¡°FIX!¡±


    ¡°FINISH!¡±

 Chapter 89

    Coruscant, Corusca System


    Corusca Sector


    Where¡¯s the Supreme Chancellor?


    Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila could only wonder as she took her place in the Grand Convocation Chamber. It was no ordinary session of the Galactic Senate. The occasion marked the end of Chancellor Palpatine¡¯s third consecutive term in an office that only permits two. By the laws laid out in the Republic¡¯s founding documents, his time in office should have ended four years ago; instead, the Emergency Powers Act, enacted by majority vote at the onset of the Separatist Crisis, had extended his authority indefinitely.


    But as the stars now set on Serenno, more and more voices began to rise in the Senate: when exactly will this ¡®emergency¡¯ end?


    The answer, of course, lay in the fine print of the very amendment that had given the Chancellor such sweeping control. The state of emergency could only be terminated by the Supreme Chancellor himself¨Ca decree that would effectively strip him of the extraordinary powers he had amassed. Except, over the past four years, the Senate had passed four additional constitutional amendments, each granting him greater authority under the guise of wartime necessity, culminating in the ghastly overreaching Reflex Amendment passed at the peak of the Crisis in the Core, in which Separatist warfleets struck as far as Coruscant and the Agricultural Circuit.


    At this point, politely asking him to surrender his emergency powers would no longer be feasible. They had wilfully fed fuel to the fire for four years with their own votes and proclamations; to expect the fire to extinguish itself now would to be a fool.


    They would have to smother this hungering flame the same way they fuelled it; with their votes.


    Mon Mothma drove her repulsorpod deeper into the Convocation Chamber, exercising every ounce of bodily control she had to prevent herself from cringing under the scrutinizing eyes of two-thousand senators, tens of thousands of representatives, and trillions of galactic citizens.


    She swept her gaze over the chamber, tracing the tiered rows of repulsorpods extending outward and upward like jagged, concentric teeth, each pod a fragment of the galaxy''s collective voice¨Cif only in theory.


    Then she saw the pods that were empty and devoid of life, Naboo¡¯s among them. Senators removed from power, either via disgraced resignation or unfortunate accidents, or simply those who lost all faith in the august body they once served with pride. Because it was increasingly difficult to see the Galactic Senate as anything other than the theatre to rubberstamp the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s every whimsy.


    This Senate is a sarlacc pit, she could only think, the senators perched in their pods like hapless beings clinging to the walls, each trying to avoid being consumed by the central podium; by feeding it more and more power.


    And the central podium itself¨Cits space not occupied by a velvet-robed man, but solely by the imposing figure of blue-skinned Chagrian Mas Amedda, the Vice Chair of the Republic and Speaker of the Senate.


    ¡°Honoured colleagues!¡± Mon Mothma declared, marshalling up every last ounce of confidence in her body, ¡°I am certain we all know why this august body has been convened today!¡±


    She paused, casting a sweeping glare across her captive audience, as if daring any obstructionist to speak out against her. There were none. The very fact this hearing had been convened was physical proof that Mon Mothma¡¯s caucus had enough votes behind it to force the session into the Galactic Senate¡¯s increasingly empty schedule.


    Nevertheless, she announced the reason anyway, for the benefit of the plethora of hovercams roving around the great rotunda.


    ¡°For those who believe the particulars beneath their attention,¡± Mon Mothma continued, her voice steady and firm, ¡°We are here to discuss the matter of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine¡¯s continued tenure, and the Emergency Powers Act that has allowed it to endure!¡±


    The words reverberated through the chamber, the sound amplified by the intricate acoustics of the rotunda. It wasn¡¯t the thunderous echo of applause or protest that greeted her statement, but the muted, uncomfortable hum of murmured conversations and shifting robes. The Senator from Chandrila let the tension linger, her hands gripping the edge of her podium as she cast her gaze over the sea of faces¨Csome impassive, some visibly uneasy, and others steeled with resolve.


    Hovercams whirred and hovered, their lenses zooming in on her with mechanical precision, broadcasting her image and voice to trillions upon trillions across the galaxy. She knew the stakes of this moment. They had to strike now, while they still could. Palpatine¡¯s position was as unstable as it was in years, the confidence in his office shaken by the Crisis in the Core. They couldn¡¯t afford to wait until the end of the war, at which point Palpatine could shore up his loyalists and renew his popular front.


    ¡°And yet, here we stand,¡± she said, her tone hardening. ¡°Our brave patriots on the front have driven the Separatist back to Serenno! The Chancellor¡¯s third term has ended, the stars set on the Separatist Alliance, and yet the powers remain unyielded, and this august body has been reduced to little more than a ceremonial gathering. The Constitution of our Galactic Republic, the foundation upon which our civilization stands, continuously trampled underfoot by executive decrees and emergency amendments! Will we let this stand!?¡±


    The tension in the room was palpable now. Senators shifted in their pods, some nodding in agreement, others averting their gazes. From the central podium, Mas Amedda¡¯s blue eyes glinted, his expression inscrutable. He stood motionless, his lekku draped over his shoulders like the regalia of a monarch. And yet, he clenched his staff nervously, despite admirably maintaining his facade of impassivity. He made no move to interrupt her.


    The person responsible for his anxiety was painfully obvious to everybody in the hall. Or rather, the absence of said person. Mon Mothma¡¯s gaze swept the chamber, sharp as a vibroblade. She did not know the reason for his absence, but she would be foolish not to seize the opportunity.


    ¡°But where,¡± she said, her voice rising to command the entire galaxy¡¯s attention, ¡°is the Supreme Chancellor?¡±


    The words hit the Senate like a seismic charge. Murmurs rippled through the chamber, senators glancing at one another in confusion or feigned ignorance. Even the hovercams seemed to pause in mid-air, as if recording every twitch and whisper.


    ¡°For an occasion of such gravity,¡± Mon Mothma continued, ¡°One might expect the leader of this Republic to be present. To answer the questions posed by this body. To assure the galaxy that the powers granted to him in trust are wielded with responsibility, not ambition. And yet¨Che is not here.¡±


    The Vice Chair¡¯s grip on his ceremonial staff tightened visibly, his knuckles paling against the dark wood. Though his expression remained carefully neutral, the subtle shift of his lekku betrayed his unease.


    ¡°Is his absence,¡± Mon Mothma pressed, her tone laced with deliberate skepticism, ¡°A reflection of the respect he holds for this Senate? For our Constitution? For our Republic itself?¡±


    A ripple of uneasy agreement coursed through the chamber. Even those loyal to the Chancellor found it difficult to defend his conspicuous absence. The holo-feed broadcasting the session was now focused squarely on the Senator from Chandrila, her determined expression a stark contrast to the increasingly uneasy senators surrounding her.


    ¡°¨CWell!? Do you have an answer, Vice Chair!?¡± she suddenly whipped towards the podium, driving her repulsorpod forward so hard she could feel the jerk snapping through her body, ¡°Where is the Supreme Chancellor!?¡±


    ?


    They inserted through one of the larger blown out windows on the upper floors, the gunships hovering there while they leapt across the precarious drop and into the tower.


    Adi Gallia ignited her lightsaber on instinct. The dark side squirmed and hissed like a living fog, warded away and kept at bay by the light of her sapphire blade. Iskat was next into the building, followed by the rest of the ARC troopers. Then, the gunship cleared the zone for the next LAAT in line to unload its passengers.


    As soon as all the squads of Aurek Team were assembled on the floor, they moved out, Jedi Knights leading packs of shocktroopers, commandos, and followed by Intelligence operatives. Weapons raised to their chests and glowrods glaring, the squads spread out in fire-and-maneuver squads and began to move deeper into the building, clearing out each room and alcove before declaring any level secure. Burning lightsabers painted the dusty grey walls in all hues of green and blue.


    ¡°Floor cleared!¡± Commander Thorn announced over the comms.


    ¡°We¡¯ve shut down the turbolift,¡± Master Shaak Ti said, ¡°Nobody will be using it.¡±


    ¡°Copy that,¡± Commander Valiant replied, ¡°My squads have secured all the egresses. On your mark, we will begin proceeding downwards.¡±


    ¡°Copy,¡± Thorn said, ¡°Aurek has the northside, Bacta has the southside. Let¡¯s move.¡±


    They descended the stairwells, squads moving like shadows through the derelict structure, the silence amplifying every sound: the faint hum of lightsabers, the scuff of plastoid boots on cracked permacrete, the occasional click and static of comms chatter.


    Aurek Team''s glowrods cut through the dim haze, their beams reflecting off scattered debris and broken transparisteel. The air was thick with the scent of frayed circuitry and old dust, stirred anew by the passing of troopers and Jedi alike. The eerie stillness made every creak of the building¡¯s infrastructure feel deliberate, as though the structure itself were watching.


    ¡°Bacta,¡± Master Gallia spoke, ¡°Report.¡±


    ¡°North hallway secure, no contacts,¡± came Thorn¡¯s reply, slightly muffled, ¡°Moving into the eastern wing; looks like an admin floor.¡±


    On the other side of the building, Commander Thorn¡¯s squads were making steady progress through the southern quarter. His commandos moved with textbook precision, leapfrogging between cover points and sweeping each room with blaster carbines raised as they secured any egresses¨Cturbolift shafts, stairwells, windows¨Cas they moved towards the centre. They would rendezvous with Aurek Team there, trapping any occupants between the two teams.


    Except with corner turned, every door breached, revealing only more emptiness. More of nothing.


    Clear! Nothing.


    Clear! Nothing.


    Clear! Nothing.


    Shaak Ti moved gracefully ahead of her contingent, her sapphire blade held in a relaxed guard position. She moved as though gliding, montrals subtly attuned to the faintest of vibrations. Until finally, she paused at a junction, holding up a hand to signal her squad to halt. The clones obeyed without question, forming a semicircular perimeter as their helmets swept for any sign of movement.


    ¡°Data terminal,¡± she identified from a near-inaudible hum, ¡°It¡¯s live.¡±


    Commander Thorn flicked his wrist, and his shocktroopers moved in, followed closely by Intelligence operatives.


    ¡°A live data terminal here?¡± Captain Dyne murmured, ¡°It could be rigged to a trap. We must proceed with caution.¡±


    ¡°There is no trap, Captain,¡± the Jedi Master replied, ¡°I do not sense any.¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, General,¡± the Intelligence Captain returned stiffly, ¡°It would be wise to follow protocol nonetheless¨C¡±


    ¡°Do as you will, Captain,¡± Shaak Ti simply said, tilting her head towards the doorway in question.


    ¡°No lifeforms inside,¡± a shocktrooper analysed through his visor.


    Captain Dyne nodded at his operatives, ¡°Deploying remotes.¡±


    Two small probe droids lifted into the air and moved into the open doorway, their red irises scanning the entire room in but a few seconds.


    ¡°All clear, Captain,¡± the remote operator looked up, ¡°Room¡¯s empty. No traps, no hostiles.¡±


    ¡°Take a squad to trace the main bus,¡± Dyne ordered, ¡°Now then, let¡¯s see why the lights are still on.¡±


    As soon as they broke off, the main squad moved into the room, blasters sweeping across the derelict office desks despite the all clear, cracked, blacked out terminal screens reflecting the harsh light of their glowrods. The lone, flickering data terminal stood out easily.


    ¡°Stay sharp,¡± Thorn warned, his helmet tilting slightly as he scanned the length of the long, dim corridor behind them.


    Shaak Ti stood in the centre of the room, between Dyne and Thorn, her robes kicking up dust from the floor as she moved between the cubicles, ¡°Aurek, this is Bacta. We¡¯ve identified a live data terminal. Standby for updates.¡±


    ¡°Lucky you,¡± Adi Gallia¡¯s voice returned after a moment, ¡°Our side¡¯s quiet as a grave.¡±


    The Togruta Jedi glanced at Captain Dyne, ¡°Anything, Captain?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re tracing the power, General,¡± Dyne bit his lip, ¡°Looks like¡­ there¡¯s a functioning docking gate nine floors below us¨Con level six.¡±


    ¡°Functioning?¡±


    ¡°Power had been cycled to activate it,¡± the Intelligence Captain shook his head, ¡°But we can¡¯t trace when from here. All we can tell is that it¡¯s been some time. A really long time.¡±


    ¡°Aurek, we¡¯ve identified a functioning docking bay on level six,¡± Shaak Ti relayed the news, ¡°I¡¯d hazard it¡¯s what we are looking for.¡±


    ¡°Copy that, Bacta.¡±


    Nine levels down, the floor that served as a landing area was a small rectangular clearing carved into the side of the building, scarcely large enough for a gunship. A thin carpet of dust covered the ground, indicating disuse. Parallel to the long sides of the rectangle were banks of slender blue illuminators. Just as Bacta Team arrived, Aurek Team appeared across the bay, at the mouth of a corridor.


    Shaak Ti and Adi Gallia hailed each other with hand signals, then beckoned their squads into the bay together, sweeping the grounds carefully. Intelligence operatives from both teams broke off to analyse any electronic surfaces that might give them an edge in the investigation, whilst probe droids and remotes meandered with design throughout the room.


    ¡°Vertical, geared hangar gates,¡± ARC Commander Valiant stood beneath the huge structure, staring up at it critically, ¡°This place is really old. Can we open them?¡±


    ¡°Give us a moment,¡± Dyne grunted, huddled with two other operatives as they interpreted the data gathered by the probes. After several moments of gazing at the monitor screens of his equipment and conferring with his associates, he added; ¡°The gates were last opened four months ago, if these logs are accurate. Stand clear of the zone.¡±


    Valiant took several steps back¨Cjust in time for the gears to shiver, and turn, teeth interlocking together and lifting the massive portcullis-like structure upwards, revealing an oval of nocturnal sky with hardly a whisper. Crystal spires glinted in the distance, their fingertips criss-crossed by an unending river of traffic.


    Up above, satellites shone brightly down upon them. A rare sight, one afforded by being so far away from the everbright Senate District in the near distance.


    ¡°Extremely well lubricated,¡± Valiant commented, ¡°This thing is in-use alright.¡±


    ¡°This is Bacta-Five,¡± the squad detached from Bacta suddenly reported in, ¡°We¡¯ve gotten access to a main bus terminal. Aside from the hangar gate, there¡¯s another appliance recently used. A turbolift, one that ends on level six and disconnected from the main shafts. We have reason to believe it¡¯s still operational.¡±


    The men on the floor glanced at each other, then almost synchronously swivelled inwards in search for the turbolift in question. Tasking the probe droids to find the target, Dyne began to trail them, waving for Adi Gallia, Shaak Ti, and the troopers to follow.


    ¡°Stay close!¡± Commander Thorn cautioned, ¡°Don¡¯t stray out of line!¡±


    It sounded suspiciously as if he was warning the Jedi more than his own troopers, much less Valiant¡¯s commandos. Adi and Shaak Ti took the point, with the Knights and troopers strung out behind. By the time the two Jedi Masters caught up with Dyne and his droids, the Intelligence Captain was already standing at the door to a dated turbolift.


    He nodded at them before turning to the wall, pressing his gloved right hand to the call panel. When the summoned cab appeared, he affixed a scanner to the control pad inside. After a minute of fiddling with the interface, he broke into a self-satisfied grin.


    ¡°Verified, this is the turbolift,¡± he furrowed his brows in concentration, calling over one of his subordinates to aid him, ¡°...The cab¡¯s memory indicates it arrived from sub-basement two. We should start our hunt there, and if we fail to discover any evidence of our quarry¡­ we¡¯ll have to work our way back up one level at the time, until we do.¡±


    The gathered operatives shifted at the prospect of so much work. Adi could feel the drop in morale among the Jedi Knights, though they were too controlled to show it. The helmeted faces of the shocktroopers and commandos, on the other hand, revealed nary a thing, as did their internal emotions.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Commander Thorn reminded, ¡°We¡¯ve got three battalions of Homeworld Security on standby below us. I give the word, and they¡¯ll move in to clear this place out in a heartbeat. We can leave the lower levels to them, and focus our attention on the basements.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Valiant grunted.


    There was a loud clunk, and Dyne stepped out of the turbolift.


    ¡°I¡¯ve locked the cab in-place,¡± he glanced between the two Jedi Masters, ¡°It¡¯s your call, Generals.¡±


    Master Adi Gallia cast her gaze upon Commander Thorn, ¡°We¡¯ll proceed with your plan, Commander. Greenlight the operation.¡±


    ¡°At once, sir.¡±


    ¡°Commander Valiant,¡± she then turned to the ARC Commander, ¡°Have your men find and secure all the stairwells leading into the basements.¡±


    ¡°Sir yes sir!¡±


    Comlinking his battalions outside the building, Thorn ordered them to breach the tower, and if one glanced outside the shattered windows, they would see hundreds of red-painted shocktroopers smashing their way through every ingress via heavy armour and gunships alike as they systematically swept the remaining floors and adjacent structures. At the same time, Aurek and Bacta Team spread out through level six, securing the floor before making their way down.


    By the time they reached the ground floor, the Coruscant Guard had already identified the stairwells leading further down. The shocktroopers stationed at their landings saluted firmly as the striketeam made their further down, spearheaded by a roving pack of probe droids sweeping the grounds ahead of them. Every time they reached a landing¨Cbasement one, basement two, sub-basement one¨Ca detachment of shocktroopers split off and posted themselves there.


    After what felt like an age of stalking further and further into the false earth of Coruscant, they finally reached the base of the stairwell. A large corridor branched off in both directions, the metallic landing of the turbolift just a few metres away from where they emerged.


    ¡°Cargo tunnel, I¡¯d reckon,¡± Valiant scanned the surroundings as troopers formed firing lines on both flanks, ¡°It¡¯ll be a labyrinth down here, servicing the whole industrial sector.¡±


    The probe droids were first to fearlessly advance in both directions, running their detection lights and scraping the floor and walls. One pack of droids suddenly froze, their sensors blazing as they swept the ground with doubled enthusiasm.


    ¡°Scuffed dust, in a place with no wind,¡± one of the Intelligence operatives called out, ¡°Someone was here.¡±


    At that, Iskat Akaris suddenly produced a breath mask from her robes and pulled it over her face. Her fellow Knights stared at her in surprise.


    ¡°What?¡± the red-skinned alien crossed her lanky arms, ¡°I¡¯ve been assigned to these sort of places before, during the southern exodus. Tunnels like these were used as evac corridors¡­ if there¡¯s no ventilation as the techie implies, you¡¯d sooner die from suffocation than starvation or cold.¡±


    The operator¡¯s face darkened at being called a ¡®techie¡¯, but he begrudgingly nodded in agreement with Iskat anyway. Thorn immediately called for more equipment, mostly for the benefit of the Jedi and Republic Intelligence, since the troopers were all equipped with respiration helmets. Despite the setback, the troopers didn¡¯t allow the investigation to stall, taking the remotes and advancing deeper into the darkness.


    By the time the safety equipment reached them, some of the squads who ventured out had returned. Commander Thorn placed down a holoprojector, and the gathered strikeforce huddled around to listen to his briefing.


    ¡°There¡¯s no sign of any activity down that way,¡± Thorn pointed in one direction first, then turned at the hip to point behind him, ¡°But there are signs of repulsorcraft activity down that way. Likely one of the cargo transports these tunnels were built to service.¡±


    ¡°Do we know which way it went?¡±


    The projection morphed into a detailed map of the dark labyrinth.


    ¡°It is exactly as Commander Valiant had guessed. If we are to trust this map that¡¯s older than any of us, it connects to tunnels all over the Works¨Cto adjacent arcologies, to the foundries, to a cargo starport¡­ everywhere you can think of. There are hundreds, thousands of branches.¡±


    Shaak Ti took a step back, her sharp eyes glaring down the long corridor Thorn had pointed out. Then, slowly, she lifted an arm, and pointed a clawed finger.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Forget the branches,¡± the Jedi Master ordered, ¡°What¡¯s at the end of this one?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Thorn started, pausing as he consulted the holomap, ¡°It looks like the principle tunnel leads all the way to the western limit of the Senate District.¡±


    The strikeforce broke into confused murmurs. They were hunting Separatists were they not? Was Shaak Ti suggesting the terrorists have undermined the very heart, the governing organ of the Republic itself? The implications were immense. But the two Jedi Masters shared a knowing look, before affixing stern glares at the increasingly anxious Jedi Knights.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid Master Yoda will have to double back to the Senate District, in this case,¡± Jedi Master Adi Gallia drew herself to her full height, and pulled the breather mask over her face, ¡°Commander Thorn, as soon as the tower is secure, have your battalions track our progress above-ground. Now then: we advance.¡±


    ?


    ¡°I know!¡± Mon Mothma shouted out, turning to address the murmuring pods, ¡°Some of you will argue that the war is not yet won! I know! That the Chancellor¡¯s powers are still needed to ensure victory! I know! But I ask you, at what cost? Shall we sacrifice our Republic on this altar of security? Shall we allow the very principles we fight for to be extinguished in the name of expediency?¡±


    A pod detached from the far side of the chamber, gliding toward the central dais. Mon Mothma¡¯s eyes narrowed as she recognized the occupant¨CSenator Ask Aak of Malastare, a staunch supporter of the Chancellor and a key figure of his inner circle. His three-eyed Gran visage was tight with indignation as he moved to speak.


    ¡°Senator Mothma,¡± Ask Aak began, his voice reverberating with barely concealed anger, ¡°With all due respect, the Republic is still at war. Just as you so insistently say you know this, you also know the Chancellor¡¯s leadership has been instrumental in holding our proud Republic together and turning the tide against the Separatists. To suggest that now is the time to weaken that leadership is nothing short of reckless!¡±


    Mon Mothma inclined her head, unwilling to yield, ¡°I would remind the Senator from Malastare that the Republic¡¯s strength does not lie in one man, but in its people, its institutions, and its ideals. If we abandon those ideals, we will have already lost, regardless of the war¡¯s outcome!¡±


    The chamber erupted into a discord of voices¨Csome shouting their agreement, others decrying her as a dangerous idealist.


    ¡°Abandon those ideals?¡± a single, hoarse voice rose above it all, and the podium recognised the Senator from Eriadu. Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin had her pod move to oppose Chandrila¡¯s, ¡°Just what, exactly, are you trying to say, Senator Mothma? Idealism or otherwise, the Emergency Powers Act was passed out of rationality, and nobody in this body could deny that it was instrumental to holding our proud Republic together.¡±


    Senator Tarkin did not shout, nor did she even raise her voice. But the woman speaking on behalf of twenty-billion dead souls carried a heavy weight on its own.


    ¡°It was promised¨C¡± Senator Tarkin continued, ¡°It was promised, that the Supreme Chancellor will stand down their emergency powers once the Separatist Crisis is over, and vacate their office for a new general election. We have not abandoned our ideals. If we cannot trust the Supreme Chancellor we have voted into office, who else can we trust? Or¡­ do you suggest otherwise, Senator Mothma?¡±


    Mon Mothma¡¯s gaze locked with Shayla Paige-Tarkin¡¯s, the tension between them as taut as a wire about to snap. The pod carrying the Senator from Eriadu hung motionless, amidst the swirling chaos of voices around them. Tarkin¡¯s calm, deliberate tone had cut through the cacophony like a vibroblade, her words heavy with implication.


    The Senator from Chandrila took a measured breath, steadying herself.


    ¡°I do not question the necessity of the Emergency Powers Act when it was passed, nor the leadership of the Supreme Chancellor during the darkest days of this war,¡± she began, raising her voice, ¡°But necessity does not justify perpetuity. Trust in our leaders must never replace accountability. If we abandon our oversight, if we do not demand a return to the rule of law, then we set a precedent that no Republic can survive.¡±


    Tarkin¡¯s pod shifted slightly, bringing her closer to the center. Her expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something sharper in her eyes, ¡°Senator Mothma, you imply that the Supreme Chancellor has no intention of relinquishing his powers. That he would defy the very laws and principles you claim to hold dear. Are you accusing him of treachery?¡±


    A murmur rippled through the chamber, the question hanging in the air like a charge waiting to detonate.


    Senator Mon Mothma paused, sweeping her gaze around the Convocation Chamber again. She met the eyes of her compatriots: Bail Organa of Alderaan, Bana Breemu of Humbarine, Fang Zar of Sern Prime, Meena Tills of Mon Cala, Tanner Cadaman of Feeniz, Tendau Brendon of Ithor, Canny Bertar of Mrlsst, Lexi Dio of Uyter, and hundred more. But not enough. For every encouraging reply, came half a dozen scathing glares.


    The Galactic Senate had long been fractured by partisanship, that was no secret, but never had the divisions been as glaring as they were now. The Loyalist Faction, once a proud bastion of support for the Republic and its democratic principles, had become a mere extension of Palpatine¡¯s will. Their loyalty was no longer to the ideals of democracy but to the man who had steadily amassed unprecedented power.


    Chandrila, once firmly aligned with the Loyalists, had severed those ties. To Mon Mothma, the irony was bitter. The Loyalist Faction, which Chandrila had once championed, now stood as her staunchest opponent, their blind fealty to Palpatine anathema to everything she believed in. Yet here she was, aligned with former adversaries in a desperate bid to salvage what remained of the Republic¡¯s integrity.


    How war makes strange bedmates, she thought grimly.


    Despite the unease of their new affiliations, Chandrila did not regret its choice. The Loyalist Faction had swelled in size and influence, but only because Palpatine had absorbed more members into his orbit, turning the Senate into a hollow echo of its former grandeur. That the Supreme Chancellor didn¡¯t even bother to attend this session as his very character and office was called into question¨Cfor Mon Mothma, this was the breaking point.


    She drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. It was now or never. Once she crossed this line, there would be no turning back.


    ¡°Accuse him of treachery?¡± she said, her teeth clenched against the weight of her words. ¡°Yes. Yes, I do.¡±


    Cacophony.


    The chamber erupted into chaos, a cacophony of voices echoing through the vast rotunda. Pods whirred to life, careening into the open space as senators jostled for recognition. The thunder of outrage, shock, and indignation reverberated off the Senate Chamber¡¯s walls. This, Mon Mothma believed with all her heart, this is the sound of a crumbling Republic.


    Bail Organa shot her an encouraging smile from across the hall. More and more hovercams were focusing on her now, as if she was the subject of a holodrama. Mon Mothma stared at the empty pod for Naboo, and wondered for the well-being of the woman who once staked her entire life and career on peace.


    Alas, that day would now never come.


    You will not like my means, Padme. The Senator from Chandrila sighed. But you will know I have no choice.


    Well then, time to channel her inner Queen of Naboo.


    ¡°DO NOT PRETEND SURPRISE!¡± Senator Mon Mothma thundered, her voice amplified to each and every corner of the chamber, "Every one of you knows what I say is true! You may dress yourselves in the finery of tradition, wrap yourselves in the illusion of duty, but you are nothing more than puppets dangling from the strings of one man¡¯s endless ambition!"


    Gasps rippled throughout the chamber. Some pods froze in mid-air, their occupants stunned into silence. Others surged forward, senators gesturing furiously, their faces flushed with anger.


    "You¡¯ve sold yourselves to him!" Mon Mothma continued, her gaze sweeping the assembly, hammering her fist, "Bribed with promises of influence, silenced by threats of reprisal, or blinded by the false light of his so-called leadership. You sit here, in this hollow shell of what was once the Republic¡¯s beating heart, pretending that this is still a democracy! But you know the truth!"


    She paused, letting the weight of her words hang in the air. Hovercams darted around her, their lenses fixed on her determined expression. The eyes of the Republic¨Cits citizens, its soldiers, its systems¨Cwere solely on her now, not on the senators and representatives cowering in their pods.


    "You know," she said, her voice lowering but losing none of its edge, "that the Supreme Chancellor has no intention of surrendering his powers. Not after the war. Not ever!¡±


    ¡°And you¨C" she pointed an accusatory finger at the assembly, her voice rising again, "¨Cwill do nothing to stop him! You will let him dismantle what remains of the Republic, piece by piece, until all that is left is his personal empire!¡±


    "Enough!" Senator Ask Aak shouted, his pod gliding closer, "You go too far, Senator Mothma!"


    "Too far?" she shot back, her voice like a whip, "Not far enough! Our citizens deserve to hear the truth. And the truth is that this Senate has failed them. Failed the Republic! Failed the very Constitution we were sworn to protect!¡±


    The chamber trembled with the echoes of her words. Mas Amedda shifted uneasily in his central podium, his grip tightening on his staff. He glanced toward the doors, perhaps hoping for an intervention that would not come.


    "And so, I demand action!" Mon Mothma declared, her voice ringing with unyielding resolve, "I demand proof that the Supreme Chancellor would keep his own promises! Today marks the last day of his third term, and Chandrila will not permit a fourth! Chandrila demands that he surrender his emergency powers, steps down, and stands aside for a new general election. And Chandrila demands that he does so immediately!¡±


    The chamber erupted again, louder this time, a maelstrom of protest and disbelief. But Mon Mothma stood firm, her gaze fixed not on her colleagues but on the hovering cameras, on the citizens of the Republic who watched from their homes, their workplaces, their starships.


    Vice Chair Mas Amedda slammed his ceremonial staff down, his voice booming out; ¡°ORDER! We will have order!¡±


    Mas Amedda¡¯s voice echoed through the chamber, amplified by the acoustics of the vast rotunda. The pounding of his staff reverberated like the hammer of judgment, silencing the protest, support, and argument alike.


    ¡°The Senator from Chandrila has made her motion,¡± Amedda declared, his voice steady but his lekku twitching ever so slightly, betraying his unease. ¡°As Vice Chair of the Galactic Senate, I call for an immediate vote on the motion to demand the surrender of emergency powers and the resignation of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.¡±


    ¡°¨CThis is not just a vote against one man," for a moment, Chandrila¡¯s voice was all that there was, "This is a vote for the Republic. For democracy. For our future. The question is not whether Palpatine will yield his power¨Cthe question is whether you will yield yours. Whether you will stand up for the Republic, or stand aside as it falls. My honoured colleagues, the galaxy is watching; I pray you make the right choice.¡±


    She stepped back, and hovercams dispersed, scanning the faces on the myriad repulsorpods and judging their actions. The chamber fell into an uneasy silence, punctuated only by the soft hum of repulsorpods adjusting their positions. Mon Mothma remained in her pod, her hands clasped tightly behind her back. Her face betrayed no emotion, but inside, her thoughts raced.


    She had done all she could. The speech, the accusations, the demands¨Ceverything had been said not just to sway the senators but to ignite a fire among the Republic¡¯s citizens watching from afar. If Palpatine¡¯s hold on the Senate was unbreakable, perhaps the court of public opinion could be her ally. Stars know we will need it if it comes to war.


    The chamber¡¯s ambient lighting dimmed slightly as the voting process began. As each senator submitted their decision, the incoming results emerged on each pod¡¯s integrated display. Mon Mothma¡¯s gaze flickered to the tally. At first, the results were as expected¨Cstaunch Loyalist worlds fell squarely into the Chancellor¡¯s camp. But then, to her surprise, she began to see cracks in the monolith.


    Senators from typically Loyalist-aligned systems hesitated before casting their votes. Some, visibly shaken by her words, shifted their allegiance. Even a few Core worlds¨Csystems she had thought irrevocably tied to Palpatine¡¯s orbit¨Clit up in her favor.


    For a brief, flickering moment, hope surged in her chest. Perhaps, just perhaps, the tide was turning.


    But as the final votes trickled in, the truth became clear. The holographic tally stabilized, and the numbers solidified. Mon Mothma had won over far more than she had dared hope, but it was not enough. The majority remained loyal to the Supreme Chancellor. The majority remained Loyalists.


    The Vice Chair¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°The motion fails. The Supreme Chancellor retains his emergency powers, and no further action shall be taken at this time.¡±


    A murmur rippled through the chamber, but it was subdued, lacking the earlier fervor. Mon Mothma allowed herself a slow, deliberate breath. She met the hovering lenses of the holocams once more, ensuring scornful disappointment crept onto her expression. It was not a difficult effort by any means, as her heart sank.


    She tuned out the gloating, the triumphant looks, the crestfallen gazes. She eyed Bana Breemu shaking her head and retreating out of the Senate Chamber. She witnessed Canny Bertar whispering to her aides in hushed tones. She saw Fang Zar rush out of his pod with a panicked haste in his steps. She met Bail Organa¡¯s meaningful gaze, and realised what it had come to.


    ¡°Any closing words, Senator Mothma?¡± Senator Jannie Ha¡¯Nook asked, an unreadable expression crossing her face.


    Mon Mothma sighed, ¡°This august body has revealed to the galaxy its true colours. Chandrila will no longer participate in this Senate, and henceforth recluses itself from any future hearings.


    Having exhausted every other recourse, the Senator from Chandrila quietly retreated back to her assigned station before the heckling could grow, turning to her duo of aides sitting behind her. She murmured to them, away from the hovercams¡¯ prying ears. They have failed to save the Republic by democratic means, failed by the democratic majority no less. Adi Gallia was right; against a democratically elected dictator, they must consider the unthinkable.


    ¡°Prepare the Gallian Manifesto, and ready our ship,¡± she met her security detail at the door, joining the increasing number of senators retreating from the Convocation Hall, ¡°We are leaving Coruscant tonight.¡±


    ?


    Squatters, death stick runners, lost droids, undocumented refugees¨Cthe tunnels leading into the Senate District were highways for anyone and anything trying to find their way into central Coruscant. Illegally. And with each passing group of people they met, or apprehended, the harder and harder it was to trace their quarry¡¯s trail.


    Or rather, harder and harder for Republic Intelligence¡¯s conventional means.


    Because Master Adi Gallia and Shaak Ti knew exactly where they were going, following the shrouded allure of the dark side permeating the hallways. Their senses led them forward, closer to their target, subtly nudging along the droids and operatives towards the paths and clues they wanted them to find. First, they followed the tracks of a repulsorcraft, then dusty footsteps¨Cthe most difficult part of the hunt, as they took several leaps of logic through one of the most heavily trafficked sections of the labyrinth, relatively speaking¨Cbefore finally finding a small alcove that once housed a speederbike.


    A speederbike which they were now in search of.


    And all the while, the Jedi followed the scent of the dark side, pushing their compatriots along.


    ¡°How far are we from the Senate District?¡± Shaak Ti asked.


    ¡°Within a couple of kilometers,¡± Captain Dyne answered, ¡°From here on out, the number of small branches will increase exponentially as we surface into what is, frankly speaking, the seedy underbelly of Coruscant. The possibilities will be endless.¡±


    They continued to walk in silence for a long while, the corridor¡¯s expressionless walls almost mocking their sustained effort. They were a kilometer closer to the outlying areas of the Senate District when Shaak Ti paused, her honed senses picking up something again. As if on cue, the probe droids whirled around refocusing their attention on the featureless facades around them.


    ¡°Hollow space,¡± Valiant pointed sharply, ¡°Right over there.¡±


    Joining the others, the Jedi watched the droids hover with clear purpose in front of a large niche in the tunnel wall. Captain Dyne¡¯s handheld sensor needed only a moment to discover a small control panel that operated the niche¡¯s sliding door. The door concealed the entrance to a cramped, dimly lit chamber.


    And within; a repulsorlift speederbike, leaning against a wall. Likely the very one they were searching for.


    The Intelligence operatives immediately got to work analyzing the make and design of the craft, as well as picking out any smudged fingerprints, fibers, hairs, and other clues as to the identity of their mysterious Separatist confederate. Further into the chamber, Valiant and his commandos were breaching through a locked door, barreling through the threshold and spreading out on the other side.


    Adi Gallia followed them through.


    ¡°Another corridor,¡± she sighed.


    ¡°Another corridor closer to our quarry,¡± Shaak Ti corrected optimistically.


    They wasted no time in advancing into the corridor, sometimes wide enough to contain a speeder, and othertimes so narrow everyone had to edge through sideways. For two kilometers, walls, ceiling, and floor were damp from water that had trickled down through Coruscant¡¯s upper levels. Which could mean they were increasingly closer to the city surface. Before, finally, they reached another landing¨Ca relatively larger antechamber at which they could catch their breath.


    His eyes fixed on the display screen of his data processor, Captain Dyne ambled toward Adi Gallia and Shaak Ti.


    ¡°General, our search is about to take us to a whole new level.¡±


    Adi Gallia looked around the tunnel for signs of a concealed turbolift or staircase.


    ¡°Up or down?¡± Shaak Ti asked, equally bewildered.


    Dyne glanced up, blinking at her, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean ¡®new level¡¯ in the literal sense.¡±


    He indicated the hovering probe droids, which were eager to have the team follow them east, ¡°But to answer your question, we will be going up. If we continue on this trail, we¡¯re going to end up in the sub-basements of Five-Hundred Republica.¡±


    500 Republica: a monolithic tower of transparisteel and clari-crystalline, home to thousands of Coruscant¡¯s wealthiest senators, celebrities, shipping magnates, and media tycoons.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re not just looking for a Separatist confederate,¡± Adi Gallia smiled, ¡°But very likely a Separatist benefactor.¡±


    With its fifty-three skydocks, hundreds of private turbolifts, arrays of hidden security armaments, and towering atria, 500 Republica was a world unto itself. Containing more technology than many Outer Rim worlds and more residents than some, the sky-piercing structure was the unrivaled gem of the Senate District. Gilded by the rising sun, its head in the clouds, buttressed by the towers that had allowed it to outgrow all its neighbors, 500 Republica was the lofty vantage from which a privileged few could actually gaze down on Coruscant.


    Which was precisely why the building had become the landmark the galaxy¡¯s disenfranchised pointed to when they spoke of Coruscant¡¯s disproportionate wealth and elitism. Why 500 Republica was viewed by many as more emblematic of the bloated, indulgent Senate than the Senate¡¯s own squat mushroom of a home.


    Adi Gallia could feel the oppressive weight of the structure bearing down on her as the team entered 500 Republica¡¯s level-one sub-basement¨Csquare kilometers of supportive ferrocrete and durasteel, crammed with whining, whirring machines that kept the tower stable, aloft, secure, climate-controlled, and supplied with water and power. As deep as it was, the sub-basement was still a hundred meters above Coruscant¡¯s true underground, and twice that above the original surface of the planet.


    Considering the place they¡¯ve ventured to, their strikeforce had to contend with the very real possibility of being stalled for hours¨Cif not days¨Cas Republica security decided whether to grant them permission to enter and carry on the investigation.


    Ironically, this was where the Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act came into play, with which Homeworld Security was provided legal authority to approve searches and seizures without due process. All Commander Thorn had to do was inform Republica security that their building was possibly housing a Separatist¨Cand thus threat to internal security¨Cand that the Coruscant Guard would be storming the building, whether they liked it or not.


    As Commander Thorn departed to hammer out the details with the local authorities, the Intelligence operatives were quick to slice into the memory banks of all the turbolift in order to access their logs and camera feeds. In the meantime, Master Yoda finally rendezvoused with them in the expansive and opulent lobby of the residential tower.


    The diminutive Jedi Master chuckled as he waddled towards the gathered striketeam, ¡°What a frightful sight this is, hmm?¡±


    Adi Gallia released an amused huff. Indeed they were; over half a hundred Jedi, commandos, and shocktroopers occupying the main foyer of the largest, most affluent residency in the entire galaxy. The vast lobby of 500 Republica was an expanse of polished stone, golden fixtures, and artful lighting, a space designed to impress even the most powerful dignitaries. But now, it was transformed into a military staging ground. Shocktroopers stood in tight formation, their red armor gleaming under the chandeliers, while Jedi Knights conferred in low tones. The hum of lightsabers deactivating and the crackle of comms added a discordant edge to the otherwise serene ambiance.


    Guests and residents steered well-clear of them, obviously wondering just what was going on.


    A few hours of waiting later, the sharp clack of boots against the floor drew her attention. Captain Dyne, surrounded by his operatives, approached with brisk efficiency. His expression was grim, tinged with no little amount of puzzlement, and his datapad was clutched tightly in one hand.


    ¡°Good news, Captain?¡± Shaak Ti questioned first.


    ¡°Generals,¡± he nodded down at Master Yoda, ¡°My team has traced our quarry. But the results we have landed on are¡­ puzzling, to say the least. We¡¯re still not quite sure what to think, honestly speaking.¡±


    ¡°Indeed? But you have concluded which floor our mysterious benefactor went to?¡± Adi Gallia pressed urgently.


    Dyne hesitated, his eyes flicking toward the shocktroopers and residents nearby, as though unwilling to speak the truth too loudly. Adi Gallia could sense the turmoil within him¨Cduty and fear clashing in his thoughts. Finally, he leaned in slightly and lowered his voice.


    ¡°We have reason to believe our quarry landed on this floor,¡± he pointed at a chart of the 500 Republica¡¯s levels, ¡°On the level of the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s penthouse suite.¡±


    Adi Gallia made every show of disbelief and confusion, and no little amount of generous suspicion.


    ¡°Are you certain you haven¡¯t missed anything?¡±


    Dyne jabbed a thumb at the probe droids nearby, ¡°The droids wouldn¡¯t have. The logs, feeds, dates, they all point to this conclusion.¡±


    ¡°Certain, are you?¡± Yoda asked, his voice flat yet piercing.


    ¡°Unfortunately.¡±


    Shaak Ti swivelled towards Valiant, her dress swirling against the pristine tiling and spreading its gathered dust everywhere, ¡°Prepare your men, Commander. We are heading up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, General!¡±


    Captain Dyne swallowed thickly, ¡°I believe we should await clearance from¨C¡±


    ¡°Find. Fix. Finish,¡± ARC Commander Valiant snapped, ¡°That¡¯s the job. That¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. Doesn¡¯t matter who or what. We¡¯ve got the clearance. That¡¯s what the Security Act is for.¡±


    The ride up was quiet, to say the least. There were only a handful of turbolifts landing on the floor the Chancellor¡¯s suite was located on, each only large enough for little over a dozen men to fit inside at a time. Thus, the first turbolift was commandeered by the three Jedi Masters, three Intelligence operatives including Dyne, and over half a dozen armoured ARCs crammed into the remaining space.


    After what felt like an age, the turbolift doors hissed open with a soft chime, revealing the polished and opulent hallway leading to the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s suite. The air felt heavy, charged. At the far end of the corridor, two crimson-clad Red Guards stood motionless, their pikes held at precise angles. Their helmets obscured any reaction to the approaching strike team, but their presence radiated silent warning.


    Shaak Ti stepped forward, her hands loosely at her sides but her posture commanding.


    "We are here on official business of Homeworld Security," she said, her voice calm yet unyielding, "We have every reason to believe the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s residence has been compromised. Stand aside."


    The guards didn¡¯t flinch. One tilted his head slightly, the only acknowledgment of her words.


    ¡°The Supreme Chancellor is not to be disturbed,¡± the guard intoned.


    Commander Valiant stepped up, his blaster rifle held ready; ¡°You¡¯ve got your orders. We¡¯ve got ours. Move, or you¡¯ll be moved.¡±


    Leave it to the ARC trooper to be diplomatic, Adi Gallia thought exasperatedly.


    The guards didn¡¯t budge. Adi Gallia could feel the tension rising, a coiled spring ready to snap. She exchanged a glance with Shaak Ti, who gave the barest nod. Before either Jedi could speak, the doors to the suite slid open with a smooth hiss. The two Red Guards froze for a brief moment, then stepped aside.


    ¡°He let us through,¡± Shaak Ti murmured.


    The strike team moved forward cautiously, the Jedi leading the way with lightsabers unlit but ready. Behind them, the ARC troopers fanned out, their movements precise and disciplined, rifles scanning every shadow and corner. Intelligence operatives hung back slightly, their datapads and scanners aimed at various objects and surfaces. At their centre, Master Yoda waddled casually, humming to himself softly.


    The suite was a sprawling marvel of wealth and power, a multi-leveled penthouse that overlooked the glittering expanse of Coruscant. Expansive windows stretched from floor to ceiling, bathing the space in the glow of the city-planet''s endless lights. Luxurious furnishings were arranged with calculated elegance, and the air was thick with the faint scent of exotic incense.


    At the center of it all, standing with his back to the intruders as he gazed out over the cityscape, was Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. His hands were clasped behind him, and his posture was relaxed, almost disarmingly so.


    ¡°Masters,¡± Palpatine said without turning, his voice smooth and untroubled, ¡°To what do I owe the honour of this... unexpected visit?¡±


    The Jedi stopped a few paces away, and as always Shaak Ti was the first to speak, ¡°Supreme Chancellor, we have reason to believe this location has been compromised. We are here to ensure your safety and to investigate any potential threats.¡±


    Palpatine turned slowly, his expression calm, his eyes shadowed, ¡°Compromised? Here, in my own home? I find that hard to believe, Master Jedi.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless,¡± Adi Gallia said firmly, ¡°We must be thorough.¡±


    Cat and mouse met their knowing gazes. Adi Gallia hated to say that she was increasingly unsure who was the cat and who was the mouse, considering how swimmingly the operation was going.


    The ARC troopers began to spread out, taking positions around the suite. Their boots clinked softly against the polished floors as they scanned for any sign of danger. One trooper signaled to Valiant, who nodded and moved toward a secondary level of the penthouse. Behind them, another turbolift disgorged the next squad of troopers.


    The Chancellor¡¯s gaze followed the troopers briefly before returning to the Jedi, ¡°I must say, this is highly irregular. I trust you have sufficient justification for barging into my residence unannounced?¡±


    Shaak Ti met his gaze evenly, ¡°We do, Supreme Chancellor. The trail of our investigation leads directly here. We must ask for your full cooperation.¡±


    Palpatine¡¯s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and the corners of his mouth twitched as though suppressing a smile, ¡°Of course, Masters. I have nothing to hide. You are free to search to your hearts¡¯ content.¡±


    His words were cordial, but there was an edge to them, a subtle challenge that set Adi Gallia¡¯s senses on high alert. The Force swirled around the room, dense and turbulent, warning of unseen danger.


    Then that feeling was suppressed as Master Yoda jaunted forward, pointing his cane at the Supreme Chancellor, ¡°Questions, we have for you. Answer them, will you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Master Jedi!¡± his tone was light, almost playful, but his eyes remained fixed on the Jedi, watching, measuring, waiting for something, ¡°Ask away. How can I help?¡±


    ¡°...Supreme Chancellor,¡± Master Adi Gallia asked, one hand reaching for her lightsaber. She could feel the presence of Captain Dyne directly behind her, ¡°May I ask whether you visited the Works any time in the last six months?¡±

 Chapter 90

    Serenno Orbit, Serenno System


    D¡¯Astan Sector


    Contrary to expectations, Count Dooku¡¯s fleet made the first move, with the Serennian Security Forces promptly lunging into action and leading the way for the rest of the auxiliary northern Separatists to follow. In rapid response, the flagship of General Mace Windu, Endurance, called for an immediate advance forthwith. Drive cones exploded onto the plots in a thick haze of light and gas as thousands of warships hurtled towards each other.


    At his vantage point in the rear, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi could only hide the growing sensation of disconcert building in his chest. Master Plo Koon¡¯s battle strategy was all but a direct reproduction of that he performed at the Battle of Metalorn, one of the most studied engagements of the Perlemian Campaign. The problem with using the same strategy every time is of course that the enemy will always formulate counters to it, and he had a feeling this time will be no exception.


    What made the arrowhead formation at Metalorn so effective was the use of battle meditation to unify man and machine across hundreds of warships. Here however, there were thousands of warships, enough so that a boy atop the mountainpeaks of Serenno could look to the night sky and trace the shining constellations of battle. The only Jedi Master ever known to possess such an ability of the magnitude necessary to so effectively command a fleet of this size via battle meditation was Oppo Rancisis¨Cand Master Rancisis was killed-in-action at Columex.


    As for Master Plo Koon¨C


    Plo Koon was absent, still transiting the Hydian Way and enroute to the battlefield, having been the last battle group to depart from the freshly taken Botajef.


    ¡°Master, they¡¯re faking,¡± Ahsoka observed, watching the front ranks of the Separatist line of battle heel hard to port and present broadsides.


    A moment later, the holographic plots were awash with glaring red exclamation marks and hundreds of thousands of torpedoes thundered towards them. Despite being stationed in the rearguard of the warfleet, no sane man could so easily shrug off the natural fear that came with haplessly following the incoming vectors of multi-megaton warheads screaming for destruction. They were watching the Separatist massed-missile barrage doctrine at its finest.


    The Republic Navy¡¯s armoured vanguard responded in kind, Tector-class battleships doubling frontal shields and ejecting countermeasures¨Cwhilst Victory-class Star Destroyers punched out their own massed countermissile volleys. Lights scattered across the void as point-defense banks erupted, lasers and flak creating a wall of fire before the Expeditionary Fleet and intercepting the opening Separatist volley.


    Alas, as more and more Separatist battlecruisers turned onto the line of battle, more and more torpedoes were whipped onto the plot, until it was evident Count Dooku was attempting to blunt their advance using the same strategy the Perlemian Coalition exercised at the Battle of Centares. By launching wave after wave of torpedoes, they were forcing the Expeditionary Fleet to slow down in order to intercept them, thus sapping them of the momentum crucial to the arrowhead formation¡¯s success.


    Not that Obi-Wan could do anything about it. He was a Jedi General, but Jedi Generals were dime a dozen among the Expeditionary Fleet. It was difficult enough trying to wrangle the different factions of the war council into a coherent battle strategy¨Cwhich ended up with the adoption of the arrowhead formation due to its inherent simplicity and battle-tested record.


    ¡°General,¡± Admiral Block sauntered up the pilothouse, ¡°I¡¯d recommend sending some of our ships to reinforce our starboard flank.¡±


    ¡°That would put the integrity of the greater formation at risk,¡± he rightly pointed out.


    ¡°Count Dooku has faked his line of battle to portside, traversing to our right in line ahead,¡± the Admiral of the Open Circle Fleet called attention to the enemy¡¯s intentions, ¡°We are still advancing dead ahead. Sooner or later, the Separatist battleline¨Ctraversing perpendicularly to us¨Cwill clear our firing envelopes, and will be poised to plunge into our starboard flank.¡±


    Ahsoka, who had overheard the conversation, added her two credits; ¡°If they do that, they¡¯ll have our transports dead-to-rights.¡±


    Ahsoka¨Cwho had analysed the same plans as they¨Cwas certainly correct. The heavy vanguard and rearguard meant that the sides of their arrowhead was naturally thinner, more or less acting as a funnel to push the transports through the breach when the time came. If Count Dooku was acting to prevent an invasion of his homeworld, he would definitely be seeking stratagems to render their invasion force moot by targeting the Expeditionary Fleet¡¯s troop transports.


    However, the Force tugged at his mind, as glaring as a neon warning sign. Plo Koon had explicitly ordered the Open Circle Fleet to take up the mantle of the rearguard, and to never vacate their post unless under the most dire of circumstances. He had his reasons, Obi-Wan was certain, and the Force only moved to convince of that fact.¡±


    ¡°I will not make that decision on my own,¡± General Kenobi decided, ¡°Tightbeam the Endurance and await theirs.¡±


    Admiral Block¡¯s face was unreadable, ¡°Very good, General.¡±


    As far as relationships between Jedi and Admirals went, Obi-Wan felt that he shared a sense of mutual respect with Admiral Block. Certainly not as hot-and-cold as Anakin¡¯s impulsiveness and Yularen¡¯s steady caution. Obi-Wan and Block were similarly conservative as far as strategies go, and they don¡¯t step on each other¡¯s toes often. At times it does feel like one of them wasn¡¯t needed, however¨Cbut when Obi-Wan was leading armies planetside, it did fill him with confidence to know Admiral Block was stewarding the Open Circle in his place.


    Mace Windu, in all of his promptitude, replied swiftly. As soon as Admiral Block relayed his recommendation to the flagship, Endurance ordered the redeployment of Task Force Selfless to the starboard flank.


    ¡°Signal General Reus to break formation and reinforce starboard positions,¡± Admiral Block commanded crisply, ¡°Execute upon receipt!¡±


    Obi-Wan nodded, his mind racing as the holographic plots shifted to reflect the redeployment. The starboard flank thickened as the Selfless¡¯ fleet peeled away from the Open Circle, her engines blazing as they moved to anticipate the Separatist maneuver. Turning such a large and inflexible formation as their arrowhead on a dime was clearly considered infeasible, and it would appear Endurance intends on barrelling dead ahead no matter what Count Dooku tries to pull.


    But as the main Separatist line cleared their forward firing arcs, their absence revealed their secondary line of warships. The tactical display updated in real time, revealing the massive, circular silhouettes of hundreds of Lucrehulk-class battleships emerging from the Separatist formation. The sheer mass levied against them was imposing enough¨Ceach converted freighter fifteen times heavier than a Venator¨Cbut it was what followed that truly chilled the air on the bridge. Swarms of Vulture droids poured from the Lucrehulks¡¯ hangars, forming a seething black cloud of destruction that surged toward the Expeditionary Fleet.


    ¡°Ahsoka!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡± Ahsoka sprang into action at her Master¡¯s order, dashing out of the bridge as fast as her legs could take her.


    ¡°Admiral!¡± Obi-Wan then pivoted, ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you with the deployment of our primary combat wings.¡±


    ¡°Right away, General,¡± Admiral Block understood quickly, relaying commands to the flight bridge: ¡°Deploy all primary combat wings! Their orders are to remain in close formation with our capital divisions and prioritise the protection of the transports!¡±


    Within moments, the hangar bays of the Open Circle Fleet came alive. Venator-class Star Destroyers disgorged squadrons of ARC-170 starfighters, Z-95 Headhunters, and V-19 Torrents by the hundreds of thousands. Vigilance¡¯s own complement of fighters surged forward, Ahsoka¡¯s deep crimson Aethersprite at its point, joining the expanding Republic fighter screen orbiting around the vanguard.


    Then, the main Separatist battle line smashed headfirst into the Republic right flank.


    ?


    ¡°This is the Battle Hydra¡¯s grand stratagem?¡± Jedi Master Plo Koon was hunched over the holoprojection table in the heart of Hyperion¡¯s battle room, enroute to the battlefield in the Serenno Star System.


    ¡°It is as relayed to us,¡± if Rear Admiral Diedrich Greyshade was any uncomfortable presenting the strategy to a room full of Republic officers, he did not show it, ¡°As you can see, however, its execution will require the cooperation of the Expeditionary Fleet.¡±


    It was certainly reminiscent of Rain Bonteri¡¯s style of warfare, in which victory ought to always be found in the unpredictable and unexpected. It certainly would never have spawned from the sort of rigid thinking the Republic Navy tries to foster, nor the Confederate Navy¨Cshould the Pantoran¡¯s educational military reforms persist as passed. At that moment, the Kel Dor Jedi Master could only wonder what it was like to possess the Battle Hydra¡¯s mind.


    ¡°...We owe you Master Luminara¡¯s life,¡± Plo Koon finally decided, ¡°You will have my cooperation, that I guarantee.¡±


    ¡°Master, they could be holding Master Luminara hostage,¡± Jedi Knight Lissarkh hissed.


    ¡°For what purpose?¡± the Jedi Master queried, ¡°We no longer live in the days when the lives of Jedi Knights and Masters held momentous value; we have cheapened ourselves by taking to war. Hostage or otherwise, a life saved is valuable in of itself, especially when that life should be in the Force otherwise. That Admiral Bonteri saved Master Luminara¡¯s life when he had a choice not to is reason enough to consider his means.¡±


    ¡°That said, Master Plo,¡± Knight Bultar Swan reminded, ¡°We would not need this stratagem if Master Windu successfully executes our original plan. And if he does not, we can still exhaust our back-up plans.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Knight Swan,¡± Plo Koon¡¯s claws scratched his chin, ¡°The stars burn brightly if the best-case scenario occurs, and we wouldn¡¯t have to treat with the Separatists. But I consider this alternative preferable to our back-up plans, especially in terms of haste and lives saved. Would you not agree?¡±


    ¡°They could be aiming to destroy both our and Dooku¡¯s fleets at the same time,¡± Lissarkh sibilated coldly, her suspicion evident, ¡°They have reason to; two birdsss with one ssstone. Then, they can siege Serenno at their leisure, with all of their enemiesss defeated.¡±


    Around them, many of the officers nodded their heads in agreement. Despite all things, years of constant war have engraved in them a deep hatred of Separatists, and most still did not see the differences in ideology between factions. Just as an Outer Rimmer couldn''t care less about the difference between a democrat and autocrat in the Core, men of the Republic consider the Separatist Alliance a monolith. Many Jedi too have fallen victim to such untoward thought, especially with all the hate and indoctrination swirling the Republic HoloNet.


    Plo Koon had lived through enough battles and wars to know better. Whether he was fighting the disenchanted Stark Collective of the Stark Hyperspace War or the embittered Separatist Alliance of the Galactic Civil War, his enemies were still citizens of the galaxy. Hate is beget by hate, and trust can only be reciprocated when trust is extended.


    ¡°You may be right,¡± he admitted anyway, because that is the truth, and so he turned to the patiently waiting Columexi, ¡°Admiral Greyshade, my subordinates have raised relevant concerns. How can you assure us of your intentions?¡±


    The hologram shivered, its blue-scanned illusion briefly scattering as Hyperion was struck by a rogue scramble. In the distance, the silver pearl of Serenno glimmered dully, the raging battle on the artificial horizon like an approaching thunderhead.


    ¡°We have everything to gain from this cooperation, and nothing to lose from its dissolution,¡± Diedrich Greyshade appealed, ¡°You, however, have everything to gain, and everything to lose. As we speak, the Second Confederate Fleet approaches, led by the only Admiral Trench. So easily, we can enter the battlefield as a third party and sweep both you and Dooku into Wild Space. If we wanted to destroy all of you, as the Trandoshan says, we need not ask your permission, do we?¡±


    The message was clear. If you do not agree to cooperate, then we have no choice but to do exactly as you suspicioned us to do.


    ¡°So this agreement is more beneficial to Raxus Secundus?¡± Bultar Swan questioned.


    ¡°No!¡± Admiral Greyshade snapped, ¡°It will be more beneficial for us to kill two birds with one stone, and wipe all of you out of existence!¡±


    But we are not, his eyes burned, and that is reason enough for you to believe us.


    ¡°...I find myself suitably convinced,¡± Master Plo Koon crossed his arms.


    ¡°The hunter toying with his prey,¡± Lissarkh snarled, ¡°To dance is to live, but better to be a coward with a pulse than a martyr with a grave.¡±


    A round of begrudging agreement rippled through the battle room, the rational minds of Hyperion¡¯s high command coming to the same conclusion that they were all dancing on the palm of the Old Spider¡¯s hand. If this was their best bet of getting the Battle of Serenno over with and forging a lasting peace with the Confederacy, then so be it. Plo Koon had enough influence to curate who crewed his task force, and naturally filled TF Hyperion¡¯s ranks with those predisposed to the secessionist conspiracy.


    ¡°Then we are in agreement,¡± he announced, ¡°Admiral Greyshade, you may inform your superiors we will act in accordance to the Battle Hydra¡¯s stratagem.¡±


    The Columexi Admiral smiled thinly, ¡°That is pleasing to hear, Master Jedi. You may await the Aggressor¡¯s insertion momentarily.¡±


    The connection was severed, just in time for another stray scramble to strike Hyperion¡¯s comms.


    ¡°Aggressor?¡± an officer mused, ¡°Is that the name of their superweapon?¡±


    ¡°We must act quickly,¡± Plo Koon informed everybody in the battle room, ¡°The window to act is shrinking, and will disappear the moment the Aggressor makes itself known. We must adjust the battlefield exactly to the strategem¡¯s likeness.¡±


    ¡°Playing into the Ssseparatist hand,¡± Lissarkh grumbled.


    ¡°We will not die a coward¡¯s death,¡± her former Master told her.


    ¡°Ssso we still might die a martyr¡¯s?¡±


    As Hyperion sped towards the battlespace, the lines of Plo Koon¡¯s leathery skin deepened, ¡°Possibly.¡±


    ¡°Encouraging.¡±


    As they approached, the battle began incrementally appearing on the holographic plots, sprawled across the void, a vast and terrible mural of destruction. The pearl-like glow of the planet loomed large in the distance, its surface alive with the fiery lances of planetary defense batteries. Between the Republic fleet and Serenno stretched a hellscape of dueling warships, starfighter swarms, and Separatist Lucrehulks vomiting endless waves of droid fighters into the fray.


    As Task Force Hyperion¡¯s sensors calibrated onto the battle, information began to flood in, her comms relays struggling to get a fix on a friendly frequency in the chaotic struggle. At the center of the battle room, the holographic tactical plot casting blue light across his alien features, Plo Koon listened to officers barking orders and reports, their voices underscored by the faint hum of the ship¡¯s engines and the occasional distant tremor of incoming fire rattling off the hull.


    The rigid arrowhead of the Expeditionary Fleet formation was apparent as it struggled to punch a hole through the Serennian Lucrehulks, its armoured vanguard completely inundated by wave after wave of enemy starfighters. On their starboard, a massive line of Separatist battlecruisers were heading along a reciprocal vector relative to the Expeditionary Fleet, and were belching broadside after broadside of missiles into the Republic right flank.


    And on the opposite flank, without the risk of friendly fire present, Serenno¡¯s mountainside batteries had come into range, beams of concentrated energy lanced out from the planet below, cutting through the blackness of space with terrifying precision. The destruction of a Republic cruiser on the open left flank was on full display to Hyperion, its shields crumpling under the sustained fire. The ship¡¯s hull crumpled inward as the beam tore through it, igniting the atmosphere within and reducing the vessel to a fiery husk. More beams followed, striking capital ships with devastating accuracy.


    ¡°Master, we managed to secure a tightbeam to the Vigilance!¡± Bultar Swan shouted from behind him.


    ¡°Quickly now!¡± Plo Koon raising his voice was a rare occurrence, but this was one of the few situations that warranted the urgency.


    ¡°Oh, stars aligned!¡± Obi-Wan Kenobi¡¯s voice was awash with relief, ¡°Master Plo, you¡¯ve arrived! As you can evidently see, Count Dooku¡¯s forces are countering us expertly. They¡¯re targeting our transports, and we¡¯ve been forced to bleed our momentum in order to prevent that catastrophe.¡±


    ¡°Count Dooku hasn¡¯t yet raised Serenno¡¯s shields, I presume?¡±


    ¡°Considering how his surface-to-orbit artillery is blasting away unimpeded, I would hope not!¡±


    ¡°Good. We can still salvage this,¡± Jedi Master Plo Koon took a deep breath, expanding his mind to the Force, ¡°Secure me a relay to the rest of the fleet, Obi-Wan. I will take it from here.¡±


    ¡°Gladly, Master Plo.¡±


    ¡°Bultar, Lissarkh,¡± the Jedi Master summoned his two apprentices, and they stood around him, already expectant of his intentions. The entire battle room unnaturally quietened, as if in anticipation.


    ¡°You¡¯re patched into the fleet channel, General,¡± the comms officer whispered.


    Plo Koon nodded his thanks, and took a deep breath.


    ¡°To all vessels of the Expeditionary Fleet, this is High Jedi General Plo Koon speaking,¡± he declared to over two-thousand warships, ¡°I will henceforth be assuming overall of the fleet. Standby for orders, and execute them promptly upon receipt. Let us achieve victory in one decisive blow, together.¡±


    Together.


    Together.


    Together.


    TOGETHER.


    At that very moment, a cacophony of emotions radiating from the pilots and crews across the fleet struck the Jedi Master like a thousand stabbing knives. Fear, determination, and pain rippled through the currents, each thread pulling his mind in different directions. He centred himself, tugging back at those threads and stilling their vibrating, panicked tremble with enforced calm. The easiest threads to knit were of his crew, those standing around him¨Cthen came the spacers and captains of TF Hyperion, all willingly tied around the needle with which he knit a grand tapestry of war.


    This would be his greatest work yet.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Plo Koon felt the turmoil in the Force, a vast and writhing sea of slaughter. The deaths of Republic and Separatist soldiers alike rippled through him, a relentless tide of life snuffed out.


    And so he touched the suffering, soothed the desperate, calmed the panicked, encouraged the fearing, and tamed the brave. Each and every thread pulled at him, and he pulled them back, the Force as his needle. Each thread of emotion was a strand in the tapestry, and he took them one by one, tying the frayed edges, knitting them together with the quiet strength of his will.


    The officers on the bridge stilled as his aura of calm swept over them first. Fear ebbed from their minds, replaced with purpose. Their voices, once tinged with suspicion and uncertainty, became measured and resolute as they relayed orders. Then came the gunners, sweating as they worked their stations, feeling the tremor leave their hands. The pilots, gripping their controls with white-knuckled intensity, released the tension in their shoulders.


    The picture grew larger, more intricate, as the Jedi Master extended his reach. Across the Expeditionary Fleet, he felt the minds of thousands¨Cno, millions¨Ceach one a thread of its own. The frantic chaos of the Vigilance¡¯s bridge, where Obi-Wan Kenobi¡¯s presence burned like a steady flame, became part of the weave. The fear of a young ARC-170 pilot, flying into the swarm of Vulture droids, was consoled as she felt the reassuring touch in her mind.


    The captains of the heavy cruisers and Star Destroyers felt the weight of command lighten as clarity replaced indecision. Their vessels began to move in perfect synchronization, the arrowhead formation tightening and sharpening like the point of a spear.


    And then, it began to revolve.


    The same rampant Separatist fire and torpedoes threatening to undo the Republic fleet was now haplessly shrugged off the rotating cycle of refreshed deflector shields, each warship replacing the next in the constant cycle that proved so unstoppable many times before.


    Plo Koon was now entirely unconscious, his entire mind bent to the tasking effort of maintaining the grand tapestry of command, each thread threatening to fray at the slightest lack of attention. At the centre of the battle room, the Jedi Master stood like a lifeless effigy, the only sign of life being the constant, steady breathing of his respirator. Around him, his personal staff worked with mute efficiency, their expressions bent in serene determination as they commanded the Expeditionary Fleet to the standards they unconsciously knew.


    Across the fleet, Jedi Masters lucid enough to understand what was happening felt their spirits lift as the battle slowly began falling into their favour, whilst those talented in battle meditation added their minds to the great weave.


    ¡°This is High Jedi General Plo Koon to the Expeditionary Fleet,¡± his voice resonated in the deep stillness, ¡°You have but one order. Advance.¡±


    The Expeditionary Fleet roared its soundless battlecry, innumerous sublight drives exploding out in great light and propulsion.


    TF Hyperion cut through the battlespace like an arrow, its turbolasers and ion cannons roaring to life. Droids swarmed toward them, but their escort frigates and fighters formed a tight screen, shredding the enemy with disciplined volleys. Hyperion began weaving toward the starboard flank of the Republic formation, where the Separatist main line had turned inward, threatening to punch through to the vulnerable troop transports.


    While the Separatists were busy carving out a breach in an enemy they thought was trying to hide in the chaos, lethal blows pummeled their engines from behind and above. Their shields shimmered as they absorbed the initial barrage of Republic turbolaser fire, then buckled. Cut by hailing swords of light, discharging energy instead of blood and penetrating armored planks instead of flesh, the Separatist line of battle crumpled from behind. One unlucky cruiser, caught in the crossfire, erupted in a brilliant explosion as its reactor was breached.


    Seeing reinforcements arrive, the Republic starboard flank rebounded eagerly, led by the battlecruiser Selfless. From behind the floating debris of destroyed ships, they rained fire down on their enemies, pushing the Separatist gambit back into the void and away from the transports. TF Hyperion didn¡¯t wait to secure the flanks, however, barrelling ahead alongside the now-revolving arrowhead as it drilled into the line of Lucrehulks and Recusants, carving out great swathes of scrap and debris in the swarm of droid starfighters, leaving behind a lifeless current of wreckage stripped of their mobility and scores of human bodies rendered inorganic in their wake.


    ¡°General Swan!¡± Plo Koon shouted, eyes still glazed over and unseeing behind his mask, ¡°Identify the Serennian planetary shield generators as soon as possible!¡±


    ¡°Yes, High General!¡±


    The revolving arrowhead formation advanced ceaselessly, scything through the battlefield. The Lucrehulks, massive and unwieldy, struggled to maintain their cohesion as Republic fire raked across their shields. The heavy, unstoppable firepower of Tectors and Victorys pummelled the Separatists back, their dagger-like hulls mauling the enemy line and ripping out steel flesh, their movements unnaturally fluid, their accuracy near-perfect. Every pilot, every gunner, every ship captain with a shared clarity and resolve, all calibrated into a finely tuned symphony of war.


    Against the droid starfighter swarm, Republic combat wings unsheathed blades of energy and fiercely slashed at the writhing mass. Beam crossed beam, sending blinding spirals of light streaking across the black sky over Serenno. Proton torpedoes rocketed from under-wing racks pierced durasteel armor, and battered the fleet in haphazard array. Energy beams rushing down at acute angles hit exposed power plants, sending gun turrets flying and consigning droids and spacers to deadly cyclones of hot wind and radiation.


    TF Hyperion carved its way deeper into the Separatist rear, the destroyers and frigates at its flanks pouring fire into the exposed underbellies of the enemy ships. Hyperion itself directed its forward batteries toward the engines of a retreating Munificent-class frigate. The targeted ship shuddered under the impact, its engines erupting in a cascade of flames before it spiraled out of control, colliding with a Recusant-class destroyer. They pushed further and further, until they were past even the Separatists¡¯ secondary battleline.


    Then, just as the Expeditionary Fleet was on the verge on breaking through, Jedi Master Plo Koon opened his eyes and ordered¨C


    ¡°Divert power from non-essential systems to long-range scanners! Find those shield generators!¡±


    ¡°Redirecting power now!¡± replied Bultar Swan, her hands flying across the console. The lights on the bridge dimmed momentarily as Hyperion¡¯s scanners surged to full capacity. Her sensor arrays sliced through the electromagnetic interference of the battle and through the atmosphere of Serenno, raking all likely locations for a fortified shield generator system.


    The Hyperion¡¯s scanners began painting a clearer picture of the Serennian surface. The planet¡¯s rugged terrain and sprawling cities shimmered on the tactical display, overlaid with a web of energy signatures.


    ¡°Generators identified!¡± the tactical officer called out. ¡°Coordinates locked! They¡¯re heavily entrenched in the Carannian hills, outside the capital city of Carannia!¡±


    ¡°Paint the target and send those coordinates to the Aggressor!¡±


    ¡°We¨C we don''t know where the Aggressor is, sir!¡±


    ¡°Burn-through sssweep!¡± Lissarkh screeched, her reptilian vocal chords flinching the entire room, ¡°Shout out the coordinates to the endsss of the galaxy if you must!¡±


    TF Hyperion did exactly that; roaring out the coordinates to every warship in the star system to here, overloading their comms and burning straight through all the interference and jamming present. Needless to say, there was ample confusion rippling through both Republic and Separatist fleets, as both sides wondered why they were being broadcasted a seemingly random set of figures.


    But the burn-through sweep made sure without uncertainty that the one recipient the transmission must reach would assuredly receive it, no matter where they were. Among the recipient¡¯s, however, were the military authorities planetside, who decidedly knew what those figures meant.


    Within minutes, artificial auroras shimmered over Serennian skies as the pearl of the Confederacy raised her planetary shields. The planet¡¯s surface-to-orbit artillery ceased fire as vast barriers of energy were erected over the atmosphere, immediately severing any contact between the high command planetside and her fleets fighting in-orbit.


    The Expeditionary Fleet finally smashed through the Separatist line of battle.


    And a bright blue comet lit up the void, drowning out every tactical plot in-system with a torrent of energy.


    For a moment, the chaos of battle seemed to impossibly pause as both fleets turned their attention to the impossible, blinding streak of energy, transfixed. Its target; the planetary shield¡¯s shimmering lattice stretched across the horizon like a second sky, crackling as the comet bore down.


    The comet appeared to hit before its transit even registered on their scopes.


    A shockwave of light rippled outward, a silent scream of annihilation that spread across the void. The shield flared violently, its surface rippling and boiling as it struggled to contain the incomprehensible energy of the impact. The impact zone detonated in a burst of atomic fury, transforming into a roiling sphere of plasma and fire that seemed to consume the very atmosphere.


    The shimmering lattice flickered wildly, its energy nodes overloading one by one. On the planet below, auroras shimmered and wavered, before collapsing entirely. The defensive barrier faltered, then shattered, cascading into fragments of dissipating light. A second after-shockwave swept over the planet¡¯s surface, rippling through the atmosphere and scattering clouds as though the very heavens had been torn asunder.


    In orbit, both fleets reeled from the spectacle. Literally, as the magnitude of the blast physically pushed them away from the planet. For a heartbeat, the battle was forgotten as the brilliance of the comet¡¯s destruction faded, leaving Serenno¡¯s surface exposed, its defenses stripped bare.


    ¡°A section of the shields are down,¡± Bultar Swan reported aboard the Hyperion, her voice steady despite the awe etched across her face. ¡°Right over the shield generators. The section had been oversaturated and overloaded with excess energy, far¡­ far beyond its capacity.¡±


    Like hounds smelling blood in the air, a squadron of Victory-class Star Destroyers, having just broken clear of the chaotic melee, acted immediately. Missile banks yawned open across their hulls, exposing rows upon rows of deadly warheads. A single command echoed across their networks, and the massed barrage erupted forth, a wave of destruction racing toward the exposed Carannian hills.


    Missiles streaked across the void, their thrusters leaving fiery contrails against the glowing remnants of the planetary shield framed their descent, casting flickering shadows across the battlefield as they screamed toward the surface.


    When the first missile struck, the impact was a blinding flash of light, a thunderous roar. The ground convulsed as the warhead¡¯s explosive force carved into the Carannian hills, sending towering plumes of earth and fire skyward in mushroom form. Each subsequent missile struck with home, pounding the same coordinates in a relentless cascade of destruction.


    The shield generators, housed deep within reinforced bunkers, were obliterated in an instant. The fortifications buckled under the onslaught, their defensive plating vaporized. As secondary explosions erupted as the generators¡¯ energy cores detonated, the hills themselves seemed to disintegrate, transformed into a churning sea of molten rock and ash.


    From orbit, the fallout was starkly visible. The once-pristine terrain of the Carannian hills was now a charred, smoking wasteland, the glowing remnants of the strike painting a haunting picture against the planet¡¯s surface. Fires raged unchecked across the shattered landscape, their crimson tongues licking at the sky.


    Jedi Master Plo Koon moved his stiff body, and the illusory veil of battle meditation lifted.


    ¡°General Plo Koon to General Mace Windu,¡± he spoke into the same comms which had just heralded Serenno¡¯s doom, ¡°You may commence planetary insertion. All combat-capable warships, provide close air support and keep the skies clear for our ground forces!¡±


    As the Invasion of Serenno began, one thought crossed Plo Koon¡¯s mind; it would appear the Battle Hydra¡¯s stratagem worked as intended, again.


    ?


    Count Dooku¡¯s battleline split in twain, the invasion force stormed the breach. The squadron of Victory-class Star Destroyers, their frames trailing smoke and fire, flanked by wings of screaming missiles. Acclamator-class assault ships followed close behind, their ventral batteries punching out salvo after salvo of suppressive fire as they all but levelled vast swathes of ground for their landing zones. The earth trembled under the weight of their arrival, landing gears deploying as their hulls settled into place, massive deployment ramps lowering to reveal legion after legion of the Grand Army¡¯s finest.


    Trailing the main invasion force, wave after wave of troopships and gunships surged toward Serenno¡¯s surface, accompanied by escort wings as they peeled away to strike critical targets across the planet. Their missions were surgical and decisive¨Cseize command centers, disable anti-aircraft batteries, and sowing chaos into the enemy rearlines. The night sky over Serenno burned with the fiery contrails of descending vessels, casting an eerie, flickering light over the embattled planet.


    Within one such gunship, Jedi Master Mace Windu meditated, upright and eyes closed even as enemy defensive fire rocked them about. The gunships of the 187th Legion flew low over the Serennian countryside, grazing low rolling hills and ripping open the canopies of forest reserves as they raced towards the home of Count Dooku, Castle Serenno. The line ahead of gunships made another turn, tracking diagonally in a zig-zag pattern to throw off enemy targeting systems.


    The city of Carannia loomed ahead, its towering spires piercing the sky like daggers, framed by the glow of raging fires, all consumed in the shadow of a Republic task force overhead. Castle Serenno stood on a mountain ridge just overlooking the capital city, and through the Force, Mace Windu could feel the upcoming battle upon them. The fear of the Separatist defenders, the resolve of the Republic troops, and the sharp, simmering presence of Count Dooku himself¨Ceach sensation cut through him like the edge of a lightsaber.


    ¡°General Windu!¡± the clone pilot hailed him through the intercoms, and Mace opened a single eye, ¡°The drop¡¯s in two minutes. Our close air support says the landing zone¡¯s hot, but they¡¯re keeping the AA busy for the most part!¡±


    ¡°Copy that, Captain,¡± Mace shifted his grip on the handles above, glancing out the hatch slits at the blurred landscape flying by. Moonlight was being blocked by the fleets of landing craft descending through the cloudcover, and it was difficult to grasp the terrain, ¡°We¡¯ll land the armoured battalions east of the castle, where they¡¯ll advance on-foot and occupy Dooku¡¯s perimeter defenses. The rest of us will assault Castle Serenno directly.¡±


    ¡°Breach and clear,¡± the Clone Commander commented, ¡°Sounds good, General.¡±


    ¡°Acknowledged,¡± the pilot replied, ¡°Maintaining approach vector. We¡¯re entering the run! Hang tight, boys!¡±


    As the gunship shuddered under the impact of flak, Mace braced himself against the bulkhead, steady despite the turbulence. Around him, the clone troopers of his elite strike team¨Cbearing the dark markings of the 187th Legion¨Creadied their weapons in silence, their faces obscured by helmets but their resolve radiating through the Force. The crew bay¡¯s lights glared red in preparation, the airborne troopers of the 187th making their final checks on their winged jetpacks.


    ¡°Remember,¡± Mace boomed, his voice commanding, ¡°Our objective is to secure Castle Serenno and capture Count Dooku. We do this fast, we do this clean, and we do not falter.¡±


    The red lights in the crew bay pulsed, casting the interior of the gunship in an eerie, hellish glow. The steady hum of the repulsorlifts was underscored by the deep thrum of flak bursts outside, their concussive waves rattling the durasteel hull. The acrid scent of scorched metal and plasma filtered in through the vents, mingling with the faint ozone tang of activated jetpacks.


    Mace Windu stood at the center, unmoving, his fingers curling tightly around the overhead handle. The troopers of the 187th Legion were silent, their helmets tilted slightly toward him as if his very presence steadied them. The rhythmic drumming of their hearts echoed faintly in the Force.


    The pilot¡¯s voice crackled over the intercom; ¡°Hatches opening in ten seconds! Standby for drop!¡±


    The clones adjusted their stances, feet spread and blasters at the ready. The hum of the Force sharpened around Mace, his senses extending outward. He felt the currents of the battle¨Ca chaotic storm of fear, determination, and death¨Csurging across the once-pristine Serennian landscape. The cold, predatory presence of Count Dooku loomed above it all, perched in his fortress like a vulture watching over the carnage.


    ¡°Five seconds!¡± the pilot called out.


    The hatches hissed and began to slide open. A rush of wind tore through the crew bay, howling as it collided with the warm air inside. The glow of the interior lights was replaced by the harsh, flickering brilliance of the battlefield.


    The first thing Mace saw was fire¨Cflashes of turbolaser fire streaking across the night sky, fiery blossoms erupting in the distance as Republic and Separatist forces clashed. The terrain below was a chaotic mosaic of glowing craters, burning forests, and jagged shadows cast by the towers of Carannia. To the west, Castle Serenno loomed like a monolith, its stone walls glinting under the flicker of explosions, its great citadel jutting into the night, wreathed in the smoke of nearby artillery strikes. And beyond that: Carannia, the cityscape ablaze with conflict. Blaster fire crisscrossed the streets below, and the distant roar of explosions echoed through the air.


    The deafening roar of engines and the crackle of comms filled the air as dozens of gunships maneuvered in tight formation. Some veered off, discharging their payloads of troops and armoured vehicles on the ground below, immediately engaging Castle Serenno¡¯s perimeter defences. Others were engulfed in flames, spiraling toward the surface in fiery arcs as Separatist anti-aircraft cannons found their mark.


    The clone pilot shouted over the chaos, ¡°We¡¯re right over zone! Have fun below!¡±


    ¡°Go!¡± Mace ordered, his voice cutting through the noise.


    The paratroopers wasted no time surging forward as the gunship leveled out, the red glow of their jetpacks igniting one by one. They leaped into the open air, a synchronized torrent of black-and-purple armored figures descending toward the ridge. The roar of the wind and the whine of their jetpacks filled Mace¡¯s ears as he followed, stepping to the edge and launching himself into the void.


    The night air whipped past him, cold and biting, carrying the acrid scent of war. Below, the ridge came into view, lined with Separatist fortifications and teeming with battle droids. Blaster fire erupted toward the descending troopers, streaks of red and blue slicing through the dark. Mace Windu thrusted his palm out towards the ground rushing up to meet him, the Force rippling from his fingertips, rebounding back and killing his momentum.


    The Jedi Master landed with a tight roll, his lightsaber sweeping in a tight arc to deflect incoming fire. Around him, paratroopers touched down across the courtyard, their blasters spitting already firing volleys that cut through the droid defenders. They pushed towards the citadel, close air support in the form of gunships and Y-wing bombers strafing the grounds and tearing up ancient flagstones as they aided the advance. Behind them, the 187th Legion¡¯s armoured divisions had finally broken through the outer defences, and high-power artillery support from AT-TE walkers were steadily laying down a constant covering fire.


    ¡°Move out!¡± Mace commanded, his voice steady over the din. The clones surged forward, their boots crunching against the shattered stone as they advanced toward the fortress. Ahead, the castle¡¯s massive gates stood closed, flanked by turrets that spat turbolaser fire.


    ¡°Demolitions, front and center!¡± barked the Clone Commander. A pair of troopers rushed forward, carrying a portable breaching charge. Mace stepped aside, his blade spinning to deflect a barrage of blaster bolts, each impact sending a shower of sparks into the air.


    The charge detonated with a deafening roar, the gates shattering inward. A cloud of dust and smoke billowed out, and through it, Mace could see the green-tinted windows of the castle¡¯s main hall. Their glow was unnatural, a sickly hue that seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive. He could feel the presence of the dark side emanating from within, a cold, oppressive weight pressing against his senses.


    ¡°Push through!¡± he ordered, leading the charge into the breach.


    The interior of the castle was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The halls were dark and oppressive, their stone walls lined with frescoes and faintly glowing sconces that cast eerie shadows. The green light from the windows bathed everything in a sickly pallor, amplifying the sense of unease. Battle droids and household guards emerged from alcoves and side corridors, their blasters firing in synchronized bursts, but the clones met them head-on, their disciplined firing lines cutting them down.


    As they pressed their relentless advance towards the grand throne hall, reports began filtering in from other fronts across Serenno.


    ¡°General Kit Fisto reports that his legions have landed on the outskirts of Fiyaro city,¡± a clone with a comms booster pack updated him, ¡°And General Agen Kolar is taking Saffia city. General Tiin is providing air cover over Carannia, but advises haste. With our fleets still occupied dealing with the Serennian Security Forces in orbit, General Plo Koon is struggling to push more fighters into atmosphere.¡±


    ¡°Acknowledged.¡±


    The hallways gave way to a grand gallery, its walls flanked by statues of ancient counts that seemed to watch their every move. Mace paused at the entrance, sensing a shift in the currents of the Force. The presence of Count Dooku grew sharper, his aura like a blade cutting through the fog of war. He is waiting for us.


    On the far side of the galley, a pair of towering doors. He imagined a snake slithering across its vast, carved facade, whispering the promises of the dark side. Jedi Master Mace Windu advanced, boots echoing against the stone, the sounds of distant battle muffled to his ears. Behind him, the elite clones of the 187th moved in a tight formation, their weapons raised. The nocturnal light tinted green by Count Dooku¡¯s terrible aesthetic taste, and the oppressive weight of the Dark Side became almost suffocating.


    Upon reaching the doors, large and heavy and unmovable by any human effort, Mace raised a hand, motioning for silence, and placed his palm against the cold surface of the doors. Through the Force, he could feel the room beyond¨Cspacious, spartan, and heavy with the presence of Count Dooku.


    Then, with a single open palm, he pushed the doors open, the heavy slabs groaning as they swung inward.


    The throne room was vast, its vaulted ceiling supported by the tapered architecture of the grand hall. Sconces high up dimly lit the vast area, whilst a green-tinted window dominated one wall on the far end, their light casting long shadows that danced across the polished floor. There, seated in an austere chair upon a raised floor, was Count Dooku.


    The fallen Jedi rose with deliberate grace, his dark cape billowing as he stood up. His curved lightsaber hilt was already in hand, its crimson blade igniting with a menacing hiss. His presence in the Force was sharp and cold, like a dagger poised to strike.


    ¡°Master Windu,¡± Count Dooku¡¯s voice seemed to boom, undisturbed with the dozens of clonetroopers flooding into the heart of his fortress, ¡°I was hoping for Obi-Wan Kenobi¡­ at least then, this great farce could end with a valuable discussion.¡±


    Mace stepped forward, his own purple blade casting a harsh glow. The clones fanned out behind him, their blasters trained on the Sith Lord.


    ¡°This ends here, Dooku,¡± Mace declared, his voice resolute. ¡°You¡¯ve escaped from justice for long enough.¡±


    ¡°As much as it pains me to agree with you, Windu, I must,¡± Dooku sighed gravely, ¡°But not for the reasons you might so arrogantly presume. It all ends here. Me. You. The War. The Republic.¡±


    ¡°I am not so gullible as the people you exploit to fuel your own ends,¡± the Jedi Master declared, ¡°Your words will find no purchase on me. I will give you one last chance, for the sake of our old friendship. Surrender!¡±


    Count Dooku¡¯s old eyes widened imperceptibly, and a light smile graced his lips, ¡°I am honoured you ever considered me a friend, Master Windu. Alas, it is already far too late to make amends. You have already made your own grave.¡±


    Mace Windu approached the Sith Lord cautiously, ¡°I warn you, Dooku; whatever tricks you have planned, they will not work on me. You will not leave this place a free man.¡±


    ¡°I do not doubt,¡± Count Dooku chuckled mockingly, ¡°However! Neither will you.¡±


    A prickle in the Force. A pinch at the back of his head. Mace Windu froze. He had failed to kill the snake on the door. And now he could feel its forked tongue around his crown, its hiss in his ears. Its eyes at the corner of his vision, laughing viciously. The threat¨Cthe threat Mace Windu sensed¨Cwas not in front of him, but behind him.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Count Dooku whispered loudly, almost gleefully, ¡°So you do sense it!¡±


    ¡°Dooku,¡± Mace Windu gritted his teeth, shifting his footwork to a defensive posture, ¡°What have you done!?¡±


    ¡°Not I, Master Windu! Not I!¡± Count Dooku laughed, the laughter of a free man, ¡°Be honoured; for Castle Serenno shall be our grand mausoleum!¡±

 Chapter 91

    Coruscant, Corusca System


    Corusca Sector


    How are you going to weasel your way out of this one?


    That was the sole thought running through Jedi Master Adi Gallia¡¯s mind as she carefully observed the Supreme Chancellor. Palpatine¡¯s gaze lingered over shoulder, and Adi itched to glance behind her to see for herself what was just so interesting to Sith Lord. She heard the doors of the suite slide open, and the knocking of a dozen more armoured boots storming into the residence.


    With each passing moment, more and more of the Coruscant Guard was entering the building. And it was evident some were losing their patience.


    ¡°Answer the question, Your Excellency,¡± ARC Commander Valiant ordered in a tone that brooked no choice, as if he was not speaking to the most powerful man in the galaxy, ¡°Cooperate, and we can all get this over with.¡±


    Something dark flashed through the Chancellor¡¯s eyes, unnoticeable to all but the most perceptive of Jedi. Blink, and one would miss the minor slip, seeing only the fabulously feigned face of confused concern he wore. Even right then, Adi Gallia could scarcely believe the man was a Dark Lord of the Sith, if not for one single reason. Once, Adi could read the surface-level emotions of Sheev Palpatine, as all emphatically talented Jedi were to do, and now no longer. The Supreme Chancellor had completely shielded off his mind, and all Adi could find was a sinister fog that obscured everything within.


    For an utterly fleeting moment, Palpatine¡¯s irises flicked to her, then back to Valiant. The Tholothian Jedi Master¡¯s flowing head tendrils stilled, her lips thinning to a pale sliver. Shaak Ti moved, the Togruta Jedi soundlessly gliding away under the guise of conferring with a shocktrooper captain, but in reality flanking into the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s blindside. Adi Gallia doubted the Chancellor didn¡¯t notice; but if he did, he made no show of it.


    ¡°Forgive me, Commander,¡± the Supreme Chancellor demurred, placing a hand over his chest, ¡°You must understand, my schedule has been filled for quite some time, and I am astonishingly busy these recent days. The Works, you say? The name is of some passing familiarity¨Cmay I ask you to¡­ jog my memory? Is it on Coruscant?¡±


    Adi Gallia almost laughed at the absurdity of the situation.


    ¡°Your Excellency,¡± Captain Dyne spoke up from right behind her, holding onto his datapad with an iron grip, ¡°The Works is an industrial arcology just southwest of the Senate District, and next to the Fobosi District. I believe you would recognise it by its administrative name: Dacho District. Republic Intelligence had recently submitted a memorandum to you, detailing a possible Separatist cell in the Works. You had personally approved the investigation.¡±


    The Chancellor¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°I see. And I presume this is that very investigation¡­ but to lead you here of all places¡­. I hate to discredit your team, Captain, but are you certain you haven''t missed anything?¡±


    It was hard to ignore the blatant self-doubt Captain Dyne wore on his sleeve, the prior confidence he had in his team and equipment seemingly vanishing into thin air. He was, after all, accusing the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic of high treason, no matter how diplomatically he worded it. Despite all available evidence pointing this way, Captain Dyne struggled to articulate his certainty.


    ARC Commander Valiant didn¡¯t.


    ¡°The Jedi Generals asked you a question, Your Excellency,¡± Valiant¡¯s gloved finger rested on his blaster¡¯s safety, ¡°Answer it.¡±


    Irritation flashed through the Chancellor¡¯s expression again, evidently incensed by the ARC Commander¡¯s failure to buy into his misdirection. At that moment, not even the Jedi Masters could predict how Palpatine would react¨Cbut after a second¡¯s hesitation, all of his facade¡¯s dropped. The Supreme Chancellor slumped, heaving a great exasperation as any and all lightheartedness disappeared from his aged countenance.


    And for the first time, the Dark Lord of the Sith uncaged his true character.


    ¡°So what if I¨Cor any of my staff¨Cdid?¡± the Sith Lord drawled, a terrible flame drawing to his eyes, ¡°What does it matter?¡±


    In a single swift motion, Jedi Master Adi Gallia snatched her lightsaber from her waist. The sound of clicking metal filled the suite as over a dozen Jedi Knights followed her lead. At the Sith Lord¡¯s flank, Shaak Ti was a crouched tiger, still and unmoving as she tracked her quarry¡¯s every move. Valiant and his commandos hefted their blasters in surprise; not even they could scarcely imagine the blatant¨C


    ¡°Is that an admission of guilt, Chancellor?¡± Captain Dyne blurted in shock.


    Commander Valiant pushed his way forward, having already come to his conclusion. He produced a pair of stun-cuffs from his utility belt, ¡°We¡¯re taking you in, Chancellor, as well as everybody who frequents this place, including staff and caretakers. Homeworld Security will be securing this apartment until the investigation is completed.¡±


    The Sith Lord¡¯s lips twisted into a derisive snort, ¡°I think not, Commander.¡±


    Valiant was frozen¨Cbang! The doors behind them were smashed open, and the two Red Guards posted outside crashed into the carpeted entrance, tackled by a squad of ARC troopers, their weapons¨Cceremonial and practical¨Cforcefully confiscated from them as stun-cuffs were slapped onto their gauntleted wrists.


    ¡°Don¡¯t force me to do the same to you, Chancellor,¡± with one hand, Valiant extended the cuffs, urging the Chancellor to surrender peacefully. With the other hand, he toggled his blaster to stun mode.


    ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± the Supreme Chancellor chided.


    Captain Dyne tried to defuse the situation, ¡°Your Excellency, we will follow all due processes. A Senate committee will be tasked with overseeing the¨C¡±


    ¡°No they won¡¯t,¡± the Chancellor chided again, before he could even finish.


    Valiant made to speak again, but before he could¨C


    Thud!


    Master Yoda slammed his wooden cane against the carpeted floor, drawing the stark attention of the entire room. The diminutive Jedi Master then lifted that cane, and jabbed its end at the Chancellor, not a single ounce of his usual whimsy present on his expression.


    ¡°Explain to us, you will,¡± Master Yoda ordered, ¡°What you have done.¡±


    Palpatine bowed mockingly, ¡°My gratitude for permitting me to explain myself, Master Jedi.¡±


    ¡°Master Yoda¨C¡± Adi Gallia started.


    ¡°Listen, we should,¡± Master Yoda had already decided, ¡°And learn, we must.¡±


    The Supreme Chancellor smiled faintly, the expression not reaching his eyes as he shuffled backward. His burgundy robes whispered against the polished floor, and he extended a crooked hand in invitation. Master Yoda moved to follow, his gimer stick tapping softly against the ground. The Chancellor came to a stop with his back to the expansive permaglass window that framed the Senate District in all its nocturnal splendor.


    With a deliberate step to the side, he revealed what had been concealed behind his form¨Cthe immense, ovular silhouette of the Senate Building. Its iconic dome stood out against the backdrop of Coruscant¡¯s endless cityscape, gleaming under the lights of the Republic¡¯s capital. Beyond it, traffic lanes shimmered like streams of liquid fire, an unceasing flow of speeders and shuttles moving to and from the Republic¡¯s beating heart, even in the depths of night.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± the Chancellor began, his voice low, smooth, and laced with amusement, ¡°Could you guess what our esteemed Senate is deliberating at this very moment?¡±


    The silence that followed was heavy, almost suffocating. The Jedi present shifted uneasily, their discomfort palpable. But none dared to answer. Palpatine¡¯s smile widened, a sharp glint in his eyes.


    ¡°A hearing,¡± he said at last, savoring the word as though it were a fine vintage. ¡°A special session called for Chandrila and their like-minded allies.¡± He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Jedi, daring them to respond. ¡°Could you guess the purpose of such a gathering?¡±


    Still, no one spoke. Yoda¡¯s ears twitched, his ancient eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded the Chancellor with quiet intensity.


    Palpatine¡¯s chuckle was soft, almost indulgent.


    ¡°A vote. A vote to end my administration,¡± he grinned, ¡°A vote to end the state of emergency and force a new general election. And yet, here I am, dealing with you, and not them. Do you know why? Do you want the truth?¡±


    Before anyone could respond, a chime echoed through the room. A nearby telescreen flickered to life, casting a pale blue glow over the gathering. All eyes turned to the screen as the emblem of the Galactic Senate appeared, followed by the stern visage of Mas Amedda, presiding over the emergency session. The telescreen was muted, but all could see the tally graphic pushed to its side, numbers climbing as the votes were counted. Red bars and blue bars surged upward, representing the opposing sides. For a moment, it seemed as though the votes to end the emergency might prevail. But then, the red overtook it, surging past with a decisive margin.


    By a margin near sixty to forty, the motion fails. No sound was needed to understand the scene unfolding on the telescreen. The Senate Chamber erupted into chaos, senators rising from their seats in a mix of jubilation and outrage. Some cheered, others jeered, their voices lost in the storm of celebration and despair. The Chancellor chuckled softly, the sound cutting through the room like a blade. He turned back to the Jedi, his expression one of feigned humility.


    ¡°And there it is,¡± he said, casually gesturing to the screen, ¡°The will of the Senate. The voice of the people.¡±


    His laughter deepened, more like a crackling ember, and he turned his gaze to the vast permaglass window behind him. With deliberate precision, he raised his hand, cupping his fingers slightly. From the Jedi¡¯s perspective, it appeared as though he held the Senate Building itself in the palm of his hand.


    But he did not linger, next gesturing toward a towering megastructure beyond the Senate dome.


    ¡°Behold,¡± he murmured, his voice taking on a conspiratorial edge, ¡°the Galactic Courts. Tell me, do you know how many justices on the Supreme Court I¡¯ve personally appointed?¡±


    He allowed their imagination to answer, shifting his crooked finger to point at another skyscraper.


    ¡°And there,¡± he said, almost lazily, ¡°The HoloCommunications Commission. A fine building, though I fear it has been all but absorbed by Homeworld Security. How much of that Senate hearing do you think the galaxy saw? Only what I wanted them to see, I assure you.¡±


    Palpatine turned back to face the Jedi, his smile widening. He stepped deliberately into the center of their view, once again obscuring the glowing Senate Building.


    ¡°Media. Law. Justice,¡± he said, his voice dropping to a silken whisper, ¡°Every pillar of this Republic now answers to me.¡±


    He spread his arms wide, the gesture almost inviting, though his tone dripped with triumph, ¡°Isn¡¯t it magnificent? My suite offers the perfect view, don¡¯t you think? A fitting vantage point for my great work.¡±


    He stepped closer, taunting them with his truth:


    ¡°Every institution, every structure beneath your feet, now bends to my will. You see, Masters,¡± he said, his smile hardening into something sharper, colder, ¡°You are far too late to stop what I have set in motion.¡±


    Master Yoda¡¯s cane tapped softly against the floor, the sound booming in the charged silence of the room. He looked up at the Chancellor, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of centuries.


    "Forgotten one, you have," Yoda scolded the most powerful man in the galaxy like a parent admonishing their child, "The Jedi Temple. So long as the Jedi exist, justice will be upheld. If the Senate is unable, if the Courts are unable, then that duty will fall onto us. The future is not yours, yet. Not if anything to say about it, we have.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the Jedi Temple,¡± the Dark Lord of the Sith mused, his voice dripping with mockery, ¡°A monument to outdated ideals, a crumbling bastion of your legacy. You cling to it as though it could shield you from the inevitable. You speak of justice, but what justice is left when every institution, every seat of power, bends to my will? The courts, the legislation, the media¨Cthey are all mine. I am the Republic.¡±


    ¡°And if you dare move against me¨C¡± he claimed, voice rising, ¡°¨Cyou betray the Republic itself.¡±


    Master Yoda¡¯s green lightsaber ignited. That collective hum of lightsabers igniting filled the room as Adi Gallia, Shaak Ti, and a dozen more Knights all activated their blades, their faces set with grim determination. The room was bathed in the eerie glow of blue and green light, shadows flickering against the walls.


    The commandos and shocktroopers had all taken the cue from their Jedi Generals, faceless soldiers with weapons raised against the Supreme Chancellor. Captain Dyne and his operatives had retreated to the rear of the room, escaping out of harm''s way as they attempted to contact Republic Intelligence.


    ¡°We serve the Galactic Republic,¡± Adi Gallia levelled her blade at the Sith Lord, ¡°Not your twisted version of it.¡±


    ¡°At an end, your rule is,¡± Master Yoda declared, ¡°Before it even began.¡±


    Palpatine¡¯s expression darkened, his eyes narrowed into yellow slits.


    ¡°Then you are enemies of this Republic,¡± the Supreme Chancellor announced, ¡°Commander Valiant, the Jedi Order is attempting to stage a coup.¡±


    Valiant blatantly aimed his blaster at the Chancellor, ¡°What are you¨C!?¡±


    ¡°By the authority of the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic: Execute Order Sixty-Six.¡±


    ?


    Bode Akuna strode through the stark, sterile halls of Republic Intelligence, his boots echoing faintly against the polished durasteel floors. At this time of night, the building was usually relatively quiet, with most of the staff off their shifts and sound asleep. Not for this night, however; not for this recent month. As the nexus point of all intelligence flowing in and out of Coruscant, it was no exaggeration to say the Republic Intelligence HQ was the brainstem of the Galactic Republic.


    The halls of Republic Intelligence were alive with a subdued hum, a murmur of voices layered over the rhythmic clatter of boots and the occasional chime of datapads. The usual tide of chatter carried rumors, and while it wasn¡¯t the frenetic energy of peak operational hours, the undercurrent of tension was unmistakable.


    Whispers of the Expeditionary Fleet¡¯s battle over Serenno had rippled through the ranks, while the sting operation in the Works was the talk of the more action-oriented agents¨Can ambitious effort to dismantle a suspected Separatist cell linked to the recent satellite terror attacks. And then there was the Senate hearing, the event casting the longest shadow of all.


    Chancellor Palpatine, voted out of power?


    The thought lingered in Bode Akuna¡¯s mind like an uninvited guest. The idea seemed absurd, almost laughable. Chancellor Palpatine¨Cthe man who had not only consolidated their war effort but expanded Republic Intelligence into the behemoth it was today¨Ctoppled by a vote? Impossible.


    Bode navigated the corridors, weaving through clusters of analysts and junior operatives exchanging whispered speculations in safety of Republic Intelligence¡¯s isolated walls. His steps seemed purposeful, but his mind wandered. For all the rumors flying around, one thing was clear: the Chancellor¡¯s machine was far too entrenched to be undone by a Senate session. The Chancellor had thousands of agents at his disposal, men and women like Bode but not like Bode, who ensured that dissenting voices were quieted and critical votes secured. Whether through persuasion, coercion, or the occasional veiled threat, Republic Intelligence made certain the Chancellor¡¯s grip remained unbroken.


    It¡¯s not a question of whether he wins the vote, Bode thought, but by how much.


    He passed a holoterminal displaying a muted feed from the Senate Chamber, where senators gesticulated passionately. Even without sound, the tension on the display was palpable. Bode didn¡¯t need to hear their words to know the arguments being made. Freedom versus security. Democracy versus control. The same old song, just a different verse. Was the vote already over? It seemed so. He wondered about the outcome, not loitering long enough to catch the details from the display he just passed.


    The thought didn¡¯t linger¨Creplaced by an acute sense of unease creeping up his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing upright. A premonition of danger all Jedi possessed. Something was wrong. He could feel it.


    Bode¡¯s commlink buzzed against his belt. He slowed, glancing at the identification code. His eyes narrowed.


    Adi Gallia.


    Bode resisted the urge to look around, taking the call as casually as he could. Nothing to see here, his relaxed gait seemed to say, just business as usual. In his Republic Intelligence uniform, he blended right in. As subtly as he could, he turned down the first quiet corridor he found.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Only then did he actually answer.


    ¡°Master?¡±


    ¡°Delete¨C this!¡± her voice came through in bursts, fractured and chaotic, underscored by the unmistakable sounds of battle¨Clightsabers shrieking, blaster fire ricocheting, and distant shouts, ¡°Palpatine¨C Order Sixty-Six!¡±


    Bode froze, the words striking like a physical blow.


    ¡°¨Chave time!¡± she tried to say, ¡°¨Cstop¨C warn¨C! ¨Csatellite¨C!¡±


    Her response was garbled, interrupted by a muffled crash and shouting.


    ¡°Not yet¨Ctransmitted!¡± she shouted, ¡°¨CPRIESTESS¨C!¡±


    The connection cut. Bode breathed out.


    And crushed the comlink in his fist.


    Then he took off towards a particular wing of Republic Intelligence, where he would find the ground terminals for the military satellites up above. He knew the place by heart; after all the central operating centre was one of the places he had to scout in order to pull off the very stunt that installed PRIESTESS in place. His mind was already piecing together the discordant information Master Gallia had imparted in haste, and mapping it to a greater plan.


    This was why Adi Gallia had me on standby here at this ungodly time of night after all.


    Two security guards stood at attention by the entrance to the restricted wing, their gazes sharp as Bode approached. Without hesitation, he inserted his clearance code cylinder into the dataport embedded in the wall panel. The soft hum of the terminal processing his credentials filled the silence as the guards exchanged a quick glance. Bode broke the tension with a friendly smile.


    ¡°Sorry about this,¡± he said casually, his tone disarming, ¡°I know the graveyard shift¡¯s supposed to be quiet.¡±


    One of the guards shrugged, his posture relaxing slightly, ¡°Better than just standing around.¡±


    The other, more curious, tilted his head. ¡°What brings you here, sir? My apologies if it¡¯s classified¨C¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing that sensitive,¡± Bode waved the question away with a dismissive gesture, ¡°Managed to find a lead on the satellite case. I¡¯m just here to verify some data for my report.¡±


    The second guard¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°The satellite case? That¡¯s big. Are you sure you can be¨C¡±


    A soft chime interrupted him, and the dataport ejected Bode¡¯s code cylinder. The terminal flashed green, signaling approved access. The guards stepped aside and gestured for him to proceed.


    Bode hesitated, adopting a sheepish expression, ¡°Actually, one more thing. My comlink¡¯s out for maintenance, and I need to contact my supervisor. Supervisor Denvik, you should know him. Mind giving him a heads-up that I¡¯m here following a lead?¡±


    The guards exchanged glances again, ¡°Denvik might not be in his office at this hour.¡±


    Bode chuckled lightly, playing along, ¡°Oh, trust me, he¡¯s there. The man practically lives at his desk. If he says no, it¡¯s no skin off your back. Just give me a shout, and I¡¯ll come right out. Either way, I¡¯ll make sure to put in a good word for you.¡±


    One of the guards brightened. ¡°You¡¯d do that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir,¡± the other one jabbed their partner to compose themselves, ¡°We¡¯ll let him know.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡± Bode said with an easy grin, already stepping through the now-open door. ¡°Thanks for this. I owe you both.¡±


    Inside, Bode paused for a moment to get his bearings. The central operating center was dimly lit, with rows of terminals lining the walls and stretching into the room¡¯s core. Each station was assigned to a specific satellite, its designation marked above the corresponding terminal. The hum of machinery blended with the soft chatter of the graveyard shift inside¨Cthe chatter that immediately vanished the moment his footsteps echoed.


    Bode¡¯s eyes swept the room. There were only a handful of operatives and agents scattered across various terminals, one or two visiting like him, the others at their stations. Upon his entrance, they took sneaky glances at him from their corners of their eyes, but upon the realisation he wasn¡¯t one of the suits, it was back to business as usual. The terminals themselves were sleek, each equipped with multiple holoscreens displaying live data feeds and encryption readouts.


    His gaze settled on the terminal he needed, and thanked the stars it was unoccupied. He moved toward it, weaving between rows of workstations. The faint glow of the screens illuminated his face as he reached the terminal, and he took a moment to ensure no one was watching too closely.


    This is it, he thought, sliding into the chair and scanning the terminal¡¯s interface. He produced PRIESTESS¡¯ access key that Barriss had procured for him, and slotted it into the dataport. The window emerged, and as he mentally finalised his plan to exploit the satellite network¡¯s security system, he got to work, fingers dancing over the keys as he issued commands.


    Adi Gallia was trying to warn him about Contingency Order 66. He knew what it was, of course, even though it was above his paygrade¨Cnot that he got paid¨Ccourtesy of Master Gallia¡¯s briefings:


    "In the event of Jedi officers acting against the interests of the Republic, and after receiving specific orders verified as coming directly from the Supreme Commander (Chancellor), GAR commanders will remove those officers by lethal force, and command of the GAR will revert to the Supreme Commander (Chancellor) until a new command structure is established."


    Likely, Adi Gallia had been trying to tell him that Order 66 hadn¡¯t yet been transmitted off Coruscant. If there was any chance to save the Jedi scattered across the galaxy, it would depend on intercepting the transmission before it reached the troops. And that was where PRIESTESS came in, and Bode Akuna was the one person at the right place and the right time to pull it off.


    But therein lies the question: how?


    Contingency Order 66 could only be issued by the Supreme Chancellor or the Security Council, bodies operating with the highest-level security clearance. Such transmissions were given absolute priority, overriding all other outgoing signals. PRIESTESS could, in theory, intercept it. But the moment she did, the entire apparatus of Republic Intelligence would come crashing down on her.


    The best option wasn¡¯t outright interception, he decided, it was delay. Slow the signal, clog the system. Create just enough congestion to buy time without drawing immediate suspicion. In a way that wouldn¡¯t immediately compromise the best spy network they had into Palpatine¡¯s administration.


    How?


    ¡°PRIESTESS,¡± Bode muttered under his breath, fingers flying across the keyboard, ¡°Forge as many Priority Alpha transmissions as you can. Route them all through the slowest satellite in the network. When Order 66 comes through¡­ shove it to the back of the queue.¡±


    He paused, considering. How much time would that really buy? Even the slowest satellite could process traffic in seconds, even faster for Priority Alpha ones like Order 66. Worse, once Intelligence noticed the delay, they¡¯d just reroute he transmission through a different satellite.


    ¡°No,¡± Bode growled, backspacing furiously, ¡°That won¡¯t cut it.¡±


    A new plan formed, desperate but simple; ¡°PRIESTESS, forget the queue. Flood the network. Dump everything¨Cevery file, every log, every byte of junk data you can rip out from Republic Intelligence. Transmit it all. Everywhere. Overload the system.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t elegant. Bode wasn¡¯t a slicer or a tech expert; he didn¡¯t know the exact capacity of the satellite network. Maybe the servers would crash under the strain. Maybe they wouldn¡¯t. But if he could force enough digital traffic, he could create the equivalent of rush-hour gridlock in the network. The hope was that Order 66 would get stuck in the chaos. A delay of minutes. Maybe hours. Enough time for the Jedi to be warned.


    ¡°Oh, and¡­¡± He hesitated, then typed another command, ¡°Inform Barriss Offee. She¡¯ll know what to do.¡±


    The commands were submitted with a final keystroke. Bode unplugged the access key, wiped the logs from the terminal¡¯s history, and exhaled slowly.


    Just in time for the two guards outside to burst into the room, making everyone within flinch in alarm. Their eyes scanned the terminals, then settled on Bode in particular. The Jedi Knight sighed, and stood up.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± he posed the question innocently, ignorantly.


    The cheerful guard was dead serious, lifting up his tablet to reveal a list of names and faces, ¡°Sorry, sir. Your name is Bode Akuna?¡±


    Oh kriff. I hope Denvik is on his way right now.


    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± he confirmed, feigning confusion, ¡°Has Denvik arrived?¡±


    ¡°We just received an order, you see,¡± the guards looked at him apologetically, clearly unwilling to make a fuss with the others in audience, ¡°Can you come with us outside?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Bode crushed PRIESTESS¡¯ access key, and together with his broken comlink used the Force to toss both into a nearby trash bin, ¡°I don¡¯t see why not.¡±


    Out of the four of us¡­ Adi and Iskat are together at the Works. Sounds like they got hit first. I¡¯m next. So the last one is¡­


    Barriss, at the Temple.


    Bode Akuna silently clenched his teeth.


    All up to you now.


    ?


    Yoda¡¯s response was instantaneous. In a blur of green light and supernatural speed, his lightsaber ignited and swept through Commander Valiant¡¯s neck before the clone could even turn around. The Commander¡¯s head fell, his body collapsing with a metallic clatter as his blaster hit the floor.


    ¡°Sith, you are!¡± Yoda roared, his voice uncharacteristically fierce as he launched himself at Palpatine, spinning like a whirlwind of liquid emerald.


    A dull blur shot out of his sleeves, and the Sith Lord¡¯s crimson blade hissed to life, intercepting Yoda¡¯s attack with a clash that sent sparks flying. His cackle echoed through the chamber as he pushed back, his strength in the dark side amplifying his strikes.


    Behind him, however, Shaak Ti moved with equal swiftness, her blue blade arcing through the air toward Palpatine¡¯s unguarded flank. The Sith Lord snarled, twisting his body unnaturally to parry her strike while keeping Yoda at bay. The three of them became a blur of motion, their lightsabers crackling and hissing as they clashed.


    Behind them, chaos erupted.


    Jedi Knight Iskat Akaris spun on her heel, her lightsaber deflecting the first volley of blaster bolts fired by the shocktroopers.


    ¡°Behind us!¡± she shouted, her voice cutting through the confusion as the other Jedi Knights followed suit, their blades forming a defensive wall of light against the deadly barrage.


    Blaster bolts ricocheted wildly off the walls and floor, the sharp tang of ozone filling the air. The Republic Intelligence operatives cowered in the corner, their faces pale and their comms equipment clutched tightly to their chests. They were frozen, caught between two impossible realities.


    Adi Gallia seized the moment to contact someone, frantically speaking into her comlink whilst she parried bolt after bolt with her lightsaber. Iskat couldn¡¯t hear the words, the roar of the Force drowning out everything else. Shadows dripped and oozed colour at the corners of her eyes, weaving and coiling up office walls, slipping over chairs, spreading along the floor.


    A sudden explosion rocked the room as a grenade hurled by one of the shocktroopers detonated against the far wall, scattering debris and briefly disorienting the Jedi Knights. Iskat growled, using the Force to hurl a piece of shattered durasteel back at the troopers, sending two of them flying back¨Cand painfully crushed underneath. Fragments of white plastoid blasted out like bullets, whilst the carpet matted with fresh blood.


    Iskat Akaris let the scent of blood and the metallic tang of spilt iron fill her senses, feeding her. The Force surged in her ears, not the gentle hum she had once known but a roaring symphony of violence. The Force was singing in her ear, and it was familiar. Like the greeting of an old friend. Where had she last waved them goodbye, on that satellite over Coruscant? It sung a poem, a dance. It sang a single song, a single desire, a pure, singular focus and goal.


    Kill.


    Kill!


    KILL!


    KILL! KILL! KILL!


    It became a harmonious choir, an overwhelming drive to spur on her every limb, her every thought. Her body moved on instinct, leaping into the fray. She didn¡¯t see the Jedi Knights around her falling one by one, overwhelmed by the relentless tide of shocktroopers pouring into the room. She didn¡¯t hear the panicked orders of Palpatine¡¯s aides as they scrambled to contact Commander Thorn, ordering him to march on the Jedi Temple. She didn¡¯t notice Yoda, Shaak Ti, and Adi Gallia pressing the Sith Lord further toward the edge of the massive permaglass window.


    All she saw was red.


    Was it blood? Was it rage? Or was it simply the color of the armored clones closing in on her?


    There was a time when Iskat had feared the darkness within her. She had always felt it there, lurking beneath the surface, a wild thing that never seemed to fit within the serene mold of the Jedi Order. Her late Master had sensed it too, urging her to meditate endlessly, to recite the Code like a prayer to keep herself grounded.


    It had worked¨Cuntil moments like this. Until survival was on the line, and her body moved faster than her mind could intervene. She didn¡¯t know whether it was a symptom of the mysterious species she belonged to, or the problem was unique to herself, but at that moment, she could hardly care. She thanked it, divulged it, embraced it. She reveled in it.


    She ignited her second blade¨Cher mother¡¯s lightsaber¨Cand it was a fountain of molten gold. And she plunged into the relentless advance. There was no scrap of carpet nor shred of chair that might not at any second disintegrate in flares of green or gold; lampstands became brief shields, sliced into segments that whirled through the air; couches became terrain to be climbed for advantage or overleapt in retreat. She let her body handle it without the intervention of her mind.


    And while her blade spun and crackled; while her feet slid and her weight shifted and her arms cleaved through body after body after body, her mind slid along the circuit of dark power, like invisible hands feeling along the scales of an oily snake, following its snarling head, telling her where to go. Her enemies fell, one after another, their shouts and cries unable to reach her ears.


    It was only when a shocktrooper¡¯s blaster bolt struck Adi Gallia in the leg that Iskat¡¯s focus shifted, the Force willing her to turn around. Master Galli stumbled, her lightsaber dipping as pain contorted her face. In that brief instant, the Sith Lord lunged.


    The crimson blade of his lightsaber pierced her chest, the sickening sound of searing flesh cutting through the chaos. The Tholothian Jedi Master gasped, her saber clattering to the ground as she collapsed.


    The sight of the fallen Jedi Master jolted something in Iskat. The chorus in her mind faltered, its harmony breaking, the snake unraveling around her. For the first time, she looked around. The other Jedi Knights¨Cher supposed comrades¨Cwere gone. Their bodies lay scattered across the room, their robes punched through with hundreds of smoking holes. Dead.


    And because they were dead, there was nothing shielding the duel between masters of light and dark.


    Meanwhile, Master Yoda and Shaak Ti hardly had the luxury to call out for their fellow Councilmember, faces fixed in rictus determination as they pressed their assault on Palpatine. The Sith Lord moved with terrifying speed, his blade a crimson blur as he laughed maniacally, feeding off the slaughter and chaos in the room. Yoda¡¯s strikes were precise and unrelenting, his small frame darting around Palpatine¡¯s defenses, while Shaak Ti¡¯s elegant, flowing style forced the Sith Lord to divide his attention.


    It was evident even to Iskat, that between the three Jedi Masters, Adi Gallia had been the weak link in terms of raw battle skill. Their blades flared and flashed, crashing together with bursts of fire, weaving nets of killing energy in exchanges so fast that Iskat could not truly see them, only oblate spheres of green, red, and blue within which there seemed to be dozens of swords slashing in all directions at once. But she could feel them in the Force. The Force itself roiled and burst and crashed around them, boiling with power and ricochets of lethal intent.


    The clamber of even more footsteps drew her back to the entrance. Iskat gritted her teeth¨Cthere were more reinforcements still coming in.


    ¡°Rats,¡± she snarled, extending an arm, ¡°All of you!¡±


    Her fingers snapped around her lightsaber, and the private turbolifts leading up to the Chancellor¡¯s exclusive suite were crushed like soda cans. There was a flare, a burst of pain and brief agony that stabbed into her temple like a hammer and chisel. The sensation of men imploding. She ignored it, and focused on the remaining troopers ahead of her.


    Her grip tightened on her sabers. She had a job to do; buy enough time for the Jedi Masters to put Palpatine in his grave. And it was a glad duty. Her mother¡¯s golden blade humming fiercely as her rage burned anew.


    But this time, the fury was focused.


    This time, it wasn¡¯t just about killing.


    It was about revenge.


    ?


    Jedi Knight Barriss Offee stood motionless in one of the Jedi Temple''s tranquil rooftop courtyards, the faint hum of Coruscant''s endless traffic echoing in the distance. The Senate District skyline gleamed in the soft glow of the night, a monument to the Republic¡¯s grandeur. She folded her arms, the fabric of her robes fluttering slightly in the cool breeze, and allowed herself a moment of calm amidst the chaos brewing across the galaxy.


    Then, her tablet chimed.


    Her brow furrowed as she reached for it, expecting an update from the warfront or perhaps a directive from the Council. Instead, the sender¡¯s identifier gave her pause.


    PRIESTESS.


    She tapped the screen, her curiosity piqued, and saw the message was forwarded from Bode Akuna.


    Her heart sank, and a cold weight settled in her stomach. Before she could fully process the implications, a strange ripple in the Force pulled her attention toward 500 Republica. Barriss turned sharply, her eyes narrowing on the gleaming skyscraper that housed the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s private residence.


    Using the Force, she sharpened her vision, extending her senses to pierce the distance. Her breath caught as she saw a figure¨Ca humanoid¨Churtling through the air, crashing out of a shattered window on one of the penthouse levels. They plummeted toward Coruscant¡¯s endless cityscape, a faint, radiant blue light illuminating their descent.


    Her mind raced. Who was it? Was it one of the Jedi Masters?


    But before she could linger on the sight, her attention was drawn to another, more immediate threat. In the distance, moving steadily closer, were bright white searchlights slicing through the night, separate from the constant traffic more akin to rivers of flowing gold. They belonged to LAAT gunships, painted red in the unmistakable colour code of the Coruscant Guard. And they were growing larger, sweeping across the ziggurat¡¯s vast facades. Strain her ears, and she imagined the unmistakable thunder of boots and walkers marching on the Temple Precinct.


    Barriss froze, her breath catching as the pieces clicked into place.


    How long do I have? The Jedi Temple was empty, filled with elderly masters and too-young apprentices. All the best Jedi Masters and Knights were on the frontlines, or at Serenno. The Jedi Temple was as empty as it has ever been since the start of the war.


    But I can¡¯t let it fall like this. Master Gallia put me here for a reason.


    Barriss Offee fumbled with her robes, searching through its myriad pockets until she grasped a familiar cold metal, unlike anything belonging to the Republic and its Grand Army. Separatist tech.


    She turned away from the edge, sprinting toward the nearest access hatch. She still had time until the first gunships arrived, and even longer until the ground forces of the Homeworld Security did. She had rooted out the moles and the spies in the Jedi Order. Barriss Offee was certain she could turn the Temple into a fortress, and hold out for a time. At least, long enough for help to arrive.


    Finally, after nearly two years of holding onto the tiny device, Barriss toggled the switch. The device chimed, and went dark. It was state-of-the-art Separatist tech, a long-range communicator stuffed into the size of a comlink. Unable to transmit any detailed message, but more than capable of sending a specific signal through just about any distance or interference the galaxy could throw its way.


    Her tablet chimed again.


    [FROM CND_1.252.491.472.01.51.4_1310RV] SIGNAL RECEIVED. REINFORCEMENTS EN ROUTE. FLIGHT PLAN KROS¨CJLEK¨CRUAN¨CFOST¨CCANT. ETA 0018 HRS. STANDBY.


    Eighteen hours, Barriss lowered the tablet, staring out to the approaching searchlights, we have to hold out for eighteen hours. Those gunships will be on top of us within the hour.


    She stowed away the device and pulled out her comlink. She turned away from the edge, sprinting toward the nearest access hatch. Her voice was steady but urgent as she activated her comlink, reaching out to the Temple¡¯s security command.


    ¡°Gate Master Jurokk, this is Jedi Knight Barriss Offee,¡± she called the gatekeeper of the Jedi Temple, ¡°Seal all hangar bays, entrances, and external means of access to the Jedi Temple. Raise the Temple Precinct deflector shields. I believe Master Gallia had previously briefed you on this situation?¡±


    ¡°...So the Sith have finally acted.¡±


    ¡°I am afraid so,¡± Barriss replied gravely, ¡°I have summoned for reinforcements, but it will take time for them to arrive.¡±


    ¡°Good news. How long?¡±


    ¡°Eighteen hours.¡±


    ¡°...Then the Jedi Temple is under siege.¡±

 Chapter 92

    Serenno Orbit, Serenno System


    D¡¯Astan Sector


    The skies over Serenno were ablaze with war.


    The great, proud world hung like a wounded jewel in the void, its pale surface marred by the fiery streaks of falling debris and the brilliant flashes of battle, silver moonlight blotted out by great behemoths of steel. Above it, the black of space was alive with fire, like a wick burning from the ends of the galactic spirals. The voice of battle was ever raised in a soundless roar as formations collided, broke apart, and reformed in tireless repetition. Turbolasers carved through the black with searing fury, lances of light streaking toward shields that shimmered under the impact. Missiles and torpedoes spiraled in fiery trails, impulse drives sputtering in great purple-blue arcs before erupting against the hulls of warships in brilliant bursts. Tractor beams lashed out invisibly, gripping ships like the talons and dragging them into the crushing embrace of superior firepower.


    It was a relentless fight for control over planet Serenno¡¯s orbital zone.


    On one side, the Republic Expeditionary Fleet was a spear thrust into the heart of the Separatist line, its vanguard hammering deep into the enemy formation. At its tip, General Plo Koon¡¯s flagship, the Hyperion, bristled with defiance, her shields flaring with each glancing blow as it drove ever deeper into the chaos. Behind her, the wedge-shaped fleet carved through the Separatist defenses like a blade, leaving wreckage and frozen debris in its wake. For every second they held the breach open, hundreds of troopships descended planetside.


    But the Separatist captaincies were not without their cunning. With able facility, the Serennian Security Forces promptly turned the situation to their advantage, reforming the two halves of their broken line into an open jaw primed to clench its dagger-shaped teeth and bite off the overextended Republic vanguard. Their flanking wings, composed of Lucrehulk-class battleships and Munificent-class frigates, began to close in, their fire converging on the Republic vanguard from both sides. The space between the ships turned into a cauldron of fire, where turbolasers thundered as starfighters weaved and spun between them, trails of exhaust streaking in hazy lines across the black.


    Clone pilots called out frantic warnings, their voices cutting through the din of battle over the comms.


    ¡°Vulture droids incoming¨Cbearing three-seven-zero!¡±


    ¡°Hazard Squadron, break left! Break left!¡±


    ¡°Blue Leader, we¡¯ve lost shields¨C!¡±


    Squadrons of Vulture droids swarmed like angry insects, their blasters peppering the Republic Y-wings whilst Serennian bombers launched curtains of torpedoes against warships. ARC-170 starfighters scrambled to intercept, their rear gunners picking off droids as the dogfights spiraled closer and closer to the beleaguered capital ships.


    The Separatists were relentless. To their captains, the Republic had just committed a juvenile mistake in the art of siege warfare; they launched their planetary assault before securing orbital control first. Whereas they could commit everything they had to closing the breach, the Loyalists had to contend with both contesting orbit and also protecting their transports and supply lines.


    Not that the Republic made it an effortless endeavour for the Separatists. The ¡®iron fist¡¯ and ¡®steel claws¡¯ of the Republic Navy were the heaviest conventional warships in the galaxy, and easily stood toe-to-toe to the worst the Lucrehulks and Providences could hurl at them. Tector and Victory-class Star Destroyers closed their ranks, iron phalanges with pikes of energy, throwing the enemy back time and time again.


    A thousand klicks away, Obi-Wan Kenobi could hardly tell what was going on in the vanguard. At the base of the Republic formation, the reserve ships held their positions with grim discipline, their captains glancing nervously at the holoprojectors. They could see the trap forming in real time, the jaws of the Separatist counterattack threatening to snap shut around the vanguard and isolate the spearhead from the rest of the body. It was no surprise to say that every instinct screamed at them to charge forward, to reinforce their brothers and sisters locked in the heart of the battle.


    For Republic Navy admirals and captains, it was an instinct borne out of tactical wisdom. Since the arrowhead formation was wider at the base, whereas the Separatist pincer was at the narrow spearhead, simply charging forward would put them at the enemy flank. In fact, many of the captains could see the open broadsides of Separatist battlecruisers directly ahead of them.


    For Jedi Generals, however, it was instinct borne simply out of their natural inclination to save their allies. What did it matter, their internal disagreements, when all of them were being chewed down by the enemy?


    Not that it mattered, Obi-Wan clenched his jaws, because orders are orders.


    And his orders were to maintain his lines of bearing with the rest of the fleet.


    ¡°General Kenobi¡­¡± Admiral Block eyed him carefully, ¡°The captains are getting nervous.¡±


    ¡°Maintain formation,¡± the Jedi General¡¯s voice was low and taut, ¡°Until we are ordered otherwise.¡±


    ¡°As the commander of this subformation, we are allowed to execute independent action when the situation demands it,¡± Admiral Block argued, ¡°It could be that General Plo Koon is under no condition to dispatch orders! Acting now could mean the life or death of our vanguard!¡±


    Just as those very words were uttered, as if the stars were playing tricks on them, Vigilance received a tightbeam transmission from the vanguard. Obi-Wan hastily had it ordered through, already expectant of new orders.


    ¡°General Kenobi,¡± in the heat of battle, there was no hologram visual to be put through, only a crackly, stuttering audio. Not the voice of Plo Koon, as he had expected, but that of a young woman, ¡°These are General Plo Koon¡¯s orders. Disregard all future orders, and maintain the Open Circle Fleet¡¯s station at all cost. The situation will soon develop rapidly, and your forces must be there to receive it promptly. Please read back the instructions.¡±


    Obi-Wan Kenobi was sweating, and he glanced at Admiral Block¨Cwhose concern and confusion was worn apparently on his face¨Cnervously. In the turmoil of the Force, he could not discern what Plo Koon¡¯s plan was. All he knew was the severity of the woman¡¯s¨CJedi Knight Bultar Swan, he suspected¨Cwords.


    ¡°The Open Circle will disregard all future orders, and maintain station at all cost,¡± he read back the command, ¡°Understood¡­ may I ask whether this future ¡®situation¡¯ has anything to do with the Separatist superweapon lurking in-system?¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± Knight Swan answered grimly, ¡°Keep as many of the Jedi warships as close to you as possible, for we may receive an attack from the rear¨Cshould our agreement with Admiral Trench fall through. We will be transmitting the command key to the Vigilance now¨Cshould both Master Plo or Master Windu be lost or uncontactable, it will be Vigilance¡¯s prerogative to lead an orderly withdrawal from the star system. Is this understood?¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Obi-Wan couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this was the right path, so unlike the Jedi way it was. Secrets and plots swirled around the battle as much as lasers and torpedoes did. With so many factions and shadowed allegiances, he understood that the Jedi had to ¡®play by the rules¡¯ in order to survive the turbulent era. Nevertheless, was such a drastic departure from the common sensibilities necessary?


    Not that it mattered, Obi-Wan closed his eyes, everything had already been set in motion.


    All he could do was wait on the bridge, and watch the fate of the galaxy unfold.


    ?


    Toprawa Prime Approach, Toprawa System


    Kalamith Sector


    ¡°Our pickets have detected traffic transiting the Simpla Star System,¡± Admiral Trench informed us, ¡°It could be General Grievous, if he were to appear now.¡±


    ¡°It is most certainly Grievous,¡± I replied, closely observing the star Toprawa Prime, ¡°This is an opportunity that that bloodthirsty robot couldn¡¯t afford to miss.¡±


    I was already formulating a strategy in which to confront him, and picking out possible battlefields in the Toprawa System. I had created a mental profile of Grievous in my head, based on my existing knowledge of him both here and elsewhere¨Cand if that profile was even half-accurate, there was a good chance he¡¯d want to finish what we started.


    Which effectively means dangling me out as bait.


    ¡°Will this affect your grand stratagem?¡± Trench questioned.


    ¡°Who do you take me for?¡± I kept the taken offense out of my voice, ¡°Of course it won¡¯t. I¡¯ve taken him into account already. Both you and Diedrich will continue on to the Serenno Star System and follow the plan I¡¯ve laid out. Give me three-hundred warships, and I¡¯ll pin Grievous right here in Toprawa.¡±


    ¡°How will we know the signal to execute the plan?¡± the Old Spider continued incessantly questioning me, as if he couldn¡¯t quite place his full trust in the strategy I had laid out.


    Diedrich Greyshade, ever-reliable as he was however, didn¡¯t hesitate to support me.


    ¡°I¡¯ll recognise the signal,¡± the Columexi Admiral cut in, ¡°I¡¯ve got all my comtechs camping PRIESTESS round-the-clock. Just transfer me the firing codes for the Malevolence, and we should be good.¡±


    ¡°Provided the Jedi are exactly where we need them,¡± Rear Admiral Merai couldn¡¯t help but comment.


    ¡°They should be,¡± I could sense Diedrich¡¯s frown, ¡°Jedi aren¡¯t exactly known for reneging on agreements.¡±


    ¡°These Jedi are betraying their Republic.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly their Republic anymore,¡± I said sharply, ¡°They consider the Loyalists traitors, just as we consider the Serenno Government traitors. I¡¯ve already sent Task Force Garland to Phindar Station as you advised.¡±


    ¡°It will be of no concern to us if they are not,¡± Admiral Trench ultimately decided, as was his prerogative, ¡°Our mission is not to save the Jedi or preserve the ¡®true¡¯ Republic, but to secure Serenno and Count Dooku. It is our greatest charge to sanctify the Confederacy by eliminating all of its internal threats. My personal command will take Serenno, the Twenty-Eighth Mobile will secure the Jedi, Merai¡¯s Twenty-First Guards will directly engage the battle and sweep up the remnants¨Cboth Loyalist and Serennian.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Copy that!¡±


    ¡°Admiral Bonteri, I will be loaning you three-hundred warships as requested. With the Givin¡¯s seventy Wavecrest, this will bring Task Force Conqueress to three-hundred and seventy warships. Are you certain this will be sufficient to stall General Grievous?¡±


    ¡°If Augur¡¯s maths is correct,¡± I glanced at the super tactical droid, ¡°It would be enough. And it''s not like a ST-series droid is often wrong. That¡¯s why you gave me one.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Trench chuckled, a terrible, clicking chitter, ¡°I will leave Dooku¡¯s mad dog to you.¡±


    Flashes of Cronau radiation flared all over the holographic repeaters as the Confederate Second Fleet Group inserted into hyperspace, leaving Dodecian Illiet and I alone in the Toprawa Star System, with three-hundred and seventy warships. Augur and I immediately got about scanning the star system for places to battle.


    The traditional location would be the orbit of the inhabited planet, in this case Toprawa, but that would only make sense if the planet was the cause of battle itself. In this case, Grievous¡¯ intention wasn''t to take Toprawa, but to transit the star system. See, Serenno didn¡¯t lay on any major hyperlane, but was instead a couple parsecs spinward of the Hydian Way, directly west of Toprawa. This meant General Grievous was forced to extract at Toprawa, transit in-system to the spinward egress, and insert again.


    Fighting at Toprawa would only incur civilian casualties, something I obviously wanted to avoid.


    Another possible location was the spinward egress itself, where I could directly intercept the Grievous Fleet. The problem was that the spinward egress was a massive stretch of empty space, and any engagement would inevitably result in a direct face-to-face brawl for control, which wasn¡¯t my style either. That being said, there was no reason not to prepare the battlespace in advance.


    ¡°Dodecian Illiet,¡± I toggled the comms, ¡°I will have to trouble your division with minelaying the spinward jumpzone to the Serenno Star System. Do not take a reciprocal course upon your return; take the long way around Toprawa Prime instead.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative, Conqueress.¡±


    ¡°Now then,¡± I slowly leaned back, laying the purple silk of my cape over my lap, ¡°What do you recommend, Augur?¡±


    Augur¡¯s three photoreceptors scanned the system chart closely, internally calculating the best possible astrographical terrain to not only give us the best tactical possibilities but also to strategically block Grievous from simply transiting to the spinward jumpzone.


    With all these prerequisites in mind, I was quickly drawn to the obvious conclusion.


    ¡°Assessment: Toprawa Prime,¡± Augur echoed my thoughts, ¡°Its sightlines will allow us to command the entire star system. We can hide Conqueress in its solar radiation, and snipe General Grievous the moment he extracts on the Coreward egress. It doesn¡¯t need to hit; so long as he is aware of our presence, he will understand how dangerous it will be for him to transit whilst in our firing envelopes the entire time.¡±


    I nodded, ¡°Maintain heading to Toprawa Prime.¡±


    It was barely an eight-hour hyperspace transit from Simpla to Toprawa, which meant we were in quite a time crunch to get into position and formation. Soon, I found out, the most difficult part would be convincing the captaincies Trench had loaned me to my ¡®madness,¡¯ as they had described it. Fighting with the Perlemian Coalition for so long¨Cwhich would be no exaggeration to say I had planted and grown myself¨CI had taken the absolute loyalty and obedience of my subordinate captains for granted. But the steadfast fortitude of Krett wasn¡¯t here anymore, nor the mad eagerness of Horgo Shive. The constant reliability of Vinoc was also acutely missed, fighting a secret campaign in the Deep Core, along with the rational wisdom of Jorm.


    And the spacers; the men and women who went through hell and back with me, they were all inherited by Diedrich Greyshade now. These three-hundred warships were captained by strangers, men and women whose names I did not know, and did not trust me entirely. All I knew of them were the specifications of their warships, and all they knew of me was the spelling of my name.


    The vast majority of those eight hours were thus spent wrangling all the individual captains to my will, using a mix of reassurances, threats, and leverages of names¨Cboth mine and Trench¡¯s. In the end however, I successfully convinced most of them to drive their warships directly into an active star; and the rest fell in line more or less out of peer pressure.


    So, with a fleet of 300 ships at my back, I ordered them to press dangerously close to the roiling surface of Toprawa Prime, the star''s fiery embrace a looming hazard¨Cand a potential ally I hoped to exploit. To their credit, Trench exercised his fleet well, and the fleet moved in disciplined formation, a jagged phalanx that slowly edged toward the searing brilliance of the star. And it was a real testament to their discipline, because at this proximity Toprawa Prime¡¯s corona was spitting streams of charged particles at us, each tendril of solar wind a chaotic whip of radiation and magnetism. The star''s electromagnetic field flared unpredictably, creating violent storms of energy that lashed out at anything within its grasp.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Sensors buzzed with static interference, and shield generators whined as they adjusted to the relentless bombardment of high-energy particles. The electromagnetic radiation from the star played havoc with our navigational systems and communications; encrypted channels devolved into bursts of static and distortion.


    But it worked, and keeping a safe distance at which our ray shields could regulate the temperature, our fleet was completely hidden in Toprawa Prime¡¯s embrace, our hulls glinting like droplets of molten metal against the seething backdrop of the star. Even so, I was sweating, and condensation was forming on Augur¡¯s chestplate. The Skakoan engineers were all but boiling in their pressure suits.


    Our ray shields were layers of energy fluctuating in iridescent ripples as they absorbed and deflected the radiation, converting it into excess heat as they do most things, heat which was then transferred to the pressure hull. And then to the inside of the hull.


    Unlike most fleets, the vessel with the most powerful scopes in Task Force Conqueress was the flagship herself. As such, if any fleet were to extract at the Coreward egress, Conqueress would be the first to spot it¨Cand fire, obviously. The tension aboard Conqueress was palpable, like the charged atmosphere before a lightning strike. The oppressive heat radiating from Toprawa Prime, combined with the claustrophobic anticipation of battle, had transformed the bridge into a crucible of nerves. Officers murmured their reports, each voice laced with a veneer of professionalism masking an undercurrent of unease.


    ¡°Radiation levels holding steady within operational tolerance,¡± reported Chief Engineer Bunt Dantor, his face glistening with perspiration, ¡°But we¡¯re nearing the limit for prolonged exposure. If the shields destabilize¡­¡±


    I quickly glanced at the repeaters on my left, ¡°Have our fleet move forward slowly until the conditions improve. I want as little interference on our scopes as possible, whilst remaining hidden by the star.¡±


    At the heart of Conqueress, a Skakoan technician was fine-tuning the long-range sensors, an array more advanced than any other in the fleet. The system emitted a low hum as it processed the star''s interference, straining to cut through the electromagnetic noise, eyes fixed on a singular spot in the far distance.


    ¡°Admiral,¡± Captain Gnifmak Dymurra finally called out after what seemed like an age, ¡°We¡¯ve got a reading. It¡¯s faint but unmistakable¨Ca fleet emerging from hyperspace.¡±


    I eagerly leaned forward, ¡°Prep the firing sequence for Number One."


    The holographic display flickered to life, plotting the emerging drive cones on the chart. Two-hundred, at least, identified to be Providences, Munificents, and Recusants. Then there was the large one, a massive, unmistakable blotch of radiating light that could only belong to the Devastation. It was General Grievous, no doubt.


    ¡°Observation: He suspects our presence,¡± Augur alerted, ¡°The enemy formation has ample space between their lines of bearing. A critical chain reaction is unlikely.¡±


    ¡°My fears were unfounded,¡± I replied, ¡°Grievous was not able to rally as much of a substantial force that we had prepared for. More likely than not, the systems of the New Territories see the writing on the wall. So long as we can take out the Devastation, we can envelop and sweep the rest of his meagre fleet out of the way.¡±


    Augur paused in calculation, ¡°...Affirmative. Suggestion: Shall we begin the firing sequence?¡±


    ¡°We shall.¡±


    We took another long hour to extrapolate Devastation¡¯s speed and heading, before Conqueress began to shift beneath our feet, accounting for distance, leading her shot. Data was being synced, the kinetic kill vehicle¡¯s onboard computer receiving its intercept plan and warming up its attitude thrusters. There was a heavy clunk, as the autoloader slid the KKV into the firing chamber.


    ¡°We may not hit the target, so be conservative about the power,¡± I warned, ¡°I expect Number One to be operational after firing.¡±


    ¡°Understood sir!¡±


    The spherical distortion at the cannon¡¯s focal point formed, its gravitational pull bending light into an eerie lensing effect. The telltale sensation of vertigo struck me like a truck, as my sight dilated until it was as if I was looking through a magnifying glass. Still, it was not as bad as last time, and I could only presume I was getting used to it.


    "We have a firing solution!"


    "Data sync complete!"


    "Power levels nominal. Target lock acquired," Augur declared like a herald, "Number One is at fifty-percent charge."


    I waved a hand, ¡°Fire when ready.¡±


    Despite my attempted nonchalance, nothing ever quite prepares you for the bone-rattling feeling of a gravitic wavegun opening fire. A moment of absolute silence fell, as though the universe itself had drawn a breath. Then, a cascading pulse tore through the void, causing distant stars to warp and shimmer.


    ?


    ¡°Would you look at that,¡± Diedrich Greyshade laughed, ¡°All lined up nice and neatly for us.¡±


    ¡°Malevolence is yours, Admiral Greyshade,¡± Admiral Trench told him, referring to the massive Separatist dreadnought in the rear.


    Almost five-thousand metres long end to end, the Subjugator-class dreadnought was the Separatist Alliance¡¯s response to the dreadnoughts fielded by the Galactic Republic, equipped with a pair of massive mega-ion cannons located on the warship''s port and starboard beam, directly powered by the her solar ionisation reactor and its plasma rotors. Last wielded at the Battle of Columex, Malevolence successfully disabled the Legacy of the Founders, opening up the opportunity for it to be destroyed and turning the tide of the battle.


    After two long years, she was finally being wielded again. This time not to destroy the Jedi, but to save them.


    ¡°Duly received, Admiral,¡± Greyshade said, before ordering his fleet; ¡°Twenty-Eighth, forward bow-and-quarter line!¡±


    Battlecruiser Kronprinz deflected her vector towards the Republic starboard quarter, the warships of the Perlemian Coalition following after whilst they shifted into formation, their movements synchronized with the ancient war machine. Behind them, the Malevolence followed, its massive form like a shadow in the vastness of space. Its mega-ion cannons, the most feared weapon in the Second Fleet¡¯s arsenal, seemed to glow with dormant energy.


    Even Admiral Trench could envy the absolute loyalty the commanders of the Perlemian Coalition commanded over their captains and spacers. One day, the entire Confederate Armed Forces will be held to that standard, he promised himself. It would be that day, he decided, that the CAF would be the greatest fighting force in the galaxy¨Cpast, present, and future.


    The Old Spider turned his attention to the task ahead. The Republic had already begun their invasion of Serenno, but Trench would not permit Serenno to fall into Loyalist hands. Serenno was a galactic symbol of Separatism, and it would not do for it to fall to the Republic. Rain Bonteri¡¯s stratagem only covered the rescue of the Jedi, and Trench had no qualms about destroying the rest of the Loyalist fleet.


    In fact, he wouldn¡¯t mind destroying the Jedi either. It was only Rain Bonteri¡¯s argument that gave him pause for thought; saving the Jedi here from whatever Coruscant had in store for them would indebt the Jedi Order to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As much Admiral Trench knew how to win the war, the Confederacy must also win the peace that comes after victory¨Cand that was a monumentally more difficult mission to accomplish.


    The Confederacy was a star nation born out of necessity, out of the need to unify against a common threat; the Galactic Republic. Once the war was won¡­ was there a need for a Confederacy of Independent Systems? He already knew many leaders and senators were already asking themselves that question. And unlike the Republic, there was no bylaw preventing the star systems from seceding. Of course there wasn¡¯t! That was the ideal the Separatist Alliance was built upon!


    Admiral Trench did not know whether the Supreme Commander, Sev¡¯rance Tann, had already found an answer¨Cbut he could certainly find his own. The Jedi Order. The Jedi Order defecting to the Confederacy would be a massive boon in legitimacy, especially in the light of the Republic¡¯s impending collapse.


    Certainly, the Old Spider ultimately decided, it would be no harm indebting the Jedi Order to the Separatist Alliance.


    ¡°Admiral Merai,¡± Admiral Trench commanded, ¡°Clear the way!¡±


    ¡°With pleasure, Admiral,¡± the Mon Cala Rear Admiral replied, ¡°All ships; maximum combat velocity!¡±


    The 21st Guards Fleet, courageous veterans of a dozen fronts, from Bothawui in the south to Mon Calamari in the north and everywhere in between, lined up the noses of their battleships and charged forward in a tight formation. The Expeditionary Fleet¡¯s right flank immediately noticed the introduction of new Separatist combatants to the battlespace, and braced for impact. It must have been a surprise, then, when the 21st Guards raced alongside the Republic flank, their turbolasers swivelling to track an entirely different target:


    The left flank of the Serennian Security Forces, helplessly pinned mid-envelopment around the Republic vanguard. Their Lucrehulks hardly had the time to rotate around just in time to see a barrage of missiles thundering out fleet flagship Prosperous¡¯ launchers, crashing through its exhausted shields and tearing the torus-shaped hulls to shreds and rapidly expanding vapour.


    As Admiral Merai¡¯s swift assault struck the Serennian warships from an unexpected angle, the 21st Guards first attack was quite literally a blistering one. Its firepower was concentrated to an almost excessive density. When a single battleship¨Cand a single spot on the hull of that battleship¨Cwas struck by half a dozen proton torpedoes, how could it possibly defend itself?


    The region surrounding the Republic vanguard was made an enveloping swarm of fireballs, and amidst the chaos, Hyperion unleashed broadside after broadside, its guns blazing like the wrath of the stars themselves. Flanking it, Torrent and Judicator poured fire into the advancing Separatist wings, their hulls scarred and shields flickering under the sustained assault. The Republic vanguard certainly felt the sudden relief in pressure, as the Serennian attack crumpled from an outside intervention.


    General Plo Koon, sensing a sudden weakness in the Serennian left, commanded the vanguard¡¯s heavily armored battleships¨CTectors¨Clined up in vertical columns to form a protective wall against enemy fire. From the gaps between them, Victory-class Star Destroyers¨Cmore weakly armored but with mobility and firepower to spare¨Claid down a ruthless barrage of return fire.


    Just as the captains of the vanguard dared to believe they were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel however, their internal hopes were dashed when they saw exactly who their presumed saviours were. The 21st Guards Fleet roared past, dashing the Serennian remnants against the Loyalist phalanx and curving around the pointed spearhead of the vanguard, as if to interpose itself between the Expeditionary Fleet and the planet Serenno.


    General Plo Koon, observing the actions of the Separatist fleet, quickly came to a conclusion of their intentions, and ordered a general withdrawal back to the main body of the Expeditionary Fleet. He was met with an ample amount of protest, certainly, and claims there he was abandoning their ground forces¨Cbut it was soon made abundantly clear the situation had been irreversibly thrown head over heels.


    It was a testament to Merai¡¯s skill as a tactician that he was able to mold his fleet into a cordon of warships pushing the Republic away from the planet, and opening a new corridor for Admiral Trench¡¯s fleet to pour into the silver-cloud atmosphere of Serenno. To the Republic captaincies¨Cwho had been broadly briefed about the relationship between Raxus and Serenno¨Cit must have seemed like Admiral Trench was stealing their grand prize from right under their noses.


    A thousand klicks astern, Rear Admiral Diedrich Greyshade¡¯s Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet coasted along its vector, inertia carrying them effortlessly alongside the Republic¡¯s starboard beam¨Cwhere the Open Circle Fleet stretched in a broad line abreast across the entire rearguard. The battle¡¯s chaos raged ahead, distant enough that the Kronprinz¡¯s CIC remained eerily silent, save for the low murmur of officers exchanging updates and the ever-present hum of the ship¡¯s systems.


    Greyshade sat at the comms station, a half-eaten sandwich resting on a metal tray beside him. His eyes flicked from the sensor readouts to the decrypted telemetry feed from PRIESTESS. He had been monitoring it casually while eating, skimming for any of the keywords Rain Bonteri had warned them about. But something wasn¡¯t right.


    ¡°Is PRIESTESS glitching?¡± Greyshade murmured, setting his sandwich down slowly. His gaze sharpened. ¡°What is this?¡±


    One of his comtechs frowned as he sifted through the garbled transmissions.


    ¡°Sir, it looks like the Coruscanti satellites are¡­¡± he hesitated, then swiped across his display to bring up a broader diagnostic, his brow furrowing further, ¡°...transmitting junk data. Corrupted data. Some of it is decryptable, but most of it¨Clook at these packet sizes¨Cit¡¯s deliberate. The sheer amount of bloat is staggering.¡±


    Greyshade¡¯s mind began assembling the pieces, ¡°Someone¡¯s flooding the network. A denial-of-service attack?¡±


    The technician nodded. ¡°That¡¯d be my guess, sir. The intent is obvious¨Cto overload the satellites with artificially bloated data packets, forcing them to choke on their own bandwidth and preventing legitimate transmissions from getting through.¡±


    ¡°How long before Republic Intelligence cleans this up?¡±


    The technician exhaled, rubbing his temple as he considered it, ¡°Hours, at worst. A cyberattack like this isn¡¯t permanent, and they¡¯ll figure out a way to bypass the affected nodes eventually. This is Republic Intelligence we¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Greyshade leaned back in his chair, the gears turning in his mind. This is it!


    He pushed himself to his feet, grabbing the intercom handset from its cradle.


    ¡°This is Rear Admiral Diedrich Greyshade,¡± he announced, his voice clipped but firm. ¡°Launch all boarding cutters and dropships. Prep the tractor beams! Malevolence¨Cacquire target lock on the port-most warship of the Open Circle Fleet. Have the portside ion cannon standby for enfilade fire!¡±


    ?


    That¡¯s the Perlemian Coalition, Obi-Wan Kenobi recognised. He knew the painted hulls of the Perlemian from anywhere; just as he could never forget the sight of the Kronprinz. There was, after all, no other warship in the galaxy quite like it. Except, that all paled in the shadow of the Separatist dreadnought, just outside the range of the Open Circle¡¯s turbolaser batteries. He wasn¡¯t at Columex two years ago, but he had certainly heard the rumours surrounding the massive dreadnought, and knew what it''s superweapon could do.


    ¡°All ships!¡± Obi-Wan knew Plo Koon had ordered the Open Circle to maintain their stations, but the situation was too severe to ignore, ¡°Divert all power to retrothrusters!¡±


    ¡°They have a target lock on us!¡± one of the sensor operators cried.


    Vigilance strained under its own inertia, desperately pulling back, but Obi-Wan could only watch through the starboard viewports as the Separatist dreadnought pivoted, aligning its colossal ion cannon. The weapon¡¯s circular emitter glowed with a spectral blue radiance, crackling with energy that distorted the very space around it. Streaks of electric fire¨Clike coiled dragons¨Cdanced along its circumference, their spirals accelerating, faster and faster and faster¨C


    The ship¡¯s sensors screamed as power levels spiked.


    ¡°Divert all shields to the starboard beam!¡± Admiral Block barked.


    Vigilance obeyed, sealing its viewports, their transparisteel darkening to protect against the incoming discharge.


    The ion cannon fired.


    A deep, soundless roar rippled through space, and a vast disc of energy surged forward¨Cat first only a kilometer across, but expanding rapidly, growing to six kilometers, then twelve, as its charged particles spread outward in an unstoppable tide.


    The first to fall was Selfless.


    The Open Circle Fleet¡¯s starboard-most vessel tried to resist, its shields flaring in defiance, momentarily brightening as they absorbed the incoming charge. But resistance was futile. The shields buckled, then shattered, as though the ship had been struck by an unseen colossus. Lightning surged across the hull, lancing deep into its systems, frying circuits, overloading relays¨Cengines sputtered and died, leaving Selfless to drift, dark and powerless, a dead vessel in the void.


    The ion wave did not stop.


    Albedo Brave. Laudable. Tenacious. Each warship in succession convulsed under the impact, their shields collapsing, their systems spasming with erratic discharges. Lights flickered and died. Fire erupted along their hulls in desperate, choking bursts as power grids shorted out. Engines guttered, leaving the proud fleet adrift, their once-formidable formations reduced to helpless wreckage.


    Then it was Vigilance¡¯s turn.


    ¡°Brace for impact!¡± Obi-Wan¡¯s voice rang through the bridge, coloured with urgency.


    The crew scrambled, locking down their stations, strapping in where they could. The deck trembled beneath them. A rising hum filled the ship, the frequency climbing higher, the air itself growing thick with static. The Force whispered its warning. Obi-Wan felt it reverberate in his chest, but nothing could have prepared him for the sensation of electricity coursing through his blood.


    The ion wave hit.


    Vigilance¡¯s shields erupted in a blinding cascade of light, overloaded in an instant. Obi-Wan staggered as the ship groaned, its hull vibrating with the sheer force of the impact. The bridge plunged into darkness for half a second¨Cthen flickered with failing emergency lights.


    And then, the shields collapsed.


    Electricity surged through the ship¡¯s circuits like wildfire, overloading every system. Consoles exploded in bursts of sparks, comm stations burst into flames, and the bridge filled with the acrid stink of burning insulation. The reactor¡¯s automatic safeties engaged, preventing a catastrophic overload, but the damage was done.


    ¡°Power failure across all decks!¡± an officer shouted. ¡°Sensors down¨Cweapons offline! Shields won¡¯t cycle!¡±


    Obi-Wan exhaled slowly, the sharp sting of static clinging to his skin, every hair on his arms standing on end. The ship¡¯s hull had held, shielding them from the worst of the ion discharge, but inside? Inside, Vigilance was dead.


    Not that weapons and shields mattered now.


    Would the atmosphere hold? The artificial gravity? The inertial dampeners?


    ¡°Everyone, equip vac suits, now,¡± Obi-Wan ordered, steady despite the tension thick in the air. ¡°Try to hail our allies¨Csee if anyone can assist.¡±


    The blast doors clanked behind him, and Commander Cody strode in from the Battle Room, his armor smeared with soot, the static charge lingering in the air crackling against his pauldrons.


    ¡°General,¡± Cody saluted, his voice grim, ¡°We¡¯ve got a damage report. Comms are fried. We won¡¯t be sending or receiving anything for a while.¡±

 Chapter 93

    Toprawa Prime Orbit, Toprawa System


    Kalamith Sector


    ¡°The Grievous Fleet is turning!¡± Captain Dymurra snapped towards the upper deck, ¡°We¡¯re getting sensor locks on the fleet!¡±


    ¡°Bow-and-quarter line, right wing forward echelon left!¡± I ordered at a blistering pace, ¡°Execute upon receipt! Left wing line abreast, prod the enemy¡¯s rearguard! Translate starboard, prograde orbit! Do we have a hit!?¡±


    ¡°Our scopes are getting a fix, Admiral!¡±


    Fighting with Conqueress, one must consider the best way to use her in battle. She was an entirely new calibre of weapon taking its first steps into the galaxy, and it was safe to say we were all still working out her combat doctrine. Having raised my flag upon her bridge for over a month, however, I liked to think I had an idea of what that doctrine should be.


    Siege warfare.


    Obviously.


    Despite their intended purpose, the Aggressor-class of warships weren¡¯t exactly stealthy. Each high-power shot bloomed like a supernova on the sensor arrays. I mean, they can be stealthy, but that would require using them the same way one would an ordinary coilgun or mass driver array, and there were already existing designs that did that. When you fired a shot, you were effectively announcing your presence to the entire neighbourhood.


    Any half-competent commander with an effective picket or recon line would be able to pick up an incoming shot light-minutes¨Cif not light-hours¨Cbefore their main battle line was directly threatened. Therefore, one might as well use the Aggressor as an oversized battering ram; a siege cannon designed to obliterate high-value stationary targets that couldn¡¯t dodge. For example, star fortresses and battlestations. For example, planetary shields.


    All things considered, I would acknowledge that Conqueress would be a useful ace to keep in any fleet I command, supplementing my strategic and tactical options. However, I would not use it as my flagship. There was certainly no denying its value; the Conqueress fully inhabited the fleet-in-being doctrine. Merely existing forces General Grievous to distance apart his warships beyond effective spacing, weakening his overall line of battle. At the same time, if Conqueress¡¯ existence is known, then it is also simultaneously the single highest value target in the star system.


    A warship that can destroy an entire unsuspecting fleet with a single well-placed shot, or shatter a planetary shield, at least until countermeasures are pioneered? I daresay she would be the highest priority target in the entire star sector, let alone system.


    ¡°Hit confirmed!¡± Captain Dymurra called out, ¡°Scratch off one Lucrehulk!¡±


    My fingers tightly clasped around the edges of the monitor as I stared intently through the scopes. I saw what Dymurra did¨Cthe distinct torus-shaped hull of a Lucrehulk spinning round and round like a frisbee through space, lashing out with slow-moving tails of sparkling debris like the spiral arms of a galaxy writ small.


    ¡°Get another track on the Devastation!¡± I snapped immediately, ¡°Load both Number One and Number Two! We¡¯re going to use every last shot if we have to!¡±


    ¡°Acquiring track¡­!¡± Bunt Dantor¡¯s modulated voice briefly drifted, ¡°...They¡¯re forming a line ahead, starboard turn. Calculating vectors!¡±


    The Grievous Fleet had modified their lines of bearings into a straight line with the Devastation at the head, following a natural curve around to point the line directly at our Task Force Conqueress. It was a puzzling decision, for certain, as anyone with an inkling of tactical knowhow knew that charging a bow-and-quarter line with a line ahead was the exact opposite of a good decision.


    General Grievous was effectively allowing us to ¡®cap¡¯ his ¡®T¡¯. In essence, assaulting our battle line with the very opposite of a counterformation. I narrowed my eyes, analysing the battle plot. Obviously, this was the sort of obvious trap a subpar commander would fall for. Prideful of me to say, but I was not a subpar commander.


    ¡°We need to widen our line of battle,¡± I murmured, ¡°But that would¡­ Augur, help me out here.¡±


    As the massive tactical droid took my place at the plot, I leaned back to visualise the battlespace in my mind¡¯s eye. Trying to run a bow-and-quarter line with a line ahead was the definition of suicide, but this was not a conventional battlefield. This was a battlefield inhabited by two superweapons. One was a supermassive dreadnought, and the other was a long-range sniper.


    The moment Grievous¡¯ drive cones aligned on the plot, I knew what he was going for. See, a while ago I had disabled the Devastation¡¯s primary weapon by boring a hole straight through its bow cannon. The Devastation, however, was not just a siege cannon like Conqueress¨Cshe was also a bonafide frontline dreadnought, and if the schematics were accurate; five kilometres and six-billion tonnes of doonium armour plating and turbolaser batteries.


    If the Devastation reached out line of battle, she could very easily smash straight through it like a raging bantha. At the same time, possessing a radar shadow that big meant she could hide the vast majority of her fleet behind her¨Celiminating the largest disadvantage a line ahead had against a bow-and-quarter. To overcome this, we could widen our own line of battle, expanding our firing envelopes and capturing more advantageous angles to hit Grievous¡¯ rear¡­ and also disperse our total firepower and weaken our own battleline, giving the Devastation an even easier time smashing straight through.


    ¡°Suggestion: We could perform a retrograde burn,¡± Augur proposed, ¡°Anchoring Toprawa Prime to our starboard flank and minimizing General Grievous¡¯ angle of attack. At the same time, we tighten our firing envelopes and eliminate the Devastation as soon as possible, depriving the enemy fleet of their main battery.¡±


    I nodded, hailing Captain Dymurra, ¡°You heard the droid. Fire retrothrusters. Fire Number Two as soon as you have a lock!¡±


    There was a kick as Conqueress started cycling her power systems again, followed by a rumble so low and heavy it could have only been an apartment-sized metal block sliding into an equally massive firing chamber.


    ¡°Admiral!¡± the comms officer suddenly alerted, a shiver in his voice, ¡°There¡¯s a transmission on open frequency! It¡¯s General Grievous!¡±


    ¡°Talkative, isn¡¯t this one?¡± I mused, ¡°Patch it through my station.¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir!¡±


    ¡°Augur, take it from here,¡± I dialed in my console to receive the call, ¡°We¡¯re aiming for a false wing and a hammer and anvil. Dodecian Illiet should be circling around Toprawa Prime right about now to hit Grievous in the rear, so our job is to draw in the enemy. Modify the strategy as necessary.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative, Admiral.¡±


    I nodded, toggling my comms.


    ¡°¨CNervous, Bonteri?¡± Grievous cackled through the frequency, ¡°You seem to be at a loss!¡±


    I sighed deeply, loud enough for the cyborg to hear, ¡°You believe I cannot see through your tricks, Grievous? Dooku is a fool; you are not suited to naval warfare. You are a general for a reason indeed, and no admiral. I am certain that planetside you have no peer, but in black it is I who have the stars at my beck and call, and not you.¡±


    There was no response but heavy breathing. Maybe he did not expect my response? It was certainly un-Jedi-like, and Jedi were his usual victims. And indeed, if he expected me to act out of fear, he would be wrong. The Jedi would be right to fear General Grievous, the lightsaber-wielding devil that he is. But I did not, because I did not wield a sword made of fire.


    The only person I would fear is one with equal if not greater understanding of fleet combat tactics than I. In the vacuum of space, the outcome of battles is not decided in split-second micro-movements such as in duels or even firefights. In the vacuum of space, warfare is slow and sluggish, the moves predetermined, the results hours in the waiting. Like a game of chess, what decides a commander¡¯s skill is their ability to read ahead hours if not days in advance, whilst pretending they couldn¡¯t, and thus countering at the most opportune moment, if not promptly.


    So who would I fear?


    I would say an enemy commander who could read my every move, whilst preparing counteractions that I did not know of, but can only eternally suspect were there. That was not to say I have not feared for my life before; certainly, it would be a blatant lie to claim so, especially in my established career as a naval commander.


    The Battle of Corvair was the first time I looked death in the eye, when two Jedi formations shattered the Separatist fleet, forcing me to lead the rearguard against them to protect our withdrawal. The Battle of Centares was perhaps the next, when the Republic ruined weeks of preparation with a single dreadnought, shattering the Salvaran host. The Battle of Rendili was the most recent, when the Coruscant Home Fleet countered my every attempt to break out of their encirclement, resulting in undeniably the bloodiest battle the Core Worlds have ever witnessed in living memory.


    But fearing people? On the bridge of a multi-megaton warship, you were invincible, and the only thing you had any right to fear was either a bigger ship, or a better enemy commander.


    General Grievous was not a better naval commander than I. He had a good plan, but even the best plans are useless when your opponent could see right through you.


    So fixated on awaiting General Grievous¡¯ response, I hardly registered Captain Dymurra¡¯s fist slicing the air or heard his bellowed command¨C¡°Fire!¡±¨Cbefore the world around me lurched. A monolith of solid tunqstoid, its edges glinting coldly against the distant starlight, ripped through a gap in our battle line and hurled itself toward the enemy with all the subtlety of a vengeful god.


    The Devastation, heading straight at us, loomed massive but motionless in Conqueress¡¯ scopes. Heading straight on against us in a mad dash to close the distance, Grievous appeared to have forsaken any and all attempts to kite our envelopes. Conqueress was incapable of missing a stationary target.


    The tunqstoid slug plunged into the dreadnought¡¯s open maw at a majority fraction of lightspeed. The sheer kinetic force alone would have been ruinous, but it was the violent gravitic eddies churning in its wake that delivered the true damage. Space itself seemed to ripple and distort around the impact site, the very geometry of the vessel unraveling under the pressure.


    For an instant, Devastation resisted¨Cher immense bulk shuddering as boiling atmosphere burst from ruptured compartments, hull plates twisting against one another in a desperate attempt to hold form. Then, as if yielding to the inevitable, the great dreadnought came apart from the inside out. Sections of superstructure collapsed inward, drawn along the path of the tunqstoid slug, while others peeled away into the void, venting crew, fuel, and fire, almost like watching a banana peel itself open. All of that, in a split second, until the ship¡¯s engine block, momentarily clinging to cohesion, sheared from the main hull in a silent, shattering detonation.


    Even through the reinforced transparisteel viewport, I felt the tremor of the Devastation¡¯s rapid disassembly. But the moment did not last; mere seconds later, a Providence-class battlecruiser burst through the cloud of debris, her sublight drives still burning hell for leather. Augur reacted with all the mechanical haste a droid could possess¨C


    ¡°Command: All warships open fire along the enemy line of battle! Portside wing translate aft, until a left echelon is formed along the entire line! Transmitting formation package; execute upon receipt!¡±


    Except, the Devastation¡¯s purpose had already been fulfilled. The huge dreadnought had shielded the fleet hiding in its radar shadow long enough for them to close the distance and render Conqueress too risky to use. And indeed, with no more reason to maintain a line ahead, the Grievous Fleet hastily modified their bearings¨Cthe warships in their rear translating starboard into a left echelon in order to oppose our own.


    I leaned back, and lazily toggled the comms again, ¡°You feed your droids into a grinder, General. To see such well-built warships ruined for no gain or purpose, it does make me regret the waste. If I offered you the terms of surrender, would you accept it?¡±


    ¡°...The battle is not over yet, Admiral Bonteri!¡± General Grievous snarled, ¡°I am not Dooku¡¯s pawn! I do not fight for him! I know why you are here. Just as you saved that Jedi at Taris, you wish to save Jedi from me again! You betray the Confederacy, you and Trench!¡±


    Betrayal? A thought occurred to me. General Grievous may be a mad beast, but there was nothing suggesting he couldn¡¯t be reasoned with. All things considered, he never occurred to me as the suicidal type. Grievous may be a threat to the Jedi, but I was not a Jedi, and he could not threaten me so much as the likes of Admiral Honor could. If we could wield him against Palpatine¡¯s Republic¡­


    I sighed again, ¡°I have read your files. The Jedi have wronged you, but they have not wronged me. The Jedi have betrayed the Republic, and have attempted a coup. This is an opportunity the Separatist Alliance cannot miss. Your personal crusade against Jedi¨Cit is now worth nothing.¡±


    ¡°Worth nothing!? The Jedi have¨C¡±


    ¡°The Jedi no longer hold power!¡± I raised my voice, ¡°The Jedi no longer hold the ear of the Galactic Senate! The Jedi no longer have the sanction to wage war at will! The Jedi have fought against the Confederacy for years, and have betrayed their own Republic! Do you understand, General!? The value of a Jedi¡¯s life is now worthless! You wanted your revenge? Then thank your gods because the galaxy has delivered it to you!¡±


    ¡°The authority of the Republic is broken! We broke it!¡± I smashed my fist down, ¡°The men who ruined your people are dead! We killed them! The corrupt galactic order that allowed such injustice to occur lies in pieces! We shattered it! Everything Count Dooku promised the Confederacy would do for you; it has been done! We did it!¡±


    Even as the Grievous Fleet crashed into Task Force Conqueress¡¯ centre, I did not sweat. Even as Grievous redoubled the firepower on his starboard wing, I did not sweat. Even as the enemy fleet steadily began pushing us into the fires of Toprawa Prime, I did not sweat. Seventy inconspicuous blinking at me from the tactical repeater, seventy fin-shaped Wavecrests slicing through Toprawa Prime¡¯s magnetic field like sharks out for blood.


    I could distantly feel the stares of half a hundred men fixed on me, the men and women of the bridge drawn to the noise of my tirade. I ignored them.


    ¡°This is your last chance, General,¡± I rose deliberately, watching him, knowing that every syllable was another strand in the noose tightening around his neck. ¡°End this. The Jedi are finished. They no longer deserve your hatred¨Cbecause they no longer deserve anything at all. Their order is broken, their legacy squandered. When this war ends, they will be nothing but stateless wanderers adrift in a galaxy that has already moved beyond them. Their name will be nothing more than a relic, a tool for opportunists to twist and exploit. The authority they once wielded is gone, the goodwill they accumulated spent, and the grace that once defined them¡­ now just a forgotten whisper.¡±


    I let the silence settle between us, a vacuum just waiting to be filled.


    Across the hololink, General Grievous remained still, a statue of coiled rage. His skeletal frame was half-shadowed in the flickering blue transmission, his eyes unreadable slits of molten gold. The flicker of the feed, the ambient hum of the command bridge, the distant echoes of a dying battle¨Cthese were the only sounds that remained.


    And then he moved. A shift, slight but deliberate, the deepening glow of his mechanical eyes betraying the storm roiling beneath that durasteel shell.


    ¡°You speak as if you understand the depth of their failure,¡± he rasped, his voice a fusion of organic venom and synthetic distortion. ¡°As if you know what it means to be forsaken by those who once claimed righteousness.¡±


    ¡°As if I understand?¡± I raised an eyebrow, ¡°No, General, I simply don¡¯t care. I want to go home. I want to go back to my bed, I want to find my friends, I want to see my family. Don¡¯t you? The sooner this fight ends, the sooner we can go back to our lives.¡±


    Before the damn cyborg could say anything, I continued harshly, ¡°Do you think you are devoid of a life just because of the misfortunes that have befallen you? Do you think that just because your body is a cage of steel that you are not a free man?¡±


    General Grievous paused, his hateful eyes diverted to a screen off-holo. I knew what he was looking at. Illiet¡¯s squadron of Givin Wavecrests had just entered sensor range, crossing enough of Toprawa Prime¡¯s tangents to not be concealed by its celestial shadow anymore. General Grievous knew his end was approaching to his rear at 2,310KPS.


    The enemy fleet almost immediately broke contact in a mad attempt to escape the hammer and anvil, a hundred ships peeling off to intercept the Givin squadron whilst the rest made for the Coreward hyperlane egress.


    ¡°Command: Pursue!¡± Augur roared, ¡°Crush the enemy!¡±


    Task Force Conqueress roared forward, sublight drives igniting with a renewed blue fury, turbolaser snouts snarling with blood-red energy like hounds tracking their quarries.


    ¡°Do you want advice, General?¡± I asked, watching as the remnants of his fleet burned, breaking apart in the vast silence of space, ¡°Take what remains of your forces and return to Kalee. The Republic no longer holds sway over the far reaches of the galaxy where your homeworld lies, nor does the Confederacy. Stay there, and you will be left in peace. Find the insects who wronged you, if you wish, reduce their homeworld to slag. Wage war on the remnants of the Republic, if you must, carve your vengeance from its dying husk. Hunt the last of the Jedi in the Outer Rim and make an example of them, and if it pleases you, string their corpses from your war banners. It is of no concern to us. We might even offer you aid.¡±


    I let my words settle, watching for a reaction. The dim blue flicker of the holofeed cast Grievous¡¯ mechanical face in uneven light, his golden eyes glowing like embers. He remained still, but I knew he was listening.


    ¡°I give you my word,¡± I continued, slowly lowering myself back into my seat, ¡°Go home. Never approach our borders again unless bearing gifts, and we will never trespass against what is yours. But should you stir trouble once more, should you return to the monster you have made of yourself, then I assure you¨Cnot even I will be able to save your homeworld from whatever punishment the Confederacy¡¯s merciless politicians and corporations deem appropriate retaliation.¡±


    For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then, with a flicker of static, Grievous¡¯ image dissolved, his fleet vanishing into the cosmic winds. My finger was pressed against the toggle, cutting the connection.


    I exhaled slowly, ¡°Have the Dodecian Illiet dispatch a scoutship to track Grievous¡¯ movements. Keep me updated.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur replied, before saying; ¡°Query: Is this a wise decision? We can destroy him right here.¡±


    I leaned back, considering the future. Will Grievous return to Kalee and fade into obscurity? Or would he forge a warlord state out of the lawless reaches of the Outer Rim? The New Territories are in chaos. With Serenno under siege, there was no more central power in the galactic north, no more cohesive law or order. There was a power vacuum, just waiting to be filled. Admiral Pors Tonith was fighting against the Republic around Mygeeto, but for what? I suspect to reestablish a new Banking Clan state there.


    Sending General Grievous north will pit him against the enemies of the Raxus Government. If he decides to retire with what family he has left, good for him. If he decides that his personal war of vengeance will not end, then let him be another thorn in the fallen Republic¡¯s side. Kalee was nowhere near the Raxus Government¡¯s sphere of influence, and the Supreme Commander was more focused on consolidating our existing state than expanding into the lawless frontier.


    The Confederacy of Independent Systems was not the Galactic Republic. The Confederacy did not wish to establish hegemony over every corner of this galaxy. I told General Grievous as such; so long as he makes no trouble for us, we might even give him the resources he needs to fight the Republic.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start thinking about the post-war galaxy,¡± I said at last, ¡°Besides, I can¡¯t say I do not pity that monster, made out of misfortune that he is.¡±


    Now then. Serenno.


    ?


    Serenno Orbit, Serenno System


    D¡¯Astan Sector


    A distant, muted thud reverberated through Vigilance¡¯s hull. Then another. And another. Obi-Wan felt the vibrations through his boots before the realization fully hit him.


    Boarding pods.


    His eyes flicked to the viewports¨Cbeyond the crippled remains of the Open Circle Fleet, dark shapes streaked across the void, slamming into hulls like spears thrown by unseen giants. The ghostly remnants of ion energy still crackled around the stricken vessels, their systems too fried to intercept the incoming Separatist boarding craft.


    Obi-Wan turned sharply.


    "Commander Cody!"


    Cody was already moving, ¡°Dispatching troops to the lower decks, sir!¡±


    With their comms fried, Commander Cody was forced to organize a makeshift network of messengers and runners, each one relaying orders between combat squads and engineering crews. Without centralized coordination, the ship''s defense relied on quick thinking and sheer determination.


    Another thunderous impact shook Vigilance. The hull groaned, metal shrieking as another boarding pod punched through the ship¡¯s armor. Deep below, klaxons wailed unevenly, struggling to function through the lingering electronic ruin left by the ion blast. The emergency lights flickered¨Cbrief pulses of red warning cutting through the dim corridors.


    Obi-Wan felt the weight of indecision settle over him. His place was on the bridge, overseeing the battle¨Cwithout scopes, the viewports were the only window into the battlefield beyond the vessel. But he also knew his troopersneeded him. The battle below decks would be brutal. He should be fighting alongside them.


    Torn between his duties as a Jedi and a General, he shut his eyes and reached into the Force for guidance.


    The Force did not guide him.


    Instead, it screamed.


    A soundless, wordless warning tore through his mind, urgent and unyielding.


    Obi-Wan''s eyes snapped open. His fingers clenched, reaching for something that wasn¡¯t there¨C


    "Brace for impact!"


    And then Vigilance lurched violently backward.


    Obi-Wan staggered as his stomach flipped, the artificial gravity momentarily faltering. A sickening sensation of weightlessness gripped him, and for a moment, it felt as if the entire ship was falling through space. Falling backwards. The Jedi Master lost his footing and tumbled through the air, falling horizontally as his confused senses struggled for purchase, hands scrambling for the nearest console. The deckplates beneath him groaned, the hull protesting as unseen forces dragged Vigilance against its own inertia.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    As soon as his fingers curled around the console, he pulled himself down and planted his soles on the deck. Others weren¡¯t so lucky. Clones tumbled through the air, shouts of confusion filling the bridge as they crashed into consoles and slammed against walls. A handful fell directly into the viewports like bugs against a windshield. A skull cracked, blood spreading across the transparisteel surface, crystal red droplets suspended mid-air.


    The deck still shuddered beneath them, but the armored clone troopers were already on their feet, the sharp whine and clamp of mag-boots echoing across the bridge. The rhythmic thuds and mechanical hisses were a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Commander Cody reached Block first, hauling the older man upright with a firm grip. Around them, crew members scrambled to reorient themselves, some working to stabilize the artificial gravity, others dragging limp and unmoving bodies from the floor.


    Obi-Wan gritted his teeth as he pulled himself toward the viewport, his fingers digging into the reinforced railing.


    "What are they trying to accomplish?" he muttered, eyes narrowing at the shifting battle lines.


    There was no rearview monitor, no way to confirm his suspicions, but he knew. There had to be Lucrehulks¨Cmassive, circular battleships lurking behind the Open Circle Fleet, their colossal tractor beams locking onto the disabled warships, prying them away from the rest of the Republic¡¯s Expeditionary Fleet like a predator peeling flesh from bone. The Separatists were separating them from the Republic formation entirely.


    But before Obi-Wan could even contemplate a response, a silence fell over him.


    Not a physical silence. The ship still rumbled with distant impacts, alarms still blared, voices still shouted orders¨Cbut something deeper, something immeasurable, had changed.


    The Force had gone mute.


    It was as if the universe itself had taken a breath and refused to exhale. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi¡¯s stomach twisted. He reached out, stretching his senses beyond the bridge, beyond the ship, searching for the familiar currents of life, the luminous web that connected him to the countless souls across the battlefield.


    Nothing.


    A fog. A dark, insidious mist filling the battlespace.


    A great, terrible wrongness.


    His breath hitched, and a sudden, unshakable dread rooted itself in his chest. This wasn¡¯t just the fog of war or the momentary disarray of battle. This was something else. Something vast. Something irrevocable.


    The battle in front of them collapsed.


    The Republic fleet erupted into madness.


    Turbolaser fire slashed across the void, but the patterns were wrong. Entire Star Destroyers pivoted, unleashing full broadsides¨Cnot at the Separatists, but at each other. Ship after ship, once locked in tight formation, turned on their allies without warning. Frigates that had fought side by side moments ago now exchanged volleys at point-blank range, their shields flaring and collapsing in bursts of blue on blue.


    Obi-Wan¡¯s breath caught in his throat as a Venator-class battlecruiser in the vanguard let loose with a full battery of heavy turbolasers¨Cdirectly into the flank of another Republic warship. The struck vessel reeled under the impact, hull plating peeling away in jagged sheets, decks rupturing as entire compartments vented into the void. Within seconds, another Venator responded in kind, its guns swiveling and unleashing a punishing broadside against its supposed ally.


    Fire. Wreckage. Betrayal.


    "What in Nine Hells is happening?" Admiral Block shouted, but Obi-Wan had no answer.


    The battle had become a massacre.


    At the heart of the Expeditionary Fleet, chaos reigned. Republic ships twisted and fired at will, their formations dissolving into an anarchic melee. Some still fought the Separatists, but many more had turned inward, turbolasers and missiles carving into their own ranks with brutal efficiency. A battleship at the formation¡¯s edge burst apart, its engines detonating as friendly fire tore through its reactor.


    Another heavy cruiser pitched forward, its bridge engulfed in a surge of flame and debris. Its final salvo, launched in the instant before its destruction, slammed into a nearby frigate, gutting it along its entire dorsal length.


    It was a storm of fire and treachery.


    Obi-Wan gripped the railing, his knuckles white, his mind racing to make sense of the madness unfolding before him. This wasn¡¯t the work of the Separatists, he knew it. They could have never done something like this. This was something deeper, something more insidious.


    The deck pitched violently beneath him. Obi-Wan braced against the railing as Vigilance lurched once more, but this time, the impact didn¡¯t come from the Separatists. The jolt reverberated through the hull, sending a tremor through the metal bones of the bridge. Sparks cascaded from overhead conduits, and a thin veil of smoke curled through the dim emergency lighting.


    ¡°That came from a Republic ship!¡± Cody shouted, his voice raw with disbelief.


    Obi-Wan¡¯s eyes snapped back to the viewport. The maelstrom of battle still raged, but now, he saw the patterns shifting¨Cthe chaos coalescing into something even more disturbing. There was a pattern now, an unmistakable divide taking shape in the battle lines.


    One side of the Republic was winning.


    Even with Vigilance¡¯s systems down, even without scopes or targeting readouts or the ability to identify who was who, Obi-Wan could see it. The disjointed melee was settling into something deliberate. Certain formations were peeling away, reorganizing, focusing their fire¨Cand they were winning. Turbolaser barrages, once scattered, were now concentrated, methodical, precise. Ships once mired in chaotic dogfights were now executing coordinated kill-box maneuvers.


    And many were closing in on the Open Circle Fleet.


    The Open Circle Fleet had been crippled by the Malevolence¡¯s ion blast. Their systems were fried, their weapons dead. Vigilance itself was helpless, locked in place by Separatist tractor beams, blind and deaf with no comms, no sensors. And now, their own allies¨Cor what had once been their allies¨Cwere turning on them, cutting them apart like prey left for slaughter.


    Another impact rocked the ship.


    A distant explosion bloomed in the void, debris cartwheeling across the viewport. A Venator in the distance¨Con its wings the painted open circle that signified its allegiance¨Cwas venting atmosphere from a ruptured hull breach, caught in the relentless crossfire. A Republic formation was closing in on it, turbolasers shredding its engines apart with pitiless efficiency.


    ¡°That is an execution!¡± Admiral Block clenched his fists, ¡°What is happening?¡±


    Obi-Wan exhaled sharply. This is the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s retaliation. Master Plo was right. And if everything happening now revolved around what the Kel Dor Jedi Master had told him and Ahsoka prior, then what the Perlemian Coalition was doing now was¡­


    Saving them. The realization hit him like a punch to the chest. Is this the agreement Master Plo made with Admiral Trench?


    ¡°Report from below, General!¡± Commander Cody shouted, having just received a flimsi report, ¡°The droid boarding parties had captured the main and auxiliary reactors! We can¡¯t cycle our power like this!¡±


    Still, he couldn¡¯t let his thoughts stray for long. Another wave of nausea washed over him¨Cthis time not from the battle but from the sudden, overwhelming weight of the Force itself. It had fractured, like a broken mirror. The usual currents of the Force, the familiar flow that kept Obi-Wan centered, were now distorted. Pieces of it shattered into jagged, dissonant shards, swirling through his senses.


    There was a sickening sensation in the pit of his stomach, a gnawing ache. His mind felt stretched thin as he reached out, but the ripples he felt were fragmented, detached, faint echoes of his brothers and sisters in the Force, their connections severed violently. Betrayed. Gunned down by their own soldiers. He could see it in his mind¡¯s eye, hazy pictures provided by the Force, relayed by his connections with all the Jedi that were dying like flies.


    Hold-out blasters appear in clone hands. ARC-170s drop back onto the tails of Jedi starfighters. AT-STs swivel their guns. Turrets on hovertanks swung silently.


    Clones open fire, and Jedi die.


    All across the galaxy. All at once.


    Jedi die.


    He felt them pass, ripped from his hands. But he had only one name on his mind right then.


    Ahsoka! His Padawan was his duty, and right now, the young Togruta was out in the black leading a combat patrol. He could feel her, a flicker of life, a spark of presence that he held close to him. She was fighting, leading her starfighter wing, as always, but the connection was weak. Like a light in a fog, her essence wavered, shifting through the haze of distortion.


    Right then, Obi-Wan could only regret everything. He was never as close to Ahsoka as he had been to Anakin. When Obi-Wan took Anakin as a Padawan, he had not yet known how to be a ¡®Master¡¯. He treated Anakin like a friend, a brother, and even now Obi-Wan could feel his presence so brightly on the other side of the galaxy. But Ahsoka? He treated her as any Jedi Master should, and taught her in the Jedi Order¡¯s ways.


    Desperation clawed at Obi-Wan¡¯s chest. He reached out more fiercely, trying to extend his senses through the Force, trying to pull her presence from the shifting tide of battle. But all he felt was the gnawing dissonance¨Cthe Force was alive with agony, consumed by confusion, devoured by a hungering black serpent. It was like trying to hear a whisper in the midst of a roaring storm. His connection to Ahsoka faded and flickered like an unreliable signal.


    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± Obi-Wan whispered under his breath, fear lacing his words. ¡°Where are you!?¡±


    Then, the black durasteel wall of the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s line of battle thundered across the viewports, interposing themselves between the Expeditionary Fleet and the Open Circle. His sight blocked, Ahsoka¡¯s thread in the Force slipped through her Master¡¯s fingers.


    ¡°NO!¡±


    ?


    ¡°Admiral Trench upheld his word,¡± Jedi Knight Lissarkh admitted begrudgingly.


    ¡°H-How many did we save?¡± Jedi Knight Bultar Swan¡¯s voice was shaking, her perfectly maintained and conditioned hair perfect no longer, sweat-soaked and draped over her eyes and nose like black ivy.


    Jedi Master Plo Koon answered, ¡°Not enough.¡±


    He felt Adi Gallia, the Jedi Master who masterminded the whole operation, pass in the Force. They have betrayed the ideals of the Jedi in order to save the Jedi. Jedi like him and her were tantamount to everything wrong with what became of their fallen order. He would join her soon, and with them, the Jedi Order.


    The bridge of the Hyperion was a battlefield unto itself. Behind the command console, the three Jedi stood, the pulse of the Force vibrating through their bodies, an ever-present hum of desperation and fury. Their lightsabers burned brightly in the dim, flickering light of the bridge, cutting through the oppressive tension that thickened the air. Clones, once allies, now surrounded them, weapons drawn, eyes cold and unfeeling as they stood under the command of the very enemy the Jedi had sworn to protect the Republic from.


    The words of the enemy were still a ghost in Plo Koon¡¯s mind. The treachery was fresh, like a brand on his soul, but there was no time for reflection now. The air was thick with the stench of betrayal, and they were outnumbered. His actions had allowed the Open Circle Fleet to fight another day, but for Plo Koon, who had driven Hyperion deep into the Republic vanguard, there would be no escape.


    Plo Koon¡¯s mask hissed as he exhaled, his movements slow and deliberate as he brought his lightsaber into position, the blue blade humming with an energy that seemed to intensify the more his mind settled into the calm, clear flow of the Force. He stood back to back with Bultar Swan and Lissarkh, their bond strong even now, though the three knew they would not make it out alive.


    ¡°You were right, Master, as alwaysss,¡± Lissarkh hissed, though her tone was light and humorous, ¡°We die like martyrs.¡±


    Without warning, the storm broke. The clones opened fire, blaster bolts flying from every direction, sizzling through the air like angry bees in a hive. Bultar Swan moved first, the edge of her emerald lightsaber flashing as she deflected shots, one after another, the precision of her motions honed through years of training. Her sabers whirled with such fluidity it was as though she were dancing in the heart of a storm. She blocked each shot with an impossible elegance, but the strain was apparent.


    Lissarkh was no less impressive. Her lightsaber was a streak of blue fire as she parried shots coming from the left, twisting to avoid others from the right. Her breath was harsh and labored, moisture forming on her scales as her grip on her weapon tightened with every passing second. The Force whispered around her, urging her to survive, to fight for just a little longer¨Cbut her strength was not limitless. Neither was the strength of her allies.


    Plo Koon felt the pulse of the Force as his companions moved, their strikes weaving through the chaos with an almost synchronized harmony. The brilliance of their lightsabers¨Cblue, green, blue¨Cilluminated the smoke-choked bridge in sharp, flickering flashes, each swing of their weapons creating arcs of light that seemed to sear the very air. Together, they were a ball of liquid fire that swept through the bridge, leaving the metal walls scorched and the air crackling with heat..


    Clone troopers were being cut down by the dozen. Each strike sent another soldier sprawling, their bodies crumpling to the floor with a finality that was harsh and immediate. The noise of their blasters was drowned out by the deafening hum of lightsabers slicing through the air, the crackle and hiss of energy clashing against armored plates. Some clones fell with a muffled grunt, others with a burst of static as their systems short-circuited under the relentless assault of the Jedi¡¯s strikes.


    The environment itself seemed to bend and warp with the fury of the battle. The walls, once pristine, were marred by deep burns and cuts, the scorched metal stinking of melted durasteel as sparks flew from exposed conduits. The air thickened with the acrid smell of ozone and hot, burning electronics, a biting scent that lingered in the lungs and choked every breath. Panels from the control stations were torn apart by errant lightsaber strikes, sending sparks hissing into the air. These sparks ricocheted off the hull, igniting small fires in the corners of the bridge, their flickering orange glow adding an unnatural warmth to the already sweltering environment.


    White smoke billowed up from the floor, swirling in thick, choking clouds that obscured the view. It twisted in the low gravity, caught in eddies of the ship¡¯s artificial atmosphere, before dissipating into the vents above. It burned the eyes and stung the throat, mixing with the stench of blood and charred flesh. The constant crackling of the lightsabers and the sounds of blaster fire were drowned by the underlying hum of the ship''s damaged systems, whirring, sputtering, and clanging with each hit they took.


    A sudden bite in the skull, a flash of warning. Plo Koon snapped to the viewports, just in time to see a nearby Victory unleashing a full barrage of proton torpedoes. Not at the Separatists, not at Serenno, but at the Hyperion.


    It took all of their skill as Jedi to not get thrown to the ground as the flagship lurched violently, a harsh and sudden gale sweeping the smoke out of the pilothouse. Hull breach. Leaking atmosphere.


    But it was enough to throw them off for a split second, and a single gap in their defence was all the clones needed to find their mark. Bultar Swan took the first hit. The bolt hit her in the side, and her body jerked violently. For a split second, she staggered, her breath sharp and ragged. The sharp crackle of her lightsaber faltered. Her knees buckled as another bolt pierced her chest, sending her crumpling to the cold floor of the bridge. Her lightsaber fell from her hand, clattering against the floor as she exhaled her last breath, her form slumping lifelessly into the growing pool of her own blood.


    Lissarkh''s face tightened with grief, but there was no time to mourn. She swirled his saber in a wide arc, cutting down the closest clone with swift precision. But as she struck, another blaster bolt caught her in the chest. She gasped, stumbling backward. Another shot struck her, this one to the leg, and then another in herside. Her breathing became ragged as she fell to her knees, lightsaber slipping from her hand and spinning out of reach. The blue blade flickered and died as Lissarkh¡¯s body crumpled forward, lifeless before she even hit the floor.


    Plo Koon stood alone now. Alone, and surrounded. But the calmness of the Force enveloped him, pulling him deeper into the present moment. There was no fear, no hesitation. He had known this would be his end. The clones closed in, their blasters aimed at his chest. A barrage of fire erupted. Plo Koon¡¯s saber cut through the air, his lightsaber flashing brilliantly as he deflected one bolt after another. But with each passing moment, he grew weaker. His arms ached. His breath was growing shallow.


    Another bolt struck him, this time grazing his shoulder, sending a sharp pain through his body. The next shot slammed into his side. The third hit his chest.


    He stumbled, but his feet remained steady as he kept deflecting the incoming fire. There was no fear, no panic in his heart. He had lived his life as a Jedi. He had fought and won countless battles. But this... this was the moment where his time would run out.


    A final bolt struck him in the chest, right above his heart. The impact sent a shock of agony coursing through his body, but he remained standing for a brief moment. He could feel his life slipping away from him, the strength in his limbs fading.


    Plo Koon''s gaze never wavered. His body slumped, slowly at first, then collapsed to the cold, unforgiving floor of the bridge. For a moment, everything was silent. He gripped his lightsaber tightly, staring at the smoking corpses of his two former apprentices, inhaling a thin stream of air through his mask; into himself with the air he brought pain and guilt and remorse at everything he had done to preserve what remained of the Jedi, and as he exhaled, they trailed away and vanished in the air.


    Republic warships continued firing into the wreckage of the Hyperion, uncaring of any who were still onboard. And as the mighty flagship began to fall, captured by Serenno¡¯s gravity well, Jedi Master Plo Koon breathed out.


    And he breathed out his whole life. Everything he had done, everything he had been, friends and enemies, dreams and hopes and fears. Empty, he found clarity. Scrubbed clean, the Force shone through him.


    You were the best of us, Master Dooku, the dying Jedi Master thought, blanking staring at the silver pearl of Serenno. You knew what was coming, tried to warn us. From the start.


    Plo Koon coughed wetly.


    The Old Order is dead, but the Jedi still live, saved by those we considered the enemy.


    A new start.


    A fresh start.


    The galaxy burned around him, and the final breath of a Jedi left the universe.


    ?


    Within the throne room of Castle Serenno, the seat of Count Dooku, a lone Jedi Master battled alone, against an oily black serpent.


    Sinking into Vaapad, Mace Windu fought for his life.


    More than his life: each whirl of blade and whipcrack of lightning was a strike in defense of democracy, of justice and peace, of the rights of ordinary beings to live their own lives in their own ways. He was fighting for the Republic that he loved.


    Vaapad, the seventh form of lightsaber combat, takes its name from a notoriously dangerous predator native to the moons of Sarapin: a vaapad attacks its prey with whipping strikes of its blindingly fast tentacles. Most have at least seven. It is not uncommon for them to have as many as twelve; the largest ever killed had twenty-three. With a vaapad, one never knew how many tentacles it had until it was dead: they moved too fast to count. Almost too fast to see.


    So did Mace¡¯s blade. Vaapad is as aggressive and powerful as its namesake, but its power comes at great risk: immersion in Vaapad opens the gates that restrain one¡¯s inner darkness. To use Vaapad, a Jedi must allow himself to enjoy the fight; he must give himself over to the thrill of battle. The rush of winning. Vaapad is a path that leads through the penumbra of the dark side. Mace Windu created this style, and he was its only living master.


    This was Vaapad¡¯s ultimate test.


    The throne room was a storm of lightning and fire. Mace Windu moved through it like a force of nature, his amethyst blade tracing arcs of violet destruction as it deflected blaster bolts and cut men in twain in single motions. The storm shrieked and howled, dancing across the polished obsidian floors of Castle Serenno, reflecting in shattered pieces of the great chandeliers above.


    Vaapad sang in his blood.


    His saber struck with the speed of a comet, intercepting arcs of dark power, sending them crackling into the marble columns. He pivoted, letting the Force twist him like a river bends around jagged stone, his strikes unpredictable, relentless. Let the darkness come. Vaapad did not reject the dark side¨Cit danced with it, fed from it, and then turned its power against itself. Every surge of anger, every pulse of hatred, every flicker of fear in his enemies only fed his strength.


    The white plastoid of their armor gleamed in the vile glow of the ruined chandeliers, their visors blank, emotionless, devoid of the humanity they once carried. They were his men. Soldiers who had bled beside him. Soldiers who had sworn loyalty. And yet now¨C


    ¡°Open fire!¡±


    Mace moved before the first bolts left their rifles. He was one with the oily black serpent, pure motion, pure intent. Traitors! The serpent¡¯s forked tongue did whisper in his ear. They¡¯re traitors! Traitors to the Jedi, to the Republic! We should have never trusted the Kaminoans!


    The Korun Master swatted the serpent away, but it coiled back around him. It alway will, for that was the price of Vaapad, to listen to the serpent of the dark side hissing in your ear.


    His blade wove a web of violet light, reflecting the storm of blasterfire back into the troopers. They fell in droves. He didn¡¯t hesitate. He didn¡¯t flinch. He couldn¡¯t. There was no time for mourning, no time for mercy. These were not the men he knew.


    And the serpent was hungry.


    Mace surged forward, shattering the line. A downward cut sheared through a rifle and armor in the same stroke. He pivoted, dodging left, a flick of his wrist severing a trooper¡¯s limbs before the body hit the floor. Two more raised their weapons¡ªMace reached out with his free hand, crushing their windpipes before their fingers could pull the triggers.


    A surge of energy rippled through him. The dark side pressed against his skin like the heat of a wildfire. It begged him to take more. To press deeper. To let go.


    He did not reject it. He wielded it.


    The Force screamed its warnings. More were coming. Hundreds. They came in squads, in battalions, in endless waves.


    Mace Windu cut them down.


    He was deep in it now: submerged in Vaapad, swallowed by it, he no longer truly existed as an independent being. Vaapad is a channel for darkness, and that darkness flowed both ways. He accepted the unstoppable tide of the dark side, the slaughter of the Jedi Order, the betrayal of everything he held dear, he drew the shadow¡¯s rage and power into his inmost center¨C


    And let it fountain out again.


    He moved. He did not slow. He could not. Vaapad had no mercy, no hesitation, no regret. The moment he stopped moving, he would die. Whereas other Jedi could only hold their ground against the seemingly endless number of clone troopers, Mace Windu was on the march, a force as unstoppable as the shadows shifting in the twilight..


    He had long since fought his way out of the throne room, letting the oily black serpent guide his footsteps. Count Dooku had long since left his mind, clouded by the fog, his original purpose forgotten. He was in the halls of Castle Serenno, sprinting down polished corridors, his blade cutting through troopers in flashes of purple light. The halls were elegant, noble, rich with history¨Cnow they were splattered with carbon scoring and the bodies of fallen soldiers.


    His soldiers.


    For how long did he fight? Minutes, hours? It did not matter.


    The castle doors burst open before him, blown from their hinges by the pressure of the Force. Mace Windu strode onto the landing, his blade a violet afterimage in the dim air, his chest rising and falling with measured breath. The ground beneath his boots was scorched and littered with bodies. Behind him, the halls of Castle Serenno burned.


    And before him¨C


    The Republic was falling from the sky.


    The first light of dawn was cresting the horizon, spilling gold over the rolling hills and towering spires of Carannia, but it did not bring peace. It illuminated the chaos. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning metal. The sky was a graveyard.


    Republic warships, their once-proud hulls shattered and venting atmosphere, drifted like dying leviathans through the upper atmosphere. Some burned from within, their corridors consumed by raging infernos. Others simply fell, engines dead, pulled inexorably toward the planet below. From where he stood, Mace could see one¨Ca Tector-class battleship¨Cits bridge split in half, tumbling end over end before slamming into the distant mountains with a flash of white-hot destruction.


    The Jedi Expeditionary Force. The armada that had once been the hammer of justice, the shield of the Republic.


    It was falling from the sky.


    That pause, that single moment of stark hesitation, that was all it took. Mace Windu strangled the oily black serpent curled on his shoulder with its own body. The dark side bled from him, and the creeping ache of exhaustion replaced it.


    With the serpent gone, the Force returned to his ear with a tremor. A pulse.


    Not here.


    Not just here.


    Everywhere.


    Jedi were dying.


    Across the stars, across battlefields, across entire worlds. It was a massacre, a slaughter beyond imagining. Their screams echoed through the Force like distant thunder, each death a ripple in the great river of existence. Mace felt it all.


    And for the first time in his life¨C


    ¨Che did not know what to do.


    The Republic was falling. The Jedi Order was burning.


    The dawn had come, but the light was already dead.


    Mace Windu looked down, fully expecting to see a hundred AT-TE cannons pointed at him, but there were none. All of his armoured battalions had been destroyed, their metal skeletons strewn across Count Dooku¡¯s once pristine stone garden. Clone troopers littered the ground, already wrapped in the white burial shrouds of their armour. And atop their corpses, was the soulless march of a droid legion.


    It took everything Mace had to not drop his lightsaber right then and there.


    He counted three C-9799 landing crafts, their broad wingspans providing shade for the whole field. In that shade, thousands of battle droids marched towards Castle Serenno, flanked by repulsor tanks.


    There was a slow, polite, clapping.


    Mace Windu whirled around, his blade of purple fire already outstretched. Count Dooku stood just outside his range, at the top of the stairs, clapping politely.


    ¡°Master Windu!¡± there was a smile on his face, one full of admiration, ¡°Master¡­ Master! You truly are a Master. You have mastered the dark side of the Force in a way I could have never done.¡±


    Mace Windu breathed out deeply, ¡°I am not you, Dooku. I never will.¡±


    The clapping stopped, and Count Dooku grabbed the curved hilt of his lightsaber, ¡°Fear not, you will never have the chance to.¡±


    The greatest duelist the Jedi Temple had ever known struck with all the speed of a viper, and indeed Mace could make out the coiled serpent at Dooku¡¯s back. It should have been a duel for the ages, one worthy of being writ into the annals of Jedi and Sith alike. The two greatest blademasters the Jedi Order had ever known, crossing said blades? The very thought of witnessing such would have made any salivate.


    Alas, the cowardly Sith had waited until the lone Jedi Master had already been spent. Nevertheless, Mace Windu met Dooku¡¯s strike with the blinding speed of a warrior who had lived his entire life on the edge of a blade. Their sabers clashed in a burst of light, crackling energy hissing through the air. Dooku¡¯s form was impeccable¨Cevery motion precise, every strike economical, the epitome of Makashi¡¯s elegance. Mace, even exhausted, moved with the sheer, overwhelming power of Vaapad, each strike designed to turn the Count¡¯s own darkness against him.


    For a moment, just a moment, they were evenly matched.


    Mace¡¯s strikes battered against Dooku¡¯s guard like a hammer against a blade, forcing the Count backward, step by step, toward the edge of the landing. But Dooku did not waver. His saberwork was too refined, too perfect. He evaded each stroke by the barest margin, turning the momentum of the fight with well-placed ripostes and sudden, elegant thrusts.


    Lightning cracked through the air¨CDooku¡¯s left hand flicked forward, a sudden burst of dark energy, not enough to wound but enough to force a reaction. Mace absorbed it on his blade, his grip steady, his stance unbroken. He surged forward, pressing the attack.


    Then¨C


    The Force screamed.


    Not from Dooku. Not from in front of him.


    Behind.


    Again.


    His instincts screamed at him, and before he could process the thought, his body was already moving. He twisted, his saber whirling around in time to intercept a crimson blaster bolt that would have struck him in the back. It deflected harmlessly into the stone, leaving a molten scar on the landing.


    There was a form. Not a clone. Not a battle droid. Large, and heavily-built like a bear. Mace could hardly process the sight before he whirled back around.


    But that single moment of distraction was all Dooku needed.


    The Count moved with ruthless precision, his blade flashing forward in a blur of silver and crimson. Mace had barely turned back when he felt the searing heat of plasma cut through his ribs.


    His breath hitched.


    Then again¨Chis body jerked as the saber pierced his side.


    He tried to raise his blade, but Dooku was already moving. A final, decisive stroke¨Can upward diagonal slash¨CMace Windu felt the world tilt, felt the ground vanish beneath him.


    The lone Jedi Master struck the earth, and again, and again, as he tumbled down the stairs. When he finally rested at the bottom, he stared up at the glowing twilight, and a great shadow loomed over him, six glaring red eyes pitilessly scanning down on his broken form, as if inspecting a particularly curious insect. Mace Windu knew that form, its name whispered in trepidation in Jedi Command councils and Republic Navy meetings alike.


    Admiral Trench, the Old Spider of the Secundus Ando.


    ¡°Fear not, Master Jedi,¡± the Old Spider¡¯s mandibles chittered, ¡°Your Order¡¯s existence has been preserved, though its future uncertain. That future, however, is theirs to take.¡±


    The shadow moved, and Jedi Master Mace Windu¡¯s lifeless eyes stared into the sky.


    The sky was still burning.


    And the Republic was falling from the burning sky.

 Chapter 94

    Empress Teta Orbit, Empress Teta System


    Koros Sector


    ¡°And you are absolutely certain the distress signal originated from Coruscant!?¡± Commodore Vinoc demanded in furious pace as he marched through the passageways of the Koros Spaceworks.


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± the BD-3000 attendant droid replied, hijacked by Lady Lex¡¯s programming, her stiff servomotors struggling to keep pace with his haste, ¡°My sister and I have already calculated the shortest flight plan possible. At best speed, we can reach Coruscant in eighteen hours.¡±


    Vinoc clenched his jaw. Eighteen hours? A pipe dream! The full might of Honor Salima¡¯s Home Fleet stood vigil over Coruscant, with all of the most advanced Star Destroyers the Republic Navy had at its disposal. In comparison, Vinoc¡¯s 284th Battle Division barely numbered seventy-four old and tired warships, with no more than twenty-two capital ships among their number. With some clever hyperspace plotting, they could surely bypass all of the picket lines between them and Coruscant, but they could never hope to touch the Jewel of the Core Worlds.


    His pace slowed as he turned left, gaze drawn toward the vast viewports lining the passageway. Beyond them, the warships of the ¡®4th Battle Division lay moored in the void, a flotilla of battered war machines silhouetted against the glittering shimmer of Empress Teta. The capital ships hung like wearily, the scorch marks of turbolaser fire and the patchwork plating of hasty repairs telling stories of their own..


    His eyes settled on Crying Sun, his flagship, a Providence-class dreadnought that seemed to weep golden tears in the reflected light of the ecumenopolis below. It was a beast of a warship, its once-pristine hull now a mosaic of battle damage and retrofit modifications.


    Flanking it, Recusant-class light destroyers stood in formation, their long, skeletal frames bristling with turbolasers. Lean and predatory, they had been the autonomous vanguard of his Deep Core Campaign, slipping past Republic sentry lines and striking deep into enemy strongholds. Beside them, the Munificent-class frigates rested like sleeping sentinels, their hyperwave jammers still warm from the last engagement. And that was not to speak of the dozens of cruisers and corvettes that filled their lines of battle.


    They were not the shining, pristine warships of the Coruscant Home Fleet, nor the Perlemian Coalition¡¯s painted warships gleaming in parade formations over Raxus Secundus. No, these ships were something else. Veterans of the void, of a hidden war they would never be thanked for fighting.


    Because they had fought, bled, and conquered in the shadows of the Deep Core¨Cbeneath the cold, unblinking gaze of the Galactic Center. Droid-brained warships slithered through the labyrinth of hyperspace, threading routes no sane navigator would dare attempt, maintaining vital supply corridors to their Givin allies in the galactic south. Battlecruisers bore the flag of invasion forces, spearheading assaults against the Republic¡¯s Deep Core redoubts.


    Now, he was being asked to turn these veterans against Coruscant itself. Against the very heart of the Republic. By a damn pleasure droid.


    Vinoc exhaled sharply.


    No, not any mere pleasure droid. Whilst it was indeed a chrome blue-purple bettie bot pacing beside him, her true form was a kilometre-long star destroyer lurking in the deep black. Recusant-class star destroyer, Lexington, the ¡®elder sister¡¯ of the two most notorious raiders in the Deep Core. Together with her twin, these fully autonomous warships had waged a campaign of terror and precision that no organic crew could have sustained.


    In the galaxy¡¯s long and storied annals of warfare, countless doctrines and battle plans bore the names of legendary strategists and brilliant commanders. But the brutal, unorthodox style of warfare that had carved a path through the Deep Core? That belonged to two artificially thinking machines.


    They had ruthlessly exploited theoretical hyperlanes, transited forbidden spacelanes where any flesh-and-blood crew would have met their doom, and stalked the battlefields of the ¡®zone¡¯ like monsters beneath one¡¯s bed. Lexington, Saratoga and their fleet had fought a kind of war that no organic mind could withstand¨Ca war waged in the crushing, endless dark, where even the stars themselves seemed to burn out under the unblinking stare of the supermassive black hole.


    To think these two machines were once just another batch of warships fresh from the foundries of Ringo Vinda. As with all droid automatons put under Rain Bonteri¡¯s command, they somehow found a certain kind of self-awareness of their own unlike any found in other droids. Vinoc knew not what data Bonteri trained his battle droids, but he could not deny the results.


    ¡°Commodore?" Lady Lex¡¯s voice¨Chollow, electronic¨Cbrought him back.


    ¡°I presume you have a strategy to break the Home Fleet¡¯s blockade?¡± Vinoc paused just outside the tender that would ferry him to his flagship.


    ¡°Affirmative. Saratoga and I will depart forthwith, and rendezvous with a second force enroute from Commenor just beyond the Coruscant Star System,¡± the droid star destroyer informed him, ¡°With this, we will have two separate forces, including the Fourth Division; one Rimward and one Coreward respectively.¡±


    ¡°You intend on distracting the Home Fleet whilst the Fourth Division slips from behind?¡±


    Lady Lex¡¯s glazed eyes bored into him, ¡°That depends on the timing of our arrival, and whomever Admiral Honor detects first.¡±


    Vinoc studied the BD-3000¡¯s lifeless stare, though he knew it was not truly her he was speaking to. Lexington was out there, somewhere beyond the viewport, a dark shape lurking against the light of Empress Teta. It was a strange thing, conversing with a warship in the shape of an attendant droid, but he had long since stopped questioning it.


    He exhaled, shifting his weight slightly as he mulled over the plan. The strategy was sound, though it relied on more improvisation than he would have liked. Would Lexington¡¯s division arrive first, or would his? Which would Admiral Honor detect first, and which would she decide was of a higher priority? There were far too many factors at play, and leaving the safety of Empress Teta¡¯s domain meant enforcing radio silence. It would all come down to luck.


    And yet, what other choice did they have?


    Vinoc nodded, slowly at first, then with conviction.


    ¡°We¡¯ll proceed with the plan,¡± he said, ¡°Make sure Saratoga is aware of every detail.¡±


    Lady Lex inclined her head, ¡°She already is.¡±


    Then the light in her photoreceptors flickered, dimmed, and faded. The BD-3000¡¯s posture stiffened, and with that, Lexington was gone¨Cher mind retreating back into the depths of her warship hull, the attendant droid falling into hibernation until she was needed again.


    Vinoc turned, stepping onto the tender, the hiss of the hatch sealing shut behind him. Within moments, the deck beneath his feet shuddered, and the small craft detached from the station.


    Through the forward viewport, he watched as the mooring arms of the Koros Spaceworks fell away, revealing the vast sprawl of the 284th Battle Division arrayed beyond. Veterans of a war that had never officially existed, hulls gleaming faintly under the reflected light of Empress Teta, the golden haze of the ecumenopolis casting a warm sheen across their massive frames.


    Vinoc activated the comm panel at his side, his voice steady as he addressed the fleet.


    ¡°All hands, this is the Commodore,¡± he began, ¡°Shore leave is canceled, effective immediately. All crews are to report to their vessels and be ready to depart in¡­ three hours. You will be briefed en route.¡±


    He toggled the frequency.


    ¡°Jorm, prep your auxiliaries and help me get a line to the Empress. I want to call in a favour.¡±


    ¡°¨CAnother sortie already? What¡¯s our target this time?¡±


    ¡°Coruscant.¡±


    ¡°...Well,¡± a worm of sudden apprehension slithered into Captain Jorm¡¯s voice, ¡°I¡¯ll certainly let Her Highness know.¡±


    The tender glided toward Crying Sun, engines humming low. Outside, the 284th Battle Division was already beginning to stir. Running lights flickered to life along warship hulls as skeleton crews warmed the engines. Moored vessels disengaged from their berths. Autocannons tracked invisible targets, shattering the ice buildup on their barbettes. Hollow tubes were filled with the dull warheads of proton torpedoes. The stillness that had settled over the fleet in the lull of shore leave was evaporating, replaced by the hum of impending battle.


    Vinoc folded his arms, watching it unfold.


    If the Republic hadn¡¯t known of their existence¡­ they certainly would now.


    ?


    Coruscant, Coruscant System


    Corusca Sector


    The order is given once, then again, and again.


    With each attempt, Republic Intelligence dispatches the order through another hole in the sabotaged communications network, another wavefront bursting out into the galaxy and towards the galactic rim. It spreads to GAR commanders on Togoria and Mimban, Dantooine and Wroona, New Cov and Serenno, and every battlefront, every military installation, every hospital and rehab center and spaceport cantina in the galaxy.


    And it is sent again, again, and again. Like a repeating mantra, an earworm digging itself into the minds of every clone, marshal, general and admiral in the Grand Army of the Republic, burning away any uncertainty of command.


    Everywhere.


    Everywhere, except for Coruscant.


    Because on Coruscant, Order 66 was already being executed.


    It was a slow suffocation, a deep, smothering shadow falling over the Force. Every breath she took carried the weight of dying Jedi¨Ceach one a brief flare of light, a sudden crack of pain, then silence. The hunters spread across the planet like a tightening noose, troopers and droids and agents surging through the great duracrete jungle like an unrelenting virus. Shocktroopers gunning down Jedi in the alleyways of Uscru District, gunships glassing hidden enclaves on Level 1313, snipers watching for any fleeing wayward robes on the high landing arms of the Senate Annex.


    Dawn was creeping across Galactic City. Fingers of morning brought a rose-colored glow to the wind-smeared upper reach of a vast twisting cone of smoke.


    Jedi Master Shaak Ti was not prone to profanity¨Cnot aloud, at least. Even now, as she plummeted four thousand meters from a penthouse suite, her lips never formed so much as a syllable. Her expression remained composed, serene, as though she were merely meditating against a stiff breeze rather than plummeting toward the duracrete veins of the ecumenopolis below. Yet when she caught sight of the source of that smoke her mind betrayed her discipline with a curse she had only ever heard in the depths of a Corellian shipyard.


    The Temple Precinct is on fire.


    Shaak Ti sharpened her hunter¡¯s gaze, and searched for a way out of her unplanned chuteless skydiving, sweeping the gleaming permaglass towers racing past her reflection, mind working faster than her freefall. There, just ahead¨Cbarely visible in the streaming lanes of air traffic¨Cmoved a police speeder, its silver-black chassis cutting through the dawn-lit smog.


    It was too far. She was moving too fast.


    She exhaled.


    The Force surged to her call, wrapping around her like an unseen cocoon. The terminal velocity that had threatened to smash her into the durasteel jungle below folded around her instead, the crushing force bleeding into something softer, more malleable.


    Slowing.


    A snap of her wrists, a shift in her posture, and the wind resistance caught in her robes, sending her angling toward the police speeder. The distance closed rapidly. Too rapidly. Even softened, the impact would be¨C


    Painful.


    Shaak Ti struck the speeder hard enough to crack the transparisteel cockpit, only the protection of the Force saving her from a panoply of shattered bones, the power of her landing buckling the repulsors and sending the vehicle into a spiraling dive. Its sirens whooped in distress, thrusters sputtering.


    Inside the cockpit, the police droid barely had time to register the incoming anomaly before Shaak Ti drove a boot through the transparisteel canopy, tearing it free in a shriek of metal and shattering glass.


    It struggled to unlatch its blaster pistol; ¡°Jedi¨C!¡±


    Shaak Ti grabbed its frame and hurled it skyward.


    It pinwheeled into the abyss, shrieking as it did so.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The Jedi Master slipped into the pilot¡¯s seat in a single motion, hands ghosting over the controls. The speeder was still in freefall, tumbling nose-first toward a crowded pedestrian thoroughfare. She snapped the control yoke to full reverse, thrusters whining in protest. The speeder screamed¨Cthen jerked upward, engines howling as it leveled out a few hundred metres above the duracrete.


    Shaak Ti exhaled through her teeth, steadying the craft.


    She stabbed a code that canceled the speeder¡¯s programmed patrol route, then grabbed the yoke and kicked the craft into a twisting ascent that shot her through half a dozen crisscrossing streams of air traffic.


    Shaak Ti momentarily glanced above her, towards the Chancellor¡¯s¨Cthe Sith Lord¡¯s¨Csuite, where flashes of emerald against blood red could be seen clashing through the shattered glass. A part of her urged her to return to Master Yoda¡¯s aid, but the Jedi Master within knew what was most important; the future of the Jedi Order. Master Yoda would agree, Shaak Ti was sure. Besides, he could handle his own.


    Master Yoda had not lived nine hundred years to fall by the hand of some Naboo flyboy.


    Destination in mind, Jedi Master Shaak Ti angled the speeder toward the smoke rising from the Temple Precinct, and triggered the speeder¡¯s comm. It crackled to life, the frequency a tangled mess of overlapping transmissions, static bursts, and clipped voices rattling off urgent updates;


    "¨CRepeat, all units, Temple District remains on full lockdown. Perimeter secure. Senate Emergency Response has declared a state of martial law across Galactic City. Repeat¨Cmartial law is in effect. Authorization to engage all Jedi on sight confirmed¨C"


    Canine teeth gnashed as Shaak Ti finally let go of her composure, clenching her jaw in rictus determination.


    ?


    Jedi Knight Barriss Offee and Jedi Master Cin Drallig sprinted through the empty vaulted hallway, clattering echoes of their footsteps making the two of them sound like an entire platoon. The main doors of the Temple were slowly swinging shut, two monumental duracrete edifices rumbling together until they locked into a flush surface.


    The two Jedi saw the lone gatekeeper there, Master Jurokk hunched over a monitor.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± Master Cin Drallig immediately demanded. He was the head of the Jedi Temple Guard, and if anybody in the Temple had any right to know, it was him.


    Master Jurokk did not need to say it. It was written in the way his shoulders sagged, in the deep lines of his face that the shadows could not quite hide. It was written in the night beyond the Temple, in the thunder of approaching boots, in the distant whine of engines and the rhythmic clanking of durasteel feet upon the permacrete of the Processional Way.


    The Gate Master stepped aside; ¡°See for yourself.¡±


    The night beyond the Temple was full of clones. Battalions of them. Brigades. Thousands. Heavy weapons and tanks and walkers lining up as far as the eye can see, in a solid, momentous march towards the Temple gate. Rank upon rank, shoulder to shoulder, no hesitation in their march. No uncertainty. No pause to wonder if they should be doing this.


    They had already decided. Or, more accurately¨C


    Someone had decided for them.


    Barriss saw the great siege walkers pause, saw the slow tilt of their cannons adjusting for angle, and saw the gunships wheeling overhead. He saw the black silhouette of the Temple reflected in thousands of T-shaped visors.


    A flicker of movement. A commander raising his hand.


    The world shattered.


    The first volley struck like the hammer of a vengeful god, slamming into the deflector shields in a cascade of shrieking energy. Blinding light bloomed across the surface of the shield dome, curling outward in chaotic flares. Over them, gunships and starfighters circled like vultures, punching and prodding the Temple¡¯s deflector shields with missiles and torpedoes and blasters. The duracrete beneath their feet trembled. The very air turned electric, snapping and crackling as the Temple¡¯s defenses strained against the onslaught.


    Another impact. Another. Then what felt like a hundred more.


    Blaster cannons roared in synchronized fury, hammering the shield with relentless, mechanical efficiency. Heavy artillery launched volleys of plasma-shells that burst like dying stars. Swarms of missiles left bright contrails in their wake, each one screaming bloody, burning death.


    The Temple groaned around them, dust drifting down in ghostly spirals from the vaulted ceiling. The concussive impacts outside had a rhythm to them now¨Csteady, methodical, relentless. The shields would hold. For a time. The walls would endure. For a while longer. But there was no question of the outcome.


    It was only a matter of time.


    Barriss Offee brushed a layer of grit from her shoulder, ignoring the shuddering tremors beneath her feet, ¡°Even with all our preparations, do you truly believe we can hold out?¡±


    Cin Drallig did not hesitate¨C ¡°Yes.¡±


    His certainty was absolute; ¡°Thanks to you and Master Gallia, we have fortified the Temple beyond anything the Coruscant Guard might have anticipated. Even if the shields fail, it will take hours for their siege cannons to crack the main gate.¡±


    ¡°And the other ingresses?¡±


    Jurokk answered this time, his voice measured but firm, ¡°Every hangar bay has been sealed, with their own localized shielding in place. All passages leading to the Undercity have been locked down, and the ventilation shafts have been sealed and shielded per anti-chemical warfare protocol. The Temple is now cycling its own atmosphere. Nothing gets in or out.¡±


    Drallig nodded fiercely, ¡°Every civilian staff member has been taken into custody as a precaution. We have Temple Guards at all critical junctions. No one enters the Temple. Not even Jedi who were caught outside when the attack began.¡±


    Barriss frowned, ¡°Homeworld Security could use captured Jedi to try and force their way in. I wouldn''t put it past them.¡±


    ¡°We are prepared for that eventuality. Even if they bring a hostage to our gates, the answer will be the same,¡± Jurokk¡¯s mouth thinned, ¡°You say help will arrive in eighteen hours? What have you arranged, Barriss?¡±


    Barriss exhaled. The so-called ¡®help¡¯ that was en route would hardly put her fellow Jedi at ease. Separatist warships, loaned to her by one of the most infamous admirals to ever serve the Confederacy, were hardly the saviors they would expect. Even now, she could feel the weight of the deception pressing against her.


    She forced herself to meet Jurokk¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Help is coming from Empress Teta," she half-lied, carefully measured, ¡°We made arrangements the last time we were there.¡±


    Cin Drallig tilted his chin in thought, then nodded, ¡°Eighteen hours¡­ yes, that would make sense. Master Plo and Master Gallia have been maneuvering far ahead of us all. Their foresight has always been remarkable."


    "You have no idea¡­" was Barriss'' melancholy reply.


    Another impact. Louder. Closer. The monitor flared with blinding light as something heavy detonated against the Temple''s deflector shield. The soft glow of dawn was drowned beneath the flash of cannon fire.


    They stepped back, deeper into the Temple. Around them, masked Temple Guards stood silent vigil, their white robes untouched by the layers of dust swirling in the air. Lightsaber pikes gleamed in the dim light, unwavering as the sentinels maintained their positions at key junctions and choke points.


    They would not yield. Not while the Temple stood.


    And yet Barriss knew, deep in the pit of her stomach, that this may be the last time it ever would.


    The halls of the Temple trembled with each distant impact, but within these walls, the Jedi held their silence. The air was thick with tension, charged like the telltale moment before a lightsaber was forced to be drawn.


    They moved swiftly through the corridors, passing ranks of Temple Guards, their white masks impassive beneath the flickering glow of emergency lighting. Barriss could feel the weight of their duty pressing upon them. These were Jedi who had sworn to stand their ground, who would fight and die to the last rather than let the enemy breach their sanctum.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if that made her feel reassured or sick.


    They reached the antechamber of the Room of a Thousand Fountains. The doors slid open with a hushed whisper, and the three Jedi stepped inside.


    The space was vast, a tranquil oasis at the heart of the Temple, where water cascaded in endless silver veils, pooling into glassy lakes and meandering streams. Here, the Living Force was almost tangible¨Clife flourished in vibrant bursts of green, the very air thick with the scent of flowers and mist. It was a place of peace. Of meditation.


    And now, it was filled with younglings.


    Hundreds of them, their small faces tight with worry. Older Padawans had gathered them in loose clusters, whispering reassurances, keeping them calm. Knights moved among them, their robes dampened by the ever-present mist, speaking softly but firmly. Some younglings clung to their elders, others sat cross-legged on the stone floors, their training keeping them composed in the face of terror. Each and every tremor sent the underbrush creatures scattering, the birds aloft with squawks and frantic wingbeats.


    Barriss took it all in with a glance. Her heart clenched.


    ¡°They¡¯ve brought them here,¡± Cin Drallig murmured.


    ¡°It was the safest place,¡± Jurokk said, his voice quiet, ¡°No matter what happens, this chamber must not fall.¡±


    Barriss exhaled sharply, ¡°That¡¯s exactly why this is the worst place to put them.¡±


    The two Jedi turned to her, frowning.


    Barriss gestured around the chamber, to the waterfalls, to the towering stone walls, to the great durasteel-reinforced doors that sealed this place from the rest of the Temple, ¡°We¡¯re in the dead center of the Temple. Surrounded on all sides. If the enemy breaches the gates, if they push into the halls, where do these children go?¡±


    She shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no way out.¡±


    Jurokk¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°I understand. We will be trapped here. And these younglings will have no escape.¡±


    Cin Drallig met her gaze evenly. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting we prepare an evacuation route. To a designated hangar bay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m suggesting we secure all evacuation routes, to all of the hangar bays,¡± Barriss corrected, ¡°The hangars are shielded, but if the enemy gets that far, we need a way to move the younglings out. We need to have transports ready, corridors cleared, and Jedi prepared to escort them.¡±


    ¡°If we split up¨C¡±


    ¡°More of us have a chance of surviving,¡± Barriss said, almost desperate, ¡°We know the Temple better than they do, but they have more men. The moment they break in, do you think they¡¯ll immediately begin their manhunt? Those men are clonetroopers. In a search and seizure, what do you think they¡¯ll do?¡±


    ¡°Secure all egresses¡­¡± Master Jurokk¡¯s forehead creased.


    Drallig nodded slowly. ¡°It will be difficult. The Temple Guards are already stretched thin. But we can try.¡±


    Barriss almost laughed, a bitter and mocking thing; ¡°At this point, trying is all we have left.¡±


    Master Cin Drallig left promptly then, to secure those escape corridors. And for a long moment, there was only the sound of falling water and swaying branches.


    Because what words were there left to speak of the Jedi Temple, save for its eulogy?


    Indeed, the halls of the Jedi Temple were silent.


    Not the peaceful, meditative silence that once filled them, nor the hushed reverence of a student kneeling before their Master. This was an absence, a vacuum where life had once thrived. Every step echoed too loudly. Every shadow stretched too long. The war had stolen many Jedi from these halls, but never before had the Temple felt so empty.


    Cin Drallig walked through the corridors alongside a handful of Temple Guards, their footsteps lost in the vastness of the once-bustling stronghold.


    They passed the Grand Hall, where once, the Jedi Council had addressed the Order in times of crisis. Now, its high ceilings and sweeping columns loomed over an expanse of vacant space. He imagined the hall as it had been¨Chundreds of Jedi gathered, standing shoulder to shoulder, their robes a sea of brown and cream, the air thick with purpose and unity. But no such gathering would happen today. There was no council to speak. No knights to call upon.


    They passed the Jedi Archives, the great bronze doors sealed. Chief Librarian and Jedi Master Jocasta Nu had refused to leave her post, choosing to remain with the knowledge she had dedicated her life to preserving. The Temple Guards had not argued with her.


    They passed the Grand Refectory, where laughter and conversation had once filled the cavernous dining hall. Long communal tables stretched across its breadth, empty save for a few scattered trays left behind in the rush of evacuation. The air still carried the lingering scent of the last meal served here¨Cstewed nerf, fresh greens, warm bread. A normal meal, on what should have been a normal night. How many Jedi had eaten here, unaware that it would be their last?


    They passed the Temple Dojo, where the echo of clashing lightsabers had once filled the space. The smell of sweat and training mats lingered in the air. How many Jedi had sparred here countless times, testing their skills against fellow Padawans, fellow Knights, and fellow Masters?


    They passed the silent meditation chambers, where countless Jedi had once sought clarity before battle, seeking the Force¡¯s guidance before embarking on missions that took them to the farthest corners of the galaxy. Now, the only presence that lingered was a heavy, suffocating dread.


    They passed the contemplation gardens, where Jedi had once sat beneath the Coruscanti sky to meditate among exotic flora gathered from across the galaxy. Now, the sky above was thick with gunships, their dark silhouettes cutting through the dawn, and artillery fire, streaking through the twilight like falling stars. The waterfalls that had once trickled musically down the tiered rock formations now seemed too loud in the stillness. The trees, carefully pruned by Jedi hands for generations, swayed gently in the artificial breeze, unaware of the coming storm.


    Finally, they arrived at the northern hangar bay.


    Normally a place of frantic motion, filled with Jedi starfighters being prepped for departure or returning from distant battlefields, the bays now sat eerily still. The shields holding Coruscant¡¯s atmosphere at bay flickered with a soft blue shimmer, framing the vast durasteel platforms where sleek fighters, shuttles, and transports rested in neat formations.


    Cin Drallig watched as Temple Guards and a handful of mechanics worked swiftly to prepare the ships for departure. Fuel lines were connected, navicomputers double-checked, astromechs loaded in place. A single glance confirmed what they had feared¨Ctheir options were limited. Many of the best ships had been taken by Jedi dispatched to the front lines. What remained were mostly older, slower transports and personal shuttles. They could carry out the evacuation if the worst came to pass, but they would be vulnerable.


    ¡°This will have to do,¡± Cin Drallig muttered, arms crossed as he surveyed the preparations, ¡°We¡¯ll station guards at every access point along the route from the Room of a Thousand Fountains to here. If the Temple falls, we need to hold that corridor long enough for them to launch.¡±


    Everything depends on how and when our help arrives.


    Meanwhile, the Room of a Thousand Fountains had become the heart of the Temple¡¯s last stand.


    It was the only place left where voices still whispered, where movement still stirred. The air was thick with humidity, the constant murmur of flowing water masking the occasional sniffle of a frightened youngling or the low murmurs of Jedi strategizing in the alcoves.


    Some of the older Padawans had begun taking shifts, keeping watch at the entrances while others sat with the younglings, telling stories of the Jedi of old in voices just loud enough to be heard over the cascading falls. They spoke of old legends; of Nomi Sunrider and Ulic Qel-Droma, of Satele Shan and Thon, of legends from an era before the Republic had ever imagined turning on its defenders.


    It was a distraction. A fragile one. But it was better than nothing.


    Barriss moved through the chamber, watching the tension in every face. Some Jedi meditated, but their brows were furrowed in concentration, the Force humming with their quiet unease. Others knelt with the children, speaking softly, offering reassurances they barely believed themselves.


    Master Jurokk stood with a cluster of Temple Guards, speaking in hushed tones. Every so often, one of them would glance towards the ceiling, as if expecting it to crack open at any moment.


    The children did not yet understand the scale of what was coming. Some were old enough to know that the war had reached their doorstep. That the men who had once fought beside them were now the enemy. But the youngest among them still reached for their masters¡¯ hands, still clung to the belief that the Jedi were invincible.


    They did not know that this night would decide whether the Jedi Order lived or died.


    Barriss closed her eyes. She had done all she could. The corridors to the hangars were secured. The escape routes mapped. The shields were holding. For now.


    And yet.


    Something deep in her gut told her it might not be enough.


    The Jedi Temple had never felt more like a tomb.


    Barriss exhaled, pressing forward, her pace steady despite the weight in her chest.


    Two hours have passed since she had called for help.


    ¨CSIXTEEN HOURS REMAIN¨C

 Chapter 95

    Coruscant, Coruscant System


    Corusca Sector


    It was a brand new day in Republic City. The skies were clear and blue, the light of Coruscant Prime¡¯s azure gleam reflected off the resplendent orbital mirrors that hung like blooming zeillas in the heavens. From the spires of the Senate District to the neon-drenched depths of the Uscru Entertainment Sector, the city hummed with the familiar rhythms of daily life. The great skylanes of the ecumenopolis thrummed with the endless stream of airspeeders, the great durasteel arteries of the Republic¡¯s heart.


    It was a brand new day in Republic City. And life marched forth as usual, for it had always appeared neither war nor strife ever putting but a misstep in the ever tenacious capital of the galaxy.


    But this time, there was something wrong. A distortion in the flow of the morning rush.


    Holo-displays flickered between the usual corporate advertisements and something far more jarring¨Curgent bulletins issued by the Senate Emergency Response, a scarlet banner scrolling across the bottom of every screen:


    STATE OF MARTIAL LAW DECLARED. TEMPLE PRECINCT UNDER LOCKDOWN. REPORTS OF A JEDI REBELLION CONFIRMED.


    A Jedi rebellion?


    The words struck like a bolt of static through the consciousness of the city. Some dismissed it outright¨Ca preposterous fabrication, an absurdity. The Jedi? The guardians of the Republic, the living symbol of peace and justice? But others hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at the edges of their disbelief. The Jedi had grown distant in recent years, ensnared in the machinery of war. In these times, their failures were as widely reported as their successes. And there had been rumours of a disaster on the Hydian front¡­


    And then, there was the smoke.


    It rose from the Temple Precinct like a dark omen, thick plumes coiling into the pristine morning sky, scattering ash and soot against the gleaming towers of Coruscant. Citizens on skywalks and balconies and the open-top seats of their airspeeders turned their gazes upward, raised hands shading their eyes against the sun, murmuring amongst themselves. There were five new skyscrapers in Galactic City that day, black and foreboding like spindly fingers grasping for the sun.


    Some whispered of a coup. That the Jedi had made a final, desperate grasp for power. That this was the price of their arrogance, of their secret dealings in the Clone Wars. Others argued that this was a purge, that the Supreme Chancellor had finally turned against his former allies.


    But no matter which story they believed, the fear was the same.


    The Jedi Temple was burning.


    ¨CAnd then, there was the noise.


    Galactic City never slept. Even in the dark of night, the constant flow of sky traffic never ceased. Noise was a fact of life in the beating heart of the Republic; a constant, rolling symphony of civilization. The whine of repulsorlifts, the hum of high-speed skylanes, the distant echo of ship horns from the upper atmosphere, the underlying roar of sublight drives, the whisper of wind coursing through the great duracrete canyons of the cityscape. These were the sounds of Coruscant.


    But on this new day, there was another added to the great orchestra of Galactic City.


    A thunderclap of firepower cracked across the city, rolling like an oncoming storm. The distant rumble of artillery, the deep, percussive boom of siege cannons, the unmistakable, staccato bark of heavy repeating blasters. These were sounds of war, sounds that did not belong here. Not on Coruscant.


    The sky above the Temple Precinct flashed with the brilliance of high-powered turbolasers, an artificial thunderstorm cast by the relentless assault on the Temple Precinct¡¯s shields. Sonic booms rattled transparisteel windows, sending tremors through the towering spires. Sirens wailed across multiple districts as security forces scrambled to contain the growing panic.


    Then there was the shouting.


    From the upper levels of residential towers to the crowded plazas far below, people pointed, shouted, recoiled in horror as the towering military walkers of the Coruscant Guard advanced, their artillery pieces thundering against the Temple''s mighty gates. Gunships circled like carrion birds, their blasters spitting lances of fire at the great stone ziggurat behind shimmering barriers of blue.


    The status quo upheld for the past thousand years had been shattered, crushed under the fist of field artillery. Coruscant had seen war. It had withstood planetary assaults, terrorist bombings, Separatist incursions. But this¨C this was something else.


    Coruscant seemed to be at war with itself.


    And that fact was none more clear than within the Jedi Temple itself.


    The Temple groaned. The ancient flagstones trembling under the fury of an army. Dust rained from the vaulted ceilings, filling the air with the scent of age and slow decay. Morning light spilled through shattered permaglass, casting jagged beams across the marble floors.


    The deflector shields had been exhausted, its generators overloaded under the relentless barrage of the Coruscant Guard.


    Beyond the sealed gates, a legion of clone troopers was on the march. Thirty-thousand bodies clad in red-white plastoid, ranks upon ranks of them stretching across the great plaza, their cannons and walkers arranged with droid-like precision. And above, the sky belonged to the Republic; gunships prowled the air, sweeping the outer terraces with laser fire, seeking the smallest breach, the smallest weakness.


    Inside, the Jedi held their silence.


    The Force was thick in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, in the heart of the Jedi Temple, where the last vestiges of an ancient order gathered. Here, where water once danced freely through tranquil gardens, where light cascaded through skylights in golden shafts, there was now only the hush of people. Younglings clung to their instructors, small fingers grasping at the folds of brown and white robes. Padawans sat in clusters, whispering to one another in voices that strained to be calm. The Knights stood apart, tense, hands never straying far from their lightsabers, seeking assurance in their trusted weapons.


    Gate Master Jurokk stood with arms folded, the invisible mantle of his station heavy upon his shoulders; ¡°They¡¯ve moved in the siege cannons. Four of them, each with direct sightlines on the main gate. They¡¯ll breach within the hour.¡±


    ¡°Faster than expected,¡± Jedi Knight Barriss Offee¡¯s voice was quiet, ¡°And the lower levels?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re attempting to sap the Temple from below. We¡¯ve already sealed everything beneath the Temple that we could, but it may not keep the clones at bay forever. Especially if they got Intelligence analysts with them,¡± Drallig exhaled sharply, shaking his head, ¡°That said, the Coruscant Guard knows that too. And they know the hangars are our only way out.¡±


    Barriss Offee studied the holoprojection before them, the Temple¡¯s schematics flickering in unstable light. If the situation was not glaringly obvious enough, there was a big red dot on the main gate, almost pulsating in beat with the staccato of not-so-distant artillery fire.


    ¡°We will need to begin evacuating to the hangar bays as soon as the main gate falls,¡± Barriss murmured, ¡°We can¡¯t let them surround us. Split up everybody here into three, four groups, each to a different hangar. It¡¯ll increase our collective chance of survival.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to delay the Coruscant Guard for an entire day,¡± Cin Drallig crossed his arms, ill hiding his apprehension, ¡°I fear to admit, I do not know whether that will be possible.¡±


    ¡°That is unlike you, Cin,¡± Master Jurokk put his fist in his palm, ¡°Delay them or not, we can only try, and leave the rest to the will of the Force. The Entrance Hall and Great Hall are undefendable; they are far too large. The clones will be able to march their walkers right up the Processional Way, if the central mezzanine doesn¡¯t collapse beneath their weight.¡±


    Another tremor shook the ground beneath them. Distantly, the Temple doors groaned against the weight of a Republic war machine. The sound was muted and far, somehow inevitable, altogether like the thunderhead of an approaching storm. An uneasy silence settled over the gathered Jedi, heavy as the stone walls around them. In the center of the chamber, the holoprojection flickered, the pulsing red dot at the main gate looming larger, brighter, as if it could already feel the heat of the cannons trained upon it.


    Barriss Offee turned her gaze upward, to the skylights above. The sky was still blue, cloudless and clear¨Cdeceptively beautiful. She wondered how many civilians out there were watching, listening, feeling the distant tremors but not understanding what they meant.


    How many believed the words blaring from the HoloNet? That the Jedi had betrayed the Republic? That the Temple, this sacred place, had become a den of insurgents?


    There was no time to dwell on it.


    The younglings had already been gathered into small groups, each with an instructor, each trembling with an unspoken fear. Padawans straightened their backs, tightening their hands into fists, willing themselves to be stronger than their years. The Knights adjusted their stances, shared glances, fingers clasped around their belts in silent acknowledgment of what was to come.


    And the Masters¨Csome who have guided the Jedi Order for years¨Cstood apart, their faces expressionless. And they breathed their entire lives into the hands of the Force..


    Then it came. A blinding flash. A thunderous impact. The Temple doors buckled.


    Inside, the Jedi felt it fall. They looked at one another. Then, without a word, they moved.


    ?


    To say Admiral Honor Salima of the Coruscant Home Fleet was entirely confused would be a grave understatement, though the stern-faced woman did not show it. The situation for the past day and night was enough to keep even the most carefree spacer up and pacing through the hours.


    Not because the situation was worrying¨Cthought it was; or even tense¨Cthough it was; but because the situation was simply that absurd.


    First, the Home Fleet¡¯s transceivers had been flooded with zettabytes of junk data from Republic Intelligence. For the Home Fleet¡¯s comtechs, who obviously had no possible context behind the sudden denial of service attack, their only conclusion was that Republic Intelligence¡¯s servers had been sliced into. The mere thought of that alone was enough to send the Home Fleet¡¯s officers into the frenzy.


    Because Republic Intelligence being sliced into?


    Republic Intelligence of all people?


    To say it was hardly believable would be an even larger understatement.


    Admiral Honor immediately ordered dispatches be transmitted back planetside, demanding a situation update, to no response. It took the better part of an hour for the Home Fleet¡¯s comtechs to discover it was not Republic Intelligence, but the military comsats over Coruscant that had been sliced into, and that the sudden freak show was not only occurring to the Home Fleet, but to every military hyperwave transceiver across the galaxy.


    That naturally led into the next absurd conclusion; these military satellites had been recently replaced after Separatist Admiral Dua Ningo¡¯s Attack on Coruscant. Was it possible that they had all been sabotaged? But for all of them to be exhibiting these symptoms¡­ just which part of the production line had they been compromised? It was Ansible Incorporated that had manufactured these comsats¨Chad Separatist saboteurs undermined Ansible¡¯s production line? Or was it a new technological terror, a Separatist sleeper agent of sorts, wreaking havoc in a last ditch effort to impair the GAR¡¯s comlines as Serenno fell? Or was it, stars forbid, an inside job?


    No matter what they speculated, the only conclusive fact was that Coruscant would be effectively isolated from the rest of the galaxy for however long until Homeworld Security resolves the situation. For the citizens of Galactic City, this could be waved off as no more than a sudden network failure¨Csomething they were now more or less accustomed to with the war raging on across the galaxy.


    For the Grand Army of the Republic, however, the situation was much more concerning. With their secure comlines down, they would have to rely on unsecure commercial and civilian lines of hypercommunication.


    And then, hours later, Republic Intelligence finally made another secure transmission. Except, instead of it being a situation update or reassurance or anything that could have put the captaincies of the Republic Navy at ease, it was the command to execute Order 66. The Jedi have rebelled against the Republic, it was announced, and have allied with the Separatist State to perform an attempted coup of the Galactic Senate and unlawfully execute the Supreme Chancellor.


    For the Coruscant Home Fleet, the situation had just gone from mildly worrisome, to downright ludicrous.


    The Jedi Order, betraying the Galactic Republic?


    That was not to say the Home Fleet, and the Republic Navy by extension, were by any means champions of the Jedi Order. Hardly, in fact. But in some ways, the Home Fleet and Republic Navy were intimately familiar with how the Jedi operated.


    Were the Jedi naive and inexperienced? Certainly!


    Were the Jedi arrogant beyond their ability? Definitely!


    Were the Jedi entirely unfit for their military offices? Of course!


    But were the Jedi ever not well-meaning in all that they do? Few GAR officers would answer yes.


    Because for all the Jedi were foolhardy and downright stupid at times¨Cfrom the perspective of a bonafide career officer, of course¨Cthe Jedi never acted out of spite or animosity, no matter how much friction was present. If they did, they would not be Jedi after all.


    So, the Jedi suddenly betraying the Republic? The Jedi who had not one political bone in the bodies? Betraying the Republic?


    The captaincies of the Home Fleet had a sneaking suspicion it was the Galactic Republic betraying the Jedi Order, not the other way around, and Admiral Honor was of no exception. Not that they would ever admit it out loud, of course. Because the fall of the Jedi Order benefited them in every way, and honestly speaking, it was not a rare opinion in the GAR that the Jedi Order was well past its time.


    And thus, in the end, would Admiral Honor Salima and her Home Fleet do anything as the Jedi were slaughtered across the galaxy?


    No.


    The Home Fleet was crewed by noble scions and political personages. Over the Crisis in the Core, Admiral Honor Salima had done much to elevate the Home Fleet¡¯s station above ¡®glorified sinecure¡¯ to ¡®battle-honoured fleet element¡¯ since, but at the end of the long day, the officers of the Home Fleet were still entirely politicians in military uniform. And during times of great upheaval, there was nothing politicians were known for better than sitting on the fence before falling into the camp of the winning side.


    Suffice to say, it was obvious the Jedi Order was not winning.


    The sight of the Temple Precinct burning through the Arlionne¡¯s scopes was evidence enough of that.


    ¡°So the Chancellor has taken action,¡± Flag Captain Terrinald Screed said as if it was a verified fact, ¡°He¡¯s removing the last roadblock between himself and unfettered authority.¡±


    Nevertheless, it was a difficult assumption to argue against, considering how the Supreme Chancellor has been manoeuvring the last few weeks. With the Galactic Senate¡¯s latest vote to maintain his office into the fourth term, the Chancellor must have decided he knew held all of the Republic¡¯s institutions in his bag¡­ all except for one.


    One, which he was now finally ridding himself of.


    And yet, there was a reason why the Supreme Chancellor had to resort to destroying the Jedi Order, rather than subverting or compromising it as he did the other organs of the Republic. The Jedi Order had ten-thousand years of history at its back. The institutions of Coruscant were as ephemeral as the tides of Spira, and they ebbed and flowed with every administration. But the Jedi Order? The Jedi Order was the one constant of Coruscant, as solid as the earthen spire their ancient ziggurat was built atop.


    The Jedi Order was unassailable by political means. Even in a galaxy increasingly lukewarm to their presence, there were still legions of soldiers, politicians, and regular citizens of the galaxy willing to rush to champion their name for no gain but to preserve their venerable memory.


    For the Supreme Chancellor to finally decide the Jedi Order is at its most vulnerable, vulnerable enough to uproot entirely¡­ they must have committed a blunder truly undefendable.


    Admiral Honor Salima tapped the console idly, ¡°Do we have any insight into what heinous act the Jedi had committed recently?¡±


    Captain Screed gestured at the digital dispatch, ¡°They rebelled, sir.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    Terrinald Screed frowned, ¡°A Jedi party attempted to assassinate the Chancellor in his apartment, it appears.¡±


    ¡°Which Jedi?¡±


    Arlionne¡¯s Flag Captain swallowed, clearly uncomfortable with the mounting pressure, ¡°...Well, the names reported are Adi Gallia, Shaak Ti, Yoda, among others. They¡¯re still being identified¨Cthe situation¡¯s fresh as it could be.¡±


    ¡°Adi Gallia, Shaak Ti¡­¡± Honor¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°If I recall rightly, those two were put in charge of that Homeworld Security investigation of a Separatist cell in the Works.¡±


    ¡°...Are we to interfere in any way?¡± Captain Screed asked hesitantly, unsure of his superior¡¯s questioning.


    Honor Salima raked her hawkish gaze across the Battle Room, ¡°Are we in any position to?¡±


    There was a deafening pause in Arlionne¡¯s Battle Room, brief and no longer than a second, but perceived by all within. Honor made no accusation, no claim, and no judgement, but whatever imagined implication contrived by the overactive minds of the officers present was enough to strike the room into dangerous silence.


    Thankfully, before their collective imagination could escalate, the Arlionne¡¯s comms chief hastily approached Admiral Honor with a dispatch fresh from the transceiver, almost too eager to change the atmosphere. The Admiral of the Core raised an eyebrow as she snatched the tablet from his hands.


    She squinted, ¡°From battlecarrier Prudence¡­ unknown and unregistered vessels sighted approaching inner planets from the OboRin Comet Cluster¡­ numbering twenty to thirty. Bearing oh-nine-six absolute on the Corellian Run. Prudence reports indications of recent extraction from hyperspace and enlarged drive cones.¡±


    ¡°Acceleration,¡± Terrinald Screed caught on quickly, ¡°Their extraction point is a bit far out, isn¡¯t it? Is the interdiction net raised?¡±


    Honor glanced at the nearby plotting board, where deckhands were already getting to work plotting out the speed and vector of their incoming contacts. The board was by no means empty. Coruscant was the beating heart of the galaxy, and there was a constant influx of contacts popping in and out of the system every second. The Coruscant System¡¯s interdiction net was not raised, nor would it ever be without the Home Fleet being notified.


    Captain Jan Dodonna¡¯s Prudence had singled out their new guests for a reason. Whether it was their inactive transponders, their suspicious extraction zone, or simply a leery gut feeling, Honor Salima was not one to undermine the judgement of one of her capable captains. Besides, with the unprecedented upheaval gripping Coruscant right now, there was no reason to not be overly careful. Any number of parties¨CSeparatist or not¨Ccould be looking to take advantage of the situation.


    ¡°Order Prudence to keep her distance,¡± Honor flicked her wrist, giving the tablet back to the comms chief, ¡°She will deploy a recon wing to investigate further. They will identify themselves, or be disallowed from crossing the inner planets.¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir!¡±


    ¡°We could commit a task force to intercept them,¡± Captain Screed suggested.


    Admiral Honor narrowed her eyes, ¡°Have you no faith in Captain Dodonna¡¯s abilities?¡±


    Terrinald Screed shook his head, ¡°Not so, Admiral, but Prudence¡¯s meagre picket line may not be able to intercept this flotilla should they be warships.¡±


    ¡°...Very well. We¡¯ll deploy the¨C¡±


    ¡°¨CIncoming transmission from the Regal, Admiral!¡± the comms chief came dashing back, breathing heavily, ¡°Separatist warships sighted bearing one-seven-eight absolute on the Koros Trunk Line! At least seventy of them! Task Force Regal is moving to intercept!¡±


    Bearing 178¡ã? Koros Trunk Line? They¡¯re coming from the Deep Core?


    Admiral Honor Salima¡¯s tactical sensibilities were already kicking into drive. Her immediate conclusion: a pincer attack! However, looking at the ranges involved, if this was a pincer attack, it was a poorly executed one. One pincer was far too close, and the other pincer was far too distant. The Separatists could be described in any number of ways, but incompetent was not one of them. It was a credit to the efforts of Separatist admirals and generals that their breakaway state had survived to this day.


    So the comsats were sabotaged by the Separatists after all? And the timing¡­ the Jedi really had allied themselves with the enemy?


    ¡°Dispatch Task Force Dragon to rendezvous with the Prudence immediately!¡± Admiral Honor commanded at a brisk pace, ¡°Helmsman, bring us around to the Coreward egress! We¡¯ll meet Regal there! And get me a scope sync with the Regal!¡±


    The scope synchronisation came quickly, the displays scattering with static before fizzling back into a high quality feed of the Regal¡¯s scopes. The spacers of the Arlionne were then seeing what the spacers of the Regal were seeing. A moving constellation of seventy¨Cno, more than that¨Csome eighty new stars quickly approaching. Honor didn¡¯t even need the registry to identify the drive cones. A mere glance at the smear of ion and gas had her identify them as Providence-class battlecruisers, the backbone of the Separatist navy.


    ¡°Bring us to battle stations!¡± Captain Screed roared, and the lights thudded to blood red and klaxons wailed in the background, ¡°Prepare for combat!¡±


    ¡°¨CSir!¡± the comms chief shouted again, ¡°Regal is standing down and awaiting further orders!¡±


    ¡°Oh¨C by Caraya¡¯s soul!¡± Screed nearly grabbed the chief by his collar, ¡°What the hell is happening out there, man!? Out with it!¡±


    ¡°T-Tetan transponders!¡± the man gasped, ¡°Regal¡¯s identified and verified the Royal Cinnagar! It¡¯s the Empress of the Deep Core!¡±


    ?


    The training gallery was burning.


    What had once been a luminous corridor of polished stone and towering statues was now more akin to a war zone. Smoke curled against the vaulted ceiling, choking out the midday sun that once spilled through shattered windows. The air reeked of scorched fabric, blaster ozone, and the acrid bite of charred duracrete.


    And in the center of it, Barriss Offee fought possessed by a void-shrouded revenant.


    Her breath came in ragged gasps as she pivoted on her heel, sweeping her blade in a wide arc to deflect a flurry of blaster bolts. She was heel deep in corpses, shattered statues, and blackened craters where blasterfire had struck home. Above, the vaulted ceiling trembled under the pounding of artillery fire, dust sifting down like the first flurries of an approaching avalanche.


    Her lightsaber moved in arcs of liquid fire, cutting through blaster bolts and carving the marble floor with errant strokes. The Coruscant Guard advanced in squad formations, their visors aglow in the flickering light, their rifles spewing sapphire death. She ducked, rolled, lunged¨Cdeflecting one shot into a trooper¡¯s chest, then pivoting to sever the rifle of another. But there were too many.


    Barriss danced back, her free hand outstretched, hurling a shattered column into the advancing formation. It bought her a moment¨Conly a moment¨Cand she exhaled sharply. Her tattoos burned, a sensation unfelt since the day Master Luminara put a pen to her skin. She took a glancingly brief moment to look around.


    The Mirialan Jedi was guarding one of the approaches to the Room of a Thousand Fountains with a dozen other Jedi Knights and a single Padawan Learner braver than he should be. They were buying time, time that seemed to be slipping through their fingers. But Barriss would not believe that their desperate bid to buy time was hopeless. Every hour they fought, every minute they struggled, every second they bled for, was a single grain of sand in the hourglass the cavalry could spend to reach them in time.


    She spotted a heap of fallen robes, and rushed to bring the injured Knight to their feet. A bolt clipped her shoulder, sending a burst of heat through her zeyd-cloth dress, but she bit back the pain. She could hear the clank of approaching walkers outside, the steady pounding of boots as more clones stormed the halls.


    Her jaw clenched. Is it time to fall back to the next crossroad?


    Her errant thought cost her dearly. By the time she released the dead Jedi, a clone was already aiming a blaster carbine right between her eyes. She twisted¨Cbut there was no angle left, nowhere to go.


    Then, the clone¡¯s body jerked violently, his rifle spinning from his hands. Another toppled beside him, his helmeted head snapping to the side as if struck by an invisible hammer. The rest turned in alarm, shifting their formation¨C


    And then the whirlwind descended.


    The first thing Barriss saw was a flash of red and blue. A cerulean lightsaber carved through the clones with mocking ease, slicing through plastoid armor like a scalpel through supple flesh. There was no hesitation, no wasted movement¨Cjust sheer precision, a surgeon¡¯s scalpel to the throat of the clone formation. A shocktrooper spasmed violently and collapsed, a smoking hole punched through his chest. Another fell, then another, their bodies twisting as unseen blows struck them from behind.


    A blur of fluttering cloth and jewels leapt through the carnage. Clones were thrown off their feet, slammed into the walls with bone-crunching force, lifted and crushed by unseen hands. Their shouts turned to scratchy screams, their formation shattered in a blink.


    And then, standing amidst the fallen, robe torn at the shoulder, lekku bloodied, expression unreadable¨C


    Jedi Master Shaak Ti.


    Barriss stared, heart hammering, ¡°M-Master Ti?¡±


    The older Jedi turned, her chest rising and falling with deep, controlled breaths.


    ¡°We need to move,¡± she said with utterly no sense of urgency, ¡°I¡¯ve already been briefed on the situation.¡±


    Barriss swallowed a lump in her throat, a hundred questions flashing through her mind, none relevant to the situation.


    She nodded, turning to shout at the surviving Knights, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Together, they ran.


    They fell back to the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Central as it may be, the Force was still strongest there, and it was still the most defensible section of the Jedi Temple. It was a frying pan, surrounded by the fires of the Coruscant Guard surrounding it, but abandoning the room would be leaping straight into said fires.


    Shaak Ti and Barriss weaved through the chaos. The corridors shook with detonations, the walls buckling as the shocktroopers pressed their advantage. The Jedi moved in small groups, covering each other as they fell back. Yet, while they retreated, unblemished white robes still fluttered gloriously as Temple Guards stepped back into the haze of the battle, twin-bladed sabers carving golden arcs through the smoke.


    Nameless, faceless, and unfearing of death. For there was no death, only an eternity in the Force.


    At the end of this long day the Jedi may or may not escape, but not a single Temple Guard will live past sundown. That was the oath they swore, that was the duty they gave their lives to the moment they donned the gilded mask they wore. They were to protect the Jedi Temple, and if the Jedi Temple was to fall, it would only be after each and every single one of them was dead.


    Master Jurokk met them at a crossroads, his blade igniting as he cut down an advancing squad. His face was streaked with soot, his expression grim.


    ¡°We¡¯re losing ground,¡± he said without preamble, barely taking notice of Shaak Ti¡¯s sudden attendance, ¡°We¡¯ve led the Coruscant Guard to believe we¡¯re all gathered in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. The moment the defence becomes untenable, we¡¯ll retreat through the evac corridors.¡±


    ¡°Are they secure?¡± Master Shaak Ti asked.


    Master Jurokk smiled wanly, ¡°We know the Temple better than they do. Not a single clone has been spotted in the corridors as of now. In any case, the Room of a Thousand Fountains is the perfect place to slow the clones down¨Cbeing an artificial jungle and all. We¡¯ve decided Master Cin Drallig and his Temple Guards will remain behind when the time comes, and delay the clones for as long as possible there.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t survive,¡± Barriss stated.


    ¡°The rest of us will.¡±


    ?


    The Royal Cinnagar was a Tetan Supremacy-class attack cruiser. It was a conservative size, only a little half-kilometer from bow to stern. But that didn¡¯t make it any less grand to the eyes. Its hull was curved and slender, sloped at bow and stern in the traditional oceangoing style, hearkening back to more ancient times. But that was not what caught the eye. Its superstructure was more beautiful than practical, a veritable gothic cathedral sat atop its hull, sensor masts for spires and autocannon banks for buttresses.


    Very much so, Admiral Honor Salima had decided, a luxurious flagship worthy of an empress.


    But the Empress herself? Not so much.


    Empress Eara Lota was a slight of a girl, barely an adult by galactic standards. She clearly fashioned herself an empress, the colours of her imperial regalia somehow visible through the blue-scanned filter of the hologram. It was enough to make Terrinald Screed shift nervously beside her, and make the officers on deck tense up.


    Why were dozens of grown men and women terrified of a little girl?


    Well, because in the Home Fleet, they were all still politicians in military uniform at the end of the day.


    More specifically, because there was a reason the Tetan Monarchy was one of the last galactic governments still able to style themselves the imperial dignity. Empress Teta was the veritable throneworld of the Deep Core, one of few worlds capable of coming close to rivalling Coruscant in luxury and splendor, in no small part due to the high habitability of the Tetan Star System. The reason why the Tetans had arrived was obvious; they were long-time allies of the Jedi Order. In fact, the very founding of the Tetan Monarchy five millennia ago was partially credited to Jedi aid. Not to mention that the Jedi Plo Koon had recently aided the Tetans in rebuking the Battle Hydra¡¯s occupation of their capital system.


    Admiral Honor Salima was not ignorant to the senatorial crisis occurring on Coruscant. The Senate¡¯s confirmation of the Chancellor¡¯s fourth consecutive term had seen no small number of senators withdraw from the government. The antagonism of the Tetan Monarchy, one of Coruscant¡¯s longest standing allies, would be a severe blow to the Legitimist Republic, as much so as Alderaan¡¯s, Humbarine¡¯s, or Duro¡¯s.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    A diplomatic trespass against the Tetans could not be afforded. Not just in fear of the political fallout, but also the strategic fallout. The discovery of a secret hyperlane through the Deep Core, exploited by the Separatist Admiral Rain Bonteri to strike at the Core Worlds and Agricultural Circuit, was the linchpin of Empress Teta¡¯s military significance, and it was no small significance indeed.


    ¡°I will make this brief,¡± Empress Eara Lota said simply, ¡°My delegation wishes to confirm Empress Teta¡¯s position in your Chancellor¡¯s new Republic.¡±


    There was no hesitation in her words, no uncertainty in her bearing. Honor Salima had dealt with enough rulers, senators, and generals in her time to recognize that Empress Eara Lota was not asking for permission. The Empress was immediately making it abundantly clear that the ¡®Admiral of the Core¡¯ did not rank above the ¡®Empress of the Deep Core¡¯.


    Beside her, Terrinald Screed stood rigid, his lips pressed into a thin line. The officers on the command deck had the same stiffness about them. The weight of the conversation hung in the air.


    Honor inclined her head slightly, ¡°Your Highness, I take you understand the delicacy of the situation.¡±


    Eara Lota¡¯s expression did not change, ¡°Continue.¡±


    The Admiral of the Home Fleet swallowed her indignation, ¡°Then Your Highness understands that the Jedi are in open rebellion against the Republic. Coruscant is under emergency security measures. I cannot permit foreign warships to make landfall as of now.¡±


    A faint flicker of something¨Camusement, perhaps¨Ccrossed the young Empress¡¯ face, ¡°So you consider us a foreign fleet?¡±


    Honor¡¯s brows arched slightly, ¡°I am no person to play with words, Your Highness. As of this moment, all armed fleets not flying the flag of Coruscant are considered a foreign warfleet.¡±


    Eara Lota¡¯s smile died, a doorway closed off to her. She continued nonetheless; ¡°Empress Teta is one of the Republic¡¯s most steadfast Coreward members. We have stood with Coruscant for well over five millennia. And yet, I have received no official notice of this so-called rebellion. No declaration. No formal communication from the Senate. All I have seen are unverified reports and scattered transmissions.¡±


    ¡°The Jedi had sabotaged our communications infrastructure to ensure their attempted coup goes smoothly,¡± Admiral Honor smoothly replied, ¡°Fortunately, Homeworld Security acted swiftly, preventing the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s assassination.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± the Empress trailed off in thought.


    Honor took her gaze away from the girl¡¯s form, to the viewports. To the Separatist warships.


    Her Flag Captain followed her attention, ¡°They all have verified Tetan signatures, sir. Must be warships captured from the Battle Hydra.¡±


    ¡°Why would she bring them here?¡± Honor grumbled.


    ¡°...To make a point?¡± Terrinald wetted his lips in uncertainty.


    ¡°Have we gotten any reply from planetside yet?¡± she hissed at him, ¡°We can¡¯t keep them here forever.¡±


    Captain Screed promptly whirled on his heel and marched back into the Battle Room with all the intensity of a hurricane, urgently demanding updates.


    ¡°¨CNevertheless, this situation regarding the Jedi Order is a matter of concern to me,¡± Empress Eara Lota smiled apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m certain I won¡¯t have to explain why. As such, I would like to confirm the situation for myself¡­ and assure certain agreements with the Senate.¡±


    ¡°I have been receiving certain transmissions you see, Admiral,¡± the girl continued, ¡°From Chandrila, Duro, Alderaan, and half a hundred others claiming to be the true ¡®Restorationist¡¯ Republic. Alarming transmissions.¡±


    Salima exhaled slowly, ¡°I do not question your loyalty to the Republic, Your Highness, but¨C¡±


    ¡°But I do question the Republic¡¯s loyalty to us,¡± Eara Lota interjected, ¡°Tell me, Admiral, does the Chancellor¡¯s Republic still count Empress Teta among its allies? Or does it now consider us an enemy? As it does Chandrila and Alderaan? This is what I am here to make certain.¡±


    A silence fell over the command deck.


    Honor Salima did not move. Did not blink.


    This girl, this barely-adult Empress, had backed them into a corner.


    To deny her would be to publicly snub the Tetan Monarchy, an insult with consequences that stretched far beyond this moment. If the Tetans decide to align themselves with Chandrila and the Secessionists¡­ the political ramifications alone would be enough to make the Legitimist Senate tremble. The military ramifications¨Cblocking one of the few hyperlane-rich Deep Core powers from Coruscant¨Ccould shake the very foundation of not just war effort, but the Republic¡¯s future itself.


    And Eara Lota knew it.


    The moment stretched.


    Terrinald Screed returned, face glistening with sweat. He shot his Admiral a glance, and nodded frantically.


    Then, Honor Salima inclined her head.


    ¡°My apologies for the inconvenience, we have just received an update from the Galactic Senate,¡± she said, ¡°Your Highness may seek further instructions from ground control.¡±


    Eara Lota beamed, ¡°Perfect! I will only proceed with my imperial flotilla to avoid panic. The captured ships will remain here under your close purview.¡±


    ¡°Our thanks,¡± Admiral Honor got out, ¡°For your consideration.¡±


    The hologram flickered, then vanished.


    The silence remained.


    Terrinald Screed exhaled sharply, ¡°This is a mistake.¡±


    ¡°Who are we to stop it from happening?¡± Honor Salima clenched her fists, ¡°Just what has this galaxy come to?¡±


    The sublight drives of the Royal Cinnagar¡¯s cathedral-warships bloomed gold, and their sleek forms were thrusted past Arlionne¡¯s formation, teardrop hulls gleaming in the Coruscant sunlight. Honor watched them pass, wondering what would come of it. Then, she turned her attention back to the Separatist warships, their leviathan-like silhouettes close enough to draw out a sense of hair-raised, edge-of-your-seat anxiety any veteran Republic spacer would be closely familiar with, even despite their friendly status.


    ¡°The Senate made their decision,¡± Honor continued, impassively gazing towards her should-be enemies, ¡°It is out of our hands. Now, what of Dodonna¡¯s report? Those unregistered vessels in the outer planets?¡±


    Terrinald looked to his datapad, and paused, eyes widening, ¡°Prudence has identified them as Separatist warships, sir.¡±


    A beat passed. Honor stared at the Separatist warships outside Arlionne¡¯s viewports. A new, dark light shone in her eyes, as if a longtime suspicion of hers had just been confirmed.


    ¡°Actual Separatist warships?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± her Flag Captain nodded shallowly, ¡°No organic crews detected. Prudence suggests they are stragglers, left behind by the Perlemian Coalition in the wake of Rendili.¡±


    Honor¡¯s eyes narrowed, not once taking her attention off the captured Separatist warships. Everything just seemed a little too¡­ convenient. Her tactical sensibilities were screaming at her. All signs were pointing towards a¨C pincer attack! Pincer attack! Attack them now!


    At the same time, her political sensibilities screamed back. If she fired the first shot, it would be a¨C diplomatic trespass! Diplomatic trespass!


    Ultimately, the decision came down to Honor the Politician, or Honor the Admiral.


    ¡°¨CShould we intercept the Tetan contingent?¡± Screed¡¯s attention was now following the cathedral-warships transiting through the Home Fleet¡¯s formation.


    Honor Salima shook her head. The Senate had just ordered the Empress¡¯ dignitary flotilla through. And said Empress had just confirmed these Separatist warships to be captured and commandeered by the Tetan Guard. Could it all just be one large, terrible coincidence? For a moment, Honor the Politician was winning.


    But Honor Salima wasn¡¯t a politician or senator or bureaucrat. Honor Salima was the Admiral of the Core.


    If Empress Eara Lota had come to Coruscant with a diplomatic flotilla, why would she choose to bring Separatist warships of all choices? All that achieved was raising unwanted tension. Was Terrinald Screed correct, that she was testing them? That she was making a point? Or did the Tetans arrive with the assumption that negotiations would end disastrously, and that they would have to fight their way out?


    ¡­Fight their way out?


    ¡°...Captain,¡± Admiral Honor Salima murmured, ¡°Get me an analysis of their formation. And as soon as the last Tetan vessel clears our formation, modify our lines of bearing into a bow-and-quarter line, starboard echelon forward.¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir!¡±


    Minutes later, the individual warships of Coruscant Home Fleet began subtly shifting their stations, engines quiet as thousands of miniscule microthrusters got to work adjusting megatonne hulls around. Honor Salima stood like a statue on the bridge, eyes tracking the Separatist warships opposing them. And she watched them move too.


    Her Flag Captain returned with data in hand; ¡°They¡¯re modifying their own formation in response to ours. And¡­ uh¨C¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Their turbolaser batteries are tracking our hardpoints.¡±


    At that moment, Honor Salima the Admiral won.


    ¡°Order Prudence and Dragon to intercept our unwanted guests. Thirty warships should pose no issue to them,¡± the Admiral of the Core commanded promptly, ¡°As for these fellows right before us¡­ set all deflector shields forward. Have the Regal fire a single warning shot¨Cmake it go wide.¡±


    Terrinald Screed relayed the orders so smoothly it was as if his Admiral had not just ordered him to play chicken with a clearly battle-tested Separatist warfleet. The Coruscant Home Fleet and the Perlemian Coalition Armada stared each other down in hammerlock range, gunners on both sides with their fingers curled around the trigger.


    And the Home Fleet shot first.


    The Perlemian Coalition Armada shot back.


    ?


    Thousands of clone troops swarmed the Jedi Temple. The Coruscant Guard poured through shattered doorways, boots pounding against scorched stone, pressing forward in death squads. The Temple Guards and Jedi Knights made them fight for every step, every corridor, every corner. Blaster fire streaked through the hallways, ricocheting off pillars and burning through banners that once bore the insignia of the ancient order.


    But not even their supernatural abilities could stem the unrelenting tide of armoured shocktroopers storming the Temple, and gradually, the Jedi began to flag. It became a scene repeated a hundred times; the Jedi guard a doorway, the shocktroopers push, and the Jedi retreat to the next door. Over, and over, and over again, for hours upon hours, as morning stretched to midday, until it became clear to the Coruscant Guard where the Jedi were retreating to.


    The Room of a Thousand Fountains. Consulting their holoplans of the building, that was the conclusion they made. The Jedi must be going to stage a last stand there.


    So that¡¯s where they went.


    They surrounded the confines of the Room of a Thousand Fountains, securing every known exit across all seven floors. They set breaching charges on the doors¨Cand a heavy explosion sent a tremor through the walls as a squad of clones blasted open the archway to the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Smoke and dust billowed outward.


    And the shocktroopers stormed the front, fully expecting an army of lightsaber-wielding Jedi waiting for them.


    There was none.


    The Room of a Thousand Fountains was completely empty, and eerily quiet.


    They advanced into the thicket, cautiously, expecting the Jedi to be hiding in the deep underbrush. In that vast misty gloom, one of the clones caught a glimpse of someone moving beyond a stand of Hylaian marsh bamboo.


    ¡°Halt!¡± he shouted, ¡°You there! Don¡¯t move!¡±


    The shadowy figure darted off into the gloom, and the clone turned to his squad brothers.


    He didn¡¯t have time to even utter a word of warning.


    Jedi Master Cin Drallig¡¯s emerald saber cut the first clone down before his boots had even touched the broken stone. Around him, his Temple Guards erupted from the jungle-like undergrowth, their white masks flickering in the haze, their pikes igniting in arcs of molten gold. From behind trees, from the mist of flowing waterfalls, they struck¨Cdarting, slashing, fading into the shadows before blaster fire could catch them.


    The Coruscant Guard faltered for the first time since entering the Jedi Temple. The Coruscant Guard, masters of urban warfare, entered headfirst into the one terrain they would never expect on the city-planet capital of the galaxy.


    An entirely alien, hostile jungle.


    Commander Thorn of the Coruscant Guard watched as his men struggled to find their footing. Through the thick mist and foliage, all he could see were flashes of gold and green, followed by the harrowing screams of his brothers through the comms. Did he, for even a moment, doubt what he was doing?


    Not really.


    All he felt was a deep and terrible hatred for those who killed his brothers. Say what you will of the Coruscant Guard, but they overcome any and all challenges. Ultimately, they were cloned troopers of Kamino, and they always found a way to finish their mission.


    Commander Thorn¡¯s expression hardened as he stepped over the bodies of fallen Jedi. He was losing men too fast. The jungle was too thick, the mist too dense. The Jedi were dragging them into a fight, a fight on their terms.


    And that was not what Thorn was here to do.


    He toggled his comms.


    ¡°This is Commander Thorn. We¡¯re going to need flamethrowers.¡±


    Meanwhile, as Master Cin Drallig and the Temple Guard desperately fought to buy time, columns of Jedi moved swiftly through the ruined corridors, the soft shuffling of boots on temple stone drowned beneath the distant, ceaseless thunder outside the walls.


    Barriss led from the front, her green blade flashing as she struck down the first trooper to round the corner. Behind her, the Jedi Knights formed a protective vanguard, fanning out to intercept the enemy while the Padawans and caretakers herded the younglings through the wide causeways and up the flights of stairs. They made their way up, and up, and up. To the Temple hangars.


    Children clung to their caretakers, the smallest of them cradled in the arms of nurses and medical droids. Some sobbed, their cries muffled in the folds of their robes. Others were silent, eyes wide, their innocence stolen in the span of a single day.


    "We''re almost there!" Barriss said, not sure if she was speaking to her comrades or to herself.


    As they made their way up, they all naturally made their way out, towards the outer shell of the great ziggurat. And that was when they heard the roar of engines.


    Gunships.


    Dozens of LAAT gunships circling above the Temple spires, mass driver missiles ceaselessly slamming into the armoured doors of hangar bays in the attempt to pry them open. The only way out for the Jedi were through the hangars, after all, so that was where they would strike. Missile after missile struck the ziggurat superstructure, one volley sent durasteel scaffolding plummeting into the causeway ahead, cutting off one of the routes to the secondary hangars.


    Another volley struck the base of the Tower of Reconciliation.


    With an explosive crack, the great spire split from its foundations.


    It collapsed in almost like in slow motion; stone groaning, duracrete fracturing, banners tearing loose from their moorings as it twisted downward, down toward the hangar bays. Barriss barely had time to shout a warning before the impact slammed through the Temple, sending bodies tumbling to the floor. Dust erupted into the air, blotting out the glow of the firestorm above.


    "Get up!" she urged, pulling a dazed Padawan to their feet, ¡°We need to keep moving!¡±


    ¡°Keep moving where!?¡± the Padawan cried, a certain hopelessly spilling from their lips.


    ¡°To the next hangar,¡± Shaak Ti simply replied, montrals standing rigid high, ¡°And we hope that one hasn¡¯t been destroyed too.¡±


    At the same time, a hundred floors beneath the fleeing Jedi, the air shimmered with heat.


    And the gardens burned.


    The waterfalls¨Cthose gentle cascades that had once bathed the chamber in eternal serenity¨Chad turned to steam, thick plumes hissing as they met the inferno. The pools boiled, sending scalding mist spiraling upward in great clouds, rising to mingle with the smoke. Trees crackled, leaves curled into embers. The winding stonework paths, polished smooth by centuries of flowing water, cracked and shattered under the intense heat.


    Cin Drallig felt it in his lungs, how the oxygen in the room was being devoured by the flames, the way every breath took more effort than the last. The Jedi around him fought not just against the clones but against the fire, against the heat that pressed in from all sides, stealing the air, pulling sweat from their skin only to turn it into steam before it could fall. Their robes clung to them, soaked through, smoldering at the edges. Some had already collapsed, their bodies curled in on themselves, hands clawing weakly at their throats.


    The clones, sealed in their vacuum-rated armor, pressed forward, undeterred.


    The Temple Guards still fought, emerging from the smoke, striking down troopers before vanishing once more into the burning mists. But for every clone that fell, three more took their place. The Temple Guards were outnumbered, outgunned, and now, slowly, suffocating. The Force can only abide them for so long.


    Beyond the Room of a Thousand Fountains, the Jedi Temple was suffocating from the inside.


    Smoke billowed outward, thick and choking, spilling into the corridors, curling into the passageways of the Temple like the grasping hands of some ancient, vengeful spirit. The murals and inscriptions of a thousand years vanished behind black clouds that drew serpentine shadows as they slithered from hall to hall, the golden-hued walls darkened with soot. The Temple¡¯s errant defenders¨Cthose Jedi who had split off to lead the clones on wild chases through the ancient mazes¨Cwere now running for their lives, coughing as they staggered blindly through the acrid haze.


    Some had found themselves in sealed meditation chambers, clawing at the doors as the rooms filled with smoke faster than they could find another way out.


    Others had chosen their battlefields poorly.


    A lone Jedi Master, saber in hand, had lured an entire squad of clones deep into the archives, weaving through the towering shelves of ancient holobooks. She had thought to lose them in the labyrinth of knowledge, to buy time, to disrupt their advance. But when the smoke had reached her first, when the heat had grown unbearable, she realized it had been a mistake.


    After hours of fighting Jedi Master Jocasta Nu collapsed in a corner of the corpse-filled library, lungs heaving, throat stripped bare, her bloodied saber falling from her grip. The Chief Librarian of the Jedi Temple searched through her robes with the last of her strength, producing a tiny, unassuming device.


    The clones reached her moments later. She couldn¡¯t see their faces behind the cold, impassive visors of their helmets, but she could see down the hollow throats of the blasters pointed at her. And she could also feel the cold metal touch of the detonator in her hand.


    And in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, a distant explosion boomed as the last sworn defenders of the Temple made their final stand, the flames rising around them, the shadows of their blades flickering against the raging firestorm.


    Jedi Master Cin Drallig fought on.


    His lightsaber spun in emerald arcs, deflecting fire, severing blasters, cutting through armor. His Temple Guards had dwindled to barely a handful, their white masks now streaked with soot and blood. Tongues of fire surrounded them now, licking at their robes, lashing at their skin. A blast sent another Jedi to the ground, their body disappearing beneath the creeping inferno.


    Cin Drallig gritted his teeth.


    The air was gone. His lungs burned, his body ached, his vision swam in the wavering heat.


    A familiar sound met his ears¨Ca voice, distorted through a helmet speaker, flat and impersonal.


    ¡°Found him.¡±


    And the last Temple Guard in the galaxy struck the burning earth.


    ?


    From the pilothouse of the Royal Cinnagar, Vinoc watched as the crystal-stone urban sprawl of Coruscant grew closer. It was a sight so familiarly unknown to him, the endless thrum and bustle of the capital of the galaxy. When was it last, he did wonder, he had last set foot on Coruscant? Too many years ago, he knew, so much so that he felt nothing for the planet he once called home.


    It had not been a departure of joy, that much could be said. Vinoc recalled that bygone memory; the sensation of standing at the pinnacle of the Tower of Reassignment, feeling as if he was being crushed by the mountain the Temple sat upon. The Reassignment Council may have exhorted and sermonised the honour and purpose found in the Jedi Service Corps however much they liked, but every Jedi Initiate knew what being sent to the Service Corps meant.


    Failure.


    You spend your whole life as an initiate, learning in the ways of the Force, the high walls of the Jedi Temple as your entire world. Only to find out you failed your Initiate Trials. Only to find out no Jedi Knight or Master would take you as their apprentice. Only to find out you would never be a Padawan, and never be a Knight. Only to find out you were never worthy of that hallowed title; Jedi. Only to find out you were not worthy.


    They called him a ¡®fallen Jedi¡¯ many times during his time with the Separatists, but Vinoc knew the truth; he had never been a Jedi at all. Vinoc had been a glorified farmer tossed to the corner of the galaxy, forgotten by the Jedi Order that raised him. And when Folende rose in arms to join the Separatist Alliance, Vinoc and the rest of the AgriCorps in the world decided that they may as well remain with the people who they¡¯ve lived with for years, rather than fight to return to Coruscant.


    Little did they know about Count Dooku¡¯s desire to build a new Jedi Order then, Vinoc mused wryly, but that was a tale for another time.


    ¡°Feeling homesick?¡± ¡®Empress Eara Lota¡¯ asked curiously.


    ¡°Not at all, Your Highness,¡± Vinoc told her wistfully, ¡°Just wondering what could have been.¡±


    The ¡®Empress¡¯ nodded slowly, ¡°I would be bitter if I were you, sent to rescue the Jedi that forgot you.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I may have been young and bitter then, I am no longer,¡± Vinoc released a laugh, ¡°The older and more mature initiates knew the right of it; service in the Service Corps was respectable. Moreso than being Jedi Knights, in some ways, directly helping the galaxy from the level of the citizens. But most of us were children who spent our entire lives in the Temple, taught that the entire galaxy was our birthright. Once we became Jedi Knights, the world would be at our feet, and we could do whatever we want, go wherever we want¨C¡±


    ¡°Only to be crushed underfoot by reality,¡± the ¡®Empress¡¯ sighed emphatically. Vinoc had a feeling she knew the feeling more than anybody, considering how her own life had panned out.


    Vinoc shrugged, ¡°I do admit, I find it ironic that I all of people would be leading this rescue operation. All things are the will of the Force¨Cif this is the road it has laid out for me, I can only laugh at its cosmic humour.¡±


    There was a long silence as the Royal Cinnagar continued descending, gunships of the Coruscant Guard rising to meet them before falling into escort positions. They could see the rising columns of smoke now from beyond the ridges of duracrete, as they approached the Senate Precinct.


    ¡°I have to thank you, Your Highness, for assisting me in this absurd demand,¡± Vinoc turned to the small girl.


    She shrugged, ¡°I have lived a life of service since the day I was born. For a body double, this rescue operation is one of the most exciting things I have ever participated in. For this, it is I that must thank you.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless, we could have never made it this far without the role you played.¡±


    ¡°It is just another part of the¡­ job¡­¡±


    ¡®Empress Eara Lota¡¯¨Cfor she had no name of her own¨Cfroze, eyes widening as her gaze locked onto a sight on the horizon, the words she spoke lost to the rising whine of repulsorlifts. Vinoc followed her sight then, and found himself unconsciously clenching the metal cylinder at his belt, as if to strike a man down at that very moment.


    The sun was setting upon Galactic City.


    And the Jedi Temple was ablaze.


    Smoke billowed from every shattered window, curling around the ancient ziggurat like the coiled body of a massive black serpent. The five iconic spires that once proudly rose over the city were now charred skeletons of their former selves. One of them had collapsed entirely, its ruin strewn across the decks below, massive slabs of stone and duracrete forming a graveyard with headstones of rubble.


    Gunships swarmed like fleshflies around a corpse, searchlights cutting through the gloom as they patrolled the airspace around the Temple. On the ground, clone companies pressed their advance through the shattered main doors, white armor gleaming against the orange glow of the flames. The great doors of the Jedi Temple had been blasted apart¨Cnow a jagged wreckage that saw host to clone battalions and military walkers grinding masonry under their durasteel feet.


    And above it all, the dark side reigned.


    Vinoc felt it, his connection to that addictive fuel never stronger. The sheer weight of it pressed against his senses like the scent of rain and incoming lightning. Vinoc, who walked that line in the sand, heard that echo of despair and triumph both. But that scar remained, the scar made by the triumphant inflicter, borne by the despairing inflicted. The echo lingered in the air, just as that wound refused to close.


    The ¡®Empress¡¯ was the one who disturbed his reverie, approaching him with news; ¡°Captain Jorm reports that they have been shot at by the Home Fleet.¡±


    Vinoc¡¯s head snapped to the viewports, where Coruscant Guard gunships flew nearby.


    ¡°That quickly? Jorm will keep the Home Fleet pinned until the rescue is completed,¡± he answered, ¡°As for us, we should make it quick. Let¡¯s begin painting the extraction zone for our droid friends.¡±


    ¡°Certainly. And how should we respond to the Coruscant Guard?¡±


    ¡°Plot an escape vector, and shoot back.¡±


    Three billion klicks away, two sister ships were leading a battered fleet of thirty-two frigates and destroyers right into the jaws of the enemy. Recusant-class star destroyer Lexington counted over sixty Republic Star Destroyers approaching at a blistering pace, a force vastly outnumbering and outgunning their small force. For any other commander, it would be a daunting confrontation.


    The thirty-two warships Lexington commanded rusted old hulls, remnants of the White Hand that survived solely by being captured and interned at Commenor years prior. They and their droid crews had been forcefully reawakened by PRIESTESS via Handler One, but they were still far from operational. Low fuel, diminishing ammunition reserves, unmaintained engineering bays and questionable system integrities all led her to the conclusion that the incoming battle was hopeless.


    If their intention was to battle, that was.


    >Incoming shortburst from CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV


    >Initiate handshake


    [From CND_1.911.812.01.571_1310RV] QIOSRMHBMHNANTHXYNJPFPPWOXUGMEFWLQZLMUHASUW


    >Access naval encryption key rotors


    >Decrypt session


    [From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. EXTRACTION ZONE ARRANGED.


    [To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED.


    [From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] CONTACTS TWELVE MINUTES TO INTERCEPT. PLEASE ADVISE.


    [To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] STANDARD INTERCEPT PROCEDURE. FALL BACK AND INSERT.


    [From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] ACKNOWLEDGED. EXECUTING MANEUVER.


    Lexington and Saratoga abruptly cut their engines, ¡®falling back¡¯ into the formation behind them and disguising themselves as one of the many Separatist hulls in the fleet. As the White Hand engages the Home Fleet in a sacrificial manoeuvre, the two droid hulls would make the microjump into Coruscant¡¯s atmosphere.


    Normally, hyperdrives have built-in safeties to prevent this from happening. Most hyperdrives automatically disengage upon detection of an incoming mass shadow, but for droids with full control of their hulls, disengaging those safeties was a simple affair. Regardless, few organic crews would attempt such a daring jump anyway. Attempting to extract right above the surface, yet avoid being swallowed by the planet¡¯s mass shadow, was much like threading a needle in on the first try. There were simply too many factors to take into account, as compared to ordinary jumps which had literal million-klick rooms for error.


    Fortunately, Lexington and Saratoga had not a single organic cell in their kilometre-long hulls.


    [From CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] HOSTILES INTERCEPTED. EXECUTING JUMP. AGREE?


    Their astronavigation computers were synchronised, ensuring they would insert into the same


    hyperspace tunnel. Destination: Temple Precinct, Senate District, Galactic City.


    [To CND_SARATOGA_1310RV] AGREE.


    ?


    It was at one of the Jedi Temple¡¯s many hangar bays that Barriss was rendezvous with Master Jurokk. His evac team had arrived first, whilst Barriss¡¯ team had the unfortunate luck of their goal being blown out right in front of them. Or perhaps that was fortunate, for they had not been there when it happened.


    Nevertheless, the well-lit chamber that once saw the comings and goings of diplomatic envoys, Jedi on assignments, and supply shipments had seen better days.. Smoke clung to the durasteel rafters like a specter, a choking haze illuminated only by the emergency lights lining the landing zones.


    Starfighters, speeder transports, and old Jedi shuttles stood idle on the launch pads, some barely functional, others prepped for takeoff. This one reality immediately struck Barriss. With the sudden influx of more Jedi than what they had prepared for, the rows of shuttles on standby now appeared alarmingly inadequate.


    ¡°Drallig bought us time,¡± Master Shaak Ti informed Jurokk of the situation, ¡°But we don¡¯t have long before they breach the hangar doors.¡±


    She gestured to the blast doors behind them, sealed shut to prevent the burning smoke from invading their last sanctuary. And of course, to stop the advance of the Coruscant Guard.


    ¡°What about the other evac teams?¡± Barriss pressed Jurokk, ¡°Were they able to reach their hangars?¡±


    Master Jurokk shook his head, ¡°We don¡¯t know. The clones are jamming our comms. We have no contact with anyone outside of this room.¡±


    Barriss turned to the shuttles, to the transports, to the frightened faces of younglings clutching at their instructors¡¯ robes, to the weary Padawans standing in clusters, whispering among themselves. The Knights had formed a perimeter at the main doors, sabers in hand, their eyes locked on the thick durasteel blast doors that rattled with each distant explosion.


    Too many Jedi. Too little ships.


    A white-faced Jedi Knight approached them. Barriss Offee already knew what terrible news he would utter. She knew it when she saw the shuttles and ships filled to the brim with writhing bodies, and she knew it when she saw a circle of younglings still huddled together on the permacrete.


    ¡°The ships are full. There¡¯s not enough space for everyone.¡±


    Oh, how those words settled over them like a death knell.


    Barriss¡¯s stomach dropped as she looked around, and counted the numbers again, as if somehow she had miscalculated the first time. But she hadn¡¯t. There simply wasn¡¯t enough space, not for all of them.


    Master Jurokk stared at her. Perhaps he did not mean it, but Barriss felt the meaning of that look anyway. Not enough space for you, it said, you and the ones you brought here without warning.


    He was the first to speak, ¡°Some of us will have to stay behind.¡±


    A tense silence fell between the Masters. The question was obvious.


    Who?


    Barriss recalled the single word spoken to her years ago¨Cthe word of a young Atrakenite girl with her brother in her arms. And she knew her answer then.


    ¡°Empty the shuttles and board them again,¡± Barriss stepped forth firmly, ¡°Padawans and younglings first. Caretakers and instructors next, then Knights, then Masters.¡±


    Jurokk stiffened. ¡°How can the Jedi Order survive without its Masters?¡±


    The next words Master Shaak Ti said appeared to have been stolen right from Barriss¡¯ mouth before she could utter them herself.


    ¡°Survive?¡± the Togruta Master questioned, ¡°This is not a question of survival. We have not come this far to preserve what has already passed. We are here to ensure the future of the Jedi. We are not that future¨Cthey are.¡±


    They looked toward the shuttles, where the youngest of them sat huddled together, too exhausted even to cry. Some were only toddlers, barely aware of the nightmare unfolding around them. Others were old enough to understand, but not yet old enough to fight.


    ¡°The Force is a gift, one we¡¯ve already opened and spent,¡± Barriss said softly, ¡°They haven¡¯t. We owe it to their parents that they live to do so.¡±


    Jurokk closed his eyes for a long moment. When he opened them again, there was something raw in his expression, ¡°Fine. But we need at least one Master to go with them. All the Jedi on Coruscant are dead; we don¡¯t know the fate of the Jedi in the galaxy. We need assurance that they¡¯ll survive beyond the hangar gates.¡±


    ¡°Master Shaak Ti is the last Councilmember left, that we know is still alive,¡± Barriss pointed out.


    Master Jurokk looked at the Councilmember, not that the title meant much at all anymore.


    ¡°...If it is demanded of me, I will serve,¡± the Jedi Master said at last.


    Jurokk nodded decisively, then marched off towards the transports. They turned to the others, to the Knights still holding the line, to the pilots in the cockpits of their shuttles, to the Masters standing silently by the ships they would never board.


    ¡°All of you, out!¡± Master Jurokk commanded, ¡°The younglings first, then the Padawans! In an orderly fashion, everyone. Stay with your creches!¡±


    One by one, the smallest of them were ushered aboard. And not a moment too soon.


    Behind them, the muffled screams of cutting torches could be heard through the agonised groan of the blast doors. The red glow of plasma sliced through the durasteel, and the Knights at the front tightened their grips on their weapons. Master Shaak Ti was the last to board a shuttle, and as soon as she did, Master Jurokk turned back to join the last Knights of the Jedi Order.


    Barriss Offee was standing by the lever to unfold the hangar gates. What awaited them on the other side, she did not know. At the end of it all, it could be the galaxy¡¯s final joke for the Jedi Order, for thousands of point defence guns outside to be aimed directly at the hangar gates in taunting expectation of their escape attempt.


    She exhaled, and pulled down on the lever hard.


    Age-old gears screamed and shuddered. The hangar gates unfolded like a paper fan, revealing an amber dusk falling over Republic City. Barriss internally braced for the storm of missiles crashing into the hangar¨Cbut there was none.


    Those dreaded gunships of the Coruscant Guard were gone, now preoccupied with greater matters. For the fires of battle have spread beyond the Jedi Temple, and were now rising to consume that magnificent forest of aeries that rose above the clouds.


    For every red-painted LAAT gunship, there were three shrieking Vulture droids. For every AT-TE turning their mobile artillery around, there were two C-9799 transports descending through the stratosphere. For every clone battalion formed on Precinct grounds, there were five droid legions touching down.


    There were two Separatist destroyers hanging in stasis directly over the Senate District, massive spindle-shaped ships that hung verticall¨Cbows pointed down and afts rising higher than any skyscraper¨Clike twin swords aimed directly over the heart of the Republic. Barriss recognised what had happened; they made a hyperspace jump, and extracted right before they smashed into the planet. Even now, Barriss could feel the terrifying roar of retrothusters and repulsorlifts straining to keep the two warships from crashing.


    Their turbolasers thundered, droid starfighters spilling out of their rafters and shell-armour, landing transports cutting through the smoke shrugging off attempts made by shocktroopers to shoot them down. Enough firepower to take a small city.


    One of them¨Cits running light flashed lengthwise, as if winking at her, and air came rushing back into her lungs.


    It''s them! They¡¯re here!


    Barriss exhaled violently, turning to Master Shaak Ti, poised at the open door of the last shuttle.


    ¡°That¡¯s them!¡± she shouted, ¡°You need to go now!¡±


    The Togruta Master glanced at the sight beyond the hangar gate, then back at her, ¡°The Separatists?¡±


    ¡°Are we really in any position to turn down help where we can get it?¡± Barriss shook her head, ¡°We should be grateful anyone is willing to come save us! Head for those destroyers, and don¡¯t look back!¡±


    Shaak Ti closed her eyes for a long moment, and finally told her¨C ¡°Come aboard! We can still make space for you!¡±


    Barriss laughed, ¡°Thank you for the offer, Master, but my mission is still incomplete. Now go!¡±


    Maybe the Jedi Master saw it on her face, or felt her meaning in the Force, but she did not argue. A moment later, the first shuttle lifted off. Then the second. Then the third.


    And then, the blast doors behind them gave way. Shocktroopers stormed the hangar, coming face to face with the army of exhausted Jedi ready and waiting.


    ¡°May the Force be with you!¡± Shaak Ti shouted as her shuttle lifted into the fire-filled sky of Coruscant.


    ¡°As you!¡±


    Jedi Knight Barriss Offee watched the shuttles rise into Coruscant¡¯s evening sky, their hulls glinting in the last rays of sunlight as they broke free of the suffocating Republic. Beyond them, in the distance, silhouettes emerged against the darkening horizon, beyond even the Separatist destroyers¨Cflying palaces, gothic spires suspended in the sky above the Senate District, a sight so out of place that it almost seemed unreal. But she knew what she saw.


    And she knew what it meant.


    A single word surfaced in her mind, carried from the lips of an Atrakenite girl over two years ago.


    Hope.


    A breath, steady and measured.


    Hope was not something given. It was not a force of nature, not an immutable law of the universe. Hope was made. It was willed into existence by those too stubborn, too desperate, and too foolish to let go.


    She had sworn herself to this mission knowing what it would cost her. And with that oath came another, one she had spoken only to herself. She had not done this for the Separatists. Not for the Jedi Order. She had done it to burn down the Old Republic and the rot that festered in its core. Until that self-made promise was fulfilled, her work was not yet finished.


    Barriss turned her gaze toward the sunset, toward the open galaxy beyond, vast and unknowable. There, the survivors of this fallen order would scatter like embers on the wind, drifting toward whatever future they could carve for themselves. A part of her wanted to be among them¨Cto take part in something new, to help shape what would come next.


    Then she turned back.


    And the light of the setting sun paled in comparison to the glow of the fire consuming the Temple. The air was thick with the stench of scorched stone and flesh, of ozone and smoke. The great halls that had once stood for a thousand generations were now a churning storm of fire and blaster bolts, of screaming and dying, flashing with crackling thunder and lightning strikes of lightsabers, backlit by the amber glow of advancing flames. The darkness was absolute.


    Down with the old, she had promised, and up with the new.


    And the old has not been downed yet.


    Barriss Offee raised a hand in a final farewell to the departing shuttles, then let it fall to her side.


    She ignited her lightsaber. Blue fire roared to life in her grip.


    She caught an errant blaster bolt on the edge of her blade, turned, and stepped back into the hell.

 (C96) The Chariots Epilogue

    Excerpt from the DECLARATION OF A NEW ORDER


    ¡°Senators of the Republic, loyal citizens of our great democracy¨C¡±


    ¡°It is with a heavy heart that I convene this Extraordinary Session of the Senate tonight. The long war that has torn our galaxy asunder for the past three years should have ended yesterday. Our brave soldiers, the Grand Army of this Republic, had brought the Separatist threat to its knees. The final battle was upon us. Our forces had surrounded the traitorous Count Dooku and his closest circle. One final push, one last sacrifice, and this long night would have ended in peace and victory¡­¡±


    ¡°But that victory had been stolen from us. By those we had trusted most!¡±


    The Jedi Order¨Cthose who once swore to be the guardians of our Republic¨Chave betrayed us all!¡±


    ¡°At the crucial hour, as our legions closed in on the cowering enemy, the Jedi turned their blades against the Republic. Against you. They conspired with the Separatists at Serenno, the very enemy they swore to fight! The so-called defenders of justice revealed their true nature: self-serving warlords, intent not on peace, but on power. They did not seek to end the war; they sought to seize control of our Republic itself!¡±


    ¡°Even here, in the seat of our democracy, their treachery ran deep. As our brave soldiers gave their lives to victory on the front, the Jedi launched a cowardly attempt to dismantle this Senate, to overthrow the government you have elected, and to assassinate me; to bring anarchy to the Republic from which they would impose their rule by force!¡±


    ¡°They thought they could invite the Separatist menace to our homes and destroy us at our most vulnerable¨Cbut I am pleased to say I survived only by the will of our people and the courage of our soldiers, and that is our greatest proof to these traitors that not even their strange magics and mystics could destroy our resolve! The Jedi were repelled, and their Order has been dismantled. Their conspiracy has been exposed, their treason undeniable!¡±


    ¡°But their treachery has come at great cost, I fear. With their betrayal, the Separatists were handed victory. Instead of peace, the war rages on! Instead of unity, our Republic has been fractured!¡±


    ¡°Look around you! See those empty seats and empty chairs! They are traitors, I say to you, one and all, and they have taken the hateful Separatist ideology to bed! And so I ask you, citizens of this Republic: what must be done?¡±


    ¡°Shall we allow this treason to stand? Shall we allow the Jedi, now scattered like vermin, to strike from the shadows, to plot their return? Shall we permit these radical Secessionists to dictate the future of the Republic with their lies and violence? Shall we allow the Separatists, emboldened by their treacherous new allies, to continue their campaign of terror against our people? Shall we allow them to undo all we have fought, bled, and suffered for?¡±


    ¡°NO!¡±


    ¡°The time has come to ensure that such treachery never threatens us again! The time has come to forge a new path. A stronger path. A united path upon which we can all walk and share with pride!¡±


    ¡°And so I come to you, senators, the architects of our society! And so I come to you, citizens, the stones upon which our great civilisation is built! Help me forge our new path, together as one! Tonight, help see through this new law concerning the New Order of our Republic, and I promise to you all; all remaining traitors will be hunted down, rooted out wherever they may hide, and brought to justice, dead or alive! All collaborators will suffer the same fate. Those who protect the enemy are the enemy!¡±


    ¡°No longer will our Republic be weakened by disloyalty, by the corruption of partisan squabbling, by the inefficiency of bureaucracy. No longer will the ambitions of a few outweigh the needs of the many. If we are to survive¨Cif we are to triumph¨Cwe must be stronger. We must rise over these vices that have stagnated us for far too long!¡±


    ¡°This will be our salvation! Under this New Order, we shall root out treason, and the will of the people shall once more be absolute. This I pledge to you; that the Jedi traitors will be hunted to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. That the Separatists, emboldened by their false victory, will be met with the full might of our restored Republic. Our enemies, whoever they may be, near or far, will be wiped from the stars!¡±


    ¡°Ever since I donned this coat that is sacred and dear to me, my whole life has been nothing but one long struggle for our people, for our restoration, and for our Republic. Indeed tonight I pledge to you; I will only take it off after our final victory, or I will not live to see that end.¡±


    ¡°And just as I myself am ready at any time to stake my life, I ask the same of all of you. If we are to survive this turbulent time, we must be faithful to the old principle that brought us this far; that It is quite unimportant whether we ourselves live, but it is essential that our people shall live, that the Republic shall live!¡±


    ¡°The sacrifice that is demanded of us now is not greater than the sacrifice that many generations before us have made! If we form a society built upon each other, resolved never to surrender, then we will master every hardship and difficulty!¡±


    ¡°Because if there is one truth we must all carve into our hearts; it is that if our will is so strong that no defeat and suffering can subdue it, then our will and our great Republic must and shall ultimately¡­ prevail.¡±


    ?


    Phindar Orbit, Phindar System


    Demetras Sector


    What will become of us now? Jedi Master Luminara Unduli could only question as she watched the remnants of the Jedi Expeditionary Fleet trickle towards Phindar Station like driftwood washing up on a beach after an ocean storm.


    As if reading her mind, Jedi Master Rahm Kota spoke next to her, in his gruff way; ¡°I¡¯ve hammered out an agreement with the Phindian government. They¡¯ve signed the Gallian Manifesto and agreed to a ceasefire with the Separatist Alliance¨Cor rather the Confederacy.¡±


    A small, wry smile emerged from Luminara¡¯s tattooed lips, ¡°Suddenly acknowledging the Confederacy, Master Kota?¡±


    Master Rahm Kota crossed his arms and shrugged, ¡°I would rather only one half of the galaxy despise us, rather than the whole of it. The Separatists are our benefactors now¨Cbetter start kissing up to them.¡±


    The esteemed Jedi Order, forced to kiss the feet of the Outer Rim to survive. Would you imagine that? Master Luminara¡¯s gaze was fixed beyond the viewports, docking tubes were extending between Republic warships and massive prison hulks tugged out to the open berths. She could only imagine the legions of cloned troopers being transferred between them, and thought of her own 41st Elite Corps, held in captivity upon her flagship Garland¨Cfor their safety, and for hers too.


    Rahm Kota followed her gaze, and snorted, ¡°Appears that I was right in the end. The clones were never to be trusted.¡±


    The Mirialan Jedi shook her head slowly, ¡°Their behavior doesn¡¯t match up. We¡¯ll find out what¡¯s wrong with them.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re only loyalty is to whomever their Kaminoan breeders made them,¡± Rahm told her brusquely, ¡°Just as a droid¡¯s only loyalty is whomever programmed them. You cannot compare them to a man¡¯s loyalty, uniquely molded by decades of life and experiences. It is not that I blame the clones for being who they are; both clones and droids have nothing to believe in, and nothing to fight for. Naturally, they can fight for who made them.¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be that simple,¡± Luminara insisted, ¡°We would have sensed that.¡±


    ¡°I sensed that,¡± Rahm looked her in the eye, his eyes bright and alive, ¡°I sensed that and I warned you all. It is not as if a Jedi¡¯s senses are infallible in the first place, otherwise we wouldn¡¯t be in predicament would we?¡±


    Luminara Unduli released an aggrieved sigh, ¡°I concur.¡±


    ¡°...Look alive, Master Unduli,¡± Rahm tried to comfort her, ¡°If there was one thing you were right about, and I was wrong about, it is that the Battle Hydra would keep his word.¡±


    He gestured to the hangar bays and loading docks, where shuttles and tenders were now landing with the hiss of compressing hydraulics. The boarding ramps lowered, jets of white atmosphere spraying over them. Then, from the mist, the first figures emerged.


    They came in twos and threes at first¨Cshadowed silhouettes stepping into the light, draped in robes that had once been white and brown but were now blackened and frayed at the edges. The first to step forth was a Mon Cal Jedi, one of his webbed hands clutching a crude splint across his ribs, the other gripping the shoulder of a Nautolan Knight whose every step wavered with exhaustion. Behind them, a Mirialan limped forth, leaning heavily on a makeshift crutch. Then a trio of Padawans, gaunt and weary-eyed, their tunics in tatters and supporting each other down.


    More shuttles touched down in staggered intervals, and with each descending ramp, more Jedi spilled onto the deck. A Rodian Knight with one arm in a sling, a Twi-Lek with his lekku wrapped in stained bandages. A Togruta Master, her once-immaculate headdress marred with soot and dried blood, walking with deliberate dignity despite the pain in her gait. Some even had their arms thrown over the shoulders of Separatist soldiers, carried down the ramps. Others lay flat on hover-stretchers, unconscious, pale, kept breathing only by the med-droids that accompanied them.


    But what mattered most was that they were free. There were no binders. No chains. And there were no noticeable signs of coercion. The Separatist soldiers that guided them were more escorts than captors, shepherding the wounded rather than transporting prisoners-of-war. Super battle droids clanked behind them in orderly columns, their wrist-cannons pointed upwards rather than forwards. As soon as they touched the station¡¯s deck, Rahm¡¯s militiamen rushed forward to take the injured off their hands.


    Master Luminara exhaled.


    Rain Bonteri had kept his word, that was true. But she could only fear¨Cthat all the Jedi standing before her now were truly what¡¯s left of the ancient order that once spanned the length and breadth of the entire galaxy. The Jedi Temple had been destroyed¨Cthat, the Supreme Chancellor made abundantly clear in his address to the Extraordinary Session of the Senate¨Cand most Jedi in the galaxy hadn¡¯t the convenient protection of the Perlemian Coalition nearby.


    How many were left?


    Could it truly be just this meagre number before her remaining?


    ¡°¨CI believe that¡¯s them,¡± Rahm Kota¡¯s voice shook her from that reverie of worry.


    He waved towards an armoured shuttle, setting down with a loud thud. It was large, large enough that it drew the attention of the gathered crowd in the hangar bay, Phindians, militiamen, and Jedi alike. The huge boarding ramp descended with slow, deliberate weight, like the unfurling of a great curtain. The first form to emerge was an unmistakable one; the six-armed massiveness of Admiral Trench.


    As the crowd instinctively parted before him, the Old Spider glanced at them, gestured his greetings, and continued onwards.


    Right behind him was his escort of battle droids, their formation surrounding a monolithic, hovering metal slab large enough to house a grown man inside. Master Luminara soon identified the device to be a containment sarcophagus, specifically designed to hold Force-users.


    The Mandalorians used similar devices in their long history of fighting Jedi. The sarcophagus was more or less a giant block of metal with a hollow recess perfectly molded to the shape of the prisoner, thus forcing zero room for movement. In addition to a rigid gag, soundproofing both-ways, the prisoner was also under constant sedation by dozens of surgical needles inside.


    Count Dooku must be inlaid within, she realised, bound and sedated and gagged, but alive nonetheless.


    Phindar would be the final stop before Raxus Secundus, where he would meet whatever fate the Pantoran would have in store for him.


    ¡°For us, the long war is over.¡±


    It took all of Luminara¡¯s dignity as a Jedi Master to not flinch out of her skin as Rain Bonteri¡¯s calm voice materialised them into existence. Her head snapped to her left, where the Battle Hydra¡¯s towering form rose over her shoulder, his purple cape, once vibrant, now faded and loosely draped over his shoulder.


    ¡°For you, the long war has just begun,¡± if he noticed her surprise, he did not show it, completely fixated on the moving sarcophagus.


    ¡°Admiral Bonteri,¡± Master Rahm Kota greeted.


    The Battle Hydra inclined his head politely, but continued undeterred; ¡°Make no mistake, Master Jedi, there is no place in the galaxy for your people anymore. That thousand-year epoch has ended.¡±


    Luminara started, ¡°The Confederacy¨C¡±


    Bonteri¡¯s serpentine-like irises darted towards her, despite his head not budging an inch, ¡°I will not stop you from trying, but I would not encourage you either. Know that your rescue from Serenno was borne out of self-interest; so long as the Jedi exist, Palpatine¡¯s destruction of the old Republic is not complete. But my protection will not extend any further. The Separatists are not your friends, and I am but one voice against many.¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°Surely the Confederate Parliament would see the merits of hosting the Jedi Order?¡±


    ¡°We were already traitor once,¡± Rahm grunted, ¡°Who''s to say we won¡¯t be traitor again?¡±


    Rain Bonteri smiled grimly, ¡°You may try to find sympathetic voices on Raxus¨Cthere will be, no doubt, but the Jedi Order will never enjoy the same freedoms and autonomy it had on Coruscant. The way I foresee it; your choices would either be to be integrated into the military, and become another branch of the Confederate Armed Forces if you¡¯re lucky, or¡­¡±


    He mused for a moment, ¡°¨COr find a private benefactor. A system willing to host you, perhaps, in exchange for your¡­ services. Regardless, you will not be treated as refugees, but as assets to be acquired.¡±


    ¡°So the choice is between becoming soldiers, or becoming mercenaries,¡± Luminara summarised dejectedly.


    ¡°The Phindian government has already agreed to loan us Phindar Station for a time,¡± Rahm Kota informed her, ¡°At least until the station is repaired and restored. We can remain here temporarily, at least until we rescue as many fleeing Jedi as possible. Then, we can decide where to go.¡±


    The Battle Hydra observed the proceedings quietly, his eyes scanning the internal dimensions of the hangar bay. Suddenly, two tapered ears appeared in Luminara¡¯s peripheral vision¨Cbelonging to the LEP assistant droid that stalked closer than his shadow. The Separatist Admiral glanced downwards, gratefully receiving a tablet from the rabbit droid, and taking a look at it. His eyes widened, and the corner of his lips curled into a smirk.


    ¡°How long are you planning to stay here?¡± he asked them then.


    ¡°I plan to use Phindar Station as a safe refuge for Jedi among the stars, those escaping from Palpatine¡¯s Republic,¡± Rahm Kota shook his head, ¡°I know not how long that will take, or how long the Phindian¡¯s would tolerate our stay.¡±


    ¡°I advise you to make your sojourn here brief,¡± Rain Bonteri warned them, ¡°Phindar is on the edge of Separatist space, and there are many among us who would seek to exploit you for their own ends. Chief among them is our Supreme Commander, Sev¡¯rance Tann, who entertains ambitions of a Force-sensitive military. The remnants of your Jedi Order are, in a sense, a golden goose just within reach.¡±


    The two Jedi Masters tensed up. Luminara Unduli folded her hands within the frayed sleeves of her robe, her posture serene, but Rahm Kota was less subtle. His fingers curled near the hilt of his lightsaber as he exhaled sharply through his nose.


    The hangar was quiet save for the distant hum of repulsorlifts, the murmur of voices as the newly arrived Jedi tended to their wounded, or stood in solemn clusters, whispering amongst themselves. The air smelled of fuel, ion exhaust, and the lingering acrid bite of burnt cloth and cauterized wounds.


    Luminara glanced up at the Separatist Admiral beside her. She was not blind to the truth of what he was saying. Even now, as their wounded were being treated, she could feel the eyes upon them¨CPhindian officials watching warily from a distance, Separatist commanders exchanging quiet words, calculating.


    She revised her earlier assessment; they were not prisoners, not yet. But they were not free either.


    ¡°Thank you for the warning,¡± Master Luminara finally said, ¡°You¡¯ve done too much for us.¡±


    ¡°...I have information that may aid in your decision-making,¡± Bonteri suddenly admitted, ¡°But how you use it is up to you.¡±


    Rahm Kota shifted, taking a vested interest.


    ¡°You may have not heard yet, but the Galactic Republic has fractured,¡± he explained, ¡°On one side is your enemy, Palpatine¡¯s Republic, but they call themselves either the Loyalist or Legitimist Republic. On the other side are your erstwhile allies, the Secessionist Republic, though they call themselves the Restorationist Republic.¡±


    ¡°...You don¡¯t sound too keen on the Restorationists,¡± Luminara observed.


    ¡°I am very keen on keeping the Republic splintered,¡± the Battle Hydra said dryly, ¡°But if you want to avoid being soldiers anymore, then the Restorationists should not be your first choice. If you just want the best possible terms, the Restorationists are your best bet, however. They will certainly take you in. Whether they survive is up to debate, however.¡±


    Rahm Kota nodded slowly, ¡°Agreed.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯ve got options,¡± Bonteri shrugged, ¡°South of the Restorationists are their allies, the Tapani Federation, who also seceded from the Coruscant. They¡¯ve got a higher chance of survival, being a more centralised state far from Palpatine¡¯s centre of power, but in all honesty I do not know whether they would entertain you. Hosting the Jedi would paint them as a target, but there is no harm in trying.¡±


    Luminara silently shook her head.


    ¡°There¡¯s one more option,¡± Bonteri shifted, crossing arms, ¡°They¡¯re the safest bet too, but only if you can get there.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know there were still people so sympathetic to our cause,¡± Master Kota interjected sardonically.


    ¡°Empress Teta is already hosting survivors from the Jedi Temple.¡±


    Master Kota immediately bit back his words. Luminara stilled in surprise.


    ¡°How do you know this?¡± she asked in concealed astonishment.


    ¡°Nevermind that, how would we even get there?¡± Master Kota said frustratedly, ¡°The only established route to Empress Teta is through the Coruscant System. We have a whole fleet we would need to transit through an active warzone, and hostile territory no less.¡±


    ¡°The same way I reached Empress Teta,¡± the Battle Hydra tilted his head, ¡°Through Yag¡¯Dhul. There¡¯s a route there that bypasses Loyalist Space. Your fleet will have to transit half the galaxy; through Separatist, Hutt, Restorationist, and Tapani Space. Every single one of them will have a vested interest in you, maybe except the Hutts. When you reach Yag¡¯Dhul, however, just use my name to negotiate with the Body Calculus, and you¡¯re home free.¡±


    Rain Bonteri then blew out an explosive breath, looked down at his LEP droid, then back at them, and smiled.


    ¡°Whatever you decide on hinges on what the Jedi want to be in the future, and what the Jedi want to do. Do you want to retire away and find peace, or continue fighting for your ideals? Or perhaps carve out a new path?¡±


    ¡°The universe is now yours to take,¡± he turned to leave before they could speak, ¡°Whatever your choice is; make it one you won¡¯t regret. Godspeed.¡±


    Luminara Unduli and Rahm Kota shared a look as the caped man disappeared into the recesses of Phindar Station, before collectively turning to gaze out the viewports once more.


    ¡­


    Was it just them, or were the stars now shining so much more brightly? Indeed, they were just beyond the thin transparisteel barrier, just within arm¡¯s reach.


    ?


    Mimban, Circapous System


    Circapous Sector


    Sev¡¯rance Tann descended the ramp of the stealth corvette Carrion Spike with all the poise of a conqueror. The cold, damp air of Mimban wrapped around her like a second cloak, thick with the scent of wet earth and ionized discharge. She knew not whether to be impressed or insulted by their choice of table.


    Mimban was indeed a world torn between the Republic and Separatist armies, each vying for control over the both locationally and resourcefully strategic world. A world with vast jungles and even vaster swamplands, Mimban has switched hands multiple times over the course of the war, one that has left this muddy, hellish nightmare.


    In fact, elsewhere on-world, the ceaseless thunder of field artillery could still be heard in the distance, rustling the leaves and shaking the undergrowth like the uneven gait of an approaching giant


    She envisioned herself shot to death half a hundred times before she even set a single foot off the boarding ramp. She smiled, even as her security detail surrounded her, as she sensed the troopers hidden behind thick trunks, the sharpshooters buried in the treeline, and the targeting systems locked onto her the moment she stepped into view.


    Then there was the bunker, nestled in the no man¡¯s land, duracrete walls half-swallowed by creeping vines and craters borne from shell impacts. It was alive, however, lighting its dark halls with harsh glowpanels and filling its corridors with shadows that seemed to track her as she moved across them..


    Inside, the Republic delegation stood waiting beneath flickering lights. Officers in stark uniforms, intelligence operatives with blank stares, staffers with fidgeting hands. At their center, draped in the red and gold of his station, was the Vice Chair of the Republic¨CMas Amedda, the Chagrian Speaker of the Republic Senate.


    Sev¡¯rance Tann let her eyes settle on him, slow and deliberate. Then she laughed.


    ¡°They sent you?¡± she all but purred, striding forward with lazy confidence, ¡°I must say, that is either an insult to me¡­ or to you.¡±


    Mas Amedda¡¯s crimson eyes did not waver, but she saw his fingers tighten ever so slightly against the sleeves of his robe.


    ¡°I come as the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s voice,¡± he replied, his tone even, ¡°The Republic is prepared to make an offer.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance allowed amusement to play at the edge of her lips, ¡°Certainly. And yet, one must wonder¨Cif the Supreme Chancellor truly valued this meeting, would he not have sent someone¡­ less disposable?¡±


    A flicker of annoyance crossed Amedda¡¯s features, brief but perceptible.


    ¡°You mistake caution for disrespect,¡± he replied coolly, ¡°It would not do for our leader to walk into a warlord¡¯s den without assurances.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance¡¯s smile widened, ¡°Warlord? Ah, now that is interesting. I wonder why it is then that your invitation was extended to me, and not the Confederate Parliament?¡±


    Mas Amedda gestured to a table, at which Sev¡¯rance gladly took a seat, ¡°We were under the impression that the Confederate Parliament had been suspended, and it is your personage that controls true power in the Confederacy.¡±


    ¡°...I do, don¡¯t I?¡± the Supreme Commander sighed, leaning back as a staffer placed two identical tablets on the table, ¡°So I presume this will be a treaty? We tried this before, on Onderon.¡±


    But Sev¡¯rance did suppose the whole Onderon affair had been somewhat of a farce, attended by politicians and bureaucrats and delegates and press and media¡­ and not who actually controlled power behind the two parties. She supposed this was the Supreme Chancellor¡¯s method of rectifying that issue. Another jungle world, but this time a simple affair, attended by two people, one room, and one small desk.


    Ah, I wish it was the Chancellor himself opposing me, Sev¡¯rance picked up the tablet, and not this insipid creature. I would love to see his expression.


    ¡°Indeed, and we are hopeful there wouldn¡¯t be any undue disturbances found here,¡± the Vice-Chair of the Republic said pointedly.


    ¡°So do I,¡± she murmured in return, opaque red eyes scanning the document in her hand.


    The tablet was heavy in her hand, though not from its physical weight. It bore the full weight of a war, of fleets and armies, of countless lives spent and ruined. The tablet was heavy indeed¡­ heavy in the Force. She tapped a sharp fingertip idly against the screen as she read, the small sound echoing in the dim chamber.


    ¡°Article One,¡± Mas Amedda stared intently at her, ¡°The cessation of hostilities in the galactic north¨CEntralla Route, Celanon Spur and Hydian Way; galactic east¨CPerlemian Trade Route, Trellen Trade Route, and Nanth¡¯ri Route; and galactic south¨CCorellian Run, Hydian Way, and Rimma Trade Route. The specifications of the proposed administrative borders are details inside.¡±


    ¡°...If the Circapous Sector is to be ceded to the Republic,¡± the Supreme Commander of the CAF said, ¡°Then the Confederacy must receive reparations in return.¡±


    ¡°What do you suggest?¡±


    ¡°The Manda Merchant Route and all the sectors south of it.¡±


    The Chagrian raised a hairless eyebrow, ¡°Including Kamino?¡±


    ¡°Does your Republic value Mimban or Kamino more?¡±


    ¡°...The exact details can be adjusted later.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Sev¡¯rance grinned, showing all teeth, ¡°Secondly, the Confederacy cannot guarantee a ceasefire in the galactic north. The New Territories is currently occupied by insurgents; Serennian and corporate forces. Just as your Republic cannot guarantee a ceasefire on the Corellian Run¨C¡±


    ¡°The Republic,¡± Mas Amedda corrected sharply, his voice edged with irritation, ¡°That being said, your point brings us to Article Two.¡±


    ¡°Non-interference?¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann leaned back, tapping a finger against the table, ¡°A curious demand. Why would we agree to that?¡±


    ¡°Because these insurgents are our common enemy,¡± Amedda replied, his fist striking the table surface with a dull thud, ¡°Each uprising inspires the next, eroding the very foundation of our governments. They are a plague, and neither of us should harbor them, aid them, or treat with them in any form.¡±


    An uneven bargain. Sev¡¯rance narrowed her crimson eyes. A fractured Core, wracked by infighting, was to the Confederacy¡¯s advantage¨Cit kept the Galactic Interior bleeding, distracted, vulnerable. Meanwhile, the remnants of Dooku¡¯s forces in the New Territories were little more than exiles, disorganized and scattered to the farthest fringes of the Outer Rim.


    Yet she had more immediate concerns. To secure the Confederacy¡¯s sovereignty, a peace must be forged¨Cat least for now. She negotiated from a position of strength, but her grasp was finite. Every moment spent juggling Raxus politics and waging war across the stars chipped away at her authority. A reprieve, even a fragile one, would give her time to solidify the state.


    ¡°I am open to further discussion on the specifics,¡± she conceded smoothly. ¡°But in principle, I can accommodate this agreement.¡±


    Amedda¡¯s posture eased slightly.


    ¡°Good,¡± He pressed forward, ¡°Article Three: the exchange of war prisoners.¡±


    ¡°Agree,¡± Sev¡¯rance waved the topic aside with a flick of her hand,¡±There is no need for further deliberation¨Cyour terms are reasonable. However, the Confederacy will not be surrendering any of its officers, nor shall we expect the Republic to do so in turn.¡±


    Amedda hesitated for only a fraction of a second before dipping his head in acknowledgment. ¡°Very well.¡±


    And so it continued like that for hours, the two figures sat across from one another in the dim-lit bunker, voices measured yet sharp, sparring and parrying each new condition and agreement. Supply routes, economic reparations, the status of disputed systems along the Mid Rim border. Each concession was weighed against another, an unseen scale sat between, each silence stretched with strategic calculations.


    Finally, they reached the last point.


    "Article Ten," Amedda announced, his deep voice reverberating against the bunker walls, "The establishment of a direct transmission line between the Coruscant and Raxus Secundus¨Ca direct channel for diplomatic correspondence and potential future collaboration."


    Sev¡¯rance Tann raised an eyebrow, ¡°You mean to circumvent the official diplomatic protocols?¡±


    ¡°War is costly, Supreme Commander,¡± Mas Amedda elaborated, ¡°And looking towards the future, there may come a time when both our governments see greater value in coordination than conflict. Let us speak plainly; between our two governments lies two-thirds of the galaxy. Direct communication between our two leaders will go far in easing tension in moments of misunderstanding and crises.¡±


    ¡°I was under the impression your Chancellor seeked to reunify the galaxy,¡± she leaned back, ¡°At least, he said as such in his address to the Senate.¡±


    Mas Amedda¡¯s lips curled into something that was not quite a smirk, but not far from it.


    ¡°There is a difference between rhetoric and pragmatism, Supreme Commander,¡± he said, his voice smooth, measured, ¡°A leader does not always speak his mind in public. The Chancellor says what he must to maintain the people¡¯s faith. That does not mean he intends every word.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann studied him for a moment, tilting her head slightly. ¡°Then tell me, Vice Chair; what does your Chancellor actually intend for his Republic?¡±


    ¡°A safe and secure society. One unplagued by internal and external conflict,¡± Amedda exhaled through his nostrils, the barest flicker of amusement crossing his face, ¡°I might ask the same of you, Supreme Commander. What do you intend for your Confederacy?¡±


    The room fell into a brief, tense silence.


    Then, slowly, Sev¡¯rance Tann leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. The dim bunker lights cast sharp shadows across her face, and her crimson ruby eyes seemed aflame like molten steel then.


    ¡°I suppose the Confederacy¡­¡± she mused curiously, as if she hadn¡¯t quite made up her mind,, ¡°...will become whatever I want it to be.¡±

 (C97) The Hanged Mans Epilogue

    Excerpt from ROAR FOR THE MORROW


    ¡°There is a darkness at the centre of the galaxy.¡±


    ¡°It is a darkness nesting, growing, and feeding on the rot and slow decay of our once-great Republic. It is entirely driven by one man¡¯s insatiable ambition. We have borne witness to its corruption, its betrayal of justice, and its descent into tyranny. We have pleaded for reason, for restraint, for a return to the ideals upon which our Republic was built. And we have been ignored time and time again.¡±


    ¡°And now the darkness emerges from its egg, and now it is here. And it seeks nothing less than to extend its terrible tendrils across all the galaxy, from the depths of the Deep Core to the spiral arms of the Outer Rim.¡±


    ¡°And now our Republic tells us this is not autocracy, but democracy? That this is our salvation? Just how blatant and shameless can one man¡¯s lies be? Does Palpatine believe we will simply lay down as his oppressive Grand Army crush us to dust? Does Palpatine believe we will obediently offer our wrists in chains as his cloned soldiers take our peoples hostage? Does Palpatine believe we will so easily surrender our freedoms and rights so that he can continue tearing our homes apart in his endless bid for power?¡±


    ¡°People of the galaxy, I speak to you from Chandrila. Coruscant is no longer the shining capital of our Republic, the home of democracy as we know it. It is now a den of criminals and traitors and leeches, sucking the life from our galaxy, one civil right revoked at a time. For so long, we have bent and bowed to their every whim and demand while they lined their pockets with riches and power. Today, we can finally say: no more!¡±


    ¡°At this moment, a document is being broadcasted over the hyperwaves, across the galaxy. It is a roar for freedom. A freedom that does not discriminate, that every single one of us¨Crich or poor, Loyalist or Separatist, human or not¨Chave every right to. It is a call to all who have suffered under the yoke of tyranny, all who have felt the weight of oppression pressing down upon them. The Gallian Manifesto is a document written in truth, signed in courage, and carried forth by those who refuse to let their liberties die in silence!¡±


    ¡°This publication lays bare the truth that many have suspected but feared to speak. It is a testament to the crimes that have been committed against the Republic in the name of ambition. It was written by those who have seen the fall with their own eyes; by senators, by scholars, by soldiers, and by Jedi. It is an unflinching account of how our democracy was dismantled piece by piece. How the Jedi, once the defenders of peace, were turned into pawns of war and then cast aside as traitors when they were no longer useful. How the Senate was silenced. How the people were deceived.¡±


    ¡°Palpatine¡¯s ¡®Republic¡¯ is a lie. It is no Republic at all, but an empire in all but name. It is a hollow thing, ruled by fear and maintained by force. We do not recognize its authority. We do not acknowledge its legitimacy. We will not bow to a dictator. We will not cower before corruption. We will not forget the principles of liberty and justice.¡±


    ¡°Today, we will reclaim the dream that was stolen from us.¡±


    ¡°This is a declaration of rebellion, and it is a declaration of restoration. The restoration of a Republic that was stolen from us. The restoration of liberty, of justice, of the fundamental rights that have been stripped away, while the Senate sat in complacency and fear.¡±


    ¡°And I tell you this: fear is the tool of the oppressor. It is the weapon of the corrupt, of the weak, of those who would rather rule than serve. Palpatine¡¯s Republic¨Cthe so-called ¡®Loyalists¡¯¨Cis built on fear. It is maintained by deception. It survives only because good people have been made to believe they are powerless to resist it. But today, that lie ends.¡±


    ¡°Because we are not powerless.¡±


    ¡°Alderaan stands with us. Humbarine stands with us. Corellia stands with us. Duro, Hosnian Prime, Caamas, and thousands more free worlds stand with us. The warfleets of Procopia, the strength of Mandalore, and all the might and power of the free galaxy stands with us. We are not alone. We are not a handful of dissidents, whispering in the dark; we are the light of a new Republic. And we will not be silent.¡±


    ¡°To those who still believe in the Republic as it should be, we say: stand with us. To those who have suffered beneath the yoke of oppression, we say: rise with us. To those still trapped under the shadow of Palpatine¡¯s regime, know this: we have not abandoned you. We see you. We hear you. And we will not stop until every world, every system, every citizen of the galaxy is free once more.¡±


    ¡°And to those Jedi who have been betrayed by the very Republic you swore to defend, we say this; you are not alone, and you are not forgotten. The lies told about you do not erase the truth of who you are. If you still live, if you still fight, if you still hold to the values of peace and justice, then we will give you refuge. You are welcome here, as are all who have the bravery and courage to rebuke Palpatine¡¯s tyranny. The Old Republic may have failed you¨Cbut we will not.¡±


    ¡°But let me be clear: freedom will not be given to us. We have already failed it once, and it will not so easily return to our hands. We must fight for it. We must bleed for it. We must prove we have the right and strength to be free! The road ahead will be long, and it will be hard. Sheev Palpatine and Sev¡¯rance Tann have carved the galaxy between them, and we are trapped between an authoritarian dictator and an ambitious warlord. We face a fractured galaxy that stands for everything we fight against. But if we surrender to despair now, if we accept this empire of lies as the price of peace, then we will have already lost.¡±


    ¡°Do not for one moment believe that you can so easily sit back and hope for normalcy to return. Hope is not given, not something that comes to you on its own. It is not a force of nature, and it is not a law of the universe. Hope is something we make real, it is something we fight into existence, it is something we must build from nothing; until we can see its golden light dawning on us from a new tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°And today, if you are still here, and if you are still willing, we can begin.¡±


    ¡°So lift the flag of rebellion!¡±


    ¡°So raise high the banner of the true Republic, and roar!¡±


    ¡°Roar! So that you will not stay silent as the galaxy falls around us!¡±


    ¡°Roar for your freedom, liberty, and justice for all!¡±


    ¡°Roar for the brighter tomorrow!¡±


    ?


    Coruscant, Coruscant System


    Corusca Sector


    The turbolift descended in a silent rush. Inside, Jedi Knight Bode Akuna stood between his two escorts, wrists secured in stuncuffs, still wearing his Republic Intelligence uniform. The air in the confined space was thick with uncertainty. The guards had their orders, that the Jedi were traitors and fugitives, to be captured or killed, but they had also just been talking with the man between not an hour before. Bode Akuna was, after all, also a Republic Intelligence operative, being assigned there by the Jedi High Council.


    For the guards, they had more or less been ordered to arrest their superior officer. It was even worse that Bode Akuna did not even attempt to resist¨Cif he had fought back, at least they could be sure the Executive Directive had been correct, right? They silently glanced at each other, inwardly hoping something or someone would come to relieve them of this mountingly awkward situation.


    To their luck, their prayers were answered the moment the turbolift doors slid open.


    The guards snapped to attention. Standing in their path was Commander Lank Denvik, his Intelligence uniform pristine, his expression unreadable. He studied the three of them with a gaze that gave nothing away.


    ¡°You summon me to attend you,¡± the Intelligence Commander started, ¡°Only for me to find you in chains.¡±


    One of the guards winced, ¡°Unfortunate timing, sir. We¡¯ve just received an order from up top¨C¡±


    ¡°I know what the order is,¡± Commander Denvik snapped, ¡°Unfortunately, Akuna is not just any Jedi¨Che was also one of us. And I can¡¯t hand him over to the Grand Army to get killed without so much as a proper debrief first, understand? He knows something critical to our operations¨Cwhich I presume is why you called for me at this terrible hour in the first place.¡±


    The guards exchanged hesitant looks. Denvik scowled even further.


    ¡°Look, the both of you can wash your hands of this affair and return to your posts,¡± he snapped his fingers, ¡°When all is said and done, I¡¯ll take this man to Director Isard myself if I have to. I just need to know what he knows. I¡¯ll deal with the rest.¡±


    That did it. The lead guard keyed in a sequence on his datapad, and the cuffs clicked open, falling away from Bode¡¯s wrists. The Jedi did not move, though his gaze flickered between the guards and Denvik. His body remained taut, coiled with unspoken tension.


    ¡°Now go,¡± Denvik ordered. The guards flinched, pushed Bode out of the turbolift, then keyed in the floor again.


    Denvik exhaled, then met Bode¡¯s eyes, ¡°Walk with me.¡±


    Bode rubbed his wrists, and finally spoke, ¡°You have a wonderful sense of timing, sir.¡±


    Commander Denvik grunted, ¡°Don¡¯t draw attention.¡±


    Bode flexed his fingers, his pulse still elevated, but he fell into step beside the commander as they moved through the compound¡¯s labyrinthine halls. The sound of their boots echoed softly. Surveillance cameras appeared to track their movement. The footsteps of other operatives and staff members were few and far between on this floor, compared to the operational levels beneath them.


    They reached Lank Denvik¡¯s office, the door hissing shut behind them. The Commander moved to his desk, but did not sit. Instead, he leaned against its edge, arms folded. The silence stretched between them before he finally spoke.


    ¡°I would say you were lucky I intercepted the transfer,¡± he paused, then continued in an accusatory tone, ¡°But you planned this all out, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Bode exhaled, shaking his head, ¡°Luck didn¡¯t have anything to do with it, sir.¡±


    ¡°...Damn you, Akuna,¡± the Commander¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°You better start talking before I actually ship you to Isard myself.¡±


    Bode lifted both his hands up in surrender, ¡°I want to cut a deal with you¨Cnothing more, nothing less. Beneficial for both sides, of course.¡±


    He had worked with Commander Denvik for years, and Bode knew Denvik was the ladder-climbing type. Denvik wouldn¡¯t let their previous relationship get in the way of a promotion if all it took was handing him in to the Grand Army¡­ but so was the same the other way around. If Bode played his cards right, this would be a simple affair.


    ¡°I assume your cut will be the faking of your death, and protection from the Grand Army?¡± Denvik folded his arms, ¡°That¡¯s a tall ask. What makes you say I won¡¯t receive as much from just handing you in?¡±


    ¡°The satellite attack a year ago, the denial of service attack, the comms blackout happening right now,¡± Bode urged, almost frenzied, ¡°Don¡¯t you think they¡¯re connected somehow?¡±


    Commander Denvik stilled, and narrowed his eyes. Republic Intelligence had been stumped by the satellite attack for a year, and to this day it remains the largest and most severe unresolved breach of security they¡¯ve ever suffered. A price they were paying for now tenfold. If Denvik could provide a fresh lead, daresay even answers¨Coh, the promotions he could get. Bode Akuna didn¡¯t need to be an empath like Barriss to read his thoughts.


    ¡°...Alright then,¡± Lank Denvik allowed, but Bode could tell he was invested behind his composure, ¡°Tell me what you know.¡±


    Bode raised a single eyebrow in response.


    The Intelligence Commander threw his hands in an exasperated breath, ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll prepare the documentation of your ¡®death¡¯ ready.¡±


    First, Bode told the truth; ¡°You¡¯re looking for a Jedi spy.¡±


    Then, Bode lied through his teeth; ¡°Their codename is PRIESTESS.¡±


    Denvik stared at him blankly. Bode took it as a cue to continue.


    ¡°But here¡¯s the thing; they¡¯re a Separatist Jedi spy.¡±


    His singular audience raised an unimpressed eyebrow, ¡°So, one of Count Dooku¡¯s so-called acolytes?¡±


    Bode shook his head, ¡°No, a Jedi from the Jedi Temple that fell in with the Separatists..¡±


    Denvik pursed his lips, ¡°Your claims seem to match¡­ the terrorists entered the comsat via a lightsaber-cut portal. And the document they inserted into the comsat¡¯s broadcast system was a Separatist speech. Our best bet right now is that they were attempting to kickstart a Separatist uprising here on Coruscant.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the part where the investigation missed,¡± Bode pressed, ¡°The speech was a false flag. What they actually inserted was a virus; a sleeper agent of some sort that would activate when certain conditions are met.¡±


    ¡°Bode,¡± Denvik pushed himself off the table, ¡°Listen. We grounded that satellite after the attack. We scrubbed it down, we tore it down to the bolts in the bulkheads. You think we didn¡¯t consider a virus? We found no virus at all.¡±


    ¡°Well then you clearly missed something,¡± he shrugged, ¡°Otherwise Republic Intelligence wouldn¡¯t be floundering right now.¡±


    ¡°¨CAlright, let¡¯s presume you are correct, and that there is a virus in our comsat network,¡± Lank Denvik prodded his chest with a finger, ¡°What is your source, exactly? That this is a virus; that the lead agent of the attack was a Jedi spy; that their codename is PRIESTESS?¡±


    ¡°...When the spy infected the comsat, they made a backdoor channel to communicate between the Temple and Separatist space,¡± Bode told him, ¡°I found that channel, and partial fragments of the transcripts they weren¡¯t able to wipe.¡±


    ¡°Are you telling me you alone found what a year¡¯s worth of Intelligence manhours couldn¡¯t? You. Alone.¡±


    ¡°Well, I had a lead, sir.¡±


    ¡°Indeed?¡±


    ¡°While I don¡¯t know PRIESTESS¡¯ face or name, I do know they and I share a mutual friend; Jedi Master Adi Gallia. I presume you recognise the name?¡±


    Commander Denvik scowled, ¡°Of course I do. I had to deal with that woman whenever we shared intel with the Temple. She¡¯s the Jedi spymaster, and your liaison. Does Gallia also know about PRIESTESS¡¯ Separatist allegiances?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t presume, sir.¡±


    ¡°...Kriff, Gallia is a Councilmember. You¡¯re telling me the Jedi could have actually had Separatist connections?¡±


    ¡°Only one way to find out, Denvik.¡±


    The Commander¡¯s head snapped to him. There was a tightness in his jaw.


    Bode stared back unflinchingly, ¡°Our deal?¡±


    Denvik ground his teeth for a moment, then¨C ¡°Help me hunt down this PRIESTESS, and continue working for me covertly¨Ceven if it means hunting down other Jedi¨Cand I will keep you hidden from the Grand Army and whoever else in the Republic that might seek your death.¡±


    ¡°Done.¡±


    ¡°That was quick.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a decisive man.¡±


    ¡°I suppose you are.¡±


    With this, I have not only diverted attention from what PRIESTESS truly is, but have also secured myself an inside on Republic Intelligence. Palpatine¡¯s Republic had betrayed the Jedi Order; with Adi Gallia dead, Bode didn¡¯t know what would be the future of their little shadow squad. But he did know he will do everything in his capability to tear down this rotten structure that Master Gallia gave her life trying to dismantle. If it meant working with the Restorationists, so be it. If it meant working with the Separatists, he would do that too.


    The price? Someone would have to be his scapegoat.


    ¡°So?¡± Denvik questioned, ¡°PRIESTESS?¡±


    ¡°They are in the Jedi Temple as we speak,¡± Bode said, ¡°And I believe they just used their backdoor to call for help from Separatist space.¡±


    ¡°...Show me.¡±


    ¡°The operations room¨C¡± Bode couldn¡¯t even finish his sentence before Denvik dragged him out the door and marched him back down the hallway, ¡°¨CI was compiling the data before I was seized. It should still all be on the console.¡±


    Commander Lank Denvik was already speaking into his comlink, ¡°This is Commander Denvik; get me a line to Homeworld Security now!¡±


    All Bode could think was¨Csorry, Barriss, but you¡¯re the only one I can trust to be ¡®PRIESTESS.¡¯ First, because she knew the real PRIESTESS better than anybody in Republic space. And second, because like him, she wasn¡¯t about to die before the Republic did. Bode delved into the Force then, searching for that passing connection he shared with her. Master Gallia¡¯s presence was dead and gone¡­ and Iskat¡¯s was like drenched in oil and tar, but alive and squirming.


    Barriss, on the other hand, burned like a relentless dark flame¨Calive, yes, but obsessed and all-consuming. Anything Republic Intelligence threw at her, she would surely escape it, and scar their hands in the process¨Cespecially if Bode could help her from behind the scenes¨CCommander Denvik slammed his palm into Bode¡¯s back, knocking him out of that line of thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that,¡± Denvik scowled, ¡°You¡¯re not a Jedi anymore. You¡¯re an Intelligence operative. Act like one.¡±


    ?


    500 Republica reeked of death.


    Jedi Knight Iskat Akaris flicked her fingers, flinging drops of blood from them. She was unsure to whom they belonged; herself, or the dozens of bodies littered on the floor of the turbolift lobby. If she was injured, she did not feel it, nor did she see it, for the blood was the very same pigment of her skin.


    Her chest heaved as she stood among the slaughter, the back of her mind still scarcely believing she was capable of such wrought death. But she was, and Iskat imagined she would have learnt by now. Geonosis, Thule, that comsat above Coruscant¡­ the moment she let herself go, killing followed in her wake. But now, her job is done. Right?


    Master Yoda and Master Shaak Ti should have cut down the Sith Lord by now.


    The continuous clashing of lightsabers coming from behind her bid differently.


    Iskat swore beneath her breath, swivelled on her heels, and dashed back into the blood-reeked apartment. The velvet carpet was muddy and soaked through, and it was there at the end of the drawing room that she skidded to a halt, breath burning in her throat, her boots slick with something¨Cnot all of it clone, not all of it Jedi.


    She watched it happen, watched Master Shaak Ti¡¯s body sail through the shattered permaglass, red leaking from cuts in her skin, montrals whipping in the wind as she plummeted. A split second¨Ctheir eyes met¨Cand then she was gone. Just like that.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    And the one who had done it¨Cthe Supreme Chancellor, the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious¨Cwas there robes billowing in the wind, his skeletal fingers still outstretched from the killing blow that sent the Jedi Master plummeting into the abyss below. But he was already turning back, already in motion, faster than Iskat could blink, red blade hissing as it crashed against the blinding green of Master Yoda¡¯s, saving himself just in time from a lopped off head.


    The Force howled between them, unseen but felt in every crack of the marble floor, every flickering light, every breath of unnatural wind that swirled through the penthouse. Red crashed against green again, and Yoda was like a ball of emerald fire, bouncing off the walls, the floor, the columns and the ruined furniture. Iskat¡¯s heart seized; she saw the height of the Jedi Order in action, and she saw the Dark Lord of the Sith parrying each and every stroke with ease. Could she, a mere Jedi Knight, really intervene in a fight between two forces of nature?


    What an elaborate scheme for committing suicide.


    She took in the apartment; and it was carnage, the rich reds and golds of Palpatine¡¯s decor smeared with soot and char and blood. Bodies slumped against the walls. Clones, Jedi, their differences meaningless now. Master Adi Gallia lay still, eyes open, head tendrils gray and limp, her comlink clutched in a hand that would never move again.


    And the Force came rushing back to Iskat Akaris like a joyful river, like a happy hound greeting a master kept too long from home. It coursed through her like adrenaline, unbridled, burning hot, coiling tight, propelling her forward before she could even think twice.


    She leapt. Over the bodies, over the ruin, twin sabers¨Cone green, one gold¨Cigniting mid-air.


    Iskat landed hard, saber crashing down on Darth Sidious¡¯ crimson blade. The impact sent a jolt through her arms, but she pushed, she pressed, her strength folding into Master Yoda¡¯s, who took the opportunity to lunge for the Sith¡¯s head with a blinding flash of light. The Sith Lord backpedalled quickly, disengaging from her and knocking Yoda out of the air. Sidious¡¯ lips curled into a snarl, free hand shooting out¨Cand calling to himself a small metal object from elsewhere in the room.


    A second red lightsaber burst to life.


    Iskat Akaris deflated, breathing out slowly as she fell into a stance that answered the Sith Lord¡¯s own.


    Master Yoda glanced at her, but did not speak. And yet, an entire conversation passed between them.


    Iskat could not match Yoda¡¯s speed and pace, not in seven-hundred years. She would be a hindrance, and more likely to get both of them killed. But Yoda could match her pace, and strike most opportunely at the Sith Lord. All Iskat had to do was hold her own, and stay alive for that long.


    The only issue? It meant Iskat would be the primary fighter. Against the first Dark Lord of the Sith in a thousand years. Darth Sidious didn¡¯t hide himself in the Force; he let her feel his might, a heavy and smoldering malevolent energy that was reaching out to discover her weaknesses.


    I¡¯m going to get killed.


    That was fear.


    Jedi Knight Iskat Akaris barked out a laugh, and let the Force flow freely.


    I¡¯m not going to get killed.


    That was anger.


    Jedi Knight Iskat Akaris knew what came next. It was the same tune, the same song, the same dance.


    I¡¯m going to kill him.


    That was rage.


    Iskat Akaris struck first, slashing with one lightsaber and then with the next. Master Yoda¡¯s presence fell behind her; both physically and in her mind. She slammed into the Sith Lord, but he easily fought off both her blades with his red ones. He was stronger, both physically and in the Force, and she became acutely aware that he was playing with her. A sliver of fear shivered down her spine as he sharply parried every strike with the same ease and care she¡¯d take teaching a youngling.


    She converted that fear into anger.


    And she converted that anger into rage.


    And the rage built in her chest, a fire craving something to burn, and she opened herself to the Force, to the depths that were always there like a loyal hound to be called upon in times of trouble. Thunder filled her veins as her onslaught built to a crescendo. Slash, parry, twirl, roll, jab, hack, and slash!


    The same rhythm, the same deadly tempo, the same exultation flooding her veins, burning away thought and fear, leaving only instinct. The Force was a drug, an intoxicant, and as long as she kept moving, kept fighting, it would never let her die. She broke into a grin as she drove the Sith Lord back. He faltered¨Cjust for a second, just enough to see it. The way his balance shifted, the way his expression flickered, the way something real flashed behind that mask of pale and sickly skin.


    And then he smiled. A sly, curling thing, his eyes lighting up as if he¡¯d just found something interesting buried inside her.


    ¡°Is that the best you have, dear?¡± his voice dripped with mockery, smooth as poisoned silk. ¡°Come now. I know you can do¡­ better.¡±


    Iskat didn¡¯t have the excess breath to spit a retort. Her focus was on the fight, on the twin streaks of her sabers, spinning, flashing, forcing him back.


    Sidious only grinned wider¨C ¡°There is still much¨C¡±


    She didn¡¯t let him finish. A twitch of her fingers, a pull of the Force, and she wrenched him forward. His body snapped toward her, red sabers flashing out to carve her in half¨C


    But she was already moving, already ducking into a tight roll as he soared over her. And Yoda was there behind her, already waiting. The green blade stabbed up, a lightning-fast strike at the exposed flesh between the Sith Lord¡¯s ribs.


    Darth Sidious twisted, barely catching the blow on his crimson sabers¨C


    Only for Iskat to pivot and strike at his back.


    A hiss of surprise, a flick of his wrist, and one saber lifted behind him, catching her blade before it could cut deep. He shoved back, the Force rippled in response, and both Jedi flew backwards, boots scraping across the floor as the Sith Lord straightened, shaking out his robes. He was laughing madly.


    She barely had time to react as he leapt through the air, spinning toward her, the fight continuing in earnest. Her body took over, reacting on instinct, flowing through the Force as if she were swimming with a current. The battle churned through the penthouse, a storm of clashing sabers and twisting shadows, a dance of three bodies moving too fast for the eye to follow. Iskat was alive in it, alight with the Force, burning with the thrill of the fight.


    Darth Sidious flowed like liquid darkness, red blades snapping, slashing, seeking gaps in their defenses. And he was smiling. Always smiling. Like this was all a game, like he had already won and was merely playing with them.


    Master Yoda was relentless, small and swift and tireless, battering at the Sith Lord¡¯s defenses with precise, whirling strikes. Iskat hardly noticed his tiny form weaving between their strikes, jabbing at perceived vulnerabilities and lunging at moments where she faltered, keeping the Sith Lord¡¯s attention off her just long enough for her to return. She rebounded, all fire and motion and twin blades sweeping, spinning, striking together¨Cbut her cheeks burned all the same. Iskat felt it in every flick of Sidious¡¯ wrist, every deliberate feint, every mocking sidestep that let her think she had an opening¨Conly for him to twist away, grinning like this was all some grand, private joke.


    Darth Sidious was faster than her. Stronger. Worse.


    The Dark Lord of the Sith honed in on her, cackling, just like he did to Adi Gallia, just like he did to Shaak Ti, aiming for the weakest between her and Master Yoda. He moved like a shadow, his blades carving red streaks through the smoke-thick air, each swing forcing Iskat back, back, back¨C


    Until she was too focused keeping herself alive to realise where her boots were carrying her.


    She slid on shattered glass.


    A hundred emotions flew across her face. Anger, at herself for such a foolish blunder. Shame, for letting down Master Yoda again. Rage, against the Sith Lord for putting her in this position. Fear, at the sensation of onrushing death.


    Her stomach lurched as she realized where she had stepped¨Ctoo close to the gaping hole where the window had been, the yawning abyss of Coruscant¡¯s skyline stretching out beneath her, the wind howling past her ears.


    Sidious saw it.


    She barely had time to snarl, to throw herself back into a guard stance, before an invisible hand slammed into her chest.


    The Force blast hurled her backwards, feet leaving the ground, the edge of the window frame whipping past her vision¨Cand suddenly, she was falling.


    Wind rushed past her face, a shriek of air and gravity and impending death, a thousand stories of air yawning open to swallow her whole. The cityscape stretched below, an endless sea of lights, the speeder traffic a four-thousand metres down little more than flickering embers in the dark. The wind roared in her ears, her breath caught in her throat¨C


    And then she stopped.


    A sudden, impossible stillness. A pressure wrapped around her, unseen but solid, holding her midair. She was floating.


    ¡°Master Yoda!¡±


    Iskat gasped, her limbs flailing for purchase as the reality of it crashed in. MAster Yoda stood at the edge of the broken window, one clawed hand outstretched, his small form braced, ears back, hand outstretched. Holding her steady, keeping her from plummeting to her death. His other hand still held his lightsaber aloft, the green glow illuminating his face.


    Darth Sidious took one look at the sight, threw back his head and laughed a bone-deep, echoing cackle.


    ¡°Oh, Master Jedi,¡± he crooned, voice thick with venomous delight, ¡°Look at you, trying to save her! But can you? You couldn¡¯t save Adi Gallia, and you couldn¡¯t save Shaak Ti¨Cso what makes you think you can save her!?.¡±


    A snap of his fingers¨C


    And the air turned to fire.


    A crackling bolt of lightning exploded from his fingers, arcing through the air with a shriek of raw power. Yoda barely had time to shift his blade into position. The lightning crashed against the green plasma, sending blue-white energy scattering in wild, flickering strands. His face tightened in concentration, the Force bending around him as he struggled to maintain both the block and his hold on Iskat.


    Iskat could see it clearly, how his clawed hand keeping her aloft was shaking, shivering.


    Darth Sidious could see it too.


    ¡°Let her go! Why don¡¯t you!?¡± he cackled cheerfully, fingers still wreathed in writhing arcs of lightning, ¡°You cannot fight and save her, can you? You must choose. Let her go. Let her die¨Cand you can still stop what all I will do¡­!¡±


    The lightning surged, pressing harder against Yoda¡¯s blade, crackling tendrils lashing out to scorch the floor and ceiling. The Jedi Master gritted his teeth, straining to pull her back up. Their eyes met.


    Iskat screamed at him¨C


    ¡°What are you doing!?¡± she shouted, as if she was not a mere Knight and he was the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, ¡°Let me go! You can still win!¡±


    ¡°The Jedi way, that is not, young Akaris,¡± Master Yoda smiled sadly.


    Iskat wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. Who cares about what is and what is not the Jedi way anymore!? All that matters is that they win! Because if Sidious wins, then there won¡¯t be any Jedi left to care in the first place! But she no longer had the breath to do so.


    Master Yoda must have seen something on her face, because he shook his head, ¡°What is a Jedi, young Akaris, hmm?¡±


    This isn¡¯t the time to preach to me, you old¨C!


    ¡°Jedi, am I not?¡± Yoda asked, ¡°Jedi, are you not? Yes, a Jedi you are, not a sacrifice to be spent, not a piece to be moved and discarded. Mistakes, the Council have made; mistakes, I have made. Yes, failed the Jedi, the Council has. But know this: the Jedi, the Council is not. The Jedi, the ugly pyramid of stone is not. The Jedi, meaningless words in a code recited without thought is not. The Jedi, you are. You, young Skywalker, young Offee, young Scout and young Tano. Jedi, all of you are, hmm?¡±


    Behind Yoda, Darth Sidious¡¯ laughter slithered through the air, a rasping, gleeful thing, barely audible above the shriek of raw energy.


    ¡°Oh, how the mighty fall,¡± he crooned, fingers still wreathed in writhing arcs of lightning. ¡°So stubborn you are, Grand Master. So blind! You clutch at your precious ideals even as they drag you into the abyss!¡±


    He let loose another barrage, the sharp tendrils of power arcing wildly. The Jedi Master trembled under the strain, torn between lifting her back up and keeping the Sith at bay. Sweat splashed against her cheek, rolling down the curve of her jaw. Yoda¡¯s sweat. His effort. His refusal.


    Iskat¡¯s fingers twitched. Her arms ached from trying to reach up, trying to find something¨Canything¨Cto grasp. But there was nothing. Nothing except Yoda¡¯s will, holding her, keeping her from plummeting to Coruscant...


    ¡°Master,¡± she rasped, her throat raw. ¡°Let go.¡±


    No flicker of acknowledgment. His ears twitched, barely perceptible, but he did not answer.


    She could hear Sidious sneer; ¡°Yes, Master Yoda, let her go. It is mercy, is it not? What is one more Jedi, when you have already lost them all?¡±


    Yoda did not turn. Did not deign to respond. But Iskat saw his expression shift as her looked her in the eye.


    ¡°Greater than I, the Jedi is. Greater than you, it is. But only if we live. Only if we endure. What good is victory, if the Jedi way is lost with it? If anger guides my blade, if desperation blinds my wisdom, then lost, I already am,¡± the old Jedi Master clenched his teeth, ¡°Let the Sith take my life, if he must. Let him stand among the ruins and declare his rule. But so long as one Jedi breathes, so long as one heart holds to the light¨Cthe Jedi are not gone. You are not gone. If you fall now, what remains? A Master alone? No. No master. No student. No Jedi.¡±


    He breathed out what felt like his entire life.


    ¡°Think I am greater than you, because of age? Because of rank? Pah! No, young Akaris. No. The mistakes of my time, my kind to bear. The future of the Jedi, your kind to shape. A Jedi, I am. But a Jedi, you are too. And for that reason, live you must. Mistakes, I have already made. Mistakes, I hope you will not. Our failure, this may be. But our end? Only if you allow it.¡±


    Slowly, purposefully, Master Yoda turned back to the Dark Lord of the Sith, and pointed at the shadowed form his beam of emerald light.


    ¡°Victorious yet, you are not,¡± he scolded, as if preaching to a child and not the avatar of evil, ¡°Tempted by you, I will not be. Ready to sacrifice all, I am ready to do.¡±


    Then, Yoda sheathed his lightsaber, hooked it to his belt, turned to Iskat, and readied both hands to pull her up.


    Iskat could scarcely imagine it. Sidious, taken aback at first, immediately struck as soon as he realised what Yoda was doing. The Force erupted from his fingertips, a cascade of lightning slamming into the Grand Master¡¯s small form. The impact cracked through the air, blinding white light illuminating the wreckage-strewn penthouse. Yoda¡¯s body seized as electricity coursed through him, sparks dancing along his robes, skeleton illuminated underneath his skin, his hands still stretched toward Iskat, his face twisted in sheer concentration.


    She felt herself lurch upwards. The pressure tightened around her, the Force pulling her inch by inch closer to the ledge, to safety, to solid ground. The pain, the exhaustion, the overwhelming helplessness¨Cit all melted away beneath a single, desperate focus. Get up. Get up now!


    Another blast of lightning struck Yoda square in the back. The tiny Jedi trembled, holding back a scream behind clenched teeth, and the strain on his face deepened. But he did not let go.


    Almost there¨C!


    With a final heave, Yoda pulled.


    Iskat¡¯s fingers scraped against the edge. Then her elbows. Then she threw herself forward, collapsing onto the floor of the penthouse, the solid ground slamming against her ribs, the breath rushing from her lungs.


    She gasped. Dazed. Sprawled across the carpeted floor.


    The Dark Lord of the Sith barely afforded her a passing glance. He struck at Yoda¡¯s exhausted form with a blur, his tattered Chancellor¡¯s robes billowing as he surged forward. The Jedi Master¡¯s blade flashed, green fire carving a path through the storm of lightning, through the darkness itself, cutting Sidious¡¯ back. For five heart-stopping moments, Iskat could only watch Master Yoda stave off the Sith Lord¡¯s onslaught, even exhausted, injured, and punished.


    Iskat struggled to her feet, double hearts pumping her blood risen to a great boil, unwilling to give up the fight, her hands scrambling for her lightsabers. Her calloused fingers brushed the polished burgundy wood of the hilt¨C


    In the next moment, a sharp, shuddering pain racked Iskat¡¯s body and mind, stealing her breath and making her hearts stutter. She thought it another trick of the Sith Lord, but¨Cshe felt it¨Cin her very soul¨Cin the Force¨C


    Thousands of lives snuffed out in seconds.


    Thousands of Jedi, there and then gone.


    It was like feeling her own hearts beating, a comforting background all her life, and then suddenly, surprise and pain and terror, followed by a tragic, empty silence.


    Master Yoda staggered. Darth Sidious howled in laughter, for it was all he needed.


    A single, brutal wave of his hand sent Yoda hurtling backward, the impact slamming him against a broken column. The crack of stone and durasteel filled the room as the Jedi Master¡¯s small body hit the ground, rolling, skidding¨Cuntil his fingers caught the very edge of the deck, bloodied by a hundred cuts from shattered permaglass.


    He dangled there, one tiny, clawed hand clinging to the ledge, his feet kicking into nothingness.


    Coruscant yawned below.


    NO¨C!


    Iskat scrambled forward, hearts hammering, every muscle screaming in protest. She reached his hand¨CSidious kicked her aside.


    The force of it sent her tumbling, her shoulder slamming into marble, her head snapping back against the ruined floor. Stars burst across her vision, her limbs sluggish, her fingers twitching, too slow, too weak¨Ctoo late.


    She could only watch through blurred lens as Darth Sidious stepped toward the dangling Grand Master, flaming eyes alight with triumph.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the Sith Lord sighed, lifting one hand, letting the lightning curl between his fingers, slow, deliberate. ¡°So much effort. So much struggle.¡±


    He tilted his head. Smirked knowingly.


    ¡°You should have let her fall.¡±


    Lightning slammed into Yoda¡¯s small form, crackling, hissing, the raw, unnatural power of the Dark Side rippling through him. The Jedi Master shuddered, his fingers tightening around the ledge¨Cand let go. Iskat felt his presence disappear from the Force¨Cas Master Gallia¡¯s did, as Master Shaak Ti¡¯s did¨Ca sharp pinch like a candle¡¯s flame going out.


    Summoning strength unknown to her, Iskat stumbled to her feet, a surge of raw defiance pushing through her exhaustion. She barely had the strength to lift her saber, but she tried¨Conly for that same invisible pressure, the power that had once saved her, to seize her again. It crushed her to the ground, forcing her into a kneeling position.


    ¡°Iskat Akaris¡­ was it?¡± Darth Sidious murmured, tilting his head in mock curiosity, ¡°You are talented, and yet you could be so much more.¡±


    A dry, bitter laugh scraped from her throat. It tasted like blood. More. He spoke of more, as if she hadn¡¯t spent her whole life chasing it, as if she hadn¡¯t reached and grasped and fought for it every step of the way.


    Sidious gestured around them at the ruin, at the scattered bodies and shattered stone, ¡°Three Jedi Masters, and this was all they could do. And you would still follow their wisdom? Master Yoda could have killed me, could have prevented everything that will be¡­ but he chose to save you?¡±


    He leaned in, his yellow eyes gleaming, ¡°...And he could not save himself, in the end. You question them, don¡¯t you? How powerful they claim to be, how powerful they truly are?¡±


    ¡°Your instincts, your passions¡­ I imagine they taught you to repress them. That it was not the Jedi way,¡± the Sith Lord took another step closer, lowering his voice to a coaxing whisper, his words curled around her like smoke, insidious and poisonous, ¡°But don¡¯t you wish to embrace what the Force has truly given you? To wield your passions, that the Jedi deemed dangerous? To be free?¡±


    ¡°...If you¡¯re trying to fish for a new disciple, there are Jedi more powerful than I,¡± Iskat exhaled sharply, ¡°Like the Chosen One.¡±


    ¡°Indeed there are,¡± Sidious chuckled, ¡°But they are not here. And they have not fought me. You have. And I see potential.¡±


    ¡°Potential to kill you?¡± she challenged.


    ¡°Why, that is the only potential I deem worthy, my dear.¡±


    Her breath shuddered. Her fingers curled into the torn carpet beneath her, nails digging deep. Somewhere in the haze, she saw Master Gallia¡¯s body slumped over in the wreckage. Why had Master Yoda chosen to save her? Why had he wasted his strength on her? Foolish. Senseless.


    She felt the galaxy around her, absent of the Jedi who had raised her and guided her. She reached inside to the jagged emptiness within, the profound loneliness she¡¯d known all her life, even while surrounded by those who claimed to be her family. Her chest clenched. The Grand Master of the Jedi Order had placed his faith in her¨Cbut what would she do with it? She had never been the Jedi he wished her to be.


    But others still lived. The Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker, certainly he wouldn¡¯t die, right?. Barriss Offee, Bode Akuna, whom she could still feel burning in the Force.


    Iskat could not be a true Jedi.


    The Jedi way was not hers. It never had been, despite her lifetime of trying.


    But vengeance¨Cthat could be.


    She felt that tug in her soul, the one that had been nudging her, urging her to follow her passions and curiosities despite her Jedi guidance. That part of her that yearned to be free and untethered and unashamed. It beckoned to her, welcomed her. Slowly, she raised her head, forcing herself to meet the Sith Lord¡¯s gaze. The pain did not matter. The doubt did not matter. There was only one truth left to her now.


    She felt a new sense of fathomless potential, a new fount from which to draw her strength. There were darkly swirling eddies there, shadowy places she¡¯d never delved and already, she felt more powerful, more certain. The only path was forward, the Force seemed to say.


    Master Yoda had fought Darth Sidious with everything he had. And still, he had failed. The Sith were too powerful. The greatest Jedi in the galaxy could not defeat them as they were. But another Sith¡­


    Iskat Akaris stared up at the devil in all of his hideous form. One day, she would kill him. She would take his teachings, his power, his ways, and use them to drive a blade through his wretched, withered skull.


    The day she did, she would avenge the Jedi Order that fell this day. Avenge Master Gallia, who gave her purpose. Avenge Master Yoda, who wrongfully believed in her, but believed in her nonetheless.


    She let the words of a curse be her deliverance.


    ¡°One day,¡± she said, her voice quiet, ¡°I¡¯m going to put a sword through your skull.¡±


    The devil grinned back down at her, pleased beyond measure, ¡°I will await that day eagerly, young Akaris. We will build something truly magnificent together to eclipse the Jedi Order, and you¡­ you will be the first of many.¡±

 (C98) The Wheels Epilogue

    Excerpt from ONE PEOPLE, ONE STATE, ONE DESTINY


    ¡°For years, we fought. We bled. We sacrificed everything in the struggle against tyranny. The Republic sought to keep us shackled, to drain our worlds of their wealth, their strength, their future. They called us Separatists. Traitors. Dissidents. They lied. They always lied. All because we dared to demand the one thing they would never grant us: our freedom. We were never the betrayers¨Cwe were the betrayed!¡±


    ¡°And when the power of Core came to steal back the future we forged for ourselves, we did not let them! We built the fleets they said we could never build. We mustered the armies they believed we could never muster. And today, I can stand before you not as a rebel, not as a soldier in a war of survival, but as a free woman. A free citizen of a free nation! A Separatist State of our own. A Confederacy to call our home! A Confederacy of Independent Systems!¡±


    ¡°With our own determination, with our own strength, with our own might of arms, we have taken back everything that had always belonged to us! Our wealth! Our freedom! Our future! And we will never let them go again!¡±


    ¡°Our armies, our fleets, our people, have cast off the chains of the Core¡¯s dominion. Look to Coruscant and see what remains of the Republic! Nothing but shattered remnants, grasping at power, fighting over the ruins of their own making, torn apart by the very rot we sought to escape.¡±


    ¡°But do not mistake their downfall for our security. Even in death, the Core¡¯s greed is insatiable. A dictator sits upon Coruscant¡¯s shattered throne, commanding the war machine that would see our ruin once, and will see our ruin again. And what of the so-called ¡®Restorationists¡¯ of Chandrila, of Humbarine, of Alderaan? They dream of the old days, when they could rule us from their ivory towers, when our people were nothing more than resources to be exploited.¡±


    ¡°And if we are not ready, they will come for us!¡±


    ¡°They will call us warlords, extremists, and criminals. They will whisper of peace, of compromise, of reconciliation. They are lies. Lies, just as they always have been. They do not seek peace¨Cthey seek to undo everything we have fought for! They seek to restore their dominion over us, to demand our obedience, to turn our hard-won independence into another chapter in their history of conquest!¡±


    ¡°Today, we lift our heads high and declare to a new galaxy: they will never again hold dominion over us. We have broken their grip. And we will never bow again!¡±


    ¡°This hard-fought independence of ours was secured not by words, nor by treaties, but by strength! By the fleets we have built, the armies we have forged, and the unbreakable will of this Confederacy! This victory proves a simple truth: the Outer Rim is not weak. The Outer Rim is not divided. The Outer Rim and all Independent Systems stand together, as one!¡±


    ¡°We will not falter. We will not hesitate. We will not be complacent while our enemies sharpen their knives and gather their fleets. This victory does not mark the end of our struggle¨Cit is only the beginning! Many of our brothers and sisters have given their lives so that we may stand here today, free. Let us honor them not with grief, but with resolve! We will not squander their sacrifice. We have fought too hard to let our enemies divide us now.¡±


    ¡°We will not rest until our borders are fortified, until our fleets are unmatched, until every Separatist world is secured, until every citizen of our Confederacy can walk freely beneath our banner without fear! We will not rest until our fleets stand as unchallenged guardians of our borders, until our armies ensure that no foreign power shall ever dictate our fates again! We will not rest until every voice that whispers of submission is drowned out by the great roar of a people who will never kneel again!¡±


    ¡°Let the Core bicker over their scraps! Let them waste their strength fighting over the ruins of their broken empire! We will build anew. We will grow stronger. Until every corner of the Outer Rim, from the South to the Tingel Arm, from the Tion Cluster to the Seventy-Seven Sectors, from the uncharted spacelanes of the Unknown Regions to the lost worlds of Wild Space can all boldly and proudly fly high the six-sided shield of the Separatist Alliance!¡±


    ¡°Our enemies are many, and one day they will march upon us to take back what they lost! And we say to them¨C!¡±


    ¡°We will not let you!¡±


    ¡°We have torn down one Republic, and we will never allow another to rise in its place to subjugate us again. We stand united now, and we shall stand united forever! Our strength is found in each other! The fleets of the Rimma, the foundries of the Perlemian, and the tradeworlds of the Corellian Run! Only together, can we secure our independence!¡±


    ¡°And to those who still waver, who still doubt, hear me now! The age of submission is over! The age of appeasement is over! It is a new day shining over the Outer Rim! We did not start this war, but we have won it. And we will not apologize for our victory.¡±


    ¡°Our cause is righteous. Our purpose is clear. Our strength is undeniable. We are now masters of our own destiny, and architects of our own fate. Our future is ours alone to take!¡±


    ¡°We are all one people, we are all one state, and we all march towards one destiny! This is our future! And by our will, by our strength, by the blood and sacrifice of all who fought for our right to be free, our Confederacy shall endure for a thousand generations!¡±


    ?


    Raxus Secundus, Raxus System


    Caluula Sector


    Raxus Secundus, the beating heart of the Confederacy, pulsed with the thunder of marching legions. The great boulevards of the capital¨Clined with banners bearing the six-sided shield of the Separatist Alliance¨Cwere a flood of motion, a spectacle of martial glory assembled in triumphal procession.


    The streets were choked with bodies, a sea of raised fists and banners, the air filled with the ceaseless tramp of boots and the thunderous clatter of droid formations moving in perfect, mechanical sync. Leading them, organic soldiers, warriors of a hundred species, dressed in the colors of their homeworlds, their banners rippling in the midday light. The soldiers of the Confederacy, flesh and metal alike, had come to claim their triumph.


    The Parliamentary Palace loomed above it all, a massive edifice of white stone and granite, its columns wrapped in banners of deep blue, each emblazoned with the Separatist Hex. From its great terraces, Sev¡¯rance Tann stood before them, her voice carried by amplifiers, by holoscreens, by the sheer force of will that had brought her here. She spoke of war, of blood spilled in defiance of the Core¡¯s dominion, of victory snatched from the Republic¡¯s dying grip.


    And when she was done¨Cwhen her final words rang out over the capital¨Cthe world itself seemed to shake.


    ¡°One People! One State! One Destiny!¡±


    The chant took hold like fire in dry grass, spreading from the plaza to the boulevards, to the open-air balconies and high towers, roaring out from every throat. The sound of it dwarfed the rumble of repulsortanks, rolling forward in slow formation, their armor gleaming beneath the midday sun and turrets raised in salute. Walkers tramped forward like iron giants, casting long shadows over the celebrating masses, their steps pounding into the stones of Raxulon¡¯s streets like the drumbeat of war.


    Above them, the sky belonged to the pilots. Starfighters, bombers, and interceptors of every make streaked in formation, cutting across the sky in sweeping formations, banking in perfect sync in a grand, choreographed war dance. The cheers from the streets rose even higher in response, their voices nearly drowned by the deep rumble of heavy engines from the capital ships above them still.


    ¡°One People! One State! One Destiny!¡±


    The Confederate Second Fleet held position in parade formation just beyond the stratosphere, its massive warships silhouetted against the planet¡¯s upper atmosphere. They hung in orbit like victorious valkyries, their vast hulls cast onto massive city-wide holoscreens so that even those in the deepest alleys of Raxulon could look up and see them. The people roared at the sight of them, for they knew what those ships meant. They were the defiance that repulsed the Galactic Republic; they were the power by which they carved out their nation; and they were their security should war ever come them again.


    And it would come again.


    ¡°One People! One State! One Destiny!¡±


    It swelled like a rising tide, voices merging into a singular, rolling thunder through the streets and avenues, carried on the wind to every corner of the capital. Soldiers pounded their fists against their chests; battle droids raised their rifles in synchronized salute; banners were thrust skyward as thousands of hands reached up toward the terrace, as if in supplication to the warlord who had secured their independence.


    Beyond the terrace, within the cool shadows of the palace interior, Admiral Trench, Admiral Rain Bonteri, and half a hundred more military officers waited in silence. If there was ever a single image of proof that it was a military junta ruling the Confederacy, all one would need to do was take a picture of the room. The doors stood open behind them, letting in the noise, the light, the heat, and the sheer resounding pressure of the moment.


    Finally, after what felt like an eon basking in the jubilee of the crowds outside, the Old Spider sensed the Supreme Commander turning around to reenter the Parliamentary Palace. The Admiral of the Second Fleet Group took a good look at the room he had gathered¨Cnone of them sharing in the joy of celebration, but rather a grim determination between them¨Cand nodded in satisfaction. He moved purposely, positioning himself to intercept her as she entered.


    ¡°Admiral Trench,¡± Supreme Commander Sev¡¯rance Tann smiled thinly upon finding the Older Spider placing his great mass in her way. She glanced to the side, and took in the gathered audience. If there was anything those gleaming red eyes of her caught, it was that every single one of them belonged to the Second Fleet, ¡°Is there an occasion?¡±


    There was a long pause in the room, and for a moment the only sound was the continuing roar of the masses beyond the terrace.


    ¡°If I may have a moment of your time, Supreme Commander,¡± the Old Spider rumbled.


    Sev¡¯rance Tann met his six eyes, and wore a mask of blankness, ¡°You may. It is your fleet in orbit over Raxus Secundus, is it not?¡±


    ¡°We wish to discuss the future of the Confederacy,¡± Admiral Trench moved aside, allowing the Supreme Commander to step further into the room. Despite their strength in numbers, the gathered captains of the Second Fleet seemed to melt away before her, ¡°Must we elaborate upon our concerns?¡±


    Her footfalls slowed to a halt¡­ ¡°The Confederacy¡¯s existence is not yet secured.¡±


    ¡°And when will that be?¡± Trench chittered violently, ¡° We have shattered the might of the Republic, and Core can no longer rival our united front. Our warfleets reign triumphant over every front. The insurgents in the north are of no concern to our base of power, and Count Dooku is in our custody and at our disposal.¡±


    ¡°The war is over,¡± he pressed harder, ¡°You have confirmed that yourself when the order was issued to stand-down the frontline fleets. It is obvious that we have come to an agreement with Coruscant! So what more, exactly, must we accomplish to ensure the Confederacy¡¯s longevity?¡±


    ¡°So long as Count Dooku still lives, we must sleep with one eye open,¡± the Supreme Commander of the Confederate Armed Forces whirled upon him, ¡°For there will always be those loyal to him, and willing to do his bidding. He does not have the best interests of the State in his heart. We must remove him, and yet at every corner I find more and more obstacles between him and his execution.¡±


    Rear Admiral Merai suddenly could not hold his silence any longer, and the Mon Cala officer strode forth in obvious disbelief, ¡°With all due respect, sir, but you would hold our newfound nation hostage over your¡­ your personal vendetta against Count Dooku?¡±


    It was as if the noise drowned away, and a glacial frost enveloped the increasingly claustrophobic chamber. Trench remained impassive, the shifting of his mandibles the only sign of movement as he regarded the Mon Cala officer. Sev¡¯rance Tann, however, did not move at all. She had turned fully now, standing face-to-face with Merai, her expression a glacial mask of unreadable scrutiny.


    Sev¡¯rance Tann was the Supreme Commander of the Confederate Armed Forces, but Admiral Trench had always been her peer. Indeed, he was now the only real rival for her position, and it was only through his continued support that the Pantoran enjoyed such complete control over the many internal factions of the CAF. But Merai was not Trench. He was a lesser admiral, not just in rank, but in standing. And he had overstepped.


    Nobody knew how Sev¡¯rance Tann would react, especially to such implications that rang like the toll of a bell in the hush that followed. Trench moved to protect his subordinate.


    Admiral Bonteri moved faster.


    ¡°Supreme Commander,¡± he said, his voice level, as if the tension in the air was something he had not noticed at all, ¡°We all recognize the danger of leaving loose ends untied. Count Dooku is a liability¨Cbut he is also the Confederacy¡¯s founding father.¡±


    Tann¡¯s gaze flicked toward him, but never with the same intensity it did Merai. Because while Rain Bonteri may also be a lesser admiral in rank, he may as well be an equal to the Pantoran in standing. Being one of Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s first supporters notwithstanding, Rain Bonteri was the Battle Hydra, and the Confederate Second Fleet contained no shortage of Perlemian-born captains who respected if not revered him. A dead man he may be, but even still he has been remembered on all sides as one such admiral the Confederacy could have never done without.


    ¡°His crimes are real,¡± Bonteri continued, inclining his head slightly. ¡°And you are correct; there are those who would die for him, even now. But there are also those not loyal to him, but to the dream he represented, before any of us did.¡±


    He gestured, lightly, toward the great windows that overlooked the city. Below, the victory celebrations were still in full force, the Confederacy reveling in its newfound freedom.


    ¡°It is these people,¡± Bonteri explained, ¡°Whom we must consider first. Not our enemies, not the loyalists lurking in the shadows¨Cbut those who look upon our banners and see their own reflection. The workers, the soldiers, the statesmen and the citizens who marched for this dream. To them, Count Dooku is not merely a man; he is a symbol.¡±


    His eyes darkened, ¡°And symbols do not die so easily. Not one still existing in living memory.¡±


    Bonteri allowed the moment to stretch, then pressed on.


    ¡°Even if we were to execute him,¡± he said then, ¡°Even if we were to strike his name from our records, the Confederacy will always be his in the eyes of history. His death as a criminal would cast a shadow over our future, a blot upon our legitimacy that would never fade.¡±


    ¡°And what would you have me do?¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann exhaled slowly through her nose, ¡°Let him live? Let him continue plotting from the shadows he so readily controls?¡±


    Admiral Bonteri did not hesitate.


    ¡°The Parliament must decide,¡± he said, ¡°Not the military. Not the Supreme Commander. If we are to be a nation, if we are to endure as something greater than a coalition of warlords, then our laws must carry weight and consequence. Let the Parliament choose his fate, and we will abide by it. This is the only way this State can achieve longevity.¡±


    ¡°Parliament will never sentence him to death.¡±


    And is that why you would not return the government to them? Trench began building a mental picture of the Supreme Commander¡¯s ends. She wanted Dooku dead, but the senators would never allow it. Therefore, she would not reinstate the Parliament. Simultaneously, she could not execute Dooku, because it was Admiral Trench¡¯s Second Fleet that held him in custody¨Cthe same Admiral Trench that wanted the Parliament reinstated in order to curb the Supreme Commander¡¯s authority. Leaving them in a three-way political deadlock.


    ¡°We can, of course, negotiate with the Parliament,¡± he said, his mandibles clicking softly. ¡°A compromise, one that both sides find¡­ favorable.¡±


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Indeed?¡±


    Trench inclined his head slightly: ¡°Exile.¡±


    Tann raised an eyebrow, ¡°You would sentence Dooku to exile? What¡¯s to say he will not return?¡±


    ¡°It is a simple solution,¡± Trench explained smoothly, clasping his hands behind his back, ¡°one that removes him from civilization while ensuring his followers have no martyr to rally behind. The location would be an uninhabited world on the edge of Separatist space¨Cisolated, forgotten, but monitored. The Confederate Armed Forces will be given full authority over his continued banishment, and to the public¡­ we will say he has chosen voluntary retirement.¡±


    Tann studied him, her expression unreadable.


    ¡°And how,¡± she said at last, ¡°do you intend to convince Parliament of this?¡±


    Trench¡¯s mandibles twitched in the barest hint of amusement.


    ¡°If they agree, the Confederate Armed Forces will relinquish its hold on the government. The Parliament will be reinstated, a general election announced, and the Confederacy will officially return to civilian rule. Their only real concern is his execution¨Cexile will seem a far more palatable alternative.¡±


    Silence. Sev¡¯rance Tann did not respond immediately, and the weight of her pause was felt by every officer in the room. They first thought she had delved into one of those future-seeing trances she was known for, but the continued blinking of her red eyes eliminated that possibility. Of course, why would she make herself vulnerable at such a fragile moment? This was all mental calculation.


    Even Trench could not resist squeezing the hilt of his cane.


    To refuse would mean war. Not on the battlefield, not with fleets and armies, but behind closed doors. It meant the Confederacy fracturing before it had even solidified itself. Would Sev¡¯rance Tann allow that?


    If Trench knew Sev¡¯rance Tann, he would say; no, she would not.


    ¡°There will be no trial,¡± the Supreme Commander decided, ¡°I will not give Dooku the liberty of speaking to a court, open or closed. I will not allow him to sway any of their minds. If you can convince Parliament of this, I guarantee Star Station Independence will withdraw from Raxus Secundus, martial law will be lifted, and civilian rule will return to the Confederacy.¡±


    Trench inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°Of course,¡± the Old Spider murmured, sharing a knowing look with Admiral Bonteri.


    The agreement was struck, and with the past dealt with, the newfound nation took its first step into the future.


    ?


    OHS4140-02 System Transit


    Ash Worlds


    ¡°So?¡± Asajj Ventress could hear Naradan D¡¯ulin question behind her, ¡°Is that our target?¡±


    She observed the lone vessel through the Sharihen¡¯s scopes, identifying it as a Munificent-class star frigate, painted in the Second Fleet Group¡¯s livery.


    ¡°Must be.¡±


    Ventress was no stranger to the Confederate Navy, and she knew enough to be certain that Munificents don¡¯t travel alone. If they did, then it was almost definitely for the purposes of an undercover mission of some kind. Advanced recon, long-range transceiver operations, communications tapping¡­ or the secret transportation of a VIP.


    The Mistryl Team Prime nodded towards the helm¨C ¡°Bring us closer to that ship, and perform a bio-scan!¡±


    In times past, Ventress only ever took orders from a person: Count Dooku. And even now, she was not one to listen to commands. This time, however, she was more than willing to oblige with the request she received. As for the Mistryl¡­ those mercenaries would do anything so long as it paid well, and it would appear their new commission would have all the wealth and influence of the Separatist State behind it.


    It was for this reason that the Mistryl warfleet had diverted from its course back to Raxus Secundus from Geonosis, taking a detour deep into the dead patch of space known to the galaxy as the Ash Worlds. Behind her, Naradan D¡¯ulin leaned over the tactical console, his feline yellow eyes narrowing as the Sharihen¡¯s scanners worked their magic.


    ¡°Bio-scan complete,¡± she suddenly reported, ¡°Single organic signature detected. The rest of the vessel is read as non-organic crew. Droids only. This settles it; it¡¯s our quarry.¡±


    Ventress¡¯s mechanical fingers flexed, curling against the armrest of her seat. Only one organism aboard. One. Alone. Vulnerable. She leaned forward, pressing a command into the console before her. The Mistryl warfleet could obliterate the frigate from here, reduce it to atoms if they wished. But no. That was not what she had come for.


    She came to find answers.


    ¡°My girls can fight through the clone crew,¡± Naradan warned, ¡°But droids? We aren¡¯t trained for that. Our weapons won¡¯t be so effective.¡±


    Ventress turned to her with a raised eyebrow, ¡°That crew is all droids for a reason. We have their codes.¡±


    ¡°The master control codes from Geonosis,¡± the Mistryl murmured, ¡°But these are the colours of the Second Fleet. You think¡­?¡±


    ¡°His death would only be a benefit to everyone involved.¡±


    A crackle of static. The Sharihen¡¯s comms officer nodded; ¡°Transmitting the codes now.¡±


    Asajj Ventress exhaled once, then spoke, ¡°Confederate Frigate, this is the Sharihen. You are ordered to disengage your sublight drives and unlock your airlocks for boarding.¡±


    There was a pause. A long pause.


    Then, as expected, the Munificent shuddered, its engines sputtering out, and the vessel only carrying forward on its own momentum. Sharihen matched its velocity to the much larger vessel, extending her boarding tube.


    ¡°Convenient,¡± Naradan D¡¯ulin arched an eyebrow, ¡°Now then, let us collect our bounty.¡±


    Ventress stood in one smooth motion, her twin lightsabers clinking softly against her belt as she strode toward the boarding bay. She felt the thrum of the docking clamps locking into place, sending a deep, resonating tremor through the hull of the Sharihen. The air around her vibrated with the muted hum of the ship¡¯s systems, the occasional static crackle of the comms. The ship''s outer airlock lights blinked from red to green as the frigate accepted their docking request.


    She stood at the threshold, her body still, her mind anything but.


    She could not have expected this moment to arrive so soon. She had imagined a thousand possibilities. Turned it over in her mind like a blade on a whetstone, sharpening the thought into something fine as a sliding stiletto. Now that she was here, she could feel it all go, leaving behind a raw, burning heat behind her ribs. She felt it, filling in the empty void left by the absence of her one hand.


    A hiss of air cut through the silence as the boarding doors slid open.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Ventress asked quietly.


    One of the mercenaries pulled up the schematics on her wrist display, scanning the glowing red outlines of the ship¡¯s layout. It was all familiar to Ventress. Too familiar. She had fought aboard Munificent-class warships countless times during the war¨Cboarded them, defended them, sabotaged them. Everything and anything her former Master had wished of her.


    Up until the moment he discarded her like the Jedi discarded Ky Narec.


    ¡°The ship¡¯s hold,¡± the mercenary answered.


    Her boots echoed off against the boarding ramp as it extended into the Munificent¡¯s docking bay, the outer hull still cold from vacuum exposure. Around her, the Mistryl Shadow Guards moved into formation, their weapons held at the ready. The Mistryl split off into their squads out of practice, fanning out through the corridors, sweeping every junction and passageway with all the facility of seasoned mercs.


    Not that they would encounter any resistance.


    A single foot over the airlock and Ventress knew that. This wasn¡¯t a ship meant for war.


    This was a hearse. A slow transport to nowhere, carrying a ghost of a war that had already ended.


    The whir of servoes filled the silence as her hands clenched at her sides.


    He was here. She could feel it. She didn¡¯t even need the schematics anymore¨CVentress set off, all but mindlessly following the trail in the Force like a wolf seeking its kill. A red glow bathed the walls as emergency lighting flickered on, dim and intermittent, casting the hallways in eerie crimson. Ventress allowed her memory to carry her to the main access corridor leading to the internal hold, until she ran into the reinforced blast doors separating the two compartments.


    She took a breath, exhaled slowly.


    And then, with nothing more than a gesture of her hand, she reached out through the Force, fingers curling invisibly around the mechanisms buried in the walls, twisting, unlocking, and overriding.


    The doors hissed apart.


    She stepped through.


    What had she expected? Many things.


    She did not expect this.


    Dominating the centre of the vast hold, a single rectangular box, standing upright. It was alive, blinking with lights, beeping with noise, and hissing with mysterious gas, breathing in and out like a mechanical lung. She approached the monolith cautiously, a hand reaching for the lightsabers at her waist.


    ¡°Would you look at that,¡± Naradan murmured, ¡°Do you think the box has a kill-switch?¡±


    Ventress hesitated. A part of her listened to the Mistryl. Her fingers flexed. Her hands burned to reach for her lightsabers, to ignite them and carve through the box, to strike first, before he could weave his poison into her mind again.


    But she wanted more than just his death. She wanted answers. She wanted to know what everything¨Cwhat all of it was for. Had his dream just been one long, elaborate lie? For what purpose had she knelt before him on Rattatak? For what purpose had she sworn herself to him, given everything, killed for him, bled for him?


    The box had a single viewport¨Ca red-tinted window levelled directly at the eyes of the prisoner inside. And eyes, there were. Open, wide, and so utterly awake. For a long moment, Ventress did not move.


    The hum of the ship¡¯s systems was distant, muffled, as if the entire frigate had sunk into silence, waiting. The viewport of the sarcophagus glowed a deep, bloody red, casting its light against the dark steel of the chamber. And within it, within the narrow frame of that single rectangular box, was him.


    Count Dooku.


    His eyes were wide, unblinking, locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch despite herself. She had never seen him like this; not broken, not panicked, but contained, trapped in something not of his own design. The great Sith Lord, the master manipulator, the man who had ruled battlefields and senators alike with the flick of a hand, was now nothing more than a prisoner in a cage.


    And yet¨C


    And yet.


    The way he looked at her made her stomach twist.


    There was no fear in his eyes.


    She had expected fury, hatred, maybe even resignation¨Cbut there was none of it. Instead, Dooku studied her. Cool. Unwavering. As if the circumstances of their last encounter had been inconsequential. As if their history had been rewritten and he was seeing her for the first time.


    How dare he!


    Her fingers clenched at her sides.


    ¡°Finally run out of people to betray, have you?¡± she asked, her voice laced with venom. If he could hear her, he made no show of it.


    Behind her, Naradan D¡¯ulin shifted slightly among her mercenaries, ¡°He¡¯s awake?¡±


    ¡°He is.¡±


    ¡°How¡­?¡± the Mistryl Shadow Guard wondered, glancing at the control panel, ¡°He¡¯s being pumped full of drugs. Half of his bloodstream is narcotics, the other half is sedatives.¡±


    ¡°...I want to talk to him,¡± Ventress finally decided.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you that that would be a mistake.¡±


    Ventress toggled the latch anyway. The sarcophagus hissed, another burst of gas venting from the seals, and the cover yawned open¨Crevealing the Sith Lord¡¯s bound figure inlaid into the steel like a grotesque embossment. Those who captured him certainly took no chances, for this was only a single step away from outright carbon-freezing. Ventress traced the wiring that kept him bound like a straightjacket, the tubing that kept him pumped full of drugs, and couldn¡¯t help but share Naradan¡¯s wonder as to how he managed to remain lucid.


    Something bubbled up in her chest. Laughter.


    ¡°Was this the grand outcome you envisioned, Dooku?¡± Ventress mocked, ¡°Was this the galaxy you dreamt of? Did everything come as you had desired?¡±


    She clawed her fingers, and pried off the rigid gag that kept him mute. The moment it fell away, Count Dooku exhaled, slow and shallow. His throat worked once, adjusting to the absence of the restraint, and when he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, brittle, but still carrying that same unmistakable regal detachment.


    ¡°Asajj,¡± he murmured, almost conversationally, as though they were merely picking up from their last conversation, ¡°I would imagine that it is Sev¡¯rance behind your¡­ presence.¡±


    Sev¡¯rance, Sev¡¯rance, Sev¡¯rance¨C!


    ¡°Who did you strike a deal with to keep you alive?¡± Ventress sneered, ¡°Trench? Bec Lawise? The corpos? Unfortunately, those who would see you alive¡­ are far outweighed by those who want you dead.¡±


    Dooku¡¯s lips curled, ¡°And you would do their bidding?¡±


    ¡°If it grants me no end to self-satisfaction,¡± she replied, ¡°I gladly would.¡±


    The Count of Serenno made something between a smirk and a wince, ¡°I thought you might.¡±


    She narrowed her eyes, ¡°And you? Does this end give you any satisfaction? To be left to rot on some blasted tombworld while the galaxy moves on without you? Is this what all your planning, all your scheming, amounted to? Nothing?¡±


    Dooku closed his eyes for a moment, as if considering. Then, he exhaled softly.


    ¡°A poor ending,¡± he admitted, ¡°I will grant you that.¡±


    Ventress felt her fingers twitch toward her lightsaber.


    ¡°But why?¡± she hissed, leaning in, her hands gripping the edge of the sarcophagus, her eyes blazing, ¡°Why did it have to end like this? What good would my death have done for you? When you took me off Rattatak, you told me your dream¨Cis that dream still real?¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Dooku¡¯s eyes snapped open, and for the first time, a glimmer of something sharper crossed his face. Something lucid, something awake and alive, ¡°That dream has been realised. Without me, but realised all the same. I could hope for nothing less, now.¡±


    ¡°But why had it been realised without you!?¡±


    ¡°Because it had never been my dream to begin with,¡± he answered, almost amused, ¡°The Confederacy was never meant to¡­ win. The galaxy should have never fractured so.¡±


    It cut through her like a vibroblade. Ventress barked a disbelieving, incredulous laugh, all but stumbling backwards. At the admission, not even the Mistryl mercenaries could have kept their silence.


    ¡°¨CYou spent your life¡¯s work building an empire out of the Outer Rim,¡± Naradan demanded, ¡°Just so you could see it fall to the Republic again!? For what purpose?¡±


    Dooku barely spared her a mote of his attention, keeping his gaze fixed on his former apprentice, but he answered all the same, ¡°The Confederacy, fall? Yes. To the Republic¡­? That was never the intention.¡±


    For a long, terrible moment, Ventress could only stare. The words rattled inside her skull, clashing, contradicting, breaking apart and refusing to fit.


    ¡°The Confederacy was never meant to win.¡±


    It didn¡¯t make sense. It couldn¡¯t make sense.


    She had fought for this. Killed for this. Had watched men and women¨Csoldiers, officers, droids, mercenaries, entire worlds¨Cburn in the name of this. And not just her, but trillions of beings all across the Outer Rim, pledging their entire lives to the six-sided shield.


    The Confederacy was a cause. A revolution. A galaxy-shaking upheaval of the corrupt, decaying Republic. That had been Dooku¡¯s dream. His vision. The thing he had whispered to her all those years ago on Rattatak, when he had lifted her from the ashes and given her a purpose. And now he tells me it was never real.


    Her hands clenched into fists.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± she growled, shaking her head. ¡°This wasn¡¯t a game, Dooku. This wasn¡¯t some¨Csome exercise in politics! You shattered the Republic. You tore the galaxy apart. For what!?¡±


    Dooku¡¯s expression did not change.


    ¡°The Confederacy was a tool,¡± he said simply, ¡°A mere means to an end.¡±


    Ventress felt something snap inside her. She had always known he was ruthless. Had always understood that he saw people as little more than instruments to be used and discarded. She had lived through that firsthand. But this¨Cthis was something else.


    She staggered back from the sarcophagus, her breaths coming short, sharp.


    A tool. He had called an entire galactic movement¨Cthe blood and sacrifice of trillions upon trillions¨Ca tool.


    It didn¡¯t make sense.


    Unless¨C


    Unless it was never his.


    Her pulse spiked. The pieces clicked, slotted together with a kind of inevitability that had always been in plain sight, a picture she had never even thought to see. The words were already leaving her lips before she had time to fully understand them.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t the Sith Master.¡±


    A beat. Count Dooku tilted his head ever so slightly, acknowledging the truth without confirming it.


    She had always known Dooku was powerful¨Cmore powerful than any Jedi, more ruthless than any politician, a leader of men, a warrior, a ruler. He had played the Republic, played the Jedi, played the entire galaxy into war, and for what?


    For this? For exile?


    No. It was simply that he had never been in control.


    Because it had never been his war. Because Dooku had never been the Sith Lord. Because someone else¨Csomeone in the Republic¨Chad held his leash all along. Count Dooku was just another pawn being moved on this gameboard, same as them rest of them, only pretending to the galaxy that he wasn¡¯t¨Cthat he was a player.


    And the very moment his usefulness reached its end, he had been cast aside; just as he had cast her aside as easily as breathing; and now he had learned how it felt. Because betrayal is the unhappy hazard of the dark side.


    Dooku¡¯s fingers twitched against the restraints, ¡°Perhaps. But tell me, Asajj¨Cwhat is it that you believe in?¡±


    The rage built in her so fast, so deep, she nearly choked on it. Her lightsaber flashed to her hand, and before she knew it, the crimson blade ignited, its glow filling the chamber, burning against the metallic sheen of the sarcophagus, illuminating the angles of Dooku¡¯s face in its bloody glow.


    What did I believe in? She wanted to scream. I believed in everything you believed in!


    And now she learnt he had been lying all along!


    Count Dooku did not flinch. His face remained still, his gaze locked on hers, but his breathing was slower now, more deliberate. As if he had already accepted what came next.


    Ventress¡¯s hands trembled on her weapon.


    How could she not dream of this moment? She had every right!


    He had stolen years of her life. Had turned her into a weapon, a shadow, an assassin, a tool for a war that was never meant to be won. He had ordered her execution without hesitation, had discarded her like nothing¨Cand now he was here, trapped in a machine that kept him alive only long enough to suffer.


    She could end it.


    She should end it.


    It took every fibre of restraint in her body to resist the urge of running him through right then and there.


    ¡°Why do you hesitate?¡± Dooku asked, almost genuinely curious, ¡°Why do you hesitate the easiest kill of your life?¡±


    Ventress stilled, and a long, ragged breath tore from her lungs. And her lightsaber deactivated with a hiss. It would be too clean. Too easy. Too much like the death of a Jedi, a Sith, rather than the death of a discarded failure. Her former master¡¯s expression remained unreadable, but she caught it, just for an instant¨Cthe barest flicker of something in his eyes. At that moment, Ventress couldn¡¯t care less what he thought.


    She took a step back, slammed the sarcophagus shut, and reached for the panel on the sarcophagus. A red light flashed on the console, a long beeeep was heard, and the silhouette behind the viewport violently convulsed. And when she peered through the viewport again, Count Dooku¡¯s eyes were closed.


    The founding father of the Confederacy would make it to his place of retirement, and he will never return again.


    ¡°...What now?¡± she could only utter.


    ¡°Now?¡± Naradan D¡¯ulin mused, ¡°Now, I take my girls to Raxus Secundus and collect our bounty, then return back to Emberlene as heroes. You, however, have your own road to take. Dooku had a point, I am afraid. What do you believe in? What do you want to do?¡±


    For a long time, Ventress could not answer. All her life, she had only done the bidding of others, learning their teachings, following their orders, dreaming their dreams. What do you want to do? Well, to her¡­ that question felt a little alien. She deflated.


    The Confederacy may not have been Count Dooku¡¯s real dream.


    But it had become one anyway.


    It had become real for her, for millions, for quadrillions across the Outer Rim who had fought and bled for it. He had used them¨Cjust as he had used her¨Cbut now he was gone, and the Confederacy remained. He was dead, but the war had been won.


    What did that mean for the people who still flew that six-sided shield? For the fleets that still stood on the edge of the Core, bracing for the next war? For the soldiers who had never questioned whether their cause was real, because they had made it real through the price of their own blood?


    Was it still a lie if they had willed it into truth?


    Ventress had never cared for the ideals of a state, not truly, and never looked beyond the blade of her lightsaber and the next battle, the next hand that would use her until she was of no further worth.


    She had spent her entire life fighting in other people¡¯s wars, believing them to be her own.


    And now Count Dooku was dead, and his dream¨Cwhatever it had been¨Chad died with him. And her dream? Could her dream of a better Republic¨Ca Confederacy of Independent Systems¨Cstill stand on its own two feet, without him?


    Asajj Ventress finally had her answer¨C


    ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to find that out.¡±


    Naradan smirked, and turned on her heel, ¡°Let¡¯s send this frigate on its way. Can¡¯t raise any suspicions that it didn¡¯t arrive at its destination.¡±


    The Shadow Guards left with her. Their job was finished. They had their payment waiting for them on Raxus Secundus, their return voyage home already in mind. But Ventress lingered a moment longer, staring out the viewport at the stars beyond, the ones that belonged to the Confederacy now.


    Count Dooku had died an ignoble death, in silence, never to be revealed until years in the future, and maybe that was fitting. It was just another useful lie to append to his long career of lying.


    But the dream he had forced into existence?


    That was still alive. It had grown without him, beyond him, until it was out of his control.


    And no longer did it belong to him.

 (C99) The Towers Epilogue

    Wroona Orbit, Wroona System


    Harrin Sector


    Something wasn¡¯t quite right.


    Jedi Commander Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy had fought enough of this damned war to read the Tombmaker like an open book¨Cor at least, she liked to think so. Which systems he would commit to and which he would bypass; when he would press the offensive, and when he cut his losses and withdraw; what worlds he would treat with an open hand, and what worlds he would sooner crush with the iron fist of battleship Antecedent as one would an insect. The script was found in the pattern of his deployments, stretching over months, seemingly disconnected unless you know his objective.


    And the Tombmaker¡¯s objective was to isolate and surround the Wroona Star System, home to the now officially designated fortress world Wroona, and host of the 20th Sector Army¡¯s forward headquarters¨Cthe Open Circle Fleet notwithstanding.


    Fact of the matter was that her war was not on the frontlines, of split-second judgements and flashing lightsaber, of battlefield tactics where a single misstep could see thousands dead in moments. In summary, the war Scout thought she would be fighting the moment Anakin Skywalker chose her his Padawan Learner.


    But that was not the war Commander Esterhazy was fighting now, in the silence of the command deck, hunched over starcharts and tactical holos long enough to make the eyes water, presiding over light-years upon light-years, playing out at a snail¡¯s pace. Where there was a constant pressure in the air, knowing that every decision made then was weighed with consequences that may not be known until days and weeks later. Here, a single educated guess could decide if the war was one won or lost.


    If Scout was the compare it to the battlefields of Operation Trident, where the blistering offensive saw one thunderous battle after the next, the defense-in-depth against the Pantoran¡¯s Operation Storm-Door was marked by long periods of apparent inaction¨Cas if staring down a barrelling conveyex transport just long enough to decide which way to jump in order to avoid it.


    It was not difficult to imagine, then, that when the conveyex starts sliding off its rails, all sorts of alarm bells ring off in the mind.


    Scout leaned over the holoprojection table, tracking the vector updates as closely a cat would a mouse. For all she had grown into her role as a strategist, she was still a Jedi, and the senses that earned her the nickname were flaring; the odd pressure at the base of her skull, her hackles rising and hairs standing on end, and flesh rippling with warning and danger prickling at the edges of her awareness.


    Her fingers tapped lightly against the side of the holo-table, tracking the movements with silent, growing unease. It was not an unfamiliar sensation¨Cnot to her, and not to Aurodia¡¯s crew. Indeed, the staff crowding the Battle Room has since gotten used to their commanding officer¡¯s habits; especially when it warned them of imminent danger far sooner than analysts could extrapolate useful data from collated reports.


    Thus, when Aurodia¡¯s Commander Esterhazy stiffened like a threatened kitten, they took notice, and the news was passed down through the stations like a human early-warning system.


    ¡°Commander?¡±


    Lieutenant Commander Ussin Fajinak had already materialised beside her, a mix of apprehension and curiosity tightening his face. Indeed, the sudden shifts in her posture, the thinning of her lips, the way her shoulders squared before even the best strategic analysts could even feasibly realise anything unordinary was happening.


    Before Scout even realised it, that feeling had already spread through the stations like an invisible wildfire.


    And now, everybody was waiting, their attention fixed to that of their Jedi Commander, even if their gazes overtly weren¡¯t out of politeness.


    ¡°...What is the latest situation on Vandelhelm?¡± Scout furrowed her brows.


    Fajinak pivoted to confirm with another officer, before spinning back to her, ¡°Jedi General Ry-Gaul has pushed them off Vandelhelm. It¡¯s a complete victory system-wide.¡±


    ¡°¨CAnd Woostri?¡±


    The first officer opened his mouth halfway, but must have thought best to confirm the latest reports before saying anything. The Lieutenant Commander departed to accost the appropriate station for information, leaving Scout and the officers in earshot of the holo-table suspended in the limbo-like state of uncertainty.


    What news would come? They wondered. Last we heard the 20th Sector Army was being pressured hard on Woostri.


    Then came the worry.


    How would the Tombmaker react to his defeat on Vandelhelm? Woostri was the next major star system down the Rimma Trade Route¨Cwhat painting of butchery could we expect next?


    That stew of over-imagination continued for at least ten minutes until Commander Fajinak returned with a datapad in hand. Scout glanced at him, hands still firmly planted on the holo-table. He cleared his throat, and said;


    ¡°The Confederate Fourth Fleet had executed a surface bombardment of all planetary sectors over which they enjoyed orbital control¨C¡± Fajinak then squinted at the text, frowning as he skimmed the full report, ¡°¨Cbefore evacuating their ground armies. General Ry-Gaul confirms the enemy is now in the process of a full-scale withdrawal from the Woostri Star System. No pursuit action is currently being considered, in order to avoid being caught overextended.¡±


    General Horn Ambigene, retreating? No¡­ Scout shook her head; retreat was not an option unknown to the Tombmaker. Horn Ambigene was far more malleable than the overactive HoloNet media channels make him out to be. The man had cut his teeth on guerrilla warfare, and he understood how to preserve his organic resources; she even daresay he was more conservative with his manpower than most Republic commanders she worked with.


    This was why the Tombmaker always preceded ground invasions with saturation bombardments when the defending planet refuses to accept his terms¨Ceither to convince them to accept, or to make sure there was no organised resistance left to accept.


    But this was the first time he bombarded a planet before leaving it. Especially after a defeat like that on Vandelhelm.


    Her fingers drummed against the cool metal of the holotable. In the back-and-forth war in the galactic south, planets were taken and lost and lost and taken regularly. Woostri itself has exchanged hands three times over the course of Operation Storm-Door. A strategic withdrawal made sense¨Cbut a scorched-earth approach? In this context, a scorched earth approach of this calibre would only make sense if¡­


    If the Confederate Fourth Fleet wasn¡¯t intending to return back to Woostri.


    Fajinak exhaled, glancing back at the datapad, ¡°General Ry-Gaul requests advisement.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ General Ry-Gaul is wise to consolidate his position on Woostri,¡± Commander Esterhazy murmured, ¡°But request that he deploys forward scouts to track the enemy¡¯s fleet actions.¡±


    She lifted her head then, her voice rising, sharp and clear through the command deck; ¡°The enemy is pivoting again! I want to find out where they will attack next, and when! Move it!¡±


    Aurodia¡¯s command center erupted into motion. It seemed as if the manpower in the compartment had suddenly doubled, as officers crowded around holotables, datapads exchanged hands at blisterings speed, voices rising and overlapping as the pulsing heart of the Republic¡¯s southern theater came alive with activity. Aurodia¡¯s comm relays pulsed with incoming transmissions, flickering with priority alerts as messages from frontline commanders flooded in.


    [STOBAR HQ] SEPARATIST FLEET WITHDRAWING FROM ORBIT¨CNO INDICATION OF COUNTEROFFENSIVE. PLEASE ADVISE.


    [ORD VAUG HQ] ENEMY GROUND FORCES EVACUATING AFTER SCORCHED-EARTH TACTICS. SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO CIVILIAN CENTERS¡ªREQUESTING ENGINEERING AND MEDICAL TEAMS.


    [EPSI HQ] ALL SEPARATIST FORCES ALONG HYPERLANE WITHDRAWING¨CCONFIRMED MOVEMENT TO CONSOLIDATE DEFENSIVE POSITIONS.


    It was organized chaos, the kind that always followed an unexpected shift in enemy behavior. Officers leaned over their stations, barking reports to the tactical analysts, who worked at breakneck speed to consolidate the flood of data into something actionable.


    At the center of it all, Commander Esterhazy stood motionless, her eyes darting across the holoprojected map of the galactic south, absorbing each update as it was relayed. Her mind raced to fit the jigsaw puzzles together as they came in, the collected data forming a picture¨Cbut it wasn¡¯t the picture she had expected.


    Fajinak leaned in beside her, voice low and urgent, ¡°It¡¯s all withdrawals. Every front.¡±


    Scout¡¯s fingers tightened against the steel edge of the table.


    Horn Ambigene was an aggressive commander, a fluid tactician, always pushing forward, always dictating the flow of battle. Whenever he relented in one front, he redoubled his efforts in another, constantly prodding for the path of least resistance. His last major offensive had been up the Harrin Trade Route, a move that forced them into a costly defense-in-depth response. Last they heard, General Anakin Skywalker had been fighting a prolonged defense on Lohopa II; one proving far more bloody than anybody could have expected.


    But now?


    Now, there were no offensives. No rapid movements. No new attacks.


    Only withdrawals.


    Every report, every incoming message confirmed the same pattern: scorched earth, then entrenchment. Forward scouts were finding newly erected ground-to-orbit batteries on Daemen, brand new deflector shields on Jurzan, bunkers and field fortifications on Qat Chrystac.


    ¡°They¡¯re digging in,¡± Fajinak said aloud what Scout had been turning over and over in her mind, ¡°Wherever they still hold ground, they¡¯re fortifying instead of pressing the attack.¡±


    Scout felt it too, the shape of something just beneath the surface. Because the Tombmaker didn¡¯t fight like this. She could only imagine two possibilities; somebody had replaced Horn Ambigene at the head of the Confederate Fourth Fleet, or Horn Ambigene was now obeying new orders from Raxus Secundus.


    Her gaze flicked to the star systems further down the Rimma Trade Route, deeper into Separatist-controlled space. Entrenchments along the defensive lines. Fleet consolidation over industrial worlds. Reinforcements streaming inward rather than outward.


    Commander Esterhazy had a stark feeling it was a case of the latter, rather than the former.


    ¡°We can assume the Separatist High Command has ordered Ambigine to adopt a defensive posture,¡± she announced, just loud enough for everyone to hear here, ¡°We can only speculate as to the reason, but right now we should be seeking advice from General Octavian Grant. We will begin drafting possible attack plans based on the incoming information of Separatist fortifications, but we will not act on them until the Twentieth Sector Army explicitly authorises a full-scale counteroffensive.¡±


    ¡°Contact General Grant and relay all intelligence to the Emerald Banner Command,¡± she then ordered, despite the knot tightening in her gut, ¡°I want confirmation from the Governor-General himself on the strategic response.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Commander Fajinak responded, already turning to the comms officers,


    ¡°Establishing a priority line with 20th Sector Army HQ now.¡±


    ¡­


    She hardly heard him.


    The knot in her gut tightened.


    Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.


    It wasn¡¯t the same feeling as before, when the Tombmaker made his strategic redeployments, the fear of a new stage in the campaign. It wasn¡¯t anything she could see. The holotable still displayed the same pattern of Separatist withdrawals, the same entrenchment lines along the Rimma and Harrin, the same logistical repositioning of the enemy fleets. Her officers still moved about the Battle Room with the same urgency, their voices sharp, their focus undistracted.


    Nothing had changed.


    Nothing, except for the sudden chill that pierced Scout¡¯s bones.


    The tightness in her chest had begun as a whisper, a flicker of unease curling at the edges of her mind. Now, it was spreading, slow and insidious, like a shadow creeping into her thoughts. She looked at the holo-table again.


    Nothing had changed.


    Nothing, except for the goosebumps rippling across Scout¡¯s flesh.


    She instinctively knew the feeling. It was that feeling in those terrible seconds before an attack was sprung, before the first turbolaser blasts erupted from the dark, before the enemy revealed itself in a brutal, irreversible moment. She looked at the holo-table again.


    Nothing had changed.


    Nothing, except for the bile rising up Scout¡¯s throat.


    There was no enemy here. No battle. No sudden offensive. No reason for her body to suddenly stiffen with the quiet, creeping dread that was rising up her spine. Her fingers twitched. Her breathing slowed. It was absurd. Impossible. And yet, the feeling only grew, intensifying without reason.


    The walls of the Battle Room¨Cso familiar, so known¨Cnow felt too close. The sharp holographic glow of the strategic maps cast unnatural shadows against the durasteel walls, as if the light itself was no longer trustworthy. The murmuring of her officers¨Cvoices she knew, voices she trusted¨Cbecame distant, blurred, reduced to the echo of words spoken behind glass.


    A tightness coiled in her chest, not pain but pressure, an unseen force pressing down on her ribs, closing in.


    She turned her head sharply, expecting to see someone standing behind her.


    No one.


    But the feeling didn¡¯t go away.


    Her eyes narrowed, scanning the edges of the Battle Room, her fingers tapping the steel rim of the holotable too quickly now, too sharply.


    Her crew noticed. Of course they did.


    ¡°Commander?¡± Ossin Fajinak was watching her now, attentive as always, the other officers slowing in their tasks, sensing the shift in the air.


    Scout forced herself to steady her hands.


    Get a grip, Tallisibeth! She scolded herself. This is nothing!


    But it wasn¡¯t nothing.


    Something was wrong.


    She could feel it in her bones, in the unshakable sense that something unseen was closing in, watching, waiting, standing just beyond the edges of her vision, constantly stalking in her shadow. Her hackles raised, a cold sweat beading at the base of her neck.


    Then, in that moment, the feeling spiked, a sudden, overwhelming weight pressing down on her like a crashing tide.


    ¡°We¨C we just lost contact with General Ry-Gaul¡¯s HQ!¡±


    Her breath hitched.


    Her pulse spiked.


    Her muscles locked.


    Her eyes darted toward the Battle Room entrance, expecting¨Cwaiting¨Cknowing¨C


    The blast doors slid open, and a pair of clone troopers entered the compartment. Over two-dozen pairs of eyes whipped towards them at once. Scout recognised one of them immediately; Clone Captain Kano, whose battalion General Skywalker personally posted on Aurodia to defend the flagship. Except, right then, Scout swore she could have been mistaken, for if not for the distinctive markings on his armour, she could not see Kano¡¯s face through the impenetrable T-visor of his helmet.


    Maybe it was how she looked at Kano with more fear than relief, or how Kano marched in with his blaster at his hip, but Lieutenant Commander Fajinak swiftly moved to intercept the two clonetroopers.


    ¡°Something the matter, troopers?¡± he questioned their entrance.


    Kano nodded over Fajinak¡¯s soldier, directly at Scout.


    ¡°Orders from Coruscant¨C¡± but she did not recognise Kano¡¯s voice, ¡°¨CAll Jedi are to be executed for treason.¡±


    A ripple of unease surged through the Battle Room. Jedi Commander Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy flinched. Treason? Jedi? Then¨CJedi General Ry-Gaul¨C!? What about General Skywalker!? Her thoughts scrambled for some sense of reason, some explanation that fit, that made this anything more than the impossibility it was.


    Around her, the officers looked to her¨Csome in confusion, others in hesitation, and a handful with the beginning of realization. But no one moved.


    Because she was their commanding officer. Because she had stood by them for a year, working with them to fend off attack after attack after attack from the Separatist menace. Because even if the Jedi were traitors, that didn¡¯t mean she was. Because if she was a traitor, she was doing a terrible job at it.


    She was not the only person in the room who found the order completely unbelievable.


    Commander Fajinak straightened, his face unreadable. Unconvinced.


    ¡°Treason? On what grounds?¡± he snapped, then whipped towards the comms station, ¡°Any update from Coruscant?¡±


    The communications officers hesitated¨Cthen hurriedly scanned the latest high-priority transmissions. The room remained locked in a suffocating stasis, time stretching into an unbearable eternity as the officers scanned the encoded messages. Then¨C


    ¡°Confirming priority transmission from Coruscant,¡± one of the techs reported, his voice tight, uncertain, ¡°Classified as Executive Order 66. Issued directly by the Executive Office via Republic Intelligence.¡±


    Scout felt the floor tilt beneath her feet.


    The officer kept reading: ¡°The Jedi Order has attempted to murder the Supreme Chancellor and overthrow the Galactic Senate.¡±


    A sharp, collective intake of breath. No one spoke. No one moved.


    The universe shifted, reality twisting into something Scout could not recognize. She wanted to deny it, to argue, to scream that this was impossible. But the words wouldn¡¯t come.


    Because suddenly, all at once, the tidal wave came crashing down on her. As if the realisation, the realisation of what was happening was all she needed to feel the dam break.


    Death. Jedi, everywhere. Death.


    And she was next lined up against the wall, before the firing squad.


    The unease. The feeling of walls closing in. The creeping, suffocating dread. It hadn¡¯t been paranoia. It hadn¡¯t been nothing. She had felt it before it had happened. A shrouded hand, deep and ancient and unseen, had reached across the galaxy at that moment, and closed its fist around the Jedi Order¡¯s windpipe.


    Scout didn¡¯t know she had been unconsciously backing up until she felt the metal rim of the holo-table bite into her back. She looked around, but couldn¡¯t see the faces of all the men and women surrounding her through her blurred vision, her head swimming with a raging pain. Were they all unclipping their self-defense blasters too? The blurry figures move closer.


    She reached for her lightsabers. She may be in no state of mind to defend herself, but her instincts certainly were.


    But before she could draw them¨C


    ¡°Be that as it may, there is no evidence Scou¨CCommander Esterhazy is in any consort with the traitors!¡± Commander Ossin Fajinak insisted, his voice like a vibroblade cutting straight through Scout¡¯s consciousness.


    Just like that, her vision cleared up, her breathing stabilised, and her headache faded like a retreating wind. By the time she had gathered herself, there was a sea of grey-green uniforms in front of her, crowding the space between herself and the two clonetroopers.


    ¡°These orders come directly from the Supreme Commander, sir,¡± Captain Kano bit back, ¡°Approved by the Galactic Senate and Security Council. Commander Esterhazy may be our CO, but these orders from High Command directly override her authority. We have no right to question¨C¡±


    ¡°Your training may forbid you from questioning orders,¡± Fajinak frowned, ¡°But it is very much our prerogative as officers of the Republic Navy to question a dubious order. At the very least, permit an internal investigation as to whether Commander Esterhazy has done any wrongdoing. Let us be reasonable; you are being far too hasty.¡±


    As if to prove his point, the rampant pounding of bootfalls could be heard echoing down the corridor not a moment later, along with the clatter of plastoid armour. As if buoyed by the sound of impending reinforcements, Captain Kano raised his blaster carbine. His partner readily followed his lead.


    ¡°Are you acting with the intention of mutiny, Commander Fajinak?¡±


    Commander Fajinak lifted a hand, as if in surrender. But from the corner of her eye, Scout spied a small woman reach for her console¨C


    The blast doors slammed shut with a bellowing thud, completely masking all of the sound outside.


    ¡°...No, Captain,¡± Fajinak lowered his hand, the other reaching for his belt, ¡°It is you acting in mutiny right now.¡±


    Clone Captain Kano slowly tore his attention off Ossin Fajinak, his T-visor sweeping the Battle Room. He wasn¡¯t looking for Scout anymore. He was looking for the traitors. And as Scout¡¯s mind snapped into clarity, she realized what Kano saw.


    The officers. Her officers. Her crew.


    The men and women who had fought alongside her for years, through sieges and retreats, victories and losses, endless hours in the dark of war rooms just like this one. They weren¡¯t looking at her as a traitor. They weren¡¯t unclipping their self-defense blasters for her.


    They were standing in front of her.


    A wall of gray-green uniforms, the color of the Republic Navy, the color of people who had been loyal to their Jedi Commander long before any order came down from Coruscant. Scout felt something sharp wedge itself between her ribs¨Cnot fear, but shame.


    She had doubted them. For a moment¨Ca terrible, fleeting moment¨Cshe had believed they would turn on her. That they would look at her and see nothing but a Jedi, another pawn in a galactic game she had never wanted to play.


    Instead, they were facing Clone Captain Kano.


    She felt gratitude, raw and painful, clawing at the inside of her throat. Kano saw it too.


    And in that moment, he knew. His shoulders tensed beneath the plastoid armor, his blaster snapping upwards. He wasn¡¯t going to argue, he saw there was no point to it. He was just going to execute the order, even if it was the last thing he would ever do.


    Scout¡¯s instincts screamed at her to move. She reached for her lightsabers, her muscles tensing, her stance shifting¨C


    Too slow.


    The first shot never left Kano¡¯s blaster.


    A thunderclap of blasterfire erupted in the Battle Room, a dozen bolts slamming into Kano¡¯s chest and gut before he could even squeeze the trigger. His body spasmed, armor plates burning through in bright red holes, his carbine tumbling from his hand. He hit the ground with a dull, final thud.


    Scout barely had time to register his death before she saw the second clonetrooper move.


    Her mind screamed another warning¨C


    And then a blur of movement behind the clone¡¯s shoulder. A glint of a vibroknife.


    The second clonetrooper jerked forward as the vibrating, serrated blade sank into the exposed gap between helmet and chestplate. The officer behind him twisted the knife once, then ripped it free, letting the body crumple. A sharp, wet gasp. The clone fell forward, lifeless.


    Silence.


    The only sound left in the room was the faint hum of the holoprojectors, flickering over the battle map that had stopped meaning anything.


    Scout exhaled, slowly.


    Commander Ossin Fajinak lowered his blaster last. For a long, terrible moment, no one moved. Scout wished to any stars that were listening that she could read their thoughts or at least their emotions at that moment, as many Jedi Knights could.


    ¡°The corridor,¡± someone said, ¡°They''ll be through the doors in minutes.¡±


    Commander Ossin Fajinak moved first. He turned sharply, his blaster still smoking in his grip, and the officers before him instinctively parted as he crossed the compartment.


    He barely spared Scout a glance.


    Instead, his focus was fixed on the comms center at the far side of the Battle Room. Bootsteps clipped against the floor, his pace brisk, almost casual. As if he had not just ordered for the deaths of two clonetroopers a moment before.


    But Scout knew Ossin Fajinak.


    She had seen him angry before¨Cat the Republic¡¯s higher command for its sluggish responses, at the bureaucracy that slowed their every action, at Scout¡¯s own indecisiveness and naivety at times, at the Tombmaker¡¯s stubborn advances, at the sheer waste of resources and lives that this campaign had become.


    It was just like this. This silent, fuming rage. Because loud and explosive anger wouldn¡¯t do any good in the Battle Room, and only serve as an unneeded distraction from the mission at hand.


    He reached the comms panel and slammed the override key, locking down access to the ship¡¯s internal channels. The screen flickered once, confirming his command clearance, and then the entire ship would hear his voice.


    ¡°Attention all personnel aboard the Aurodia. This is your First Officer speaking, Lieutenatnt Commander Ossin Fajinak.¡±


    The Battle Room was dead silent.


    ¡°There is a mutiny in progress aboard this vessel.¡±


    Scout felt her breath hitch.


    ¡°The traitors are primarily among the clonetroopers assigned to this vessel. They are attempting to execute our commanding officer under highly suspect orders.¡±


    A flicker of static¨Can acknowledgment ping from multiple decks. Fajinak¡¯s grip on the panel tightened.


    ¡°All officers and enlisted crew of the Republic Navy are to treat any armed mutineer with extreme caution. If they do not surrender their weapons immediately, they are to be met with lethal intent.¡±


    Scout clenched her hands into fists.


    A death in the Force was not like seeing it with one¡¯s own eyes. It was not the violent brightness of an explosion, not the sharp crack of blasterfire tearing through armor, not even the agonized cries of the wounded.


    It was a light winking out.


    Softly. Suddenly. Absolutely.


    Scout felt the first death within minutes. A cold void where a presence had been. Then another. And another.


    She squeezed her eyes shut, but it did nothing to stop the fading echoes of life from cutting through her senses like blades. If she was too weak in the Force to feel the Jedi dying out across the galaxy, she was certainly not too weak to feel the men being gunned down beneath her feet.


    The Aurodia was at war with herself.


    The clone troopers had fought in warzones across the galaxy, had stood in the trenches, had stormed strongholds with precision and discipline unmatched by any military force in history. But they were not aboard a warship built for them. This was not a troopship. It was a command vessel. There were not more than six-hundred clones aboard.


    Against seven-thousand spacers.


    The first shots were fired near the barrack quarters, as the clones attempted to seize weapons and regroup. Naval officers fought with whatever they had¨Csidearms, hydrospanners, even their bare hands. Some failed. But most did not.


    The clones also attempted to reach engineering¨Cto take control of the ship¡¯s reactor. They never made it.


    And in the corridors, spacers hunted down isolated clone squads where they could find them, demanding their surrender to no avail, and ultimately gunning them down. The men of the 501st Legion were still clonetroopers, born, bred, and trained on Kamino, but all their skill and discipline could not deny the sheer numbers against them. And any spacer who sympathized with them¨Cwho would rather obey the orders from Coruscant¨Cwas widely dissuaded by the fact that doing so would be a death sentence.


    And soon enough, the footfalls and pounding beyond the blast doors to the Battle Room was replaced by shouts and advancing blasterfire. Scout gripped the edge of the holo-table, her knuckles white. The storm of death in the Force had begun to slow.


    The fighting was dying down. That blast door would open, to reveal friendly faces on the otherside, rather than masked and anonymous ones.


    Lieutenant Commander Ossin Fajinak exhaled, holstering his blaster as the last updates flickered across the internal comms.


    ¡°The mutiny is contained,¡± he confirmed, turning toward Scout. ¡°We have control of the ship.¡±


    Scout swallowed, her throat tight. The air still felt heavy, thick with something darker than smoke, heavier than silence.


    ¡°Why?¡± she could only ask.


    Commander Fajinak paused, sharing a look with a number of officers in the compartment.


    ¡°To be honest, sir, I¡¯m not sure what to think of the Jedi Order on Coruscant,¡± he told her flatly, ¡°But even if the Jedi have decided to launch a coup against the Senate¡­ I doubt you or General Skywalker is involved. Unless, of course, you have anything to admit¡­¡±


    ¡°N-No!¡± she denied vehemently, ¡°Of course not! I wouldn¡¯t even know what¡¯s happening on Coruscant, not since¡­ well, since coming here!¡±


    ¡°I imagined so,¡± Fajinak nodded, ¡°You have performed admirably thus far, to the best of your ability, and I¨Cnor anybody in this room¨Cdoubts your allegiance to our Republic. Besides that¨CI¡¯m not going to be in the business of murdering any children.¡±


    A detail on the plotting board suddenly caught Scout¡¯s attention, ¡°...Thank you for your trust, all of you. Really. But we may have a harder time convincing them.¡±


    She pointed at the boards, where the drive cones of multiple warships were converging on Aurodia¡¯s location. Warships of Task Force Aurodia. The officers in the Battle Room followed Scout¡¯s gaze, their eyes flicking to the holo-projection of the sector. The drive cones of multiple warships in orbit of Wroona were firing their sublight drives. The comms station was already blowing up with multiple incoming transmissions.


    ¡°What are your orders, Commander?¡± Fajinak suddenly asked.


    Scout¡¯s mind blanked, ¡°Orders?¡±


    ¡°What are your intentions now?¡± he clarified, ¡°I may be able to convince these men, but I will need to know for what reason. Will we continue fighting against the Tombmaker? I doubt the Grand Army would obey our orders if they know you are alive, however.¡±


    For a long moment, she could only think.


    ¡°...The Tapani Federation hardly participates in the Grand Army as is,¡± she suddenly said, ¡°And General Octavian Grant is still our superior officer. From what I know from him, he hardly listens to Coruscant anyway. We have already sent him a transmission for further orders, so we might as well take our chances with him.¡±


    ¡°A reasonable course of action,¡± Fajinak nodded slowly, ¡°I agree with your assessment. It gives us a veneer of plausible deniability as well. And what about General Skywalker.¡±


    General Skywalker¨Che is still fighting on Lohopa II.


    ¡°...Do you think we can reach him?¡± Scout tentatively asked. She already knew the answer before she heard the reply.


    Of course not. They would have to cross light-years of Republic space who wanted her dead. Scout, for all she was a child, was one of the most prominent commanders on the southern front. Even as they spoke, she could imagine a number of nearby battle groups deflecting their vectors to the Wroona Star System in order to investigate.


    Ossin Fajinak must have seen the look upon her face, because he smiled apologetically before calling for a fleetwide channel.


    ¡°¨CThis is the First Officer of flagship Aurodia speaking, Lieutenant Commander Ossin Fajinak. We have just put down an attempted mutiny trying to execute our commanding officer without trial or deliberation. We have all received orders from Coruscant: however, these orders must be treated with extreme suspect until further confirmation,¡± he took a deep breath, glancing at her, ¡°We have already taken Jedi Commander Esterhazy into custody until further notice. We will be contacting Emerald Banner Command for advisement as to how to proceed.¡±


    A beat of silence followed Fajinak¡¯s transmission.


    The officers in the Battle Room barely breathed as they waited for Task Force Aurodia¡¯s response. After what felt like a short eternity, their drives cut out, and at last¨C


    "Acknowledged, Aurodia."


    A flood of confirmations poured in. Scout and the gathered Battle Room breathed a collective sigh of relief.


    Another flickering signal confirmed the fleet¡¯s new heading: Procopia. the capital world of the Tapani Federation. A world that still held loyalty to the Republic, but one that had always kept its distance from Coruscant¡¯s central authority. The CO of Emerald Banner Command and the 20th Sector Army, Octavian Grant, was a friend¨Cor as close to friend as they could get. He had never failed to support them with ships before, and shared their woes with Coruscant. It was the best chance they had.


    ¡°We¡¯ll wait for further orders from General Grant,¡± Fajinak turned around, ¡°Until then, I suggest we try to find out what the hell is going on.¡±


    For the first time since the whole affair began, Scout felt her breath return to her lungs, like a flood of fresh relief. Except, even as Task Force Aurodia altered course, even as the ship¡¯s officers turned back to their stations, her mind was already moving elsewhere.


    Lohopa II.


    Anakin Skywalker.


    Her Master, her General, her friend.


    He was still fighting on Lohopa II, still deep in the trenches of a war that now wanted to see him dead. Did he know? Had the clones turned on him? Had he seen the same betrayal, the same cold, blank visors turning against him? Was he still alive?


    Scout closed her eyes.


    She wasn¡¯t strong in the Force. She had always known that. She couldn¡¯t do the things Skywalker could do, couldn¡¯t see across the stars, couldn¡¯t reach through hyperspace itself to touch another mind.


    But she tried. She reached out, searching, straining, pushing past the darkness, searching for that familiar presence, that burning, brilliant light that had always been there.


    She found nothing.


    Just a void. A blackness so vast, so suffocating, so utterly absent that for a terrible moment, she feared¨C


    She bit her lip, hard, forcing herself to breathe.


    ¡°No. Not him,¡± she muttered to herself, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t die so easily.¡±


    ¡°What was that, sir?¡± an officer nearby turned to her.


    She cleared her throat, ¡°¨CI was just thinking it would be wise to send a transmission to General Skywalker; to inform him of the events that had transpired here, and our next course of action. In case we ever decide to rendezvous.¡±


    The officer stared at her for a long moment, unreadable, but finally nodded and saluted.


    Scout shook her head and exhaled violently, shoving the doubt away.


    Anakin Skywalker was still alive. He had to be. He was the Chosen One.


    And if she couldn¡¯t sense him, it was only because she was weak.


    She cursed herself for it.


    ?


    Lohopa II, Lohopa System


    Boeus Sector


    Lohopa II was a prosperous mining colony in the Expansion Region, straddling the bustling Harrin Trade Corridor and positively bustling with off-world trade. Her vast extraction fields once fueled the Republic¡¯s expansion into the Outer Rim, whilst providing the Core¡¯s manufacturing industries with raw materials. She was rich and wealthy, not just from her exports, but from being a lucrative trade hub connecting the Trailing Sectors and Western Reaches of the galaxy.


    Was.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Jedi General Anakin Skywalker surveyed the progress of his ongoing defensive campaign through the holoprojection, courtesy of Harbinger¡¯s planetary scanners. Lohopa II may once have been a thriving world of eight-billion souls, but Anakin could no longer see it as anything but a blasted wasteland.


    What had once been sprawling mining complexes were now blackened, cratered husks choked with the wreckage of shattered war machines. The prosperous ore foundries that had once fueled the Republic¡¯s shipyards now stood gutted, their refinery towers collapsed into scrap heaps, their conveyor lines buried beneath collapsed ferrocrete and smoldering slag.


    And the cities¨Call shelled into oblivion. No more streets, no more structures, only the charred skeletons of buildings, some half-submerged in the endless sludge that had once been roadways, now melted into a poisonous mire by months of orbital bombardment. No more people too; those not already shipped off-world had been shipped to the frontline.


    The frontline. Anakin Skywalker¡¯s lips thinned, his gaze drawn away from cratered ruins to the lands where Loyalist and Separatist armies met in combat.


    Trenches and fortifications scarred the earth, a web of defensive lines snaking across the ruined landscape, wrapping around industrial strongholds, collapsing in on themselves over fields of craters. The frontlines were fortress-cities, vast mining districts converted into strongpoints, where the last remnants of refineries and production yards had been repurposed for war. Some were held by the Republic. Others had fallen to the Separatists. Between them was no man¡¯s land¨Ca stretch of blasted, muddy terrain littered with wreckage and corpses, where entire divisions had been swallowed up by gunfire, artillery, and the merciless advance of machines.


    This was the war that Separatist General Horn Ambigene waged.


    A war of attrition, where soldiers drowned in mud before they died from blaster wounds. A war where barrages pounded the same stretch of ground for weeks, only for both sides to claw over it again, losing thousands for a gain of meters.


    A war, that seemed, had no end.


    Forget about the southern front. Forget about the war against the Separatist Alliance. All those grand campaigns and awesome strategic maneuvers spanning across light-years and light-years.


    On Lohopa II, you didn¡¯t have the luxury of the thought of greater things.


    Every single day was already consumed with the single lasting desire to see the next hazy sunrise.


    This was not the Chosen One¡¯s storied and legendary battlefield, but Anakin Skywalker was still here nonetheless.


    His boots sank into the sodden trench floor, muck pulling at his ankles with every step as he moved through the excavated corridors of the 501st Legion''s forward command post. The trenches were alive with movement¨Cclonetroopers lined the fire steps, their armor streaked with filth, medics hurried past with stretchers, field engineers worked to shore up defenses already half-sunken into the mud.


    And the rain. The rain hasn¡¯t stopped. Not for weeks. Not clean rain, not something that could wash away the scars. It was thick, oily, reeking of metal and chemicals, the runoff from decades of industrial pollution, and the war. Toxic, acidic, seeping into faulty armor seals, corroding equipment. The trench sumps were flooded with stagnant, blackened water, a chemical soup that clung to skin like a film of filth and ate through flesh like rot if left unchecked.


    Everywhere he looked, he saw exhaustion. Troopers hunched over portable comm stations, officers poring over tactical displays, medics working over the wounded beneath flickering field lamps. The legionaries of the 501st hid their tired faces behind their impenetrable T-visors, but the troopers of the Grand Army had the bleakness of the battlefield etched into their faces. They hugged their rifles, their packs, slumped against the trench walls or huddled under fashioned lean-tos and dugouts. Many of them were local Lohopans, their eyes sunken so deep Anakin could not look them in the eye for so long lest he lose himself in that black abyss.


    This was not the lightning-fast warfare of the Perlemian Campaign. Not the rapid planetary assaults that had defined the early days of the war. Not the constant victories of the Hydian Campaign that they occasionally heard on the radio repeated ad infinitum.


    Lohopa II had been a nightmare since the first landing. With the orbital contest in ostensible deadlock, the planetary front was a war of inches.


    This was the war that the Tombmaker waged.


    And Anakin Skywalker was sick of it.


    He pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders, shielding himself from the perpetual downpour, but it did nothing to drown out the sound of distant artillery rolling over the trenches; a steady, rhythmic thunder, like a hammer pounding the earth over and over.


    That pounding all grew louder and louder and his ears, accompanied by¡­ splashes? The splashes of stagnant water.


    Anakin raised his head. Clone Commander Appo stood before him, his once obsessively polished armour now lacquered in that perpetual grime coating everything on this cursed world. The Jedi General could hardly make out the blue paint that marked him as one of the 501st.


    ¡°General Skywalker,¡± he greeted, snapping to attention.


    Anakin¡¯s reply was hoarse; ¡°Please tell me it¡¯s something good, Commander.¡±


    ¡°I would say so, sir,¡± the Clone Commander handed him a handheld holoproj, ¡°Latest intel from the fleet: the Confederate Fourth Fleet is pulling out.¡±


    Anakin¡¯s brow furrowed. He glanced at the device, then shook his head.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± he scowled, but activated the feed with a flick of his thumb nonetheless.


    The flickering blue light solidified into a figure. A familiar face, in the sharp angles and perfect creases of freshly pressed Republic Navy uniform, staring back at him.


    ¡°General Skywalker,¡± Admiral Yularen gave a polite once-over of his sorry state, and made no mention of his depiction of a sodden rat, ¡°Task Force Aurodia had just relayed to us news from the front. The Confederate Fourth Fleet is currently in full withdrawal on the Rimma and Harrin hyperlanes. They appear to be abandoning contested worlds and consolidating Rimwards on more defensible strongholds.¡±


    Anakin Skywalker stared. He could only stare; for the longest second, he didn¡¯t even move. Then, he let out a harsh, incredulous laugh.


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡±


    General Horn Ambigene, retreat? Anakin had seen plenty of Separatist commanders over the years. Some were calculating, some were merciless, some were idealists, even if their ideals were twisted.


    Horn Ambigene was all of them, yet none of them. He was a name, more symbol of terror than a man. He was a name, a specter of war whispered in the final transmissions of dying commanders, in the surrender pleas of broken garrisons. A shadow on the HoloNet, a butcher who issued no threats, no demands, no justifications. His fleets were a silent one, a shadow of death that approached one world after another, seeking their tithe of blood.


    His war here wasn¡¯t one of liberation, nor one of conquest or profit. It was simple annihilation, the burning desire to torch the Core and smash down everything in his way.


    Lohopa II was no different.


    The 501st Legion had fought tooth and nail for every factory block, every trench line, every ruined processing plant, only for the Separatists to obliterate entire sectors the moment they lost ground. Because even when the enemy wasn¡¯t winning, they made sure no one else could either.


    It was everything Anakin Skywalker hated.


    This senseless slaughter, this needless destruction, this¡­ this base desire for revenge.


    He was not blind to the grievances of the Outer Rim. He knew why they fought. Misguided, twisted as their leaders were, their people had suffered under the weight of the Core¡¯s rule for generations. But this?


    This was not that war. This was not that justice. This was destruction for destruction¡¯s sake.


    From Eriadu to Derra IV, entire worlds burned, billions slaughtered, entire legacies wiped away.


    And for what?


    What would this war ever accomplish, beyond turning Ambigene into the most abhorrent monster the Republic had ever known?


    There was no reasoning with the Tombmaker.


    And the more Anakin thought about it, the more his fingers twitched toward his lightsaber. Jedi were taught restraint, patience, discipline. A lightsaber was not a tool of execution, not a weapon of revenge. But should he ever stand before Horn Ambigene, the Tombmaker, the man who had drowned worlds in fire and ash for no reason beyond satiating his own lust for retribution.


    Anakin was not sure he could stop himself from cutting him down before a single word left his mouth.


    ¡°Nevertheless, the Open Circle has independently confirmed fleet redeployments moving away from the front,¡± Admiral Yularen¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. This is a fact, the man seemed the urge, not some subjective opinion or best guess.


    Even still, Anakin could not believe it. It was not an instinctive or knee-jerk reaction of denial, but a deep and burning conviction. There was no way the Separatists were pulling back.


    Anakin shook his head again, ¡°Not a chance, Admiral. I¡¯m on the battlefield right now; they are not pulling back.¡±


    Not now, not after months of bloodletting, not after filling Lohopa II¡¯s mass graves with enough Republic troops to populate a Core World. Not after investing so much materiel and manpower into this great offensive to break the Republic front.


    ¡°Be that as it may,¡± Yularen folded his arms behind his back, ¡°Intelligence still suggests a major shift in Separatist fleet movements. This is the conclusion of Commander Esterhazy¡¯s personal staff.¡±


    Anakin scoffed. Yularen said it as if mere mention of Tallisibeth would change his mind. He had grown to trust Aurodia¡¯s judgments, yes, especially after they correctly predicted Ambigene¡¯s next offensive.


    Indeed, he is proud of how far Tallisibeth has grown. Frontline combat did not suit her strengths, he knew, and so he purposely put her under the tutelage of strategists like Yularen and Fajinak. As expected, he was met with widespread protest. To put a girl barely of age at the helm of the war effort? Ludicrous, is that not? But how was bringing her to this ashen, muddy hell, any more preferable? At least on the Aurodia, she could learn the skills that mattered in a war in a safe and trusted environment, moreso than any Anakin had at his own disposal. He may not be the best master in a traditional Jedi sense, but they all have their own parts to play, to their own strengths. It was clear to him that posting Tallisibeth to Aurodia had not been a mistake.


    Only¡­ the battlefront in front of him showed none of the signs of a retreat. The battle still raged under the overcast sky, the staccato of blaster fire still echoed across the blasted land, the constant rumble of artillery that never stopped. Had Tallisibeth made a mistaken judgement? Not so. But so what if the Separatists were pulling back everywhere else? They were not here.


    Commander Appo remained silent, but Anakin could feel him watching.


    He gritted his teeth.


    This wasn¡¯t right. None of it made sense.


    ¡°Is the Separatist fleet still contesting orbit?¡± the Jedi General demanded.


    ¡°They are¨C¡± the transmission flickered, ¡°They are descending into low atmosphere. We are moving to intercept¨C¡±


    The feed abruptly cut.


    Appo startled, ¡°Interference!?¡±


    A blaring siren split open their eardrums. The moment they shrieked through the trenches, Anakin¡¯s instincts screamed with them.


    ¡°INCOMING!¡±


    A deafening explosion rocked the trench network, shaking loose dirt and ferrocrete dust from the overhead braces. Above their heads, the sky began to glow. The ground began to shake. The distant thunder grew louder.


    The response was immediate.


    Troopers burst from their dugouts, officers shouted orders over the roar of the bombardment, medics scrambled to relocate the wounded before the artillery turned their stations to smoldering craters. And overhead, the sky burned.


    Anakin shoved past a pair of clone troopers and pulled himself up the trench ladder to get a clearer view.


    The horizon was a wall of fire.


    Mass drivers and artillery rounds streaked across the sky, their blue-white contrails carving lines through the air. Impact after impact slammed into the earth, throwing mud and shattered duracrete high into the air, obliterating an entire Republic artillery position in seconds. The screams of dying men followed suit.


    Anakin gritted his teeth.


    ¡°We need counter-battery fire now!¡± he roared over the comms.


    A moment later, the Republic¡¯s artillery roared back.


    Along the rear lines, the towering SPHAs locked their massive turbolaser cannons into position, their targeting scopes painting enemy artillery positions in the distance. The next moment, the sky flashed red as they opened fire, their heavy blasts streaking across the battlefield. Further afield, AT-TE walkers adjusted their positions, their cannons tilting downwards to lay a suppressive barrage into the enemy lines.


    ¡°All units, prepare for ground assault!¡±


    The firesteps of the trenches flooded with troops, clones gripping their blaster rifles, army troopers bracing themselves behind heavy repeaters, mortar teams loading rounds as fast as their arms would allow.


    Just in time for the first enemy shells to land in the trenches.


    Somewhere, a trooper screamed as an explosion engulfed his dugout, flinging bodies into the air like ragdolls. Further down the line, an entire section of trench collapsed inward, swallowing an entire squad alive.


    ¡°General!¡±


    Anakin turned just as Commander Appo sprinted up beside him, his armor streaked with mud and smoke.


    ¡°We failed to re-establish comms with Admiral Yularen,¡± the clone reported, ¡°But our scopes have observed the Open Circle intercepting the enemy fleet in orbit. But some have slipped through.¡±


    The Jedi General looked up towards the sky, covered as it was in a carpet of heavy grey clouds. His gut tightened¨C ¡°They¡¯re not descending to evac their troops, are they?¡±


    Appo shook his head, ¡°Infantry push, I¡¯d say.¡±


    ¡°Thought so,¡± Anakin muttered.


    As soon as the last syllable was uttered, he suddenly realised the utter, unnatural quietness surrounding the lines. The thunder of artillery fell silent. The firing lines hesitated. The only sound left was the distant crackle of flames, the groan of sinking metal, and the ragged breath of soldiers waiting for what came next. It was as if the war had paused, for a single heart-wrenching moment.


    But then the earth trembled.


    It began as a vibration; a faint, unnatural rumbling beneath the mud, rippling through the stagnant pools of water that collected in the craters and sumps. The vibration spread, growing stronger, shaking the reinforced walls, causing stray pieces of debris and spent munitions to jitter across the ground.


    Somewhere in the trench, a trooper muttered, ¡°Oh sweet Caraya¡¯s soul¨C¡±


    Then they heard it. A high-pitched whine, distant at first, but growing louder, building into a keening, mechanical scream that split the air apart like a blade. It drowned out the distant explosions, piercing through the static-filled battlefield like a wailing angel descending from the heavens.


    Anakin, and a million others, instinctively whipped their heads upwards.


    Through the smog-choked sky, through the swirling storm clouds and battle debris, the sky flashed. A sheet of artificial lightning¨Cexplosions and turbolaser blasts, the battle in orbit bleeding into the atmosphere, backlighting the dark silhouettes of descending warships.


    The clouds split. Harsh floodlights speared through the storm like lances, stabbing down into the trenches, bathing the entire battlefield in blinding white beams. A deep, bone-rattling horn blast echoed from above.


    Anakin was already diving for cover.


    ¡°GET DOWN!¡±


    The SPHA-Ts and AT-TEs pivoted their cannons skyward, servos whirring in desperation as gun crews scrambled to adjust their firing vectors. A split-second later¨C


    Hell fell from the sky.


    The first wave of orbital fire struck like a meteor shower, streaking through the clouds in streaks of blue and red. Turbolasers, massed missile barrages, and hypervelocity slugs rained down on the trenches, obliterating entire sections in an instant.


    Shockwaves tore through the earth. The ground buckled and ruptured, throwing mud and shattered ferrocrete high into the air. A detonation struck just meters from Anakin¡¯s position, sending a spray of dirt and shrapnel whipping past his face. Screams filled the air.


    To his left, an AT-TE was struck by a direct hit, its crew vanishing in an instant as fire engulfed the wreckage. Screams filled the comms.


    Through the chaos, Anakin shoved himself up, gasping for breath. He squinted through the glare of the floodlights, heart pounding, mind already racing. He scrambled to peek over the parapets, felt the trembling earth, and realised the Separatist infantry and armour were now pushing up to their lines. And the 501st was unable to respond, pinned down by the fire from up high.


    We¡¯re sitting ducks like this!


    He snapped towards Appo¡¯s last position, the order to call in for air support already on his lips. Anything to drive that battleship¡¯s attention away. He found the Clone Commander already staring at him through his glowing T-visor, reading his expression. His intentions.


    Appo brought a finger to the side of his helmet, a habitual ritual, one that meant he was accessing his comms.


    The earth exploded right in front of him, and the Jedi General was thrown back into the trench by the blast. Landing on his back and facing skywards, all he could see was the blinding glare of the spotlights painting their positions. Shielding his eyes, he turned to see men dashing for cover, cowering under the flimsy lean-tos that could perhaps shield rainfall but definitely not thousand-pound shells.


    As Commander Appo helped pull him to his feet, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker made a split-second decision.


    ¡°We need to go over the top,¡± he nodded his gratitude and uselessly brushed his robes off, as if the mere gesture would rid him of week-old blood and muck, ¡°If we stay here, the only thing the Separatist infantry are gonna find when they arrive are corpses.¡±


    ¡°A full-scale counterattack?¡± if Appo was skeptical, his voice didn¡¯t show it, ¡°Across the entire line?¡±


    Anakin nodded, ¡°AT-TE¡¯s over the trench first, providing covering fire. Our troopers follow their lead. Keep our SPHAs pointed at that battleship. You have a better idea? I¡¯m all ears.¡±


    Commander Appo shook his head, bringing his hand to his comms again¨C ¡°This is Commander Appo. We will begin a counterattack immediately! Troopers on my mark; walkers advance!¡±


    A deep, mechanical rumbling filled the trenches as the walkers lurched forward, servos whirring, their massive legs clawing up over the parapets. The first AT-TE crested the trench wall, metal grinding against the reinforced ramparts. Its main turret swiveled, locking onto the burning silhouettes of Separatist armor in the distance.


    ¡°Firing!¡±


    A lance of plasma erupted from the main cannon, slamming into an oncoming Separatist AAT, turning the enemy vehicle into a burst of fire and twisted metal.


    The Force shouted in Anakin¡¯s ear¨Cand his limbs were already moving.


    Appo caught on; ¡°GO! GO! GO!¡±


    A shrieking whistle was blown, and the first wave of troopers surged up the ladders, vaulting the trench lines. Anakin climbed after them, boots slamming onto the churned-up battlefield. The ground was a shifting sea of mud and broken debris, craters filled with thick, toxic liquids, a forest of rusted-out husks littering the way forward. A storm of blasterfire erupted from the Republic lines, illuminating the battlefield in red and blue flashes.


    Anakin looked once, to the left, then again, to the right.


    It was a boiling mass of humanity, a tidal wave of flesh and steel surging into the fire, the rising battlecry¨Cas if to scare away their own fears¨Cdrowned out by the roar of lumbering walkers and thundering artilleryfire. Despite the situation, not even the army troopers needed further convincing, not when the Separatist battleship loomed over them like a vengeful god. In the rear, their SPHAs focused their fire into the battleship¡¯s underbelly, trying to take out as many ventral guns as possible.


    ¡°General!¡±


    Anakin shook his head.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    His blue lightsaber ignited like a blinding torch, and the Hero With No Fear dove into the fray, weaving through the storm, dodging past running troopers, carving through barbed wire with a single slash of his saber. Blaster bolts whizzed past him, tracer rounds streaking in every direction. The air was thick with smoke and static, the acrid scent of ozone from ion cannons discharging overhead.


    Ahead, the Separatist front lines reacted.


    Turrets swiveled, artillery crews adjusted their targeting scopes, superheated plasma slashing through the darkness, tracer fire arcing like lightning, streaking between the descending floodlights and artillery bursts. To his right, a squad of troopers were cut down mid-stride, their armor shattered by incoming fire. To his left, an AT-TE erupted into flame, its legs snapping as a tank shell ripped through its hull. Another round struck just ahead of him, a mass driver shell slamming into the mud, kicking up a wall of dirt and shrapnel.


    Anakin Skywalker didn¡¯t stop moving. He couldn¡¯t stop moving.


    The Force surged through him, sharpening his instincts, pulling him left, then right, then dropping him to the ground as another round screamed past.


    The next impact opened a crater right in front of him.


    Anakin had no time to stop.


    Instead, he leapt forward, sliding down the embankment, his boots skidding through the sludge at the bottom. The severed head of a Sullustan stared up at him through blank eyes, half-buried in the mud and rot.


    Above, the sky split open again.


    Another barrage from that damned battleship. But it was lightening, Anakin felt, as the Republic and Separatist lines melted into the firefight. The battleship was still targeting their trenchworks, far to the rear, in hopes of destroying their auxiliary forces whilst avoiding friendly fire.


    Anakin spat. It was not just day and night that merged together in this locked twilight, even the hours and seconds seemed to converge into one. He leaned back against the slick embankment of the crater to catch his breath, watching the silhouettes of soldiers charging around its circumference.


    ¡°Keep up the advance! Do not stop!¡± he heard Appo shout in the distance.


    Or was it from his comms?


    The Jedi General urged himself to his feet, struggling to find purchase as he scrambled over the crater lip, before vaulting over a twisted durasteel support beam and landing in the middle of a cluster of clone troopers pressing forward. In a turn of luck, Appo was among them.


    Tracers lit up the haze, red and blue streaking past as the 501st tore through the enemy positions. As he deflected bolt after bolt, Anakin struggled to make out the enemy lines through that constant fog and haze that permeated the battlefield.


    A crack of lightning; the black form of an AAT pivoting toward them, its heavy cannon lowering.


    He could only see its silhouette, but that was all a Jedi Knight required.


    He extended his free hand, and the Force rushed through him like adrenaline. The AAT¡¯s turret wrenched violently to the side, slamming into the mud with a sharp screech of twisting metal. A split-second later, a Republic missile slammed into its side, detonating its fuel cells.


    The fireball roared high into the sky, and for that brief moment, the perpetual, clogging smog shrouding Lohopa II was burned away.


    And what Anakin Skywalker saw then¨Cthe sight seared itself into his memory, burned into the backs of his eyelids even as the fire died and the smoke rushed in to reclaim its dominion over the battlefield.


    A hundred-million. A meaningless number, hardly reconcilable in a mortal mind. It was impossible to count, impossible to grasp, but he felt their presence like an approaching thunderhead, stretching from one blasted horizon to the other.


    They were not machines.


    Not the endless waves of B1s and B2s that he had cut down for three years, not the cold, unfeeling circuits of commando droids or the unrelenting advance of droidekas.


    These were people.


    Every silhouette was different from the next, every soldier unique in shape and size, every set of eyes carrying something he hadn¡¯t seen in droids. Determination, rage, fear, hope. And they came in endless numbers.


    Skakoans, sealed in their pressure suits. Koorivar shock troops, their long, crested skulls swaying as they broke into a sprint. Sullustans in reinforced exo-armors, Harch warriors, their imposing figures like giants. Ishi Tib riflemen, their green faces twisted in snarls, and their low, guttural war cries barely audible over the roar of battle. Ando, Bith, Dug, Sluissi, Tritonite, Nosaurians¨C


    The entire Southern Arm of the Galactic Rim, brought to bear in a singular march against the Republic.


    Anakin unconsciously tightened his grip around his lightsaber. This was Horn Ambigene¡¯s war. He had always known, but never could quite bring himself to accept it. This was not a battle against soulless droids.


    This was the Outer Rim.


    The forgotten, the abandoned, the disenfranchised, the worlds that had suffered under the Republic¡¯s neglect for generations. This was the freedom that Count Dooku had promised them. A war where their anger, their suffering, their long-held grudges had been sharpened into blades and turned on the Republic¡¯s throat.


    And yet, they were fighting the Tombmaker¡¯s war.


    The Jedi General Anakin Skywallker exhaled sharply, shaking his head, trying to push the thoughts away, trying to force himself to see enemies, not people. They were all complicit in the Tombmaker¡¯s crimes. They presided over atrocities, even pulled the trigger themselves. They watched from up high as Eriadu burned, for forty-eight hours, day and night, and did not bat an eye.


    Anakin Skywalker was a soldier. And the Separatists were his enemies. So why did he hesitate?


    The Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker squeezed his eyes shut, and opened them again. He saw the flashes of color among the ranks, the hastily-drawn insignias of homeworlds on their armor, the battle standards lifted high above their lines. These men and women may be fighting under Ambigene¡¯s command, but they were not fighting for him. They were fighting for their homes, for those scrappy symbols they raised overhead. For their families, for their people, for their futures.


    Anakin Skywalker was a Jedi. And the citizens of this galaxy were not his enemies.


    ¡°General!¡±


    Appo¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t even on him. The Clone Commander was still firing into the teeming mass of sentient life assaulting their lines. But he could see straight through Anakin nevertheless. His tone pierced the Chosen One¡¯s heart, almost saying ¡®this is no time for a crisis of conscience.¡¯


    Just then, another clonetrooper rushed up to Appo, the bulky comm booster pack on his back giving away his identity; Ince.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got new orders, Commander!¡±


    Appo didn¡¯t budge one inch, ¡°From Yularen? Or Esterhazy?¡±


    ¡°From Coruscant!¡±


    That drew the attention of everyone in earshot, Anakin included. Even as he deflected bolt after bolt, he couldn¡¯t help but listen in.


    ¡°Send it to my feed!¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir!¡±


    Appo ducked behind the wreckage of a fallen AT-RT and holstered his carbine, bringing a finger to his helmet.


    ¡°Good news¨C!¡± Anakin grunted as he caught an incoming grenade with Force, and threw it back the way it came, ¡°¨CI hope!?¡±


    At first, it was as if nothing had changed¨Cbut at that moment, Anakin need not be a Jedi to sense Appo¡¯s lips draw into a thin line behind his helmet. The Clone Command slowly lowered his hand, as if to buy time, and turned to face him.


    ¡°Say, sir,¡± Appo suddenly snatched his carbine, ¡°Right now, with Republic at your back and the Separatists ahead of you¨Cdo you fancy yourself a soldier or a Jedi?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been over this, Commander,¡± to say Anakin was puzzled would have been an understatement, ¡°And this is hardly the right time or place.¡±


    From the corner of his eye, he spotted more clones converging on their position, almost forming a protective circle around him.


    ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind, sir!¡±


    Am I a soldier or a Jedi? Anakin didn¡¯t feel like much of either. But if he had to admit, standing there, fighting there right then, he was more a soldier than he could ever be a Jedi. Not many chances to be Jedi-like, on the frontlines. Who am I? He suddenly found himself asking, his training and instincts taking control as his attention lapsed.


    Who is Anakin Skywalker?


    Anakin Skywalker was a phenomenal pilot, a genius mechanic, and an effective frontline leader. Anakin Skywalker was the Hero With No Fear, General of the 501st Legion, and a soldier of the Galactic Republic.


    Then why exactly, he wondered, are my reflected shots not hitting anyone? Indeed, it was common practice for Jedi who practiced deflecting blaster bolts to reflect them back into the shooter. In most cases, it was an efficient form to defend and attack in a single motion. When Anakin fought droids, that motion came naturally.


    Yet here, he found his deflected bolts throwing up plumes of vapourised mud more often than not.


    And isn¡¯t that because Anakin Skywalker was also the son of Shmi Skywalker, pupil of Qui-Gon Jinn, brother and friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and mentor of Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy? Because Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One, and Knight of the Jedi Order.


    The war wanted him to be one or the other. To choose between two realities. But Anakin Skywalker couldn¡¯t. He wasn¡¯t one of the old Masters, who¡¯ve been a Jedi far longer than they¡¯ve been a soldier. Nor was he one of the young Padawans, whose only experience as a Jedi was one of a soldier¡¯s.


    He was many things. Some times, he felt like he was any one of them. Many times, he felt like none of them at all.


    Anakin Skywalker was¡­ just Anakin Skywalker.


    ¡°I¡¯m a Jedi General, Commander,¡± Anakin Skywalker finally replied, ¡°I¡¯m your Jedi General.¡±


    There was a long pause in the men surrounding him.


    Finally, Appo exhaled sharply, ¡°Understood, General.¡±


    For the briefest moment, there was something almost regretful in his voice¨C ¡°Sorry, sir, but orders are orders.¡±


    Then, he lifted his blaster carbine.


    The world tilted.


    Anakin felt it in the Force before he saw it¨Ca sudden, sharp tear, a rippling wave of murderous intent rolling through the battlefield like a shockwave. His first instinct was defense; to turn, to pivot, to let his blade catch the bolts and send them spiraling away.


    But they were everywhere.


    His own men, the 501st, his brothers-in-arms, their rifles raised, their visors blank, their shots ever-precise and without hesitation. As if it was only natural that he was their enemy, and not the Separatists just over the hill. Anakin staggered back, deflecting as fast as he could, but the bolts kept coming.


    A shot grazed his shoulder, burning through his cloak. Another seared past his ribs, heat licking at his skin beneath his armor. His body moved on instinct, but his mind lagged behind, trying to comprehend, trying to make sense of the impossible.


    Orders are orders!? What order is this!? To execute their commanding officer¨Cor to kill me, and only me, in particular!? On whose orders!?


    Anakin¡¯s breath came fast and ragged, his mind a whirlwind of disbelief and fury. He wanted to reach out, to Ry-Gaul, to Tallisibeth, to anyone, but he had hardly the luxury to. And all he could do is silently scream and wonder¨C


    How!? Why!?


    Why now!?


    Why them!?


    ¡°Appo!¡± he shouted, even as he turned, sidestepped, carved through an incoming bolt before it could hit his knee, ¡°Appo, stand down! What the kriff are you doing!?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir,¡± he simply repeated, his blaster unloading bolt after bolt after bolt at his own General in such quick succession the barrel glowed with heat.


    His voice seemed just as impassive as ever¨Cbut Anakin could swear he heard it. That fraction of hesitation, buried deep beneath the rigid adherence to orders, the flicker of something human. Not that it stopped him from pulling the trigger.


    Anakin twisted, the Force flaring through him, driving him into motion. Defense was not his strong suit, so as soon as he found the chance, he surged into the attack.


    He burst forth in a blur, weaving between the bolts, his saber a wall of blue light. His footwork was instinctive, automatic, his mind shutting out everything but the next step, the next attack, the next survival move. His saber sliced low, cutting a rifle in half, sending it sparking to the ground. His boot came up, kicking a trooper back into two of his brothers.


    But they kept coming.


    Anakin lost all sense of time. Minutes blurred into seconds, seconds into nothingness. Struggling in the fight for his life, Anakin could hardly recognise the adverse effects of the breakdown in command. After all, their countercharge was in response to the Separatist push, and now, in the middle of their offensive, the army¡¯s high command was suddenly seized by infighting.


    It was no surprise that, with command breaking down across the front, and clonetroopers behaving erratically, the army regulars would begin flagging.


    Anakin spun, saber flashing, cutting down a trooper lunging with a vibroblade. He ducked under a barrage of fire, let the Force pull him forward, wrenched a rifle from a clone¡¯s grip with a sharp tug, sending him sprawling into the mud. Somewhere in the haze, he saw Lohopan and Grand Army units breaking formation. It began as a loss of momentum as the two armies met in no-man¡¯s-land, then a steady withdrawal on the Republic side, then a retreat, and finally, a full blown rout.


    Even as Anakin knocked out one clone after another, his battlefield senses could feel the situation unravelling at the seams. With the 501st Legion in disarray, the Republic lines were collapsing inwards, allowing Separatist armour to smash through.


    How long did he fight? It could have been hours, or mere minutes.


    All he knew was that it then stopped. Suddenly. There were no more blaster bolts streaking through the air.


    Anakin¡¯s chest heaved, his body aching, burning, trembling with exhaustion. His saber was still raised, but there was no one left to fight.


    He looked to his feet. The battlefield around him was littered with fallen clonetroopers. He spotted Appo¡¯s limp form almost immediately, and rushed to the Commander¡¯s side, violently prying off his helmet. A part of him shouted¨Cwhat are you doing, he just tried to kill you! But strangely, Anakin brushed off the thought easily. I already lost one friend in Rex, the other side of him seemed to reply, I won¡¯t lose another.


    ¡­Is he even still your friend?


    Anakin checked for a pulse.


    Appo was still alive. Unconscious, but alive. He could still find answers.


    He breathed out a sigh of relief, glancing at all the other crumpled forms. Anakin had held restraint, and pulled his punches. But not all were so lucky. Some were hit by stray deflected bolts, others shot in the back by approaching Separatist¡­ troopers¡­


    The universe seemed to have gone mute.


    No blasterfire, no explosions, no shouted orders¨Cjust the distant rumble of artillery, the whine of distant engines, and the soft, rhythmic sound of boots sinking into mud.


    He raised his head, blinking away the rain from his eyes.


    They were everywhere. Silhouetted against the burning horizon, figures emerged from the mist, their armor slick with rain and muck, their weapons lowered but on the standby. Closer to him, scattered squads of isolated Lohopan troopers bunched up around him, like moths attracted to the blue glow of his lightsaber. Anakin saw their terrified, shivering backs, and forced himself to his feet.


    A pair of combat medics rushed to the clones at his feet. If they had seen the brawl between them, the medics didn¡¯t show it.


    He breathed out again, and pushed his way forward, mentally tallying the remaining army troopers around him.


    No more than a regiment.


    They must have been isolated and surrounded. Likely¡­ likely because of Anakin himself. He was a veritable beacon in the darkness, his saber still raised, the blade sizzling softly in the rain, its blue glow casting harsh shadows against his face.


    ¡­The rain then stopped. If it had been twilight before, it was now downright nocturnal.


    Anakin squinted his eyes and craned his head skywards.


    That Separatist battleship¨Cit was now directly overhead, and flying so low Anakin could see the gunports embedded in its ventral surface. He traced its hull, and came to a single conclusion: that¡¯s battleship Antecedent.


    He hardly had the energy left to show surprise.


    The Separatist ranks, silent as a grave, opened up. There were no shouted orders, no sudden movements. Only the sound of shifting boots, the soft scrape of armor brushing against armor, the whicker of capes and banners whipping to and fro.


    They parted like water, and a single figure emerged.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come seeking the head of the Hero With No Fear,¡± the man said as he approached the Jedi Knight, ¡°But you certainly don¡¯t look the part.¡±


    This is Horn Ambigene. Maybe it was the Force whispering the name in his ear, or maybe it was simply that Anakin recognised the voice. Whichever the case¡­ Anakin didn¡¯t feel any sudden desire or urge to strike the man down.


    Maybe because he wasn¡¯t a monster made flesh, some devil given form. Horn Ambigene was just a¡­ human. One a little shorter and stockier than himself was. Anakin spied the soiled greys of a Confederate uniform, peeking out from under a damn and heavy great coat. His hair was white, his eyes sunken, framed by kindly crinkles, though his face was stern.


    He didn¡¯t look like the Tombmaker. He looked like the First General of the Confederacy.


    General Horn Ambigene reached into his great coat, and produced a metal flask, taking a once over of Anakin¡¯s sorry state, ¡°Care to surrender now, Jedi General?¡±


    Anakin clenched his lightsaber, ¡°I should kill you.¡±


    The Tombmaker took a swig, and grunted, ¡°You would not be the first.¡±


    A red beam of light sliced through the air between him and Ambigene. Where there was once empty space, there was now a girl, dressed in all black garb. Older than Tallisibeth, for sure, but not much larger in size.


    ¡°One of Dooku¡¯s acolytes?¡± Anakin muttered hoarsely.


    ¡°Stand down, Wiffa,¡± Horn Ambigene waved her down, and the girl cut her saber like a loyal cat.


    Anakin did not respond to the gesture in kind, ¡°You¡¯ve come to Lohopa personally? What is it on this planet you ruined that interested you, even as you retreated across the south?¡±


    Ambigene shrugged, ¡°I desired to eliminate one of the Republic¡¯s best generals.¡±


    ¡°And that changed?¡±


    The man gestured at one of the fallen clones, ¡°It seems the Republic no longer considers you one of their best generals. Or one of theirs at all.¡±


    Anakin glanced over his shoulder. Lohopans and other disparate army troopers were still staring at him through their gaunt eyes and sunken cheeks. They weren¡¯t trying to kill him. Was the order only sent to the clones? Horn Ambigene seemed to know more about the situation that he did¡­ on the off chance that the man was not bluffing. But¡­ regardless of the situation, Anakin was still the commander of these men, and he still had a duty to see them through.


    It only took a single once-over for him to understand the battle was lost.


    ¡°...What will become of Lohopa-Two, when you¡¯re done with it?¡± he asked, retracting his lightsaber with a hiss.


    ¡°I will raze its cities,¡± the Tombmaker responded promptly, ¡°I will salt its fields. I will poison its mines. I will do everything to ensure the powers in the Core that reclaims this world will never benefit from it for a hundred years. Then, I will leave.¡±


    Anakin clenched his jaw, but held his temper. Homes can be rebuilt, but the dead cannot be brought back to life. So he asked next: ¡°And these men?¡±


    ¡°Surrender, and we will take all of you into custody,¡± he replied simply, ¡°And we will negotiate your release to the nearest willing authority.¡±


    ¡°You take prisoners?¡± Anakin challenged, some part of him¨Chis pride¨Cforcing his defiance against the enemy.


    ¡°I only target active combatants.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you called the civilians of Eriadu, Derra?¡± he scorned the audacity, ¡°Active combatants? Does that help you close your eyes at night?¡±


    The Tombmaker met his eyes blankly, ¡°Does it look like I catch any sleep, Jedi? Do you think this war is horror? My trade has been war since you were but an egg in your mother¡¯s womb.¡±


    Once again, he resisted the urge to leap forth and cut down the man right then there. He spotted the black-garbed girl observing him closely, with suspicion, and scoffed. He turned around to the soldiers, and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the ranking officer here?¡±


    A Lohopan trooper in broken armour limped forward.


    ¡°Do you accept the Separatist¡¯s terms?¡± the Jedi Knight asked, ¡°You will lose your homes, but you will live.¡±


    The Lohopan glanced around at his fellow soldiers, then dumbly nodded. There was not a light behind his eyes. All Anakin felt in the Force was the forlorn desire to live. Nothing more.


    He turned back to the Tombmaker, ¡°And the fleet?¡±


    ¡°Order your admiral to withdraw, and we will consider the matter settled.¡±


    Anakin¡¯s mind wandered back to the mysterious kill-order. Did Yularen receive it too? How did he respond?


    ¡°He might not listen.¡±


    ¡°Then he will forfeit your lives.¡±


    ¡°...Let me contact him.¡±


    Horn Ambigene dipped his chin, and waved a massive Harch trooper forward. In one of the great creature¡¯s six arms, was the limp body of a clonetrooper with a comm booster pack. Anakin¡¯s stomach dropped when he spotted a clean hole slagged straight through Ince¡¯s helmet.


    The Harch unceremoniously dropped Ince¡¯s corpse on the ground before Anakin, prompting him to kneel down and activate the comms pack. After a long moment of fiddling around with the knobs and keying in Harbinger¡¯s address, the comm pack finally extended its antenna.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Anakin leaned back onto his bottom, feeling the cold mud seep into his robes, ¡°This is General Anakin Skywalker, contacting the Harbinger¨C¡±


    ¡°Skywalker!¡± Yularen¡¯s voice burst forth. There was no image, no holo, but Ambigene seemed content with the audio, so Anakin continued.


    ¡°Yularen,¡± he greeted, ¡°It¡¯s good to hear you.¡±


    ¡°General Skywalker, we just received an order¨C¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± he cut in, ¡°Appo just tried to kill me.¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anyway,¡± he continued slowly, ¡°The battle¡¯s lost. I¡¯ve decided to surrender, to save everyone that¡¯s left. I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t know anything about the order. I don¡¯t know what you or the fleet think of it¡­ but if my opinion still matters, I advise that you withdraw from the star system. Don¡¯t let the Open Circle fall into enemy hands.¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°...I see,¡± Admiral Yularen said, ¡°I will take your word for it. Shall I arrange an evac?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already been captured.¡±


    ¡°...So this is part of the terms,¡± Yularen sighed, catching on quickly, ¡°Very well, sir. Good luck, and should fortune permit it, may we meet again.¡±


    Anakin cut the transmission, and gazed up at Ambigene, ¡°You will evacuate the entire planet before you begin your bombardment.¡±


    The Tombmaker didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Done.¡±


    Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker unclipped his lightsaber, and raised it into the air. The Sith Acolyte stepped over Ince¡¯s corpse to pluck it from his hands. And just like that, the clatter of equipment filled the air and thousands of Lohopans pried off their helmets and dropped their arms.


    The clean-up operations began almost immediately. The Separatist army dispersed; some to take in the prisoners-of-war, others to confirm the dead, others to search for survivors, the rest to set up field facilities right in the middle of no-man¡¯s-land. The dead were loaded onto carts, the unconscious onto hover-racks and stretchers. Anakin impassively watched as Appo was carried off by a pair of Quarren soldiers.


    He slumped backwards, his two hands sinking into the mud, Ince still at his feet, years of fight bleeding out of him all at once. The ache seeped into his bones, and right then, he felt as if he was Ambigene¡¯s age.


    A glint of burnished silver caught his eye. Horn Ambigene was standing over him, offering his flask. If he minded Anakin¡¯s mud-caked fingers smearing his flask, he didn¡¯t show it. The Jedi Knight downed the drink in a swig, feeling the warm liquid slide down his throat. He felt his limbs were revived by a fuzzy, comfortable warmth he hadn''t felt in months.


    It reminded him of¡­


    ¡°I miss Padm¨¦,¡± he mumbled beneath his breath.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Jedi were allowed to keep women,¡± Ambigene remarked, somehow overhearing him.


    The Sith Acolyte was staring at him, not with any suspicion this time, but with wide and surprised eyes. Ah¡­ Anakin mused, she must¡¯ve been one of the defectors from the Temple. He smiled blandly at her.


    ¡°She¡¯s my wife,¡± he told them.


    ¡°¨CYou¡¯re supposed to be the Chosen One,¡± the girl¨CWiffa, was it?¨Cblurted out.


    ¡°I am,¡± he agreed.


    ¡°But you have a wife.¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± he agreed.


    ¡°Family keeps a man grounded,¡± Horn Ambigene nodded in apparent approval, ¡°That¡¯s a necessary thing.¡±


    It was a strange sight, the three of them in the middle of a blasted wasteland. A Jedi Knight, a Sith Acolyte, and a Separatist General, sharing a warm drink under the hull of battleship Antecedent. The situation was absurd enough to elicit a laugh from Anakin, wondering if they were about to share a heart-to-heart. The atmosphere certainly seemed ripe for one.


    ¡°You have a family, Tombmaker?¡± Anakin asked suddenly. If he had any thoughts about killing the man before, they seem to have faded away with the pouring rain.


    ¡°None,¡± the Separatist took back his drink, ¡°But I am considering taking in a child after this is all over. Something to keep me occupied in my retirement.¡±


    Anakin couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine what retirement for a war criminal would begin to look like. Nor could he imagine a child who would consider the greatest mass murderer in the galaxy¡¯s living memory a father.


    ¡°I fear for that child,¡± Wiffa remarked dryly, crossing her arms.


    ¡°You¡­ you speak as if the war will end soon,¡± Anakin murmured softly.


    The two of them stared at him as if he had grown a second head. Anakin stared back at them, his eyes widening. Wait¡­ seriously? The war is ending? An odd feeling began rising in his gut, lifting into his chest and warming his heart.


    ¡°Why do you suppose I retracted my fleets?¡± Ambigene asked him, ¡°If not because the war is at its end? At this very moment, I would hazard the Pantoran is treating with Republic delegates on Mimban.¡±


    Anakin¡¯s breath quickened. The war is¡­ over?


    Wiffa slapped the Tombmaker¡¯s back lightheartedly, ¡°You¡¯ll be going back to Tydane after this, old man? Rebuild your home?¡±


    ¡°If the Confederacy no longer has any requirement of me,¡± the Ghost of Tydane tucked his arms into his great coat for warmth, ¡°I do not know how many more years of fight I have left in me.¡±


    ¡°The Pantoran will always have use for you,¡± Wiffa retorted, ¡°You¡¯re the First Separatist! If you want to retire, better get a leg up on it.¡±


    Said ¡®First Separatist¡¯ grunted noncommittally.


    ¡°And you?¡± Anakin jabbed his chin at Wiffa, ¡°What do you plan to do? Continue serving Count Dooku?¡±


    ¡°I left Dooku¡¯s side a long time ago,¡± the girl pursed her lips, ¡°I want to see Sev¡¯rance¡¯s work succeed. I think I¡¯ll continue serving in the Fourth Fleet; make myself a home somewhere in the Southern Arm. Somewhere that isn¡¯t that damned Jedi Temple. Surely you think so too, Chosen One? You¡¯ve got a wife! She must be waiting for you.¡±


    She said those words as if she still couldn¡¯t reconcile the Chosen One having such an attachment. Maybe it would have incensed him once, but now it only served to fuel Anakin¡¯s amusement.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you can return to the Jedi Temple anymore, anyway,¡± Wiffa rubbed her hands together, ¡°Not with Palpatine having his way.¡±


    Palpatine? The Chancellor? Anakin Skywalker had been fighting on Lohopa II for so long he has lost track of time, much less the progress of the greater war effort. Coruscant had never called him or the Open Circle Fleet back, marking their defense against the Tombmaker as of the utmost importance. I wonder what¡¯s Palpatine¡¯s hand in all of this¡­


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a home, Jedi?¡± Ambigene questioned gruffly.


    ¡°Home¡­?¡± Anakin echoed, ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°Somewhere we can deliver you to.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± he replied, rather dumbly.


    He never thought much about it. Where is my home? Anakin Skywalker had been a slave, shipped from one world to the next, and that did not change when he became a Jedi. Because of his upbringing, Anakin Skywalker¡¯s home had never been a planet, a world, a house on a hill. His home had never been that hut on Tatooine, the grandiose halls of the Jedi Temple.


    His home had been his mother¡¯s love and care. His home had been Obi-Wan¡¯s teachings, and the place at his side. Anakin Skywalker¡¯s home had always been the people he cared about, the people he kept close to his heart.


    But his mother was dead, and Obi-Wan was no longer his teacher.


    So where was his home now?


    Only one person came to mind. Padm¨¦ Amidala. Padm¨¦¡¯s arms, her tender embrace, her soothing words that never failed to ease his mind, her kind smile that always melted his anxieties away. How was she now? Was she alright? Was she worried about him? A hundred questions rushed through his mind, and he only knew one way to answer all of them.


    Naboo.


    The war was¡­ over, wasn¡¯t it? The hellscape had no longer any place for him now. So might as well¡­ I might as well¡­


    ¡°Yes,¡± Anakin Skywalker, just Anakin Skywalker, whispered, ¡°I think I want to go home.¡±

 (C100) The Worlds Epilogue

    Raxus Secundus, Raxus System


    Caluula Sector


    ¡°You won¡¯t be able to do any strenuous activity for the rest of your life,¡± Doctor Cratala diagnosed coolly, ¡°But considering your kind have your asses planted to the chair most of the time, I think you will do just fine.¡±


    ¡°But I can still walk?¡±


    The Arkanian doctor stood up and brushed down her white coat, ¡°You¡¯ve been walking thus far, am I correct?¡±


    I slowly leaned back into the consultation chair, ¡°Just being conscientious.¡±


    ¡°You were lucky,¡± Cratala said, ¡°A vac suit puncture as you are describing can be fatal in no less than two minutes. Either you misremembered, and the leak wasn¡¯t that severe, or you were picked up and treated in less time than you remembered.¡±


    I recounted the events at Rendili. I had been vented out of Chimeractica before being plucked out of space by the Kronprinz. How much time had passed between those two events? I could hardly remember; I don¡¯t even remember being vented in the first place, only that I woke up in the middle of a raging melee with only a leaking vacuum suit between me and the nearest shrieking proton torpedo.


    ¡°If you want to be really sure,¡± the Arkanian turned her milky eyes towards me, peeling off her gloves, ¡°You could let me¨C¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pass,¡± I raised a hand immediately, ¡°If the injury is not that bad, I¡¯ll pass on the cybernetics.¡±


    The Doctor raised her one natural eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m sure the buckets already checked you over. They could have told you it was nothing severe, long-term effects notwithstanding. When I heard a dead man had booked a consultation, I was expecting much worse.¡±


    That elicited a chuckle out of me, ¡°Everyday, I thank my lucky stars I did not end up like the Old Spider.¡±


    ¡°Insulting my work, Bonteri?¡± Cratala¡¯s bronze face implants gleamed in the fluorescent lighting.


    ¡°I don¡¯t consider it an improvement, anyhow.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m familiar with your type,¡± the Arkanian cyberneticist grumbled, ¡°Humans who would rather be wheelchair-bound than replace their leg with metal one.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t quite deny it; ¡°Must be the blood.¡±


    She gave me a skeptical side-eye, ¡°Those types are usually Humanists.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to describe them to me,¡± I replied dryly, ¡°I can imagine the person.¡±


    Doctor Cratala blew a strand of wispy white hair from her face, turning around and leaning back-first against a case cart, ¡°Why have you come, then, Bonteri? I¡¯m supposed to be checking up on you, but I have a feeling it¡¯s the opposite here.¡±


    I gritted my teeth as I pushed myself upright, ¡°You got me there. I¡¯m tying up my loose ends, and settling old debts.¡±


    ¡°Old debts,¡± Cratala mumbled, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re planning on¡­ disappearing.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s easier to disappear while dead than alive.¡±


    Understanding dawned in her milky white eye, ¡°So that¡¯s why the Battle Hydra hasn¡¯t revived.¡±


    I nodded, crossing my arms, ¡°So? Need me to settle anything?¡±


    Doctor Cratala tilted her head, ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met in-person before this. Is there anything you owe me?¡±


    ¡°Not me,¡± I clarified.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± the Doctor slowed, ¡°I see. I wouldn¡¯t imagine you weren¡¯t the only death misreported, then.¡±


    ¡°I wish otherwise, everyday.¡±


    Cratala smiled thinly, ¡°I think otherwise. You¡¯ve already moved past the battle. But now, you¡¯re pulling yourself back, for my sake. What kind of woman do you think I am, Hydra?¡±


    I stared at her, face as blank as a sheet of slate. She stared back, but it was difficult to see what she was looking for, for an Arkanian¡¯s eyes were pupil-less.


    ¡°...I knew a man,¡± she finally diverted her gaze, ¡°One Captain Rel Harsol.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    She sighed, ¡°So you have. I made a particular deal with him. I would produce cybernetics and droidworks, and he would use his connections to sell them on the market.¡±


    Black market, you mean. Doctor Cratala had been one of the most renowned doctors on Coruscant back in the years, to the point that the Supreme Chancellor attempted to headhunt¨Ccoerce¨Cher into his personal medical staff. One of many reasons she decided to flee to the budding Separatist Alliance. Even with limited funding, Cratala¡¯s products were top-of-the-line, and didn¡¯t quite have any peers quality-wise.


    Doubly so in the Outer Rim, where such sophisticated tech was few and far in between, compared to the Galactic Interior at least.


    Suffice to say, Cratala and Harsol made a killing off their partnership.


    And now that Captain Rel Harsol was dead¨Clikely a frozen corpse drifting in some debris field in the Rendili Star System¨Cthat partnership had fallen apart.


    ¡°I am afraid to say,¡± I started, ¡°That I do not have any connections to the market like Harsol did.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she scoffed at me, almost saying ¡®as if I ever expected that, dumbass¡¯, ¡°But you have connections to another market that would prove just as, if not more, lucrative.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t need me to introduce you to the CAF,¡± I frowned, ¡°You¡¯re the best cyberneticist on Raxus Secundus. Not to mention you worked with them before.¡±


    ¡°I worked with the Separatist military before,¡± Doctor Cratala chided me, ¡°That was before the Pantoran was elected Supreme Commander. That was before the CAF became a thing. Count Dooku understood my value then, but the Pantoran is a completely different matter entirely. Quite frankly, Admiral Bonteri, she frightens me.¡±


    Dry day on Jabiim before an Arkanian admits someone, much less an ¡®alien¡¯, frightens them. Cratala may complain about Humanists refusing to adopt cybernetics or some shit like that, but Arkanians were a veritable species of racists. Elitists, each and every single one of them, who consider themselves biologically and technologically superior to every other species in the galaxy.


    ¡°I will try to procure you a favourable contract from the CAF,¡± I sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll be in touch.¡±


    I patted myself down and reached for the door.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Doctor Cratala suddenly called, ¡°I¡¯ll have you take this.¡±


    I spun around. Cratala had produced a cane, a walking stick. It was just a little too long for her, and clearly uniquely made. The shaft was extendable and made of a polished black metal that seemed to ripple like oil under the light; the collar was beaten gold, almost molten-like, interwoven in tiny rivulets. And the crown, that caught my eye the most, where the hand would rest. It was bronze, a staple of Cratala¡¯s craftsmanship, and fashioned into the reared head of a serpent, each scale glinting individually.


    Since she was giving it to me, I took it, and hefted it. For a thing fashioned entirely out of metal, it was far lighter than I had expected.


    ¡°I recall saying something about not wanting to be the second coming of Trench,¡± I mused, feeling the serpent¡¯s head slide cool and comfortably underneath my palm, ¡°Thankful as I am, this is a bit¡­ much.¡±


    ¡°Insulting my work, Bonteri?¡±


    ¡°Insulting your style, yes,¡± I smiled thinly, waving it around, ¡°How many credits do I owe? For the consultation, and for¡­ this.¡±


    Cratala brushed her white hair out of the way again, revealing that disconcerting sapphire eye inlaid into her bronze cybernetics, ¡°Consider it a settled debt. That¡¯s what you are here for, yes?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid you have me at a loss, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°I owe Captain Trilm my life and station,¡± Cratala strode past me and opened the door, ¡°If another accident ever befalls you, and you decide to change your mind, consider my door open to you, and my services free of charge.¡±


    I accepted her gesture and exited her clinic¡­ laboratory, ¡°Almost sounds like you are wishing for harm to visit me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to,¡± Doctor Cratala wiped her hands, ¡°Not as long as you keep your trade.¡±


    ¡°I will¡­ keep that in mind,¡± I bid her goodbye.


    ?


    How long has it been since I last visited this place?


    My mind wandered as my eyes tracked the veritable gothic mansion squat atop the forested promontory overlooking the capital of the Confederacy. The Onderonian Embassy was identical to the last time I paid the place visit, as if the building itself had been suspended in stasis. The only signs of the passage of time were the glistening emerald leaves swaying from the forest framing the house, for the last time I was here, it had been autumn on Raxus Secundus.


    Hare gently set down the shuttle on the vacant landing pad and lowered the boarding ramp.


    Exiting the shuttle was a breath of fresh air. Literally. How long has it been since I last set foot on solid ground, with a crust and mantle beneath my feet? A planet as idyllic as Raxus Secundus, no less, at the doorstep of a building so isolated it may as well be playing the role of the haunted house in one of those cheap horror holoflicks? Years.


    I began climbing up the long staircase leading up the front door, and it was more of an ordeal than I would have liked to admit. Maybe the Doctor had a point about my lack of exercise. I had not expected to use the cane she gifted me so soon, but by time I made it to the top, I could only be grateful she did.


    Hare helped me open the door using her keypass, and when I crossed the threshold, I was struck by a sudden¡­ somberness. The ornate windows around the common lounge were fastened shut, and almost seemed immovable. There used to be a constant breeze through the building, but now the air was heavy and stagnant. I caught a glimpse of the pavilion and surrounding garden outside. Despite the springtime, I couldn¡¯t hear the insects.


    I brushed my fingers over a couch, maybe expecting dust. There wasn¡¯t any.


    So the place isn¡¯t abandoned.


    Was nobody home, then? Even without the Bonteri family, this place was an Embassy, and should always be staffed. Was it a public holiday on Raxus Secundus, then?


    I couldn¡¯t imagine overlooking something like that.


    ¡°...Rain?¡±


    I spun around. There, standing halfway up the stairwell to the second floor, was one Mina Bonteri. It was as if she had aged a decade in three years, with hair now more grey than brown. Mina Bonteri had never been a woman to be described as youthful before, but she certainly was not now.


    ¡°Ah,¡± I moved back to take a good look at her, ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    Mina¡¯s face was chalk-white, as she slowly descended the rest of the stairs, hands gripping the bannister, ¡°I¡­ I was told you were killed in action over Rendili.¡±


    ¡°So I have been informed far too many times,¡± I snapped my fingers, and Hare darted off to pry open the windows and bring some life back into the building, ¡°Please do not mistake me, Mina. I¡¯m not here to stay, and I¡¯d very much like to remain as dead as possible.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re alive¡­!¡± Mina almost jumped the last three steps, rushing towards me and gripping my arms, as if to check whether I¡¯m actually alive and not some reanimated corpse, ¡°Why would you want¡­ where will you even go?¡±


    ¡°I think¡­¡± I pried her iron grip off me, and led her around to the frontside of the couch, ¡°...you need to compose yourself.¡±


    Mina wiped her face and slowly lowered herself into the cushions, ¡°¨CYes, you¡¯re right. My apologies. I imagine you¡¯re just here to give me some closure. Thank you.¡±


    Out of politeness, I waited until the Senator from Onderon had gathered herself back to an acceptable level before taking a seat opposing her.


    ¡°I understand that my name is plastered all over every other propaganda reel on the HoloNet,¡± I told her, ¡°If it gets out that I¡¯m alive, I will no doubt be made very busy outside my will. That is something I¡¯d like to avoid.¡±


    ¡°Besides,¡± I smiled wanly, ¡°Our Confederacy has no shortage of war heroes. These names are symbols of victory. It doesn¡¯t matter whether they are dead or alive, or even real. If people think they are real, then all is well and good. Besides¡­ the war is over, yes? We don¡¯t need war heroes anymore.¡±


    Mina Bonteri brightened at that, ¡°Oh¨Cyes! The Supreme Commander had lifted the suspension of Parliament! I, and many of my colleagues, had been afraid she never would. Shame, I say, shame on us for that.¡±


    She sighed deeply, ¡°But yes, you are right. You always seem to be. The war is over. And you are alive. That¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    By this time, Hare had returned with a platter of refreshments, including drinks and snacks. She had adapted back to her old role so well I almost forgot I ever took her in the first place. Soon enough, noise began filtering back in as well; the whistle through the windows, the laughing of wind chimes, and buzzing of insects in springtime.


    ¡°Speaking of which,¡± I started, after wetting my lips with wine, ¡°How goes the rebuilding effort?¡±


    ¡°Better than I could have imagined!¡± Mina laughed, the tension visibly lifting from her shoulders, ¡°It is a shame Dooku had to be exiled, but I understand it had been a necessity for compromise between the Parliament and CAF. Speaking honestly, Rain, I am still unsure what to think about Dooku¡¯s alleged crimes. Personally, I thought the Pantoran certainly made it plainly obvious what her real intentions were.¡±


    ¡°To seize complete control of the state?¡±


    ¡°Well, speaking bluntly, yes,¡± she took a long sip, ¡°It still surprises me that it was her office that approached us with terms for reconciliation.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I swirled my cup absentmindedly, ¡°Quite an ordeal that was.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t noticed Mina eyeing me carefully until a good second had already passed, and by the time I raised my head, she had blinked and shook her head wistfully.


    ¡°No¡­ I shouldn¡¯t be so surprised you had a hand in it,¡± she murmured, ¡°I imagine her sudden leniency concerning Dooku was part of the deal the Second Fleet made with her?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were so conversant about the situation in the CAF.¡±


    ¡°With my job suspended, that was not much else to keep an eye on,¡± she replied dryly, ¡°Even now, we have to keep an eye on the Tannists, but I think the worst has passed. Parliament is back in session, and the upcoming general election¡­¡±


    ¡°Any favourites?¡±


    ¡°Bec Lawise, I think,¡± she gazed distantly out the window, ¡°He was Count Dooku¡¯s right hand during the formative years of the Separatist Alliance. He¡¯s the favourite to win.¡±


    I nodded appreciatively, ¡°Good hands.¡±


    Honestly, I didn¡¯t really have any opinion on Bec Lawise. Or really any of the candidates. As long as the Confederacy was in competent hands¨Ccompetent enough to keep it enduring for the next couple decades until my death. Until then, I had an orchard and a silk farm waiting for me on Onderon. Money wasn¡¯t much of a problem either; my payout notwithstanding, there should still be a bunch of generational wealth remaining in the Bonteri Estate¡­ if Mina hadn¡¯t already sucked it dry.


    Mina shifted in her seat, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, ¡°Stay for dinner, at least. Before you leave again.¡±


    Did she think I would be going so soon? I had planned to, of course. I was just dropping by to give her some closure, to assure her that I was still alive. But then again, there was no rush now. No more urgent mission, no grand strategy to draw me away. For the first time in a long while, I could afford to linger. To relax. And that thought made me more anxious than anything I''d faced in the past half-year.


    Strange, wasn¡¯t it? That of all things it was the thought of sitting still¨Cof peace¨Cmade me feel like I was caught on a wire, balancing on the edge of something unknown.


    But I wasn¡¯t about to say that.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any reason to decline,¡± I answered as plainly as I could manage.


    Mina nodded, pushing herself up from her chair, ¡°I¡¯ll call Lux back now. You missed him the last time you visited, remember? He hasn¡¯t seen you in years.¡±


    Indeed. He also thinks I¡¯m dead, too. That he missed his last chance to see me alive, all those years ago.


    "Indeed?" I mused, letting the cushions pull me deeper, "And where is he now? I was wondering why the place¡¯s empty.¡±


    Mina gave me a wry smile, ¡°Where else? He¡¯s out celebrating the victory. The end of the war.¡±


    The end of the war. I tasted the words like they might dissolve on my tongue, as if saying them out loud would prove them false. The end of the war. It didn¡¯t feel real. It still felt like something fragile, something that might break apart at any moment. Maybe I wasn¡¯t alone in that. Maybe the whole of Raxus Secundus felt the same, still hesitant to believe it, even as the streets roared with jubilation and cheers.


    ¡°But you aren¡¯t?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Her lips curled up in a rare grin, ¡°It¡¯s their prerogative, not ours. It¡¯s the end of the war¨Cthe end of your war. My war is now finally just starting."


    I gave a faint chuckle, letting the tension in my shoulders ease, ¡°I see. And you¡¯re optimistic? That this Confederacy will survive?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it?¡± she replied, as if the thought itself were absurd, ¡°We have victory at our backs, and our chief institutions have proven themselves willing to compromise. Fortunate for us all that Sev¡¯rance Tann knows when to step back. You soldiers have done your job splendidly¨Cleave the rest to us politicians and bureaucrats. After such a show of strength, we can¡¯t let the people down now.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but let my gaze drift to the window, where the faint echoes of celebration filtered through the glass. So the Confederacy had entered its honeymoon phase; that fleeting stretch of time when unity feels natural, when victory feels permanent. When everything feels like it might actually work out.


    It wouldn¡¯t last forever. Old frictions would resurface, power struggles would ignite again, and peace would eventually crack under its own weight. But looking at Mina Bonteri¡¯s determined expression, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of hope, hope that this couple years would last long enough for the foundations to set, for something real to take root before the gears inevitably locked up again.


    And for some reason, I believed it.


    ?


    I couldn¡¯t say I was wholly unworried when Admiral Trench called me back to the Parliamentary Palace. Surely there wouldn¡¯t be another mission, right? If there was¡­ I was fully prepared to hand in my resignation letter then and there. I¡¯d already done too much, accomplished too much, lost too much to keep throwing myself back into the fire.


    As I approached the doors, I found myself bracing for the worst¨Csome new catastrophe, some crisis that couldn¡¯t wait, something that demanded my presence on the bridge again.


    The doors whispered open, and I stepped inside, already fighting down the tension gathering in my gut.


    To my surprise, Admiral Trench was not alone.


    The reception suite was well-lit, the glow from the tall windows spilling across the polished floor like pools of molten gold. Trench sat in one of the low-backed armchairs, his towering figure hunched forward, multiple eyes fixed on the guests seated across from him.


    Two robed figures.


    The first I recognized immediately to be Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, his presence as calm and centered as I remembered. His beard was neatly trimmed, his hair short and orderly, and his expression betrayed nothing beyond polite attention. The other was a woman, younger, with sharper features and keen, perceptive eyes, whose name I could only suspect.


    It took me a second to find my voice.


    ¡°Admiral,¡± I greeted, glancing at the two Jedi before stepping further into the room.


    "Ah, you¡¯re here," Trench clicked, his mandibles twitching slightly, "Take a seat. You¡¯ve been expected."


    I did as he instructed, settling into one of the armchairs beside the Old Spider, my mind still unsure what to make of the unexpected company. My gaze flickered to Kenobi, who offered me a slight nod and a faint, diplomatic smile. The woman remained still and silent, her hands folded neatly in her lap.


    Last I met the Jedi was at Phindar Station, in the wake of Serenno, but I had not recalled meeting the two of them then. Nevertheless, neither of the Jedi looked any worse for wear, though that could simply be the Jedi style of concealing their true emotions.


    I decided to not let it concern me. If it wasn¡¯t forced to be my business, I wasn¡¯t about to invite myself into trouble.


    ¡°Is my presence necessary?¡± I asked bluntly.


    Once upon a time, I might have been more polite, adhering to the practices of courtesy and protocol. Not these days. My tongue had long since run dry of honey, leaving only spit behind. The only reason I was still on Raxus Secundus was to wash my hands of any lingering commitments before I fucked off to the ass end of nowhere. So it was, admittedly, a little irritating when people kept throwing more shit into my sink.


    "The Master Jedi have come to ask a favor," Trench gestured, his voice a low rumble, "I thought you would be the most knowledgeable of us in this matter."


    "In handing out favours?" I frowned, leaning back against the wall, "I''d rather not be known for that."


    "In sending them where they want to go," Trench clarified.


    "Oh, I see," I glanced at the two Jedi, eyes narrowing with curiosity, "Empress Teta it is, then? I hope you won¡¯t need a personal escort."


    "--Nothing of the sort," Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi quickly waved his hands, that disarming calm smile on his face, ¡°We would just like to request a method of safe passage through Separatist space. Until Yag¡¯Dhul, at least, if it isn''t too difficult of an ask."


    I let out an explosive breath and slumped into the chair, staring accusingly at Admiral Trench¨C "Does the Supreme Commander know about this?"


    "I will handle her," Trench replied, his mandibles clicking softly, "And I am determined she will accept what I say."


    "If you say so, sir." I shrugged, then turned back to the Jedi, giving them a once-over, "So, all of you have decided to depart for Empress Teta? That was quicker than I had expected."


    "You think too highly of us, Admiral," Kenobi said with a regretful smile, the first note of weariness creeping into his tone, "We are rather divided on the issue¡­ to put it lightly. We have mutually decided to go our separate ways."


    Ah. So that¡¯s how it is. Well, I couldn¡¯t exactly fault them for it. The Jedi Order was a reflection of the galaxy. When the galaxy was united, it was natural the Order was united. When the galaxy was fractured, it was natural the Order fractured with it. After all, Jedi or not, they were still people, with their own beliefs and morals and ideals. So they wanted to pursue their own paths¨Cso be it. I could only wish them the best.


    ¡°Enlighten me.¡±


    Kenobi''s gaze dropped for a moment, his eyes reflecting more than just the room¡¯s dim light, "The Jedi Order as it once existed is no more. Some of us wish to rebuild. Others... see little hope in that."


    His eyes flickered to the woman beside him.


    I slowly turned to look at her.


    ¡°Master Rahm Kota and Master Luminara Unduli have decided to wager their bets on the Restorationists,¡± the female Master said, ¡°They and their followers are determined to keep up the fight against Palpatine and his Loyalists. Master Kenobi here, and others like him, have decided to try to rebuild the Jedi Order in the Deep Core, away from the war.¡±


    ¡°But not you, Master¡­?¡±


    ¡°Keelyvine Reus,¡± Master Keelyvine Reus supplied, ¡°I have come to negotiate the Jedi¡¯s entrance into the Confederacy.¡±


    Now that is a curveball. I paused in surprise, my mind scrambling to read the implications. As if reading my mind, the Jedi Master took it upon herself to explain.


    ¡°With the state of the world as it is, the Outer Rim is now, rather ironically, the most stable slice of the galaxy,¡± Master Keelyvine knitted her fingers together on her lap, ¡°Not only that, but the Confederacy has proven itself a reasonable democracy. I still have my reservations about the Pantoran¡­ but she appears to understand the value of diplomacy. And with Count Dooku exiled, I see no reason not to make terms with the Separatist Senate.¡±


    I suppose with the Parliament back in session, Master Keelyvine¡¯s faction of the Jedi could directly negotiate with them, rather than be forced to accept Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s demands. I know for a fact the Separatist Senate would be more than willing to give up some concessions to host a new Jedi splinter faction.


    Whether such concessions would be popular with the military, or the voting population at that, would be a different matter entirely.


    Either way, not really my problem.


    ¡°Sure,¡± I decided not to think too hard about it, ¡°Why not?¡±


    "Right, sorry about that," I said, producing the device from my coat once more, dialing in the address. "I can get you to Yag¡¯Dhul. There¡¯s just one problem."


    Kenobi raised an eyebrow, a familiar spark of curiosity in his eyes. "And that is?"


    "It will have to be done in secrecy," I explained, tossing the circular projector onto the table between us, "Which means you won¡¯t be able to bring any of your ships. Just yourselves, and whatever you can carry."


    "...That can be arranged," Obi-Wan replied, though I could see his mind already calculating the logistics.


    Finally, the blue light spat from the holoprojector, and the hairless form of Asajj Ventress materialized, shimmering faintly in the dimly lit room. The two Jedi went as still as statues at the sight of her.


    "Bonteri," Ventress rasped, unable to see any of them, her tone as sharp as ever, "What can I do for you?"


    "I have another mission for the Storm Fleet," I told her.


    Ventress'' eyes widened, a hint of annoyance creeping into her expression, "Am I your lackey now, Bonteri?"


    I shrugged, keeping my tone cool and measured, "I''d hate to pry your legitimate salvage away from you. That said, I don¡¯t need you personally¨Cjust the Storm Fleet. If you¡¯re willing to part ways with it once you arrive at Raxus, consider the matter settled. If not, we can discuss terms of the contract."


    Ventress narrowed her eyes at me, a familiar glint found in them, "Cargo you don¡¯t want anyone knowing about, huh? Let¡¯s say I could use the credits."


    Of course she did. She no longer had an employer. Count Dooku was dead, and Trench and I had ordered the hit ourselves. The plan had been simple: convince Dooku to surrender, which Trench had managed masterfully. He struck a deal with Dooku on Serenno¨Cpromising exile, and subsequent return, to oust Sev¡¯rance Tann out of power.


    The Count of Serenno accepted readily; Dooku had been convinced that Tann would never relinquish power, fallen to the dark side, as he believed she was. Except, she did. Sev¡¯rance Tann stepped down willingly, in no small part because we used Dooku¡¯s own capture as leverage between her and the Parliament. Because if there was one trait present in the mind of the commander of the largest military force in the galaxy¨Ca trait that may or may not exist in a Sith¨Cit was pragmatism.


    And just like that, once Dooku''s role had been fulfilled, he became just another loose end. A target to be silently erased. If the hit was discovered, it would be chalked up as a pirate attack. If it wasn¡¯t, then Dooku had peacefully died of old age in exile on Cophrigin V. It was clean, tidy, and simple.


    "Perfect," I clapped my hands together once, "Let me know when you arrive."


    I reached out, snatched back the holoprojector, and shut it off.


    When I turned back to the two Jedi, Kenobi¡¯s expression was unreadable.


    "There. Matter settled. Let me know when you''re ready to leave."


    "¨CWait," Kenobi¡¯s hand snapped out, stopping me in my tracks, "Asajj Ventress? Really?"


    I gave him a look, feigning innocent confusion, "She¡¯s a citizen of this Confederacy, in service to this Confederacy. What¡¯s wrong with her?"


    Kenobi glanced at his companion, clearly taken aback, "She¡¯s¡­ Count Dooku¡¯s personal assassin."


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Not anymore," I corrected, my tone flat. "That was then. Now she¡¯s just another free citizen, looking for work like anyone else. Or will you condemn every soldier and agent and secretary that pledged their allegiance to the Separatist Hex?"


    Keelyvine Reus gave Kenobi a pointed look, "We aren¡¯t exactly in a position to pick and choose our allies right now, Obi-Wan. Much less you."


    Obi-Wan Kenobi exhaled, his shoulders dropping slightly, "Very well. You make a good point. We will discuss terms."


    I nodded. It wasn¡¯t like I had any personal attachment to Ventress; she¡¯s enough trouble on her own that I wouldn¡¯t lose sleep if she vanished tomorrow. But freedom meant something here, and I wasn¡¯t about to start picking at old scabs just because a couple of Jedi were uneasy. The Confederacy was meant to be a departure from the old system, and that included whatever religion the Jedi believed. We were a secular state. If Ventress was to be condemned, it won¡¯t be because she¡¯s a darksider, but because she committed a crime.


    Or more accurately, a crime not sanctioned by the government.


    Besides, Asajj Ventress wasn¡¯t the only one trying to navigate a future that didn¡¯t fit her past.


    And as I looked at Obi-Wan Kenobi, his shoulders hunched under a world of defeat, I couldn¡¯t help but notice the same raw uncertainty. The same struggle to adapt to a galaxy that had changed around him. Too fast for him to adapt. He was a Jedi without an Order, clinging to old ideals while the galaxy had shifted beneath his feet. I almost felt pity for him. Almost.


    But I didn¡¯t dwell on it. I stood, stretching the tension out of my shoulders, already thinking about the next step. It was strange, how much the end of the war didn¡¯t feel like peace. How the hollow victories and compromised alliances felt like stitched cracks just waiting to reopen.


    But for now, I had a job to finish and a Supreme Commander to speak to. I wasn¡¯t naive enough to think that laying down arms would mean laying down suspicions. It was a new galaxy, where force or arms wasn¡¯t so important and navigating shifting loyalties and unexpected alliances.


    And not for the first time, despite Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s claims and speeches, it was starting to feel like peace wouldn¡¯t come from strength alone. Maybe not at all.


    ?


    Trying to find the Supreme Commander found me on Star Station Independence instead. True to her word, the moment Count Dooku had been shipped off-world, she immediately withdrew her armies and returned to her flagship on high. Say anything about Sev¡¯rance Tann, she was nothing if not expedient.


    ¡°Have you ever considered stepping down, now that the war is over?¡± I asked as I stepped onto Independence¡¯s extremely oversized pilothouse.


    At least a thousand heads whipped towards me at once, as if in collective surprise and horror that anyone would dare to speak to the Supreme Commander in that way. If I was in their boots, I would be reacting the same way. After all, I can still recall the first time I met Sev¡¯rance Tann, shivering in my leathers and hoping she wouldn¡¯t ask me to kill myself. Then again, back then I was more terrified of dark siders than anything else.


    I¡¯ve grown since.


    I¡¯ve learnt that dark siders are mostly just emotionally unstable children.


    ¡°¨CTask Force Conqueress, designate, arriving!¡± the intercom declared after a brief pause, and the entire bridge shot to their feet.


    It took my all to resist flinching, I had to admit, as over a thousand pairs of boots stomped, clicked and snapped into salutes. Within the second, there was a pin-drop silence ruling over the pilothouse.


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit much,¡± I instinctively waved up my right hand, before remembering I was holding a serpent-headed cane in it, ¡°As you were, all of you.¡±


    ¡°¨CCan¡¯t say I have, Admiral,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann was marching down the absurdly long central causeway towards me, lifting a blue-skinned palm to beckon me forward, ¡°I quite like the station in life I¡¯ve made for myself.¡±


    I took a good look around the bridge, its many vast crew pits, the causeways that crossed them, and the data centres in the back. They must all have a role to play, I¡¯m sure, facilitating a vessel as massive as this, but even then a part of me could only think in disbelief¨C ¡®surely not all of them need to be here?¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s a rather large station, I¡¯d say,¡± I commented, walking with her up to the viewports.


    The ¡®Pantoran¡¯ hadn¡¯t changed hair since I¡¯d last seen her in person. High, prominent cheekbones, unblemished blue skin, smooth black hair that fell down her neck and framed her face in waves, and of course, the strikingly solid red eyes like staring into garnets. She was shorter than I, so at my eye level I could only see the crown of her head.


    Or rather, beyond the crown of her head. Because in the distance, I found a rather peculiar sight. Children.


    Okay, maybe not children. But almost certainly cadets. At least twenty of them, crowding around a Trandoshan in an instructor¡¯s uniform. They were like baby birds, listening intently as the instructor explained one piece of equipment after another, their heads swivelling as they collectively tracked the instructor¡¯s clawed fingers.


    ¡°I did hear you turned Independence into a naval academy,¡± I remarked curiously.


    Sev¡¯rance Tann spun around to follow my gaze. Credit to the instructor¡¯s awareness, they quickly noticed our attention and saluted, but the cadets were too engrossed in their materials to be any wiser.


    ¡°When the Separatist Alliance constructs a dreadnought of this size, it is out of necessity,¡± the Supreme Commander stated, ¡°When the Galactic Republic constructs a dreadnought of this size, it is because they have excess steel and want to make a statement. There is no other reason to field a vessel as unwieldy as this.¡±


    I bobbed my head in agreement. The only vessels the Confederacy fielded that could rival the Independence in size were the Subjugator-class of dreadnoughts. Their size was due to the unique energy profile and infrastructure necessary to power their superweapon ion-cannons. And even then they were only five-kilometres long. The next superweapon the Confederate Navy built was the Aggressor-class of battleships, which were more conservatively sized.


    The Mandator-class of star dreadnoughts built by the Republic, however? These were eight-kilometre long conventional warships with no superweapons or strategic purpose for being this excessively big. The Kuat Drive Yards simply wanted to make a point about their engineering prowess, and make a killing selling them off as trophy flagships for wealthy Core Worlds.


    I¡¯d say turning the Independence¨Cformerly Mandator-class Pride of the Core¨Cinto a naval academy was just about as prudent an idea as one could conceive concerning this useless hunk of doonium.


    ¡°Independence will act as the CAF¡¯s mobile headquarters henceforth,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann continued, ¡°And no longer an active warship. That is why she is categorised as a star station rather than a warship in our registries. This, of course means there will be disused compartments of the vessel.¡±


    ¡°That could be converted for practical training, I¡¯d imagine,¡± I found myself naturally agreeing with her, ¡°Engine and machinery compartments for engineering cadets. Artillery decks for gunnery cadets. Pilothouses for officer cadets¨C¡±


    ¡°Everything a navy would need to outfit a starfleet,¡± she looked over at the class of cadets with a proud glint in her eye, ¡°Of course, training and serving on the Independence would be reserved for the best-of-the-best, selected from the top classes on planetside academies.¡±


    This is a breeding ground for up and coming Tannists, as my attention lingered on the cadets, my thoughts darkened, I wonder how many of them already look up to Sev¡¯rance Tann like a living legend? Not just the students, but every single soul aboard this ship.


    ¡°...With all due respect, sir,¡± I started, ¡°You won¡¯t live forever.¡±


    She sharply glanced at me from the corner of my eye.


    I continued, ¡°An established institution can live forever.¡±


    Her chest depressed as she breathed out, ¡°I understand that, Admiral. I don¡¯t need your voice added to Trench¡¯s. But this will be my legacy, and before I¡¯m relieved of my post, I would like to see it completed.¡±


    The Confederacy is already your legacy, I wanted to say, yours and Dooku¡¯s. And then I realised that¡¯s the reason she wouldn¡¯t consider the Confederacy as her legacy, and kept my mouth shut.


    ¡°...You¡¯ve come to resign,¡± the Supreme Commander suddenly stated.


    I tried not to let anything show, but she must have picked up something anyway.


    ¡°I picked up as such when I had been speaking with Senator Bonteri,¡± she elaborated, ¡°On matters concerning future cooperation between the civilian government and the military.¡±


    ¡°You picked up rightly,¡± I could only say.


    ¡°You know I will not permit it.¡±


    I blew out a heated breath, ¡°And why not? I have served. I have accomplished every mission set before me. The war is over; tensions between the Core and Outer Rim abated to the lowest it has been in years. I don¡¯t¨C I don¡¯t need to be here anymore. I¡¯ve already died once; just let me stay dead. Please.¡±


    ¡°The war with the Core may be over, but that doesn¡¯t mean we are no longer at war.¡±


    ¡°You¨C¡±


    The words stalled in my throat. The realisation fell on me like a collapsing bulkhead. I could still hear her voice in the back of my mind. Her victory speech. The way she had spoken to the masses from the terrace of the Parliamentary Palace.


    Usually speeches were just words, mostly meaningless, filled with rhetoric, eloquence, bombast, but ultimately not much substance. I should have realised that that didn¡¯t fit Sev¡¯rance Tann¡¯s character. I should have known Sev¡¯rance Tann was the type of orator to mean every single word she says.


    The Confederacy of Independent Systems had carved its nation into the astrocharts of the galaxy through war. And Sev¡¯rance Tann fully intends, if not believes, the only way to keep it alive was through war.


    Unity, through strength. Common cause, through shared purpose. National identity, through a manifested destiny.


    She was already dreaming of the next war. Not against the Core, no, that much was obvious. The plan wasn¡¯t to go inwards, but outwards. To the outlying regions of the Outer Rim, the periphery beyond the borders of the Confederacy; the worlds still uninhabited, the sectors still unmapped, the civilisations still uncontacted.


    I could already envision her grand strategy: while the Core Worlds tore themselves apart, the Confederacy was going to encircle them.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need me for that,¡± I insisted, ¡°Anybody can captain Conqueress. Diedrich Greyshade has already replaced me as CO of the Twenty-Eighth. You¡¯ve clearly already made amends with the Parliament. There is nothing I have that you don¡¯t have at your disposal.¡±


    ¡°I need you, Admiral Bonteri,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann insisted, ¡°I need your skills, your talents, your prowess in the field. And I need your name.¡±


    ¡°I served your command because you fought for our existence against the Republic,¡± I rebuked her, even forcing the Supreme Commander to take a half-step back, ¡°Do you really think I will so willingly obey orders to subjugate independent worlds the same way the Republic tried to subjugate us?¡±


    Sev¡¯rance Tann was far less frightening when she was forced to strain her head upwards just to look you in the eye, I found. My eyes flickered to her lightsaber, hanging inconspicuously on her belt, as if daring her to use it. She didn¡¯t.


    She took another step back to create more distance.


    ¡°I¡¯m not an imbecile, Admiral,¡± she sneered, taking a glance at Cratala¡¯s cane, ¡°The wars we will wage will be sanctioned by the Parliament! Why do you suppose I was speaking to Senator Bonteri?¡±


    ¡°I hardly believe Senator Bonteri will agree to another war,¡± I scoffed.


    ¡°If it is a war to liberate slaves¨Cshe did.¡±


    ¡°Slaves¨C¡± I stopped myself, tightening my grip around the cane, ¡°Hutt Space? Any sane commander would tell you that¡¯s foolhardy at best, especially so soon¨C!¡±


    ¡°Zygerrian Space!¡± she finally raised her voice, ¡°Those petulant felines took advantage of the war to declare themselves the Zygerrian Slave Empire right on our doorstep! We will start with them, and expand into the Trans-Hydian. What could unify the state any more than this?¡±


    ¡°First, the Trans-Hydian,¡± I asked weakly, ¡°Then what? The Trailing Sectors, the Western Reaches? And then? The New Territories, the frontiers of Hutt influence? And then what? A full-scale invasion of Hutt Space, all in the name of liberation? You would force the Outer Rim into another century of constant warfare!¡±


    ¡°Our enemies will not rest¨C¡±


    ¡°You can forgo the rhetoric with me, Supreme Commander sir,¡± I groaned in exasperation, ¡°I am not the ignorant masses. Nor is Trench. Nor is Ambigene. Nor is the Confederate Parliament! Our enemies are clawing at each other¡¯s throats! They are no threat to us! This¡­ this echo chamber of yours may have convinced you another century of war is a good and splendid idea, but I assure you, the Confederate Fleets will see right through you. You have earned back your goodwill after reinstating the civilian government, but what you plan now will achieve nothing less than wasting all of that away! You know that Trench is still keeping a close eye on you, and you know very well the ideology of Horn Ambigene and his Fourth Fleet! These¡­ these conquests will not unite the Confederacy, only the opposite!¡±


    ¡°They will come around to understand the purpose of¨C¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± I challenged, ¡°So you successfully lobby for a campaign against the Zygerrians. So you escalate the justification of ¡®liberation¡¯ against the Hutts. How will you convince anyone to campaign against the outlying systems of the Southern Arm?¡±


    ¡°Because it will not be achieved by military campaigns,¡± she tried to convince me, ¡°But by a natural expansion of the nation. The construction of inroads into the frontier, the emigration of people, the foundation of industry and trade on untapped worlds. We will share our prosperity with the outlying sectors, bring them into our sphere, and they will share their prosperity with us.¡±


    This time, it was my turn to take a step back, one borne out of incredulous disbelief. Her eyes were alive and blazing, like twin red suns, so full of determination, confidence, and most terrifyingly; conviction. She was absolutely certain this was the only way forward for the Confederacy.


    ¡°I will not agree to this,¡± I told her firmly, ¡°Because I will not believe you.¡±


    I want nothing more than a quiet and peaceful life. The power of the Core was shattered, and we had no more peer enemies. Sev¡¯rance Tann spoke of nebulous prospects like increased trade and industry and prosperity, but I knew what all of this would really mean. Another generation of men and women called up to take arms. Another thousand shipyards to pump out engines of war. Another century of bloodshed in the Outer Rim.


    If everything Sev¡¯rance Tann dreamed of would come to pass¨Cthen I wanted out, now. My only assurance is that she already has no capability of being a dictator. She had already let that opportunity go, and I thanked God for it. I wanted to say Trench would oppose her, and so would the Parliament and Senate¡­ but I wasn¡¯t so sure.


    The way she justified her dreams of conquest¡­ they would certainly see through the flimsy casus belli, but would they dismiss her out of hand? Dismiss the prospect of more trade, more wealth to line their pockets, as the senators of the Republic had? Even with the nationalisation of industries and diminished corporate power, many megacorps still held great sway in the Confederacy: namely, those who sided with the Raxus Government in the Separatist Schism. The Techno Union, the Hyper-Communications Cartel, the Corporate Alliance¡­ of which Admiral Trench was a major shareholder.


    If everything she Sev¡¯rance Tann dreamed of would come to pass¡­ I would be trapped serving the CAF for the rest of my life.


    So I wanted out. Now.


    I had been determined before. But now I was downright certain this was the last chance I would get.


    Better live well and die well before the next major war with the Core breaks out, aren¡¯t I right?


    I decisively spun on my heel, and began marching back down the aisle, ¡°You will find my resignation letter on your desk later this week¨C¡±


    ¡°I spoke to Obi-Wan Kenobi.¡±


    I froze. I turned around.


    ¡°So you have. What of it?¡±


    ¡°He requested I relay his thanks to you, while we were discussing the Jedi¡¯s future relationship with us,¡± she informed me slowly, ¡°One Jedi Master, Luminara Unduli, told you the Jedi Order had taken prisoners-of-war from the Battle of Rendili and shipped them to an undisclosed location.¡±


    I stared at her, not quite sure I''d heard right. My thoughts slammed to a halt, and for a long, terrible moment, I distinctly realised what she was trying to do.


    ¡°She also told you only a Master of the Jedi High Council would know that location,¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann pressed forth, ¡°I believe Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of those Councilmembers.¡±


    ¡°I recall clearly,¡± I told her, my fists clenching, ¡°But if you think I¡¯m going to chase after such an obvious bait¨Cone that¡¯s nothing more than a flimsy lead at best¨Cyou¡¯re gravely mistaken. There is no evidence that any of them¨Cthat she is alive.¡±


    ¡°So you are going to let that possibility go?¡± Sev¡¯rance Tann demanded, ¡°Doctor Cratala mentioned to me that you are running around settling old debts. Are you going to let this debt go unsettled?¡±


    ¡°...Manipulation doesn¡¯t suit you, sir.¡±


    ¡°I learnt from the best, if only for a brief time.¡±


    I chuckled mockingly, ¡°So you have.¡±


    I steeled myself and turned around again.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already done enough for me, Rain Bonteri,¡± she called at me one last time, and this time I did not stop myself, ¡°So I will accept whatever letter comes to my desk. However, if you do decide to change your mind, I already have one last mission for you.¡±


    I didn¡¯t look back at her. Didn¡¯t give her the satisfaction of seeing the turmoil her words had stirred up. I just kept walking, forcing my legs to move one step at a time, each stride harder than the last. The doors hissed open before me, and I passed through them without glancing over my shoulder.


    One last mission.


    I could laugh at myself. If she was here, she would be scolding me for even considering taking the offer. After all, this is just one poor, thinly veiled attempt to emotionally coerce me into continuing my service to her. Unfortunately for Sev¡¯rance Tann, while she may have learnt from the best, she still hasn¡¯t learnt everything. If you want someone to do your bidding, you had to damn well make sure you were the only option they had, otherwise they¡¯ll just pull the rug right out from under you.


    ¡°Hare, do you read me?¡± I put my comlink to my lips, ¡°Get me a line to Asajj Ventress, and tell her I wish to speak to Obi-Wan Kenobi.¡±


    One of us will be using the other, Supreme Commander, and I suspect you¡¯re mistaken as to who.


    ?


    Ringo Vinda Orbit, Ringo Vinda System


    Eucer Sector


    It took the better part of two months for my plans to finally materialise. During that time, I played exactly the part the Supreme Commander wanted me to play.


    And now, the orbital ring of Ringo Vinda finally stretched out before me like a vast, glittering spine against the blackness of space. Its industrial sectors were interspersed with docking bays and drydocks, massive skeletons of ships suspended like the bones of interstellar leviathans, slowly taking shape under the flickering sparks of thousands of welding torches.


    Isquik Tors moved with the casual gait of a man who had spent his entire life breathing recycled air and navigating the endless corridors of the shipyards.


    "Been a while since you showed your face around here, Bonteri," he rasped at me.


    "I would say," I agreed, "But it looks like the yards haven¡¯t slowed down one bit."


    He gave a gruff laugh, his mouth tendrils twitching, "Never do. Confederacy needs ships, and we¡¯re never out of contracts. Though it¡¯s not just Providences and Munificents anymore. We''ve got a whole slew of new designs coming in.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed,¡± was all I could say.


    We passed a massive drydock, where a Victory-class Star Destroyer hung suspended like some colossal spearhead, its armored hull being plated with fresh composites. Farther down the line, a Bulwark-class battleship was bristling with turbolaser turrets, its broad, slab-sided silhouette like a solid wall of firepower.


    It seems Rendili Stardrive was already being put to work.


    "All of this is for you, y¡¯know?" Tors said, glancing sidelong at me, his tendrils twitching, ¡°Commissioned by the Office of the General itself. It¡¯s been in the works ever since Admiral Ningo returned to Tion; the backbone of your new Perlemian Armada.¡±


    I remained quiet, and Tors just grunted at my lack of response. He led me further down the piers, the sound of hydraulic presses and arc welders filling the silence between us. We rounded the corner to one of the priority docks, and the sight that greeted me made me pause mid-stride.


    ¡°There she is,¡± the Quarren engineer nodded his head at it, ¡°Your new flagship.¡±


    A Bulwark-class battleship, but nothing like the ones I¡¯d seen before. The hull gleamed with freshly minted armor plating, and the massive primary turrets were mounted in staggered formations along the spine, allowing for maximum firing arcs. The bridge module was recessed deep into the superstructure, protected by layered armor and shield generators, thus not visible from outside. The citadel had been heavily reinforced, and additional point-defense clusters lined the flanks like a porcupine¡¯s quills.


    And on the side of the bow, embossed in neat Aurebesh, was her name:


    ¡®PETRICHOR¡¯


    I couldn¡¯t help but let out a slow, appreciative breath.


    ¡°Brand new ship-of-the-line design, improved upon the original Bulwark-class. We call them the Bulwark-Two,¡± Isquik Tors informed me proudly, ¡°Two-klicks long, composite armour plating, solar ionisation drives, enough turbolasers to rival a destroyer squadron, and ion weaponry for that extra kick. We didn¡¯t skimp on interception clusters, either¨Cgive her enough space, and no torpedo will be getting through her iron dome. Put her up against any Venator, Victory, or Tector, and Petrichor¡¯ll make them star scrap in a heartbeast.¡±


    ¡°Ten starfighter squadrons, four troop regiments, and atmospheric capability,¡± he continued, ¡°And just for you; every command and control suite you could dream of. Whether you want to be in front or behind, in deep space or in orbit, she¡¯s got everything.¡±


    ¡°...No expense spared, huh?¡±


    ¡°Your new Perlemian Armada¡¯s a special formation, I¡¯ve heard,¡± the Quarren shrugged, ¡°And after what you¡¯ve been through, figured you might need a ship that can take a punch and give one back twice as hard.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± I mustered up what enthusiasm I could, ¡°You have my gratitude. She¡¯s a beauty.¡±


    Tors just grunted, the sound low and satisfied, "Glad to hear it. You¡¯ve got a few days before the final shakedown, but she¡¯s yours to take out anytime. Your crew¡¯s already all aboard. Let me know if you need any personal touches."


    I boarded my new flagship thereafter, the docking umbilical humming faintly underfoot. At the end of the long tube. At the far end of the tube, just beyond the bulkhead hatch, stood Kavia Slen, having just returned from her sojourn on Geonosis. She was leaning against a support strut, her wiry frame barely filling out the clean coveralls she now wore. Hare, who had arrived in advance to sort out my logistics, had been found hefted in Kavia¡¯s arms, the rabbit droid waving at me as I approached.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she heavy?¡± I wondered, a small smile involuntarily breaking out.


    Hare¡¯s photoreceptor swiveled to track me, and she let out an offended series of chirps that sounded like a mechanical growl. Kavia only gave me a lopsided grin in response.


    ¡°Well, look who¡¯s finally come to claim his new toy,¡± she drawled, shifting Hare to one arm so she could give me a mock salute, ¡°Your lady¡¯s all ready and raring to go, boss. Had to talk down some of the techs from over-tuning the reactor. Told ¡®em you didn¡¯t want to blow half the ship up just getting her to run.¡±


    Hare, still suspended in Kavia¡¯s arms, suddenly buzzed¨C ¡°I have taken the liberty of importing all your system preferences to your new command, Master Rain.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, girl,¡± I stepped past them, reaching out to give Hare a quick pat on her dome-shaped head. She made a soft whirring noise, clearly pleased to see me, ¡°Isquik Tors gave me the rundown, but told me we have to remain a couple of days to check off the last few boxes. What do you think? Is Petrichor space-worthy?¡±


    Kavia¡¯s grin widened, ¡°Never been more, boss. We ran her through a couple trials the last week. Engine hums just right, and the new power conduits are holding steady without strain, even with all systems overbaked. She¡¯s got enough juice to fry a cruiser and dance through an asteroid field right after.¡±


    ¡°Good to hear,¡± I looked down the corridor, where two junior officers snapped to attention¨COnderonians, both of them¨Cclearing the way for me to enter, ¡°And the fleet?¡±


    ¡°In formation and waiting for your word,¡± her head tracked me as I passed her, ¡°Is this when we show the mothership what for?¡±


    I passed her my authentication key, ¡°Order Petrichor undocked, along with every other berthed ship assigned to my command.¡±


    ¡°Very good, boss.¡±


    Kavia set Hare on the deck, and the little droid gave a curious beep and trundled ahead, as if eager to inspect the corridors himself. I gave Kavia a nod and continued forward, moving deeper into the battleship¡¯s interior.


    Petrichor had been built differently from any of my previous flagships. Unlike the standard droid-like utilitarianism of the Confederacy¡¯s warships, there was a sense of thoughtful design present that couldn¡¯t be found in older designs. I could see the fingerprints of Rendili StarDrive all over the layout. The corridors were wide and reinforced, with hardened conduits running the length of the ship, protected behind armored casings. The lighting was set low and warm, giving the interior a sense of calm rather than the harsh glare of most combat vessels.


    Crew members, droid and spacers alike, moved about with a hasty pace, acknowledging my presence with quick salutes and nods as I passed. They were all aware of the plan, partially or otherwise, having been picked by Hare and I to fill out my personal flagship. As such, there wasn¡¯t any purpose in a grand welcome party, that rather replaced with an undercurrent of preparation and participation.


    I reached the command bridge, stepping through the armored doors and into the vast dome-shaped chamber. It was unlike any bridge I¡¯d stood on before, as it was not a pilothouse. Instead of the traditional Republic-style crew pits, or Separatist-style raised decks, the bridge was dominated by data islands: elevated consoles arranged in clusters, each surrounded by a holo-interface that projected tactical readouts and status reports into the air.


    A central command platform rose slightly above the rest, complete with a holo-map projector and a console with sweeping control interfaces. Right in the centre was the captain¡¯s chair.


    ¡°Statement: Welcome aboard, Admiral,¡± the super tactical droid Augur greeted me there, ¡°Fleet flagship Petrichor is yours. You have the deck.¡±


    ¡°I have the deck,¡± I agreed, just in time for a deep rumbling to shudder through the hull, followed by a certain sense of weightlessness, ¡°Bring us out of our berth, and rendezvous with the fleet.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative.¡±


    I made my way to the command console, and with a quick motion, flipped the activation switch.


    The dome¡¯s transparisteel shell hummed to life, the ocular feed from the external cameras springing into view. A panoramic vista of the shipyard and the star-speckled void beyond stretched out around me, as if the bridge itself were suspended in space. Data readouts flowed across the edges of the display, tracking ship movements and system diagnostics.


    The low hum of the ship¡¯s reactor deepened, reverberating through the superstructure and sending a faint vibration up through my boots. I felt the tension in the air, the same sense of weightlessness that always accompanied a ship being tugged from her berth. Through the panoramic display of the ocular dome, I could see the massive docking clamps slowly release their iron grip on Petrichor¡¯s hull, sliding back into the framework of the drydock like metal serpents retreating to their lairs.


    There was a momentary stillness, a slight drifting sensation as the ship hung suspended in the void. Then, with a dull thud, the last clamp disengaged, and the subtle tug of inertia caught me by surprise. The Bulwark-class battleship was finally free of her moorings.


    ¡°Main propulsion to idle thrust,¡± Augur intoned from the command console, his photoreceptors glowing with a cool amber light, ¡°Docking tugs reporting clear. Sublight engines spooling up.¡±


    A low, throaty rumble grew from the depths of the ship, and the Petrichor surged forward, her sublight drives roaring to life. The ocular dome offered a stunning view of Ringo Vinda slowly shrinking behind us, the metallic ring of shipyards fading into the distance as the battleship picked up speed. The spacers at their data islands shifted, cycling through the initial diagnostics and confirming systems green.


    Contacts picked up behind us, as more and more warships ran free their moorings and followed us into the void, everything from the smallest corvette to the largest battleships, from Providences to Bulwarks to Victorys.


    Ahead of us, contacts were picked up at the incoming fleet staging grounds, identified by square boxes overlaid on the dome. Blips representing the rest of the fleet were marked in faint blue, indicating their positions as they moved into formation.


    ¡°Communications,¡± I prompted, ¡°Signal the fleet.¡±


    ¡°Transmitting now, sir,¡± the comms officer replied, his hands deftly working the console.


    The holoemitters at the foot of the command deck then projected six individuals, each of them with their own unique stance and presence..


    ¡°First Recon Division, designate, reporting,¡± came the soft, polished voice of Lady Lex, a graceful figure with the refined lines of a BD-3000 luxury droid, her elegant silhouette outlined in shimmering blue, ¡°The fleet is yours, Admiral.¡±


    At her back, upon the ocular dome, her true form was highlighted. Recusant-class star destroyer Lexington, right alongside her sister ship Saratoga, as she always was. They were the invisible spearhead of the fleet, and I was glad for their return.


    "Third Battle Division, designate, reporting," followed Diedrich Greyshade, his relaxed and confident, hands clasped behind his back, ¡°The fleet is yours, Admiral.¡±


    Looming in the background of his transmission, the mirror-polished hull of Tionese battlecruiser Kronprinz gleamed in the rays of the distant star, her solar sails lazily flexing on their trusses. She was the backbone of the fleet¡¯s fast battleship line, always at the head of the attack yet rather unexplainably never worse for wear.


    ¡°Fourth Battle Division, designate, reporting,¡± next was Vinoc, fresh from his campaign in the Deep Core, ¡°The fleet is yours, Admiral.¡±


    The massive, brutal form of Providence-class battlecruiser Crying Sun hovered in the background, her scarred hull bristling with ranks upon ranks of turbolasers and torpedo launchers. Interspersing the formation she headed, I spied the towering, gothic superstructures of Tetan warships.


    "Sixth Auxiliary Division, designate, reporting," chimed in Jorm, a thin and wiry man with a utilitarian air around him, ¡°Everything has been fully accounted for the mission. The fleet is yours, Admiral.¡±


    His mobile mothership Aurora II loomed behind him, surrounded by support vessels in neat formations, so large it may as well have backdropped the entire fleet. The massive auxiliary was a supply hub, manufacturing plant and repair dock in one, and so were the rest of the large warships in her formation. One of them had even been refitted for industrial-scale hydroponics. Perfect for protracted missions with little hope for regular resupply.


    For a time afterwards, a brief silence fell between the five of us. In the numbered divisioned, two names were conspicuously absent; the Third Strike Division, and the Fifth Support Division. Both had been lost at the Battle of Rendili, with their respective commanding officers, Horgo Shive and Krett. It had been agreed between the remaining of us, that those two divisions would never be reinstated.


    Instead, their replacements stepped forth to report.


    ¡°Task Force Scepter, designate, reporting,¡± that was Illiet, the Givin Dodecian attached to the fleet, his unsettling, skeletal visage etched with a faint sense of solemnness, ¡°The fleet is yours, Admiral.¡±


    ¡°Task Force Conqueress, designate, reporting,¡± lastly there was Gnifmak Dymurra, my flag having been removed from Conqueress, he was once more the commanding officer of the superweapon, ¡°The fleet is yours, Admiral.¡±


    I nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Sync navicomputers with the Scepter, and spool your hyperdrives. We will insert when the target vector has been finalized.¡±


    The fleet collectively pivoted, subformations disintegrating and rematerialising as vessel after vessel confirmed the order and promptly aligned themselves on the exit vector. From Ringo Vinda¡¯s point of view, it must have looked like a great array of shining torchlights beaming right down their scopes as thousands of individual sublight drives roared together as one.


    ¡°Warning: the fleet is not permitted to exit the Ringo Vinda Star System without the Supreme Commander¡¯s sanction,¡± Augur reminded, the lights of his faceplate flashing with alarm, ¡°Assessment: Am I correct to assume we will be henceforth disobeying orders?¡±


    ¡°You would be correct,¡± I agreed, to the collective humour of the gathered captaincies, ¡°We will henceforth be going rogue.¡±


    ¡°Clarification: In this case, would I be correct to presume we will no longer be operating under the designate of Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet?¡±


    ¡°You would, my droid,¡± Diedrich Greyshade beamed, ¡°The Twenty-Eighth and Nineteenth have been merged; there is no more reason to differentiate between us. The Coalition Armada will do as our new designate.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative,¡± Augur acceded, ¡°Shall I update the registry?¡±


    ¡°Permission granted.¡±


    ¡°¨CAdmiral, sir!¡± the comms officer called out, ¡°Ringo Vinda has dispatched warships to intercept us! They must¡¯ve caught us spooling our hyperdrives! We¡¯re observing the nearest patrol vessels diverting course and hailing us!¡±


    ¡°Illiet?¡± I looked to our chief navigator.


    The Givin stared at me blankly through his soulless eyes for a moment, then answered: ¡°A futile attempt. They will not reach us in time for our departure.¡±


    My gaze snapped towards the comms island, ¡°Ignore the hails!¡±


    Another chime caught my attention; a buzzing in my coat pocket. I holstered my cane on the chair¡¯s armrest and fished out the holoprojector, spying the Supreme Commander¡¯s address on its receiver. Well, I did feel a little bad about stealing her pet superweapon right from under her nose.


    Nevertheless, Sev¡¯rance Tann had been right about one thing: I wasn¡¯t about to fold my uniform for good with debts left unsettled and promises left unfulfilled. What she had been grievously mistaken about, however, was that I needed her in any capacity. What did I need? A set of coordinates, which I could procure from Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, and a fleet to escort me, one which I fooled Sev¡¯rance Tann into giving back to me.


    I did not need the Supreme Commander any longer, nor the Star Station Independence, the CAF, or the Confederacy of Independent Systems. All I needed was a set of coordinates and a loyal fleet ready to go where I go. Everything I needed, I had right here with me, right there and then.


    I declined the incoming transmission and powered down the device.


    ¡°Fleet sync at ninety-one percent,¡± the navigation island called out, ¡°Standby for insertion!¡±


    So what if everybody could already be dead, and this would be all for nought? So what, if the chances of survival were slim, that we were chasing after a distant and forlorn star of hope? So what, if with this act, we would abandon all that we have accomplished, in pursuit of the impossible?


    From the very beginning of it all, right here in Ringo Vinda, with only thirty-two officers in a small dark room, the purpose of the Perlemian Coalition had always been to achieve the impossible.


    And this time, I had a Jedi¡¯s intuition at my back.


    ¡°Your legacy will be forsaken,¡± Dodecian Illiet warned us, ¡°The world you leave now will have forgotten your name.¡±


    ¡°Everything we have done,¡± Gnifmak Dymurra murmured, ¡°Thrown away. Bridges burned, our accomplishments abandoned in the dust.¡±


    ¡°And so what of it?¡± Vinoc answered back, ¡°We are made of stardust. No matter how we end, we will return to stardust.¡±


    ¡°May we leave the galaxy we know behind us,¡± Jorm agreed, ¡°And find a universe of stars ahead of us.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a brand new adventure,¡± Diedrich Greyshade grinned, ¡°We might have squandered our legacy, but I rest easy knowing the mystery we weave here will linger in the memory of our people for a hundred years.¡±


    ¡°Fleet navigation sync locked, all hyperdrive spools confirmed,¡± Lady Lex flashed her running lights cheerfully, ¡°Our first stop: Ootoola Star System.¡±


    My hands settled into a calm, firm grip on the armrests, my forward fingers rubbing the scales of my cane. My gaze fixed forward, into the infinite blackness of space. Are you out there? My subconscious seemed to ask. Behind us, Ringo Vindan patrol vessels pushed their drives hard, struggling to intercept us.


    "Assessment: Final checks complete," Augur intoned, his bony hands moving fluidly over his console. "All systems within safety parameters. Your order, Admiral.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s go save our countess from her castle,¡± I gave a final nod, ¡°All ships; execute insertion!¡±


    In an instant, the thunderous roar of a thousand sublight engines fell silent. A moment of absolute stillness gripped the fleet, a hushed breath drawn before a single, irreversible moment.


    And then, the galaxy seemed to scream as a thousand hyperdrives roared to life, tearing open the fabric of space-time, and a thousand warships of the Coalition Armada disappeared into the future.