Well we ended up moving out after three days. The entire squadron assembled into three lines. The Little Revenge was on point with the Prince’s Duty on our starboard and the Lucky Kelp on our port. The Consulars, Teardrop and Falchion, were on the flanks of the Frigates and Bastard squadron was acting as pickets for the Little Revenge. The second line consisted of the three Pelta transports. The final line had the Buckler in the center with the Dagger on her Port and the Averice on her starboard. The entire formation was almost a proper spearheaad formation, but it neither had enough tonnage nor was it long enough for it to fit the traditional version of that formation well.

  Though at least the formation should hold up to anything we ought to encounter. Baros and Toong’l were both lightly inhabited and officially neutral, though Toong’l had a small Separatist outpost in her orbit. Targonn meanwhile may need a certain show of force which the frigates should be able to do, if necessary. The transports have even been filled with materials to support further economic development for the worlds, being filled with machine parts, mining equipment, droids to take on some of the harder labor and even the materials needed to build a new power generator, though they took up a lot of the cargo capacity of two of the ships. However such sacrifices were paltry in comparison to the sheer marvel of engineering a military grade energy generator provided at the negotiating table.

  “The squadron is awaiting your orders, sir.” I hear.

  “Jump when ready.” I order in turn.

  A moment later the Little Revenge is encompassed by the swirl of Hyperspace. I nod as we begin the long journey.

  I spent the first leg of the trip going through paperwork. Bureaucracy, despite her over complication, is the backbone of the Republic, be it her Army, Navy, Senate or even simply a municipal authority. Maker knows how much flimsywork my parents went through by the time I was born, probably enough to kill a man if it collapsed on top of him.

  By the time I had finished up the first leg of paperwork I got absolutely sick of it. I turned to something more emotionally rewarding, which in this case was attempting to make myself more slug rounds. After the boarding action over Drongar I was starting to run dangerously low. So low that I only had fifteen slugs left at this point. Fifteen slugs and my blaster pistol. Yet I would rather have the sands consume me than be forced to resort to a blaster if I could help it.

  So I had privately bought up more durasteel for the slug and the casings. Luckily it was a purchase I could partially expense. Despite my mild appreciation of partial compensation, I was slightly annoyed. The reason for this was me trying to find the right mix of explosives. You could technically use almost any explosive jelly, powder or fluid on the old slugthrowers, but the kickback for a couple types of explosives could disjoint your arms if one wasn’t careful. Due to that usually something similar to dynamite was used. Luckily for me Dac had quite a mining industry, bad for me, it was underwater. So there were no explosive charges to disassemble. And thus went the primary source of dynamite I could’ve bought for cheap.

  Instead I have a thermal detonator disassembled on my desk and my room temperature at almost freezing. I carefully place the bare minimum amount of Baridium into one of the casings. They would be far more volatile than I’d have liked and the kickback would be a bitch and a half, but at this point it’s the best option available. The main advantage here is that I can make a couple more specialized rounds more easily. the explosive power behind even a part of a thermal detonator enough to give me more options outside of the traditional slug. I had already made three bolo rounds, though I had to result to a durasteel wire instead of the more traditional chain when linking the two rounded slugs. I had also made a handful of buckshot rounds in case I’m surrounded by B1s or in need of throwing a couple droids back. I finish up a couple minutes before we’re about to exit hyperspace, grabbing myself a cup of caff for the inevitable long night shift ahead.

  I enter the bridge and take a sip as the Navigator begins the countdown. A few seconds later we’re in Baros.

  The system, if you could even call it that, consisted of a brown dwarf star and a handful of mineral rich planets, surrounding the dim sun. The original mining operations had been abandoned when it was found out the exploitation of any planets would cost more than the metal had been worth during the Ruusan era. The main concern involving a semi-sapient spiecies native to one of the worlds. However with the loosening of regulations and the understanding that the natives would not be interfered with, mining operations would begin. In part to supplement the regional command’s suppliers and in part to provide the Mon Cala Shipyards with an alternative source of resources since Poseidenna had declared neutrality on the onset of the war.

  That doesn’t particularly matter now. Our objective remained the deployment of sensor buoys and a tether to set up a future military outpost and mining operation. Contracts have apparently already been seized by a Rendili Stardrive subsidiary to try and incorporate themselves better with the Mon Cala Shipyards.

  I watch as the squadron splits off into smaller units. The Consulars escorting the armed Peltas as they deploy the buoys while Bastard Squadron alongside the Buckler begin to patrol the system. The Little Revenge herself moves into orbit of the largest planet, Baros IV, in preparation to deploying the tether from an escape pod hatch.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “In position.” I hear Mi-Kus say.

  “Launch the tether. Once it’s entered atmosphere go ahead and deploy the other side of it at will.” I order, taking another sip of caff.

  A distinct pop of an escape pod sounds as the tether descends towards the planet. After a couple minutes the other side of the tether is deployed from the hanger. The second half deploying a solar array and activating its engines to move into position. It takes another ten minutes until both ends of the tether are in position. I nod and order the Helmsman to bring us back into formation. We spend another three hours in system until everything has been deployed. We jump into hyperspace a couple minutes after that.

  I was honestly more relieved than I was willing to admit about how smoothly the operation went in Baros. I felt lighter and slept without issue as we traveled through Hyperspace. R4 woke me up with an hour left travel wise. A quick shower, shave and shit later I put on my officers uniform, applied some bacta paste to my almost fully healed wounds and marched up to the bridge.

  I arrive just on time to see us reenter realspace. In front of us is the still damaged world of Toong’l, a series of impact craters on her surface. Above Toong’l are our adversaries, a duet of Munificents and between them a simple resupply station.

  “First line advance, third line move ahead of second. Captain Chain prepare a large boarding party for the space station. Shields to front. Consulars stay close to your frigates. Launch all fighters with the boarding party and have them await my orders.” I say turning my eyes towards the tactical display.

  The first volley, as usual, comes from the Munificents. Their heavy turbolasers missing the approaching Republic ships. The V-19s pour from the Little Revenge and join with the Y-wings to form a greater formation, with Little Squadron taking point. A moment later they are joined by two LAATs.

  “Fighters, escort the boarding party to the resupply station, then break off to attack the left flank Munificent. Second and third lines move forward. Helmsman all ahead full all batteries may fire at will.” I say, feeling the slight lurch as the Little Revenge accelerates alongside the Mon Cala designed frigates and Corelian designed corvettes. The Little Revenge answers the second Separatist volley with one of her own, one Separatist heavy turbolaser blast smashes into the Lucky Kelp, while the other flies past the Prince’s Duty. The Republic turbolaser volley meanwhile hits their targets well, almost all of the blasts smashing into the C.I.S. cruisers’ shields.

  The fighters, bombers and LAATs meanwhile race ahead, past the Munificents, though the tactical display shows two V-19s shot down. I frown at that, the V-19s were clearly showing that they weren’t fully up to snuff. The Republic should replace them sooner rather than later. At this point I’d be willing to try almost any alternative fighter. As the LAATs close the distance the fighters and bombers break off towards the left flank, the LAATs entering the hanger of the station mere moments later. The fighters and bombers unload their proton torpedoes and lasers into the flank of the left cruiser causing multiple explosions alongside its engine block and rear spine.

  “Focus fire on the right flank, bring up the Dagger and Avarice, full speed, to dock with the station, have the Buckler move to cover the second line.” I order, hoping to increase the likelihood of securing the station quickly and intact.

  The Mon Cala frigates finally reach their range and unload a salvo of proton torpedoes each. The ordinances crash into the Munificents, the one on the left flank suffering more damage and her shields flickering out as the final two torpedoes smash into her bridge and heavy turbolaser causing an even larger detonation throughout the cruiser. The Munificent on the right flank takes the torpedoes better, but her shields also flicker before a laser from the Falchion smashes into her hull.

  “Sir, Captain Chain reports less resistance than expected. They have seized the reactor room with one dead three wounded.” I hear Sergeant Slas report.

  “Good. Status on their reinforcements?” I ask.

  “Almost at our position.” I hear in turn.

  I see the two Peltas race past the transparasteel windows as another volley of turbolasers leave the Little Revenge and smash into the Munificents, finally causing the one on the left flank to loose power and start to drift away from her original position. The other meanwhile still stands fast, though most likely not for long, with the Peltas opening fire themselves, their ion cannons and light turbolasers crashing into the remaining Separatist cruiser as they race past it.

  “Sir, enemy cruiser listing to their starboard!” I hear my sensors officer shout.

  “Good, that means we’re almost done here.” I say in turn watching more turbolasers and another volley of proton torpedoes from the MC30c impact the Munificent. The Confederate ship shudders, the impacts throwing off her aim causing her shots to fly into the depths of the void. Finally a torpedo pierces the Munificent’s hull and sets off a series of explosions. I witness the cruiser suffering under the chain reaction, pieces flying away from the ship and bouncing off shields and hulls alike. The flames being pulled into the vacuum as the ship detonated a final time leaving only its wreckage behind.

  “Has the station been secured?” I ask.

  “Captain Chain reports the vital infrastructure has been secured. They are now focusing on securing the warehouses within.” I hear Sergeant Slas answer.

  “I want an initial casualty report. Lieutenant Mi-Kus, I am placing you in charge of communicating with the local government planetside. You are to negotiate their return to the Republic, I am sure we can hand them some of the resources we have on board and promise them future convoys to assist them alongside a military posting to secure the strategic interest in system. The last part is non negotiable.” I order, watching Mi-Kus write it down quickly and head out with a nod and a salute.

  The rest of the station was secured within the hour and Mi-Kus had apparently negotiated in person to much success. The local people were more than willing to switch sides with an improved offer by the Republic. They didn’t even seem to mind the future garrison as it would mean they would not be forgotten so easily. My main problem with this was leaving a total of two hundred thirty personnel in system with the one of my ship’s LAATs until the permanent garrison could be fully established.

  I chose Lieutenant Daffy, who had recently painted a handful of black and aegean blue feathers on his armor, to oversee the temporary posting. The commanding officer of third platoon within Hope company was to help train the local militia, act as a busybody and not ruffle any feathers. Hopefully that wouldn’t be too much to ask of a Clone. Especially since besides the platoon of Clones a series of technicians, arms-men and other personnel would be under the Lieutenant’s command. Technically this was far beyond what I should be giving the man, but with my limited command, I was hesitant to separate even a single ship from either my formation or their respective sections. Either way, Daffy would not be alone, his post being supported by a handful of other Lieutenants from the ranks of the technicians and support staff and while their primary duty would be in deploying supplies to the surface and the reconfiguration of the resupply station to Republic standards, the Clone had been made aware of the availability of their persons to act in supporting roles.

  By the time they had all been briefed and deployed we were ready to head out again. The ships were in formation and we jump into Hyperspace a few minutes later. Our next destination not far away from us. Hopefully without any fighting, though I was not going to bet on it. After all the Targonn system and their Dictator-Forever Craw were not known for their hospitality.