I arrive on Coruscant without any fanfare. So little of it in fact that I had to flag down my own cab and ordered it to the hotel the Navy had given me for my stay on Coruscant. I suppose I should be grateful it wasn’t a barracks. It took about an hour of driving with the hotel being, thankfully relatively close to the new offices of the Republic armed forces. That was good, I did not want to have to walk or take the train for an hour to get to my destination. After depositing my bags I went over to the terminal. A quick insertion of my military code cylinder and a quick override later I could access it without anyone being able to access anything I did on it after I logged out.

  I knew Tenant was on world and quickly sent him a message. I intended for us to meet before the hearing tomorrow to coordinate a strategy together. He answers promptly in turn and offers me an invitation to dinner this evening. I agree and finally got to unpacking. I was honestly unsure why I needed to be here for more than a day and even less sure why I needed to be here in person, but I would try not to question it further. I put on my second best uniform, polished up both pairs of parade boots and my officer's badge. Finally I spend the final hour before I had to leave cleaning the slugthrower thoroughly. I didn’t get all the grime off, but I got enough of it off to not raise eyebrows tomorrow. I assemble my uniform and leave the hotel with R4 staying behind for once.

  After leaving the hotel I hop on a train and head towards the restaurant. It was a bit away, but with the train I was within spitting range in half an hour. I eventually got a couple odd looks when I didn’t get out by the military barracks, but everyone kept to themselves. I got out in one of the higher end districts between the Senate and the Courts complex and waved down a cab to give the man the address from the restaurant. He gave me a curious look but he drove off none the less.

  I step out at the front of the restaurant and I give him the needed credits with a decent tip. I look around the outside of the building. Definitely upper class. I sigh, of course Tenant wouldn’t come down from his high horse for me. I end up marching up to the server and asking if Rear Admiral Tenant was already inside. The man simply nods and I got brought to his table. He was sitting in perfect aristocratic poise, his square jaw in hand as he observes the menu. After a second though he notices me.

  “Thraken, so good to see you. How’s your end of the front?” He asks, standing up from his seat to offer me his hand.

  “Not terrible, I’m trying to ensure Drongar stays a neutral world to ensure a possible place for Confederacy civilians to repair their ships without the Separatists breathing down their necks.” I say as I shake his hand once and we sit down

  “Ah, yes there’s that healing plant there, yes?” He asks while pouring me a glass of red wine.

  “Yes, quite valuable and potent, a good alternative since the bacta is starting to dry up. The strategic importance of a free port can’t be ignored though, especially since it’s the only one between Hutt Space and Zygeria that will accept everyone.” I say taking a whiff of the drink before swirling it and taking another sniff.

  “Yes, quite a conundrum. That’s a twenty year old Alderaanian, Beaune vintner.” He says.

  I finally take a sip and find it quite refreshing: “Good choice. How does the assembly of peers look?”

  “First be aware I don’t know everyone in attendance. I do know we have quite a few up and coming names as well as a bunch of the higher ups. My friend Captain Wilhuff Tarkin is here in person, so is Fleet Admiral and Head of Naval Operations Honor Salima, of the Coruscant Home Guard. Wilhuff is already in favor of a trial run at the very least. General Geen is here too on behalf of the Army, I suppose to see how useful the doctrine could be for their bunch, he’s a bit of a moderate willing to see change, but he has some alleged concerning Separatist leanings.”

  We’re interrupted by the waiter asking us what we want to order. I order a Chandrillan dish that was heavy on tubers and Nils orders a fish dish from Dac alongside a carafe of white wine. The waiter lleaves us after that.

  “Alright so far people we can work with.” I say taking another sip from my wine.

  “Yes, quite. There’s also General Solomahal, he’s here on behalf of Republic Intelligence and he’s allegedly looking hungrily at the deputy directorate there. Then they got Major Orson Krennic from the Engineers and his buddy Major Galen Erso from Research and Development here for their expertise.” he says

  “I know Krennic’s reputation, he may be someone we should look out for if we want to keep the credit.” I say, wanting to stoke Tenant’s ambition.

  “Yes, but thankfully Erso tempers him a little, so we’ll only need a long stick instead of a metal pipe.” He chuckles at his own quip and I smirk at it.

  “So far it’s looking quite good.” I say in all honesty.

  “Hold your livestock there, Admiral Coburn is comming in from the front as is Captain Pelleon. Pelleon is a bit of a wild card. He really should have been promoted by now, but he doesn’t have enough connections and is too conservative for the Chancellor to intervene like he did for you. Coburn has the connections, but is also a tad conservative so you might as well count him out.” he says.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Our food arrives a moment later and we start to dig in. I chose alright, it was far better than the usual rations. I swallow a bite before asking my next question: “Anyone else, I’d be surprised if they didn’t have at least a couple Jedi on this.”

  “Oh yes,” He says after finishing a bite of his own meal, “Master Rancisis is there as the official Representative of the Order in High Command, Master Koon is comming in with Coburn. They should cancel each other out. The Jedi wanted Master Kenobi in on this too, but he is busy at the moment so they got Master Eith Koth to substitute him. He should be on your side, since you’ve been assigned to his general command. It would be a grave insult to tradition if a superior officer doesn’t support his underling’s ideas at this level.”

  “I’ve been what?”

  “Jedi General Koth has been assigned the command of your forces, his own Section, his clone battalion and the local garrisons.” He answers, taking another bite afterwards.

  That was not bad, not great but not bad. It was honestly inevitable that a Jedi would be assigned my unit. It made sense the Jedi would want someone to oversee the difficult front I was in, especially with Dac being so relatively close to the core of the Confederacy’s political heart and a decent chunk of her industry. I suppose I’ll need to go with the punches on this one.

  “Well, I didn’t hear about that.” I say, trying to keep my tone light.

  “Oh yes, the Navy wasn’t enthused about having a dear propaganda piece be relegated to second fiddle. Though you should have been informed last week”

  “I was in transit. Didn’t know I was being used for the propaganda.” I mumble, followed by taking another bite.

  “Well, you’re pretty much the only Republic officer currently without Jedi oversight and with enough successful battles to be used right about now, discounting the Tarkins, of course.” he says taking a sip of his wine after.

  “Of course. Back to the topic at hand, anyone else I should be aware of tomorrow?”

  “Colonel Gascon.”

  “The Zilkin who did the analysis on Geonosis on time before the invasion?” I ask surprised.

  “The same. He’s been looking and waiting on the promotion he deserves, but High command doesn’t think he has enough battlefield experience to warrant it. He should be on our side, the paper was very thorough and he has been bootlicking a couple higher ups that are leaning towards our side.”

  “Sounds like this is almost a done deal.” I say a smile creeping up on my face.

  “Yes, from the ones I know it is looking quite good. So far it looks as if the main problem might be Rancisis and Coburn, but Koon and Koth should be on our side, especially with that raid you did a couple weeks back. It really made Koon more popular among the Navy, he should owe you this much at the very least.”

  “You’re forgetting the both of them are Jedi, Tenant. They don’t necessarily follow naval traditions. Maker knows Master Fisto didn’t.” I complain.

  “Too true, but we must hope for the best at this point. There’s little else to do now.” He says.

  The rest of the meal tasted like a bit like ash. We moved on to lighter subjects, but it all felt hollow. We said goodnight and I flagged down a cab to get to my hotel. I didn’t sleep well that night.

  I arrive at the conference hall half an hour early, with a cup of caff in hand. This was my fourth this morning, I wanted the extra jitters for this. I had dolled myself up as much as possible too. My best uniform, fully shined boots and officers badge. I had fully cleaned my slugthrower last night and loaded it with the slugs from Fondor. Finally I had put on my officer’s cap and gave R4 a basic cleaning. The doors opened fifteen minutes before the meeting and I enter to set up at the podium, prepare my notes and have R4 hand me another copy of the final draft of the paper alongside the industrial prospect reports out of Baros and the interviews conducted on my crew and other crew that had survived boarding actions.

  The first officers entered the auditorium a few minutes later. I knew from experience that Tenant would arrive precisely on time with everything perfectly prepared on his end. I eventually had R4 move over to a corner as the final minutes approached. I greet Tarkin with a handshake, exchanged polite hellos with the Majors Erso and Krennic. I give the appropriate salutes to Fleet Admiral Honor, who is being followed by a gaggle of Adjutants and the Generals as they arrive slightly ahead of time. Jedi Master Rancisis and Master Koth arrive perfectly on time alongside Tenant who seems to have been buttering the two of them up.

  Colonel Gascon is slightly late, but only by a few seconds. The holographic projections of Admiral Coburn, Captain Pelleon and Master Koon activate in tandem, filling out more of the seats. The final officers to arrive are slightly late by a minute, Captains on leave from the front pulled in to this for a more balanced peerage, General Therbon, Deputy Head of Naval Operations and finally a running Admiral Renau, Chief Analytics Officer of the Logistics Department alongside Ardus Kaine the newly appointed Head Director of Naval Procurement.

  Once everyone was seated I motioned for Tenant to begin: “Good morning everyone. We are greatly pleased that our proposal is being considered by so many of our peers and superiors. We hope you all have read the paper on the possible use of shields in modern naval action alongside the best materials for use and a basic doctrinal use.”

  “This paper was developed after an unsuccessful boarding action upon my ship the Little Revenge of the 347th Outer Rim Section, then recently appointed part of the 97th Outer Rim Squadron. This boarding action occurred recently after my promotion during a scouting operation and would most likely have been successful were it not for the intervention of Republic privateers.” I continue.

  “My colleague Commodore Dericote here realized early on the advantage of having multiple barricades assembled during the boarding action which delayed the forces of the Separatists enough for help to arrive. He deduced that such barricades, if mobile and used appropriately with droid poppers, Z-6 rotary blaster cannons and a well drilled force would have likely turned back the Separatists.”

  We’re interrupted then by Tarkin: “How did Commodore Dericote observe this?”

  “I threw myself against the enemy boarding action after giving command of the bridge to my second in command a Adjutant Commander Mi-Kus.” I answer promptly.

  “Was he not promoted to Adjutant Captain alongside your own promotion?” Tarkin presses.

  “No, Captain, he was not, neither was a Captain promoted to the seniority of the 347th Outer Rim Section.” I answer, hiding the smirk trying to creep up on my face.

  "This is all well and good Captain,” Admiral Coburn says, “but this is hardly relevant to the questionable topic at hand.”

  “Yes sir, my apologies.” Tarkin placates.

  “Please continue with your synopsis.” Fleet Admiral Honor orders.

  “Of course Fleet Admiral.” Tenant says, “As I was saying, my colleague later compiled his observations into a basic idea and asked for my input. I contacted other Captains and asked for their experiences on suffering Separatist boarding actions. All of them, well all of the ones we were able to contact, said that basic barricades, when used, were highly effective against incompetent B1s and more blaster resistant B2s though there were some who claimed the Commando droids used had an easier time breaking through the stationary barricades.”

  Master Rancisis spoke up at this: “And you believe the problem with the barricades was the lack of mobility?”

  I move to answer the question: “We have come to believe a combination of both the shields and stationary barricades would be most effective. We are aware that in certain situations barricades may not be possible to construct, but the damage of limited to no cover would be mitigated by the shields.”

  Admiral Renau speaks up now: “I can see the benefits clearly. I read through both the paper and briefing you submitted on your engagement Commodore, my primary concern, is logistics. I hate to say this, but I always seem to be the one reminding people of this, we cannot simply add new war material into the current supply chain so easily. At the very least we are talking a thorough trial run of a month at least, preferably two, followed by a small scale employment at the front lines with thorough action reports on the effectiveness. Then we need to give out the contracts and begin supplying every ship in the navy with these new weapons.”

  Well he had us there. Didn’t he.