I was sitting in a seedy bar within one of the Mon Cala dockyards in a private room. The war was escalating again. The Seps have circumnavigated Roshe and begun a counter siege of our entrenched forces at Jeyell. That world had been about three days away from falling back into Republic hands, but Admiral Trench had pounced at the perfect time to resupply the Sep defenders and launch a siege on the Republic forces still stuck on the world below.

  It certainly didn’t help that the Seps had begun further campaigns throughout the Galactic North and started a campaign up the Corellian Trade Spine. I was starting to doubt if I would be able to seize Mintooine at this rate. The last few raids had been successful, destroying a number of Diamond class cruisers, MC30c frigates and a handful of Recusant light destroyers. We were slowly chipping away at the enemy’s support ships.

  My datapad pings and I grab it while placing back my cup of cheap ale. Umbara has been seized. A garrison will be established, but a large portion of ships will now become available. I quickly look through the reports. Was I supposed to receive them? What about their usual commanders?

  It looks as if some of the Open Circle Fleet was in need of some heavy repairs after suffering through the engagements over Umbara. And apparently a few members of Fleet Admiral Honor’s HONO Clique have advocated for me to be given temporary command over some of the Open Circle Fleet’s less heavily damaged units so I could seize Mintooine. Well then.

  The 13th Battleship Squadron under Rear Admiral Denn Wessex would be the primary force, the unit’s ten Venators and four CR90s having been used as the reserve over Umbara. A good core to supplement my line. Next was the 549th Support Squadron. Support Squadrons could vary from logistics units to less prestigious battle line formations. It looks like this was the latter. Ten Acclamator twos four Pelta frigates and a section of corvettes headed by an Arquitens.

  Then another ping. I was being sent two squadrons from the Colonies. 111th Colonies Cruiser Squadron, better known as the 1st Fondorian Volunteer Squadorn, consisting of a dozen Hammerhead Cruisers and six Sphyrna class corvettes. The other squadron was more surprising. The 44th Combined Squadrons, a title usually kept in reserve for ships in transit. I take a second look at the unit’s composition. Element ‘Earldom’ a Praetor class battlecruiser, ten Acclamators and an escorting eighteen corvettes. That was practically a battlegroup in and of itself. The only thing it lacked for the title were a couple Dreadnoughts or other more durable ships of the line.

  Maker, I’ll be able to launch an attack on Mintooine within two weeks.

  I’ll need to up our raid schedule.

  It was a very hectic two weeks. I was unable to conduct any raids personally, due to me managing a dozen strategy meetings and organizing transports for the ground forces. Targonn had finally fallen and General Krugwolt’s Corps would be shipping out to our reserve positions within the hour. I had also been in rapid fire negotiations with far too many local governments.

  I had secured assistance form the Merchant Fleet, four MC80 Liberties and ten MC30c frigates would join us at Mintooine with the Merchant Fleet proper acting as an emergency reserve in case of defeat. Poseidenna would provide an additional two MC30c frigates and act as an emergency fallback position while Ruisto provided a quintet of Dreadnought heavy cruisers as the Tidal Circuit offered six MC30c frigates alongside five corvettes from their customs fleets. Finally Dornea had offered up a few of their own corvettes to my endeavor.

  Last but certainly not least, I had pulled the 409th O.R. Section and 582nd L.O.R. Section from their usual duties. Combine all of that with my 97th O.R. Squadron and half of the 401st Rapid Response Squadron and I had a scarily sized force under my direct command.

  A battlecruiser, twenty capital ships, fifteen Dreadnoughts, a MedStar medical ship, twenty eight Acclamators of both stripes, a dozen Fondorian Hammerhead cruisers, my trusty MC40a, ten Arquitenses, thirty combat frigates, ten transport frigates and sixty corvettes of varying models and makes. I was almost salivating as I marched into the bridge of the Earldom, the Praetor class battlecruiser that would act as my flagship for this engagement.

  “Admiral adeck!” I hear the ship’s usual commanding officer bark, finishing the tubing ceremony.

  “At ease.” I order calmly as I survey my home for the next Maker knows how long.

  The Senior Captain approaches me, an older Pantoran who had dyed his hair a boring brown. He snaps a salute as he finishes his approach: “The Earldom is yours, sir.”

  “Very good. At ease, Senior Captain P’marik.” I advise.

  “As your command, sir.” The man replies.

  I walk over to the tactical display the bridge has set up and begin studying it. Yes this would do.

  “Are we prepared to jump?” I ask.

  “The last ships are getting into unit formations, sir.” One of my Adjutants reports, they were the only crew I could take with me to the Earldom, the Little Revenge stuck as the command ship of my reserve with Luis taking her helm, while his own second took over the Fondor’s Daughter.

  “Very well. Let’s begin. Jump.” I order and the giant arrowhead shaped ship jumps into hyperspace.

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  “Exiting in ten.”

  This was it. Another battle.

  “Nine,-”

  Maker preserve me. Maker keep my family safe. Maker embrace me. Maker watch over me. Maker bless me. Maker hold me safe. Maker if I fall, bring me to you. Maker watch over me, watch over my men, watch over my family. Keep us all in your embrace … and forgive me for what I do.

  “… exiting.”

  Commodore Hatha, yes he certainly liked the ring of that, was about to finish his refueling efforts when red alert was called throughout Mintooine. He rushes to the bridge, once again happy for the lack of sentients within his squadron to see him run to the bridge like a grub to a piece of food.

  “Sitrep!” He barks at his tactical droid.

  “Sir, Admiral Simms has called red alert. Enemy forces have entered system, believed to be under the command of Rear Admiral Dericote. His forces are on par with ours. We are about to receive our orders.”

  “Very well, patch me in.” The Neimoidian orders as he takes his rightful seat.

  A moment later the room is filled by the holographic depictions of various present fleet commanders. Hatha recognized Admiral Simms, overall commander of all local forces, as well as the disgraced General Well, the former second in command at Pammant having been relegated to supervising the three large anti-orbital batteries within the system. He also recognizes Commodore Dragoos, who had been sent by the Senate to oversee the strengthening of Mintooine’s defenses. He and Commodore Lix, the second in command of the defenders of Mintooine, were glaring one another down while Hatha continues to observe. There was a fair number of flag officers, not to mention the dozen other Commanders and Senior Captains which shared more or less the same authority within the system.

  “Dericote has finally come. His glorified minesweepers have cleared the way for his forces from the east. I will hold my position within our anti-orbital batteries’ arcs of fire while Dericote busies himself with our outer defenses.” The Admiral says.

  “Sir, I advise caution, Dericote will find even the smallest weakness and exploit it. You cannot count on the anti-orbital batteries.” Hatha advises.

  Admiral Simms scowls at him, his tentacles twitching in irritation as he speaks: “I have read your dossier on the Rear Admiral. I am more than prepared. In fact, I believe your squadron will be unnecessary here, it will be in the way of our line of battle. Your squadron is to begin raiding operations within the Ash Worlds. See if you can burn any supply convoys while Dericote and his lackeys are busy here. I suppose you should also inform the Senate that we have engaged the enemy, if you’re breaking through the comms jamming screen anyway.”

  Hatha silently fumes. The fool! He had fought Dericote to a standstill! He would have won, were it not for the fool Tamson! He … he would survive this battle. He had no choice, he had been given orders by his local superior. When Mintooine inevitably falls he will be able to laud his side of the story while the Free Dac Volunteers scramble to find a new headquarters after having lost their two most vital worlds. Yes, he could use this.

  “Very well, sir. I shall depart immediately with my squadron and wish you good luck.” Hatha finally says, before cutting the transmission and gazing out at the tactical display. Dericote would probably win this. He had fought a siege with more defensive platforms before. He knows how to deal with them defensively and will be able to deal with them offensively as well. Damn the Fondorian for not falling in line with his world.

  “Get us out of here.” He orders. He would wreak havoc throughout the Ash Worlds while Dericote fought here. Yes, he would fight his rival soon.

  I stood at the helm of the bridge, tactical display running at highest settings as the rest of my forces entered system, vaguely forming up their five units. The most northern one consistied of two Venators from the Open Circle Fleet and the Constellation, alongside their usual escorts and half a dozen Acclamators. They would attack the outlying defensive installation before putting pressure on the enemy’s position around Mintooine’s moon, Faxe had command there, still from his CR90 corvette Buckler. He really should have at least considered upgrading to something with more staying power.

  The second group consisted of the 99th Battleship Section’s two Venators, my 1382nd O.R. Section and half of the allied forces. Senior Captain Praut had command and they would also be attacking the outlying defensive installation before forming my northern line just outside the effective range of the enemy’s planetary arctic anti-orbital battery.

  The third and largest consisted of half the 13th Battleship Squadron and various cruisers and corvettes under the battle’s second in command, Rear Admiral Wessex. Though the most important part of the center was the reserve, an independent part of the formation under Luis which consisted of our five M4 Dreadnoughts and half a dozen Acclamator I and Arquitens cruisers. Perfect for emergency strikecraft repairs, sudden strikes, desperate reinforcements and a stable large scale view of the battle.

  The fourth consisted of the remaining Venators of the 13th Battleship Squadron and an assortment of cruisers, frigates and corvettes. This formation was the weakest and under the command of Commodore Hugh, herself leading from her Pelta, the Avarice. What her formation lacked in strength it made up for in speed, the frigates and corvettes making good skirmishing units, which should allow them to operate within the defensive area of the Seps’ anti-orbital batteries. Commodore Hugh also had the most freedom within the line.

  Finally there was the fifth and theoretically strongest unit. Consisting of the Earldom, the Fondorian Hammerhead cruisers and our Sphyrna Hammerhead corvettes. We had the riskiest task ahead of us. Sneak into the enemy formation’s south to allow ground forces to land right on top of the world’s western ice caps so they could destroy the local anti orbital battery. Hopefully in doing so we could mop up the northern hemisphere before launching more attacks against the remaining anti orbital battery in the southern hemisphere.

  “Formation’s are forming up well.” Lieutenant Hursk reports. He was right, the five speartip formations racing towards their targets as if emerging from a hoplite phalanx. The only outlier was our reserve, forming a nice and tidy line behind the central speartip formation.

  I zero in on my own formation. The Earldom had center point with the Fondorian cruisers running along the edges of the diamond shaped battlecruiser, the Sphyrna class corvettes taking point at areas where the combined lasercannon turrets were the weakest. No reserve, no smaller corvettes or pickets, only twenty two ships around the command ship.

  Well that wasn’t entirely accurate. I also had a wing and a half of fighters and a wing of bombers to take advantage of any foolish enemy commander that decided they’d only take potshots from behind their defensive installations.

  “Prepare open frequency transmission.” I order.

  “Sir, I believe we’ve got two Recusant heavy destroyers and four diamond shoring up the position we’ll be gunning for.” An Adjutant advises.

  “Have they made any other redeployments?” I ask.

  “A squadron’s worth of ships, one Providence battleship, half a dozen Munificents and escorting corvettes, just made the jump out of system. Multiple ships on our side of the hemisphere have begun adjusting their positioning. The enemy has also reinforced their center, they’ve moved two Lucrehulks to anchor the area, with a Providence dreadnought between them. But we’ll be facing about half their forces as of now.” Lieutenant Hursk reports.

  “Very well. Captain, adjust speed, we’ll start pulling ahead of the formation. Advise Rear Admiral Wessex to slow his pace a tick and pull two cruisers and a mixed wing of fighters and bombers to the center for additional screening and support.”

  “Comms are ready for you, sir.”

  “Begin transmission.” I order.

  “You’re on, sir.”

  “People of Mintooine, this is Rear Admiral Thraken Dericote of the Republic Navy, taskforce Midnight Halberd. I hereby order all ships not a part of my forces to power down shields and weapons and prepare for boarding. This is your only opportunity to surrender before blood is spilled. I repeat surrender now, before blood is spilled. All civilian ships are to leave system now, through the galactic eastern hyperspace egress point. To any civilians on the planetary surface. Do not resist, innocent blood doesn’t have to be spilled. Dericote out.”

  The transmission cuts out as I glance at the tactical display. Looks as if no one wants to take me up on the offer. A pity.

  “Northern units have made contact with Separatist outlying units.” Someone reports.

  “Very well. Move our fighter screen out by an extra click.” I order.

  It takes a couple minutes until the next report comes in: “Enemy corvettes and frigates have begun skirmishing with our forces along the north through the center. Nothing major, they’re only lowering our shields slightly, but that’s it.”

  “Northern units have broken through enemy perimeter. Unit Buckler has begun heading north, while Unit Arkania is trying to catch up with the rest of the line, sir.” Another Adjutant reports.

  “Very good. Captain! Begin peeling us away from Unit Avarice.” I order.

  “As you command, sir.” Captain P’marik answers.

  “Let’s see how they react.” I mumble to myself as we make our first adjustment.

  Republic lead Commanders:

  Rear Admiral Thraken Dericote (120th Battlegroup; Taskforce Commander)

  Brigadier General Krugwolt (53rd Volunteer Corps)

  Rear Admiral Denn Wessex (13th Battleship Squadron)

  Republic Forces:

  Units:

  120th Battlegroup

  -97th O.R. Squadron

  -401st Rapid Response Squadron

  +159th Logistics Section

  +200th Logistics Section

  +1382nd O.R. Section

  13th Battleship Squadron (Open Circle Fleet)

  28th Battleship Section

  99th Battleship Section

  409th O.R. Section

  582nd L.O.R. Section

  4th Merchant Fleet Star Cruiser Section

  1st Merchant Fleet Cruiser Section

  4th Merchant Fleet Light Section

  1st Tidal Circuit Light Support Section

  23rd Rendili Defense Section (former Baros Garrison)

  1st Fondorian Volunteer Squadron / 111th Colonies Cruiser Squadron

  1x Praetor Battleship (2x Wings)

  1x CD-710 Heavy Destroyer (1/3x Wing)

  15x Venator Star Destroyers (15x Wings)

  4x MC80 Star Cruisers (0,5x Wings)

  Cruisers:

  15x Dreadnough H. Cruisers (1,2x Wings)

  (5x Model 4, 10x Model 3)

  1x MedStar medical Cruiser

  18x Acclamator I Cruisers (9x Wings)

  10x Acclamator II Cruisers (2,5x Wings)

  12x Hammerhead Cruisers (Model 7-F-P-Aurek-NS) (1x Wing)

  1x MC40a Cruiser

  10x Arquitens Light Cruisers

  Frigates:

  20x MC30c frigates

  10x Pelta armed frigate

  10x Pelta Transport frigate

  Corvettes:

  20x Consular corvette

  5x CR90

  10x Sphyrna Hammerhead corvette

  8x DP20

  13x Braha'tok gunship

  4x IPV-1 picket/patrol craft

  Ground Forces:

  53rd Volunteer Corps

  (reorganized after Targonn campaign)

  Admiral Simms (1st Free Dac Defense Section; Overall Commander)

  Commodore Konstantyn Dragoos (203rd “Lilac Helm” Squadron, ordered to reinforce world by Separatist Senate)

  Commodore Ils Lix (3rd Free Dac Defense Section; 2nd In Command)

  Commodore Blox Hatha (May be present, ships last seen in Ash Worlds Sector near Balshebr)

  41st Battleship Section

  1st Free Dac Defense Section

  2nd Free Dac Defense Section

  4th Free Dac Defense Section

  10th Free Dac Defense Section

  9th Free Dac Defense Section

  1st Combined Pammant Section

  728th Cruiser Flight

  130th Cruiser Flight

  233rd Cruiser Flight

  456th Cruiser Flight

  23rd Carrier Section

  29th Carrier Section

  333rd Carrier Section

  1st Free Dac Light Defense Squadron

  999th Corvette Flotilla

  1341st Corvette Flotilla

  2613th Corvette Flotilla

  1614th Corvette Flotilla

  3x Providence class Dreadnoughts (6x Wings)

  4x Lucerhulk Battleships (20x Wings)

  7x Providence Battleships (7x Wings)

  5x MC75 Star Cruisers (battleship equivalent)

  9x Recusant Heavy Destroyers

  Cruisers:

  15x Recusant Light Destroyers

  6x Munificent class Cruisers (2x Wings)

  15x Captor Cruiser/Carriers (7,5x Wings)

  40x Diamond class Cruisers

  Frigates:

  17x MC30c frigates

  Corvettes:

  4x CR90 Corvettes

  32x Gazonti Corvettes

  8x C-9979 mobile Gun platforms

  Ground forces:

  UNKNOWN

  -Note by Republic Intelligence [dt. 2 Days pre invasion]: Due to the icecaps, oceans and recent evacuations detected by Republic Intelligence officers and intelligence brokers of the N.E.S.Command it is uncertain what the Separatist ground forces consist of. If the 53rd is not sufficient garrisoning regiments stationed throughout N.E.S.Command can be called in as reinforcements General Staff has already permitted this measure.