My release from house arrest, hotel arrest? House arrest. Either way, it was rather anti-climactic. About six hours after sending me to my room, like some tantrum having brat, I was informed by a nervous looking group of Navy arms-men that they were to escort me to my meeting with Fleet Admiral Honor and a few Jedi.

  I simply followed the group of arms-men to a LAAT which quickly dropped us off at the headquarters of Naval Operations. I was honestly a tad surprised that they’d hold my release at the location where my rescuers held the most power. Seemed things would end in my favor then. I march down the hallway, the arms-men in lockstep behind and before me.

  One gestures for the correct door which opens to reveal Fleet Admiral Honor, General Koon, Admiral Jerjerrod and a handful of other people I didn’t realize. One was dressed in armor and a Jedi robe, another was an Army officer with reddish blond hair, another Army officer with a well trimmed buzz-cut and almost lilac eyes, and a handful of other Navy officers. I snap a salute to the room before entering as the doors close behind me and R4.

  General Koon is the first to speak up: “I must apologize that your day has been so disrupted. The plot to discredit your person and murder you has been confirmed and disposed of. Its members arrested and awaiting trial for their crimes.”

  “Thank you, sir.” I reply, my voice cold.

  “With that out of the way, we must get to business.” Fleet Admiral Honor says as she takes a seat around the circular table in the center of the room. Others follow piecemeal and I find myself sitting beside the buzz-cut wearing Army officer and Admiral Jerjerrod.

  “We are here to discuss the next moves to be taken after the victory Rear Admiral Dericote had over Mon Cala,” Fleet Admiral Honor explains, “Present today are the aforementioned Rear Admiral, my person, Jedi Generals Koon and Kota, Major General Gentis and Brigadier General Krugwolt of the Republic Army, Lieutenant General Narg of Navy Intelligence, Admiral Jerjerrod of the Logistics Corps’s Navy Division, Commodore Abelard, Commodore Pvov-Dens, both of the Republic Navy, Colonel Hrusk of Republic Intelligence and Colonel Bvinsk of the Logistics Corps’s Regional Duties Division. Tragically Major Idransk of Republic Intelligence was implicated in a plot against myself and Rear Admiral Dericote this morning and cannot be present as he is currently in a holding cell awaiting trial while undergoing a medical scan.”

  That explained the name of my neighbor. The Brigadier General seemed quite pleased to be here. Based off of the age and lack of scars I would lean towards an administrator. Impressive rank for the age none the less.

  “Now, to get everyone up to speed,” General Kota says, “I and my militia will be temporarily assigned to the North East Slice Command to seize the Separatist shipyard world of Pammant and possibly Mintooine if things go well. For this operation Rear Admiral Dericote is to assemble a taskforce of at least thirty ships of the line and as many support ships as practical without compromising the integrity of the Command. Not sure where he’ll get them all, as I’m pretty sure we’re only sending him ten cruisers as reinforcements, but that’s not currently my problem. Brigadier General Krugwolt of the 53rd Volunteer Corps and their attached transports and temporarily assigned Venator, is to support my militia alongside whatever dregs he and Dericote can get together for the ground invasion.”

  “We are leaving the details to you, Rear Admiral.” General Koon says, a smile clear to see despite his hidden mouth.

  “Thank you, sirs, ma’am. I intend to do my very best.” I reply, my mind already racing to figure out how the kark I was supposed to conduct aggressive action without knowing what kind of ships I had at my disposal. Should I start grabbing tugboats and other auxiliary craft to boost my numbers?

  “Don’t worry, I believe your newest intelligence report includes all the ships that will be in the sector from now on.” General Koon says. I wonder for a moment if what people have said about Jedi reading minds was true before shaking the idea off. They may be mystics, but … if they could read minds they would have taken over the Government a long time ago.

  “If you insist, sir. What is my time restraint for the operation?” I ask, my mind still racing about how the kark I was supposed to secure the world that produced the Malevolence.

  “You’ll have a month until you must begin operations, however expect the possibility of further reinforcements during this time to ease the burden on Republic member worlds.” Admiral Jerjerrod answers easily. To begin operations? Okay, so I could basically just start something, maybe conduct skirmishes against the enemy before an all out attack later on.

  “For the purpose of securing the area within the command, Commodore Abelard and his 419th Outer Rim Squadron, as well as Commodore Pvov-Dens and his 229th Rapid Response Squadron will be deployed to the regional command, although the 229th will be spending much time on resupply duties.” Fleet Admiral Honor continues, “Your personal unit will also be expanded to one Rapid Response Squadron, the 401st if memory serves, and the expansion of your 97th Squadron. We’ll get into the reorganization later as some things have come up with it.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  I nod as the meeting continues. Logistical concerns about the command being isolated. Ideas about staging a large taskforce in the region to attempt to seize the metaphorical rear of the ‘Forge of the Confederacy’. That had been shot down by a few officers before, primarily as it was seen as overly risky and straining on the logistical supply chain, but if things were improving it could work. I come back to the conversation to an almost surprising topic.

  “Well really we should just bombard the worlds.” Lieutenant General Narg, the Navy Intelligence representative, suggests, “They’re entirely military in nature, the shipyards aren’t as established or expansive enough to replace Mon Cala and the worlds will be expensive to seize in men and material.”

  “We’ve discussed this already, seizing the worlds will expand the logistical security of the command and provide assisting shipyards to Dac. It will assist the ship availability and reinforcement rate of over two dozen sectors.” Colonel Bvinsk argues.

  “Not to mention increase the security of Mon Cala and the surrounding worlds.” Major General Gentis says.

  “Come now, Mon Cala and her loyal colonies can do that alone, all they need is a bit of supplementary funding. There is no reason to seize the worlds by force when even the threat of base delta zero can force a world to surrender.” Commodore Abelard disputes.

  “The time it takes for even a force of twelve Venators to complete a planetary extermination bombardment is almost a week of non stop bombardment. Even if we were to use a formation of ships better deigned for such a task, such as the Acclamator twos, it will take multiple days at least, weeks at most. Not to mention the propaganda victory it would be for the Separatists.” Colonel Bvinsk says, tapping his pointer aggressively against the table with each following word as his accent leaks through, “It is not worth it.”

  “And the lives of our men are?” Brigadier General Krugwolt asks.

  “Do you know how taxing even a simple bombardment can be on a Navy force?” Admiral Jerjerrod asks, “It is neither healthy for morale, nor for the ships. A thorough orbital bombardment requires a constant use of the guns, which strains the crew and the weapons, the crew especially has issues with killing everyone below. If that’s not good enough the ships need to be in medium orbit for ammunition efficiency and accuracy. That is already too close for some of the more antiquated and larger ships to use their shield generators. A simple anti-orbital battery could wipe out any such force. A high orbit bombardment is too inaccurate and inefficient for such a scale. I say we keep to the original plan.”

  Before anyone can speak up again I interrupt the argument: “I hate to interject into this argument, but historically speaking a base delta zero on a world with even a minimal civilian populace leads to an increased rate of suicides and a drastic decrease in re-enlistments. With the year not even half way through and the war tragically no closer to ending, such a drastic move would do us no favors in the long run.”

  “Come off it, you’ve ordered the repeated bombardment of Targonn yourself.” Lieutenant General Narg objects.

  “And I had to accept the resignation or transfer of a seventh of my gunnery crews!” I bark as I jump up from my seat, “The only reason it didn’t end up as a major part of my reports was because that is less than average. I honestly expected at least a fifth of them to request a transfer, especially after the rogue shots destroyed half a dozen factory complexes because I didn’t order us into medium orbit out of fear the enemy anti-orbital batteries would snipe my ships out of the sky! Maker on high, I was lucky we didn’t find any missing rope or an empty blasterpack!”

  “Everyone calm down.” The Fleet Admiral admonishes. The room goes silent as she waits for everyone to stew a moment. I return to my seat ashamed, I needed to keep my temper in check, especially now. Finally she continues: “The plan is already set. Despite the preferences of some present, the objective remains the capture of the planetary shipyards of Pammant and securing the entirety of Mintooine, if possible.”

  She takes a long breath before continuing: “I am aware that planetary invasions are costly. However High Command has decided the costs will be worth it for securing the targeted worlds. Especially afterwards when they can be used to booth supplement Mon Cala’s shipyards and our logistics in the command. There will be no further objections today. Am I clear?”

  A chorus of “Yes, ma’am”-s follow the admonishment. She nods in satisfaction. The conference continues from there, mostly focused on the logistical requirements the command will have with an apparent doubling of total ships. Maker twice as many ships. If that’s true I’ll definitely need to have my heir engrave the Fleet Admiral’s name on their holster too. Pity Elix won’t let us adopt him, it’d make everything just that bit easier, Maker knows that the thought of getting hitched gives me hives.

  “That should be the majority of it. You may all return to your duties. I require Dericote, Krugwolt and Bvinsk for a moment.” The Fleet Admiral says. Everyone except her stand up and begin saying their farewells. After a few minutes it’s only the four of us remaining, though only the Fleet Admiral remains seated.

  “Ma’am?” I ask after the room remains quiet for a tad too long.

  “I would like to be the one to introduce you all to one another in your future positions. Rear Admiral Dericote, Marshal Administrator of the North East Slice Command. Brigadier General Krugwolt, Adjutant Administrator of the same command and Colonel Bvinsk, General Secretary of the same command.” The Fleet Admiral says.

  I nod to my fellows as I wait for her to continue. After a moment she continues: “Your area still remains rather precarious despite our efforts. However the command is still vital to the Republic war effort. The reason you all have been chosen for this task is your conviction to the Republic and your experiences. Surrendering the area is not permissible. I do not expect to see any of you again until the war is over, unless you are called here by his excellency himself or for your funerals. The region must not fall.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” The three of us bark in response.

  “Good. You have your first targets. After that you three will begin drafting plans for further offensive actions against the outer foundry worlds of the Separatists. I expect good things from you and remember. Failure is not a feasible option, for any of you. Dismissed.”

  The three of us snap a salute before leaving the room. We exchange glances before I feel a sigh of relief leave my body. Colonel Bvinsk removes a packet of cigarettes and lights one up with a match and his boot heel.

  I raise my eye brow at it as Brigadier General Krugwolt speaks: “Do you have to do that in the halls?”

  “Come off it.” The Colonel replies after taking a puff, his … Bandomeerian accent coming across stronger than before, “I was hoping for e fun challenge in logistics, not e threat on my life if you two kerk the front up.”

  “Figure we should be fine. I’ve managed the entire command informally with less than half the ships and personnel we have now. After I get the promotions for my units’ staff I think we could actually force the enemy out of the command entirely.” I reply optimistically.

  “I doubt your optimism, Admiral.” General Krugwolt replies, “Especially the border regions will be difficult nuts to crack. Never mind our first target being Mintooine and Pammant.”

  “I never said it would be easy, only that I had a good feeling about this.”

  “Sters if this is how every meeting’ll go I’ll need to switch over to hard liquor.” Colonel Bvinsk says.

  “If you’re interested, I think I have a bottle of mechanic’s moonshine somewhere.” I offer playfully.

  “Should’ve sterted with thet.” Bvinsk says, taking another drag from the stick.

  “Spirits, my comrades in arms are drunks.” Krugwolt says, his tone almost tragic, “A pity I will have to share my own ales.”

  I had a good feeling about this.