I was silently praying for the Maker to take me as I avoided the angry look General Kota was giving me. Despite what one may assume my prayer was not out of some childish fear of reprimand, but simple guilt. It appears the Jedi’s militia had suffered far more casualties than anyone could have expected. Around two fifths of his men were either dead or dying, with another two fifths wounded in some capacity. Truly any force consisting almost purely of light infantry could not survive a full on assault in this day and age. It made me fear what the casualty rate would have been for a unit without a Jedi.

  “In conclusion the battle was a success then?” Sector General Therbon concludes. The current second in command of Cerulean Spear Command and 12th Sector Army was a stern looking man. I had mixed feelings about him. On the one hand, he was the most stable presence in the command, taking on most of the administrative duties that would be expected to be taken on by the actual officer in command. On the other, he had a short temper and a concerning lack of understanding towards his underlings. It was a blessing that he was supposed to be subordinate to a Jedi General, though like many posts in the galactic east said post was currently empty. Maker the Cerulean went through commanding officers too quickly, be it by death, dismissal or reassignment.

  “Yes, sir. Though the enemy seemed very willing to abandon the system once we had destroyed their flagship.” I add.

  “Not surprising for a bunch of cowardly squid.” Therbon says. I bristle at that, I had many a Quarren under me, not to mention my cordial relations with their Chief Nossar Ri.

  Unsurprisingly it is one of the Quarren officers present who speaks up: “Sir, I must inform you that what you have just said is quite offensive and speciesist.”

  Bless the Colonel for speaking up, that deserved a medal commendation at the least. Therbon glares at the Army officer before continuing on anyway: “No matter, do you believe the forces available to you at present could successfully mount an assault of Mintooine?”

  I consider the question a moment. Before I can answer General Kota speaks up: “I am afraid to say I will need to recluse myself and my men from any campaign here until further notice. We took too many losses and need to return to full strength. Best place to do so, I’ve found, is in the south. You will have to gather your forces from elsewhere.”

  General Krugwolt speaks up next: “I am afraid, that despite my corps taking less losses than General Kota’s Militia, we will be unable to fight for some time. I had planned on spread out the regiments throughout the command to sure up defenses and finish up the campaign at Targonn. However if Mon Cala and her colonies can produce an additional corps worth of men, to take on the duties of my own formation, a ground attack on Mintooine could be possible.”

  Finally I add my opinion to the fire: “I do not believe that what is left of Taskforce Black Javelin could successfully seize the orbit of Mintooine. Especially with the ships and experience the Separatists have gathered from the defense of Pammant. We were quite lucky to have so many … reasonable officers within Pammant’s defense fleet, I doubt we will have the same luck with the Free Dac Volunteer’s stronghold of Mintooine.”

  “So in other words you do not have the resources currently to successfully mount an invasion.” Therbon sums up, “A pity, we will be unable to seize the initiative gained at Pammant. If that is the case, I will be disbanding Taskforcee Black Javelin until a time suitable for the invasion of Mintooine. I will also be requesting a Jedi General be diverted from Cerulean Spear’s south to Mon Cala to assist in the security of the regional command. Any questions?”

  “Will the inclusion of a new Jedi General affect any positions in the regional command’s administration and operational command?” General Krugwolt asks.

  “They will not, Colonel Bvinsk has been quite efficient so far. I would hate to come in the way of his spreadsheets. No, the administrative and operational structure shall remain the same as before the battle of Pammant. Though I do expect a military garrison and a military Governor to be placed upon the world.”

  “Of course, sir. Though I do still have a question regarding the Jedi General, do we know which General will be assisting us?” I ask.

  “I believe General Krell will be the most practical option as of a few days ago. He has recently retaken Trasse far ahead of schedule. I hope he will be able to eliminate the few security risks still inherent within your regional command.” Sector General Therbon answers easily.

  I frown at the veiled insult. As if I could have done anything about that until now. I’ve been running security for six sectors with the equivalent of a battlegroup at most and a section at least. He should be happy I even had something left of the command after all this time. Bastard was sitting comfortably at Lantillies while I’ve been risking my neck for almost a year and a half.

  “Of course, sir.” I reply instead, tapping my slugthrower as I speak. Absolute bastard. Never even considered sending me reinforcements until I was a Commodore with genuine political connections.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Therbon interrupts my train of thought with another question: “How long until you have gathered the ships needed to seize Mintooine?”

  I hesitate as I grab a datapad Mi-Kus hands me. Newest estimates on Mintooine’s defense forces. Definitely three Providence class dreadnoughts, around ten Recusant heavy destroyers, at least five Providence battleships and five MC75s which deserted from the Mon Cala Merchant Fleet shortly before the Clone Wars started. Then somewhere around thirty cruisers of varying types, eighteen MC30c frigates and ten confirmed corvettes. Then at least half a dozen cruisers and battleships under construction which could be called up in case of emergencies if we attack within two month’s time, though that number should be pretty stable with ships being moved about throughout Sep forces. Then assuming they conscript any and every civilian ship in system and the likelihood of them receiving further reinforcements after our victory here.

  I finally answer the question, carefully choosing my words as I do: “I do not believe we could seize Mintooine with the full forces we used to seize Pammant. I cannot be certain until I get a decent number of sensor buoys deployed in and around the system, but I fear it will be a difficult scrap for the orbit. Any attack without further reinforcements from other fronts will likely require the majority, if not all, of the Mon Cala Merchant Fleet. Since they do not fall under the conscription laws I do not think it likely that Mon Cala and her colonies would be willing to part with their primary defense as we launch a … risky attack.”

  Therbon glares at me as he speaks: “I did not ask you on if it was possible, I asked you how soon you could gather a force to make it possible.”

  I blink in mild confusion before I speak: “I do not believe any attack within two months time would be possible, sir. If we could divert Two battleship sections and maybe a squadron of ships of the line and various other support ships to supplement my battlegroup, it could be feasible in about three months time, probably four.”

  Therbon bristles at that: “Are you saying there will be no offensive actions in your regional command for three months!?”

  General Krugwolt interjects, giving me some much needed breathing room: “No, sir. We will be finishing up the Targonn campaign and securing no man’s land within the Ash Worlds Sector. Not to mention a multitude of possible raids that can be conducted during the relative down time.”

  “Also long term skirmishing within the greater Mintooine system and repeated attempts to cut their supply lines to Dellalt, the Pakuuni Sector and other smuggler routes. We will be unable to conduct a full blockade of the system, let alone the planet, but we can begin drying up her supply lines and slow ship production. Those types of operations could begin within two months’ time.” I continue, though we would have to allow capitol ships to booth come and go as they please, less we cause a counter attack from a larger enemy force.

  Therbon strokes his chin for a moment before nodding in affirmation: “Very well, but I expect the 120th Battlegroup to be able to respond to any developments in peak time. Dismissed.”

  The hologram of the Sector General disappears a moment later leaving only the smattering of Army and Navy officers alongside General Kota.

  I clear my throat before speaking: “Well, I suppose we should establish which units will be needed to ensure the garrison first.”

  General Krugwolt provides his suggestion first: “May I suggest Colonel Xubar of the 1st Dac as Military Governor?”

  I glance over at the Quarren Colonel waiting for her response. After a moment of consideration she answers the call: “If required I am willing to take up the post. Though I would request an additional regiment to ensure stability planetside and in orbit.”

  The Brigadier General nods before speaking: “Then I shall detach my 4th Bandomeer Volunteer Regiment from my Corps to support you. I trust Colonel Jósutsk will do well in supporting you.”

  The Quarren bows in thanks before speaking: “What should I expect in terms of Navy garrison?”

  I am handed a datapad from one of my strategic Adjutants which I quickly skim over before answering: “I can promise a section’s worth of corvettes and my 360th O.R. Section under Commodore Strom. That is, until we can establish a more permanent orbital force. Do keep in mind that the 360th may be needed at a moment’s notice. If the system comes under attack I recommend scuttling the orbital docks promptly. Commodore Strom will of course have absolute power over the naval units within system.”

  “I will do my very best, sir.” I hear Faxe say through his holoprojection.

  “Thank you, sir.” Colonel Xubar adds.

  “What’s next on the agenda?” I ask.

  “What we’re going to do with the captured ships, sir.”

  “Ah, right.” I mutter as Commodore Jim prattles through Navy regulations. Maker this meeting’ll drag on.

  In the end it was decided the handful of Separatist warships would either be scrapped, have their weapons removed before internment, or be used for spare parts depending on the damage they had received and the likelihood of potential buyers going against the Republic. As this was discussed the ships were picked clean of any intel worth keeping and a bunch that wasn’t.

  I glance over at my datapad. The Little Revenge was heading back towards Dac alongside the rest of the 347th, the 503rd L.O.R. Section and the 707th O.R. Section. We should be returning any minute now and I was looking forward to a long nap while I figure out the kark I’m gonna do with all my other problems.

  One of those problems would be reorganizing the newly upgraded and refurbished ships that had been conscripted into the Republic Navy. Another was to figure out where the fuck I would house the prisoners we had captured at Pammant. I wish I could simply impress them into labor battalions, but I was trying to follow some principles of war. Forcing prisoners to work seemed a bit too … Sith-like to me.

  I sigh. I suppose we’ll just have to house them within already existing prisons until further notice. That wasn’t great, but it would have to do until we seized a prison world, or a world with a large enough prison complex to house some ten thousand prisoners. At least we could re-purpose the droids. All they had needed was a new paintjob, some restraining bolts and a bit of reprogramming and suddenly the regional command had some ten thousand free laborers. Perfect trench diggers, mine clearers and supporting outpost personnel.

  “Exiting hyperspace, sir.” The Helmsman reports.

  “Very good.” Mi-Kus says.

  I keep breezing through my most recent report. With Krugwolt’s personal investment in the campaign Targonn’s civil war should be over soon. I’d give it a month of intense combat at most based off of how entrenched the half a dozen remaining warlords were. It’d be like pulling teeth, but I think half a corps should be enough to end the resistance in a timely manner.

  Hyperspace recedes to reveal the blue pearl of Dac before us. There’s still some light damage on some of her docks, but her shpiyards have gone into full production mode. She already had three new MC80 Liberties in production alongside a trio of additional Dreadnoughts and a smattering of modernized Hammerhead corvettes. Fondor would be producing similar ships right now. Dreadnoughts, Hammerhead corvettes, maybe the occasional Hammerhead cruiser and Carrack to increase the number of ships in the planetary defense force. I sigh, suddenly feeling awfully homesick. Maker I wish I was home.