“Is everything prepared?” The Fleet Admiral asks.

  I hesitate a moment. The plan was sound, but even with the input from Fleet Admiral Honor I was … uncertain. There was an additional month originally scheduled between the original plan and when we would spring it now.

  “More or less. The plan should work, well at least phase one. Phase two could get tricky, especially if anyone with a bone to pick tries to argue jurisdiction, but it should work.” I answer.

  “Phase one is the part which I am more interested in. Phase two is simply a bonus and can be sprung at a much later date. With the update you plan to spring plan Silken Tubers at the end of the month?” The Fleet Admiral responds.

  “I plan on launching the operation about thirty days from now. The ships in production should be done in about half that time and I’d like to give their crews at least a bit of time until I force them into battle.” I say. I couldn’t even really count on giving them experienced Captains to help with the green crews, “I’d rather have the two months, it’d give us more ships, more reservists, more standing regiments and some more time to train the crews of the green ships, but I’ll take what I can get at this point.”

  “You should not spit in the face of the additional forces you are receiving. Ten Dreadnoughts and a Venator is nothing to scoff at. It is more than you had at the beginning of the war. Not to mention you will be getting another battlegroup on a permanent basis.” Honor chides.

  “I know, ma’am.” I sigh as I pour myself a drink. She glares at me as I take a sip of the liquor, but I can’t be bothered to care. Offensive actions were costly in men and resources and this one included seizing a valuable Sep stronghold.

  “You really should stop drinking Admiral. Both Jerjerrod and Tarkin have informed me separately of your drinking habits. Though in very different states of amusement.”

  “Ma’am, if I quit drinking I’ll go insane from all the dead souls at my feet.” I admit.

  The woman sighs in turn and I can tell she sits herself down in her chair. There’s a moment of silence as I take another sip and my mentor sorts through her thoughts. I’d like to think I know her decently after all this time of her investing in my career. She’s nervous, probably about needing to muster the Home Fleet as the Seps continue to creep along the Pelrimian. They made it to the edge of Tanaab yesterday. But there was something else. She was suspicious of something.

  “Did you ever fail any classes in your time at the academies?”

  “No ma’am.” I reply.

  “How come you take such an issue with the dead under your command. They died for the cause, just as you have risked your life, they risked theirs. The only difference is they got unlucky.”

  I take another sip before speaking: “Ma’am I was never the best with numbers. Especially with the numbers of casualties. Each one was a person, a sentient, with hopes, dreams, loved ones and a death certificate. My ma’ always said I had a heart just slightly too big for the military. Pa’ said I had enough of a good head on my shoulders to make up for it.”

  I take another sip of the liquor, relishing the burn as it descends. A bit more silence before I decide to keep opening myself up to my superior: “I keep a list, you know. It’s for every sailor and pilot who died under my command. It’s over two hundred thousand names long now. And the worst thing about it, is that it doesn’t include the deaths of the soldiers on the surface my failures killed, or the millions of civilians I killed indirectly, through calculated risk or simply being manipulated into allowing a mass killing.”

  “The civilian deaths are a tragedy and like the losses on the ground they are not your fault, Dericote.”

  “I suppose they ain’t, but that doesn’t make it easier on my heart.” I mutter.

  I’m glaring at my drink. Maybe I could get Solo do go on a bender with me tonight? Nah, she’s busy with prepping the fighter leads for the drilling of the newbies. The war is cutting the usual training rates short. It used to be that a pilot would spend a year training, another year doing flight drills, before a final year of exams and evaluations. Now, training took about half a year total.

  “Maybe you should recluse yourself from the war after this campaign.” The Fleet Admiral offers.

  My head snaps over to her, a mixture of shock and disbelief in my voice: “Ma’am, all due respect, but I can and will continue my duties until the war is concluded. If I can survive being thrown into command after serving as a Captain for a bit more than a year, then I can survive this.”

  She hesitates, then nods: “Very well, but if I get even an inkling that you are about to snap, I will pull you back, even if I need to get Therbon out of his court martial to do it.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way, ma’am.” I reply, a sad smirk on my face.

  I take a deep breath as I clear my thoughts. I may dislike the bridge layout of the Venators, but damn if the room wasn’t practical for planning a campaign. We were moored above Dac, the entire 120th Battlegroup alongside a couple additional frigates, and corvettes that had arrived to deposit their units’ COs for the vital meeting. I look around the room and take note of everyone. Of course General Tapal and Padawan Kesits were present, Tapal looking about ready for me to start. Next I noted the presence of the Commodores. Hugh was having a quiet discussion with Commodore Pixis of the 497th R.R.S. and Commodore Lonirx of the 973rd Rapid Response Squadron, another logistical unit.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Meanwhile Commodores Jim, of the 209th O.R. Squadron, and Abelard, of the 419th O.R. Squadron were reading up on reports as Commodore Praut of the 99th Battleship Section is quietly speaking with their second in command. The other Senior Captains seemed to be waiting for me to begin, with Senior Captain Gnogg, an Ugnought of the recently arrived 127th Mid Rim Section, looking a tad antsy for us to finally start. The largest upset however was the arrival of Rear Admiral Jerid Sykes and his posse of Commodores and Senior Captains. He was a tall man, with black hair, a bit of stubble along his jaw and more than one accusation of passing along intel to various merchants and smugglers riding his coattails.

  “Gentlebeings, your attention please.” I say to begin the meeting. Just after I had spoken a hologram activates to reveal Major General Krugwolt and Colonel Bvinsk from Toong’l and, to everyone’s surprise, except for mine, Fleet Admiral Honor herself.

  “Ma’am,” I say snapping a quick salute, “thank you for joining this on my behalf.”

  “No issue, this is one of the few meetings I’ve been looking forward to, it was wonderful to get a small favor from General Windu for something I had planned on attending.” The Admiral admits.

  “Yes, quite practical. Again thank you all for joining us. The topic of this meeting is the briefing for plan Silken Tubers. It is nothing less than the rumored North Triellus Trade Route campaign. All of you present are vital for this campaign to succeed. This campaign was primarily planned by myself, Fleet Admiral Honor, Generals Tapal and Krugwolt, Colonel Bvinsk, as well as a few other senior officers who will be commended once the plan is slowly declassified. You have probably noticed the relatively small circle involved in this. The reason for that is primarily for one reason. Our primary objective is to secure the North Triellus Trade Route from the neutral but friendly Junkfort Station to Sy Myrth, offer another possible supply route to the ongoing siege at Saleucami and to begin raiding operations against the Separatist industrial heartland.” I reveal.

  I take a breath before speaking: “The plan is as follows. Each one of your units has been assigned a letter for ease of use later on. On your datapads you should be able to see your designation and starting locations and first targets.”

  “You want us to seize … Xoraes?” Commodore Abelard asks, a hint of confusion in his voice.

  “Xoraes is a decent staging ground and luckily for us very close to the Separatist prison complex at Jubilar, which will be the primary target of my 120th alongside the 99th and 2323rd. Of course we cannot simply seize a hostile prison without figuring out who requires liberation, for that purpose the 387th Logistics Section under Commodore Pixis will be detached to secure the prison and return our POWs to our lines. We hope to get all of them out within a week.” I explain.

  “Next up are the vital seizures of Dennogra, Jabiim, Oovo and Taskeed.” General Krugwolt continues, “Oovo is another prison world, which the 388th Logistics Section, another one of Commodore Pixis’ formations, will liberate alongside the recently expanded 209th O.R. Squadron of Commodore Jim. The other worlds should secure our position along the Triellus, improve our logistical operations and provide an alternate route for reinforcements at Saleucami, especially once the 209th and 433rd seize Komnor.”

  “While we will not be assisting Saleucami directly, we hope to pull forces away from the siege.” I finish. The group briefing the smattering of officers pauses a moment to let the information sink in. I take advantage of the break to sip from a glass of water and glance over my notes.

  I eventually clear my throat and continue: “After securing Oovo and Taskeed we will be partially consolidating our forces through an attack on Jabiim. We hope to seize the orbit in less than a day’s time, after which a siege unit will be detached to oversee the ground invasion and occupation while the rest of our forces conduct a full muster and resupply over Handooine, this will include the forces diverted to seize Komnor. Said resupply should arrive via Altratone, however if that isn’t possible it will be rerouted through the earlier secured territory in exchange for a short delay.”

  “Shouldn’t we be sending more forces to Jabiim. It was the biggest slog in the first months of the war. Securing it quickly will be more practical than a nothing rock like Handooine.” Rear Admiral Sykes asks, his voice finally joining the briefing.

  “While Jabiim was a difficult battle in the early war, our informants have told us the world has lost almost their entire droid garrison. We believe a targeted bombardment of the world’s refineries and administrative buildings will force whatever remains of Jabiim’s government to surrender. If they do not, General Krugwolt may begin a ground campaign against whoever remains on the surface.” Fleet Admiral Honor answers. I doubt I would do something so crippling to a world that may still have Republic loyalists among her children. However if the Jabiimi Loyalists have been defeated, bombardment will undoubtedly be necessary.

  “Not to mention Handooine’s importance as a staging ground for an assault against Sy Myrth. It is a wonderful mirror to Jabiim. Especially once the attack on the Separatist stronghold is successful.” Krugwolt finishes.

  “After the attack on Sy Myrth our forces will divide in two. If all goes to plan, my 120th Battlegroup, the 419th Outer Rim Squadron, the 127th Mid Rim Section and the 409th Outer Rim Section will be going on a merry jaunt to Anzat, New Holstice, Wobani, Ingo and Kalkovak, before reinforcing the siege of Saleucami from behind. We may relieve certain exhausted elements, as well as return our own exhausted formation after a few days of our comrades resting. Any questions?”

  It is Commodore Abelard who overcomes his shock first: “Who greenlit that last part of the plan?”

  I sigh as I look into my notes before I answer: “Jedi High General Kenobi, our temporary CO of the Cerulean Spear while we were in the final stages of planning.”

  “Stars.” Senior Captain Thorr mutters.

  “Won’t we be exhausted from months of fighting? We don’t even know if we’ll make it to Jabiim, let alone be able to conduct an actual attack on Sy Myrth. Especially with the level of success such a split in our forces demands!” Rear Admiral Sykes complains.

  “Be glad it’s me leading this part of the operation then,” I counter, “You and our remaining forces will be busy defending Sy Myrth or Handooine from any counter attacks. Whenever the Sep counter attack comes you are to hold Sy Myrth for a minimum of one day, unless hard pressed or at risk of total defeat, after which you are to begin a fallback along the Triellus. I suggest raiding enemy supply lines and mining hyperspace junctions as you do. Trasemene will be skipped over if we make an attack at Sy Myrth, but it may prove a good place to slow the enemy as we continue to fortify Handooine if we fail in our assault.”

  The Rear Admiral frowns as he looks over the starcharts. Eventually one of his subordinates whispers something into his ear and he speaks up: “My Adjutant Captain requests to know what happens if there will be no attack on Sy Myrth, if the attack is overly successful or a complete failure.”

  “If the attack is a complete failure your orders stand with a minor change as I may not be alive to adjust the plan on the fly. Hold Handooine instead of Sy Myrth for as long as possible while entrenching along the Triellus. Any advance into the Ash Worlds are to be raided into stopping, as are any advances along the Triellus.” I start before turning back to my datapad to find my notes on the hypotheticals the officer had mentioned, “If the attack is overly successful a blockade could be established, in which case your orders stand regardless. However our local ground forces may be diverted to attempt an invasion of the world proper and the local infrastructure may be destroyed at will.”

  I hesitate a moment before finishing the answers: “If there is no attack on Sy Myrth I would imagine our orders stand, the only difference being that I will be remaining in command of our position. I however would not be surprised if we would be ordered to peel off ships to support Saleucami or other sieges if we arrive into that position. Anything else?”

  “Will any formations outside of the 53rd Volunteer Corps and General Tapal’s 13th Clone Battalion be partaking as part of our ground forces?” One of Sykes’s Commodores asks.

  “The 301st Infantry Division has been allocated to the Command permanently and likely divided into her constituent regiments for this campaign. We’ll also be using the 1st, 2nd and recently activated 5th North East Slice Command Garrison Brigades in support alongside six of the Garrison Regiments. The garrison forces will primarily be acting as emergency reserves and occupying forces. They’re Commanding officers will likely be made military Governors once their commands are in position.” I explain.

  “Will that be enough? Shouldn’t we take the 227th Reserve Division and the 278th Light Infantry Division with us, at least to increase the garrison forces?” A different flag officer of Sykes’s camp asks.

  “I am keeping them in reserve and temporarily attached to our allied forces in case of an enemy invasion of the Mon Cala Crown Colonies or worse yet, Mon Cala herself. They are decently well armed, if light on armor and heavy artillery and will ensure any world invaded from Pakuuni to Mintooine will be able to hold out long enough for operation Silken Tubers to either be completed or adjusted as necessary.” I answer.

  “No further questions.” Sykes says before one of his men can start a new line of queries.

  I feel a cold smile take over as I move onto the next projection: “Very good, now let’s get into the annoying little details.”