I place the three aces down as Kestis frowns. The enemy would enter system any minute now, their forces probably half an hour out from our current location from there. I suppress a smirk as I ponder the cards in my hand. Glory was an old card game. No one was quite sure where it originated, there was a rule never to let a Corellian national and an Alderaanian patriot get into an argument on the subject back home. What was certain, was that the version I was playing against the Padawan was developed by the twelve thousand families which first settled Fondor. Laying the melds and allowing one to play off of another’s cards simply added to the strategy of it all, though I was biased.

  I discard and gesture for the little Jedi to pick up his card. This was the second game we were playing and like my dear pa’ when drunk, Kestis would sometimes get slightly overeager in playing his melds and forget to draw a card first. He glares at me for the reminder and picks up the card from the deck with his bare hand before placing it in his hand.

  “Ships have finished getting into position, sir.” Mi-Kus reports.

  “Any complaints?” I ask.

  “A mild complaint from the Malastare for not being placed in the center despite being the most senior of the remaining battleships.”

  “I would think the Constellation is more senior.” I reply absentmindedly as Kestis discards.

  “Yes, but Senior Captain Sever is aware of his ship’s capabilities and is rather pleased with being the anchor of the north flank.” Mi-Kus says as I pick up a card from the deck, play the fourth ace and discard. Maker what I would give for a drink.

  “A pity that. Feel free to remind the Captain of the Malastare that we are in no position to have questions to the chain of command or order of battle levied at this time. The formation stays as it is.” I reply as Kestis picks up the card I just discarded, his brows furrowing in confusion as he places it in his hand.

  “A couple of the Captains have been complaining about the retreats. Abandoning Handooine was bad enough for some, but Altratonne was simply further insult to injury.” Mi-Kus confesses.

  “They’re missing the dunes for the grains.” I mutter as Kestis’s eyes grow in realization.

  “You’re cheating!” The Jedi barks as I chuckle to myself.

  “Wondered how long it would take you, kid.” Mi-Kus says.

  “But … How?” The kid asks.

  “Now now, I won’t reveal my tricks just because you asked.” I say as I pick up a card, lay down a king, queen and jack of hearts then discard the ten of hearts.

  “Kid,” Mi-Kus says, “He did it while shuffling the cards.”

  “Ah, I do love when a plan comes together.” I say as I pick up the cards one by one and start shuffling.

  “Detecting ships about to exit hyperspace.” Lieutenant Welder reports.

  “Right on schedule.” I say, handing the deck of cards over to R4 as I march over to the viewports, both Kestis and Mi-Kus on my heels.

  It was interesting taking on a larger mentoring role. Though I had admittedly been rather hands off for the last battle, I figured I could do better this time now that Kestis had observed how we do things over Altratonne by shadowing Lieutenant Hursk. Now I would oversee his further education in Navy matters. It had been a good decision on Tapal’s part. Ensuring his student would learn how to work within the confines of Navy tradition without stepping on anyone’s toes would do good for the kid. Keeping him away from the siege at Handooine would also ensure Tapal’s kid would live, baring any mistakes on my end.

  I let my attention return to the viewport ahead of me. Before my formation is an artificial asteroid field about the same size and layout of the minefield I had erected at Altratonne. However, so very much unlike Altratonne, these asteroids didn’t have a single piece of ordnance hidden among their number. It had simply been the hard, round the clock work of the tractor beam wielding ships and the tugs. I was very lucky for my starcharts, otherwise I doubt we would have had the time to assemble this obstacle, or even have knowledge of where to find the asteroids at this time of year.

  This artificial asteroid field would not only buy time and be annoying, but most importantly for the final battle, it would make the enemy question themselves. Make Hatha doubt every scrap of information I gave him. It would make The Seps jump at boogeymen in the dark and make them fear my every move.

  The first sep warship exits hyperspace well beyond the asteroid field. I suppress a chuckle, they’ll be too nervous at whatever I might pull to go through the asteroids and they exited well outside of the usual egress point. Looks like they learned the lesson from Altratonne. More and more Separatist warships exit hyperspace just beyond the asteroids.

  “So, we should have an hour or so before the Seps have finished scanning the asteroids or gathered their wits to march on us, unless they decide to rush us.” I say, “All ships have their orders?”

  “Yes, sir.” Mi-Kus reports dutifully.

  “Excellent.” I say as I take the offered cards from R4. This should help morale slightly, “Anyone up for another hand of Glory?”

  “Fondorian, Corellian or Duro?” Mi-Kus asks.

  “I’d prefer Fondorian, but I am amenable to another if I’m shuffling.” I reply.

  “Fondorian then, but I’ll shuffle.” My Adjutant Captain replies as he takes the cards from me.

  “Why are we playing cards when the enemy is in system?” Kestis asks.

  “Well there’s a few reasons.” I say and give Mi-Kus the nod. He’ll need the experience when he gets promoted one of these days.

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

  “First, it will allow us to relax somewhat. Battles are stressful and hyperspace transit has been used for actual sleep and internal repairs since its first use in inter-system engagements. Secondly, it shows the crew that we, as officers, are not worried about the engagement. Look at us, we’re standing here playing cards like the weekend is upon us, instead of worrying about the battle.” Mi-Kus says as he begins handing out the cards and preparing the deck and discard pile, “Thirdly, we are on the defensive. The enemy will take initiative and we can drop the game at any time. Fourthly, we have already given every ship available their orders and have prepared the field, there is almost nothing left to do but micromanage systems, which can negatively effect the crew. Finally, the Admiral hasn’t had anything to drink in over two weeks and is suffering from a mild case of alcohol withdrawal and playing cards makes him feel better.”

  “I resemble that.” I reply with a small, fake, frown on my face. The shakes had started up a few times since the campaign had started, though luckily none had been particularly bad. I should probably cut back a bit after the campaign though.

  I take up my hand and frown slightly. Good hand. Kestis shuffles his cards around as Mi-Kus gives me the nod to start. I pull a card and discard, Kestis takes my discarded card before discarding his own. His eyes flash for a moment in realization as my Adjutant Captain picks up a card and discards a card as well.

  “Sir, enemy has deployed fighters. Looks like an advanced screen. They’ve got a couple squadrons going around the asteroids, but most of them are going straight through.” Lieutenant Welder reports.

  I pick up Mi-Kus’s discarded card and lay down a row of clubs before discarding. I consider the information a moment longer as Kestis picks up from the deck before answering: “Our hidden ships still in position?”

  “Yes, sir. Far advanced units Aurek through Cresh and advanced units Alpha and Beta are in position.” Lieutenant Hursk reports.

  “Give them permission to engage the enemy if they are discovered. If discovered they are to continue to follow the plan.” I order. Each unit held an Arquitens, a Pelta, three DP20s and another corvette. A significant force when hidden within the asteroid field, the perfectly arranged, artificial asteroid field. They had multiple avenues to attack from. And with the field so densely packed, just like the minefield from Altratonne, the Seps wouldn’t be able to detect them until it was too late.

  “Commodore Strom is complaining about you putting him in an asteroid field again.” Lieutenant Slas says as cards enter and leave hands and more melds are played.

  “Tell him that this is the first field I’ve put him in, the others were asteroid belts.” I reply as I play a meld of jacks.

  “Your funeral, sir.” Lieutenant Slas replies, before hitting a button.

  Faxe’s words enter the bridge easily enough and I suppress a sigh: “You Fondorian bastard, if I didn’t know better I’d think you’re trying to off me!”

  “I would never.” I reply into the room as Kestis discards his final card.

  “Thirty.” Mi-Kus sighs as he places his cards down.

  I do some quick math in my head before sighing: “Forty five.”

  “Sixty.” Kestis says with a smile.

  I roll my eyes as I glance over to the tactical display. The enemy fighters had encountered units Besh and Cresh and been succinctly eliminated by the rather light formations. Three fifths of my hidden ships still lay in wait to ambush an enemy, though the enemy would be more vigilant now. Good it would give the reinforcements more time to arrive at Balshebr and prepare the field there for me. I collect the cards and begin shuffling them as I consider my options.

  “Prepare concussion missiles and pull the advanced forces to their secondary positions if they’re not there already.” I order as I flick an ace up my sleeve, we were low on missile supply, but we should have enough to last us through to Balshebr … I hope.

  “So what are we trying to get out of this battle?” Kestis asks.

  “We’re delaying the enemy while trying to inflict as many casualties to their fighter force as possible.” I explain to the Padawan, “Not only will that allow more ships to arrive at Balshebr to reinforce us and prepare the field, but also kill a lot of the enemy’s mobility.”

  “How many reinforcements will we even get from the Ash Worlds? It’s not like we’re close to Mon Cala or Dornea.” Kestis asks.

  “Since my order overrules convoy and garrison standing orders, maybe a two cruisers from Cophrigin, a handful of Peltas I know are in the area and some five or six corvettes.” I answer as the final detachment moves into its secondary position.

  “That’s not a lot.” The too young Commander says.

  “Which is why Luis’s detachment will be the hammer to our anvil. I’ve a plan for them to arrive right in the nick of time.” I say as Sep ships begin carefully moving below the asteroids. Not a bad choice from Hatha. It would lessen any firepower we’d be able to put onto his ships without risking our escape trajectory.

  “Should we try and jump the gun?” An Adjutant asks, “They’ll still need some forty minutes or so to reach maximum range.”

  I consider it a moment before shaking my head: “I want at least an hour or two.”

  “We’ve already got thirty minutes out of Hatha.” The same Adjutant reminds me.

  “And yet we cannot guarantee it’ll be a full hour without remaining present. We need at least a full hour to keep on schedule with Luis’s detachment. So we will stay where we are until I give the orders of retreat.” I double down, “And prepare all advanced units for an alpha strike. Hit a carrier Munificent if possible, then pull back into the field before doubling back to the line.”

  “Transmitting orders.” Comes the reply.

  Time passes agonizingly slowly as the enemy passes along the bottom of the asteroid field. A quick motion from an Adjutant draws my attention back to the tactical display just as the final corvette moves into position. All at once the corvettes unload a missile barrage alongside a volley of laser and turbolaser fire from the other ships. Just as enemy turbolaser returns fire, likely semi-blindly, they go in full reverse, flying almost randomly into the depths of the asteroids. Meanwhile their target, a Munificent with a hangar bay, suffers multiple new breaks in her upper armor belt and a series of holes in her hull. Though the ship continues to fly in formation it isn’t hard to tell it is almost certainly doomed. It’ll either end up stuck here due to various systems failures, or be abandoned and scuppered so any returning Republic forces can’t capture it.

  “Damage reports coming in. We lost a Hammerhead corvette to an enemy turbolaser and a bad maneuver.” Lieutenant Hursk reports.

  “One less ship.” I mutter.

  “Wish we hadn’t sent Rear Admiral Sykes away.” Mi-Kus mutters quietly.

  “Wyndigal was as undefended as it would ever be. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to seize it alongside Handooine.” I reply, equally quiet.

  “And yet we now lack four Venators and four Dreadnoughts, never mind the ten Acclamators and their fighter compliments.” Mi-Kus complains.

  “But we’ve confirmed his seizure of Wyndigal and gained the cooperation of the local populace. He’ll be jumping to Handooine any minute now alongside Commodore Jim and Operation Silken Tubers will turn from a semi-failure to a semi-success.” I counter as the first corvette from the advanced units emerges from the asteroids and races towards our formation.

  “I’m not trying to argue with you, sir. I am merely trying to … understand why the campaign was even necessary. Sure we seized Jabiim and the entire Northern Triellius up to Jabiim, but we also temporarily lost the entirety of the northern Ash Worlds and many of their defenders.” Mi-Kus says.

  “You’ve read the preliminary casualty lists then?” I ask in a whisper.

  “It isn’t looking good, sir.” Mi-Kus says in non-answer.

  I fail to suppress a wince and return the cards to the deck, handing it off to R4 while I nod in understanding: “I’ll read them when the operation is over. I can’t risk getting thrown off by them.”

  “I know, sir.” Mi-Kus replies, his voice revealing a hint of his despondence at the repeated news. More and more of our advanced units emerge from the asteroids, a couple fighters pursuing them aggressively, but not managing much damage from what I can tell at a distance. At least there haven’t been any losses from the asteroid field yet.

  “We’ve just passed the hour mark, sir.”

  “Hatha’s slowed his advance.” An Adjutant mutters as he compares something from his datapad to the tactical display, “He would be further along if he kept to flank speed.”

  “We’ve made the hour.” I mutter as the last of the advanced units’ ships return to our line, the fighters that had nipped at their heels turned into debris by our massed point defense and a few anti-fighter fragmentation missiles.

  Do I risk engagement with Hatha now? He won’t be able to catch up either way, at least until I make my stand at Balshebr. I feel an urge to commit, to bloody Hatha further and yet I hesitate. My ships were still wounded, a few Acclamators almost too damaged to be of use beyond looking threatening and yet … the enemy’s fighter numbers should be lower than my own now.

  “Fighter numbers?” I ask into the room. Mi-Kus flinching at my question alongside a couple Adjutants.

  “We’ve got about fourteen wings total. Though all have suffered casualties so it’s closer to thirteen in reality.” Comes my reply.

  “And the enemy?” I ask.

  “Estimates hint at somewhere between thirteen and fourteen total.” Comes the answer.

  I frown, that was just too close for comfort. Sure a Republic fighter with a half decent pilot could usually nick between one and four Vultures or Hyenas before either dying or being forced to pull back. My strikecraft were certainly bloodied so they might manage to get between three and five before loosing their ship, but … I wasn’t willing to risk it. Not when the enemy would have point defense firing at them at the same time and not when I knew Hatha still had his two wings of Tri-fighters in reserve.

  “Keep them where they are. We’re pulling back. Keep formation for the jump. I want us all to arrive at Balshebr around the same time.” I order calmly.

  I can almost feel the sigh of relief leave various officers of mine. They must be as stressed as I am from this operation, usually my bridge crew are better at hiding their emotions. Our ships begin to turn away from the asteroid field, fighters and bombers returning to hangar bays as we begin moving towards the egress point that would lead us to Balshebr.

  “Enemy moving to full speed. They shouldn’t catch us, even if we move at flank speed for the entire journey out of system.” An Adjutant reports.

  “Helmsman, full speed. Pass it along.” I order. I’d rather not risk it now. My eyes are almost glued to the tactical display as we race the Separatists to the egress point. It isn’t a fair race, let alone one the Seps had a chance of winning and yet I had to suppress the urge to caress my holster. Instead I watch as we make our way to the next destination.

  Balshebr is where I will make my stand. Any further and Hatha won’t commit, of that I was sure. We’d be too close to Mon Cala, though I could pivot south and try to fight Hatha at the decently defended Cophrigin instead. No, Balshebr is where I would make my stand. The only question I have as my force enters hyperspace one by one, is if it will be a defiant last stand or a glorious victory.