The conference room on the Tector class, designation Fondor’s Star, was filled to the brim with every flag officer and regimental commander in the taskforce. From my own person to the various Commodores that made up the tens of squadrons and dozens of battleship sections and the Colonels and Clone Commanders of the various regiments.

  The five men at the center of the conference room were, of course, myself, Jedi General Koth, Admiral Z’timin, Lieutenant General Krugwolt and Vice Admiral Sykes. While the assortment may certainly seem impressive, we weren’t the only officers of note present, though the others were primarily ground-pounders. Major Generals Cain, of my command’s 300th Volunteer Corps was third in command of the ground forces, while Major General Tagge, commander of the 415th Volunteer Corps was the commander of our reserves and would lead the ground forces for the diversionary assault on Florn, but I was getting ahead of myself.

  I small gesture and Mi-Kus activates the central holotable, a map of the Tion cluster theater appearing before shrinking in on the sectors surrounding Raxus. This was the moment. This was the historic moment that would lead to the destruction of the Separatist Parliament and any shreds of legitimacy they still held after Dooku’s death.

  I clear my throat and hundreds of eyes land on me: “Gentlebeings, I present our target. Raxus. You all have received the dossier on operation Vengeance. We will first rally our forces at Pakuuni in a slightly staggered manner, so that by the time our last division arrives the first two have already made for our first stopping point at Keldrath, the former Sector capitol of the sector bearing the same name, just outside of the Tion Hegemony. We will smash their orbital defenses and press on. The defenders are believed to have enough forces to hold off two battlegroups at most, so we are simply planning on passing over the world itself to move on to our next target Indrexu, the sector capitol of the Indrexu Sector. We repeat the same here, smashing all resistance before moving on to our next target, the Tion system. While all of this is happening, a diversionary force will make for Florn to hold off any Sep reinforcements from the north. I have also requested Jedi General Forte increase his attacks at Caluula to achieve a similar effect, forcing whatever Separatist forces remain in the area to split up among themselves to combat three possible prongs of assault.”

  I pause a moment to gauge the reactions. Most of the foreign officers seemed almost giddy at the prospect, not unsurprising from the various veterans of the Perlimian theater and Admiral Trench’s offensives. I would need to keep a tight leash on them, keep them under the command of trusted officers when possible, the last thing I need is some revenge happy officer to order the deaths of civilians.

  I continue despite my mild misgivings: “Then our forces converge on Raxus. The primary force arriving from Tion slightly ahead of the force from Florn. We’re expecting stiff resistance, somewhere between four hundred and fifty and six hundred ships of the line and at least a hundred light ships and pickets in support.”

  There’s some small muttering at that revelation. This might turn into one of the largest battles of the war. Even battles such as Anaxes only had some thousand warships in total. Only Coruscant’s battle would safely be in the clear of contention, though that was poor consolation for all the dead on the capitol of the Republic.

  “Current plans have us pincer the enemy between our Operations Divisions approaching from the south and the two Operations Divisions under Taskforce Detachment Little Vengeance from Florn. We deploy the 53rd, 300th and 415th Volunteer Corps alongside the 4th Assault Corps while keeping the 280th Infantry Division in reserve. We will keep our fighters and pickets close and try and keep a far range engagement with the enemy. When they inevitably charge, we can unleash maximum firepower for a few minutes in medium range before they can slap us back in short range. This will undoubtedly end up in a messy brawl, there is no other realistic possibility and I will not delude myself or any of you with the alternative. I expect the Separatists to send out fighter waves to contest the long range engagement, do not send out fighters, interceptors or picket ships to counter. We will be conducting a coordinated anti-fighter fragmentation missile salvo to soften them up.”

  “A coordinated fire on that scale will be difficult.” General Koth emphasizes.

  “And it may be possible that I will give free reign on firing solutions and the actual firing, if the enemy is coming at us piecemeal.” I continue, “However they are still to be as coordinated as possible. That means your Operations Division leads will be organizing them, delegating when necessary to Engagement Group leads. However I will stress that Engagement Groups should be the smallest form of fire command wished for by us in Operations Command. We need decisive fire concentration and target coordination that element based fire control is too ineffective for.”

  “What about ground support?” General Tagge asks.

  “That’ll be provided by targeted orbital fire or air support assets diverted from the usual fighter wings.” General Krugwolt answers.

  “Can we afford to divert fighter and bomber wings from the orbital engagement?” A Commodore speaks out of turn.

  “If the opening salvo goes to plan, then we have nothing to worry about in that respect.” I reply.

  “We are hinging a lot on the opening missile salvo, we will freely admit it.” Sykes says, “However if things do not go to plan in that regard we can still push the enemy with tenacity and our light ships and pickets’ maneuverability. They will be able to provide further firepower and cause chaos in the enemy’s ranks that they will not be able to reciprocate, even if they have five times our strikecraft numbers.”

  “Any further questions?” I ask into the arena. In return I receive silence, “Then you have your orders and have been assigned your division commanders for further briefings. You are dismissed.”

  The Fondor’s Star was the first ship out of hyperspace, followed closely by the five Venators of the 28th Battleship Section. The Toong’l was the first, then the Rising Sun, then the Battlecry and Bloody Hound and finally, after the first of the corvettes had joined us over Pakuuni, the Republic Ruisto. It was just short of a fifth of ‘Alpha’ Op. Division. The nine Operations Divisions may not be equal in much, but they were equal in ships of the line if nothing else.

  The Tector class Star Destroyer took point as the rest of my first division entered realspace, my Little Revenge taking point of the division’s second line alongside the Fondor’s Daughter and Little Star. Closely following Alpha Division was Beta Division, under Commodore Faxe, though also a part of my direct command. We continued towards the hyperspace egress point leading towards Keldrath as Gamma Division under Commodore Hugh joined us. Shuttles race between ships, divisions and the orbital facilities within the system as to adjust supplies and munitions. We’ve left most of our emergency rations behind at Mon Cala, Ruisto and true supply hub at Munto Codru, while filling our holds with extra munitions, spare parts, extra hull prefabs for on the go repairs and prefabricated ground defenses for any groundside headquarters we’d need to establish along the way.

  As I ponder our supply situation Delta Division under General Koth and Commodore Praut emerges. The joint command of the reserve division had been a … controversial post for the Jedi who once would have been my superior. However my arguments of lacking leadership for the Division when the Jedi was actively leading the majority of the ground forces was eventually accepted by the rest of the officers. Interestingly, General Koth had agreed rather quickly to my train of thought.

  We were about halfway to our jump point when the next division arrived. Headed by the Venator, designation Grey Ghost, Admiral Z’timin’s directly commanded Epsilon Division made a rather good showing, showing up almost as one. Though I shouldn’t be surprised, the veteran of the Pelrimian had to have a good coordination within his fleet if he was to raid enemy supply lines successfully. Shortly behind Epsilon arrived Zeta Division under a Commodore Benno, another veteran of the Perlimian, although he served against Trench directly from Lantillies to Anaxes. That was nothing to sneeze at, he probably should have been promoted to Rear Admiral by now for such experience, though much the same could probably be said of many a Commodore within my command.

  “Sir, we’re being hailed.” The Captain of the Fondor’s Star says, a fellow Fondorian native, a Luke Hills if memory served, distant cousin to the direct ten thousander Hills. They had sided with the Seps at first, then switched back to the Republic after the Fondor City Square massacre.

  “Who by?” I ask, we should be having nominal radio silence right now.

  “Coruscant, sir. It’s High Command. Codes indicate Head of Naval Ops, a GAR rep and Director of the Senate Security Bureau.” The Captain says sternly.

  “Bring ‘em up.” I order as Commodore De-Catur’s Eta Division emerges. Soon enough the holograms of Fleet Admiral Honor, Director Isard and the recently promoted Jedi High General Skywalker appear before me. I give a polite nod to the three officers in greeting, “Fleet Admiral, High General, Director.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “Fleet Admiral Dericote,” Honor begins, “We have new intel. Grievous has been detected at Utapau, grid space N-19. Jedi High General Kenobi has been detached there to apprehend or neutralize him and the Separatist Executive Council.”

  Skywalker frowns slightly at the mention of his usual counterpart. Was it the nerves of being separated or had he been snubbed by his former teacher? I suppose it didn’t matter much now: “So we don’t have to worry about his possible presence within the Tion Cluster.”

  “Exactly.” Jedi General Skywalker says.

  “Though we’ve also called to make you aware of enemy forces scattering throughout the Tion Cluster. Many ships have made for embattled Caluula and besieged Centares. We expect Separatist resistance between Keldrath and Tion to be on the lighter side of our previous estimates.” Director Isard reveals.

  I feel a predatory smile take over. That would be perfect: “Wonderful. I thank you all for this information. The war might be over before the end of the year at this rate.”

  “Don’t jinx us, Dericote. I remember those exact words coming out of too many mouths three years ago.” Fleet Admiral Honor bemoans.

  “I will do my best, ma’am.” I reply cheekily.

  “Alright I believe we have held you up for long enough. Get to it. I want Raxus in Republic hands within three weeks’ time.” My mentor orders.

  “As you wish.” I reply, the predatory smile still plastered on my face. The hologams go out one by one as the next Division, Rear Admiral Sykes’s Theta Division, emerges. I frown slightly. That quick chat had delayed us more than I would have liked.

  “Alpha and Beta Divisions awaiting your orders, sir.” Lieutenant Hursk reports.

  “Jump.” I whisper.

  Luis watches out of the bridge of the Little Revenge as the heavy cruiser exits hyperspace behind the large engines of the Fondor’s Star. The only karking reason he was here, in all honesty, was that the Little Revenge had a better comms array and he was nominally in command of the 347th Outer Rim Section. Though, to be honest with himself, Adjutant Captain Mi-Kus probably had enough experience to command the second line of Alpha Division.

  And yet here the Fondorian native stood, his counterpart pacing the deck and double checking the stats as Luis’ attention is taken up by the tactical display. Maybe … fifty Separatist warships in system. A Lucrehulk took up their center and fanning around it in a lattice was some thirty Munificents, all with hangar bays. Behind the lattice were some twelve Captor class carriers and throughout the Sep formation were maybe eight Tionese Sloops, though there might be a few more.

  In comparison the rapidly forming Republic formation was a simple spearhead. The Fondor’s Star taking point alongside the five Venators of Alpha Division as the third line of said division rushed forwards to take up positions. Eight Fondorian Hammerheads taking up picket positions around the triangle like warships. The second line was longer as they merged with the fourth line of the division, twelve Acclamators and the CD-710 Constellation merging their lines with the six Dreadnought heavy cruisers.

  Thraken’s voice crackles over comms, overriding usual procedures: “All ships, hold missile fire until I give the order. Turbolasers and point defense have open season. Fighters close, bombers close, pickets close. Prepare for descent of one click to allow Beta division primary plane. All ships advance, for the Republic!”

  “You heard the Admiral, advance, keep us a dozen clicks behind the front line and prep point defense.” Luis orders.

  “This is gonna be a massacre.” One of the few Adjutants left behind mutters.

  “Doesn’t mean they won’t fight back.” Mi-Kus admonishes.

  “True that.” Luis agrees.

  “Sir, first ships of Beta Division entering system.” Lieutenant Welder reports.

  “Keep an eye on it, will you.” Luis requests, “Last thing we need is a miscalculation to cause a wreck.”

  As ships advance towards the planet before them and, more importantly for the Republic taskforce, the hyperspace egress point behind it, Gamma Division enters realspace behind them, immediately making a full rush to take up the plane a kilometer above the primary plane. As the triangle shaped warships make the mad dash they begin to spin, only ending the rotations after they’ve ended up upside down in comparison to all other ships in system.

  “Sir, I’m detecting radio chatter form the planet below.” Lieutenant Slas reports, “Some open frequency, some on the old Judicial frequencies we monitor.”

  “What is it?” Luis asks, curiosity piqued.

  “Sounds like requests for reinforcements. A Republic aligned revolt, sir. Some messages say they’ve already killed the Governor, some say they’ve taken the capitol, a few reporting fighting in the streets.” The Mon Cala reports.

  “Pass it up to the Admiral.” Luis orders. The Little Revenge had the comms infrastructure for an entire Fleet, if not the staying power of a proper Fleet’s command ship. That had been the primary reason for Thraken taking his flag to the Fondor’s Star after all. Well that and a seeming unwillingness to lead anywhere but from the front, which in the scale of fighting that would likely erupt over Raxus, the Little Revenge would likely not survive.

  Lovely that he had handed her off to his friend then, Luis grumbles to himself. At least it was giving his chosen successor a chance to command his usual Fondor’s Daughter. After all, the woman needed the experience and he was happy to provide it, even if it meant working on the Little Revenge. Heavy turbolasers begin to race from the front line of ships. Over three hundred streaks of green and blue heavy turbolaser fire racing towards the enemy in a planetoid ruining opening volley. And to think almost two thirds of this opening salvo came from three ships.

  Luis considers that for a moment longer. Three ships with enough heavy firepower to destroy five times their number. Three ships that had almost entirely placed their faith into their heavy turbolasers. They lacked in point defense. They didn’t have any fighters unless they were brought by other ships, dedicated carriers most likely in the long run. And yet as blue and green turbolasers smash into the enemy Munificents like a force of nature, it is overpowering.

  Five ships go dark almost instantly, six more following shortly behind. Luis shudders openly. This was the firepower of eighteen ships, the most deadly ships of three divisions and they had destroyed eleven in the opening salvo, before the enemy could even respond. Soon enough, red streaks emerge from the broken lattice. And yet before they had even impacted, over half the Venators had already returned fire with their second salvo.

  It’s almost like a breeze trying to fight against a sandstorm, Luis thinks. The couple dozen heavy turbolasers thudding against the better shields of the veteran ships as the rest of the Republic ships manage their second salvo alongside the third of the experienced Venators. Eight Munificents go dark as the medium turbolasers of the Venators and Hammerhead cruisers join in their own salvo, the Constitution joining in, firing through the gaps.

  Luis wondered if the battle would even last an hour at this rate.

  “Sir, I’m detecting multiple Sep cruisers at the edges of their formation pulling back. Looks like they’re making for the surface.” Lieutenant Welder reports.

  “Trajectories?” Mi-Kus asks.

  “Looks like they’re making for the planetary capitol.” Welder reports, the frown clear in his tone.

  “Evacuation?” An Adjutant suggests.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised.” Luis replies.

  More and more Sep warships break upon the sustained turbolaser fire as the reserve division finishes entering realspace and forms up behind the second lines of the Republic formation. This division may lack the firepower of a Tector, being headed by the Invincible class dreadnought ‘Mon Cala’s Ire’ instead. However the reserve division made good pace and had some of the most veteran Venators of the 99th Battleship Section as part of their line. Skilled ships that, if committed, should manage two volleys for every one an inexperienced crew would manage, could turn the tide almost easily.

  The eight Munificents arrive over the capitol as the first two Captors fall to sustained fire, the Lucrehulk’s shields having shattered just a few shots prior. The Sep formation was broken in all but name, the frontal forces of the Republic holding off from entering light turbolaser range simply out of the practicality of both their and the enemy’s weapons. Light turbolasers were the most common among Separatist warships after all and heavy turbolasers were, by their nature, slow to maneuver, making close range engagements all the more riskier for the Republic warships.

  “Surprised the enemy hasn’t deployed more fighters.” Mi-Kus suddenly reveals.

  Luis frowns a moment before nodding: “Do you think they’re suffering a shortage?”

  The Adjutant Captain frowns before speaking: “Could be this isn’t a priority world. Especially with Caluula, Felucia and Centares under siege.”

  “Plausible. Have you made note of it?” Luis asks.

  “Yes I have. I’ll submit it alongside a request of analysis once we’re done here.” Mi-Kus reveals.

  Luis nods: “I’d recommend doing it now, but I don’t think the battle will last long enough for it to truly matter.”

  “Agreed.” Mi-Kus says just as a shout of surprise echoes through the bridge.

  The two Captains’ heads snap to the sensors Ensign who had yelped in surprise. Mi-Kus doesn’t hesitate: “Get a hold of yourself Carmikl!”

  “Sir, the eight Munificents are firing on the planetary capitol!” The Ensign shouts.

  “Zero in!” Luis barks in orders and Mi-Kus snaps up an offered pair of macrobinoculars.

  “Stars.” Mi-Kus mutters as he gets a good look.

  “Get me a line to the Admiral!” Luis orders.

  “Link established.” Lieutenant Slas reports.

  The Admiral is looking about as shook up about it as Luis: “Admiral, enemy is bombarding their own city. Requesting permission to charge and take those bastards down a peg.”

  Thraken looks genuinely at a loss for what to do in that moment, Luis could tell that much from his friend. Seconds pass, Thraken surely trying to think up the best action as he always tries to do. Eventually the Admiral’s eyes harden and Luis knows he will hate his friend for his next words.

  “We cannot risk the operation. We continue as planned. We’ll double back here the second Raxus is under control.” His friend decides.

  “Damn it Thraken, those are people! Innocent civilians! For all we know those are Republic loyalists!” Luis shouts.

  The eyes of his friend harden: “And how many more would die if we delayed? The war might soon be over. We cannot delay.”

  Luis tries one last time: “Leave me behind, leave me and … five ships, any five ships, behind to act as relief, as humanitarian aid.”

  “We have no humanitarian aid outside of that which will supply our ground forces. There is none to spare for this proposal. If we had … damn it Luis I don’t want this, but what choice do we have? If the Seps find out they can delay us by causing these humanitarian crises we’ll find one over every inhabited world on our march. We’re too close to victory.”

  Luis’s face morphs through many an emotion before he lets out a hiss of a breath: “Then I request to return to my Fondor’s Daughter and surrender the command of Alpha Divison’s second line to an officer of your choice and submitting an informal complaint about this action.”

  His friends eyes close as he gives a resigned sigh: “Alright, fine. Your objection is noted. Luis, you may return to your ship when convenient. Adjutant Captain Mi-Kus, I would award you command of Alpha Division’s second line.”

  “I’ll take it, though I wish it to be on record, that I support Senior Captain Sicato’s suggestion.” Mi-Kus says.

  “Noted. Now get off comms.” The Admiral orders eyes filled with sorrow and a cold hate.

  three whole pictures today, because I kept forgetting to add them in the previous couple of chapters:

  1. Depicting a Separatist Raiding Section consisting of:

  1x Munificent class cruiser

  1x Captor class cruiser/carrier

  1x Tionese Man o’ War, modified with a prow light Ion cannon turret and six missile launchers.

  2x Marauder corvettes

  2x CR90 corvettes

  2x Tionese Sloops

  Depicting from the starboard side: A standard Tionese Man o’ War and a TIonese sloop.

  And finally: A depiction of various ships from the Command.

  Depicted:

  1x MC80 Liberty Star Cruiser of the Mon Cala Merchant Fleet

  1x MC75 Star Cruiser "Privateer" of the Ohnaka Gang

  1x Venator battleship/carrier "Arkania" of the 99th Battleship Section

  1x Dreadnought M4-M Command heavy cruiser "Little Revenge" of the 120th Battlegroup

  2x Dreadnought M4-M heavy cruisers "Fondor’s Daughter" (topmost(technically the paintjob is below the bridge, but fuck it)) and "Little Star" (bottom-most) both of the 120th Battlegroup

  1x Fondorian 7-F-P-Aurek-NS Hammerhead cruiser "Mudpuppy’s Bite" of the 120th Battlegroup

  1x MC40a light cruiser "Dac’s Revenge" of the 120th Battlegroup

  2x MC30c frigates "Lucky Kelp" and "Prince’s Duty" of the 120th Battlegroup

  2x CR90 corvettes "Buckler" of the 120th Battlegroup (topmost) and "Runnaway Gag III" of the 209th Outer Rim Squadron (bottom-most)

  4x Sphyrna class hammerhead corvettes

  1x DP20 "Little Gift" of the 99th Battleship Section