I was having trouble sleeping. Keldrath lay behind us, some three hundred and fifty parsecs now. Indrexu was minutes away. Not a single ship had been left behind or lost over Keldrath, only suffering light damage from the uncoordinated Sep warships. They had apparently originated from three different defense forces, Keldrath’s own having bombarded their capitol. I could never imagine ordering such a thing on Fondor. And yet the my actions over Keldrath ate at my very soul.

  Guilt was an old friend at this point and yet … I had allowed people to die by orbital fire. I had argued with my friend over it. I was in the wrong when in every way it counted and I had continued on my path. Maker damn it all. General Koth had added his objections to that of Luis and Mi-Kus, but at least he too had defaulted to the line of command. Even if it damned me.

  “Exiting in three, two, one.” The Navigator reports, finishing his countdown as we are spit out into realspace.

  Indrexu was a smaller world. Not a lot of people there, maybe a few dozen million in total. It would be an easy world to reconquer once the supply lines were established and we moved onto the consolidation phase of Operation Vengeance. More and more ships join us in realspace. Beta and Gamma following Alpha easily enough.

  “That it?” I ask as I look out at the … maybe a hundred and ten Separatist warships in front of us. I recognized a few fleeing ships as those which had routed from Keldrath.

  “Yessir.” The sensors chief reports, “I’ve got a Providence dreadnought, two Recusant heavies, ten Recusant lights, eighty one Munificents, twenty Tionese Man o’ Wars, three Diamond missile cruisers, four Lupus missile frigates and … ‘bout sixty Tionese Sloops.”

  I frown. Were they not taking us seriously? I wasn’t sure if I should feel insulted or not: “Begin spreading out. Alpha takes center, Beta takes starboard flank, Gamma takes portside. We begin a quarter speed advance to clear the egress point for the ships after Delta arrives. Prepare orders for Epsilon and Zeta to take on the further flanks once they arrive. We’ll reorganize our convoy once we finish here.”

  “So we have time for that, but not to help those on Keldrath.” A young officer mutters.

  “We’ll be in constant movement.” I counter before Captain Hills can admonish his crewman. That man was a bit of a disciplinarian, “We will be keeping our forces and supplies together, we will not be abandoning ships to possible capture, revealing our plans. I will not risk the Separatists realizing our target. We are ending this war.”

  “Yessir.” The officer says, eyes downcast.

  “Prepare anti fighter missiles and begin coordinating target selection between our ships. Move us into long range. Staggered fighting will do until the entire detachment of the taskforce is present.” I order, gazing out at the enemy ships. Delta arrives with little fanfare, the datapackage quickly sent over to the Arkania and the orders followed.

  “Almost range of enemy missile ships. They’ve moved ahead of the enemy formation. I’ve got … fifteen wings of enemy droid fighters incoming, eta one minute to maximum range.” The sensors officer reports.

  “Slow formation to fifth speed. Fire anti-fighters when they enter maximum range, but wait until we’ve fired the first volley on the enemy missile ships. Have the gunners take their time, I want as many of them out of the sky as possible.” I order calmly as our ships adjust their momentum.

  “Shields double front.” Captain Hills orders.

  As the first ships of Epsilon Division enter realspace the opening salvo was unleashed. Hundreds of turbolasers crashing through the droid fighter formation, only to impact the seven warships. It was overkill, almost a certain death-sentence for the sailors aboard as their ships were remorselessly turned to slag.

  The missiles meanwhile followed their fellow pieces of Republic ordnance and broke apart before the droid fighter wave. Thousands of pieces of shrapnel crashing through droid fighters. In a moment close to a thousand strikecraft were turned into scrap. I nod as the remaining fighters and bombers continue to relentlessly make for our line.

  “Keep fighters close, pickets to forward positions. All ships advance into maximum turbolaser range for the primary enemy formation, remember to keep out of our long range firing arcs.” I order, noticing the arrival of Zeta Division as I do. Good the line would be done soon then.

  “Transmitting.” The comms chief reports.

  Corvettes surge forward, keeping well away from the areas the heavy turbolasers would fly through. It was almost annoying how little this battle seemed to move me. We had the firepower of three Tectors and dozens, literally dozens, of Venators to take control of the long range engagement. Even with the heavy turbolasers of the Munificents, Recusants and the heavy ion cannons of the Providences. It was going to be unfair. Good, last thing I ever want is a fair fight.

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  “Enemy fighters in flak range. Pickets have intercept.”

  “I’d recommend we adjust our shields so the fighters can’t take potshots at our weakpoints.” I advise the Captain.

  Hills considers it a moment before nodding in agreement: “Very well. Spread out the shields, keep them close.”

  I nod at the order as I look at the enemy fighter swarm crashing over the picket line and into my main line proper. Hundreds of Vultures, Hyenas and Tri-fighter droids attacking in swarms as flak and our own interceptors chase around them. A daring V-Wing pilot buzzing the bridge only to blast a Tri-fighter that had come around the ship’s tower.

  “Keep vigilant.” I caution.

  “Sir, we’re about to enter maximum turbolaser range on the enemy’s center. We’ve got that Providence dreadnought, four Recusant lights, six Munificents and four Tionese Man o’ Wars dead ahead.” Lieutenant Hursk reports.

  “Prioritize the Recusant lights and the enemy dreadnought. Secondary priority to the Munificents, those Man o’ Wars don’t have the range to fight us.” I command, “I hereby give up priority targeting to the Division commanders, baring maximum priority target.”

  “Transmitting.” The comms chief reports dutifully.

  “Batteries, focus fire on the enemy Providence.” Captain Hills orders.

  “Targeting solution complete, sir.” The gunnery Adjutant reports.

  “FIRE!” Hills shouts with a nigh unrivaled glee.

  Like a tidal wave, blue and green turbolasers smash into the enemy formation. Their line immediately takes casualties, the portion ahead of Alpha Division alone loosing a Munificent and a Recusant light, The Separatist ships advance slightly, closing the remaining distance so they can return fire with their inferior munitions while two heavy ion cannon blasts race towards the Fondor’s Star.

  “Brace for impact.” The Captain warns.

  I simply stand firm. Our shields should take it, though they’d likely break. I take a step forward as the first blast bursts against our shields: “Bring in our pickets closer and intensify flak around the bridge. I don’t want any Sep droid to cut off our command.”

  “Roger that.” A secondary battery Adjutant acknowledges as the second blast almost breaks our shields.

  I turn away from the transparasteel as flak partially obscures the view. Turning my entire attention to the tactical display I consider my options. I needed my strikecraft in good condition to deal with any fighters over Raxus, never mind what we might find over Tion. No, best keep a distant engagement. A Munificent only had a sole heavy turbolaser and a Recusant light had five. The Recusant heavy might have eleven in total, but they were few and far between here.

  So yes, keep a long range engagement. It would make an enemy withdrawal easier and could prolong the battle, but we’d win in the end with minimal damage. I nod to myself as I speak: “Keep current range, bring up the Constitution and our Dreadnoughts with ion cannons to join us in the front line, Hammerhead cruisers to make room. Remind everyone of the current firing arcs.”

  “It’ll crowd the front line, sir.” Lieutenant Hursk warns.

  “We have enough room for the entire second line to join us. The only reason they haven’t yet is to keep them fresh.” I reply, “I want the extra firepower.”

  “Understood, sir.”

  Senator Dededod was in crisis mode. Abregado-rae was under investigation due to Grievous technically using a space lane that shouldn’t exist near the Senator’s homeworld. Then the constitution was essentially being shredded, more and more powers being given to the military Governors, Marshal Administrators and commanders of the colored commands. The powers and duties of the Supreme Chancellor were being expanded too and while all this was happening the Senator was being tailed by some Republic Intelligence Officers who he was almost certain had some connections to COMPOR.

  It was a stressful time for the Gados and he was rather relieved when he was invited to a small dinner between himself, Senator Organa, Senator Mothma, Senator Zar, Senator Breemu, Senator Alavar and Senator Amidala. It would be a very politically powerful meeting, but what else was expected from a dinner between Senators? The Gados simply hoped there wouldn’t be anything too bland on his plate, Humbarine had such a poor kitchen and knowing the host, Senator Organa in this case, there would undoubtedly be some kind of dish from everyone’s homeworld present.

  He arrives slightly late, having had to lose his tail between his apartments and those of Senator Organa. Sighing as he prepares his excuses he doesn’t expect the door to be opened by a nervous looking Organa. Oh sure the human’s face looked calm, but his eyes were jumping and the Gados could see the man was stressed.

  “Senator Organa.” The Gados says, “Apologies for being delayed.”

  “Senator Bic.” Organa replies, “Please, please, come inside. Were you followed?”

  “Lost my friends a couple blocks away from my apartment. They really should be reprimanded for their oversights.” The Gados says as he follows the Alderaanian into the comfortable parlor.

  There the Senator from Abregado-rae found the four human women and two human men. On the one hand, it was slightly peculiar they hadn’t approached the Pantoran delegation or the always outspoken Steamdrinker of Tynna. They seemed like almost obvious allies. The various senators of Tapaani worlds would also likely prove at least somewhat fruitful, their nobles may be a pain and their internal politics a mess, but their influence wasn’t anything to scoff at.

  “Senators.” The Gados greets, “A pleasure.”

  “Are you sure, Bail?” Mothma asks hesitantly.

  “Certainly. Gentlebeings, we are gathered today for a simple meeting over a light dinner. Please help yourselves to any food at the table.” Organa says as he seats himself between Amidala and Mothma. Dededod’s eyes narrow slightly as he finds himself a seat next to Senator Zar. The Ghorman Senator and he shared a good working relationship during the opening months of the war after all.

  “I believe we all know why we are here.” Senator Breemu of Humbarine begins.

  “The Constitution is in shambles, amendment after amendment.” Organa laments.

  “Not to mention the increased power of the military Governors and Marshal Administrators in both military and civilian matters. Then there’s the introduction of Chancellor appointed Sector Governors.” Dededod says.

  “When was that posted?” Zar asks.

  “Yesterday I believe.” Mothma says, her tone almost depressed to the Gados’s ears.

  “I … have had some discussions with those present. We need to rally support among the Senate. The war is essentially over. I and Senator Mothma are in the opening stages of forming an organization to have us return to normalcy, to-.”

  “I believe that’s enough.” Amidala interrupts Organa’s speech, “Some things are better left unsaid.”

  The room goes quiet. They all know the dangers of the increasingly brazen Republic Intelligence and Senate Bureau of Intelligence and how even a stray comment could end in an interrogation without legal counsel. Simply another wartime measure, the Chancellor had promised when the law had passes, now it was being used like a sledgehammer against any outspoken dissenter.

  “So,” Senator Alavar of Lorrd begins, “We will be combining efforts with other … intellectuals to try and remind the current administration of its promises.”

  “Yes.” Organa admits.

  “It will be risky.” Dededod mutters.

  “Which is why we must be absolutely certain. Only approach those everyone in this room agrees to.” Organa continues.

  “That means keeping the secret from everyone, even friends and family.” Mothma adds.

  The group nods in agreement, Zar most hesitantly out of all. Dededod isn’t worried about that though. Zar had always been one of the most cautions Senators the Gados knew. It showed the state of the Galaxy that the usually cautious and calculating Senator from Ghorman had thrown his support into this fledgling organization. Yes, Dededod nodded to himself, taking a bite from the food before him, this was the right choice. Right for the Gados himself, Abregado-rae and the Republic at large.