“Push our strikecraft harder. Adjust fire to the Sovereign and see if we can cut them off!” I bark.

  “Sir, they’re making a break for the western hyperspace egress point.”

  “Can the defense fleet make it?” I ask.

  “Sir, they’re behind the lunar shipyards. They won’t make it.”

  Damn. An old decision coming back to bite me in the ass. After Mintooine had fallen I had ordered the remaining orbital facilities to be moved into lunar orbit to benefit from moving all the anti-orbital batteries to the moon for improved coverage and defensiveness. It would ensure if any Separatists wished to retake Mintooine it would be a tough system to crack.

  After all, there was a brigade of Quarren Garrison Troopers, alongside various militia forces within its oceans protecting the sentient workforce, able to move into the deepest depths and the strong caves on the ocean floor. That alone would be a tough nut to crack for the droid army. Then with the lunar fortress, its militia of Sluis Vani humans, who had wished to settle the moon and work the shipyards, the trio of Golan I defensive stations and anti-orbital batteries and the minefield at the western hyperspace egress point, we would be able to keep a foothold in system. It would have allowed us to reinforce the planet itself with more aquatic volunteers while ensuring the most vital part of the system would remain in our hands.

  Yet now, Tarkin was able to circumvent the world’s defenses, our strikecraft and pickets harrying his tail, but unable to pierce his shields or damage his engines for long enough to force him to battle. His ships were scorched and had been vulnerable from the damage sustained by going through the minefield, but we had arrived too late to take advantage of it. If only I had some interdictor mines to ensure he would have to stay.

  “Damn it.”

  “Sir, should we break off the pursuit?” Mi-Kus asks.

  “Dellalt won’t support us and that’ll be their next destination.” I grumble.

  “My thoughts exactly, sir.” Mi-Kus echoes.

  I sigh as I consider the situation: “Who has declared for us openly?”

  “Openly?” Mi-Kus asks.

  “Openly.” I affirm.

  “Mon Cala, Ruisto, Pammant, New Heurkea, Mintooine, Mantan, Toong’l, Munto Codru, Dornea and Jabiim.” Commander Hursk rails off the list.

  “Unofficially?” I ask as I continue to watch our strikecraft harry the ISDs.

  “The entire Calamari sector. The Dominus Sector, excluding Baros where their Sector Governor happened to be. The Ash Worlds, excluding Nyny. The northern Jubilar Sector, the southern Pakuuni Sector, including Drongar, but excluding Gbu. Jabiim and the Handooine garrison have also declared their allegiance to the Republic. Oh and the State of Targonn has offered support and will refuse any demand that their soldiers return to them.” The Commander continues.

  “We’ll need to snuff out the resistance at Baros and Nyny.” I muse aloud, “Secure Garel openly for its Starchaser factory and connection to Toong’l. Secure Wyndigal openly alongside Dellalt or Caluula and Jubilar. Once that’s done our internal territories can openly declare for us without imminent fear of reprisal of the rogue Imperial elements within our territory.”

  “That will prove difficult, even with the 9th Irregular Fleet and Mon Cala Merchant Fleet.”

  “Especially with only eighteen retrofitted Star Cruisers.” I agree.

  “The territory has too many ways to enter it.” Commander Hursk says.

  “Our pirate allies should help slow any Imperial advance for now.” I muse aloud, “We need to … be aggressive. Consolidate our position as quickly and practically as possible.”

  “Enemy almost at hyperspace egress point.”

  “Detach our 1st Recon, have them shadow Tarkin for as long as practical and spread out once they have to loose ‘em. Bring up my dossier on potential allies and activate my emergency hyperwave override codes. R4, I need my codes for emergency plan Cresh-Osk-Mern-Mern and the droid activation codes for Cresh-Osk-Mern-Mern-Senth.”

  “Comm and Comms, sir?” Mi-Kus says unimpressed by my imaginative naming conventions.

  “Plans to reactivate impounded Munificents to act as emergency hyperwave relays and the reactivation of reprogrammed B1s to crew them and maintain them when necessary.” I reply.

  “So that’s why we only re-purposed the weapons and armor.” An Adjutant says.

  “Exactly, Sergeant. Good eye.” I praise lightly.

  “Enemy ships about to jump.” Commander Welder reports.

  “Hm.” I hum, “Break off the Pride of Ruisto, the Merchant Fleet pickets and the four Dreadnoughts of the local garrison. They are to pursue the two Imperial battleships to Dellalt and secure the system if possible. I believe the 28th Battleship should be near the Dellalt system too. Commodore Paok will take command of the orbital defenses and begin negotiations with the people of Dellalt.”

  “And the rest of us?”

  “We make for Nyny. Contact Rear Admiral Luxerite and have a detachment of his forces secure Baros, another secure Toong’l and the rest make for Jubilar. Hail Commodore Hugh and have her regroup her forces and make for Cophrigin. She is to ensure the world remains with us, then load whatever is left of Cain’s old Corps have them ready for emergency deployment to Dellalt, Jabiim, Handooine or Jubilar in case of a counter attack.”

  “And then, sir?”

  “We make for Trasemene.”

  “Why do I know the name?” The Navigator asks.

  “We had a prisoner transfer there after Silken Tubers. It’s between Handooine and Sy Myrth.” Mi-Kus answers.

  “We’re gonna ally with the Seps there?” Commander Welder asks.

  “The enemy of my enemy, my leal Commander.” I say.

  “Very good, sir. Plotting course.” The Navigator says.

  “We’re taking the entire 97th?” Mi-Kus asks.

  “I think … yes. We take the 97th. Show the Seps we aren’t full of empty promises.”

  “If you think that’s best, sir.” Mi-Kus replies.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  After various jumps we arrive in the Nyny system, home to a stout, three headed people who had thrown their lot in with the Imperials in orbit. I recognize a few of the ships, various elements from deeper within my command’s territories seemingly rallying here around the Nyny orbital supply depot and the small repair yard capable of providing drydock to a sole corvette if necessary.

  Yes I could see why the fifteen corvettes, two Arquitenses and an Acclamator would make their stand here. They would be able to easily repair any corvettes after raiding the surrounding Ash Worlds while supplying themselves from the agricultural world below. Clever, very clever.

  “Enemy officer in command?” I ask into the bridge as the 97th begins shifting into a line. The Constellation takes center stage, my Dreadnoughts taking up her flanks as the Acclamators form a second line for now.

  “From what I can tell it’s Captain Da-Wis, sir. 3rd Command Patrol Section.” An Adjutant reports

  “Which is his flag?” I ask.

  “Arquitens class light cruiser 'Vainglory VIII’, sir.”

  “Hm. Hail the opposing formation. Give them a chance to surrender to our overwhelming firepower.” I order as our pickets begin advancing, appearing to be offering the enemy a skirmish.

  “I wouldn’t say overwhelming, sir.” Mi-Kus cautions.

  “No, perhaps not. But if I remember correctly Da-Wis has had little to no real combat experience.” I muse.

  “He has not, sir.” Commander Hursk reports.

  “He will play it by the book then.” I say as I begin imputing commands into the tactical display, “His primary advantage is the number of light ships under his command. Mind you, all but two are Sphyrnas, but you shouldn’t discount the old corvettes. If I was attempting to win, as in to buy as much time as possible for reinforcements to arrive and throw the enemy back, I would be maneuvering around the planet, trying to keep the horizon between me and the enemy.”

  “Keep them interested, but unable to attack.” Hursk jumps on my thoughts.

  “Exactly, Commander.” I reply, “But instead, Da-Wis has arrayed his forces in a standard line. A line which is shorter than our own. We will keep our Acclamators in the second line to prevent a breakthrough. Deploy strikecraft, but move them alongside the Acclamators for now. Then begin a slow advance in our center and a rapid advance on our flanks with our own light ships. Strom has the east flank with the Wasp and our three Mon Cala ships, Senior Captain Smalls has the west flank with our Arquitenses, the Teardrop and Falchion. That should be enough firepower on both ends to force the enemy together. From there we continue our slow advance, keeping bombardment light but focused on every ship but the Acclamator and Da-Wis’ Arquitens. Once he finally makes a move, we counter charge and obliterate what’s left.”

  “Sound plan, sir.” Mi-Kus says.

  “Excellent, begin execution post haste. Remember, keep our strikecraft in the second line unless the enemy’s strikecraft make a snap charge, in which case deploy our fighters for interception.”

  “Understood, sir.”

  “Sir, enemy refused the surrender.” Commander Slas reports.

  “Time to show these traitors why they should have fled when they had the chance. Execute the plan.” I order.

  “Yessir.”

  A knock on the door. Naomi sighs and pulls herself from her husbands chair, it was starting to loose his smell. Another, more insistent knocking. She wonders what in the Maker’s name would cause someone to be knocking on her door at this time of night. Finally she reaches the door and opens it.

  There’s half a squad of Military Policemen and four Storm Troopers outside her door, the two lead officers giving one another glares.

  “Ma’am, I’m sorry to be disturbing you at this hour.” The Lieutenant of the Fondorian MPs says sincerely.

  “What is it, officer? Has something happened?” She asks. The Fondorian officer exchanges a glare with the ISB officer

  “Has something happened?” She repeats herself.

  The Imperial Security Bureau Agent scoffs, “Your son just rebelled against Imperial rule.”

  “Thraken did what!?” She yelps.

  “From what the Imperials have informed us, Thraken Owen Dericote of Fondor has committed a mutiny over Mon Cala and has insinuated the Empire is an illegitimate government which illegally overthrew the Republic.” The Fondorian officer says, “May we come in?”

  “No you may not.” Naomi says on instinct before shaking her head, “I’m sorry, some of Owen’s work is still stored here until the new Commander of the Planetary Defense Force has been sworn in and a large chunk of my work is confidential as well.”

  “Security concerns.” The Fondorian says nodding, “Perfectly understandable.”

  “No it isn’t!” The ISB officer barks, “What could possibly be confidential in the work of a Secretary?”

  “They really need to start giving better briefings to the Imperials.” Naomi says aloud, “I am First Secretary. I am one of the foremost bureaucrats of the Fondorian Government. I essentially run the support staff for the various Ministers, act as an adviser and representative of ministerial interests for the sentient resources department all the while being the intermediary of various departments within the ministry.”

  “Again, it is perfectly understandable.” The Fondorian reassures. “We will eventually return with the proper authorization to search through everything. Until then we would ask you to accompany us to a separate location to ensure there is no tampering.”

  “I’ll grab my go-bag.” She sighs.

  “Again, thank you for your understanding. Would you mind if I accompanied you to ensure everything is above board?” The Fondorian asks.

  “Very well, this shouldn’t take long.” Naomi says before gesturing the man inside, then closing the doors on the rest of the escorts, “What happened?”

  “Imps were chomping at the bit to have you arrested. They’re still … tetchy after the massacre in Little Herglictown last week so we were able to ensure everything was above board within Fondorian law.” He explains as they march to the office.

  “You’ll need to dispose of a lot of this.” She says as she starts handing over various documents.”Owen had plans, but … well he should have told the Counter Admiral about most of them.”

  “He has, according to what I know.” He says as he stuffs the datapad behind his chestplate.

  “That should be all the incriminating stuff on there.” She says before moving over to grab a family photo. Her son looked so young in it, barely into middle school. And now he was a traitor to the Empire.

  “Come on ma’am, we only have so much time.” The officer insists.

  “Alright, I’m coming. Just promise me you’ll keep Elix and Alice out of this.”

  “I can’t make any promises on that end, ma’am. They’ll likely be interrogated, but should be let off the hook. Owen was a good man and helped a lot of us. We’ll make sure y’all are kept safe.” He insists.

  “Alright, let’s face the music.” Naomi says as she grabs her go bag from a cubard, leaving her husbands behind.

  “Very well. You should probably not say anything until your lawyer shows up.”

  “I’ll do my best. Please make sure my lawyer and kids actually know where I am.”

  “I’ll do my best, ma’am.”

  Nyny was pacified the moment the last Imperial ship had surrendered. Seems my … reputation continues to proceed me. I suppose I would take the benefits that my orbital bombardments and … actions on Balshebr granted me. After all, it meant I didn’t have to deploy my arms-men and Clones to the surface.

  The repair yard was currently being used to make quick repairs to some of my more damaged corvettes, surprisingly the Flachion had almost not survived the battle and would likely need half a day in drydock to undo the various damage done. On the brighter side, we should be able to repair and re-crew a third of the corvettes and one of the Arquitenses from the wreckage. The rest would likely be salvaged for parts or used as payments for whatever was needed.

  “Sir, reports for you.” Mi-Kus says as he hands over a datapad.

  “Thank you.” I reply as I begin scanning over the datapad’s contents.

  Rear Admiral Luxerite had lead the 222nd Colonies Cruiser from Toong’l to Baros and beaten the Governor’s forces there. Various damage suffered, but no outright destroyed ships. Though this did mean the 587th Battlegroup would be less effective with its strongest and most versatile Squadron in need of repairs. Luxerite planned on sending his most damaged ships to Mon Cala while returning the rest to Toong’l to regroup with the 1443rd Rapid Response Squadron. They would then defend the southern approach of the command from any remaining Imps and opportunistic pirates from there while the Tapani finished their approach to Jubilar to do the same from there.

  Despite the best efforts of the 28th Battleship and the detached forces from Mintooine, Tarkin and Vader managed to flee from Dellalt, though both the Crown and Sovereign were heavily damaged in the process while our own ships had suffered light damage thanks to heavy use of their strikecraft advantage. Seems Tarkin shouldn’t have abandoned so many of his fighters over Dac and Mintooine. The forces in system had taken up defensive positions and begun negotiating with the civilian government below to see if we could reach some sort of terms. I had low hopes in that last regard, but the forces present should be able to hold off any lesser counter attack.

  Sykes meanwhile had conducted a skillful retreat, his outermost forces rallying with those closer to the boarder worlds until he had them all gathered at Pakuuni where he planned on holding until ordered otherwise. That gave me pause. He could do a lot of damage from Pakuuni. There was the 399th Outer Rim Squadron at Mullan, the new Sector Capitol of the Keldrath Sector. Sykes should be able to beat them with two thirds of his forces and double back to Pakuuni before any Imps could come from Makem Te. Though he might take some damage in the scuffle.

  And yet … It would slow Imperial action throughout the Tion Cluster: “Contact Admiral Sykes, I would like for him to destroy the Imperial 399th O.R. Squadron at Mullan before heading back to Pakuuni. Any damaged ships are to be sent to Ruisto for repairs.”

  “Right away, sir.” Mi-Kus says as I continue reading.

  Fleet Admiral Benoni was almost at Argai, his forces trickling in piecemeal as they finish their destruction of the Sith Worlds. They were spreading confusion among Imperial ranks as well, claiming to be heading towards my rapidly forming defensive lines to crush me while ordering secondary formations to take up their former positions within the former Sith Worlds. Awfully clever of Benoni.

  The old Fleet Admiral would soon begin negotiating with the Free Dac leadership on Argai to join our efforts then make for Dellalt with any ships the Separatists were willing to spare. I was quietly optimistic. Joining us would hasten the Free Dac’s return to Mintooine and Pammant and allow them to continue to make use of their Separatist warships. That and an offer of amnesty should sweeten the deal enough for them to take it, well that and the threat of the Sith World Cordon’s three battlecruisers.

  “Begin making for Trasemene. Have our military Governor at Handooine hail the Sy Myrthians and inform them of our intentions now, give them a chance of appearing on time. Then divert a quarter of the Cophrigin orbital garrison here to take over and give the corvettes here a skeleton crew we can bolster with locals.” I order eventually, handing the datapad to R4 for copying and cataloging.

  “As you command, sir. Anything else?” Mi-Kus asks as he begins tapping various officers to pass my orders along.

  “We have yet to hear form any of our pirate allies, have we?” I ask.

  Mi-Kus glances over at one of the Adjutants, a Sergeant who speaks up: “Nothing from the Krawg, Quarren and Mandos. Ohnaka sent a single line of text informing us to prepare a bounty payment in value of fifteen cruisers in a month’s time.”

  “Hm. Better do as he requests, knowing Hondo he’ll likely take on more ships than that, then forfeit some of the payment he requested in return for future cooperation in one of his lizardbrained schemes.” I decide.

  “Very well.” Mi-Kus agrees.

  “Sir, incoming transmission from Toong’l.” Commander Slas says, “Colonel Green has a message of import from one of our agents.”

  “Recorded then.” I deduce.

  “Yessir.”

  “What’s it entail?” I ask.

  “Jedi General Rahm Kota has made contact with one of our agents at Junkfort Station. He is curious if we hold to the idea that Jedi are traitors to the Republic.” She relays.

  “We’re already willing to throw our hats in with the Seps. I figure Jedi are even less problematic than they are. Inform Kota we are willing to take him on, as long as he proves himself as capable as he did at Pammant.” I decide.

  “Transmitting reply.”

  “Very good. Now then, let’s make for Trasemene.” I order.

  “Preparing for jump.”

  “Maker keep us all.” I pray quietly.

  “Jumping.”