Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 119-120 - Boz Peaty (Second Update)

Boz Piti, Boz Piti Galaxy.

Hala Star Sector.

Just days after leaving the hustle and bustle of the Laxus Council Chambers and the power struggles, Raine's shuttle landed on the cold, hard landing site of Boz Pitti.

This planet is located in the northern part of the western edge of Hutt space, and is inconspicuous in the vast star map.

This vast border region, sandwiched between the Republic, separatist forces, and the immense Hutt Space, has a so-called "border" that is more of a vague concept than a clear boundary.

Most star sectors exist only in administrative records because the planets there are either independent and in a state of chaotic anarchy.

Although many star maps mark this space as the Hutts' sphere of influence, planets like Zhalakata, which are arguably Hutt vassals, also have representative seats in the Republic's Senate.

The reason is simple: apart from a few rare exceptions like Jabba the Hutt having private territory in the Arcanis sector, the Hutts' actual influence rarely extends beyond the boundaries of the Hutt space they themselves define.

The core wealth that the Hutt clan truly cared about was controlling the galaxy's underworld, monopolizing spice transport, and manipulating smuggling routes that spanned the globe.

They have always kept these channels firmly in their grasp.

These long-lived races have little interest in the changing of control over space beyond their borders and are largely indifferent to who will become the rulers.

As long as the Confederation does not engage in anti-crime activities in this area and the Hutts' business networks remain unimpeded, these armed fleets piloted by Hutt mercenaries will not cause trouble.

This subtle "indifference" was a godsend for Ryan and the Confederation.

The reason is brutal: whether we like it or not, the core strategic objective of the Republic's Permian Offensive has been achieved.

That is, they successfully isolated the Confederate's key strongholds in the North and South.

Measured by all key military and economic indicators, the Republic achieved an overwhelming victory in this campaign.

The Confederate forces have been completely driven out of the Central Starfield, and nearly half of their core industrial foundries have now fallen into the hands of the Republic.

Even more fatally, the Republic's forces severed the connection between these foundries and the vital Southslee Hook Hyperspace Route, rendering General Severn Tann's earlier bloody victories in the Bosa Space meaningless.

Although the Republic paid a heavy price with three sector fleets, in exchange they effectively halved the Confederacy's industrial capacity on the Eastern Front.

The Republic’s only “failure” was the unprecedented public opinion crisis that followed the widely reported humiliation in Kolmogorov.

If the Republic's decision-makers had stopped at the boundary between the Central and Outer Ring Roads and been content with their brilliant achievements, they might have won the entire war the following year.

However, they chose to be reckless, attempting to cross those "bridges" that were too far away.

Today, both sides are struggling and severely weakened in this brutal war of attrition.

Despite the different reasons, in Ryan's view, the Confederation's current situation is actually more perilous.

The direct material losses of both sides in the battle were roughly equal.

In the early stages of the war, too many separatist fleet squadrons were annihilated. Fortunately, in the bitter battles at Centares and Kolmogoks, the Confederation managed to achieve a degree of "zero-sum" damage mitigation.

The Republic’s real loss lies in the overwhelming backlash from public opinion.

But the storm of public opinion will eventually subside.

And what about the Confederation?

The newly established Supreme Commander's Office had no choice but to find ways to mitigate the two fatal long-term losses inflicted on the Confederacy by the war. The primary task was to fill the huge gap in industrial capacity.

There are essentially two solutions.

First, we should expand the scale of the existing military-industrial complex as much as possible.

Second, we must try to persuade more industrialized planets to join the separatist camp.

While General Tann will undoubtedly approve the first route, it will take time.

What the Confederation lacked most was time.

Fortunately, a short-term solution was closely related to the Confederacy's second loss.

The Confederation's shipping lanes to its rich rear sector were severed.

This is precisely why Boz Pitié, this seemingly insignificant planet, is so incredibly important right now.

Boz Piti is located at the center of a series of neutral sectors with a substantial industrial base.

Through these sectors, the Confederacy could bypass the main Pelemian route, which was controlled by the "Loyalists."

In this way, the Confederation could obtain much-needed industrial replenishment and re-establish a stable supply line to the front.

It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Although the technology alliance’s supervisor, Angbrak, and his team have only been here for two and a half months, he has already transformed a barren vacant lot into a large, thriving industrial park.

The scene that comes into view consists of a large number of landing Technology Alliance standard cargo ships, the oddly shaped "Lucky Ship" conversion platform, and countless prefabricated buildings that are assembled quickly.

You can even clearly see the skeleton of a huge dry dock rising from the ground.

Regardless of one's opinion of Bacteriologically advanced robots, in the hands of astute managers, their efficiency is indeed astonishing.

Those in neighboring galaxies with keen insight and decisive judgment have already sensed the direction the winds are about to blow.

Boz Piti is steadily moving toward becoming a new foundry for the Confederacy.

Naturally, all parties wanted a piece of the pie.

What benefited the Confederation even more was that the public opinion disaster surrounding the Republic continued to escalate.

The mainstream holographic news network scathingly criticized the Republic's army's defeat, while the underground information network praised the Confederate Navy's "feats" in every corner.

In this one-sided public opinion environment, it seems self-evident who has the upper hand.

Therefore, while General Severn Tann warmly received diplomatic envoys from the Bimisari, Bonta, Charakata, and Sneif systems in a makeshift meeting room within the park, Raine was shouldering another crucial mission.

A deal was reached with the technology alliance that was favorable to the Confederacy.

The deeper purpose was to begin to undermine Count Dooku's absolute control over the major military-industrial companies, making them believe that General Tann's office was more enlightened and more worthy of cooperation than that washed-up Jedi Knight.

“Then, an exclusive supply agreement,” Raine presented the core terms to Supervisor Onbrak, “The Tann government promises that all combat robot procurement for its forces will be conducted solely from the Technology Alliance and its subsidiaries. In exchange, you will need to offer more favorable prices. Of course, procurement will give priority to shipments from this newly established Boz-Pitty Regional Center.”

(End of this chapter)