Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 166-168 - Strategic Meeting
"Commander of the 28th Mobile Fleet, Rear Admiral Bontri, has arrived!"

As Ryan walked through the heavy, explosion-proof alloy door of the briefing room, the internal communication system announced loudly.

The officers sitting around the huge curved conference table stood up one after another.

"Please be seated, everyone."

Admiral Trench stood at the head of the conference table, his distinctive, hoarse breathing particularly clear in the quiet room, his tall stature dwarfing the surrounding officers. "Congratulations, Major General. I hope you are satisfied with the Twenty-Eighth Mobile Fleet?"

“But that still doesn’t explain why it’s here instead of being deployed on the Peremian front,” Raine said as he walked toward his seat with his name tag.

Diedrich and Vinok followed closely behind, while Hal quietly stopped at Renn's feet.

After they and the other officers were seated again, Ryan's gaze quickly swept across the conference table.

The table was filled with familiar faces from the Battle of Peremian, many of whom nodded or waved to him.

He saw Carly Trilm.

As the sole high-ranking representative of the First Main Fleet in this area, this in itself is suspicious, since the First Main Fleet's area of ​​responsibility is the New Territory Theater.

Carly leaned back lazily in her chair. To her left was her flagship's first mate, the one-eyed Commodore Aviso, and to her right was Commander Rael Hathor, the former frigate captain who now commanded a full frigate squadron.

Next were the officers of the 28th Mobile Fleet, who now reported directly to Rein, many of whom had just been promoted.

Raine recognized Brigadier General Hogo Schiff of the Muen, Commander Kret of the Nemoydia, and Commander Chom of the auxiliary ship in charge of logistical support.

General Trench, Ryan's direct superior, sat at the head of the conference table.

His tall, chitinous body exuded an undeniable majesty.

Sitting next to him was Major General Mele, a member of the Moncalamari tribe who also came from the former Corporate Alliance and now served in the Confederate Navy.

His bulging eyes were intently focused on the holographic projection in the center of the table.

Renn gradually understood.

This gathering is anything but ordinary.

“It is a pleasure to see all the commanders finally gathered together,” Trench said in his distinctive, hissing, hoarse voice after a brief silence. “I believe that you all have a basic understanding of the current grim situation. Therefore, while we await the Supreme Commander’s call, I will give a brief report on recent key events.”

He paused, then began, "Six days ago, intelligence that Coruscant was attacked by an unidentified fleet has now been confirmed. The exact extent of the damage to the planet is still unclear. As of yesterday, our naval intelligence department, through cross-referencing the characteristics of the wreckage and residual communication signals, has identified the attackers as Admiral Dua Ningo."

A low murmur of realization rose from the table.

Dua Ningo, the Sallust veteran who mysteriously disappeared on the eve of the war, was a name known to everyone present.

But almost no one could have imagined that he would return to the public eye in such a dramatic and destructive way.

“We lost all contact with him before the war broke out.” Commander Kret, a Nemoidian, tapped the table lightly with his long, angular fingers, making a soft tapping sound.

“And the last person who had direct contact with him was Count Dooku…” Trench gave Krett a stern look, clearly very displeased at being interrupted. “Commander, if you interrupt again, I will give you an administrative penalty.”

He paused, letting the weight of his warning sink into everyone's hearts, before continuing: "We must prepare for the worst-case scenario. If the head of state refuses to peacefully transfer power in accordance with legal procedures, the armed forces will have a duty to take the necessary actions to uphold constitutional order... This is no joke."

Commander Krett flinched, tilting his slender neck back slightly. "Sorry, sir... I understand."

“May I ask a question, sir?” Brigadier General Hogo Schiff leaned forward slightly, his pale face serious. “Brigadier General, please speak,” Trench nodded.

"Are we... planning a military coup right now?" Schiff's voice was clear and calm, but the question was like a boulder thrown into a calm pond.

“I reiterate,” the only marshal-level officer at the conference table said, his tone suddenly becoming more forceful, with a metallic quality, “the armed forces’ actions are contingent on Count Dooku openly defying legal procedures and refusing to relinquish power. Any other statements about a coup are unacceptable speculation! Is that clear?”

"Does Parliament... really have the ability to successfully impeach Dooku?" Commander Rael Hathor rested his elbows on the smooth tabletop, his tone carrying a realistic consideration. "He is the spiritual totem of the parliamentary majority."

Many people's eyes unconsciously turned to Carly Trilm.

For a long time, she has served as an unofficial bridge between them and complex political affairs.

At this moment, Carly was leaning back in the large chair in an almost languid posture; if she relaxed any more, she might actually put her boots on the table.

She keenly noticed those gazes, her brows furrowing slightly, a hint of impatience at being disturbed.

"...Why are you all looking at me like that?" Her voice carried its usual slightly sarcastic tone.

Just then, the briefing room's internal communications system emitted a crisp notification sound: "Highest priority communications access... Source: Lax Sequinus, Confederate Supreme Command."

Everyone immediately stood up, the chairs scraping against the floor.

Trench quickly stepped aside to give up the first seat.

The holographic projector flashed, and a moment later, General Severn Tann's tall and aloof figure appeared in the empty seat at the head of the conference table.

“Please sit down.” Her voice came through the communication link, clear and direct, with her usual efficiency. “Time is of the essence, so I’ll get to the point. As some have predicted, the Confederation Parliament has fallen into deep division because of this crisis. One faction unconditionally supports Count Dooku, seeing him as the cornerstone of the Confederation, while the other faction resolutely defends the sanctity and procedural justice of our Confederation Charter.”

Although the officers returned to their seats, a silent shockwave seemed to surge through the entire cabin.

General Tann's words were so clear, so direct, and even accusatory that her stance in this political storm was fully revealed.

“The relevant evidence has been formally submitted to the Senate and released to the public via the hologram,” she continued, speaking steadily. “The subsequent political process has gone beyond the control of the armed forces.”

Ryan, who had remained silent since the beginning of the meeting, finally spoke up and asked, "General, if the council ultimately fails to pass the motion to impeach Count Dooku, how will the armed forces respond?"

Tann's cold, red eyes locked onto Raine through the hologram: "Then, we will remain on high alert, awaiting Dooku's next overstepping of authority, and once again expose him with irrefutable evidence. The core duty of the armed forces is to defend the dignity and supreme authority of the nation's constitution, and we will steadfastly fulfill this duty no matter how the political winds shift."

Her gaze swept across the resolute or pensive faces of each officer around the conference table. "Until then, let's get back to our duties and focus on winning this war."

As if by a carefully designed coordination, the holographic projection in the center of the table switched instantly.

A vast and incredibly detailed strategic map of the Milky Way unfolded before everyone.

Blue, representing the Republic's controlled areas, and red, representing the Confederate's controlled or influenced areas, intertwine. Dense dots mark known fleet assembly points, as well as layers of classified information inaccessible to ordinary officers.

Most notably, the core world region where Coruscant is located is covered by a striking, isolated red area, above which is not a specific fleet insignia, but a huge, flashing question mark.

"In order to completely sever ties with the Coruscant attack and to refute the HoloNet's accusations of 'betraying the peace,' the armed forces will implement a strategic withdrawal." General Tann's voice drew everyone's attention back. "All fleets on major fronts will withdraw to pre-established defensive positions. In essence, we will temporarily relinquish the strategic initiative to the Republic and wait and see."

“We don’t have to wait long at all,” Vinok said, stroking his neatly trimmed beard in a deep voice. “On the holographic network, the war frenzy is being reignited.”

“The key question is,” Trench’s metal prosthetic arm tapped the ground lightly with his scepter, making a soft, rhythmic sound, “which front will the Republic choose as the entry point for its massive offensive?”

(End of this chapter)