Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 188, page 190 - The True Intention
The Murcana Galaxy, the Auriel Sector.

Independence space station.

Trench patiently waited for the two orderly to leave the supreme commander's office before announcing his arrival.

Instead of setting up his general's office on Laxus II or other separatist-controlled systems, Tann opted to convert a former Mandato-class interplanetary dreadnought, the Core Pride, into a mobile headquarters for the Separatist Alliance armed forces.

It took the elderly Hachi general some time to accept the idea, but he also saw its advantages.

This colossal ship, renamed "Independence," would be large enough to serve as a primary ecological building for an armed forces unit if it were built on a planet's surface.

More importantly, as an interstellar spaceship, it constantly jumps between star systems, and its surrounding security can be much tighter than that of a fixed base.

"Good news, General."

The Supreme Commander’s private command center is located in the main bunker of the USS Independence, which was converted from one of the many combat intelligence centers on this old dreadnought.

This is Trench's first time setting foot on the space station since the modifications were completed, and the old Hatch man is still curious about what he is about to see.

Those who know Tann should have expected this.

She has been exceptionally busy lately, managing not only the reorganized armed forces but also dealing with the ensuing complex political affairs.

With the completion of the newly built "Independent Military Academy" on the USS Independence, if the highest commander cannot be found in the command center, she is most likely overseeing the progress of this private project.

The walls and ceiling of the command center are covered with displays and holographic images, each showing a different area of ​​space, and the light is deliberately dimmed to protect eyesight.

In the center of the room was a two-tiered, circular control console, flashing real-time data on the countless assets of the emerging Confederate armed forces.

At the center of the double ring, a simple metal chair turned around, revealing the person who was speaking.

“Mulcana is now completely under the control of the Separatist Alliance armed forces,” Tann stood up. “This is all thanks to Governor Passel Argent. Please give him my thanks.”

“Yes, General,” Trench said, pacing around the room with his forearms behind his back, “but I’m here for another matter.”

"please say."

“Admiral Bontri has contacted me for the sixth time,” the Hatch admiral said, scrutinizing the blue-skinned woman’s expressionless face while glancing at the Second Fleet’s position on a nearby display screen. “He has clashed with Jedi General Alrix six times and has never gained the upper hand. What he’s complaining about, of course, is the restrictions that bind him. He wants to know why he’s not allowed to launch an attack.”

"I'm somewhat surprised that he hasn't taken any action on his own yet," General Tann said thoughtfully.

“This is a matter of trust, General,” Trench said. “He has served under you and me, and he knows that we don’t give orders or instructions without reason. He is now asking us to give him the same trust.”

Tann's finger twitched, and the nearby display flickered before switching to a star map of the Rima trade routes. "So, how do you plan to respond to him this time?"

Trench stroked his remaining organic jaw. "The 28th Mobile Fleet has been authorized to execute 'Operation Stormgate'."

Tann's unfathomable red eyes narrowed. "You mean..."

“The Republic has taken the bait,” Trench let out a low, slightly unsettling laugh that echoed in the room. “Their Second Military District Army is ignoring Mechis III and Yagdul and is heading toward the Rima trade route. Our forward scouts have spotted the movement of the ‘Opening Fleet,’ half of which, led by Anakin Skywalker, is heading to Salost as the vanguard; the other half, commanded by Obi-Wan Kenobi, is heading to Kashyyk.”

"Entering a new territory?" The usually composed general couldn't suppress a hint of excitement in his voice.

“Admiral Koster’s First Fleet Group has been pushed back to Shomshi,” Trench continued. “He is also allowing the Republic to advance without resistance. The Republic’s Third Military District Army has reached Landilis and is about to approach the front line. The Sixteenth Military District Army’s offensive has pushed General Falster all the way back to Novokov. We are losing territory along the entire front line.”

The two top-ranking fleet commanders looked at each other and came to the same conclusion.

Operation Stormgate was a success.

By enforcing a strict "no first fire" policy within their armed forces, they effectively allowed the Galactic Republic's army to do as it pleased on the front lines.

As expected, the Republic launched a full-scale offensive, preparing to crush the Confederation in one fell swoop.

The stated motives behind the "no first fire" policy are merely a smokescreen, but an extremely effective lure.

The Republic had long harbored deep hatred for the Confederation because of the attack on Coruscant.

No, that's an understatement.

Now, in the name of revenge, the Republic will spare no expense to soak every inch of the Confederate land in the blood of separatists.

No amount of pleading or backing down can change that.

This policy was designed to lure the Republic into an attack, thereby legitimizing the Confederation's subsequent counterattack in the eyes of the people.

Now, with Murcana and the Hyperspace Communications Syndicate under its control, the armed forces have taken control of the Confederate’s entire information hub, from the overt holographic network to the clandestine communications network.

It was not difficult to convince the Confederate people that the Republic had launched a frame-up attack on their capital and to exaggerate the damage to justify breaking off the armistice negotiations.

When people have to choose between believing the enemy's propaganda and trusting their own news sources, the outcome is obvious.

Moreover, how could armed forces possibly appear in the core region of the Milky Way?

From a star chart and strategic perspective, this is simply impossible.

The "no first strike" policy maintained the moral high ground in the minds of separatist citizens while simultaneously enticing the Republic to launch a new offensive, providing a pretext for "Operation Stormgate." And the Republic indeed fell for the trap.

By drawing out all the remaining reserve forces of the Republic's army, they left the Republic's core world emptier than ever before.

Just as the Republic was determined to destroy the Confederation at all costs, the Confederation was equally determined to destroy the Republic.

"Now, all our mobile fleets can proceed unimpeded."

What will happen next?
What if the Republic faced not one, but three fleets wreaking havoc in the core world?

The Republic will no longer accept peace unless threatened by turbo laser cannons.

The Supreme Commander firmly believed that it was not the Confederation that was driven to the brink of peace, but the Republic.

"The Republic will be plunged into panic."

"The Republic will overreact."

"The Republic will urgently recall the fleet to the homeland."

“Then we can cross the border without hindrance,” Trench continued, “and force the Republic to sign the treaty with overwhelming force.”

This is the true nature of "Operation Stormgate".

The large-scale fleet movement in the prelude to the operation could not be concealed, so they simply took advantage of this and used the Republic's intelligence system for their own purposes.

Operation Stormgate made Operation Starlight a success, and Operation Starlight also made Operation Stormgate a success.

Both are indispensable and complement each other.

It is a shield, a spear, and a clarion call for counterattack.

"Operation Starburst" doesn't even exist on paper.

This operation was highly classified, and all related physical records have been destroyed.

It exists only in the minds of planners and a very small number of executive officers.

These two actions were their last chance to expel the Republic from the war.

The harsh reality is obvious: at this point in the war, the Confederation is no longer able to defeat the Republic in a direct confrontation.

No amount of secrecy is too much; no officer on the front line should know the true intentions behind the orders they carry out, lest they be intercepted by the enemy.

Even those who participated in "Operation Starlight" are not allowed.

In order to give "Operation Starburst" a chance of success, they must draw the Republic's fleet away from the core area as much as possible.

Similarly, Operation Starburst must lure as many Republic fleets back to the core area as possible for Operation Stormgate to have any chance of success.

For this reason, the 19th and 28th Mobile Fleets will be given full freedom of action in the core area, and can go all out as long as it is strategically feasible, at least until they find Dua Ningo's "Bastion Fleet".

From that time on, the Confederate fleet was able to exploit the Republic's panic to tear a breach in the core area, allowing the three fleets to successfully break out.

Tann breathed a slight sigh of relief.

If not for Trench's six times sharper artificial vision, he would have barely noticed this brief lapse in composure.

He saw through Tann's disguise for the first time.

Standing before him was not the indomitable general who had fought with all his might to seize control of the galaxy's largest military power, but a girl much younger than him, wearing a uniform that seemed too big for her, bearing this heavy responsibility.

“The Republic has two possible reactions,” Tann said, leaning back on the console, instantly regaining his composure. “They certainly know that Operation Stormgate is some kind of trap, but they can’t be sure of its nature. They will either proceed cautiously, testing the trap before taking any major action, or they will recklessly rush in and try to destroy it by brute force.”

“But little did they know that this was exactly what we wanted,” Trench approached the supreme commander, looking down at her. “General, you accurately predicted their reaction.”

"Then it is even more crucial that 'Operation Starburst' achieves its intended effect in the Republic," Tann commented. "We must be prepared accordingly. Is the Second Fleet ready to operate? You will be facing the Republic's most fortified front in this war."

“Thank you for your concern, but there’s no need to worry, General,” Trench paced around the room, scrutinizing the fleet deployment in the Peremian region on the display screen. “Rear Admiral Melley’s Dassmir Offensive has captured the Quaron Shipyard in the Kalamari space, including the Parmant Dock. With that, the dreadnought ‘Conqueror’ can finally be put into service. With the ‘Fang’ and the ‘Conqueror’, my Second Fleet can break through even the most fortified enemy defenses.”

The Conqueror-class Star Dreadnought is one of the heaviest warships ever deployed by the Separatists, designed by the Liberty Dassmir Corps of Engineers to counter the Republic’s own Star Dreadnoughts.

It is nearly five kilometers long and equipped with a massive penetrating ion pulse cannon that can paralyze an entire fleet with a single shot.

The first ship to enter service was the USS Venom, followed by its sister ship, the USS Destroyer.

With the safety of Parmant shipyard secured, the initial experimental ship, also known as the Conqueror, was finally refitted and ready for combat.

The design of this class of ship was a great success during the Battle of Kolumex, and a fourth ship of the same type has been ordered. Its keel was recently laid at the Quaron Shipyard in the Enos system.

(End of this chapter)