Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 189, page 191 - The Ghost of Taidan

Regardless, with two Conqueror-class interstellar dreadnoughts on the Peremian front, the Galactic Republic's Third Military District Army will face an unexpected and difficult situation.

“Very well,” Tann walked back to her seat, “then let us show the Republic just how deep our resolve to fight is.”

The Supreme Commander adjusted his posture and then pressed the integrated communicator on the console: "This is the Supreme Commander. Calling Admiral Coster of the First Fleet. Please note that all operational authorizations related to 'Operation Stormgate' are now in effect. Maintain in-depth defense of the new territory and make the Republic pay a heavy price for every planet they occupy. You may instruct the Nineteenth Mobile Fleet to commence 'Operation Starburst'."

Unlike General Falster's defense of the Corellian Passage, Admiral Coster received clear orders to retreat voluntarily.

This strategy serves a dual purpose.

The First Fleet was not facing one, but three army units from the Galactic Republic's military regions... the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Military Regions.

If the 10th Army District wasn't preparing to confront the Second Fleet of Trench in the Salin Corridor, it would also be involved.

Therefore, the reasons for adopting a defense-in-depth strategy become even clearer.

But behind Admiral Coster's defense of the Confederate northern territories lay a deeper consideration, stemming from Major General Carly Trilm's shrewd and calculating mind.

The Lax government is the main internal political rival of the Serenno government, which has established its power base in the northern part of the galaxy.

By fighting for every inch of territory and deliberately allowing the Republic to advance in new territories, every lost star system is equivalent to weakening a pillar of Count Dooku's support.

For example, when the Republic occupied a planet associated with the banking conglomerate, the Lax government also took the opportunity to eliminate an internal threat.

At the same time, it prepares for the extreme scenario of the Confederation falling into civil war.

For a woman born and raised in Crysm, a colony of Serenno, Carly has almost no loyalty to her homeworld…

In fact, she was not loyal to anything except herself.

"This is the Supreme Commander, calling General Fast of the Third Fleet," the Supreme Commander prepared for the next communication, "Note that all operational authorizations related to 'Operation Stormgate' are now in effect. Stop the enemy in New Cove, surround and destroy them, and do not allow them to set foot in the Central Ring."

General Atticus Falster was a protégé of Tann and was promoted after achieving success in the Bossane Space.

Falster's strategy was simple: completely halt the advance of the Galactic Republic's 16th Military District Army on the fortress planet Novokov, while his Bossan allies, led by Major General Larin Creyfey, protected his flanks at Calarba.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Karok's 224th Strike Division was on standby in Dalang and could quickly maneuver along the Gamo Channel to Miragro, effectively cutting off the supply lines of the 16th Military District Army.

"Admiral!"

It was Trench's turn.

The Supreme Commander issued a direct order: "Please note that all operational authorizations related to 'Operation Stormgate' are now in effect. I think there is no need to elaborate on the strategic details you personally devised. You may order the 28th Mobile Fleet to begin 'Operation Starburst.' They will first jump to Yagdul to cut off the Second Military District Army's supply lines, and then rendezvous with the 19th Mobile Fleet to jointly begin the invasion. Inform them that the Fourth Fleet will take over their defenses in Salust."

“You seem quite confident that Major General Bontri can still defeat General Alrikes; they’ve fought six times already,” General Trench commented, “but he hasn’t been able to gain the upper hand even once. What’s different this time?”

“The commanders of our two mobile fleets have very different personalities, but when the battlefield environment suits their strengths, they are both invincible,” the Supreme Commander stood up, raising an open palm as if supporting something. “I have taken this into full consideration when choosing deployment locations. Rear Admiral Trilm is like a patient spider, quietly weaving her web, waiting for the enemy to run into her invisible threads before delivering a fatal blow. The standing order of ‘holding the position’ is extremely advantageous to her.”

“So she was deployed in the neutral Kashyyk system,” the old Hatch concluded, “so that the Republic can’t attack her first?”

“Perhaps I underestimated the Republic’s reaction,” Tann admitted, “but you’re right. For Operation Stormgate to succeed, the Republic had to develop doubts about our mobile fleet and redeploy their most threatening forces to the front lines accordingly. Considering that half of the Open Ring Fleet has been transferred to Kashyy, this strategy has worked.”

“And Major General Bontri,” as if to make it clearer, General Tann raised his other hand, “is like a venomous snake poised to strike. He can only reveal his full power in unrestrained offensive actions. Like a venomous snake guarding its nest, he will turn the tide of even the most defensive battlefield situation just to gain the upper hand.”

Studying his combat experience reveals a common thread.

The First Battle of Christophersis, the Battle of Teis, the Battle of Metalon, the Battle of Kolmogoris… these were all defensive battles, but in every single one, Major General Bontri played the role of the attacker.

"What do you think..."

“I believe that if Rear Admiral Bontri were allowed to act without restrictions, he would have annihilated General Alrix’s fleet before the Republic even realized he was in Salust,” the Supreme Commander asserted. “That is why he was restricted and placed in a disadvantageous position contrary to his expertise, and unsurprisingly, the Skywalker and the vanguard of the ‘Opening Fleet’ were sent to reinforce General Alrix’s position.”

“It’s not certain that the Republic will react that way,” General Trench pondered, stroking his chin. “Speculating on the enemy’s reaction is very risky.”

“Then we have different views, Admiral,” General Tann smiled slightly. “Haven’t you realized that the Republic knows better than anyone how dangerous Major General Bontry is? In every battle I’ve mentioned, Major General Bontry has fought and defeated one or more Jedi Generals. The Republic knows his methods well, and I think they must be alarmed to realize that the inexperienced General Alrix is ​​facing this formidable foe alone. Naturally, they will send their most experienced Jedi General to reinforce Alrix.”

“And when Major General Bontri jumps to Yagdul, the Skywalker will be too far away to stop Operation Starburst,” Admiral Trench continued.

The supreme commander nodded, clearly satisfied with the assessment.

Then she prepared to make one last communication.

"This is the Supreme Commander, calling General Ambigine of the Fourth Fleet Group." For "Operation Starlight," the final and most crucial step was the "First General" on the Rima trade route!
"Please note that all action authorizations related to 'Operation Stormgate' are now in effect. Capture Eliadu as soon as possible and fortify Salust's defenses before the Republic launches its offensive."

The appointment of Horn Ambigine as commander of the Fourth Fleet Group was undoubtedly a brilliant political move, clearly the work of Tann himself, not Carly Trilm.

The Confederate "First General" was not loyal to the Confederacy itself, but to the separatist cause, which kept him neutral in the political disputes between Lax and Sereno.

Furthermore, his reputation and talent were crucial in boosting and restoring the morale of the troops on the Rima trade route after the losses inflicted during the Hundred Days Offensive.

However, from a purely military perspective, Trench had reservations.

The Confederate "First General" was not an ideal candidate for large-scale battles.

He was a field officer whose experience and command style were honed on the bloody battlefields of the Taidan system, which he called home.

He is better suited to his previous role as the organic training commander.

However, Trench had to admit that if there was any officer who could put the Galactic Republic Army in a state of panic, it was Horn Ambigine.

“If Operation Stormgate is to succeed and we win this war, General, we must be prepared to bear the infamy for all time,” said General Trench, who was old and whose Hatch tribe could live for centuries, and who had decades more to live, but the mere mention of Horn Ambigine made him uneasy. “For the long-term survival of the Confederation, I hope it will all be worth it.”

Tann looked at him, then lowered his head. "I guess you're talking about General Ambigine. Yes, his invasion of Eliyadu will be bloody, but in the Separatist Alliance armed forces, there is no better commander for planetary warfare than him."

"Invasion?"

There will be no intrusion.

This is Horn Ambigine.

Trench saw through the Supreme Commander's disguise and noticed a hint of confusion hidden behind her red eyes.

"Yes, invasion, Admiral."

Tann nodded.

"General Ambigine will invade Eliadu with overwhelming force, and then move and fortify Salust's defenses before the Republic's reinforcements arrive. I am well aware of his ruthless methods, but I believe it is necessary for the swift capture of a well-defended planet like Eliadu."

“Supreme Commander,” Trench felt the end of the prosthetic limb that Dr. Kratara had fitted for him dig deep into his flesh, “I’m afraid you’ve underestimated Horn Ambigine. You can’t judge him by the standards you use to judge the rest of us; he’s a completely different kind of man.”

"Stronger or weaker?"

“He was a more…ancient type,” Trench emphasized. “He was a guerrilla general who spent his life fighting resistance wars. His standard for judging ‘victory’ and ‘defeat’ was not the gain or loss of territory, but the casualty ratio of soldiers on both sides. I can’t even imagine the horrors he experienced.”

General, no one can imagine the long, personal revenge Horn Ambigine had carried out against those in power before accepting Dooku's invitation.

For decades, he single-handedly protected Taidan's natural resources, single-handedly repelling the relentless incursions of the Republic's judicial forces and corporate giants.

Tann frowned. "I thought those were just exaggerated claims from our media, that even the Stark Business Federation couldn't withstand the Republic for more than a year in the Hyperspace Wars, yet you claim the Taidan system held out for decades?"

“Horn Ambigine is known for being extremely difficult and challenging,” Trench said seriously. “Can you imagine how one could gain such a reputation?”
"General, this requires more than just 'toughness'."

"The Republic has taken away his allies, friends, family, and everything he cherished."

"However, the ghosts of Taidan are the kind of people who would rather destroy their own home planet than surrender to the Republic."

(End of this chapter)