Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 196-198 - Shadow
The remaining ships of the 28th Mobile Fleet slowly traversed the wrecked space like hungry scavengers.

The ships carefully scanned and salvaged everything of value from the battlefield in deep space.

The still-functioning maintenance modules, the unexploded torpedoes, and even the precious ionized gas leaking from the ruptured ammunition depot.

The Droch-class cutterships and boarding shuttles, like metal worker ants, traversed through the vast floating wreckage and debris, clearing paths and searching for possible signs of life.

The survivors found were quickly handed over to the Sallust Home Guard, who arrived late.

The Home Guard's aging light cruisers and frigates finally rose from planetary orbit to join the salvage operation in space.

The scene was somewhat ironic.

Salust is the premier forging world in this sector, and the entire planet is almost entirely ruled by the Sorosub Corporation, a giant corporation that bought out its government.

Theoretically speaking, the world's defenses shouldn't be this weak...

It wasn't until people remembered that shortly before the outbreak of war, most of the main warships of the Sallust Home Guard had been transferred to Frost by Admiral Dua Ningo.

Regardless of the outcome, it is a relief for Reyn's fleet that the Home Guard is now taking over the Republic's prisoners of war.

The 28th Mobile Fleet suffered heavy losses and was in dire need of supplies, making it unable to afford additional prisoners, especially rations.

Given the extremely high level of secrecy required for the upcoming "Operation Starburst," their options were already limited.

Either leave the prisoners to fend for themselves in the cold space, or... carry out a thorough cleanup operation.

To be honest, the latter option might have been more merciful to the prisoners than the "way of dealing" the Sallust people were planning.

No one here will ask for specific details... but some of the extended meanings of the Sallust word for "deal" are enough to send chills down your spine.

Out of some kind of gratitude, the Sallust authorities also offered them indefinite access to the planet's large shipyards.

But Ryan refused their offer.

The only reason they are still here is to wait for confirmation from the highest command.

In addition, they also had to wait here for reinforcements to arrive from the south.

Only after both of these matters are settled can they make the hyperspace jump to Yagdul.

Speaking of reinforcements...

Just as Carly Trillm had promised, the silhouette of Emberley's ships appeared on the ecliptic plane of the galaxy.

They arrived on the battlefield dramatically just hours after the battle ended.

Twenty Mistral-class destroyers, with their long, sleek hulls and razor-sharp lines, left behind a trail of boiling silver ions in the starry sky.

Their appearance also confirms another fact.

These mercenaries would never participate in any dangerous operations for which they had not yet been paid... or any risk that was not profitable.

These streamlined destroyers are only a small vanguard of Emberlein's vast fleet.

Umbrian swore allegiance to the Confederate Armed Forces in exchange for near-unlimited permission to plunder and conquer the entire Osara Sector, capable of utterly destroying and "salting" anything that cannot be taken away, rendering it irreparably unrecoverable. As the homeworld of Mistriel's "Shadow Guard," Umbrian can quickly assemble a legion of the galaxy's deadliest warriors simply by recalling its scattered agents.

"Are their ships registered in the armed forces' registration system?" Ryan asked, standing on the bridge of the temporary flagship, the destroyer "Chimera".

“No call sign, no identification beacon, no form of identification,” Communications Officer Godell stared at the console in bewilderment. “Even… sir, their engine signal characteristics are changing slowly, which indicates that their sub-light propulsion system has undergone extremely complex and deep modifications. These ships… are practically ghosts. I don’t think anyone who has seen them in person would be alive to tell this story.”

“We are not ‘anyone’,” the tactical robot Little Tower’s cold electronic voice rang out. “Activate omnidirectional beam communication and demand that the other party immediately identify themselves.”

“Attention, unidentified vessel,” Godell switched on his sub-light-speed communicator. “This is the Confederate Navy destroyer USS Chimera. You have not displayed any identification markings within Confederate sovereign space. Please identify yourself immediately.”

After a brief silence, a female voice rang out on the communication channel. The voice was deep and mature, carrying an undeniable authority: "This is the 'Shariheng.' Your target is in the Etopol Sector."

“That’s a… unique way of communicating,” Renn muttered under his breath, waving his hand. “Give them docking clearance, have their commanders come aboard to discuss it, and we’ll meet them in the main hangar.”

Hal's pointed ears perked up alertly.

Whenever "they" need to receive important visitors, it is usually Hal and Ryan who appear together.

Under the cold light of the bridge, the edges of Hal's ears gleamed like freshly sharpened blades.

Did Hal hide a whetstone somewhere inside his body?
"Transmitting docking coordinates to the other side," communications officer Godell reported. "Commands have been issued. After reaching the coordinates, shut down the main reactor and wait for our tractor beam to guide the docking. Please confirm receipt."

"Received," the other party replied succinctly.

The Chimera slowly sailed away from the area where metal debris and dead warships floated, leaving the charred remains of the Generous-class frigate Defiant forever in the cold void.

All the data that could be salvaged from that ship had already been extracted. On its charred hull, only some blurry graffiti symbolizing predator and prey remained faintly discernible.

After the fourth skirmish in Sallust, the Repulse was too badly damaged to fight any longer, even with support staff on the scene.

Raine needed it as bait to lure Aleks into the deadly barrage that Hogo had set up, so that the sacrifice of the "Repulse" could be exchanged for the result of blasting the enemy into cosmic dust.

When the battered old frigate completely disappeared from sight, becoming just another piece of space debris, Rein simply gritted his teeth without making a sound.

Where will it ultimately end up?
They'll probably be dragged into one of Sallust's giant junkyards!
Renn sighed softly and stood up.

As the Mistral-class destroyer, HMS Shadow, approached the designated rendezvous point, he headed toward the main airlock on the port side of the HMS Chimera.

He timed it perfectly; he arrived just as the airlock hissed open, followed by a small squad of Ondron guards for necessary security.

The woman who emerged from the passage filled with disinfectant gas immediately confirmed the voice that Renn had heard earlier.

She was tall, though not as tall as Ryan, but she had an impressive presence.

Her long, jet-black hair was carefully braided into more than a dozen thin braids, with golden tassels at the ends.

Beneath his prominent cheekbones, his dark blue lips were pressed tightly together.

However, what is most striking is the magnificent purple robe she wears over the iconic black bodysuit of the Mistral Shadow Guard, cinched at the waist with a pale purple belt.

The other Shadow Guard members who filed in behind her were all dressed in black hooded bodysuits, making them look more like a group of silent, deadly assassins.

(End of this chapter)