Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 207, page 209 - Directly Pointing to the Core World
“I’ve made far more mistakes than you can imagine,” Anakin said. “When I was Obi-Wan’s apprentice, the galaxy was at peace, and I was taught to protect that peace. I learned alien languages, distant cultures, diplomatic dances, and parliamentary politics. Did I teach you any of that?”

"……No."

“The galaxy is no longer at peace, and the Jedi are no longer the guardians of peace,” Anakin continued. “I taught you to be a warrior. As for commanding a fleet? Yularen taught you everything you need for naval warfare, Po taught you land warfare, Abrey taught you how to detect unseen frequencies and wavelengths, and Clive taught you how to use special sensors and scanners to discover things that ordinary people cannot see… I can’t do any of that. I’m just a warrior and a mechanic. I can wield a lightsaber skillfully and fix broken communicators, but that’s all.”

Anakin patted Ahsoka on the shoulder. "Believe me, you know more about naval warfare than I do. And you don't need to fight Ryan Bontrie with lightsabers, right?"

"But what if I fail?"

“Stop thinking like a Jedi,” Anakin said seriously. “The Force is useful, but don’t rely on it, or you’ll end up like Alarix. Trust your instincts, and trust the people here. You’ll be fine.”

Anakin stood up and straightened his back.

His gaze swept across the bridge, meeting the eyes of everyone within his sight, and all he saw was an unwavering resolve.

He nodded in satisfaction, then quietly walked across the bridge, with Apo following closely behind him; their footsteps were exceptionally clear in the silence.

A faint flame flickered within the Force, a lingering resentment, a silent bystander looming over the Jedi's shoulder.

Its embers are gradually dying out, but it wants to witness the destruction of Hydra before it is completely extinguished.

……

Kashyk Galaxy, Mitalano Sector.

Four standard days have passed since the start of "Operation Starlight".

Above the lush planet Trandos, Mobile Fleet 19 orbits lazily in a sun-synchronous orbit.

This fleet of about three hundred warships failed to capitalize on the momentum gained by the Confederate Navy after the destruction of Eliyadu.

Conversely, the entire fleet was shrouded in the wrath of the Confederate First General and was recuperating in the relative calm offered by the Kashyy system.

The agreement to remain neutral in this galactic war was not reached simply because the Wookiees, allied with the Republic, and the Trandoss, allied with the Separatists, lived in the same star system.

On the contrary, precisely because they are mortal enemies, both governments realized that introducing the clone war into their home star system would only lead to mutual destruction.

Moreover, their shared home star system is rich in resources and self-sufficient, which eliminates the practical concerns of many star systems that were originally unwilling to participate in the war about being drawn into it.

Therefore, although Kasik and Trandoza never explicitly declared their allegiance to the Republic or separatism in public, they still indirectly supported their respective camps.

One approach is to allow the Galactic Republic Army and the Confederate States of America Air Force to use its military facilities, provided that they strictly adhere to the policy of not being the first to attack.

What a strange, “fake” battlefield this is, Carly Trilm pondered, how the “Open Ring Fleet” and the Peremian Alliance Fleet could coexist peacefully in the same star system.

How peculiar.

Perhaps "peaceful coexistence" is too strong a word.

Perhaps "peaceful coexistence" would be a more accurate description?

She would be more than happy to remain in this system for the remainder of the war, containing the loyalist forces in the sector while avoiding the war's most brutal effects.

Unfortunately, this is almost impossible.

Carly was assigned to command a fleet of battle maniacs from Peremian who were only interested in revenge.

After Eliadu suffered a decisive blow, if they cannot tear a piece of flesh from the dying republic, they will soon defy her orders and stage a mutiny.

“It’s been four days, General,” the holographic image of Colonel Aviso, the one-eyed soldier from the Bronze Python, flickered violently. “The soldiers are getting impatient.”

Aviso is very professional and won't express his dissatisfaction in a way that's more intense than verbally expressing his disappointment, so Carly tends to mentally amplify the weight of his words.

In this way, his report actually appeared more accurate.

“You need to relax, Aviso,” said Rael Hasor, Sanarraur’s commander, in stark contrast to Aviso. “Peace during wartime is a luxury, and we should enjoy it while we can.”

Unlike Renn, Carly didn't like to dive headfirst into every battle, charging into the fray without a care in the world. "...Major General?" Lieutenant Colonel Aviso asked.

Carly slammed the Republic interplanetary navigator onto the table!
Both officers were startled, their previous postures instantly freezing, becoming stiff and focused.

Interstellar path navigation device.

This was a gift from Ryan Bontry to her a year ago in "Rotation City".

This device can track every Republic Navy ship within six radial parsecs in real time, and it's a one-way uplink, so the source cannot be traced.

During the Galactic Republic Army's "Operation Trident," all the separatist merchant ship raiders near Peremian relied on this interstellar navigation device.

Its code name is "Manipulator One".

Unfortunately, since then, the Galactic Republic Army has reset the code, updated the software, and released new models, making the one she had obsolete.

Right now, this block is at best like a Giwenian puzzle toy, with no practical use.

Click. Click.

However, Carly does like the sound it makes.

She kept it.

Moreover, no one can say for sure when such a trump card will come in handy.

She sighed heavily, slumped into her chair, and began fiddling with the movable parts on the cube, as if the officers in front of her didn't exist.

"Major General?" Lieutenant Colonel Aviso asked again.

Carly raised her head, her gaze not falling on the person in front of her, but through the observation window of the flagship "Sereno Star" to look at the "Open Ring Fleet" orbiting Kashyy in front of her.

Is this Obi-Wan Kenobi's squad?

What lies beyond the Kashyyk orbit?
It is a star.

What lies behind the stars?
It is a leap zone on the Treren trade route, leading directly to the core world.

Operation Stormgate has begun.

“We’re wasting time, General!” Aviso said through gritted teeth. “If we keep wasting time like this, we’ll all be…”

"……All right."

Aviso swallowed back what he was about to say, "General?"

Carly stared at him coldly. "What? Are you a broken tape recorder? I told you so."

"So……"

The rear admiral of Mobile Fleet 19 stood up and gestured to her tactical robot, "Attention all ships, I am your commander. All ships, advance! Move with grace, so our Jedi audience can admire your unwavering resolve!"

The Serenno Star roared beneath her feet.

The approximately three hundred warships of the Peremian fleet responded to her call with blazing engine exhaust and thunderous cannon fire.

“We…we’re finally going to break the non-aggression pact, General!?” Rael Hathor asked, his eyes wide. “Are we going to attack the ‘Opening Fleet’?”

Carly frowned, speechless. "Do you think I'm a warmonger?"

Everyone looked confused. "Then what is our objective?! Are we going to Zeltros as originally planned?"

“I thought you were all getting impatient?” Carly smiled as she considered what Rain would say in this situation. “We’re going to explore the Core World. As guests, we must make a dignified first impression, don’t you think?”

(End of this chapter)