Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 208-210 - Institute of Astronomical Computing
Mobile Fleet 19, commanded by Carly Trilm, is approaching the "Open Ring Fleet" which is orbiting the Wookiee homeworld, Kashyyk.

Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi formed a defensive formation to prepare for battle.

Fleet Commander General Brock believed that the separatists might use a feint to lure the Republic fleet away from its defensive position before turning to attack Kasik.

However, Obi-Wan Kenobi, with his keen Force senses, noticed something amiss.

In the tense moment when the two fleets were about to enter engagement range, Obi-Wan saw through Carly's true intentions.

The 19th Mobile Fleet's course was not aimed at Kashyyk, but rather it perfectly avoided him. Its true objective was to use the gravitational slingshot effect of the stars to directly jump into hyperspace and launch a surprise attack on the heart of the Republic's core world.

Although the Republic's fleet gave chase at full speed, it was too late.

The separatist fleet successfully activated its hyperspace engines, leaving behind the iconic Kronau radiation trail.

Based on his strategic assessment, Obi-Wan ordered the Open Ring Fleet to immediately jump to the strategically important Komeno system in order to deploy defenses or intercept the next move of the Separatist fleet in advance.

……

Harlem Sector.

On the bridge of the attack cruiser "Chimera", Rein gazed at the approaching enemy fleet.

His fingers slid rapidly across the control panel.

A pair of rotating dials surround the holographic image of Aghdur, like an ancient astronomical instrument, with tiny markings indicating the absolute orientation relative to the standard plane of the Milky Way.

The holographic planets rotate slowly, simulating the motion of galaxies, but their absolute positions remain constant, firmly anchored to the coordinates set by the standard galactic grid.

New territories are always in the north, unknown areas are in the west, and subsequent star sectors are in the south.

Even if the Milky Way itself spirals through the universe at a speed of 250 kilometers per second, these orientations will never change.

This is the cornerstone of the galactic civilization.

standardization.

Standard orientation, standard time, standard distance, standard alphabet.

Standardization is often taken for granted, yet it is this invisible but steady hand that has guided civilization toward peace and prosperity over the past ten thousand years.

Ironically, standardization is also the foundation of meticulous planning in every war, and the platform for calculating mass destruction and slaughter.

Three republican fleets are advancing towards Yagdul from different directions.

Raine switched to the holographic view to get a bird's-eye view of the entire battlefield.

To the northeast, at an azimuth of 033 degrees and a distance of 100,000 kilometers, lies the 20th Star System Fleet, commanded by Governor Octavian Grant, and comprised of 250 warships.

As a second-line combat force, its main force consists of a squadron of attack cruisers surrounded by small ships.

Based on a comprehensive assessment of quantity and tonnage, its combat capability is roughly equivalent to that of the 28th Mobile Fleet.

To the northwest, at an azimuth of 341 degrees and a distance of 90,000 kilometers, lies the "Swift Justice" task force commanded by Jedi General Empatojejos Brand.

This fleet had just escaped the siege of Fondow and had more than a hundred warships.

Although the fleet has added several sleek Fondorian ships, including the new 'Knight'-class star destroyers, its overall strength is weaker than that of the 28th Mobile Fleet.

To the southeast, at an azimuth of 150 degrees and a distance of 150,000 kilometers, is the "Open Ring Fleet" commanded by Anakin Skywalker, which has three hundred warships and is separated from the approaching allied forces to the north by the planet Yggdul.

This fleet, equipped with over one hundred Hunter-class Star Destroyers, is currently the most threatening force on the battlefield.

Even if the 28th Mobile Fleet gives it its all, it may not be able to defeat this fleet.

“The enemy’s total number of warships is slightly less than seven hundred,” came Congressman Dagibus Scoritoles’s voice over the communicator, his tone heavy.

The Given representative was informing the officers of the 28th Mobile Fleet, "On behalf of the 'Astronomical Computing Institute,' I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for your efforts in liberating this system. Given the Republic's overwhelming superiority, the 'Astronomical Computing Institute' still recommends that you retreat. Rest assured, even in the face of the overwhelming power before us, Agdur will not fall into the hands of the Republic; this is our mathematical judgment."

The Givens of Yagdur are the most respected group of mathematicians in the galaxy, and the "Institute of Astronomical Computation" is the elite of the elite.

Different ethnic groups place varying degrees of importance on the assessment of the Given people, but they are among the few ethnic groups that can support their claims with solid data.

When Dagibus Scoritoles even abandoned the Givens' usual mathematical greetings and instead pleaded urgently for the fleet to retreat, the hope of victory was clearly slim. "Has the 'Astronomical Computation Institute' already determined the probability of victory to be 'zero'?" Renn leaned back in his command chair, his posture almost relaxed.

“No event has an absolute probability of ‘zero,’ General,” Given stared at him through the eternally frozen expression of horror formed by his ossified exoskeleton. “But the enemy has three times the number of your warships and is encircling you from three directions… Retreat, regroup with your allies, and then launch a counterattack. That is the only viable strategy right now. The Astronomical Computing Institute has already prepared a detailed retreat plan for your fleet.”

"Congressman, please allow me to express a bit of confusion," Ryan's voice turned cold as he gestured, "Why do you always use 'you' instead of 'we'? Isn't the Mathematical Democracy a formal member of the Confederation? Yagdul's shipyard is world-renowned, and its 'Crest-class' frigates are even more famous. Don't you intend to fight alongside us?"

“Unfortunately, the Institute of Astronomical Computing has reservations about deploying its valuable warships,” Senator Scoritoles said stiffly, bowing slightly. “If we are defeated, we will be unable to defend our orbits and atmospheric space.”

"Then, how can we convince the 'Institute of Astronomical Computation' that we are destined for victory?" Renn pressed. "Do I need to personally travel to the twelve city-states and explain my strategy with detailed charts?"

“I have presented your strategy to the Institute of Astronomical Computation,” Senator Given replied. “Their assessment concluded that it is extremely unfeasible. The strategy of dividing and attacking is only effective if the enemy has a superior total force and you have an advantage in dealing with any one of their divisions. However, the current conditions are not met. The 20th Star System Fleet is on par with our strength, while the Open Ring Fleet is superior to us in every way.”

How did the Institute of Astronomical Computing arrive at this conclusion?

"Based on an assessment of the massive battle datasets accumulated over millennia by the Milky Way coefficient, the 'Institute of Astronomical Computing' possesses all the data, provided you have the capability to interpret and analyze it."

Raine thought to himself that in order to persuade the other party, he would need to analyze all the battle data since the birth of the Mathematical Democracy within a few hours, which was undoubtedly a typical manifestation of the Given style.

“Then this battle will be a statistical outlier,” Ryan promised. “Congressman, you keep emphasizing that we will lose the upcoming battle, but the battle has already begun.”

"you mean--?"

“Exactly,” Raine raised his hand again, pointing to a main display screen, and five pairs of eyes on the bridge focused on it simultaneously. “As you can see, we are weakening the enemy. The fifty attack cruisers of the ‘Open Ring Fleet’ are withdrawing. Without this force, the ‘Open Ring Fleet’ no longer has an overwhelming advantage and its strength is comparable to ours.”

"But you lost seventy warships for this."

"It's seventy frigates, which is a fair deal. Moreover, if your country's 'Crest-class' frigates can join the operation, the losses can be made up."

“Even so,” Dagibus Scoritoles’ holographic image flickered slightly, “no fleet has ever been able to defeat three equally matched enemy forces in succession. Historical data is irrefutable, and there has never been a precedent.”

“The Astronomical Computing Institute seems to have failed to understand,” Brigadier General Hogo Schiff interjected slowly, his tone carrying the calm characteristic of a Mun financier. “The 28th Mobile Fleet is no ordinary fleet. Trust a Munman, a congressman, we will not easily use our accumulated wealth. High-risk investments seek high returns, and this fleet is our all-or-nothing gamble, as is the entire Confederation.”

This war itself was a tremendous adventure, and the three most calculating races in the galaxy—the Muen, the Sinite, and the Given—had all placed their votes of confidence in it, but…

He paused, his gaze sharp, "There is only one race that has not yet taken any concrete action."

The representative of Jiwen fell into a long silence, his dark, deep-set eyes sweeping over the officers present one by one.

Confidence or emotion cannot sway him; the people of Given only recognize one language: logic supported by data.

“Please convey my words to the Institute of Astronomical Computing,” Ryan finally broke the silence. “They should not fall into the misconception that ‘divide and conquer’ is merely a fancy phrase used by military strategists to embellish a simple concept.”

Dagibus Scoritoles asked, "What do you mean?"

“I will defeat the enemy, no matter how many times it takes,” Raine stood up, arms outstretched as if embracing the entire battlefield. “Once, twice, three times, four times… Do you know why I had to defeat three enemy fleets? Because the fourth has already been destroyed by me.”

The main display screen clearly shows the location of the Galactic Republic's besieging fleet directly above the 28th Mobile Fleet, at an azimuth of 000 degrees and a distance of zero kilometers.

This force, which intended to conquer Yagdur by force, once possessed four hundred warships.

once.

If Anakin Skywalker's plan was to have the besieging fleet entangle the 28th Mobile Fleet to buy time for the encirclement forces, then he has failed.

Under the combined attack of the Confederate fleet, all the warships of the besieging fleet were destroyed within three hours, with none spared.

Ryan took a few steps forward until he was close to the skeletal holographic face of the Givenman senator. “If the ‘Astronomical Computing Institute’ needs a historical precedent, then tell them that they are witnessing the making of history. I have destroyed a force of equal strength that was on the defensive, and I will repeat this victory three more times.”

Senator Scoritoles leaned back slightly, creating a small distance between them. "A victory may just be a fluke."

A challenging glint flashed in Raine's eyes, his heterochromatic pupils like precisely cut crystal. "So, twice?"

They looked into each other's eyes.

If the Given people possessed the biological ability to express smiles, perhaps Dagibus Scoritoles would have displayed it at this moment.

“Two victories,” the congressman’s voice remained steady, but with an unusual undertone, “are irrefutable proof.”

(End of this chapter)