Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 239, Section 231 - No Surrender
Near the outer ring of Los, in the Recopi system, in the Humbalin sector.

“Just as the general said, they are indeed here,” Commander Adar Talon whispered. “So this is how separatists operate right under our noses.”

Captain Jane Dordener nodded slightly. "That's not all. The Comenor's advanced communication system has detected at least six ships."

About three million kilometers away from them, two massive spaceships were orbiting the outer ring of the mining planet, Los.

The massive stars of the Recopi Galaxy shone brightly behind them, illuminating their outlines.

Judging from the superstructure, these two ships should be modified bulk carriers.

Donaton speculated that they were likely the temporary auxiliary supply ships mentioned by Admiral Honnold.

The Cautious's sensors detected satellite signals in the vicinity, possibly from a small ship traveling between the planet and the mothership to carry out resupply missions, which further confirmed their speculation.

These ships are currently retreating to their hangars and berths at full speed, while the combat patrol aircraft on the auxiliary ships are already lined up to engage them.

“Focus on the present, Jane,” Adal said. “If we destroy these two, we can cripple all of Trilm’s operations in this area. She will have to concentrate her squadron around the remaining auxiliary ships in order to sustain a long-term operation.”

“…Adar, you should go pilot the fighter jet.” Donaden said to his friend, then turned to the data processing area. “Target locked?”

“Two auxiliary ships,” a sensor officer quickly reported, “one Trade Union ‘Rookley-Hook’ class battleship, identified as an aircraft carrier configuration…and three Rendili dreadnoughts.”

Adal Talon frowned. "A Trade Federation aircraft carrier? They're not going to let us relax for a bit?"

“Go forth, Commander,” Donaden ordered. “We will draw its fire and cover your advance. Remember…”

"Attack the support ships first, I understand." Commander Talon waved as he left. "They definitely didn't expect this move."

Jane Dordenauer took a deep breath, mentally rehearsing the attack plan, and then gave the order: "All ships, three-line formation! 'Victory' squadron, advance! 'Venice-class' squadron, all starfighters, sortie!"

The Victory-class Star Destroyer USS Nike, along with six other ships of the same class, broke out of the Venezia-class fleet and advanced side by side, their missile launch bays opening and entering a state of combat readiness.

The main reactors were operating at full capacity, propelling these powerful warships forward at speeds far exceeding those of the separatist vessels, their exhaust flames sweeping across the entire formation.

The auxiliary ships had begun to flee, abandoning supply boats that couldn't return in time, while the isolated 'Rucrehook-class' and three Lundli dreadnoughts formed a rough battle line, attempting to buy time.

"Fire Arrow Squadron, depart! Claw Squadron, depart! Nemesis Squadron, depart!" A calm voice came from the loudspeaker as the starfighter squadron of the "Caution" rushed into space, using the wake of the "Victory" squadron as cover.

Donadon barely noticed Adal Talon's fighter-bomber formation—

They took a roundabout route, regrouping while disengaging from the main force along a vertical path.

As soon as Adar Talon’s “Claw” squadron disembarked, he ordered the engines shut down, and the live feed disappeared from Donaton’s screen, leaving only a flashing last known track.

"I hope you're right, it takes time for those auxiliary ships to start their engines," Donaden muttered to himself, while observing the 1,500 Vulture robot fighters forming a dense "swarm" formation as usual.

He understood why this tactic always worked. For a group of robot "brains," it was the most natural tactic, and the psychological pressure brought by the overwhelming, all-consuming swarm of robots was indeed terrifying.

This is just one of many reasons, and it's also why Donaton himself would never pilot a starfighter.

The Battle of Peremian is associated with many horrific tales, while the Battle of Centares saw over a million droid starfighters launch the largest swarm attack in galactic history.

It can be said that the Republic's interstellar fighter tactical experts have been working tirelessly to find a way to counter it.

This time, the solution once again fell to the Victory-class Star Destroyers.

The "Nike" charged into the swarm of robots as if they were nothing, its turbo laser cannons and point defense laser cannons forming a dense barrage that tore a gap in the enemy ranks.

Once the swarm's greatest advantage is destroyed, Donaden's own starfighters can flood the breach like parasites, dismantling the enemy from within.

"Three o'clock to starboard," Donaden ordered the helmsman, "lead us to the port flank of the enemy ship. If necessary, we'll drive the separatists to that planet!"

The massive ship "Cautious" turned, its gun deck doors wide open, gleaming, and led a column of eight ships at the front.

Bypassing the battleground of starfighters locked in combat, his eight Venetian-class star destroyers discovered that the enemy cruisers had anticipated the attack, and a fierce firefight ensued.

Unfortunately, the separatists were outmatched in both firepower and tonnage, and were forced to retreat continuously.

He caught a glimpse of the fleeing auxiliary ship out of the corner of his eye and considered whether to send a reserve fighter-bomber squadron in pursuit.

But this idea proved superfluous. Commander Adar Talon's bomber squadron suddenly appeared from the back of Outer Ring Lost. They circled the planet once and swooped down on the relatively weakly defended auxiliary ships, almost instantly breaking through the remaining combat patrols and precisely destroying their engines.

After confirming that the auxiliary ship had lost power and was only floating by inertia, the "Claw" squadron immediately turned and began to approach the remaining Rukri Hook-class stern.

"Send a message urging surrender," Donaden ordered.

"They're not responding, sir!" a deck officer shouted, instinctively ducking. At that moment, an enemy cruiser broke apart due to an internal reactor explosion, sending high-speed debris flying in all directions.

The "Victory" squadron approached from the front, Donaton's "Venice" squadron continued to apply pressure from the flanks, and the "Claw" squadron approached from the rear. The isolated Rukri Hook-class was now completely surrounded.

“Send it again,” Donaden said, his fingers unconsciously brushing the stubble from his face. “They should understand that being captured is better than death.”

"...Excuse my bluntness, Captain," the communications officer replied cautiously but frankly, "this is the Peremian Alliance, and I don't think they will surrender."

Jane Dordenauer suppressed a sigh.

He continued to send unanswered messages to the Rukri Hook-class cruisers, even as the last Dreadnought-class cruiser was torn to pieces by a salvo of missiles fired by the USS Nike and other Victory-class Star Destroyers.

Even though hundreds of concussion warheads tore through the hull, the seismic waves echoed and destroyed the internal structure, ultimately utterly destroying the giant ship.

Boiling atmosphere spewed from the crack, hurling debris and corpses into the frigid space.

"...Where to next, Captain?"

Donaden turned around, his expression calm: "Where is the nearest separatist attack squad?"

"The scan shows the Sarapin system, but that information is from several hours ago—"

"Based on their attack patterns, can we predict the next jump point?"

"It should be the Seyuggi system, Captain."

"In planning flight routes, we cannot lose our current advantages."

……

Coruscant, in the funeral hall of the Jedi Temple.

Upon seeing Baris and Iscart appear, Prokhor cleared his throat. "Now that everyone's here, Adi... why did you choose such a... dull place for the meeting?"

"This is the only place I've confirmed where I won't be overheard," Master Adi Gallia said dryly. "Alright, now let's talk about the mission!"

“Wait,” Iscart suddenly interrupted, “Isn’t Bod here?”

"You shouldn't be here in the first place."

"Then why does Paris receive such special treatment?"

“If you’re willing to listen,” Adi Gallia patiently explained, “you might be able to find out why.”

Iscart opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately did not continue speaking.

“You may not have heard yet,” the Jedi intelligence chief nodded with satisfaction, and continued, “The Queen Titan system has now seceded from the Republic and declared its allegiance to the Separatists… About a week ago, the Separatist fleet began harassing the agricultural ring, and I estimate that Coruscant will face a shortage of basic supplies within a month.”

"……what?"

The Jedi Master continued, "Therefore, we need to carry out a... diplomatic mission to the Queen Titan system."

Diplomatic mission?

"Just the four of us?" Paris asked, puzzled.

“Just the four of us,” Master Prokhor confirmed.

"why?"

“I am the Jedi with the most diplomatic experience in the Temple,” Master Adi Gallia pointed out. “Iscat should not be here, and Master Pro is the only one who has defeated the Battle Hydra on the battlefield.”

“‘Battle Hydra’!” Paris’s heart skipped a beat, though she couldn’t clearly remember the face.

"'Battle Hydra' is in the deep core!?" Iscart exclaimed. "This... is bad."

"Is there a fleet to take us to the Queen Titan system?" Barris asked.

“The Strategic Planning Center held an emergency meeting,” Master Adi Gallia explained. “Master Pro requested that a fleet be sent to the Queen Titan system. Although he nearly lost his life in Metalon, he is the only one who has defeated Renn Bontrie in his area of ​​expertise, and the Supreme Command has no reason to refuse.”

“But what are we going to talk about?” Iscart pressed. “We still need to face the Battle Hydra!”

“What else is there to talk about?” Jedi Master Adi Gallia smiled kindly. “We do need allies to fight the Sith Lord. If Master Pro is not mistaken, the ‘Battle Hydra’ might know who the Sith Lord is.”

(End of this chapter)