Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 246, Section 238 - Our Game!
(Thanks to the patron, Lazy Panda, for the extra 3.7k chapters)

Somewhere in the space between the Katonemoidea system and the sky.

Major General Carly Trilm was deep in thought about her next move when her tactical robot approached, holding a data tablet.

The decision to skip the Seyuggi system and head straight for Katonemoidea has proven to be the right one.

A new squadron of miniature battleships appeared precisely at their intended location through the Recopi system and launched a surprise attack.

This clearly confirms that the Republic's army, or at least the Coruscant home fleet, has developed algorithms capable of predicting their actions.

This is undoubtedly a tricky situation for the 19th Mobile Combat Fleet.

Truly random attacks are impossible to carry out; the fleet must maintain stable communication links, otherwise it will be wiped out one by one due to the dispersion of its forces.

Therefore, Carly and her staff designed a series of operational patterns that were as "random" as possible, so that the 19th Fleet could not only maintain predictable communication with its internal and auxiliary forces, but also remain efficient in the search for Dua Ningo and the strikes on the Republic's supply lines.

However, if the Republic's army truly masters this algorithm, their attacks will only become nourishment for the enemy's algorithm.

This is indeed a dilemma.

To achieve their goal, they must continue to attack numerous planets in the core region, but the more successful the attacks, the faster the Republic's army can devise countermeasures.

This inevitably raises the question of whether paying such a price is worthwhile.

These are all battle-hardened warships and elite crews; the loss of any one of them is irreparable.

Even more disturbingly, Carly Trilm was completely unable to make contact with the 28th Mobile Operations Fleet.

She deployed an intelligence frigate at the southern edge of her area of ​​responsibility, which is the boundary with the 28th Fleet's assumed operational area in the southern part of the core area, but found neither trace of the sister fleet nor received any signals.

In fact, the fleet of the Free World United Navy seemed content to guard their strongholds on the Rima trade route, and the Tapani Federation remained completely silent.

“It’s all because of the 28th Fleet, or rather, their absence,” Brigadier General Aviso said to her solemnly. “Their presence should have distracted the Republic’s army from us, but they didn’t show up in the core area, allowing the ‘Bloodhound’s’ home fleet to concentrate all its forces on dealing with us.”

Carly rubbed her face.

She knew she had been too hasty, rushing into the core area before "Operation Starlight" was fully prepared.

Even so, according to the original plan, the 28th Fleet should have entered the core area by now.

However, they have vanished without a trace...

Damn it, Bontri!
Where were you when I needed you?!

They had made a pact in South Sili to look after each other while fighting alone in the core area.

But if one party is not present at all, how can the agreement be fulfilled?

Could it be... that it was her fault?
If she is abandoned, will the 19th Fleet be left to act alone?

What if the Independence space station had cancelled the operation to minimize losses?

Thinking of this, Carly's face darkened, and she narrowed her eyes.

None of this can be confirmed.

In the heart of the loyalist-controlled area, she was unable to contact Confederate headquarters.

At that moment, she even considered the feasibility of retreating.

She can order the entire fleet to withdraw from the core area and regroup in friendly space.

The defenders in the core area were almost powerless to stop their complete evacuation.

But this means abandoning the operation, abandoning Dua Ningo and his "Bastion Fleet".

However, if it comes at the cost of everyone's lives, Kari Trilm would not hesitate.

"Major General." Her tactical robot tried to get her attention again. "We have successfully deciphered the data in the interplanetary path navigator."

Carly looked down at the data, but her gaze was still somewhat unfocused. "Filter out the priority intelligence: military channels, fleet deployments, anything that can help us see through 'Bloodhound's' next move."

“We’ve already screened them, Major General.” Tex’s synthesized yet dry tone finally cleared Carly’s mind like a cold wind dispelling the fog. “There’s a communication between Skako and Coruscant regarding the registration of hyperspace routes, followed by a report announcing the invasion of Skako.”

“Skako…has been hacked?” Carly couldn’t help but wonder, how could this be?

“The latest communications seem to suggest that the Republic’s army and the Technology Alliance have begun ceasefire negotiations,” Tex explained. “In any case, this is at least the last known location of the Coruscant home fleet that we can confirm, and the timing coincides with the coordinated counterattack that later destroyed several of our squadrons.”

The possibilities revealed by the interstellar path navigator flashed through Carly's mind, and her blood boiled again, as if injected with a potent spice.

Hope has not been completely extinguished.

If they can intercept the "Bastion Fleet," they can still complete their mission and withdraw safely, leaving the core behind.

"'Bastion Fleet'... What happened to the 'Bastion Fleet'?"

“We detected a battle involving the ‘Bastion Fleet,’ but it’s uncertain whether the Home Fleet was present,” Tex said. “The location was in the Kamas system, east of Skako. According to reports, the ‘Bastion Fleet’ subsequently jumped south to the Demophon system.”

Carly suddenly stood up and unfolded the holographic star map in front of the captain's chair to study it carefully. "The Kamas system... The 'Bastion Fleet' could have jumped from there to the central ring, but they went south instead?"

“Based on our understanding of Admiral Honor Salima, the unusual movements of the ‘Bastion Fleet’ are very likely related to her.” The robot drew a line on the star map from Skako to Kamas and then to Demophon. “If that’s the case, Kamas may be the last location where the Home Fleet was reported.”

"No victory report from the Home Fleet?" "Unless the 'Process One' files are incomplete, Skako was the Home Fleet's last response to Coruscant's communications. This report was sent by the Camassi System Fleet, not the Home Fleet... We speculate that the Home Fleet was present because the report mentions transferring a cruiser squadron to the Home Fleet to bolster its forces."

"...Integrate the data from our intelligence frigates as well," Carly instructed. "Analyze the entire pursuit process."

“Yes.” Tex nodded. “From Demophon, the ‘Bastion Fleet’ jumped southeast to Wuma, where another battle took place. Similarly, we suspect they engaged in combat, as the ‘Bastion Fleet’ then immediately jumped south to Lyria Kersil. Our intelligence escorts have detected traces of the home fleet in neighboring star systems to the north, northwest, and east of Lyria Kersil.”

“They’re driving the ‘Bastion Fleet’ south,” Carly Trilm immediately deduced. “Does this fit our understanding of the ‘Bloodhounds’?”

“That matches,” Tex confirmed. “Admiral Honor Salima is known as a mobile warfare expert.”

“Then the only question is, where exactly does the ‘Bloodhound’ intend to lead the ‘Bastion Fleet’?” Carly pondered, her arms crossed as she stared at the star map. “I can only assume she’s looking for a suitable battlefield to launch a decisive battle… however…”

“If she could maneuver the ‘Bastion Fleet’ so freely, she could have launched a decisive battle when the conditions were right,” her tactical robot continued. “According to my calculations, Skako, Kamas, or Wuma could all have been the battlegrounds for the decisive battle, and the home fleet could have completely annihilated the ‘Bastion Fleet’ in those places.”

“So we’re either facing an extremely bad tactician,” Carly Trilm muttered to herself, “or yet another of Bloodhound’s strategies. What other information can we find in Process One?”

The robot paused for a moment, then said, "...The Honorary Admiral's destination may be the Lundili system. According to a Coruscant communication, the home fleet may be ordered to suppress a separatist attempt in the Lundili sector."

This surprised Carly. "But why would the Rendelli split? I heard last time that their Grand Chancellor was a staunch Rendelli nationalist who was pushing hard to modernize the Rendelli Stardrive Corporation to counter the Quarter. It's hard to believe that he would suddenly turn against them after investing so much in the Republic's infrastructure and warships."

“Only by going to Rendili can we find out the cause.” The robot seemed to shrug. “But arriving at Rendili may also allow us to re-establish contact with the ‘Independence’ space station.”

"Is this possible?"

Tex quickly replied, “No, I think Admiral Honor Salima is trying to lure us to Rendili using the ‘Bastion Fleet’ as bait. She’s not looking for an ordinary decisive battle, but a battle of decisive significance, intending to destroy the ‘Bastion Fleet’, the 19th Mobile Combat Fleet and the Rendili Defense Fleet in one operation.”

“She doesn’t have enough troops,” Carly pointed out.

“If she rejoins General Obi-Wan Kenobi’s ‘Open Ring Fleet’ before then, the force will be sufficient,” the droid warned. “Admiral Ningo may have less than a hundred combat-ready ships left, the Lundley defense fleet has no more than two hundred, and we have two hundred, for a total of five hundred. The Coruscant home fleet and the ‘Open Ring Fleet’ will form a force of over six hundred warships, with each ship having a larger tonnage.”

Falk.

Carly Trilm felt the data panel in her hands grow heavy as she unconsciously scrolled through the massive archive of reports.

They had to dispatch special frigates to process the massive amount of information flowing out of Coruscant, sifting through it to determine which information was important and which was merely a senator's private dealings.

Until a particular communication caught her attention.

Carly picked up the data tablet and handed it to the tactical robot.

This was an inquiry from Coruscant requesting the deployment of any available warships from the Anax Shipyard.

Undoubtedly, the Republic's Navy was attempting to assemble a new fleet to deal with any invasions of the core area, but this still caught her attention.

She manipulated the data panel, trying to filter through all relevant communications. There were many similar messages, mostly inquiries from nearby star systems about available warships.

“To suppress the attacks on the agricultural loop.” Carly read out a line that particularly caught her attention, then looked up at Tex. “What does this remind you of?”

"...The likelihood of the 28th Mobile Combat Fleet operating along the agricultural loop is extremely low—"

“What brainless idiot would launch an attack so close to Coruscant?” Carly couldn’t help but laugh. “Wasn’t Bontri fighting in Yagdul last time? That’s the Given people’s homeworld. Is it possible that he used some special space routes to bypass the core?”

“And…” she grinned, shaking the data panel between two fingers, “what are the chances of us contacting him through ‘Process One’?”

“Processor One” provides us with data from Coruscant’s satellites.” Tex retrieved the data panel. “This is possible if the 28th Fleet is within the Republic’s military communications network, but it’s risky. The Republic’s military might notice anomalies in its network, or even unauthorized transmissions. Right now, we don’t understand how the ‘Priestess’ network system works, and we could jeopardize the Confederation’s most powerful intelligence source.”

"Rendelli, trust me."

"what?"

“Send this message to him, no matter where he is,” Carly said. “Keep it short so that even the Republic’s army can’t detect it while eavesdropping, but make sure he understands.”

“If he could access the same data as us, he would understand that we are telling him it’s a trap.” The robot shook its head. “He probably wouldn’t believe it.”

"Tex".

"Sir?"

"I'll send it myself."

"...Yes, sir."

"Issue orders to the entire fleet: We are to regroup in the Rendili system!"

Have I ever, even once, directly asked you to trust me completely?

That annoying voice echoed in Carly's mind.

Her answer at the time was:
there has never been.

Because I know you won't ask me to trust you.

This is our game, isn't it?

Right from the beginning.

Therefore, this tactic should only be used in critical moments.

(End of this chapter)