Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 248-240 - Turning Around, Lundelli (First Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets)
Approaching airspace of the Queen Titan Galaxy, Queen Titan Galaxy.

"Isn't there something you should tell us, Barris?" Iscart asked as soon as he returned to the Hyperion.

Barris looked at the two Jedi Masters.

Master Pro Kong has gone to the bridge to resume command of the fleet, while Master Adi Gallia not only did not help her out of the predicament, but also sided with Iscat.

“Indeed,” the Tross Jedi said, arms crossed, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. “Why did 'Battle Hydra' specifically request that we discuss this with you? Is this related to the previous satellite operation, Barris?”

Come on! You already knew that!

Paris could clearly sense Master Gallia's unguarded state; she could tell that the question was more like an inappropriate joke.

The master was just joking with her.

However, Iscart clearly failed to realize that while this red-skinned alien possessed exceptional swordsmanship, he was not as acutely aware of the subtle nuances of the Force.

“Satellite operation?” Iscart seized on the term, unknowingly falling into the Jedi Master’s “game.” “Baris, what have you done?”

Feeling there was no need to avoid the issue any longer, Paris simply raised her hands in surrender and, recalling the operation she had carried out, confessed: "Back then, I implanted not one, but two programs into the satellite. The first was Bode's, and the other... was a separatist spy program."

Iscart froze instantly, the atmosphere tensed up immediately, and even Adi Gallia's smile vanished.

"You're a spy for the separatists?" Iscart Akari scoffed incredulously. "Since when!?"

“Since I came back,” Baris said, her eyes fixed cautiously on the lightsaber at Iscart’s waist.

She knew she was no match for this Jedi, and wasn't even sure if Master Gallia could stop her in time.

If Iscat were to lose control and act, Master Prokone could certainly stop him, but he is not here at the moment.

Paris used the Force to send out a silent plea for help, preparing for the worst.

Adi Gallia's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly drew his lightsaber from Iscart, drawing it toward him.

But doesn't Iscart have two lightsabers?
Paris tried to pass this message on to Master Gallia, but she seemed unaware.

The Jedi Knight turned around. "Master!?"

"Let's hear her explanation first." The Jedi intelligence chief's tone was calm but authoritative.

"But she's a spy!"

“In a sense, we are all spies right now,” Master Gallia retorted. “Haven’t you realized it yet, Iscart? We’ve made a pact with the enemy, we’ve betrayed the Republic, and now, listen to her.”

“…He told me first.” Baris finally admitted, feeling a weight lifted from her heart. “Regarding the Sith Lord, I assure you, the Separatist procedure and the Bode procedure have the same goal. We both want to expose the Sith Lord within the Republic, while that Pantora man wants to expose Count Dooku’s true allegiance so that he can be dealt with in court.”

“Bod’s program is designed to read Coruscant’s satellite data!” Iscart exclaimed excitedly. “If the separatists’ program is doing the same thing… you’re essentially handing over all intelligence about Coruscant to the separatists! Every fleet movement, every key order, every command of every army! How are we supposed to win this war like this?”

“This war, Iscart, will only be a true victory when the Sith are completely wiped out of the galaxy,” Barris explained calmly but firmly. “This is my mission, this is why I agreed to help the Separatists. I don’t care if the Confederation collapses, or the Republic crumbles, or even if both perish at the same time. If it means rebuilding the entire galaxy to eliminate the Sith… I will not hesitate.”

“But…” Iscart looked bewildered, like a lost puppy, “How could we possibly do this with just a few of us? Even the rest of the Supreme Council is still in the dark!”

“We did our best, Iscart.” Master Gallia handed the lightsaber back to her. “We did everything we could, and if we succeeded, we would know that we had stopped a terrible future.”

"What if it fails?"

"At least we can face the end with a smile, and it would be best if we fell under a red lightsaber, because we tried and fought."

Iscart carefully took the weapon.

At this point, Master Gallia continued, "After we return to Coruscant, I will pair the two of you together, and we must begin the process of identifying..."

“Adi.” Master Procon’s voice came through the communicator. “I have received orders from Coruscant: once the safety of the Queen Titan system is ensured, proceed immediately to the Lundiri system to suppress the rebellion. I will arrange for the three of you to return to the capital on escort ships. We each have our own battles to fight. May the Force be with you.”

“Understood. May the Force be with you,” Adi Gallia replied, then turned to his two apprentices. “Come on, girls, another battle is about to begin, and this one, we don’t want to get involved in.”

……

The Chimera's hull shook violently, and a series of shock missiles hit its shields. Rein gritted his teeth to avoid biting his tongue.

Prokhor showed no mercy this time, despite their previous agreement.

The Jedi fleet charged into their ranks, with a sharp vanguard of "Victory-class" Star Destroyers tearing through the front lines, while Procon's larger battlecruisers spread their wings to suppress their flanks.

This time, Procon did not appear to use the Force technique "Battle Meditation".

Ryan thought to himself, "Pro Con needs to make his crew feel like this is a real battle."

Weren't all of Kopro Kong's crew rookies fresh out of military academy?

A fleet depends not only on how advanced its warships are, but also on the fact that even the best warships are meaningless without crew.

However, Pro Kong commanded with exceptional efficiency, steadily applying pressure to the 28th Mobile Combat Fleet and forcing them away from the Queen Titan system.

Speaking of the Queen Titan Galaxy—

"Twenty enemy ships are approaching from the port side, bearing 31.1, 200,000 kilometers away," Diderich Greshad warned. "It's the Titan Guard." "That's it," Renn muttered under his breath. They were about to be surrounded. "Little Titan, order a full retreat. Send ten robot warships from the left flank to cover the rear and hold off the Titans."

"As you command, sir."

Almost instantly, following the robots' uniquely efficient execution methods, the ten "Disobedient-class" destroyers broke away from the main formation and formed a tight defensive line in front of the Titan warships' offensive, led by the "Lexington" and the "Saratoga".

“Very good, very good.” Renn breathed a sigh of relief. “Everything is proceeding according to plan, Dodcia Iliette, is the evacuation route clear?”

“Once we have a clear path, we will first jump to Titon, and then to Ochom in the southeastern part of the core. From there, we can return to the communication channel via the Calist system, bypassing any loyalist forces near Audik.”

“Perfect.” While directing the retreat, Raine sternly reprimanded any ships that strayed from the course, forcing them back into formation.

He couldn't entirely blame the crew. Maintaining formation during battle was already difficult, especially against a tough opponent like the Jedi, and maintaining formation during a retreat was even more challenging.

"'Melodissa,' you've fallen behind!"

In fact, the "Melodissa" rushed too far ahead, after all, they were retreating.

"Sir, our reverse thrusters have malfunctioned!"

The crew of the "Melodissa" responded.

Rein blinked, then contacted the nearby warships: "'Rebel', 'Ronin Hunter', use your forward tractor beams to tow the 'Melodissa' back to formation!"

“'Chimera', this is 'Rebel', understand.”

"'Chimera', this is 'Ronin Hunter', sir."

"The 'Lady Lex' is under boarding attack," Little Tower reported calmly, immediately drawing Ryan's attention.

Two Titan cruisers had surrounded the robotic warship, releasing a swarm of attack ships to forcibly board it.

The squadron put up a fierce resistance, but fighting two against one, they gradually fell into a disadvantageous position under the fierce attack of the Titans.

Soon, the Saratoga was also besieged, with its Vulture robot fighters desperately intercepting wave after wave of Titan attack craft.

“This new queen is quite shrewd, isn’t she?” Rein thought to himself, referring to Elalotta. “It’s good to see that she’s a woman of her word.”

In this way, the Lexington and Saratoga could remain in the Queen Titan system without arousing suspicion as "spoils of war" by the Republic's army.

In effect, they would serve as floating embassies of the Confederation, facilitating trade agreements.

In addition, they are also a kind of... guarantee.

In the unlikely event that the Chancellor issues an order to exterminate the Jedi, Raine at least has warships in nearby star systems that can monitor the Jedi Temple.

"Fleet navigation computers are synchronized, Admiral," Dodcia Eliet reported. "Warp destination confirmed as Titon?"

"Confirmed!" Renn shouted the order. "Little Tower, adjust course!"

The reverse thrusters of the entire fleet array were simultaneously deactivated, and the second rank of warships began to turn first—

Each ship rotates 180 degrees horizontally like a precise gyroscope, so that its stern faces forward.

The rear warships will jump first, led by half of the Illyet fleet, to make room for the front warships to turn around and catch up immediately.

This is the only way to avoid collisions during pseudo-motion in hyperspace.

Not to mention, if both rows of warships turn at the same time, they will only expose their vulnerable sterns to the enemy.

"Urgent communication received from 'Mrs. Lex'!" Taylor suddenly exclaimed in panic. "I'll connect right now!"

Renn squinted at the tactical holographic projection.

He was indeed being boarded the USS Lexington; his eyes were not mistaken.

What could be so urgent?
[Sent from CND_1310RV] Forwarded from ***Didi Believe Me

These few lines of text appeared on the tactical holographic projection, and Renn's heart suddenly stopped, his next breath caught in his throat.

He swallowed hard, feeling as if hooks were tearing at his lungs.

"Cancel the warp drive!" Raine roared into the communications channel. "All ships, turn to bearing 070! Is the Darragon Channel still clear, Illyette!?"

"The rest of the route collapsed thousands of years ago, only reaching the Wulput star system."

"But can we get into the Arrow Star System from there!?"

"can."

"Change destination; set a course to the Rendili system! We're going to support the sister fleet!"

(End of this chapter)