Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 251, Section 243 - Rescue Operation
Ryan knew that long, uninterrupted hyperspace travel was fraught with risks.

Conducting such voyages, especially in enemy-occupied territory, is a major taboo in military strategy.

Although the fleet is virtually invincible in hyperspace, the moment it leaves hyperspace is precisely its most vulnerable moment.

During hyperspace travel, the fleet is completely isolated from the normal universe, and navigation instruments are temporarily turned off because they would be unable to adapt in hyperspace and would issue false alarms.

When traveling in hyperspace, there is no real navigation. The fleet is like an arrow released from a bow, and can only rely on the pre-calculated jump coordinates.

Communication was also completely interrupted, and to this day no technology has been able to achieve cross-dimensional communication.

For this reason, standard procedures require fleets to conduct reconnaissance out of hyperspace multiple times during long voyages, especially when crossing enemy territory.

According to the Galactic Navy's guidelines, the standard practice is to exit hyperspace a few light-years away from the target and first send out a reconnaissance team to investigate the situation.

If the reconnaissance ship returns on time and reports that it is safe, the final leg of the voyage will continue.

If the mission fails to return, it is assumed that there is an ambush in the target area, and the operation must be cancelled.

This is a standard procedure that has stood the test of time.

The 28th Fleet was supposed to follow this procedure, but two practical problems arose.

First, it takes half a day to a full day for a fleet of nearly two hundred ships to complete the entire process of leaving hyperspace, regrouping, correcting course, calibrating instruments, planning routes, synchronizing hyperspace drives, and connecting to navigation computers.

Secondly, the coordinated jump of such a large fleet is inherently extremely risky, and any minor calculation error could lead to a catastrophic collision.

While some precautions can be omitted, as in an emergency, the time spent waiting for the reconnaissance ship to report cannot be saved in any way.

However, time is now the most precious thing.

Half a day can determine the outcome of a battle.

Considering that the mission was to provide support, Raine ultimately decided to risk omitting the reconnaissance procedure, a decision that was also approved by Given's allies.

When the last friendly signal appeared on the tactical map, Raine slowly stood up.

At this moment, the Coruscant home fleet is closing in from all sides, with a massive force of three hundred warships tightening the encirclement.

Ryan felt a tightness in his throat, unsure whether it was from fear, anxiety, or excitement.

For a moment, he felt as if his soul had left his body, looking down at his own figure from the air.

"Three hundred enemy ships detected, sir." Taylor's synthesized voice carried a clear hint of tension.

Renn quickly calculated the balance of power between the enemy and himself.

The Republic has fewer than two hundred warships, while another seventy, commanded by Vinok and Chom, are fighting in the core area.

Vinok's 4th Battle Division was too far away, as it was on the mission of protecting communication lines and mopping up the remnants of the Republic.

Chom's 6th Auxiliary Division was deemed unfit for combat and has been ordered to join the 4th Division.

This was the first time Rennes had faced an enemy fleet that was fully prepared and ready for battle.

The vanguard of the 28th Fleet has begun to retaliate.

According to combat procedures, they were prepared to be ambushed when they exited hyperspace.

Although the initial shelling was not very accurate, mostly driven by instinct and some even missed the target, it at least caused enough chaos.

It is worth noting that although the enemy's formation was clearly designed to target them, the encirclement was very extensive.

This cannot be blamed on the enemy commander; accurately predicting the fleet's exit point from hyperspace is virtually impossible, and even guessing the general area is quite difficult. This deployment allows the vanguard to maintain some maneuverability on the flanks, even though they have already entered the range of the turbo-laser cannons.

The home fleet was clearly aware of this problem and had already deployed Victory-class Star Destroyers on its flanks as guided missile cruisers.

But Captain Given reacted faster than anyone expected.

The "Crest-class" corvettes quickly turned to their flanks, and their point defense gun systems intercepted incoming missiles with astonishing accuracy.

Most remarkably, Given's crew relied entirely on mental calculations for all ballistic calculations and firing pattern settings, without using computers or the Force.

Ryan had once visited the cockpit of the Peak-class frigate, and its simplicity was astonishing.

There were no computer devices, only basic charts, input devices, and a steering wheel.

All navigation calculations are done in the minds of the crew.

“Little Tower,” Ryan forced himself to remain calm and began to execute the escape plan, “we need to buy time.”

The robot nodded quickly, and with its completely objective thinking, it practically took over the battlefield command responsibilities.

TF-1726 accessed the tactical map of the Chimera and ordered Diderich Greshad's 3rd Battle Division to advance.

Led by the HMS Krumprinz, thirty heavy warships advanced in a column on the right flank. Then they suddenly turned left, flanking back along the left flank, forming an inverted U-shaped network of intense fire.

"It seems your calculations are flawed, Dordsia!" Diderich Greshad roared atop his flagship, the pulse cannons roaring in unison with his command.

“No,” Dodcia Eliet responded, by which time the Third Division’s attack had temporarily relieved the pressure. “Our appearance saved the 19th Fleet as planned.”

Raine immediately looked at the tactical map.

Although the Chimera's sensors had difficulty penetrating the dense network of fire, he glimpsed another battle millions of kilometers to the southeast through the sensors of other ships.

That must be the 19th Mobile Combat Fleet, trying to break through the defenses of another Republic fleet.

Or rather, it was a Republic fleet that was forced to split its forces to deal with two fleets simultaneously.

If they hadn't arrived in time, the 19th Fleet would likely have been surrounded and annihilated by the two detachments of the Republic Fleet.

"How many warships does the 19th Fleet have?" Rein pondered a breakout plan while relying on Taf for cover.

“Four hundred to five hundred ships,” Eliette reported, taking advantage of her better vantage point, “but they are completely surrounded by the Republic fleet, I’m not sure…”

"Surrounded!?" Hogo Schiff, in charge of defense, shouted. "Shouldn't our Countess of Claysm be able to handle this better?"

“She certainly can,” Given observed the battle with an air of superiority. “The 19th Fleet is breaking through the encirclement.”

“Then we must find a way to rendezvous with them,” Renn said in a low voice, finally settling on a plan of maneuver, while thinking that if Vinok’s seventy heavy battleships were present, those ships would have greatly increased their chances of victory.

“Easier said than done, sir,” Kretz interjected.

“Dodcia,” Renn called out, “how many mines do you have left?”

"Sufficient reserves, General."

“I’m sending you the command package now,” Ryan’s fingers flew across the console. “Execute it immediately.”

"……clear."

"Attention all ships..." Renn took a deep breath, "Submerge!"

(End of this chapter)