Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 264, Section 266 - The Game Behind the Mask
Fighting someone who refuses to accept defeat is nothing short of a military nightmare.

But how do we coordinate with the military forces in each star sector?
For Ahsoka, it was another kind of political hell.

Despite being allies, she had to make more concessions to them than to her enemies.

She forced herself to calm down and gather her primal force, as if to soothe her emotions which were on the verge of collapse.

A notification sound drew her attention to the data panel.

Another report.

Ahsoka opened the report, hoping that troops could be freed up on some front or elsewhere so that they could be redeployed to a more critical theater of operations.

Or perhaps it's good news from the core world shipyards, securing new warships and transport ships for the southern front.

"The 257th Galaplassis Corps requests reinforcements and close air support. The 45th Armored Battalion of Trigillis needs more medical supplies. The 64th Assault Division of Alkono requests immediate evacuation." Asoka numbly relayed the requests to the relevant departments. "Lieutenant Colonel, we need to evacuate troops from the Alkono system. Where is the nearest available fleet?"

Fajinak looked up from the simulated combat platform. "At Ode Vog, sir."

"Operations Department! How many ships do we need to evacuate our people from Alkeno?" Asoka asked.

"Thirty-two ships, sir!" The operations officer tapped the control panel a few times. "Uh... if they can squeeze in a bit, twenty-five will do!"

“We only have seventeen ships in Ode Voge,” Fajinak said, “but it has just been confirmed that another forty transport ships will be deployed there.”

"Operations Department, immediately dispatch those seventeen ships to Alcano," Asoka hurriedly ordered. "Tell the 64th Division that the rest are on their way!"

“We also need to allocate some escort ships for them, especially capital ships,” the lieutenant colonel warned. “Alkeno is a hotspot for separatist activity, which I suspect is why we were forced to retreat. In any case, without orbital cover, our transport ships will be shot down like raindrops in the lower city before they even land.”

Are there any other fleets nearby...?
Alkonos Sector... Enclon System!

“Send some ships from the nearby Enkron system,” Ahsoka ordered. “We will be withdrawing completely from the Alkonos sector, so we don’t need them to hold the flanks at Enkron. Have them rendezvous in space before entering Alkonos.”

"I will pass that on to the communications department, sir."

“Logistics,” she told her deputy, who strode quickly to the next work station, “allocate some medical frigates to Julzan. They have escort priority! The details are yours to handle.”

“But, sir… we’ve already dispatched escort ships to the main planet of Avelles!” The officer’s voice trembled, his tone too high, revealing his youth. “We’re still waiting for the Julzan system to have some ships available, and… we don’t have any left!”

His words were almost incoherent: "I...I have submitted a request to the Republic's Defense Procurement Bureau, but I haven't received any reply yet!"

Even in the cool, dim light of the operations room, sweat glistened on his skin, shimmering under the faint blue light of the holographic display.

His wide eyes were fixed on Ahsoka, trying to conceal his fear beneath a professional facade.

“Calm down,” she cursed the Republic’s Defense Procurement Agency in her mind, while a star map flashed through her head. “Does Julzan have priority?”

“I…I don’t know, sir!” he shrieked. Yes, this wasn’t his department.

Jurzan, Jurzan…!
Ahsoka narrowed his eyes. "Recall the frigates sent to Julzan and redeploy them to Trigilis; that's the priority there."

"But Julzan—!"

“If the situation becomes critical, they will submit an evacuation request,” Ahsoka said, her tone more forceful than she wanted to. “Follow my orders, and I will take full responsibility.”

“Yes…yes, sir,” the officer’s hesitation was obvious.

“Give me the logbooks for all the shortage supplies,” Ahsoka said, drifting back to the communications station like a vengeful ghost. “I will submit another request to the Republic’s Defense Procurement Bureau.”

Coruscant, Coruscant Sector.

Senate Hall.

"Today we gather here to discuss the future planning of our military's war efforts," Supreme Council Speaker Palpatine announced to the assembled military advisory council, "regarding the turbulent situation in the separatist space."

“I see no reason whatsoever to change our course of action,” Senator Jenny H. Nurk commented dismissively. “The separatists are killing each other, trying to exploit their rampant idiocy to break through and take Laxus and Sereno!”

Her words might have resonated more with the large audience at the Strategic Planning Amphitheatre, but unfortunately, the amphitheatre was already in ruins, destroyed by the Barrier Fleet's attack on Coruscant.

Here, Senator Ha Nook's inflammatory long-winded speeches were hardly appreciated.

"What are we going to do, Senator?" General Cole Hilton scoffed. "We just lost the Battle of Serrano, crippling two sector fleets. The Eighth and Ninth Sector Armies are on the defensive, and our reserve fleets are either stationed in the Inner Ring or deployed to other fronts. We are almost incapable of launching a coordinated attack on Laxus or Serrano at the same time, let alone both."

"Are you suggesting we let the separated molecules escape...?"

“Absolutely not,” the General of the 3rd District Army retorted first. “I agree with you. This is an advantageous situation that we must seize. With separatist forces divided between the two governments, we only need to identify the more threatening faction and concentrate our efforts on dealing with them.”

“The threat is greater,” commented Armand Issaad, the Republic’s Director of Intelligence, “or the weaker side.”

Adi Gallia was thought to be the hawk type... but it seems he's just ambitious.

He doesn't care about the state of the galaxy or whether the Republic wins, as long as he can keep climbing; he just wants to reach the top.

This is the difference between hawks and militarists.

Cole Hilton was a decent militarist, but he wasn't a hawk.

However, most of the time, the influence of the Republic's army depends on an ongoing war.

The same applies to Armand al-Isad.

Speaker Palpatine pointed his fingers into a spire and gave the observers on the committee a meaningful look. “I would like to hear your opinions on this matter, Jedi Master.”

She was surprised to be invited to a secret military advisory council meeting of Speaker Palpatine, a meeting usually attended only by his most loyal followers and echo chambers.

The Jedi have never participated in such a committee before, but now they are, and this is the first time.

Of course, Adi Gallia is obligated to attend all such political and diplomatic summits, but the invitations sent to the Jedi Order could only be specifically for Master Yoda.

“Count Dooku, we must bring him to justice,” Master Yoda tapped the floor with his cane. “He represents a legitimate separatist government.”

The deep, hoarse voice of Master Yoda contrasted sharply with the sharp voice that Adi Gallia could only speculate to have dominated in regular meetings.

"Not Laxus Sekendus?" General Cole Hilton leaned forward on the table, clearly interested.

"The 'legitimate' Laxus government has been overthrown by the Separatist supreme commander," Armand Issaad coldly noted. "Now Severn Tann controls the Laxus government, and our agents report that thousands of Separatist forces are tearing the world apart between Laxus and Sereno... The only reason they haven't blindly flocked to Count Dooku is because Severn Tann's Confederate armed forces are their only shield."

"Moreover, Sereno's influence cannot extend beyond the new territory," Speaker Palpatine pointed out.

“That’s part of the reason,” Master Yoda nodded to Palpatine, “but it’s still something we can take advantage of.”

"So the question is, which side should we direct our forces towards?" the Speaker pondered. To this Jedi Master, this small advisory committee of only a dozen or so people was the true mastermind behind the war.

“I believe the answer is beyond doubt, Speaker,” Cole Thurden said confidently, as if his opinion were the only key factor. “We must focus our efforts on Count Dooku and his Sereno government to avenge our defeat at Serrano.”

“I agree,” Master Yoda nodded wisely. “Count Dooku started this war, and he must pay the price for his crimes.”

“But the one who actually commanded the war was that Pantora,” Speaker Mas Ameda reminded him. “Does her crime just because she turned against Dooku mean it can be wiped clean?”

“That’s right,” Senator Hanuk clenched his fist. “Both of them must be punished.”

“But we must be realistic, Congressman,” a governor-general retorted. “Once we’ve taken down one side, we can naturally turn our attention to the other.”

“That’s one way of thinking,” Armand Issaad agreed.

"Oh?" General Serden raised an eyebrow. "Does the Director have other plans?"

“I also believe that we should prioritize dealing with Count Dooku, but for different reasons,” the Director of the Republic’s Intelligence Bureau placed a document on the table, “because he is an idealist, and the separatist regime is built on his inflammatory rhetoric and flowery words. He will never negotiate with the Republic.”

Conversely, Severn Tann was a rationalist, not a true separatist at heart. Her position was unstable, leading a fragile regime maintained only by force. Her primary goal was to eliminate her only political rival: Count Dooku, who claimed a claim to her regime.

Adi Gallia never imagined he'd be surprised three times in one day. It seems Armand Isard is also a man full of surprises. "You're planning to make peace with Severn Tann?"

“At least a ceasefire,” Isad met her gaze. “I believe Severn Tann would be interested in this proposal. Our agents have reported that the separatist frontier is fractured due to the loyalty of the robot army to Severn and the local Confederate commanders, and she is desperately seeking stability… A ceasefire would be exactly what she wants.”

"How can you market such an idea in the Senate?" Senator Hanuk questioned. "It's absurd!"

“There are indeed factions in the Senate willing to accept yet another ceasefire agreement,” Mas Ameda told everyone regretfully, as if the idea itself was blasphemous. “After the crisis in the core region… the Supreme Speaker’s speech could only ignite a limited desire for revenge. People are tired, war-weary. For every indignant senator, there is another who is weary of war. They just want to return to their comfortable and luxurious lives and no longer be bound by travel bans and layers of security.”

“Those cowardly peacemakers, like Mon Mosma,” the congressman scoffed, “haven’t we learned our lesson? Separatists are not to be trusted!”

“The separatists led by Count Dooku are not to be trusted,” Master Gallia gently corrected, “because, as Director Isard said, he is a complete idealist demagogue, while the group led by Severn Tann is a group more eager to consolidate themselves than to destroy the Republic after the coup.”

“We can further destabilize the Laxus government,” Armand Isard nodded to her. “By taking advantage of the already fragile state of her military government, we might be able to bring those independent star systems back to the Republic without firing a single shot, without even having to fight the Confederate forces.”

“I tend to agree with your assessment…” Speaker Palpatine leaned back in his high-backed chair, lightly rubbing his knuckles. “Then, I propose that we begin secret preliminary ceasefire negotiations with the Laxus government in order to concentrate our forces against our common enemy, Count Dooku… Any objections?”

Most of the officers present followed Cole Selden, while the intelligence system supported Armand Issaad.

Jenny Hanuk's pro-war faction thus became a minority.

As for Yoda and Gallia, they were merely observers, waiting for the one-sided vote to end.

“Then it’s settled,” the Supreme Speaker clapped his hands in satisfaction. “Next, we’ll consider which fleets to send to Sereno.”

These words sank Adi Gallia's heart; an ominous premonition surged and spread like stomach acid, eventually sweeping in like a storm.

General Serden's next words only added fuel to the fire.

“The answer should be obvious, Speaker,” the general smiled at the Jedi as if bestowing a favor, “Who is more suitable than the Jedi to lead the expeditionary force to deal with the traitors among them?”

Gallia could sense that Serden was completely sincere, and that this was his true thought.

Moreover, she had a feeling that if all members of the Jedi High Council were present at this moment, the vast majority of them would gladly seize the opportunity to have the Jedi personally lead the army.

After all, this is justice being served, justice that has been long overdue.

But Adi Gallia doesn't think so.

The man, Tross, was on edge, as if standing on the edge of a cliff, terrified of what he was about to hear.

why?
Because the Jedi are currently conducting a full-scale search of every corner of the factory area.

The factory district, Coruscant's once enormous manufacturing area that rivaled the size of an entire planet, is now abandoned due to high costs and the relocation of businesses.

This is an excellent hiding place.

Numerous underworld bosses and warlords have established themselves here.

A thorough search of this place would take several weeks.

So they had to search every hidden corner and shadow, looking for any trace of the Sith Lord... even though the Sith Lord was sitting right in front of them at that moment.

Moreover, the Sith Lord sitting in front of them may have already meticulously planned everything that was happening before their eyes.

“I agree,” Armand Isard chimed in. “It’s not only politically correct, but also militarily sound. During the crisis in the core region, many Jedi were recalled to Coruscant to maintain order, and now we may have assembled the largest Jedi fleet in the galaxy here… except, of course, the outer ring fleet. As the only main force in the Republic’s army that is not tied down to a specific front, this is one of the few forces we can quickly deploy to new territories.”

“Speaker, our personnel are currently busy with the investigation of the factory area,” Adi Gallia looked Palpatine straight in the eye, “so the size of this Jedi Expeditionary Force may be smaller than expected.”

“The Jedi can’t all be busy with this, Master?” A glint flashed in the Speaker’s eyes. “Besides, you’re hunting down criminals of the Republic. I believe that no matter how many Jedi agents you recall for the Expeditionary Force, the Republic’s intelligence agencies will be happy to fill the gaps.”

“Indeed,” Armand Issaad echoed immediately in support, “that Sith Lord is very likely the mastermind behind the satellite attack and the underworld separatist rebellion. The Republic’s intelligence services will provide all the resources needed for this operation.”

Master Gallia nearly jumped up. "Director, we're talking about the Sith Lord, that term might mean nothing to you..."

“The Supreme Council will convene a meeting,” Master Yoda interrupted her, “and we will give you an answer then.”

“Excellent,” the Supreme Chancellor said, not even glancing at Yoda, his gaze fixed on Gallia, his tone sweet yet mocking, like waving a piece of meat that a hound can’t reach in front of it. “This is all I ask of you, Jedi Master. Thank you for taking the time to come.”

With this clever dismissal, Master Yoda leaped off his chair and headed for the door, gesturing for Gallia to follow.

As soon as they stepped into the corridor, Yoda said to her, “We must be careful. He knows we are suspicious, and we know he knows the truth. It’s a cat-and-mouse game, except the cat has become the mouse and the mouse has become the cat.”

“I understand, Master,” Gallia sighed in frustration, using the Force to create a soundproof barrier around them. “But we must not underestimate the Sith Lord. We need as many battles as possible for the Jedi to remain on Coruscant.”

Yoda paused for a moment... then said:
You're not answering me.

He paused.

"The Sith Lord is the Speaker."

Jedi Master Adi Gallia did not respond.

The only sound was their heavy footsteps in the carpeted corridor.

“Hmm,” Master Yoda murmured thoughtfully, “I will stay in Coruscant. You continue the investigation. We must find evidence to expose the Sith Lord.”

(End of this chapter)