Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 295-297 - Controlling the Stars (Part 3)

Dastan Sector, Sereno Galaxy.

Above Sereno, the battle has reached a fever pitch.

This planet, once renowned for its grandeur and magnificence, now hangs in the void like a dusty gem.

The pale ground was stained with the charred trails left by the falling wreckage of warships, and continuous flashes of light from battle exploded in the atmosphere, even the silver moonlight was obscured by the steel warships that crisscrossed the landscape.

The darkness of space was torn apart by raging flames, and turbo laser cannons, carrying scorching energy beams, ripped through the void, each strike to the shield emitting a blinding halo.

Missiles and torpedoes swirled and weaved, leaving scarlet trails as their thrusters exploded in blue-purple sparks during violent turns, finally crashing into the ship's hull and unleashing a devastating burst of light.

The invisible traction beam, like precise claws, firmly locked onto the out-of-control enemy ship, dragging it into our own fire net and tearing it apart.

Formations clashed, disintegrated, and regrouped; the fierce battle for control of the Sereno orbit never ceased for a moment.

On one side of the battlefield, the Republic's Expeditionary Force fleet, like a sharp spear, pierced the core of the separatist front.

The vanguard was led by General Procon's flagship, the Hyperion. Despite the intense attacks, the ship's shields kept flashing, but it still pressed on into the depths of the chaos with undiminished fighting spirit.

The wedge-shaped fleet that followed was like a slashing blade, tearing through the separatist defenses and leaving behind a trail of frozen wreckage and scattered metal fragments.

For every second that the breach was held, hundreds of transport ships full of clone soldiers broke through the fire net and rapidly descended onto the planet's surface.

But the captains on the separatist side were far from resigned to their fate. The Sereno security forces quickly adjusted their strategy, reorganizing the shattered lines into a gaping maw, attempting to use their elite fleet to bite the overextended vanguard of the Republic.

The flanking force, composed of Lukri-Hook-class battleships and Generous-class frigates, began to encircle the Republic's vanguard fleet, unleashing a barrage of crossfire like a dense rain of steel.

The airspace between the fleets transformed into a blazing furnace, the roar of turbo-laser cannons reverberated through the void, and starfighters weaved and clashed amidst the barrage of fire, their contrails weaving intricate patterns in the darkness.

"Vulture robots are attacking... azimuth 3-7-0! More than a hundred in number!"

"Danger Squadron, immediately evade to the left! Repeat, evade to the left!"

The clone pilot's urgent warning pierced through the static of the communication channel, and swarms of vulture robots, like swarming insects, continuously bombarded the Republic's Y-wing fighters with laser cannons.

Sereno bombers unleashed a barrage of torpedoes, heading straight for the main fleet.

ARC-170 starfighters scrambled to intercept, and the gunners in the rear fired precise shots, shooting down one robot fighter after another. However, the dogfight intensified, and the battle gradually drew closer to the beleaguered capital ship.

In the eyes of the separatist captain, the Republic made a fatal mistake in its siege.

Launching a planetary assault without first gaining complete control of the orbit is rash.

Now they only need to focus on sealing off the breach, while the Republic must simultaneously contend with the triple pressures of orbital control, protecting transport ships, and maintaining supply lines.

However, the Republic's fleet did not allow the enemy to succeed easily.

The heavy warships, known as "Iron Fist" and "Steel Claw," are the backbone of the navy and are capable of directly confronting the firepower of the "Luke Hook" class and the "Divine Will" class.

The Knight-class and Victory-class Star Destroyers rapidly contracted their formation, like tightly clenched steel knuckles, carrying energy weapons to repeatedly repel the separatist charges.

At the Republic's reserve fleet position a thousand kilometers away, Obi-Wan Kenobi stared intently at the holographic projector, his brow furrowed.

On the screen, the separatist pincer movement is tightening, and a trap is quietly forming, about to isolate the vanguard from the main force.

The captains of the reserve fleet all had solemn expressions, their hands gripping the command stick tightly. Every instinct was driving them to charge forward and reinforce their compatriots who were trapped in the core battlefield.

For admirals and captains, this impulse stemmed from tactical judgment... The arrowhead formation was wider at the base, and the separatist offensive was concentrated at the narrow tip, so an attack at this moment could precisely target the enemy's weak points on the flanks, especially since the sides of the separatist battlecruisers were completely exposed.

But for the Jedi generals, this urgency stemmed purely from their instinct to save their allies... When their comrades were fighting bloody battles on the front lines, no one could remain idle.

"General Kenobi..." Admiral Brock looked at him cautiously, his eyes filled with anxiety, "The captains of the ships are becoming increasingly agitated. If we don't act now, the vanguard might..."

"Maintain formation, hold your positions." Obi-Wan's voice was deep and tense, his knuckles white from pressing hard on the edge of the control panel. "Without orders from the Supreme Command, no one may act without authorization."

“As the squadron commanders, we have the right to make independent decisions in emergency situations!” Admiral Brock stepped forward, his tone argumentative. “General Procon’s fleet is already surrounded, and he may no longer be able to issue orders! Reinforcing now might still save the vanguard!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a rapid alert sounded from the "Alert" communicator!

Encrypted transmission from the forward.

A hint of urgency flashed in Obi-Wan's eyes, and he immediately ordered: "Connect to the main console, highest priority!"

The communication channel only transmitted intermittent audio, interspersed with the intense static of artillery fire. It wasn't the expected voice of Procon, but a calm, young female voice: "This is the forward command post. General Procon's orders are here. General Kenobi, immediately disregard all subsequent unencrypted orders and hold the open-loop fleet's positions at all costs. The situation will change drastically within ten minutes. Your troops must maintain full combat capability and be ready to respond at any time. Please repeat the order."

A bead of sweat appeared on Obi-Wan Kenobi's forehead as he looked at Admiral Brock... whose face was filled with confusion and worry.

Amidst the chaotic fluctuations of the Force, he could not discern Pro Kong's plans, but could sense the solemnity in the speaker's tone from the command.

"The Open-Loop Fleet will disregard all subsequent unencrypted orders, hold its positions at all costs, and remain ready for combat." He repeated each word carefully, then pressed on in a deep voice, "I need to confirm whether the so-called 'drastic change in the situation' is related to the separatist superweapons lurking in the system?"

“Absolutely accurate.” Swann’s voice broke through the noise, carrying an undeniable seriousness. “Immediately assemble all Jedi-commanded warships in the vicinity and move towards the ‘Vanguard.’ Our agreement with Admiral Trench could break at any moment, and there is a risk of a surprise attack from the rear. The highest command key will now be transmitted—if Master Proud or Master Windu loses contact or is killed, the ‘Vanguard’ will automatically gain command of the evacuation of all Republic fleets in this system. Understand?”

“I understand completely.” Obi-Wan was filled with doubt. This approach of reaching an agreement with a separatist general was far removed from the Jedi’s usual code of conduct.

But he knew that this war was no longer just a clash of artillery and torpedoes, but was also filled with secret agreements and factional conspiracies.

In this turbulent era, the Jedi are forced to make unconventional choices in order to survive.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down.

The plan has been launched, and any further questioning is futile.

All he could do was wait on the bridge of the HMS Vigilant and witness the unfolding of this game that would determine the fate of Sereno.

……

“Look at these idiots of the Republic,” Diederich stared at the tactical screen, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Lined up in neat rows, like lambs to the slaughter.”

"The 'Fang' is yours, Rear Admiral Greshad." Admiral Trench's voice came through the communication channel, his mechanical eye locking onto the massive separatist dreadnought behind the screen. "Don't let me down."

This "Conqueror-class" dreadnought is nearly 5,000 meters long and is an ace ship built by the Independent System Confederation specifically to counter the Republic's super warships.

Each of the port and starboard sides is equipped with a giant ion cannon, which is directly powered by a solar ionization reactor and a plasma rotor, and its power is enough to cripple a heavy star destroyer.

Two years ago, during the Battle of Kolumex, the "Venom" crippled the Republic's "Founder's Legacy" and made a significant contribution to turning the tide of the battle.

Now, this steel behemoth has been unleashed once more, but its goal is not to destroy the Jedi, but to "save" them.

"Rest assured, Admiral." A sharp glint flashed in Greshad's eyes as he immediately issued orders to his fleet: "Twenty-eighth Fleet, advance in a line formation, bow and stern! Maintain coordinated fire and provide cover for the 'Fang' to take position!"

The battlecruiser "Crown Prince" was the first to veer off course and maneuver to the starboard side of the Republic, with the Peremian Alliance warships following closely behind, their movements perfectly synchronized with the ship's.

The massive hull of the "Venom Fang" followed slowly, like a shadow cast from the void. The barrel of its giant ion cannon began to charge, emitting a chilling aura of energy.

General Trench watched this scene and couldn't help but secretly envy the absolute control the Pelmian Alliance commander had over his troops... One day, the entire Confederate armed forces should reach this level.

By then, the Confederation will be the most powerful military force in the history of the galaxy, past, present, and future.

The old spider snapped out of its reverie and turned its attention back to the current task.

The Republic has launched a massive invasion of Sereno, but he cannot allow this symbolic planet of separatism to fall into the hands of royalists.

Ryan Bontry's plan was centered on rescuing those trapped in the Jedi, while Trench wanted to take the opportunity to destroy the main force of the Republic Expeditionary Force.

To be honest, he even wanted to eliminate the Jedi.

But Raine's reasoning swayed him: rescuing the Jedi from Coruscant's plot here would make the Jedi Order owe the Confederacy a favor.

Trench was adept at winning wars, but he also knew that the Confederation needed more than just battlefield victories; it needed to establish a foothold after the war.

The latter is far more difficult than the former.

The Confederation was born out of resistance against the oppression of the Republic and exists to unite against a common threat.

But once the war ends, can the Confederation, having lost its common enemy, maintain its cohesion?

He knew that many Confederate leaders and members of Congress were thinking about this issue.

Unlike the Republic, the Confederation has no laws prohibiting member star systems from leaving... This is precisely the core tenet of separatism.

Trench wasn’t sure if Supreme Commander Severn Tann had an answer, but he had his own considerations.

If the Jedi Order could be persuaded to side with the Confederation, it would greatly enhance the Confederation's legitimacy.

Ultimately, he made a decision.

Making the Jedi owe a favor is more beneficial than harmful to the Confederacy.

"Major Admiral Melley," Trench pressed the communicator, his tone decisive, "lead the 21st Escort Fleet and clear a path to the Republic's vanguard!"

"Welcome, Admiral!" Rear Admiral Moncala's voice was full of fighting spirit. "All ships, activate maximum combat speed! Main guns charged, target the port side of the Sereno security forces!"

The crew of the 21st Escort Fleet were all seasoned veterans, having never been defeated, from the Battle of Bosavi in ​​the south to the Battle of Mon Calamari in the north.

At this moment, the fleet's battleships formed a dense charging formation, their bows pointing straight ahead.

The ships on the starboard side of the Republic Expeditionary Force immediately became alert and prepared for battle, but they soon discovered that the 21st Escort Fleet was speeding straight along their flank, its turrets not aimed at the Republic fleet, but at the port side of the Sereno security forces that were encircling the vanguard. The ring-shaped hull of the Lukri Hook-class battleships did not have time to turn and was hit by a barrage of torpedoes fired by the flagship HMS Prosperity.

Major General Mehre's attack was swift as fire, with a firepower density that was almost extravagant.

When a warship's armor is hit by half a dozen torpedoes in succession, even the strongest defense becomes useless.

The pressure of artillery fire around the Republic's vanguard suddenly eased, and the Hyperion seized the opportunity to unleash a full-scale broadside salvo, the muzzle flashes as dazzling as a burst of stars.

The "Torrent" and "Enforcer" followed closely behind, pouring fire on the remnants of the separatist forces even though their hulls were riddled with damage and their shields were flickering during the attack.

Through the sensors, the captains of the vanguard ships finally saw the true nature of the "reinforcements," but before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, a new turn of events occurred.

The 21st Escort Fleet roared across the battlefield, pushing the scattered Sereno security forces toward the Republic's local lines, and then quickly circled around to the outside of the vanguard, forming an isolation formation.

It was as if they wanted to completely separate the expeditionary force from the planet Serenno.

The battlefield situation became even more unpredictable at this moment.

General Prokhor stared intently at the movements of the separated forces' fleet on the tactical screen, the trails of the flashing lights on the star map gradually becoming clearer.

He instantly discerned the enemy's intentions and immediately ordered: "The main force of the expeditionary force shall immediately withdraw from the tracks!"

As soon as the order was given, a chorus of opposition erupted from the bridge.

"General! Ground troops are still fighting on the planet's surface. Withdrawing would be tantamount to abandoning them!"

A captain roared excitedly, his hands slamming onto the control panel.

But Pro Kong remained calm, simply raising his hand to gesture for everyone to look at the main screen.

The separatist fleet has completed its encirclement, and the remnants of the Sereno security forces, together with the Trench fleet, have formed a pincer movement, making the situation completely out of control.

The doubts gradually subsided, and everyone understood that retreat was the only option at this moment.

This battle fully demonstrated General Mele's superb tactical skills.

He led his fleet to quickly construct an iron barrier, using precise propulsion and firepower to gradually push the Republic fleet out of Sereno's orbit, while simultaneously opening a passage to the atmosphere for Admiral Trench's main fleet.

The giant warship broke through the silvery atmosphere and flew straight toward the planet's surface.

For the Republic captains who were well aware of the complex relationship between Laxus and Sereno, Trench's actions were undoubtedly a snatching of their almost-achieved victory right under their noses, and every glance was filled with resentment and anger.

A thousand kilometers away in the void, Diedrich's 28th Mobile Fleet was gliding smoothly along its predetermined route.

Inertia kept the warships moving at a constant speed, gradually approaching the starboard side of the Republic Fleet. The "Open Ring Fleet" deployed a wide line here, extending the defensive line to the entire rear guard area.

Despite the intense artillery fire on the front lines, the command center of the "Crown Prince" was unusually quiet due to the great distance. Only the officers' hushed exchanges of battle reports and the continuous low-frequency hum of the ship's systems could be heard.

Diedrich sat at the communications station, his gaze switching back and forth between the sensor readings and the decrypted "Priestess" telemetry data stream. He had been casually monitoring the situation while eating, paying attention to the keywords that Rainn Buntry had instructed him to mention beforehand, but the data flashing on the screen instantly alerted him.

"Is the 'Priestess' system malfunctioning?" His fingertip slid rapidly across the screen. "These data are outrageously abnormal. Investigate the cause immediately!"

A communications technician frowned, his fingers flying across the control panel, sifting through the chaotic transmission signals: "Sir, preliminary tests indicate that Coruscant's geostationary satellite is..."

He paused, pulled up a more detailed diagnostic report, and frowned deeply. "It's sending a large amount of invalid data. Some data packets can be decrypted, but most... look at these abnormally sized file blocks... it's clearly the result of human tampering. The amount of redundant data has exceeded the satellite's bandwidth limit."

Diedrich's mind raced, and a clear conclusion emerged: "Someone is launching a flood attack on the satellite network! This is a classic denial-of-service tactic!"

The technician nodded in agreement, saying, "It's basically certain that the other party used artificially inflated data packets to cramm the satellite channel, causing node overload and thus blocking legitimate communication transmissions."

"How quickly will it take the Republic's intelligence department to fix the malfunction?" Diedrich leaned forward slightly.

The technician let out a sigh of relief and rubbed his throbbing temples: "The worst-case scenario would take several hours. This attack isn't permanent. With their technical capabilities, they'll eventually find a way to bypass the affected nodes, but right now..."

"Now is the perfect time!" Diederich jumped up from his chair, his tone crisp and firm, and grabbed the walkie-talkie microphone. "All fleet, listen up! Launch all boarding craft and landing craft immediately, and activate the tractor beam preheating! 'Venom Fang,' lock onto the leftmost warship of the 'Opening Fleet,' and prepare to fire the port ion cannons!"

……

That's the fleet of the Peremian Alliance!
Obi-Wan Kenobi's gaze instantly locked onto those uniquely painted hulls. He would never forget the silhouette of the "Crown Prince," for there was no other warship in the entire galaxy with such a bizarre design.

But at this moment, these familiar figures paled in comparison to the shadow of the Separatist forces' colossal dreadnought.

The warship hovered silently outside the range of the "Open Ring Fleet's" turbine laser cannons, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

Although Obi-Wan Kenobi did not personally experience the Battle of Kolmoges two years prior, he had already heard terrifying rumors about this dreadnought and knew that its superweapons were capable of turning the tide of battle.

"Attention all ships!" Obi-Wan clenched his fists. Although Prokhor had ordered the "Open Ring Fleet" to hold their positions, the current crisis left no room for hesitation. "Immediately redirect all energy to the thrust reversers and retreat immediately!"

"General! The separatist dreadnought has locked onto us! The energy signal is rapidly increasing!" The sensor operator's exclamation pierced the calm of the bridge as his fingers frantically tapped on the panel, trying to confirm the data.

The "Vigilant" strained to activate its reverse thrust engines, and the immense inertia caused the ship to shudder violently as it struggled to retreat backward.

Obi-Wan rushed to the starboard porthole and watched as the Separatist dreadnought slowly turned around, its massive ion cannons aimed at their defenses.

The weapon's ring-shaped launcher glowed with a ghostly blue light, and energy surged and swirled within the barrel, causing subtle ripples to appear in the surrounding space.

The electric sparks darted along the edge of the transmitter like silver snakes, spinning faster and faster, and the light became increasingly dazzling.

The ship's sensors suddenly emitted a sharp alarm, energy readings skyrocketed on the screen, and red warning lights filled the control panel.

"Concentrate all shield energy to starboard! Maximum power output!" Admiral Brock roared, veins bulging on his forehead.

The "Vigilant" shield system responded instantly, and the transparent steel of the portholes automatically switched to anti-glare mode, quickly darkening in color.

Just then, the ion cannon fired.

A silent energy shockwave spread through space. Initially, it was just a blue energy disk with a diameter of one kilometer, but it expanded rapidly during its propulsion, reaching six kilometers, twelve kilometers in an instant... Charged particles swept in like a tide, and wherever they passed, the void seemed to tremble.

The first to be affected is the "Selfless Account".

The rightmost warship of the "Open Ring Fleet" activated its shields at full power. The energy barrier flickered violently under the impact, emitting a blinding white light, but it only lasted for a few seconds before shattering with a crash, like glass being smashed by a giant hammer.

The electric current instantly swept across the entire ship, seeping into the core system along the wiring, burning out the circuits and detonating the relays.

After a series of ear-piercing crackling sounds, the engine shut down completely, and the "Selfless" lost power, becoming a lifeless wreck floating in the void.

But the ion waves did not stop; like a greedy beast, they continued to spread deeper into the fleet.

"Brave," "Respectable," "Resilient"... one warship after another trembled violently under the energy shock, their shields collapsed one after another, and sparks burst from the surface of the hull, a sign of short circuits in the internal circuitry.

The lights flickered and went out, the engines stopped, and the once orderly fleet formation was now reduced to helpless, drifting wreckage, slowly rotating in the darkness.

Soon, the ion wave arrived at "Warning".

"Everyone hold on tight! Prepare for the impact!" Obi-Wan's voice echoed across the bridge, filled with an undeniable urgency, as he himself gripped the edge of the control panel tightly.

The crew members hurriedly fastened their seatbelts and gripped the control levers tightly.

The deck shook violently beneath our feet, and a gradually increasing buzzing sound filled the entire ship, its frequency constantly rising. The air was thick with the smell of static electricity, making our hair stand on end.

Obi-Wan could feel the Force screaming warnings in his chest, but even with his mental preparation, he was still shaken and his blood surged when the impact actually came.

The ion wave precisely hit the starboard shield of the "Vigilant".

A blinding white light instantly engulfed the entire porthole. The shield groaned under the strain of the energy impact, and the light flickered rapidly before abruptly going out.

The ship shuddered violently, and Obi-Wan staggered and almost fell, only managing to steady himself by gripping the control panel tightly with both hands.

The bridge was plunged into darkness. Just half a second later, the emergency lights flickered on, their dim yellow light illuminating the panicked faces of the passengers.

Immediately afterwards, a series of cracking sounds came from the control panel, sparks flew everywhere, and the communication station burst into flames.

The electric current, like an invisible venomous snake, surged through the ship's circuitry, causing all systems to go offline one after another.

The reactor's automatic safety devices activated in time, preventing a catastrophic explosion, but its core functions were completely paralyzed.

"Report the extent of the damage!" Obi-Wan shouted in a deep voice, suppressing the metallic taste in his throat.

"Power outage across the entire ship! Sensors completely malfunctioning, weapon systems offline, shield generator damaged and unable to be restarted!"

An officer, clutching his arm burned by sparks, reported loudly, his voice betraying his barely concealed panic.

Obi-Wan exhaled slowly, the lingering stinging sensation of static electricity on his skin causing the hairs on his arms to stand on end.

Although the ship's hull structure was undamaged and withstood the direct impact of the ion cannon, its internal systems had completely collapsed, turning the "Vigilant" into a dead ship without power or senses.

Weapons, shields, navigation... none of these matter at this moment.

His biggest concern is the basic survival system.

"Immediately check life support systems and artificial gravity!" Obi-Wan ordered, his voice steady despite the heavy atmosphere. "Everyone, put on your vacuum suits immediately and prepare for an emergency! Communications team, try to activate backup communication channels to contact nearby friendly ships and request support!"

The blast door behind him slammed shut, and Commander Cody strode in from the operations room, his armor covered in black soot, static electricity crackling and sparks flying from his shoulder armor.

“General.” Cody raised his hand in salute, his tone somber. “Latest damage report: the main and backup communication systems are completely destroyed and cannot be restored in the short term. The life support system is temporarily stable, but the artificial gravity generator is damaged, and some compartments are experiencing gravity anomalies.”

(End of this chapter)