Commander Renan stood at the center of the bridge of the Hailfire-class flagship, his fingertips lightly tapping the edge of the command console. Though his demeanor appeared casual, his eyes missed no detail—every crew member's movement, every fluctuation in the data streams.
Knatuan Renan's family had deep roots in the Republic Navy, tracing back to before the Battle of Ruusan.
His ancestors had served in the Old Republic Navy. After Ruusan, as the Republic declined, his family members transferred to the Judicial Forces, continuing to patrol the hyperspace lanes and safeguard trade routes.
His grandfather had personally fought in the Stark Hyperspace War, earning distinction in the heat of battle.
Growing up in such a family, Renan's path to donning a military uniform and joining the Navy seemed predestined.
Yet he had never imagined he would witness a war of this scale—a conflict that dwarfed even the Battle of Ruusan, threatening to engulf the entire galaxy.
Just days ago, he was a colonel in the Judicial Forces, commanding a small fleet of nine cruisers. With the outbreak of war, he had been promoted to Commander, now leading over twenty ships. Though only five were Hailfire-class landing ships, the rest were weaker frigates and cruisers.
When he received orders to transfer to the Twelfth Sector Fleet, Renan felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
The Perlemian Trade Route was entirely controlled by the Separatist Alliance's core worlds. The Neimoidian merchants and their allies would never willingly relinquish this lucrative territory, ensuring the coming battles would be brutal.
What troubled Renan even more was the Grand Republic Army's "secret." This army and navy, composed entirely of Clone Troopers, were rumored to have been created by the Jedi themselves.
*How could that be possible?*
Secretly training a million soldiers and building thousands of warships would require unimaginable resources and time. Moreover, the Jedi had always portrayed themselves as "Peacekeepers." Where would they have obtained such vast funding and manpower?
"A bunch of pacifists with no command experience are now leading fleets and armies..." Renan recalled the reactions of the Republic Navy officers when they heard the news, and he couldn't help but frown.
Those usually polite officers had unleashed every curse they knew that day. "We'd be better off putting a civilian in charge," one had snarled. "At least they wouldn't charge blindly into battle."
Renan had recently learned from contacts at Rendili's headquarters that sixteen Jedi had already fallen since the war began.
*Sixteen in just a few days!*
Just two days ago, a Jedi Knight in their sector had recklessly attempted to breach a planetary orbital defense system. Not only had he died, but his entire squad had been wiped out, and their landing craft had been shot down by arriving Separatist warships.
Now, he was leading his fleet to "put out the fire."
Upon receiving the distress signal from the Jedi General, Renan dared not delay and immediately ordered full-speed assistance.
Fortunately, the Jedi had retained enough clarity to withdraw the damaged ships from the system, losing only one cruiser.
But three days had passed, and the Clone Trooper forces on the ground had likely already been routed.
According to Captain Lagnos of the *Dingyuan*, the Separatists had deployed at least 400,000 combat robots on the planet.
No matter how formidable the Clone Troopers were, they couldn't withstand the Separatists' "robot swarm tactics."
Moreover, robots were cheap, required no training or logistics, and could be repaired on-site using salvaged parts. Those beyond repair could simply be melted down and recycled.
Clone Troopers were different. Their armor and equipment required specialized personnel and resources for maintenance. Each casualty represented the loss of rigorously trained combat personnel.
When Renan's fleet arrived in Donovia's orbit, they repelled the Separatist ships at the cost of one *Hailfire-class* landing craft. Finally establishing holographic communication with the Jedi General, Renan was stunned.
The Clone Trooper forces on the ground remained almost entirely intact, having lost only one regiment.
For a three-day defensive battle, such a low casualty rate was astonishingly low.
Renan had expected the Jedi to panic and demand reinforcements, perhaps even interfere with fleet command. But the figure in the holographic projection remained remarkably calm.
Renan paused, then asked, "General, how much longer can you hold out? The Separatist resistance is fierce, and we can't break through to you quickly."
What struck him as odd was that the Jedi was wearing armor. The Jedi replied in a steady, composed tone, "The Separatist ground forces withdrew as soon as you entered the system. We have enough food for another week, but the wounded need immediate medical attention."
Renan quickly regained his composure and replied, "Once the battle stabilizes, I'll return the *Dingyuan* to you. But for now, it's more useful in orbital combat."
"Understood, Commander," Solo nodded, abruptly ending the transmission.
Renan watched the holographic projection fade, his doubts easing slightly.
He turned back to the tactical display on the bridge, refocusing on the ongoing orbital battle.
Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
For Solo, the ground battle had temporarily concluded.
The Separatist robot forces had retreated to their landing zone, assuming defensive positions. The mop-up operation would be handled by the newly arrived Republic reinforcements.
Solo had just learned of a peculiar regulation within the Republic Army: units that sustained casualties exceeding five percent were prohibited from further combat. According to pre-war training standards, the "maximum allowable casualty rate" for clone trooper units was even lower, at just 1.5 percent.
The orbital battle continued to drag on.
Republic cruisers were exerting every effort to drive Separatist warships out of the system, but the enemy's resistance proved tenacious, resulting in a stalemate.
The Republic had lost one Hailfire-class cruiser, while the Separatists had suffered the destruction of two Munificent-class frigates and one Lucrehulk-class battleship.
Fortunately, the Dingyuan remained intact.
Solo leaned over the tactical table at the mobile command post, where a holographic projection displayed real-time updates on the space battle.
Ahsoka and several clone trooper commanders stood nearby as Commander Brem solemnly reported the casualties: "Total casualties confirmed... 1,742 clone troopers killed in action, 1,207 wounded, with over 300 sustaining critical injuries. Vehicle losses include 47 units: 11 AT-TEs, 3 SPHAs, 9 BARC speeders, and 22 AT-RTs."
"An entire regiment wiped out."
Solo's heart sank. At this rate, the first batch of clone troopers wouldn't survive until the mid-point of the war.
He had done everything he could to protect his troops, yet the losses from their first real battle were still devastating.
And those Jedi Commanders who loved to charge into battle, lightsabers blazing, leading from the front? Their clone troopers must be in even worse shape.
"Master, what do we do next?" Ahsoka's voice broke the silence. The Little Togruta practically bounced in place, her eyes shining with eagerness, clearly not having had enough fighting.
Solo chuckled at her impatience. "Next, we follow the most 'noble' of pirate traditions!"
"...Pirates?" Ahsoka froze, and even Commander Brem beside her looked puzzled.
Solo had never seen such a look of shocked confusion on a Togruta's face before. The others were equally bewildered.
"Of course, we're collecting the spoils of war! What else did you think?" Solo slapped the tactical table, then turned to the commanders of the Engineering Corps and Maintenance Corps, his tone turning serious. "Listen up, you have time now, so immediately begin recovering all equipment... both our damaged gear and what the enemy abandoned."
He paused, then continued, "Don't expect resupply anytime soon. Replenishing our losses with brand-new vehicles is unrealistic. Therefore, we must prioritize collecting the following: communication equipment, all models of shield generators—including those from Destroyer Droids—robot weapons, and intact or easily repairable robots, prioritizing DUM Robots and Astro-mechanic droids for equipment repairs. Combat droids might also be reprogrammed for use."
"Additionally, recover energy cells, spare vehicle armor plates, all consumables, and spare parts. Bring back every AAT Tank, MTT Transport, Robot Speeder, surviving artillery system, and missile and shell stockpiles! We'll sort everything later. Mobilize all available combat personnel—move quickly!"
Solo's words quickly snapped the initially stunned commanders into action. They were growing accustomed to the Jedi General's "unconventional" strategies.
Commander Brem snapped to attention. "Understood, General! We'll execute immediately!"
With the mission assignments complete, Solo finally had time to attend to his own affairs.
The bandages that had been wrapped around his head for days could finally be removed.
He sat down on a fallen tree trunk, hooked his finger under the knot, and gently tugged. The bandages, which had been wound around his head for so long, loosened and came undone.
*Pfft...* A sudden burst of laughter came from beside him. Ahsoka's laughter grew louder and louder, bending her over double. Even as she tried to suppress it, her shoulders continued to shake uncontrollably.
"What's so funny?" Solo frowned.
"Master... your hair... ha ha... it's..." Ahsoka couldn't finish her sentence through her laughter, pointing at Solo's head, tears welling in her eyes.
Solo's heart tightened. He quickly pulled a small mirror from his belt pouch.
The reflection stunned him. His hair was uneven in length, sparsely scattered across his scalp, with several bald patches in between. It looked like some kind of exotic African hairstyle.
"It... it really suits you, Master... ha ha..." Ahsoka's laughter intensified. "If you go back to the Temple like this, you'll cause a sensation! They'll absolutely admire your new hairstyle!"
"You little viper, your tongue is too sharp," Solo sighed helplessly. "Can't you show some sympathy for your poor Master?"
"I'm not a viper! It's just how it grew!" Ahsoka retorted immediately, deliberately puffing out her chest and feigning indignation.
Solo tried to glare sternly at her, but the expression only made Ahsoka laugh harder. The dark-skinned Togruta girl with white facial markings curled up into a ball, tears streaming down her face.
"Master, your hairstyle... *giggle*..." Ahsoka managed to stifle her laughter, only to tease him again.
Suddenly, Solo's eyes lit up with a mischievous idea. "You're not just a viper, you're a 'prickly thorn'... even more stinging than a viper's bite."
"Master!" Ahsoka's laughter vanished instantly, replaced by a wounded tone. She completely forgot about her earlier stomach cramps from laughing. "That's not fair! I'm just reacting normally, not deliberately teasing you! You're the one who removed the bandages. If you hadn't, none of this would have happened..."
Ahsoka suddenly stopped, her eyes widening as if struck by a revelation. "That's right! I'm the victim here! You deliberately provoked me!"
"So, it's my fault?" Solo tilted his head, feigning confusion.
"Yes!" Ahsoka nodded emphatically, but the next moment she realized something was wrong.
Solo was watching her with a half-amused, half-predatory gaze, like a hunter observing prey caught in a trap. "I mean... no! That's not what I meant!"
She frantically raised her hands in a defensive posture, her index finger instinctively pointing upward as if begging for mercy. "It was the circumstances! Not my fault!"
Solo sighed dramatically, looking up at the green sky of Donovia. "Ah, what sins have I committed? I knew this would happen, yet still..."
"What are you saying?" Ahsoka narrowed her eyes warily, sensing her Master was up to no good.
"Nothing, little thorn." Solo waved dismissively, his voice barely concealing a mischievous grin. "It doesn't matter anymore."
Please Support me by becoming my patreon member and get 10+ chapters.
[email protected]/Ajal69
change @ with a
Thank You to Those who joined my