On the command center's screens, reports from the first wave of salvage teams continuously refreshed.
Solo sat at the tactical table, his gaze fixed on the fluctuating numbers on the list.
He hadn't initially held high expectations for the salvage operation, but the results both surprised and slightly disappointed him.
Only two heavy artillery pieces were recovered; the rest had been destroyed in combat, and their initial numbers had been limited to begin with.
However, these two J-1 Proton Cannons were no ordinary weapons. Essentially autonomous robots, their designers had conceived a peculiar operational requirement: each cannon required three B1-series battle droids to function—one to aim and two to load.
Solo vividly recalled how Master Windu's forces had been thwarted during their landing on Ryloth by just six of these cannons, even their flagship warship had been destroyed. The sheer destructive power of these weapons was undeniable.
The real surprise came with the maintenance robots.
A staggering 8,500 fully functional DUM-series robots were salvaged.
These meter-tall machines, tasked with repairing comrades and evacuating damaged equipment during battle, had inevitably been caught in the crossfire.
Beyond these, the salvage list included a substantial amount of "hard assets":
One hundred repairable AAT tanks, ten MTT transports, and ten TFTK artillery pieces suspected to be variants of the SPHA.
Three thousand five hundred B1-series battle droids, some still deactivated, and several hundred B2-series super battle droids.
Dozens of laser turrets, fifty droid control bays, a large number of E-5 blaster carbines, and portable rocket launchers.
Tens of tons of ammunition, primarily missiles, along with vast quantities of armor plates, spare parts, and recyclable metal scrap.
In addition, usable components from our own damaged equipment were also salvaged.
As Solo pondered the data, an Engineering Corps Captain approached with an R-series astromech droid. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke: "General, could I have a few minutes of your time?"
"Speak."
"Uh... what's the specific purpose of collecting all this 'junk'?" the Captain asked, his tone puzzled.
"This isn't junk, it's war booty," Solo corrected him. "I don't know when reinforcements will arrive, but I'm certain we'll be back in action soon. Stockpiling equipment now will give us a solid foundation for future operations."
"Understood, sir," the Captain nodded, then added, "The salvage operation is proceeding smoothly. Most of the... war booty has already been transported back to camp or is en route. We haven't dared venture too far; although the Separatist forces have retreated, their scouts may still be active."
A nearby R-series robot suddenly emitted a series of beeps. After listening, the Captain turned to Solo. "General, reprogramming the maintenance robots requires your authorization. These robots can greatly assist with loading, unloading, maintenance, and familiarizing personnel with new equipment, but only you have the authority to grant access."
"Just the maintenance robots?"
"For now," the Captain explained. "Battle droids require specialized software or internal configuration protocols, all of which are classified. We might be able to extract some information from the maintenance robots, but that would take time and specialized equipment. The DUM and BLX series are general-purpose models, so reinstalling their systems is straightforward. We already have the necessary software."
Solo took the portable datapad the Captain offered. The screen displayed the request: "Reprogram DUM-series robots (Model R-45L/i), quantity 8,545 units, request status: pending approval..."
He quickly entered the following commands:
*Assigned Unit: Galactic Republic Army*
*Attached to: BDK Dingyuan*
*Subordinate to: Engineering Department, Maintenance Department*
*Command Priority...*
Solo glanced at the Captain and typed in the final line: "Command Priority: Solo Victor."
The other models of maintenance robots were configured using the same procedure.
"Captain, if there are any spare R-series astromech droids available, send one to me," Solo added. "Also, as soon as you obtain the technical details of the enemy's equipment, come find me immediately... I have a few ideas, and there's something else..."
He briefly explained his plans for modifying the equipment to the Captain.
Though puzzled, the Captain nodded in agreement. "It's a bit unconventional, but we'll do our best to carry it out."
"Excellent. Report back to me once it's completed."
"Understood, sir!"
The Captain saluted and strode deeper into the camp.
When news of the Republic's victory in space combat arrived, Solo was inspecting the recovered AAT tanks.
Commander Renan had indeed proven himself a tactical genius. Under his command, the Republic Fleet had destroyed another *Lucrehulk*-class battleship, finally forcing the Separatists to flee the Donovia system in disarray.
The Clone Captains contacted Solo via commlink, requesting further instructions. On the holographic map, Solo marked the locations of the remaining enemy forces and their landing points, but issued no specific orders.
Still unprepared to command large-scale forces, he simply delegated the initiative to his subordinates.
Soon, the Hailfire-class warship charged toward the planet at full speed, deploying landing forces to eliminate the remaining robots.
Solo knew this wouldn't take long. The Republic had absolute air superiority, and the three-day defensive battle had already significantly reduced the robot forces.
In the sky, the kilometer-long warship hovered, unleashing a barrage of fire. Hundreds of fighters and gunships darted through the air, creating a spectacle that stirred the blood.
Solo decided to join this "cleanup operation."
He wanted to completely eradicate the remaining robots, establish a permanent base on the planet, and perhaps even salvage some more war spoils.
He contacted Commander Brem via communicator: "Take Commander H, Commander Enoch, and their respective regiments, along with twenty AAT Tanks and all the speeder bikes, and advance toward the enemy forces. Do not initiate attacks; focus on providing fire support to our allies. If the situation requires it, deploy a few companies, but prioritize minimizing casualties."
"Understood, sir! Moving out immediately!" came the crisp reply over the communicator.
Before long, the Clone Trooper units began their orderly advance. Speeder bikes roared ahead, leading the way as the main force slowly advanced along the forest's edge.
The *Dingyuan* landed near the base, right next to Renan's flagship.
Solo realized only after boarding the enemy warship that this *Hailfire*-class vessel carried surprisingly few ground troops—just a regiment and a few tanks for security. The hangar was mostly occupied by 296 V-19 Torrent fighters.
Clearly, Renan had converted the warship into a makeshift aircraft carrier.
While this fell short of the nearly 400 fighters carried by the future *Hunter*-class Star Destroyers, it was a remarkably practical modification given the current resource constraints.
After the *Dingyuan*'s landing ramp lowered, the immediate priority was transporting the wounded aboard.
Simultaneously, construction equipment and hover platforms loaded with supplies streamed from the ship, and base construction rapidly commenced.
As Solo oversaw the evacuation of the wounded, a speeder bike pulled up before him.
Commander Renan himself had arrived.
The naval officer, around thirty-two years old, had light-colored hair and a lean build. He wore a crisp fleet uniform, his features refined and almost Aryan in their perfection, exuding an exceptional aura of authority.
"General Viktor," Renan greeted with a nod.
"Commander Renan, you've come at the perfect time," Solo turned to Ahsoka beside him. "How many Separatist attacks have we repelled in the past three days?"
"Thirty-one times, Master!" Ahsoka replied immediately.
"Are you sure? I thought we said twenty-seven earlier?"
"Absolutely! We repelled several more attacks while you were sleeping." Ahsoka's eyes feigned innocence, but a mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her lips, clearly retaliating for Solo's nickname "Spike."
"That girl..." Solo chuckled helplessly.
Renan watched their exchange, his face etched with surprise.
"Uh..." He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but couldn't find the words.
Sensing his awkwardness, Solo explained with a shrug, "Don't mind us. Our master-apprentice dynamic is a bit... unconventional."
"I can see that," Renan replied, his gaze sweeping between them, his tone laden with meaning. "You two are certainly... atypical Jedi."
Solo glanced down at himself.
His cloak was riddled with holes, and his spare was still in his cabin aboard the *Dingyuan*. He was left wearing only his blue armor, his helmet tucked under his arm.
Ahsoka, meanwhile, had two DC-17 blaster pistols holstered at her waist, a bandolier slung across her shoulder holding several grenades, and a tactical communication headset perched on her head.
This device was nearly identical to its Earth counterparts, just slightly more comfortable.
The two men radiated a fierce combat readiness, completely at odds with the traditional image of the Jedi as "Peacekeepers."
"You remind me of a certain type of person, General," Renan said after a moment's contemplation, his tone blunt. "Like pirates, or mercenaries... Please forgive my frankness."
A fleeting shadow crossed his face at the mention of "pirates," suggesting a past marred by unpleasant experiences.
"So, what's your impression of us 'unconventional Jedi'?" Solo asked with a grin, gesturing around at the bustling camp.
Clone Troopers were repairing equipment, Combat Engineers were constructing fortifications, and everything moved with orderly efficiency.
"If I may speak frankly, I'm skeptical of the idea of Jedi commanding armies," Renan's voice grew serious. "It strikes me as odd. The Jedi's tactics lack efficiency, and your code forbids you from weighing costs and benefits like true commanders, striving for victory. Peacekeepers have no place on the battlefield, let alone in command positions... Perhaps you're top-tier pilots, the most formidable destroyers, but when it comes to commanding armies..."
After delivering his blunt assessment, Renan seemed to realize he might have been too blunt and quickly added, "If my words offended you, I apologize."
Solo chuckled.
He found himself admiring this commander who dared to speak his mind. "No need to apologize. I agree with your assessment. The Jedi's methods are often too impulsive. The losses in the Battle of Ruusan and the subsequent reforms weakened the Jedi Order's core, sowing the seeds for our current troubles."
This candid admission of the Jedi Order's flaws stunned both Renan and Ahsoka.
Solo quickly changed the subject to avoid delving too deeply into the matter. "By the way, you mentioned some fleet tactical manuals earlier?"
"Yes, the old edition of the *Fleet Tactical Operations Guide*," Renan nodded. "Complete versions are rare these days, but my family's collection includes a well-preserved copy."
"Could I borrow it for reference?" Solo asked with a disarming smile. "In our current situation, gaining more tactical knowledge is always beneficial. Besides, the Jedi Temple's Archives... aren't exactly comprehensive."
"Of course. I'll have a copy sent over immediately," Renan replied, a genuine smile finally spreading across his face.
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