Solo and Ahsoka disembarked from the speeder bike taxi and strode directly toward the luxurious restaurant that had been requisitioned as the Officers' Club.
The guard at the entrance hesitated upon seeing their armored figures and the lightsabers at their waists, but ultimately didn't dare to stop them.
As they entered the hall, Solo glanced at the opulent decor and muttered inwardly, "This place is practically identical to those decaying European noble mansions on Earth."
"Ahsoka, stay on the first floor with the young officers," Solo said, turning to her. "I have to go upstairs and discuss boring military matters with a bunch of old fogies. You'll find it dull."
"Master, you're not old at all!" Ahsoka immediately protested.
"Hey, who was it that secretly called me 'old stubborn' behind my back?" Solo teased, deliberately provoking her.
"I never did!" The Togruta's face flushed crimson, her lekku swaying as her anime-like eyes brimmed with indignation. Solo nearly burst into laughter.
"Alright, just kidding," Solo said, patting her shoulder. "Have fun."
With that, he turned and ascended the spiral staircase to the second floor.
At a table in the lower-level restaurant, Kristen suddenly dropped his joking demeanor, leaned forward, and whispered urgently, "Look at the door!"
A group of young officers turned their heads to see an eye-catching pair enter.
A man in his mid-twenties, clad in distinctive blue armor, walked in alongside a twelve- or thirteen-year-old Togruta girl wearing custom-fitted light armor.
"Are they Jedi?" Sumelagi asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as she noticed the lightsabers at their waists.
"Doesn't seem likely," Kristen said, frowning. "Don't Jedi wear robes? They look more like bounty hunters or elite soldiers."
As they spoke, the pair split in the center of the hall. The young man headed upstairs, while the girl strode purposefully toward the depths of the restaurant.
"Watch me!" Grace's eyes lit up. She sprang to her feet and hurried over to greet the girl.
After a brief exchange, she brought Ahsoka back to their table.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce," Grace said, exaggerating her military salute. "This is Ahsoka Tano, General Viktor's apprentice! Ahsoka, these are my friends: Sumelagi, Lichtenthal, and Kristen."
Ahsoka sat down in the empty seat and greeted them politely, "Good evening!"
"Hello!" Kristen spoke first, her voice brimming with curiosity. "What brings you to our gathering?"
"My Master received an invitation from Commander Rinuan. We're here to meet the reinforcements, and I came along for the excitement." Ahsoka puffed out her chest proudly.
"Was it your fleet that destroyed the Separatist frigate today?" Sumelagi's eyes sharpened, her words tumbling out rapidly. "Could you tell me how you managed it? The entire battle lasted less than a minute, and according to the tactical data..."
"Pay her no mind," Grace rudely interrupted, laughing as she explained to Ahsoka, "Sumelagi's half-Fondorian. Her mind works faster than anyone's, but she can be too stubborn and keeps everything bottled up."
"That reminds me of my Master," Ahsoka said, pointing a finger toward the ceiling. "He's terrifyingly smart—either buried in books all day or debating arcane tactical problems with Clone Troopers."
"Haha, she's just like our Sumelagi!" Grace laughed heartily. "She's either holed up in the library or glued to the simulator."
"Definitely!" Ahsoka agreed wholeheartedly.
"S-U-M-E-L-A-G-I!" Sumelagi hissed through gritted teeth, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Lichtenthal and Kristen snickered secretly, Kristen shaking with laughter.
Clearly, Ahsoka and Grace had quickly bonded.
Just then, a robotic waiter approached with a soft electronic voice. "What would you like to order, officers?"
"I'll have fruit juice and... cream cake!" Ahsoka's eyes sparkled.
"The cream cake here is *delicious*! I'll have the same!" Grace slapped the table, her voice brimming with excitement.
A few minutes later, Sumelagi stared at the rapidly disappearing stack of cakes before her, utterly baffled.
How could these two devour so much dessert? And how did they maintain such figure despite eating like that? This defied all her logic, leaving the academic Lieutenant utterly perplexed.
***
The second-floor gathering of high-ranking officers was equally lively. Though the fleet's highest commander was absent, every table was packed.
Rinuan anxiously awaited Solo's arrival.
When he initially announced he had invited a Jedi General, many officers looked surprised. It wasn't until he emphasized the general's "extremely unconventional" nature that their interest was piqued, even sparking a minor debate.
Finally, Solo appeared at the top of the stairs.
He strode onto the second floor and headed straight for Rinuan's table, immediately setting off a wave of hushed whispers throughout the hall.
Rinuan inwardly rejoiced; the general's arrival had clearly caused a stir.
"Good to see you again, Commander," Solo nodded in greeting.
"Welcome, General." Rinuan turned to his colleagues and raised his voice for the introduction. "Please allow me to present General Solo Victor!"
The officers at the table nodded in greeting, welcoming the general.
After everyone had settled, Rinuan began introducing the high-ranking officers present: "Captain Kasim Bregg, Captain Otto Detroit, and Captain Smith Cortes—they're all captains of Hailfire-class assault ships;
Captain Ichijo Fukuoka, responsible for the Republic Fleet's defense in Lantilles;
Captain Darrin Elissio, coordinating with the Fourth Sector Fleet;
Captain Gizeo, overseeing the escort forces for certain trade routes;
Commander Hazam Thrimaki, commanding the Southern Subfleet;
Rear Admiral Masai Lieber, Admiral Fortescue's deputy, managing fleet personnel..."
After the introductions and pleasantries among the seven or eight officers concluded, waiters brought out wine and filled everyone's glasses.
"Shall we have some Corellian wine?" one captain asked.
"Exactly what I was thinking," Solo nodded in agreement.
As the wine flowed, the conversation gradually turned to the serious matter of the war.
"Any new developments on the battlefield?" Solo asked first. "We've been stationed in Donovia, so we've been somewhat out of the loop."
Captain Ozmo from Intelligence immediately activated the holographic projector on the table, summoning a map of the galaxy. "Dozens more planets have joined the Separatist cause. The Corporate Alliance has openly declared its support for them, and there are rumors that the Intergalactic Banking Clan sympathizes with their cause as well. The conflict is escalating rapidly."
"Intense fighting has erupted on Atraken, and the 416th Legion has already landed on Tyre. Malavar, Hyperi, Iskio, and Delgado have also been drawn into the conflict, with large-scale clashes occurring in the Second, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Eighteenth, and Twentieth Star Districts."
He pressed a few buttons, and the star map switched to the Twelfth Star District. "The situation here is equally grim. We can only maintain a foothold on these few planets."
He traced a small area on the map. "Most of the star systems are either controlled by the Separatists or sympathetic to their cause. Fortunately, the enemy hasn't yet mobilized their main forces here; at most, they have about twenty frigates."
"Castell, Sarukmai, Jabim, Felucia, Boz Pity, Lianna, Tula, Raxis Prime..." Solo pointed at each planet on the star map with pinpoint accuracy. "These planets either belong to the Separatists or are their allies."
Captain Ozmo said in surprise, "You're remarkably well-informed."
"Knowing the enemy and oneself ensures one hundred battles will end in victory."
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