*No emotion, only serenity!*
This was the core tenet of the Jedi Code, and its placement at the forefront was no accident, even though it had once been the second principle.
Solo now fully understood the reason for the Code's adjustment.
Fear opened the door to the Dark Side of the Force.
Fear bred anger.
Anger bred hatred.
Hatred ultimately led to suffering.
This entire sequence was the path to the Dark Side, a path that invariably led to destruction.
This was the Dark Side—a constant threat that demanded vigilance, for it could deceive Jedi, lead them astray, and ultimately consume them.
This principle applied not only to Jedi.
Replace "Jedi" with "Sith," and the statement remained equally true. The allure of the Dark Side showed no favoritism, tempting any being who touched the Force.
Solo had always viewed all doctrines with skepticism, having witnessed firsthand the hypocrisy of countless sects and politicians throughout history.
But now, he was forced to confront the weight of these principles. His consciousness occupied the body of a Jedi, inheriting the man's memories, yet he had never truly experienced war or slaughter.
Moreover, up until now, he had only fought robots. Perhaps this very fact had protected him.
Sensing the death of a comrade brought sorrow, but sensing the death of an enemy could easily lead to pleasure and anticipation—an abyss he absolutely refused to touch.
He could never become a Sith, not only because he couldn't accept the Dark Side's cruelty, but also because he fundamentally rejected even the Sith's iconic tattoos.
*In chaos, find harmony; in the Force, find immortality.*
The words of the ancient Jed'ai Code suddenly surfaced in Solo's mind.
He mused inwardly that balance was crucial to him. If he lost his balance, his "Jedi life" might resemble a dazzling firework, burning brightly but briefly.
How many Jedi had fallen to the Dark Side during this war?
Dozens, at least.
That was the number he knew of personally.
Though knowledge was the foundation of everything.
But if he used this knowledge to forcibly alter the course of events, everything that followed would deviate from its original trajectory. At that point, his knowledge would become utterly useless.
Yet he couldn't afford to do nothing. From the moment he stepped into this conflict, every choice he made, whether willingly or not, had been subtly reshaping everything.
Now he had to carefully weigh his options: what was worth changing? And if he chose to intervene, what method should he use?
He was confident in handling minor matters, but when it came to higher-level political maneuvering, he felt completely out of his depth.
Too many cunning veterans were entrenched in those circles, and he had no idea how to navigate such treacherous waters.
Although the first step of his plan had been completed, he still had no clear vision of where to go next.
But as the old saying goes, "He who does not enter the tiger's den cannot capture its cubs."
"Sigh, things are getting more complicated by the minute..."
Solo rubbed his temples, another thought surfacing.
"Right, I should apologize to Ahsoka. My words earlier must have really hurt her."
***
In the training hall, Ahsoka was repeatedly practicing a lightsaber technique, her movements still somewhat awkward.
Suddenly, Solo's voice echoed through the hall: "Try maintaining the initial wrist angle. Don't rush to exert force."
Ahsoka silently adjusted her stance, attempting the technique as Solo had suggested.
Finally, she executed the required combination of movements smoothly. "Thank you, Master."
"Ahsoka, I want to apologize," Solo said, his voice tinged with remorse. The emotion radiating through the Force warmed Ahsoka's heart.
"Uh... Master... you don't need to apologize," Ahsoka replied, shaking her head.
Solo insisted earnestly, "No, I was wrong. My tone was too harsh earlier, and my behavior was inappropriate..."
"Master, I can sense your stress," Ahsoka said, stepping closer to Solo with a reassuring smile. "If even I feel uncomfortable, you must be carrying an even heavier burden."
Solo raised an eyebrow deliberately. "So, I was right after all?"
"Not entirely, Master!"
"Are you talking back again?"
"No!" Ahsoka lifted her chin defiantly. "I'm not talking back. I'm... I'm expressing my position, that's all!"
Solo spread his hands in mock surrender. "Looks like we'll have to settle this with a sparring match. We have two hours left."
"Alright!" Ahsoka's eyes lit up. Using the Force, she summoned a training lightsaber to her hand and assumed a combat stance.
***
"Hyperspace jump complete!"
"No enemy vessels detected. Combat alert lifted!"
"All ships have reached Lantilles orbit!"
"Request for reinforcements sent to the rescue division!"
The Clone Trooper operator's reports rang out in succession. With all the damaged ships safely arrived, Rinuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
In orbit, rescue ships swiftly converged, transporting the wounded to medical centers while damaged vessels were towed to shipyards for repairs.
Solo stood on the bridge of the *Dingyuan*, gazing at the dozens of brand-new Hailfire-class assault ships hovering near the orbit. A wave of regret washed over him. "This is the promised reinforcement. If they'd arrived just a few hours earlier, Togolia wouldn't have suffered such a devastating defeat."
He knew there was more urgent business ahead. He needed to report to Command immediately and inform the highest authorities about the failure of the Battle of Togolia.
In the tactical room of Lantilles Command, two figures clad in brown Jedi robes were intently studying a star map.
Obi-Wan Kenobi gently tapped the map with his finger, his brow furrowed in concentration. His apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, fidgeted impatiently, turning his head to observe the busy officers around them.
Nearby, Adi Gallia was engaged in conversation with Governor Terben of the Taborn Sector and other military officers.
They had arrived with the reinforcements: thirty-two Hailfire-class assault ships and seventy auxiliary vessels, deployed to turn the tide in the Twelfth Sector.
But the three Jedi had separate missions. Adi Gallia was to proceed to Kashyyyk to support the battle against the Trandoshan fleet there, while Obi-Wan and Anakin were to infiltrate enemy territory and rescue the garrison of Bravo Base on Ryloth. This base, a secret surveillance post established early in the war, was now besieged by Separatist forces.
Anakin appeared calm on the surface, but his heart burned with anticipation.
This was his first true combat mission.
During his time serving under Obi-Wan, he had met many beings but made few friends. Obi-Wan often criticized him for being arrogant and difficult to get along with, but Anakin only valued the opinions of a select few: Obi-Wan himself, and Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine.
Palpatine, who hailed from Padmé's homeworld, always offered "understanding" advice whenever conflicts arose between Anakin and Obi-Wan. He frequently visited the Jedi Temple to observe Anakin's training, praising his exceptional talent.
Anakin was indeed extraordinarily gifted, far surpassing his peers. He was even regarded as the "Chosen One," a title that only fueled his arrogance.
While he respected Obi-Wan, Anakin believed his Master was holding him back from realizing his full potential. As a result, he often defied Obi-Wan's teachings, the Council's warnings, and even the Jedi Code itself.
Whenever Anakin thought of Padmé, a gentle flame ignited within him.
Nine years ago, when he was still Watto's slave, he had fallen in love with the beautiful young girl at first sight, even promising to marry her when they grew up.
Reunited nine years later, they secretly married after the massacre at the Petranaki Arena. Padmé was his everything, and he would never allow anyone to take away this happiness.
After his mother's death, he had slaughtered everyone in the Tusken camp, yet felt no remorse. Instead, he believed the Jedi Council's "mercy" was the true sin.
This marked his first taste of the Dark Side, a secret he kept even from Padmé.
Suddenly, the officers' clamor interrupted Anakin's thoughts.
On the main screen, a battered fleet appeared in orbit around Lantilles. Most of the ships were still operational, but four Hailfire-class cruisers and two frigates were riddled with bullet holes, smoke and oxygen spewing from hull breaches, and some areas still burning.
Anakin whistled. "They took a real beating, Master."
"Indeed, the sight is heartbreaking," Obi-Wan said, stroking his chin, his brow furrowing deeper. "It seems they suffered heavy losses."
He turned to the officers beside him. "Who commands these forces?"
"Commander, it's the Southwest Task Force and the Southeast Fleet," the officer replied. "The Southwest Task Force is under Commander Rinuan's command and includes Jedi General Solo Victor's ships. The Southeast Fleet likely belongs to Commander Ditmar. Based on this, we can infer that the Battle of Togolia was lost."
Obi-Wan said gravely, "We need to know the details."
The officer responded, "The commanders will report soon."
As the *Dingyuan* docked in orbit, Solo received a communication from Rinuan, ordering him to report to Command immediately.
"What's coming will come," Solo shrugged. "Might as well get the latest situation and clarify our next mission."
He summoned Lagnos and asked sternly, "Can the newly recruited officers handle loading the remaining cargo containers?"
Lagnos nodded. "No problem, General."
"Good." Solo turned to Ahsoka. "Are you coming with us?"
Ahsoka blinked her large eyes excitedly. "Of course, Master! How could I miss something like this?"
The trio headed to the hangar, boarded a shuttle, and quickly arrived at Command.
Rinuan and his adjutant were waiting at the entrance. Together, they walked toward the main tactical room.
In the main tactical room, members of the Sector Command and the arriving Jedi had gathered.
"They're here," an officer announced.
Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Adi Gallia turned toward the entrance.
Three humans and a Zabrak in fleet uniforms entered, followed by two Jedi: a young man in blue armor beneath a Jedi cloak, and a Togruta apprentice who appeared to be thirteen or fourteen years old.
Solo and Rinuan stepped forward. The officers saluted crisply, while the Jedi offered restrained nods of acknowledgment.
Governor Terben cut straight to the point: "Commander Rinuan, report on the Battle of Togolia."
Rinuan exchanged a glance with Solo before beginning his report: "When we arrived in Togolia's orbit, Commander Ditmar's fleet was already engaged with a superior enemy force."
His adjutant inserted an information crystal into the interactive table, projecting a battle schematic before the assembled officers. "We decided to concentrate our fire on the enemy's flank to create a retreat corridor for Ditmar's remaining ships, then immediately withdraw.
During the engagement, Separatist reinforcements arrived, vastly outnumbering us. Ultimately, the majority of the Southeast Fleet was destroyed, and the surviving ships sustained severe damage and have been sent to shipyards for repairs."
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 patreon