Governor Terben turned his gaze to Solo, his tone serious. "General Viktor, do you have anything to add?"
"Yes," Solo cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Commander Rinuan's decision was the only correct choice at the time. The battlefield was chaotic, the enemy forces vastly outnumbered us, and our chances of victory were virtually zero. More importantly, the commander of the Confederacy of Independent Systems fleet was exceptionally formidable. Based on its battlefield performance, it's highly likely to be a new type of Tactical Droid."
He gestured to Lagnos, and the Zabrak immediately swapped the data crystal. In the holographic projection above the tactical table, an unfamiliar Confederate warship slowly rotated—the Providence-class flagship TX-07.
"This is the enemy flagship," Solo said, tapping the projection lightly. "Judging by its hull layout and details, its basic design incorporates Mon Calamari shipbuilding technology, possibly obtained through theft by the Confederacy. Regardless, this is a new type of warship capable of directly confronting Hailfire-class vessels, and we must take it seriously."
The officers in the tactical room exchanged grave glances.
The emergence of this new enemy ship meant that future battles would be even more challenging.
Adi Gallia took a half-step forward, her eyes filled with inquiry. "Do we have any armed parameters for it?"
"Only rough estimates, which may contain errors," Solo shrugged, his tone frank. "The battle situation was critical at the time, and we didn't have enough time for detailed reconnaissance."
For the next half-hour, Command officers peppered Solo and Rinuan with questions about the new enemy ship and Separatist tactics. The atmosphere in the conference room was serious and tense.
After the meeting concluded, Solo led Ahsoka toward Obi-Wan.
Anakin was already standing beside his Master, curiously studying Solo, whom he found vaguely familiar.
"Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, my respects," Solo said, nodding respectfully.
"Forgive my bluntness, Master Victor, but I don't believe we've ever met," Obi-Wan replied with a gentle smile. "Yet you know my name."
"Who in the galaxy doesn't know Master Kenobi?" Solo spread his hands, his tone light. "I am Solo Victor, Jedi Knight."
Obi-Wan chuckled softly, stepping aside to introduce his apprentice. "This is my apprentice, Anakin Skywalker."
"I remember you!" Anakin's eyes suddenly lit up, his brow smoothing as the memory returned. "You were at the Geonosis arena! You looked injured back then. Are you alright now?"
"I'm not dead yet," Solo replied dryly, then turned to Ahsoka. "This is my apprentice, Ahsoka Tano."
"Master Kenobi, Skywalker, my respects to you both," Ahsoka said, bowing formally. The horns on her Togruta head dipped slightly in a gesture of deep respect.
Anakin scrutinized Ahsoka with a critical gaze, but she met his stare with equal firmness, refusing to be intimidated.
Obi-Wan and Solo exchanged knowing smiles. The apprentices' subtle rivalry momentarily eased the tense atmosphere.
"Can you tell us what exactly happened on Togolia?" Obi-Wan asked, his tone returning to its usual calm.
"That 'Bantha poodoo' Dietmar, thinking his fleet was big enough, charged recklessly straight into the Separatist lines," Solo said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "They got completely surrounded. We arrived half an hour later, but all we could do was rescue the surviving ships. Just as we broke through, Confederate reinforcements arrived. Now Togolia is under Separatist control."
"Bantha poodoo?" Anakin raised an eyebrow, surprised by Solo's blunt profanity.
"It's regrettable news," Obi-Wan said, glancing disapprovingly at Anakin before turning to Solo. "Still, it's no small feat that you managed to rescue the surviving ships."
"What's the situation on Coruscant? Any directives from the Council regarding the current state of affairs?" Solo fired off a barrage of questions, urgently needing to understand the overall war situation in the galaxy to adjust his plans accordingly.
"There's plenty of news, both good and bad," Obi-Wan replied slowly. "We've blockaded the Confederacy's shipyards on Faeros, but completely capturing or destroying them will be extremely difficult. The battle on Atraken has been raging for three weeks, with both sides locked in a stalemate. Master Echu Shen-Jon defeated Sevrance Tann, Count Dooku's Dark Jedi, in the Battle of Krant. That woman, early in the war, destroyed an energy node through a surprise attack, plunging dozens of core worlds, including Coruscant, into darkness for days. However, after the duel, Master Shen-Jon decided to leave the Warrior Order."
He paused, his tone turning grave. "We've suffered significant losses. The Republic has already lost dozens of planets, including Calab, Moraval, Filkyar, and Kabal."
"Hmm... the situation doesn't sound good."
"Indeed," Obi-Wan added. "That's why the Council sent us to reinforce this sector."
"How long will you be staying here?" Solo pressed.
"We're on a tight schedule. We're leaving for Rhenvar in a few hours," Anakin blurted out, his voice brimming with eager anticipation. He had been itching to get into real combat for ages.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes in exasperation, his apprentice's recklessness giving him a headache. "Anakin, that's classified information."
Ahsoka's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, clearly amused by Anakin's impatience.
"Oh, sorry, Master," Anakin said, glancing at Obi-Wan with a dismissive tone. "I wasn't thinking."
Just then, Obi-Wan's communicator beeped. He turned to answer the call.
Seizing the opportunity, Anakin turned to Solo and spread his hands. "Master takes secrecy too rigidly."
"The Master has his reasons," Solo replied calmly, using diplomatic language. "All secrets eventually come to light, don't they, Skywalker?"
Anakin flinched slightly at the remark, his gaze fixed intently on Solo's face. The man's expression remained serious, but a hint of... amusement? flickered at the corner of his eyes.
"We should be going, Anakin. The ship is ready," Obi-Wan announced, ending his communication and turning back. He gave Solo a final look. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Master Victor. I hope we have the opportunity to collaborate again."
"There will be opportunities," Solo replied, shaking his hand.
Anakin followed Obi-Wan toward the exit, but as they neared the door, he couldn't resist glancing back.
Solo was leaning over a tactical map, discussing something with a military officer.
*He just said, 'All secrets eventually come to light.' What kind of Hutt nonsense is that? What does he mean?* Anakin muttered to himself, sensing hidden meaning in Solo's words.
***
At the exit of the Command headquarters hall, a woman in dark blue overalls intently scanned the departing crowd.
She was Jasmir Serrano, representative of Kuat Drive Yards, responsible for gathering feedback from the Republic Army on the equipment they produced.
Kuat Drive Yards' history nearly mirrored that of the Galactic Republic itself. From its humble beginnings as a few planetary factories to the ring-shaped shipyards encircling Kuat, from producing a handful of small vessels monthly to employing millions of workers simultaneously and churning out hundreds of colossal warships each month, it had long since become one of the Republic's largest military-industrial complexes, with dozens of subsidiaries scattered across the galaxy.
Nine years ago, they received a top-secret order to design and manufacture ships and equipment for the Republic's covertly created Clone Army.
The Kuat engineers executed the mission flawlessly. It wasn't until the outbreak of war that the outside world learned the true purpose of these factories.
Now, tens of thousands of warships and hundreds of thousands of combat walkers had been delivered to the Republic Military, and new orders continued to flood in relentlessly.
Behind this glory lay immense pressure. Any equipment malfunction would trigger a cascade of Senate complaints and fines, potentially costing Kuat Drive Yards its Republic contracts.
Sienar Fleet Systems had long been eyeing Kuat's position, eager to replace them as the Republic's primary supplier.
Therefore, gathering feedback from frontline units, especially evaluations from Jedi Commanders, was crucial for Jasmir. This data would not only guide the company's improvement efforts but also potentially earn her a promotion and bonuses.
When she saw Solo emerge from the tactical room, Jasmir's eyes lit up.
She had learned earlier that this Jedi General had recently participated in the Battle of Togolia, making him the most authoritative voice on the equipment's performance in actual combat.
Taking a deep breath, she hurried forward, her tone polite yet firm: "General Viktor, could I have a minute of your time?"
Solo turned around, and Jasmir caught a flicker of surprise and pleasure in his eyes, which eased her anxiety.
At least he wasn't rejecting her outright.
At thirty-five, Jasmir wasn't strikingly beautiful, but years of professional experience had honed her into a polished and capable woman. Her meticulously styled short brown hair and tailored work attire exuded professional charm.
Solo nodded and turned to his apprentice. "Ahsoka, go wait for me in the shuttle. I'll be right there."
"Yes, Master!" Ahsoka replied, hurrying down the corridor toward the shuttle.
Seeing this, Jasmir Serrano stepped forward and introduced herself. "I'm Jasmir Serrano, representing Kuat Drive Yards. Our equipment is widely used by the Republic Army, and I'd like to hear your combat feedback on it. After all, there's no more valuable insight than the evaluation of a frontline commander."
"Funny you should mention that," Solo said, a glint of interest in his eyes. "I actually have some thoughts I wanted to share with you. But this isn't the place for it."
"Please, follow me. I've secured a private office," Jasmir said, her heart lifting as she gestured for him to follow.
They entered the office, and Jasmir closed the door behind them. She retrieved a recording device from her briefcase, switched it on, and turned to Solo. "General, you can share your feedback now. Whether it's praise or criticism, we're eager to hear it all."
***
Ahsoka was walking down the corridor toward the hangar when she rounded a corner and bumped straight into Anakin, who was hurrying in the opposite direction.
His hand still resting on his hip, Anakin's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint as he spotted Ahsoka.
"Well, well, if it isn't Master Victor's little apprentice?" Anakin stopped, crossing his arms, his tone dripping with teasing. "Your Master's inside chatting away. Why are you wandering around here alone? Didn't he bring you along to teach you a thing or two?"
Ahsoka tilted her head slightly, meeting his gaze without a hint of intimidation. "Master said he had official business to attend to and told me to wait in the shuttle. That's called following orders, Skywalker, not 'wandering around.' When you were an apprentice, did you cling to Master Kenobi's side every second, afraid to take a single step away?"
"Cling?" Anakin scoffed, leaning forward slightly, his voice carrying a hint of older-brotherly arrogance. "When I was with my Master, I certainly wasn't 'waiting around' at times like this! You have to keep your eyes open to learn, and you have to be ready to jump into the fray when the time comes! If you're always just waiting here, what real skills will you ever learn?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "waiting," as if teasing a naive child.
"I wasn't waiting!" Ahsoka stepped forward, her eyes glowing like ignited lightsabers. "During the Battle of Togolia, I covered the Clone Troopers' retreat with Master, personally shooting down over thirty Vulture fighters! This is the Command, not the battlefield. Do I have to cling to Master's heels to be considered a proper apprentice?"
Remembering Solo's words about "assessing the situation," she added with newfound seriousness, "An apprentice helps their Master with tasks, not just follows them around like a shadow."
"Helping your Master with tasks?" Anakin raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips that barely concealed his competitive spirit. "What kind of 'tasks' are you talking about? When I was eight, I used a homemade blaster and a salvaged R2 unit to blow up a warship's fuel tanks... Now that's what I call real, hands-on training! All you're doing here is listening to officers bicker. What skills are you supposed to learn from that?"
Ahsoka immediately seized the opportunity, mimicking Solo's occasional stern tone: "But you were just in the tactical room, casually spilling classified mission details... Master Kenobi specifically warned us about their confidentiality, yet you blurted them out anyway. I think a Padawan should learn 'composure' first, not just rush into action."
The tips of Anakin's ears flushed slightly before he scratched his head in embarrassed anger. "That... that was just a momentary lapse in judgment! Besides, I'd rather be on the front lines, fighting for real, than cooped up here following rules... Maybe your Master kept you here because he doesn't think you're ready for a real battle yet."
"I've been ready for ages!" Ahsoka's voice rose, her hand instinctively gripping the hilt of her lightsaber. "During the Donovia landing, I even helped Clone Troopers carry wounded soldiers! I'm not just some Padawan who waits around!"
Seeing her tense posture, the teasing glint in Anakin's eyes softened, and his tone became gentler. "Alright, shooting down two Vulture droids isn't bad... And you didn't cause any trouble in the tactical room, so you're showing some composure after all."
Just then, Obi-Wan's exasperated voice echoed from the end of the corridor: "Anakin! If we don't leave now, we'll be late!"
Anakin smirked at Ahsoka, as if saying, "We'll continue this debate later," and turned to leave.
As he reached the corner, he suddenly glanced back, his tone losing its teasing edge and gaining a hint of seriousness. "Hey, Padawan... don't always wait for Master to tell you what to do. If you want to be a true warrior, you have to be brave enough to step forward yourself!"
Ahsoka stood rooted to the spot, frowning as she watched his retreating figure.
She lowered her gaze to her hand resting on her lightsaber, her fingertips still tracing the patterns on the hilt.
"Waiting to be told what to do?" she murmured to herself, shaking her head. Her eyes lit up again. "Never."
In the distance, the shuttle's engines began to hum, its preheating glow reflecting on the corridor floor.
Ahsoka took a deep breath, clenched her fist, and strode purposefully toward the hangar. She knew that whether she became a true warrior wasn't up to others to decide—it was up to her to prove through her actions.
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