Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 313-317 - Return to Stardust (The Clones Wars End)
Coruscant, the capital planet of the core world, the power center of the Galactic Republic, and the heart of the galaxy, has not yet fully recovered from the last attack by the "Bastion Fleet".

This was the first time Ryan had seen the planet from this perspective; the images of Coruscant from the movie were already blurry in his mind.

I've been in this world for nearly thirty years, but the events of these past three years have completely upended my life.

"Admiral, Rear Admiral Greshad requests to board the ship!"

Rein responded to the communication robot's voice, a rare hint of a calm smile appearing on his face: "Boarding approved!"

A moment later, as Diedrich stepped onto the bridge of the "Divine Punishment," a chill instantly enveloped him.

The spacious cabin was mostly shrouded in darkness, and the air from the ventilation system carried a biting chill, causing him to instinctively tighten his grip on his uniform cuffs.

"General, what are your plans next?"

"How much do you know about the Force? And how much do you know about its limits?"

This question came out of nowhere, and Diedrich was taken aback.

Is this the time to discuss the Force?

He watched as a faint smile appeared on Ryan's lips.

"Major General, I'm not playing word games with you." Rein's tone turned cold, and his fingertips tapped lightly on the table.

Diedrich took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions.

His professionalism acted like a layer of Durasteel armor, calming him down temporarily: "I've seen Jedi fight with the Force, and I've felt Procon... connecting the consciousness of the entire fleet into a single entity. I can't describe that feeling, but it's very real. Whatever the Force you're talking about, it truly exists."

“That’s right. With the Force, there’s almost no limit to what can be done.” Renn nodded slowly, tapping a finger lightly on the metal cup on the table.

The moment my fingertip touched the cup, the liquid inside suddenly boiled violently, and with a hissing sound, the foam splashed onto the metal tabletop.

The droplets began to corrode the tabletop, making a hissing sound like a lizard flicking its tongue, leaving tiny pits on the smooth surface.

"What is that?" Diederich's gaze fell on the cup, and he took a half-step back warily.

“Without the Force, you simply can’t brew something like this.” Renn sighed, his voice full of exhaustion. “My body is almost completely drained. This is the only way that has kept me going until now and is still of any use.”

“You should at least give me an explanation!” Diedrich couldn’t help but complain.

Ever since the Battle of Rendili, I've been unable to understand the people in front of me.

“Explanation…” Renn’s gaze returned to the cup, his voice low, “I can give you many explanations.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the light in the bridge suddenly dimmed even more.

Twisted shadows swirled around the two of them, like living vines, slowly devouring the remaining light.

Diedrich was so frightened by the bizarre sight that his fingertips went numb, but Rein acted as if he hadn't seen it at all.

“For powerful Force users, the limits of the Force are far beyond imagination. They can strengthen the body, influence the entire fleet, and, given the right circumstances, for better or for worse, even establish a consciousness connection with people on the other side of the galaxy…” Raine’s voice grew softer and softer, as if he were talking to himself or recalling something.

“I guess you’re in the latter situation,” Diedrich said with certainty.

He noticed that when Ryan finished speaking, there was a hint of emotion in his voice that he had never heard before.

Is it regret?

"General, what exactly did you do?"

“I feel the Force trembling violently.” Raine’s voice trembled uncontrollably. “The Jedi of Coruscant… mass deaths, countless lives fading away, and yet, throughout the entire galaxy, we can’t find Kali…”

Diederich frowned.

Raine's voice was almost broken.

“I locked onto the strongest Force signal on Coruscant and used it as an anchor point to forcefully probe the truth over there, hoping to find out if there was any news of Carly.” His tone became calm and distant, but every word was like ice, revealing a fury that Diedrich could not comprehend. “I must know if she is still alive.”

For a moment, Diederich wanted to argue with him, saying that it was impossible and that he was lying.

But I just wanted to tell him that it was true.

"What did you see?" Diederich pressed, his mind racing, processing all the possible worst-case scenarios.

“Master Yoda…burning as he crashed into a Sith.” Raine’s voice was soft, as soft as a breeze, but when Diedrich heard it, a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. “Mace Windu is dead in Sereno…”

Diedrich didn't know how to put it; it was completely beyond his area of ​​expertise.

“I used to be very content.” Renn’s gaze drifted into the distance, as if recalling the past. “Commanding a fleet, being in the midst of the smoke of battle… that feeling is very familiar.”

He smiled, a smile tinged with longing, which was quickly replaced by bitterness. "I've become lazy too, forgotten that the ideal world doesn't exist, and become what others call... a Sith, and the fate of a Sith is always lonely."

He finally looked at Diedrich again, his eyes sharpening: "What are you fighting for, Major General Greshad? For the Confederation? For the Pelmian Alliance? Or for your family, your friends, and your soldiers?"

"And what are you fighting for, General?" Diederich did not answer, but instead asked in return.

Responding to a question with another question might be impolite, but he wanted to know the answer.

This answer may determine his next choice.

His intuition told him that he should say "for the Confederation" or "for the Peremian Union".

This is the safest, most logical, and true answer.

But that's not the whole story.

“Because fighting is in my nature.” Renn’s voice was low and tinged with sadness. “Only in the chaos and madness of the battlefield can I find a sense of belonging.”

He paused, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "It was also to protect those I care about... but I failed again."

Diedrich fell silent.

He knew what Ryan hadn't said.

Revenge is part of the Sith nature.

General Glory has kept General Trilm's whereabouts unknown to this day, so even though Glory Salima had surrendered, he still died by his blade.

“What should we do now, General?” Diderich broke the silence. “Retreat to Corellia, or…”

Ryan stared at the metal cup on the table, then suddenly picked it up, tilted his head back, and drank the liquid inside in one gulp.

"Ugh...this taste...damn it..."

The spicy liquid made him cough violently, and his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

If what happened next hadn't been so bizarre, Diederich might have found his appearance somewhat laughable.

Raine's hair turned from light gold to silver-gray at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“It can probably last another two months.” Renn flexed his wrists and muttered to himself, his tone tinged with relief. “It’s better than I feared.”

"Two months?" Diedrich didn't know what changes had occurred in Rennes, nor could he understand why he said that.

Is this the price to pay for gaining power?
Renn looks much older than he did at first, but you can still see traces of his former self.

Unbeknownst to Diedrich, after the Battle of Rendli, his body was left in the silent expanse of space.

In that certain death situation, in order to survive, he fell into the dark side. With the support of the dark side's power, he waited for the arrival of Diedrich's "Crown Prince".

However, acquiring power does not come without a price.

He possesses a unique physical constitution; he is a Force black hole.

Unaffected by the Force and unable to actively contact it, he can only draw power from the Force black hole within himself.

The price to pay for this is to overdraw one's life force.

“Unless we can find a way to completely repair my body, this is all the time I have left. But the good news is, I can participate in the operation again.” Rein looked at Diedrich’s blank expression, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “We need to develop some contingency plans, or do you think locking a… Sith in a water dungeon and throwing away the key is the wisest choice?”

"General, are you joking?"

"Heh... I'm not joking!" Rein immediately regained his usual admiral's composure and ordered, "Rear Admiral Greshad, wait for me in Coruscant orbit. I'm going to pick someone up... If any fleet approaches, open fire immediately!"

"Roger that, General!"

……

The shuttle sped across Coruscant, leaving a dazzling trail in the twilight as it headed towards the Jedi Temple.

The raging storm, like a runaway beast, threatened to tear the entire city apart.

Like the raging anger surging in Ryan's chest, almost breaking through the shackles of reason.

A pale bolt of lightning struck a building not far away, instantly illuminating the night sky.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening thunderclap boomed, and the shockwave tore a brief gap in the torrential rain.

In that fleeting moment of clarity, Raine saw Barris fighting a bloody battle in the Jedi Temple.

The clone soldiers lay dead in the burning flames, a lone figure in the smoke, the last rays of the setting sun completely fading away.

The blue lightsaber in Barlis's hand had been extinguished, and the clone soldier's blaster was aimed at her.

"It ends here..."

She whispered.

"I still haven't seen the world I want to see!"

Paris was completely exhausted, and her Force was depleted.

She slowly closed her eyes.

Regret?
No.

The old world is about to collapse under the fire of the Jedi Temple. What will the new world be like?

Are there still countless lives lamenting within the Force?

pity.

Can't see it anymore.

Once the clone soldiers are on Order 66, there is no possibility of them stopping.

At the moment the blaster was about to fire.

A bolt of lightning ripped across the sky and struck the clone soldiers, who looked around in astonishment.

Amidst the temple's flames, a figure draped in a purple cloak slowly emerged from behind Baris.

"You have to see the new world for yourself; it may not be the utopian world you've imagined!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Paris felt a surge of inexplicable emotion.

In her more than twenty years of life, it was this voice that changed her life. When she heard this voice again, she felt inexplicably at peace.

perhaps!

Whether the future world is perfect or not, I have changed everything in the present.

The future can be changed even without me, thanks to this person.

The Force surged around her like a raging tide.

Almost simultaneously, the clone soldier pulled the trigger.

The buzzing of the sonic blaster and the hum of lightning intertwined with the flames.

Something around Raine changed, and the dark side of the Force screamed.

The tendrils of lightning snaked and coiled, tearing gashes in the clone's armor, proving futile no matter how much energy was poured into the protective barrier to safeguard him.

The lightning storm swept them up and threw them off the platform.

The attack came suddenly and ended just as suddenly.

Knowing what was about to happen, Barris immersed herself in the Force.

She felt the power of the Force surging within her, and the pitch-black night instantly became as clear as day, bringing her inner peace.

Then darkness enveloped her, and the pain subsided.

"It's time to take care of the last few things!"

……

Marajo V is arguably Raven's greatest "achievement".

He ended the Mandalorian War in one fell swoop, an event that reverberated throughout the galaxy, and all those connected to the Force heard of it.

In that battle, the Mandalorians were defeated and the Republic emerged victorious—a fact known to all.

However, there are also some rumors.

Some say Marajó V was a trap, and it was then that Raven revealed his true colors, sacrificing his subordinates who were loyal to the Republic and valued their loyalty to their homeland more than their personal loyalty to Raven.

Some say that Raven used Marajó V to turn all but one Jedi who followed him to the dark side. Others believe that the Marajó V incident was merely an accident during the war.

After the Battle of Rendili, Raine visited the shattered planet and walked across its devastated plains.

Even four hundred years later, he can still feel the screams of those who are dying, still perceive their fear, and still taste the aftertaste of their pain.

Raine made no significant discoveries.

It is impossible to determine whether Raven's actions that day were intentional.

But there was an amazing discovery.

Even after centuries, Marajo V remains extraordinary.

Raine sensed the Force of the Dark Side screaming at him through the force; the planet was a land of death, covered by an invisible ocean of the Dark Side.

When he was on its surface, he was almost overwhelmed by the powerful corrosive force contained within this tragic world.

As Ryan stood there, opening himself to the dark side, it pushed him to the brink of madness.

Malajo V left a mark on his soul, making him understand that whatever Raven planned to do on that cursed planet would ultimately be irrelevant.

An act of war tore a wound in the Force itself, a wound that feeds on life and corrodes everything it touches.

Having witnessed all of this firsthand, Raven understood how Raven had managed to get every Jedi who followed him, except for the exiles, to his side, and why almost every soldier in Raven's Republic army had chosen to betray the Republic.

……

Paris fell asleep, and Raine enveloped her with his Force black hole, immersing her in a beautiful dream.

At this moment, the "God's Punishment" and the Peremian Alliance fleet hovered above Camino.

During the previous Confederate offensive, the super tactical robots had already led part of the fleet to occupy Kamino's high orbit.

Now we're finishing up the last bit of work.

Raine wanted to replicate Raven's "feat," but before that, he wasn't sure how Raven had done it; he just instinctively knew why Raven had succeeded.

When the first barrage hit Kamino, nearly a billion lives were lost.

One-third of them were lucky; they only felt pain for a moment before the orbital bombardment turned them to ashes.

Others were instantly burned to death by the heat pulse or torn to pieces by the shockwave, but fortunately their brains did not have time to perceive the pain.

Raine could feel their pain; the Force echoed their dying screams.

He could sense the death of everyone, from men, women, and children to the smallest microorganisms.

The ocean boiled, the city burned, and people on the brink of orbital strikes wailed in agony as their skin melted or was boiled in the very ocean that had once sheltered them.

The tiny remnant of conscience in Raine's heart receded because of the deaths he had caused.

But for most of his life, he reveled in the power of death, and the dark side trembled at the surge of power from his actions, ensuring that he enjoyed every moment.

Meanwhile, as the deaths of a billion people pounded like a sledgehammer on every man and woman in the Rennes fleet, they screamed.

Only by connecting them all into a shared consciousness—a "shared feeling"—can their minds be prevented from breaking down.

The second round of comments came, followed by the third, with Camino screaming.

The bombing continued, and some warships were destroyed as the Independent System Confederation launched an offensive to protect its ground forces on the planet.

Raine isolated the echoes of these deaths from his "feelings," preventing his men from experiencing the death of every life below.

Something seemed to tear open within the Force, and the dark side boiled over the vaporizing ocean of Kamino.

Those who survived by sheer luck, hiding in deep protective bunkers, let out a desperate scream before their lives were swallowed up.

A ripple swept across Kamino, and every living creature on the planet's surface vanished from the world.

Raine sensed the enemy Jedi who hadn't managed to evacuate in time screaming like cursed souls as the dark side swallowed them up.

Both the clone soldiers and the naturals screamed for relief; they needed something, anything, to take away this pain.

This was their darkest moment, and when they needed it most, Ryan appeared to offer them comfort.

The dark side offers many "gifts," and it can cover up many things.

Most importantly, it helps people in their darkest moments, allowing them to believe that the monster in the mirror is not a distorted reflection of themselves.

Its greatest "gift" is that it allows people to escape themselves, drowning their pain and torment in the screams of their victims.

In people's darkest moments, it can provide much-needed comfort... and people will gladly pay the price.

Pain, torment, fear, and despair... these are no longer things that Ryan and his men need to be wary of.

They no longer need to fear them, because from now on, they are merely their tools.

Raine is the man his people need, the shoulder they can lean on when they cry, the hand that pulls them back from the brink of madness, the one who gives them the warm embrace they crave and tells them everything will be alright, the one who convinces them that they can bear the burden of slaughtering Kamino and all life on the planet, and the one who prevents them from becoming monsters in their own eyes.

The beginning of this clone war will also come to an end in this destruction!

……

……

At high orbit, Rein walked to the command console of the "God's Punishment" and quickly pressed the start switch.

The transparent steel shell of the dome hummed, and the images from the external cameras appeared instantly.

A panoramic view of the starry sky unfolds around him, as if the bridge itself is floating in the universe.

Data readings scroll along the edge of the display screen, tracking the ship's movements and system diagnostic results.

The deep hum of the spaceship's reactor grew even deeper, carrying through the superstructure, and a faint vibration could be felt underfoot.

Ryan caught the tension in the air, as well as the familiar feeling of weightlessness as the ship detached from its berth.

Through the panoramic display screen on the dome, he saw the huge docking clamps slowly loosen their grip on the hull of the "God's Punishment" and retract into the dry dock frame like a giant metal serpent.

After a brief moment of stillness, the ship drifted slightly and hovered in mid-air.

Then, with a muffled thud, the last clamp was released, and a slight pulling sensation from inertia followed.

This "Unbreakable" class battleship has broken free from all constraints.

"Main thrusters switched to idle thrust," Augu reported at the control panel, his sensors flashing a cold amber light. "Dock tugboats have been evacuated, sub-light speed engines activated."

A deep, hoarse roar rose from the depths of the ship as the "God's Punishment" surged forward, its sub-light-speed engines groaning.

Outside the observation dome, Kamino gradually shrank, the broken wreckage slowly faded from view, and the warship continued to accelerate.

The crew members at the data station got busy, quickly checking the initial diagnostic data to confirm that all systems were displaying a green, normal status.

The signal lights behind them lit up one after another, and more and more warships sailed away from their berths, following the flagship into the void.

From the smallest frigates to the largest battleships, the "Divine Will" class, "Bulwark" class, and "Victory" class were all available.

Signal markers have appeared in the fleet assembly area ahead, and their positions are marked with boxes on the dome projection.

The pale blue dots representing the rest of the fleet are adjusting their formation and gradually returning to their positions.

“Communications officer,” Rein ordered, “send a signal to the entire fleet.”

"Transferring, sir," the communications officer replied, his fingers moving nimbly across the console.

The holographic transmitter at the bottom of the command platform then projected six figures, each with a unique posture and aura.

"First Reconnaissance Division, reporting for duty." Lex's voice was soft and elegant. Her figure was as fluid as a BD-3000 luxury robot, and her blue holographic outline shimmered. "The fleet is at your command, Admiral."

Through the dome, one can see his physical ship, the USS Lexington, a Disobedient-class light destroyer, with its sister ship, the USS Saratoga, right next to it.

They were the fleet's stealthy vanguard, and Rein felt a sense of relief at being able to fight side by side again.

“Third Battle Division, reporting for duty.” Diderich Greshad’s voice was relaxed and confident as he stood with his hands behind his back. “The fleet is at your command, Admiral.”

Behind his holographic image was the mirror-like hull of the battlecruiser "Crown Prince," gleaming coldly against the backdrop of distant starlight, its solar sails lazily unfurling on the trusses.

He was the core of the fleet's fast battle line, always charging ahead, yet miraculously never suffering a serious injury.

"Fourth Battle Division, reporting for duty." Next up was Vinok, "The fleet awaits your command, Admiral."

The massive and rugged silhouette of the "Wrath of the Sun," a battlecruiser of the "Divine Will" class, hovered behind him. Rows of turbo-laser cannons and torpedo launchers stood like manes on the battered hull.

Among the fleet he led, one could also glimpse the towering Gothic superstructure of the Titan-class warships.

"Sixth Auxiliary Division, reporting for duty." Chom's voice rang out. He was tall and thin, exuding a pragmatic and capable air. "All mission supplies have been inventoried. The fleet is at your command, Admiral."

His mobile mothership, "Aurora II," was faintly visible in the background, surrounded by a neat array of supply ships.

This giant auxiliary ship integrates a supply station, manufacturing plant and repair dock, and other large warships in the formation also have similar functions.

One of them was even modified with an industrialized hydroponic tank, making it ideal for situations where regular resupply is difficult to obtain during long-term missions.

A brief silence spread among the crowd.

In the numbering sequence, two names are conspicuously missing: the 2nd Assault Division and the 5th Support Division.

They were all wiped out in the Battle of Rendelli, along with their commander, Hogo Schiff, and Krett.

They had already reached a consensus that the designations of these two divisions would never be re-established.

Two new formations that took their places stepped forward to report for duty.

"'Scepter Task Force,' reporting for duty." It was Ellit, the governor of the Given Sector attached to the fleet, whose skeletal face showed a hint of solemnity. "The fleet is at your command, Admiral."

Raine nodded in satisfaction: "Synchronize the navigation computer with the 'Scepter', activate the hyperspace engine, and jump immediately after the target coordinates are confirmed."

The fleet turned collectively, and the various sub-formations broke up and reorganized into a new formation. Ship after ship confirmed the instructions and quickly aligned themselves to leave the course.

Thousands upon thousands of engine flames lit up on the observation instrument like torches, converging into a dazzling torrent.

"Warning: The fleet is not permitted to leave the Kamino system without the Supreme Commander's permission," Augu warned, the lights on the control panel flashing an alarm. "Assessment: Can we conclude that we are about to disobey orders?"

“You could say that,” Rein replied, and the captains around him let out a low chuckle. “The 28th Mobile Fleet and the 19th Fleet have merged, so there’s no need to distinguish between them anymore. From now on, we are the ‘Hydra Fleet’.”

His gaze then turned to the communications station: "Ignore all communications!"

The holographic projector in his pocket began to vibrate, and the screen displayed a communication request from the Supreme Commander.

Ryan rejected the incoming communications and turned off his device.

"Fleet navigation synchronization rate 91%," the navigation station reported. "Prepare for jump!"

Even if everyone is no longer alive, even if this journey will ultimately be in vain.

Even if the chances of survival are extremely slim, they are merely chasing a sliver of hope.

Even if this move means they have to give up all their achievements and head towards a completely unknown future... so what?
From the very beginning, on this planet Ringo Wenda, in that cramped room crammed with thirty-two officers, the significance of the "Peremian Alliance" has always been to challenge the impossible.

This time, their Jedi intuition also guided them.

“Your deeds will be forgotten,” warned Sector Governor Eliette. “The world you leave now will eventually erase your names.”

“Everything we’ve done,” Grenifmark Demura whispered, “will all be for naught, the bridges will burn, and our achievements will be tarnished.”

“So what?” Vinok retorted. “We are all made of stardust, and no matter what the outcome, we will eventually return to stardust.”

“Let us leave behind the known galaxies,” Chom echoed, “and find a new sea of ​​stars ahead.”

“This is a completely new adventure,” Diedrich Greshad said with a smile. “Even if it means giving up past glories, I’m willing to do it as long as this legend can be remembered by the world for a hundred years.”

"Fleet navigation synchronized, all hyperspace engines activated and ready." Ms. Lex's ship lights flashed cheerfully. "First stop: Utura system."

Raine's hands rested firmly on the armrests, his fingertips tracing the scales on his cane, his gaze fixed on the boundless darkness ahead.

are you still there?

His subconscious seemed to be silently questioning him.

"Assessment: Final check complete." Augu's fingers slid smoothly across the console. "All system parameters are normal. Please issue the order, General."

"Alright," Renn nodded one last time, "All ships, execute the warp!"

In an instant, the roar of thousands of sub-light speed engines fell silent.

The fleet fell into an absolute stillness for a moment, as if the entire universe was holding its breath for this irreversible moment.

Immediately afterwards, the galaxy seemed to let out a sharp shriek.

Thousands of hyperspace engines roared simultaneously, tearing apart the structure of spacetime.

Nearly a thousand warships of the Hydra fleet vanished from the real universe, heading headlong into the unknown future.

(End of this chapter)