Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 6.6 - The Compact of Yawd

The wreckage of the Intrepid and Resolute, like a long river of scrap metal floating around Lysis, formed an artificial ring around the small satellite.

With the sublight thrusters of the "Repulse" weakening, the frigate completed its homing orbit change and burned up around the satellite, finally revealing the wreckage of the "Resolute".

The cruiser exploded from the inside.

It was determined that a leaking fuel tank turned its main parking apron into a combustion chamber, which could have been completely melted down with just one shell.

Today, the "Resolute" is shaped more like a tuning fork, with its two "fork teeth" twisted outwards due to the impact of the explosion.

However, its stern superstructure is still somewhat intact.

On the other hand, there's not much to say about the "Intrepid".

Most of the ship's wreckage had crashed into Lysis, breaking through its cold, crystalline shell and disappearing into the frozen ocean below.

This was an unfortunate end for any clone soldier who survived the initial battle.

“Based on our current center of gravity, we will intercept this satellite within one and a half rotation cycles in the local area,” the navigation robot said.

Raine glanced at the navigation repeater. "We won't stay here for long. We'll begin limited burning until the apogee is far enough away to perform a low-energy transfer into Christoph's orbit."

The B1 robot pressed a few buttons on the control panel. "Based on this fire, we only have 40 minutes to rendezvous with Battleship No. 53."

“There’s enough time,” Ryan nodded. “Well done.”

The massive shadow of battleship No. 53 slowly passed by them; against the backdrop of this enormous Lucrehook-class battleship, the Dreadnought and the Repulse looked like dwarfs.

The Droch-class cutters have swarmed out of the battleship's hangar to begin salvage operations.

"Battleship No. 53 reports that its speed has matched that of HMS Resolute," the communications bot reports. "Initiate salvage operations."

“Our vital signs scanner detected 712 distinct biosignals around the bridge pillars.” Another robot looked up at Ryan. “Should we rescue them?”

Raine looked up at the repeater display, which showed that they had also received some electronic waveforms and pulses—

Distress signals can be sent temporarily or in other ways.

“We’re running out of time,” Little Tower warned. “Since the start of the battle, this satellite has completed half of its second rotation, and the hyperspace exit is on the other side of the planet. We must complete the raid on the ‘Resolute’ data terminal as soon as possible and rendezvous with the blockade line.”

Renn touched his cheek as he pondered.

The Republic will definitely return with reinforcements, there's no doubt about that. Shortly after their battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi officially began, the Progress Wave detected a hypersonic transmission signal, which could only have come from a reinforcement fleet heading to the Christophersis system.

The Jedi will return with more warships and fully equipped aircraft carriers.

Little Tower is right, and he is usually right in this situation; from a purely rational point of view, rescuing enemy soldiers is a waste of precious time.

Unfortunately, Ryan is not a robot.

He is a human being.

Those survivors trapped in the wreckage of the Resolute, hurtling toward the satellite's surface, were still human, even though they were clone soldiers.

He couldn't think about it from a binary and probabilistic perspective. He was acutely aware that if he decided to ignore them now, he would spend the rest of his life hearing the beeping of distress signals in his dreams.

Most importantly, this will be very beneficial to his resume.

He rubbed his eyes. "Damn it... get me connected to the communication network and turn on the frequency."

“Uh…” The communication robot glanced at Xiaota, but a stern look from Rein made him quickly reply, “Yes, yes!”

Raine cleared his throat. “To all surviving personnel of the Republic cruisers ‘Resolute’ and ‘Dreadnought’: I am Raine of the Confederate Navy, representing the Independent System Confederation. We demand your absolute and unconditional surrender. According to Chapter Two, Articles Twelve through Sixteen of the Yavin Code concerning the general protection of prisoners of war, in view of your race, age, and health condition, you are entitled to and will receive humane and preferential treatment, including but not limited to adequate food, necessary medical care, and all guarantees of sanitation and a healthy environment. I repeat—”

He repeated the demand to surrender, even though he, every robot on his ship, and most likely every survivor outside knew he was talking nonsense.

After all, he was probably the only separatist officer to say these things repeatedly.

The Yavin Convention is thousands of years old, and officers of both republics and separatists who still abide by its rules are as rare as the Tangtang on Tatooine.

He wouldn't be surprised if these clone soldiers were hearing about the Code of Yavin for the first time.

“Sir,” Little Tower said in a warning tone, “I predict the survivors will think this is a trap, and they may resist rescue.”

Is this how Taurean is trying to dissuade him from making this tactically unwise decision?
Don't assume that tactical robots can't learn anything.

But Ryan won't change his mind.

"Then let's start with the rescue escape pods, use the rescued survivors to persuade the others, and order Battleship No. 53 to bring some cutting ships from the salvage operation to interfere with the distress signals—if the Republic hears these signals, it may prompt them to return faster."

Several cutting ships have already sailed toward the bridge of the "Resolute" and crashed into the cabins, releasing the robots they are carrying.

Soon, any salvageable data from the ship would be his.

We hope to receive a timetable and personnel list for the reinforcements.

“Have them search downwards along the superstructure,” Raine ordered. “Keep Battleship 53 on this track until the salvage operation is complete. If, as predicted, enemy reinforcements return within two rotation cycles, then Lysis should be just above the blockade line when they arrive. If not… then we'll only be missing one ship…”

“Sir,” Taylor turned around, “we’ve received a communication from the planet’s surface, using our frequency.”

"Receive it here."

General Worm's hunched figure emerged from the holographic projector.

This Kerkoid was more like an animal than a human, but in any case, he was still more pleasing to the eye than Bitrench. However, I have to say, he really needs to get his teeth fixed.

Perhaps by Earthlings' aesthetic standards, his underbite was just too ugly.

“General Losamon,” Ryan smiled, “this is a truly unexpected surprise.”

“It is an honor, Captain Bontri!” Worm seemed to bow, though it was hard to tell from the way he bent over. “I am pleased to inform you that the last remnants of the Republic’s forces on Christophersis have been wiped out. Crystal City is now completely under my control.”

“This is indeed a surprise,” Ryan said, genuinely taken aback. “It’s ahead of schedule.”

(End of this chapter)