Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 63 - Mission Change (4k chapter, extra chapter thanks to all the generous donors)

Salvara, the Salvara Galaxy.

Tennuta Sector.

A signal crossed space and reached the Serenno Star.

"Sir, a message from the Salvara communications satellite." TX-103 looked up, its optical sensors flashing. "Source: Metalon."

“Tell me, what’s new?” Carly’s gaze didn’t leave the tactical hologram.

"Brigadier General Bontri has sent word that the plan has changed," the robot replied. "He ordered us to delay the enemy at all costs. Metalon has confirmed its joining the Alliance, and a full evacuation of the planet is underway."

"Hmph!" Carly waved her hand impatiently. "This is in line with my original plan."

She didn't take Ryan's message to heart.

Her entire attention was focused on the flashing tactical hologram.

The movements of the Republic fleet were entirely within her expectations.

The enemy commander split his new battleship into two parts.

Five of the slow-moving battleships formed a slowly advancing array, pressing head-on against the Crysm fleet's defenses.

The other seven ships formed a sharp wedge-shaped assault formation, intending to directly tear apart the relatively weak defensive lines of the Salvara fleet.

Unbeknownst to them, a small, light cruiser was lurking silently in the shadows below, acting as an invisible sentinel, continuously transmitting their precise coordinates back to the surface of Salvara.

“'Salisa' requests communication, sir.”

"Tell General Trench: Hold the line and do not move!" Carly's voice was firm and unquestionable.

"Yes, yes!"

"Enemy target has entered our active scanning range." The sensor officer stared intently at the screen, his fingers moving rapidly. "Energy fluctuations detected; the target is enhancing its bow deflector shields."

"The status of the stern shields?" Carly asked, her tone calm.

"Detection indicates that the stern shields have extremely low energy levels, essentially leaving them unprotected, sir."

“Very good.” A cold satisfaction flashed in Carly’s eyes.

She glanced at the signal sign that represented the lurking ship, the Pathfinder.

Immediately afterwards, the enemy's seven advancing battleships crossed an invisible boundary.

The light cruiser "Pathfinder" immediately emitted an extremely brief encrypted pulse signal, the frequency and intensity of which were almost imperceptible unless specifically monitored.

The moment the signal disappeared, the surface defense arrays of Salvara reacted.

The dense blue ion beams, like a sudden burst of lightning, pierced through the thick atmosphere and precisely struck the engine compartment area of ​​the enemy star destroyer.

A violent arc of blue energy instantly coiled around the massive hull, mercilessly burning and paralyzing all electronic systems it touched.

"Send out bombers!" Carly decisively ordered, then added a crucial instruction, "The enemy's electronic countermeasures system has been disabled. Have our escort ships approach the disabled targets, attempt a physical connection, and download the core database. I need to obtain all the information on these new ships!"

Thousands of "Hyena" robot bombers, like a swarm of unleashed mechanical bees, poured out of the hangars of the Alliance warships, their S-shaped wings locked in attack posture, escorted by agile "Vulture" robot fighters.

On the other side of the planet's orbit, the same scene was unfolding, demonstrating that Trench understood Carly's tactical intentions.

Each attack squadron directly locks onto its respective target and unleashes full firepower.

The two forces of the Republic's fleet were almost simultaneously overwhelmed by the frenzied swarm of robot fighters.

The "Vulture" fighters weaved through the damaged fleet like black phantoms, precisely avoiding the few turrets that were still operational, while engaging in fierce firefights with the hastily deployed Republic escort fighters.

Immediately afterwards, the Hyena bomber group swooped down and launched a fatal attack on the lead Star Destroyer.

The bomb bay doors opened, and proton bombs rained down on the now-unprotected hull. The violent explosions instantly tore the magnificent warship apart, turning it into burning space debris.

After dropping their bombs, the Hyena aircraft quickly disengaged from the battlefield and began their return journey.

An ammunition transport ship, the "Supplyer," which had been waiting in a forward position, was on high alert, ready to provide them with rapid resupply and rearmment.

"Enemy bomber formation detected approaching!"

Tex then sounded an alarm.

Carly's gaze quickly swept to the sensor screen.

The Republic's aircraft carrier commander reacted swiftly, and the attack carriers that were originally in the rear began to accelerate forward to support the vanguard forces that were in trouble.

Swarms of NTB-630 naval bombers poured out of the aircraft carrier's hangar like a school of metal fish being driven.

They cleverly bypassed the fierce battle zone in front of the planet, heading straight for the main line of the Alliance fleet.

"Activate the fleet's close-range protection shields," Carly commanded in a low voice, her tone unusually clear.

The bridge crew of the USS Serenno Star understood immediately.

Four Diamond-class ships spewed powerful exhaust plumes from their engines as they raced to the front of the defensive line, forming a temporary barrier.

Carly gritted her teeth as she watched the cruisers' dense close-in weapon system turrets unleash scorching energy beams at the approaching Republic bomber formation.

Years of combat experience taught her that nothing was more destructive than a bomber formation that broke through the defenses.

Just a few aircraft successfully breaching the defenses could cause irreparable damage.

"Prioritize allocating shield energy to the particle defense layer." To ensure absolute success, Carly gave the order again, "Redeploy our 'Hyena' bomber squadron, target the enemy carrier!"

Tex's relentless optical lens scanned the tactical hologram: "The target carrier is still protected by a fighter patrol (CAP). According to model analysis, this action will result in an extremely high loss rate for our bomber group."

“This is a necessary price to pay.” Carly gently rested her chin on her knuckles. “They don’t dare risk the carriers. Doing this will force the enemy escort fighters to return to their positions, which will create an opportunity for us to completely deal with those crippled battleships… How is our data extraction progressing?”

Tex's servo system hummed slightly. He moved to the communications console, leaned over to check the data stream, and read, "Target identified as a Tector-class Star Destroyer, flagship 'Longarm'. Your judgment is correct; these ships are indeed experimental models that have not yet been officially commissioned."

“Hmm.” Carly responded softly, her gaze following the Hyena bombers that had just reloaded. Like deadly metal locusts, they took off again from near the Jereak and swarmed towards the powerless Jedi cruisers. “Immediately package and encrypt all the acquired Knight-class technical data, including structural scans, energy signatures, and weapon configurations, and send them to Colombex via the Generous-class communications ship.”

As the battle unfolded as she had planned, the Republic's V-19 Torrent starfighters were forced to abandon their dogfight with the Vultures and hastily turn to intercept the Hyena swarm rushing toward the carrier.

During the chaotic interception, the V-19 fighters suffered heavy losses. Out of the corner of her eye, Carly saw that the NTB-630 bomber group was forced to turn around under the dense anti-aircraft fire of the Diamond-class cruisers, and their commander had obviously chosen to temporarily evade and regroup.

A satisfied smile curved her lips.

But that slight curve was fleeting.

On the sensor screen, the heavy cruiser "Salissa" along with three other Salvara cruisers suddenly broke away from the planned defensive line!

The old Rendili Dreadnought's engine power suddenly increased, and with an indomitable momentum, its turbo-laser turrets roared as it charged straight at a crippled Knight-class Star Destroyer.

"What is he doing?!" Carly's brows furrowed instantly, her face darkening. "Immediately establish a priority communication link with the bridge of the 'Salisa'!"

"Yes, yes."

Without any hesitation, the robot declared: "The line has been established."

As soon as the voice fell, a small holographic image of Trench condensed and took shape in front of Carly.

His spider-like face was smug, and his mechanical jaw opened and closed slightly. "Well done, Commander Carly! How about we go all the way and send these iron coffins into the furnace in one fell swoop?"

"Return to your designated positions, General! Immediately!" Carly's voice held no excitement, only icy fury. "Your unauthorized actions are undermining our entire strategic plan!"

Trench's smugness vanished, and his barbed teeth clicked in displeasure. "So, Commander, may I ask what your strategy is? Isn't it to destroy the Republic's fleet?"

“It’s to hold onto this planet for as long as possible!” Carly explained, barely suppressing her anger. “But ultimately, it’s about letting it ‘fall’! If Brigadier General Bontri’s plan is to proceed, Salvara… must fall!”

At the heart of this plan was Ryan Buntry paving the way for General Tann to become the Supreme Commander of the Confederacy.

Carly has put herself in an extremely advantageous position.

No one expected her to win here.

She can become a 'hero' if she can cripple the Republic's vanguard fleet in Salvara.

If Raine's scheme ultimately succeeds, she will undoubtedly secure a place in the new power center of the Pantora.

Conversely, even if Raine's plan fails, no one can blame an officer who is dedicated to his duty and fights to the last moment.

Carly had to admit that the plan was quite ingenious.

Although the first outcome was clearly more favorable to her than the second.

But no matter how things ultimately turn out, Kari Trilm will be the winner.

“Rayne Bontry?” Trench narrowed his five eyes, the mechanical eye-camera extending forward as if to pierce through the hologram and scrutinize Carly’s face. “He’s a capable fleet commander, I admit that, although he can sometimes seem…reckless. But I have my doubts about his strategic acumen, and I have to question this plan…Commander, how much do you really trust this man?”

“Trust?” Carly repeated the word calmly, as if savoring its meaning. “My ‘trust’ in him is limited to how far I can throw him.”

“Please forgive my bluntness,” Trench leaned back slightly, looking somewhat surprised. “It’s not a matter of trust. What do you actually know about him?”

How much do you know about Ryan Bontley?

Carly asked herself coldly in her heart.

The answer is: I know nothing.

She dared to assert that no one could truly understand him.

Ryan always kept his true ambitions, desires, and even his true nature deeply hidden beneath layers of disguise.

He only shows others the side he wants them to see.

But how much does she know about him?

She knows everything.

His expressionless face when he thought no one was paying attention.

How he can instantly change his expression when he needs to achieve his goal.

When he is nervous or deep in thought, he will unconsciously press or scratch one side of his cheek with his knuckles.

Even when he was questioned on the spot, the almost innocent look of surprise on his face, and his conflicted feelings about his home planet, Ongdrun.

He is usually aloof and distant, but if anyone dares to speak disrespectfully, he will turn into a vengeful icicle.

“I know him… well enough.” Carly condensed a complex three-year relationship into this short and powerful sentence. “Is it enough that he could deduce your presence here simply from the name ‘Dr. Clatara,’ Admiral?”

Trench scrutinized her carefully with his multifaceted gaze, as if he had found the answer he needed.

“Alright.” He finally conceded, his voice returning to its usual hoarseness. “I believe that your alliance is for the best interests of the Confederation.”

His hologram disappeared.

Carly turned her attention back to the tactical hologram, where the signal markers representing her bomber squadron were rapidly decreasing under heavy enemy fire.

Closer up, the USS Salissa and its accompanying cruisers had begun to execute the turning command, but before they were completely separated, they unleashed a fierce salvo at the broadside of the crippled Knight-class Star Destroyer.

The crimson energy beam slammed into the opponent's armor, which had lost its shield.

"Order the ground-based ion cannon array to cease fire," Carly ordered. "Battle results? How many battleships have we destroyed?"

“All three ships have been confirmed to have completely lost signal and have been reduced to wreckage,” Tex quickly reported. “The ‘Divine Eagle’ still has some energy readings, but its main engine and propulsion system have been confirmed to be destroyed and cannot be restarted.”

“Have the rest of the fighters retreat,” Carly said. “Have the Iron’s Fury prepare Heavy Concussion Missiles, target the bridge area of ​​the Eagle, and make sure it is completely silenced.”

"Yes, yes!"

Carly stretched her shoulders and back, which had become stiff from being tense for a long time, like a cat stretching its body in the sun.

"The fleet has regrouped and returned to standard defensive formation." Her voice carried a weariness and alertness from a lull in the fighting. "Now... we await their second wave of attack."

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(End of this chapter)