A Life at War: Twilight Chapter 17: Naval Politicking

So days I was happy to be serving in the Navy. The travel, the new worlds, the adrenaline of battle and the calm of shore leave. Other days I disliked it very much. The paperwork, the loss and the damn politics. Though today was one of the days, where the politics would impact the most.

The Navy, like most worlds in the Republic, had old families with incredible influence. These families who had served since the inception of the Navy or for thousands of years, families such as the Ozzels and luckily for the Tenants. These old families had connections to procurent, planetary defense forces, security firms, rcenaries and much more. May of these ties had co in clutch when the Clone Wars began. Old rcenary friends, noble pirates, security firms and private military forces suddenly enrolling en masse to serve the Republic. Their debts and ties of friendship repaid. Debts often obtained by these hallowed families thanks to competent officers in their past and discipline with an adherence to tradition in the present. Nils Tenant only did a sester at Carida, mainly to improve his position at the Sullust Sector Spacefarers Academy, but we had ended up running in similar circles and t a couple tis.

In one word Nils was competent, in a couple more he was also ambitious and proud. I hoped to use this to my best advantage. Writing up a first draft for the paper took a tad longer than I expected, but it was done before the 159th entered Cerulean Spear Command. I sent the first draft to Tenant soon after and attached a personal note, that I wished for his cooperation on the paper.

He did not take long to respond. He was politely intrigued and insinuated he would do so research of his own on the topic, scouring old family logbooks and diaries for further sources no one else could reliably gain access to. He also more plainly stated he wished for co-authorship of the full paper. Partially to give it more weight, since he had recently been promoted to Rear Admiral and partially to advance his career. In his defense he did phrase it better. I replied that I would look forward to his input and collaboration.

In the excitent for research I had almost forgotten the imminent arrival of the 159th Logistics Section. Despite my earlier displeasure I had slowly co around to having more control over my logistical coverage, despite the probable need to temporarily detach a frigate from the 347th for increased protection of the convoy, at the very least for the stretch between Hutt space and Mon Cala.

It was in preparation for eting our comrades in arms, that the 347th was fully assembled outside of the docks, the blue orb of Dac and her assembly of shipyards and docks behind us. I had assembled my welcoming party to receive my newest subordinates with full honors. The Little Revenge had only erged from her repairs and retrofit this morning, with her gaining a replacent reactor for the aging Number two. I had also wanted a newer hyperdrive to replace the type four, which was honestly slowing down the entire fleet to an annoying degree, but alas I would have to wait until after the upcoming mission.

I look around to see Captain Strom to my right, as the representative of the 347th, Mi-Kus to his right as the representative of the Little Revenge, Captain Chain to my left as the Representative of the Clone detachnt and Junior Captain Lix to his left to emphasize the unity between Dac and the greater Republic. Symbolism could be ever so useful, especially for first etings.

Of course we were still assembled on the bridge, waiting patiently for the 159th to arrive. Lix seed slightly nervous about being away from his ship, with his tentacles shifting more than usual on his face and his eyes shifting over to the holographic representation of the Lucky Kelp every now and then.

I had half a mind to tell the Quarren to relax, when the first Pelta joined us in realspace, followed by another, then another, and the final two alongside a duet of Consular corvettes. If I could commandeer those two for future operations I would be very happy. I might press it even with the 159th being quite vulnerable without the added protection of the two corvettes.

A shuttle detaches from the first Pelta and it moves between two of the other Peltas and one of the Consulars, docking at each one of the ships, before finally breaking off towards the Little Revenge. I motion for my fellow officers to follow to the starboard docking port and they do so in trained silence. We pick up a half of the remaining Door Platoon, since they’re the closest thing to elites we have at this point, as escorts.

The clones line up alongside the Hallway they had fought in only a week ago and lost most of their comrades in. They don’t show any recognition, though I think I hear Lieutenant Bugs sigh as he passes , though the only reason I know it’s him in the first place are his newly painted on rabbit ears. I readjust my officers cap and place my hands behind my back as we wait for the new arrivals.

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The docking port hisses with hydraulic pressure and so steam erupts from a couple joints as the two ships make a safe seal. Only a mont later the door opens to reveal my newest subordinates. First through the door is a younger human won with a slight tan and black hair under her officers cap. She is followed by a Bothan, whose cap is sitting between her upright ears. Next through the hatch is a green Duro, with a pair of blood red eyes and having a near perfect uniform adorning his person, the only flaw being his lack of officers cap. Finally bringing up the rear is a male Pantoran, with an overly ornate blaster holster on his uniform.

The four officers approach and give a salute, which I return while speaking: “Welco aboard the Little Revenge. I am Commodore Thraken Dericote of the 97th Outer Rim Squadron, 347th Outer RIm Section and Little Revenge to my right is Captain Faxe Strom of the Buckler, to my left is Captain Chain of Hope company to their respective sides are Junior Captain Ocka Lix of the Lucky Kelp and Lieutenant Commander Mi-Kus, my second aboard the Little Revenge.”

“Thank you for having us aboard, sir. I am Senior Captain Hum Hugh of the Avarice.” The lead officer introduces.

“Captain Het Milila of the Malice II.” The Bothan continues.

“Captain Ced Muks of the Glutton V, sir.” The Duro says, bowing his head slightly.

“Captain Drey Chorna of the Teardrop, Commodore.” the Pantoran officer finishes.

“Wonderful, I am pleased to make your acquaintances. If you all would be so kind as to follow, we should head to the briefing room. We have certain things to discuss.” I say as I start moving away. The cadre of officers follow behind as we move to the rear of the ship. After taking an elevator down we finally arrive at the briefing room.

I gesture for Mi-Kus to turn on the holotable as the other officers spread around the amphitheater-like room. The holotable finally hums to life and depicts the local area, from the borders of Hutt space in the galactic south to the edge of Zygerian space in the galactic north and everything east of Saleucami.

A yellow line appears snaking from Hutt space to Mon Cala and I finally move to speak, turning towards my audience: “Here is the route the supply convoys to Dac have taken in the past. It snakes past multiple Separatist emplacents, most worryingly Mintooine and Pammant. We can’t do anything about the Quarren colonies for quite a while, even if we were re-assigned under a Jedi task-force. Instead we have been ordered by High Command, to try and expand the cordon surrounding Dac in other directions. Despite this wish the only currently possible location, without further resources would be Munto Codru, which the C.I.S. appears to have given up on.”

I see Senior Captain Hugh raising her hand and I motion for her to go ahead. The stands up to speak: “Would it be wiser to try and move our supplies further eastward, maybe through Hinakuu? I know there isn’t much of a real route around there, but we would avoid Pammant’s sphere of imdiate control.”

“If you can plot a route by the next resupply, I would be more than willing to take it under consideration.” I reply. I press another button and a couple systems light up. I continue to speak after nodding to myself: “These worlds are potential targets to create an extensive early warning system for Dac, code-nad Operation Watch. Targonn, has a decent population and hasn’t thrown their weight behind either side in the war. We have been tasked with negotiating military access, despite their questionable leadership. Baros and Toong’l may beco vital to get around any Separatist attempts against our supply lines. Thereby securing them has been seen as a priority by Regional Command. Finally we have been ordered to fully seize the world of Munto Codru, a garrison will be deployed after and a friendly governnt will be established to begin recruiting a loyalist militia. Any questions?”

Captain Milila speaks up: “Why are we being inford of this, sir? We were told we would mainly be supplying your forces and the Mon Cala shipyards.”

“Because the entire 97th Outer Rim squadron will be heading southwards to secure so of the before ntioned worlds. After this the Teardrop and Falchion will detach and be temporarily assigned to the 347th when establishing Republic control of Munto Codru. After this operation we will regularly be detaching the Consulars from the 159th once they have entered Hutt space, while detaching the Lucky Kelp, Prince’s Duty or Dagger from the 347th during the movents of the 159th being between Hutt space and Dac. This alongside the 159th from now on only moving as a convoy will ensure greater operational security.” I finish displaying my plan.

This causes multiple of the new officers to gain a look of concern. After a mont Captain Muks raises his voice: “Sir, this will leave us quite vulnerable.”

“Only if you don’t plan on heading to Bothawui, where our primary supply depot is. Worst case scenario you end up having to head to Denon, which while a riskier route, the Navy has multiple fleets in the area, which you can comm for help. If you are completely outgunned, you can make a run for it or surrender. The Separatists should accept it and treat you well. Despite what so Jedi Generals think surrendering is a viable option and they should stop using it as a delaying tactic.” I blink realizing I had said the last part out loud. I cough into my gloved hand before continuing: “Disregard that, please. Any further questions?”

“When are we expected to move out, sir?” Senior Captain Hugh asks.

“In a couple of days at least. I want so ti to incorporate the new additions to Little and Bastard squadrons as well as give you all so ti to rest. In most optimal conditions I would wait for the next supply convoy to arrive with the new reinforcents for Hope company, so extra armor I requested alongside so extra spare parts, but these are not tis in which we are allowed to wait. If that is all, dismissed.” I answer.

I watch as the officers get up and leave one by one. Eventually it is only myself R4 and Captain Chain, who I had gestured to stay a mont. I motion for R4 to plug into the terminal and pull up a very rough design I had drawn up by a bored tech. The Holograph morphing to reveal a modified AT-TE, the most glaring detail being her missing main gun. The clone removes his helt and looks at in confusion.

“Sir, what is this?” He asks.

“A hypothetical modification to the AT-TE. Slightly shorter for a more snug fit on a LAAT/c and with a few extra modifications hopefully the best possible long range boarding vessel for non-droids.” I say a smirk coming across my face at the thought of the possibility.