01.19 : The Light Begins to Dim

[22 BBY]

[Republic Aegis Guard Combat Freighter Stormcrow, Grand Army Landing Zone Norther Continent, Ryloth, Ryloth System]

"Well, isn't that just fine and dandy" I muttered in complaint as I sat in front of the holographic display and adjusted the various modules on the interface. Things didn't always go as you wanted, and my efforts to get some heavy capital ship level fighting vessels had been less than optimal when it came to my planned future starship. Oh, I'd certainly managed a battlecruiser sized armoured hull in the ancient Mon Calamari city-ship Remembrance of the Alopia Rift, but the reports back from Corellia on what could be done with it were not what I desired.

"Problem Sir?" Yulan queried coming in from the side, data-pad in one had as he glanced at the holographic display of one of our subcontracted construction projects "...ah, isn't that the big Mon Cala wreck we got?"

I nodded "Yeah, the Remembrance, former city ship, colony ship, and trade ship, all rolled into one. I'd planned on making it a heavy carrier, or into a battlecruiser even, but bad news; it can't"

Yulan studied the image a moment, glancing at me "Structural problems with the hull?"

"No, far from it would you believe" I replied giving a faintly amused snort and shaking my head "...the Mon Calamari evidently build'em to last, and she's got a double hull, both quite thick and in good condition so she dive and rest at the bottom of the deepest oceans on their worlds. Which, unfortunately, is the problem I'm afraid Yulan....big thick double hulls with a large, very slow opening, docking bay do not a combat carrier make"

"Hmmm, I'm guessing problems then with external hull points or something to that effect? It's not as if it's short of internal hull space"

"No, plenty of space inside, so power supply isn't a problem..." I noted as the ship had been designed around carrying somewhere between a hundred and a hundred and twenty thousand people as permanent residents out in dangerous areas "...but the original defences were designed around dealing with pirate bands, or organised raiders from uncivilized worlds. So, plenty of anti-fighter and bomber defences, and mounts where we can install the deflector shields..." I pointed out the 'bulges' on the hull for those "...but there are only a few spots viable for heavy turbolasers. So, deflector shields of a battleship, armour of a battlecruiser, firepower of a cruiser, and far too slow to launch star-fighters in a battle unless it has a helluva lot of warning; I give you our new flagship in eight or nine months"

"Oh, that's an issue now isn't it?" he answered as I sighed and stretched back in the swivel chair "...so, what is the plan can I ask General?"

"Ah, well, there's the question now isn't it?" I replied honestly folding arms across my chest "I'll want your input later on it, so you can study it yourself, but Command and Control with Support functions seems to be our best bet. Engines will make her pretty fast for the size, and modular installation is both cheaper and more efficient by further internal partitions and armouring. Keep the hydroponics, medical, and cargo functions, and I'm consider a large repair and factory bay here"

Considering I wasn't able to get my space battleship I might as well convert it into a long range, and long term, mobile base of sorts so that if I had to run a few years from now. Yulan frowned, then nodded "Not the worst idea I guess, but I won't say anything definite unless I can review it properly....and how go the other efforts? Have they been more successful at the very least?"

I waved my hand in a 'so-so' motion "Somewhat, General Geen and GAR High Command have opened doors, but only to salvage, older designs...basically things available to non-Core system defence forces. At the moment we've a Dreadnaught-class cruiser coming through with Republic funding, one of the Lucrehulks we damaged at Geonosis, and, oh, a pre-Ruusan Reformation wreck of a Corsair-class battleship...." I shook my head "...anyway, how goes the advance? I assume that's what your bringing word of"

"Yes, the advance towards Lessu continues, and the Jedi report they have they have the southern hemisphere of the world secure..." he replied handing me the data-pad "...but they're reporting..."

"That they're overstretched, because of course they bloody are, it's not like anyone warned them of that minor fact" I finished his sentence as I read through the summary in front of me after being shunted to the side after we took Nabat as the Jedi charged off like mindless berserkers "...I may speak to General Geen on the situation, but I reckon we'll be rotated back to the front in the next day. We should have gone straight after Tambor rather than this idiocy of trying to conquer the whole kiriffing world"

"Orders are orders General"

"Yes, they are, but it doesn't make them any less stupid either..." I replied, though it had allowed me to encourage our 'allies' in the Ailon Nova Guard to be a little annoyed at Chancellor Palpatine, Senator Orn Free Taa, and the Jedi Council over the idiocy of taking the world rather precision striking Tambor like I wanted. Take out the Ion and Proton cannons around Lessu, and the blast the place from orbit till Wat Tambor surrendered and shut down his droid army or he was dead and coordination between those forces crushed "...about the only smart thing here is Windu's suggestion we recruit the Twi'lek Resistance to our cause"

"That's not exactly what he said Sir"

"No, but its how I choose to interpret it" I replied calmly "...because Orn Free Taa is a terrible hindrance, and terrible person in general, and I vote recruiting and arming Cham Syndulla's little army would be ideal for both us and holding Ryloth going forward. The Senate are....not overly helpful in the winning this war Yulan, and we must take matters in our own hands where possible, for the greater good"

"Can't disagree there General, it was a good idea to let the Ailon lot take the first step with announcing recruitment numbers"

"Not my idea actually..." I admitted, I'd wanted to hold back longer for other reasons but Jurdan and Braika had wanted the more established mercenary armies to take the lead and it had worked. There was resistance in the Senate, mostly the pacifists but also the 'Clone Army' supporters around the Kaminoans, to the announcement that the Ailon's had recruited almost nine hundred thousand Republic Troopers.

Far more than planned; and a position even less liked when we announced our six hundred thousand hours later, along with another million or two from the other combined Republic loyal mercenary armies. Most largely being System Defence Forces converted into Mercenary Armies by poorer systems, or those seeking an excuse to hit neighbours as Emberlane was doing with the CIS "...but yeah, the Senate being the Senate and kriffing things up for the military of the Republic"

The Twi'leks were an opportunity in my mind; filled with anger at the Separatists, but also opposed their Senator who was clearly in Palpatine's pocket. If we could bring Syndulla's fighters in under our 'Aegis' then we could arm them with Republic funds and weapons, while we used they system as a base of operations....and leave problems for the future Empire should it be created. From a personal point of view it would bring both experienced fighters into our forces, and more importantly educated technicians for our ships as Ryloth had been significantly more advanced than any of the worlds in the Lipsec Sector....

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[22 BBY][Thirty-seven hours later]

[Forward Observation Base, Near Lessu, Groundside Ryloth, Ryloth System]

The Separatist stronghold rested beneath its shield ahead of us. Across a canyon at that, with a 'plasma bridge' being the only way across; not a bad idea really on their part, there was heavy anti-air defences around the city as well. Really it should be called a force-field bridge in my view, as it was based upon ship force-field systems from what I'd been told; anchored between two points and controlled from within the stronghold. But that was irrelevant....all that mattered was we had no easy way across the gap with incurring casualties.

"Rodia has switched sides and joined the Separatist cause..." I frowned, lowering the far-sight binoculars from my eyes and turning towards the irritating form of Jedi Master Mace Windu. Thankfully General Geen was here to 'help' him, and keep any issues between us most likely "...I am afraid Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker have been dispatched to attempt rectify the situation, or at the very least liberate Senators Binks and Amidala from Separatist custody with two Clone Commando squads"

I blinked "What? That's...." I avoided hissing as I shook my head as I moved over to the command group "...a disaster in the making then for defending Christophsis, or attempting to retake Geonosis....and why were the Senators there during all this?"

While we did not like each other much I could be professional in my conduct, and apparently so could he, albeit very stiffly. It was also a disaster in that Anakin went to pieces when it came to Amidala as best I could tell, and this was not ideal to have Team Hot-Head rushing off when they'd be useful here "Senator Amidala had a personal relationship with Rodia's Senator Onaconda Farr, and it was hoped to be enough to ensure that Rodia stayed loyal to the cause"

"Supplying them the aid they requested would have done that, but just like this war the Core and the Senate want to be as cheap and penny pinching as possible" I responded with a sigh, glancing at the grumpy human Jedi and then at General Geen "...it is true, we know this"

The commanding General nodded tiredly "Yes, I'm afraid so....yes, Master Windu it would be best if Rodia had loyalty beyond such material demands, but it is a harsh truth that the Separatists exploited a simple weakness to gain a strategic objective without a fight. As such..." he glanced at me "...your requests for recruitment is hereby approved, along with establishing relief convoys for the civilian population. While I do share concerns over....now General Syndulla it is very clear our situation here will soon grow precarious. There are no reinforcements available as GAR High Command confirmed to the Supreme Chancellor, and as soon as we secure Ryloth I expect we will have to reinforce Christophsis, or aid evacuating forces on Geonosis"

Mace Windu frowned; arms folded across his chest "It is that much of a reversal?"

General Geen nodded his head gazing out towards the distant city "The cupboard is bare for now, if some of the Core Worlds would release their large military fleets....but they have not, and likely will not, and we have little to compel Rodia and its Defence Fleet to switch back. In all truthfulness it will be a battle in of itself to stop a dozen worlds allied with Rodia switching allegiances, or going neutral, in response to this. Regaining the Senators may restore some confidence, assuming it can be done, but this is a serious blow....just as we were about to win here"

I nodded "Yeah, just as we're about to end this situation here...well, there goes any chance of Wat Tambor surrendering without a fight I imagine"

Windu shook his head "There was limited possibility of that occurring beforehand I believe, so in that matter nothing has change for us and taking Lessu"

General Geen sadly shook his head "No, it means we are down two Jedi....and Commander Tano?"

"Will remain with our forces under my command till Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker return"

"Would it not have been preferable to send Commander Tano with Knight Skywalker?"

Windu frowned, then shook his head in response to Geen's question "I...it was felt Master Kenobi would be a calming influence upon his former padawan...and ideally we would send Tano with her Master, but as the situation is far from being so it was best felt two experienced Jedi be sent with time being of the essence"

"Yes, every mission seems to be such of late...." the overall mission commander agreed "....but we must begin our assault upon Lessu soon. I understand you casualties have been high General Windu, but with General Daron's and the Twi'lek's to reinforce we can begin a fleet supported assault"

The Jedi Master winced ever so slightly "It will damage the city badly in the taking"

I nodded "Yes, we'll need the firepower, and the distraction. I happen to agree with your plan to assault the main gate and activate the drawbridge system, even if we're down two Jedi. My jump infantry can assist, and we just need keep losses down as best we can..."