The stage had been set for the past couple of months. After a series of skirmishes and raids throughout the sector, the fleets of the Mandalorian Dominion and the Galactic Republic had each converged upon the Ankrum System. The largest battle of the Year was about to begin.
There wasn't anything of value in the system itself, but it represented everything to the Republic. In the 2 years since Marrick's betrayal and Raynar's disappearance, the Mandalorians had been on the offensive. Ankrum was an opportunity for the Republic to regain the advantage. Which was exactly the point High-Admiral Begarin was making during the briefing. All of the other captains and commanders were in conference rooms on their respective ships while he addressed the fleet via hologram.
"This is our opportunity to turn the tide." The Admiral stated forcefully. "We will meet the Madalorians near the fourth planet. The Class 1 Gas giant."
That was certainly the ideal spot to meet such a large enemy force. Mandalorian warships had superior firepower to those used by the Republic and their fighters were more heavily armored. This made engaging the Mandalorian fleet in open space a foolish affair. A lesson the republic had learned several times in the early days of the war. It was best to draw them in near a large planetary body whose gravity could be used to the Republic's advantage.
Thankfully the Mandalorians weren't one to back down from a fight just because the field of battle wasn't ideal. This made it relatively easy to lure them into engagements that the Republic could twist things to their advantage. The admiral explained that after they had drawn the Mandalorians into battle, the 4th fleet would jump in on the far side of the gas giant, use it's gravity to slingshot around, and effectively surround the Mandalorians.
Begarin knew It was a bold strategy as the 4th fleet was meant to cover any potential retreat should anything go wrong. But, like the admiral said, this was an opportunity to turn the tide. To re-secure core sectors of the Republic, put the fleet in a position to drive the Mandalorians back into their own regions of space and force a white peace that the stubborn Chancellor could spin as 'Total Victory.'
No one within the Republic Military Command had any desire to attempt another invasion of the Mandalorian Dominion. They had tried that once when Jedi-General Raynar realized that the Mandalorians wouldn't accept the Chancellor's demands for peace with 'reparations to the Republic.'
An absolutely absurd demand as far as Begarin was concerned. Whether it be just or not, the Mandalorians weren't going to pay to fix what their invasion broke voluntarily. Not after all the money they had already spent on the war effort. So Raynor decided to try to force the Dominion's surrender. An equally absurd decision that everyone knew he didn't want to make.
Even before Marrick turned traitor, it became very clear very quickly to both Raynar and Republic Command that the invasion was a mistake. While it was successful from a military perspective, everyone realized that the Mandalorians would never surrender. As disastrous as Marrick's betrayal was to the Republic, costing them their elite general, their offensive, and ultimately leading to the second Mandalorian Incursion, Begarin couldn't help but feel relieved the Republic didn't become long term occupiers doomed to deal with a never ending insurgency.
And now, at long last, they were on the brink of ending the 2nd Mandalorian Incursion and Begarin, having now risen to High-Admiral atop Republic Command, was determined not to make the same mistakes twice. He will not invade the Dominion and he certainly won't tolerate the Chancellor's arrogance again.
Ever since he took command, Begarin did what his predecessors and even Jedi-General Raynar had not dared to do. He played politician. Through backroom contacts, the High-Admiral began forging relationships with members of the Galactic Senate. It wasn't hard after a brutal 5 years that had seen two major enemy incursions and one failed counter-incursion had decimated public morale as well as the Senate's patience. Begarin had been assured that once he had driven the Mandalorians back again, The Chancellor would demand nothing more than a cease fire or else face a vote of no confidence.
Some within Republic Command and even the Senate will scoff at a simple White-Peace with the Mandalorians not really losing anything when they were the ones who started the war in the first place but Begarin didn't care. Officially it won't be his decision. The truce will be seen as a political move. No one within the Republic Military will lose any honor as a result. And they would all gain peace.
Begarin finished up his briefing and signed off, leaving him only with his senior command in the conference room of his flagship, The Desdemonia. Also in the room to his right was Jedi Master Kylain Cyn, An old Bothan warrior and former member of the Jedi Council. Following Marrick's betrayal, the Jedi immediately rescinded the mandate allowing Jedi to volunteer for the war effort. But, thankfully for the Republic, not all Jedi listened.
Back when the war began, Master Cyn advocated for the Jedi joining the war effort. When that failed, he proposed allowing Jedi Knights to join the war effort on a volunteer basis. And, even after Marrick's betrayal, he was adamantly opposed to the Jedi retreating from the war the way that they did. Mostly because he had a very different reaction to Marrick's fall to the dark side.
As Master Cyn himself would explain to the Admiral and others in conversation. "The best way to prevent another Marrick is to simply end this war as quickly as possible."
That was a bottom line Begarin could respect, and he certainly wasn't going to turn down Jedi help. In the case of this battle, Master Cyn had two fellow Jedi Masters along with them to act as an unofficial Security guard for the Admiral himself, as well as several Jedi Knights dispersed throughout the fleet. This included his own human Padawan, Tomlan Luttyr, who was tasked to leading the Desdemonia's fighter squadron. This was actually at Begarin's request as Tomian proved to be an excellent pilot even at his young age of 18.
Tomian was standing next to his master while Begarin walked up to Cyn following the briefing. The admiral asked the Jedi Master. "Your people ready for tomorrow?"
"As ready as anyone can be for battle." Cyn answered before turning to his apprentice. "Please inform Alerei of her assignment."
"Yes master." Tomian knew what his master actually meant by that...
...Alerie Bashil, another human Jedi Knight with short blonde hair, was down in the Mess with the crew of the Desdemonia. Dozens of off duty Commandos and Pilots were eating and drinking to commemorate what could be their final night alive. While most Jedi naturally fit into roles of commanders within the Republic military, winning and dining with the Admiralty. Alerie had developed a love for a soldier's life.
She loved mingling with lower rank officers in the mess areas of ships and bases while the other Jedi had their meals with command. She felt that was the proper thing to do considering her skill with a lightsaber had made her one of the frontline fighters in boarding parties. It was an interesting dynamic considering her gender.
Most frontline commandos in the Republic were men, women were mostly medics and bridge officers. Her status as a Jedi technically exempted her from the Republic Military's fraternization rules but, thankfully, the Order's own rules on such things were well known among the rank and file given their experience with Raynar and his knights. Most men simply saw her as a fellow soldier. Most, not all.
While Alerie was hanging out with several medics at the bar area, several Republic soldiers were gathered at one of the tables drinking.
"Hell." A commando named Damon stated after taking another sip of the rather weak mead the ship was serving. "Can't we get something stronger than this?"
"They don't want anyone getting too drunk before the battle tomorrow." Eddie explained.
"Hey." Damon fired back playfully. "If they're going to send us into fire, the least they can do is serve us some quality drinks beforehand."
"I don't think you'd be able to handle that, Sergeant." Eddie teased in reference to how tipsy Damon had become on the weak stuff he was already drinking. Drawing some chuckles from the other men at the table.
"Listen here, Lieutenant." Damon instructed. "I can handle just about anything. From drinks, to battle, and women."
Eddie laughed along with the other guys which prompted Damon to say. "You all doubt me?"
"We didn't say that." Eddie quickly said but it was too late, Damon had turned his head away. Eddie just sighed. "Oh, here we go."
Damon faced back to the group. "Look at that, the Jedi is alone."
Eddie looked to see that the medics had turned in for the night and that the Jedi was, indeed, drinking alone at the bar. Damon continued. "I'd bet you guys anything that I can score with her."
"I don't think you should try that." Eddie warned. "I really don't think you should try that."
"Oh, would you like to try?" Damon teased.
"I don't think she would have much interest in Eddie." one of the other soldiers said drawing a quick elbow from the commando sitting next to him but Eddie just shrugged off the comment.
"Never mess with a woman with a blaster." Eddie explained to Damon. "I doubt one with a lightsaber would be a wiser option."
"You're just a coward." Damon said as he stood up from the table. "Watch and learn."
Damon left as Eddie just sighed and stood up from his seat with his cup still in hand. One of the other commandos asked. "You going to stop him?"
"You kidding? Eddie laughed. "I'm getting a front row seat."
Eddie followed slowly, keeping just enough distance while Damon approached Alerie who was about halfway through her drink.
"Enjoying your final night in the galaxy?" Damon asked. That was a common joke soldiers within the Republic Military used the day before a big battle.
"Very much so, yes." Alerie answered. She had been serving with the Republic long enough to get the joke. Something that clearly caught Damon off guard.
"Well, uh, how many battles have you seen?"
"Enough."
Eddie watched as this little roundabout continued a bit longer. Damon kept throwing ice-breakers but the Jedi wasn't really engaging. She was being polite but she clearly wanted to be left alone. Damon, however, was a little too drunk to pick up on the signal.
"I'm probably going to turn in soon." Alerie said, finishing up her drink. Trying to put an end to the conversation. "Don't want to be too tired for the fight tomorrow."
"Of course not," Damon still wasn't getting the message. He leaned in and put his hand on the small of her back "But you also need to be relaxed for fight. And there are several ways to relieve stress."
Damon's hand started sliding down her back which Eddie took as his cue to intervene before his idiot comrade got himself hurt. But before he could stand up, the Jedi waved a couple of fingers and calmly said to Damon. "You don't want to help me relieve stress."
"I don't want to help you relieve stress." Damon recited blankly while he suddenly removed his hand from her.
Alerie waved her fingers again. "You want to go to your quarters and think about the way you treat women."
"I want to go to my quarters and think about the way I treat women." Damon stood up and left the galley. Eddie could do nothing but burst out into laughter.
"You enjoy the show." Alerie asked from down the bar.
"Hey." Eddie replied. "I tried to stop him."
"Did you though?" Alerie asked sarcastically. "Did you really?"
Eddie stood up and moved to the seat Damon had left open next to Alerie. "He's actually a pretty nice guy when he's sober."
"How often does that happen?
"Not as often as it should." Eddie said with a sigh. "You are one of the boarding crew Jedi, right? What's your name?"
"Ooh, asking my name." Alerie joked. "What an upgrade."
Eddie laughed. "Well, it's not like I have a particularly hard act to follow. I'm Eddie, by the way. I'm one of the shuttle pilots."
"Any good." Alerie asked. "Personally, I'd like to get from one ship to another in one piece."
"I'm the best damn combat shuttle-pilot in the galaxy." Eddie boasted before taking another sip of his drink. "You think the High-Admiral would have me on his flagship otherwise."
Alerie's hazel eyes narrowed a bit. "Is there a reason why you wouldn't be here?"
Eddie stammered a bit. "Well, uh, you don't think the High-Admiral would settle for anything but the best, don't you?"
"I suppose not." Alerie agreed before changing tact a little bit. "What did you do before you joined the military?"
"Oh, nothing special." Eddie answered plainly. "I was a freighter pilot in the outer rim, working the trade routes."
"Official trade routes?" Alerie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course."
Alerie smiled. "So, you're not a scoundrel then."
Eddie gave a playful snort. "A scoundrel? My dear, I am a gentleman and an officer."
Alerie waved her fingers tauntingly. "I could get the truth out of you."
"That won't work on me."
"Careful." Alerie teased. "Cockiness has undone many soldiers."
The two kept up their banter until they were interrupted by Tomian. "Alerie, Master Cyn wanted me to 'inform you of the assignment' tomorrow."
Alerie turned and gave the padawan a tight smile. "You mean he wants me to remember my pre-battle bedtime."
Tomian shrugged. "Yeah, basically."
"Thanks Tommy." Alerie stood up while the padawan just nodded and he walked away. He didn't particularly care about being called Tommy but Alerie didn't particularly care for still being treated like a Padawan by Master Cyn. She especially didn't care for him doing it through a proxy.
Cyn and the other masters had grown concerned with the manner Alerie had taken drinking and partying with the rank and file of the Republic Military. It was seen as an inappropriate thing for a Jedi to do. Alerie, however, felt they were overreacting. She knew how to keep herself under control.
But, she saw no reason to antagonize them, So after Tomian left, Alerie turned to Eddie and said. "Hope you have a good night. I'd hate to put my life into the hands of a pilot who isn't well rested."
"Never you worry….Alerie." Eddie said with a coy smile.
"Remember it tomorrow and maybe I'll let you buy me a proper drink sometime." Alerie winked before leaving Eddie there at the bar. He just smiled and signaled the bartender to bring him one more drink...
...While the rank and file were preparing for what they felt could be their last night alive, Admiral Begarin was sitting in the captain's quarters of the Desmondia. A large suite with it's own dining area where he was eating dinner with Master Cyn who was sitting on the opposite end of the long table. The High-Admiral and the rebel Jedi master sharing a meal together before the great battle to come.
This had become something of a tradition for the two of them since they started serving together in the wake of Marrick's fall to the dark side. During these pre-battle dinner discussions, Begarin had grown to see Cyn as more than a simple partner in war. He had grown to view him as a friend. In fact, Begarin had grown to respect the Jedi Master more than he did Jedi-General Raynar. Much more so, in fact.
Master Cyn lacked Raynor's strategic brilliance, he was not a leader of battles but he was humble enough to acknowledge that fact. Master Cyn made no real effort to influence the Republic's military planning. He didn't grant himself the title of General like Ranor had. Something Begarin greatly appreciated.
It was still too soon to say this out loud but Begarin had privately resented the manner Jedi-General Raynar had effectively seized control of Republic High Command. He had no official commission or rank within the military, he and fellow knights were meant as advisors. Yet, Raynor soon had enough sway to effectively give his fellow knights entire commands and throw entire fleets around on his own word, essentially making the Republic Military more an arm of the Jedi Order than that of the Senate. Against his better judgement, Begarin couldn't help but wonder what Raynar intended to do had he won the war.
Again, Begarin would never speak publicly of his concern on how quickly Raynar consolidated his own power, but he had many dinners with Master Cyn since taking command. Perhaps it was that famed Jedi intuition, but Cyn had always given the impression that he was aware of the admiral's misgivings. During their conversations, Master Cyn would also say, without really saying, that the cult of personality Raynar had built for himself and his fellow knights was a point of concern within the Jedi Order itself. He even implied one night that it may have had something to do with Marrick's fall to the darkside.
Begarin didn't know enough about the force and the Jedi to speculate on that but he could see that Master Cyn was keen not to make what he saw as Raynor's mistakes. Cyn took his role as 'advisor' very seriously. Instead, he just listened to Begarin's strategies and explained how best he, and the jedi that followed him, would best aid the Republic.
That isn't to say that Master Cyn was just some yes-man who did what he was told. In fact, while he was able to respect Begarin's authority, he wasn't afraid to voice concerns. He only did this during their private meals, another sign of respect Cyn had for the Admiral. He would never undermine him in the presence of his troops. But in private, when it was just the two of them, Cyn would always say what he felt.
"Do you really think it's wise to commit so much of our forces in this one battle?" Cyn asked frankly about the admiral's plans for tomorrow's battle.
"Voluntary Sign-ups have dried up across the galaxy." Begarin explained to the Jedi Master. "Some of the outer worlds have been forced to utilize conscription just to maintain our numbers, the core worlds won't be long behind them. The Republic is losing its appetite for War. Soon, it will lose its willingness to fight one. Soon, there will be protests against the conscriptions. And then the riots will come. We are losing the battle of Attrition. The Mandalorians know this, that's why they never sued for peace when they blunted our offensive against them."
"They didn't sue for peace because their pride wouldn't allow it." Master Cyn retorted. "I would hate for us to make that same mistake."
"I will not allow the Galactic Republic to shrink on my watch." Begarin said forcefully. He was more than aware that he was reinforcing the Jedi's point so he followed it up with a quick deflection. "And even if I would, the Chancellor and the Senate would never allow it."
Cyn rolled his eyes. "That's politics."
"I know." Begarin conceded. "But, without a clear winner or loser, ending wars is sadly a political affair. If we keep up the hit and fade tactics on their supply lines while slowly retaking systems one by one, like we have been, this war could go another 2 years. If we go all-in on the battle tomorrow and win, we will end this war in 5 months at most."
Cyn nodded. "I don't dispute your math but we aren't talking about winning the war. We're talking about forcing a truce.. It's Just, given what could happen if we lose….if it seems like a high risk-mild reward scenario."
Begarin sighed. "Yes, it is. But sadly, after 5 years, that's the best we can do. We can't afford to play the long game anymore."
"I understand." Cyn said, conceding defeat in this little discussion. He didn't like putting so much on the line in one battle but he understood the position Begarin inherited when he was made High-Admiral. He wasn't promoted to win or even efficiently manage the war, he was given command to end it as quickly as possible while maintaining the Republic's Pride. Given all that's happened.
The last-call alarm began to sound, meant to signal the men to get themselves to bed. Cyn took note of it and asked. "What time will the battle begin tomorrow?"
"We will move in on the Ankrum system around noon." Begarin answered. That should give the men time to rest up. If the scouting reports about Mandalorian movements are correct. We should have no problem drawing them into the system."
"Of that I have little doubt." Cyn said with a solemn tone. "The Mandalorians never back down from a challenge."
The High-Admiral studied the Bothan Jedi Master. Hints of grey percolated throughout his brown fur that seem to ruffle while seeming lost in thought. And, in that moment, Begarin suddenly remembered the Jedi ability to sense the future through the force. "Is there a problem."
"No." Cyn answered tightly. Begarin wasn't accepting that response.
"If you've felt something in the force, I'd like-"
"I haven't felt anything." Cyn insisted. Though, of course, that was the problem. Master Cyn has spoken to the other masters, they also haven't felt anything. Jedi are trained not to get bogged down in glimpses of the future the force gives them for the simple fact that the future is ever changing. A Jedi should keep their focus on the here and now where it belongs. Obsessing over the future at the expense of the present was not productive.
But this was different, there seemed to be a block preventing Cyn and his fellow masters from even getting a hint at future events. One of the other masters, Master Dane, suggested that this may be just from the large casualties tomorrow's battle will bring. He believed such a bloody battle could enhance the dark side of the force within that area which, in turn, could obscure their vision of the future.
On one hand, this comforted Master Cyn. Perhaps this block in the force was a natural reaction to such a large, forthcoming battle. On the other hand, this terrified him. Did Jedi-General Raynar experience this block himself before the battle of Magroria? Did he make the same assumption about its nature as Master Dane...only to have his best friend fall to the dark side.
Whatever the case, it was clear that High-Admiral Begarin was still not knowledgeable enough on the ways of the Jedi to recognize the significance of Master Cyn not feeling anything in the force. He just accepted the statement as a reassurance that there was nothing to be concerned about.
Begarin, longing to end the conversation so they could both get some sleep, just raised his wine glass. Master Cyn followed suit while Begarin said. "To peace."
"To peace." Master Cyn repeated before the two of them drank. To Peace. That was the main force behind their friendship. The main force currently driving the entire Galactic Republic. The Dream of Peace.