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Phase 28: Ashes of victory

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Part 7

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From a military perspective, Operation Star Hammer was an unmitigated success. It achieved all of its stated realistic tactical and strategic goals. In the course of the operation, GAR managed to recover a significant amount of CIS held territory in the Core with little to no fighting in space, ravage the industry of numerous Confederate worlds and neutralize them as a credible threat for years to come, all the while, suffering acceptable casualties.

In theory, the same was true politically. Sadly, that wasn't the case in practice.

First, the success of Operation Star Hammer, demonstrated what the shattered Republic could still achieve when united in purpose. If anything, this success should have been a shining beacon to rally support around. It was the last credible opportunity to save the Republic.

Second, it proved that many politicians across the Republic were right to put their trust in GAR High Command's decision-making. That boosted support and popularity for the military and those backing it.

Third, after the string of disasters following the Confederate Grand Offensive that brought the Republic to its knees, the tides were finally changing in a way the people, and more importantly, politicians in the Core, could see and feel it.

Fourth, it strengthened the position of Chancellor Satine Kenobi, increasing the legitimacy of the Republic remnant she led.

Unfortunately, even the stunning, revitalizing success of Operation Star Hammer, was insufficient to reunite the shattered Republic. While the operation was still ongoing, General Kenobi personally oversaw the bloody liberation of the Corellian system. General Veil, Mandalore himself, chased Admiral Trench and the bulk of the Confederate fleet. That should have been a moment of triumph.

Instead, political disagreement already threatened to tear the Republic asunder.

Sadly, the success of Operation Star Hammer did have negative political consequences as well. It strengthened the position of General Veil as one of the most dangerous military commanders of the era, and increased the public support he enjoyed, despite his controversial bloody actions to date. Various elements within the Republic leadership saw him as an emerging threat. General Veil was a threat, his detractors believed they had to contain at worst and neutralize at best.

According to the General's political enemies, he caused almost as much damage to the fabric of the Republic, as he did to the Confederacy. That was a bold statement, with some merit. We know for a fact, that it was due to General Veil's actions, and very existence, that multiple systems declared neutrality, outright seceded, or even joined the Confederacy. They did it in the dubious hope that it would protect them from the Mandalorians and the Sith.

Even before Operation Star Hammer was fully complete, Republic member states hurried to recall their contribution to the GAR. They cited the heavy losses suffered by their naval elements and blamed General Veil for it. Further, a significant number of states made it clear, that they would not be providing any more direct military support for offensive operations. At least not until they could rebuild their System Defense Navies. That was something that would realistically take years and likely wouldn't happen before the war was either over, or all but won. In practical terms, this meant that the GAR would be unable to seriously consider further offensives against the Confederacy, and left the question of Mandalore hanging in the air.

As Mandalore himself, General Veil had little option politically speaking, but to attempt to liberate the heart of his power base. The GAR was stretched thin once again. It was forced to deploy and supply ground armies all over the Core, eating into the ships available for deployment. The need to push to the Mid-Rim Alliance, and relieve it didn't help in that matter, leaving precious little for General Veil to deploy to Mandalore. As if that wasn't bad enough, there were all kinds of indicators, that the CIS was laying a trap for him there.

Arguably, these actions were the final nails into the Republic's coffin. They ensured that some of the most powerful figures fighting for the Republic no longer viewed it as worth saving and had to make other plans for the future. The Mandalorian question was especially critical, considering that the Supreme Chancellor was Mandalorian herself. Her husband, General Kenobi, GAR's Supreme Commander, became one after their marriage. Of course, we had General Veil, Mandalore himself, soon to become known as the Restorer…

"The rise and fall of the Galactic Republic"
Kerrington Byron, Eriadu Publishing Corporation

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FOB Respite
Coronet City suburbs
Corellia

General Pascal Victis leaned over a flickering holo-table, studying real-time intelligence flowing in from all around the front. It was painfully obvious that their original assessment of enemy strength was widely optimistic. The same went for the Separatists' intentions. A combination of shields, the hellish cityscape, and countless strong points built by the enemy, made Coronet a tough nut to crack. As if that wasn't bad enough, there were pockets of civilians scattered all over the area. After the first few hours of chaotic and deadly fighting, it became crystal clear that salvaging anything of the local infrastructure was out of the question. The only two factors limiting the deployment of the heaviest weapons available were the shields and the civilians.

The old Corellian veteran looked up from the interactive map to the cluster of holographic faces hanging above it.

"We must face the facts. The Separatists succeeded us into a trap, baiting us to strike into a prepared death ground. They already chewed through my lead divisions trying to breakthrough. I had to order them back to recover and incorporate replacements. Under the present circumstances, I lack tactical options that won't result in a bloodbath – either for our assaulting formations, or those trapped within Coronet."

The Diktat, General Hughes, and General Kenobi, along with a smattering of division commanders, looked down at the map, evaluating his words and the tactical situation. The Jedi closed his eyes and lowered his head for a few seconds, before raising it. His eyes shone with something dangerous when he spoke.

"I'll personally lead the next assault using my abilities to give our soldiers an edge. Shuffle forces for pinning attacks all over the perimeter. Concentrate armored units with heavy infantry support on the following locations…"

The map shifted, highlighting three of the main boulevards leading towards the center of the city. They were covered with minefields. Dozens, if not hundreds, interlocking fields of fire covered those routes., They came from buildings turned into fortresses.

"We'll be primarily using hovercraft vehicles. They will be able to move after we modify the terrain to our needs." Kenobi sighed. "Diktat, I'm afraid, that if we're to save our trapped people in Coronet, we'll have to demolish our way through your capital, fast. We'll blast our way through any resistance, and use our attacks as a cover for all available special forces to go after shield generators and jamming emitters. At this point, I must request that you allow the deployment of Clone Commando units at Coronet. Their presence and expertise will make our job easier."

Diktat Merricope glanced at General Hughes, then looked back at Kenobi.

"I'll get back to you on that. Please continue with your plan, General Kenobi."

"Once we have some of the shields neutralized, we will utilize Acclamators for close-in air support. Their primary purpose will be to help us burn ourselves a secure evacuation corridor. Attempting to conventionally storm through hundreds of buildings at this time would both ensure a bloodbath we can't afford. Doing so will take too much time, ensuring the destruction of the cut-off forces."

General Victis wasn't surprised by the argument that followed, even if Kenobi was right. Taking Coronet the hard way was out of the question. Ideally, they would have besieged it until the Droids no longer had the power reserves to keep their shields operational. After that it would be simple - they would deploy all the Ionic weaponry they could. Of course, even then, the price of burned-down electronics in the whole city would be staggering, just nothing in comparison to fighting through it conventionally.

Unfortunately, all the civilians and military units cut off in Coronet's center made that option morally and politically unfeasible.

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Coronet City
Corellia

Ahsoka couldn't remember how they fought their way to the broken Corellian lines in the city center. There were impressions, smells, and pictures burned into her mind, yet no coherent picture. Just one horror show after another. All she could recall were desperate engagements, followed by a hasty retreat or desperate counter-attack.

She did recall the last clash.

Two scratch companies made by scattered survivors of her Void Stalkers, Anaxian Rangers, and Duros Shock Troopers, led by three battered tanks. That was all Ahoska had under her direct command at the time. They fell on the back of a Droid assault busy chewing through the last coherent defense line the locals had. The enemy managed to breach it, only to die in a glorious conflagration, struck from three sides. At that point, Ahsoka had dispensed with any illusions and self-deception. She had fallen, she knew it, and didn't care. Sith Lighting was extremely useful against droids. Frying the damned machines was cathartic, not to mention, it saved dozens of her people over the last few hours of fighting.

Now, she had to figure out how to keep the rest of them alive until reinforcements could reach them. The survivors were busy digging in, in front of a large, battered government building. Two worse for wear star-scrapers flanked it, still held buy CorSec elements. That by itself made for a good defensive position. Unfortunately, there was little coherent resistance standing between this strong point, and a large camp holding a few million locals. Many of those were either children, elderly, wounded, or sick, and thus, unable to be useful for the defense.

Those who could, and were willing to fight, apparently did so and were one of the reasons why the broken CorSec military formations in the area held as long as they did. That, and the fact that they were all more useful as bait than dead, Ahsoka thought resentfully.

"Focus girl, focus…" Ahsoka muttered to herself. She could hear the Dark Side whisper to her. Her thoughts were a jumble, angry and violent, exactly what she didn't need right now. She had to inspire the defenders, to hold them together, instead of appearing as a young commander broken and driven insane by the madness of combat. No matter how much the latter was true, she thought bitterly. She bit the inside of her cheek, drawing blood and using the pain to focus.

"Sergeant…" Ahsoka paused and glanced at the heavy armored Duros shadowing her. "Ded," She finally recalled. "Find me the ranking Corellian commander. We need to know what we have to work with here." Then her eyes went to the highest-ranking Void Stalker officer they had in their group, beside her. "Lieutenant Kyle, set up a laser comm, and get in touch with the fleet. We'll need all the support we can get. Have the navy coordinate with any other survivors of our units and vector them in our way…"

=RK=

Part 8

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Coronet City
Corellia

A treacherous voice asked Obi-Wan, what he thought he was doing. He was a Jedi, wasn't he? Or at least, that was what he claimed, even in front of a mirror in the fresher. He chose to walk this bloody path, again and again. Yet these thoughts, this doubt, didn't perish. They were his constant companion, and deep down, Kenobi knew why.

It was all wrong! Not just the pure insanity here on Corellia, but the madness infecting the whole galaxy. Obi-Wan was supposed to be a Jedi, a peacekeeper, and a diplomat, not a General! He should be fighting to end the war, to stop the constant damned bloodshed!

Instead, here he was, sitting on top of a Duros heavy tank, ready to lead an assault that was going to be mindbogglingly bloody. Kenobi's doubt flared up, doing its best to paralyze him with indecision. He knew what that meant. For a long time now, such indecision crept upon him again and again, no matter how many times he kept choosing his current path. The reason was painfully simple too. There was a part of him that simply knew that what he was doing was wrong. Deep down, he knew that the Order was right about how dangerous attachments were. Obi-Wan was keenly aware that now, he was the poster child for what happens when someone puts attachments in front of the common good. He was also a proof of how dangerous they could be.

Yet, at the same time, there has been nothing more right in his life than Satine and their unborn child. When all was said and done, no matter how right the Jedi Order might have been about certain things, it proved itself catastrophically wrong about others.

What concerned Obi-Wan, was how disregarding and pushing away his doubts became easier and easier every time they reared up their ugly heads. There were countless justifications he could use, and most of them would be valid.
In the end, Kenobi made his choice and didn't regret it. Or did he? That should have been it. Then again, how could not feel it had all gone wrong, when he was about to order countless soldiers to their deaths? If he walked away, someone else would do it. Or not, and doom the galaxy to Separatist dominance, and inevitably, another round of wars once there was no enemy to unite the Confederacy.

No, that was once again a mere justification, Obi-Wan decided. Was he doing the right thing for the wrong reasons or the wrong thing, for the right ones? At that point, he figured he missed all the paperwork and pressure of command. Right now, Obi-Wan could do little more than stand as a symbol and wait for the go order, while General Victis ensured everyone was in position before giving it. The Corellian had tactical and operational command over the coming battle. While Kenobi helped plan it, he had no business trying to command from the tip of the spear, where his abilities might have more of an impact.

It was in these rare moments, Obi-Wan mussed when his doubt came back in full force. Or was it his conscience?

Another treacherous and unwelcome thought came unbidden. That was a torture of an unexpected kind. Who would have thought that falling could be such a slow and painful process? There was a small part of him that yearned for it to happen already, so doubt would no longer plague him. Kenobi could remember the good old days when he was blind to the truth of the Republic and those who ran it. Those were simpler, kinder times.

Just a few years ago, he had a clarity of vision and purpose. There was no doubt, then. There was no anger in his heart, much less hatred.

No, that was another lie, Obi-Wan told himself. He knew both those emotions, ever since Naboo when Maul murdered Qui-Gon. Yet, then they didn't fester. For most intents and purposes, those emotions within his heart died with the Sith Apprentice.

Now, there were many people and organizations Obi-Wan had reasons to be angry and frustrated with or even outright hate. There were things he feared losing, doing, or becoming.

In hindsight, Obi-Wan decided, that he should have been a better Jedi, a better teacher, and a friend. He should have served a better Order, and they shouldn't have let things spiral out of control to this extent. It was just that, there was no point pondering such what-ifs. The past was set in stone, and he had to live the consequences.

"T minus four." A pleasant female voice announced over the battle net.

Obi-Wan perked up. Soon, there would be no more time or place for doubt. Perhaps, he would find some clarity of purpose and false peace in the coming battle.

Kenobi looked around, burning into his mind a picture of those about to die. The large boulevard was packed with soldiers and machines, a perfect target for artillery or airstrikes. A glimmering theater shield protected them from such threats, just like identical devices ensured the safety of the enemy. There would be no finesse or space to maneuver. Now whole armies were little more than blunt instruments. This was the perfect moment to have expendable units.

Like Droids, or damningly, Clones. Ironically enough, most available Clones were now valuable veterans. They were arguably less expendable than the masses of volunteers ready to charge the Separatist lines. The very fact that Obi-Wan could now think in such terms was a testament to how much the war had already warped him, and he knew, this wasn't the end.

"T minus three."

The distinct dull sound of a heavy repulsorlifts in action carried out over the subdued capital. Obi-Wan looked up and saw several Acclamators glided through the air, keeping to the protection of the theater shields. The enemy had proton cannon emplacements ready to fend off even capital ships at short range. Until neutralized, they would heavily restrict the use of precise support from the warships. That was a moot point anyway, at least until the enemy shields were up and running.

Obi-Wan steeled himself for the bloodbath to come. Ice crept up his spine, a tell-tale sign of the Dark Side's touch.

There was a time he would have instinctively rejected it. Before that, there was a time, that the Dark Side, wouldn't have reached out to him. That was yet another shattered illusion, like the one that they lived in a civilized age. Two years of war made sure everyone knew better, and the galaxy was poorer for it.

"T minus two. Deploying concealment rounds. Lead assault elements, prepare to breach the enemy theater shields."

Low thumps echoed through Coronet's canyons. Various engines came to full power. The small no-man's land between the opposing armies exploded in silver metallic smoke. More and more concealment rounds detonated, and soon the smoke spread like quickly growing fog, blinding eyes, and sensors alike.

"T minus one. First echelon advance."

Dozens of heavy tanks and IFVs roared and slowly moved forward, each followed by at least a couple of infantry squads clad in medium and heavy armor. They used the vehicles as cover, and hopefully, it might just be enough to survive passing through the point of contact.

Obi-Wan wasn't in the first echelon. Everyone agreed that his skills would be wasted in the point-blank ferocious fighting that would ensure there. He was back with the third echelon, meant to exploit a breach into the enemy's forward defensive lines.

The army's vanguard vanished into the smoke and soon met resistance. Blasters, railguns, missiles, and mines went off. A constant stream of explosions lit up the mist in all colors of the rainbow, giving it a hellish look. All the while, concealment rounds kept raining on the battlefield, intentionally cutting down visibility to as close to zero as possible. That was a picture repeating itself all over the front, all to make breaching the enemy shields a little bit less expensive.

They needed droids for this, Obi-Wan knew. Within moments of the attack's start, he could feel a constant wave of violent deaths washing over him. The casualties were already unacceptably high, and they were just beginning the bloody assault. The only dubious mercy was that he couldn't see with his eyes the hell unfolding right in front of him. Not yet, anyway.

=RK=

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