[17 BBY]

[Bridge, Eriadu Authority Republic Venator-class Star Destroyer Retaliation, Taskforce Vindictive, Republic 2nd Fleet, Gyndine System, Circarpous Sector, Expansion Region]

"Well, this is a fine display Moff" her son stated to Maarisa Zsinj as he stood beside her on the bridge of her Star Destroyer the tactical plot updating as more warships arrived in-system marked as friendly "One could almost pretend we aren't all trying to kill each other on another day, in another place"

"Yes, but let us hope it isn't today, and here, that we devolve into that combat Captain" she murmured maintaining the professionalism between them as was proper "Admiral Screed had brought a decent sized force at least…including four of these new Victory-class Star Destroyers. Maintain passive scan on those by the way"

"As you command" he replied, then moved off to the sensor station to ensure that was done as Maarisa studied the assembled fleets near the planet and, more importantly, the shipyards. It was the momentary unity of the ever-shifting nest of predators that had been left in the wake of the attempt to betray the Galactic Republic with a peace that had destroyed it, where war could not. Now she had to watch for the sudden, yet perhaps inevitable, betrayal from both her Coruscant allies, as well as the 'allies of the 'moment' as it could be seen with the other taskforces present.

The arrival of Screed's force boosted the Chancellorist contingent's numbers to now match that of her own and Admiral Tallon's Corcuscant combined contribution. Though Maarisa doubted the Bothans who made up the other half of that Chancellorist faction's strength would put in all that much effort into defending this system…just like herself. Dying here and losing her taskforce was very much against the direct orders she'd received from Chancellor Tarkin;- bleed the Seppies yes, but not at the cost of her forces. And no matter the 'Acting Chancellor' part used, or the nominal 'allegiance' to Coruscant, Maarisa intended to follow those orders as best she could.

'Orders of similar wording which I expect many of our allies have' she mused coldly. Most of her Second Fleet wasn't here after all, but instead being at the Antar and Denon systems ensuring she had a line of retreat from this system. If the combined Republic aligned fleets in these Sectors made a genuine stand, deploying their available strength they could hold this system…

But no one was going to risk that. Instead, it was like a coalition of feudal levies drawn together on some primitive backwater, each taking their own position under their own banner in the battle line. There were over a dozen Republic factions here, from the actual ones with some legitimacy, to 'fleets' based around a few heavies, or a Venator-class in the case of a Jedi commanded one. Either here to try stop the fall of the Gyndine shipyards, had been driven back here like that scum Ohnaka, or were simply attempting to prevent the Seppies taking full control Ootmian Pabol hyperspace lanes and therefore cutting easy access into Hutt space.

Maarisa suspected several had been bribed by said Hutts to make this stand to try, indirectly, prevent that situation. Unfortunately, that was unlikely to happen. She had seen the intelligence briefings, and run an aggressive reconnaissance of her own, and it all pointed to a major push here. One that had both the teeth and the logistics to drive deep into Republic held territories. It was exactly the reason for ever local faction of the Republic being, temporarily, willing to put aside their differences to try preventing that in the wake of the heavy assaults on the Mimban and Chanoscant systems. But there was nowhere near enough forces here to do that, not for an extended period of time in the best of circumstances.

"Flash traffic" her son called as more icons appeared on her tactical display "Scout wing Talkbakat signals enemy close!"

'Would that we had more time' Maarisa thought unhappily but showing none of it as she gave a simple nod of acknowledgement to her son and bringing her hands together behind her back "Signal Combat Alert all vessels Taskforce Vindictive. Fire Plan Alpha-02. Inform our allies of the alert and get the scout wing back aboard…oh, and Admiral Tallon too of course"

'He is our nominal superior after all' she didn't say, watching as her well drilled command passed her orders down the line and her formation began to shift. Her three modified Lucrehulk battleships, two refitted captures and one fresh off the assembly line from Mustafar, shifting in front of three Venators and two carrier-refittted Acclamator. Followed by her twelve true light escorts taking position around the Venators as Ready squadrons began to launch, as the eighteen drone operated light escorts shifted into position between, above, and in front of the Lucrehulks.

Those had all been deemed acceptable losses and were essentially 'dumb' fire control ships commanded from her flagship and two other warships. Two were captured Recusant-class vessels that had been heavily refitted for heavy missile loads, and the rest a variety of freighters and obsolete ancient light warships retrofitted for the support role. Yes, she had a few Cataphracts and Archers for the proper anti-fighter role, but Maarisa wasn't intent on losing too many of those escorts if she could avoid it, watching as the other fleet formations began to shift position. Starfighters were launching, and, for now, remaining behind or with their fleet formations rather than moving forward as alerts started to flash on holo-displays.

"Realspace emergences!"

She nodded, watching as damaged wreckage emerged into real space after hitting the hyperspace mines along with another more intact vessel, a Munificent, though its starboard was aflame as behind it more and more ships emerged. These ones were, unfortunately, completely undamaged of course, and disgorging droid-fighters almost the moment they came out of hyperspace. They'd learned it seemed. Turbolasers were flashing from the various Republic aligned fleets as she counted the emergences, as well as the droid-fighters swarms that were starting to form up.

'Eighty-four…ninety-two…a hundred and eleven battleships with support fleets' Maarisa counted off as icons updated and long-range fire was exchanged, watching the enemy formation 'They are determined to take this system swiftly it appears'

"Republic formation six are sending out starfighters to engage Moff"

"Let them, brace for the fight swarm and the bombers Captain" she instructed noting said idiots racing forward to die. They weren't hers, and overall tactical command was supposed to be between Admiral Tallon from Coruscant and Admiral Screed for Kuat. Of course, the 'battle plan' was essentially to try hold agreed upon sectors of the system so there wasn't much more to do than that right now. Not that they were going to hold this system considering the amount of metal the Seppies were throwing forward for their vanguard assault "Shift to Fire Plan Alpha Nine, maximum deployment counter-droid systems"

Her son gave her a quick, silent, questioning look, and Maarisa simply gave him a silent nod in response 'Yes, we are likely to be leaving sooner than originally planned'

…and, just as she had expected, thousands of droid-fighters surged their way "Tri-fighters?"

"Yes Ma'am, looks to be a significant portion of their van"

"Let us give them a warm welcome then Captain" she replied watching the battlespace, watching as her forward escorts began to light off their massed anti-fighter missiles and massed light turbolaser fire. That was mostly from the Lucrehulks which had been heavily refitted with massed light turbolasers and 'light' missile emplacements…largely to deal with situations such as this. Droid Tri-fighters were top of the line for the Seppies, and numbers like this they were showing intent….and an opportunity to hurt them before they got into ORSF territory proper "Unmask all batteries. Cull the herd"

Massed turbolaser and equalled missile fire under droid backed systems was the best current response based on findings in the engagements by what had been the Galactic South of the Grand Army of the Republic. Without the cutting-edge Star Destroyers and defence systems the Clone Legions had been granted methods like this had evolved to be the best means to combat these swarm tactics. And even if Maarisa now had a Venator under her command, that previous 'bleeding edge tech' was now increasingly 'barely matching' the current combat environment. It just didn't have the needed firepower to be at the van of the formation with the waves coming at them now.

In response to the waves of droid fighters and bombers on approach a wave, then another wave, of counter-missiles rose from her escorts. More than originally planned, but Tri-fighters both needed that increased fire rate, as well as being worth that fire rate as the Seppies production of them was much more limited than the Scarabs or Vulture models. Her own taskforce's Vulture droid-fighters were already deployed, but formed up behind the missile screens as dozens, then hundreds, of attacking droid-fighters began to die between her forces and the other allied Republic formations. Just as the fools who'd charge brave, but stupidly, forward to engage outside their own formation.

"Tighten our perimeter…begin slow withdrawal to this position in line with Republic formation four" she instructed, watching as the formation 'beneath' hers began to 'bend' as the mass of Lucrehulk battleships came forward along with even more Munificents and Recusants "Send in these squadrons to plug any gaps. Adjust battery fire to not hit them"

"Copy that Moff, adjusting as you command"

She triggered the comms to Admiral Tallon's flagship, his avatar appearing on the pillar before her tactical displays "Commodore Zsinj?"

'And still the rank issues, even now' Maarisa thought coldly, but showing none of that frustration "They are going to break through on the local defence fleet and the Jedi position. I am retreating in line with this to avoid being flanked, but it must be dealt with"

The human's avatar frowned, then nodded "I will contact Admiral Screed and attempt to find reinforcements"

"If you would" she finished ending the brief call, irritated at the lack of coordination and mess that such politics as this involved. Meanwhile her forward screening elements were doing their job as her formation maintained the tight, disciplined, formation she expected. The Seppies might have numbers, but they were struggling to breach her defences as she manoeuvred as best she could to avoid a slugging match. Two of her 'light' screen were already gone, along with number of her own droid-fighters, but the kills being inflicted were still heavily in her favour.

Her son looked to her as a Lucrehulk on the enemy side exploded, along with a number of Munificents that had been escorting it as it pressed forward "They are throwing everything forward Ma'am"

Maarisa let out an unhappy breath. He could see what see could she too it seemed, the displays showing the Seppies absorbing significant losses….but breaking up the 'Republic' battleline "They are going to take the losses to break this position as quickly as feasible, yes, and then this position will swiftly collapse. We best prepare for that eventuality. Continue our slow withdrawal in line with our flanking formations. Bomber squadrons to focus on these vessels"

She tapped the displays indicating her preferred targets. They were close enough to maintain support from her formation's heavies while they made their attack runs as the Seppies pushed in close, but also preventing the units behind them getting adequate firing arcs. For a short while the enemy would lose superiority in firepower with the way they were advancing against her, and Maarisa intended to make use of that as she to ensure each of her vessels manoeuvred to her commands, losing yet another 'light' forward escort. It two hours before the rest of her allied formation broke to her surprise, after falling back in good order till then, and she brought her own taskforce to hyperspace to escape with slight above 'acceptable' losses to her forces…

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