[2 BBY]
[Command Bridge, Command Deck, Imperial Navy V-series, Valiant-class, Star Destroyer Valiant, Second Independent Squadron Imperial Second Fleet, in orbit Teyr, Surric System, Colonies Region, Shipwrights Trace, Free Worlds Confederacy]
Hera Syndulla's hand reached up to touch her new rank insignia, still surprised to see it there. Before dropping her hand down again, purposely walking over to the holo-display. One that was a significant improvement over the Ghost's, but also within a command bridge that felt somewhat smaller somehow…better armoured and in more familiar Imperial greys and whites. Still, it was a slightly strange feeling to have gained all she had; her elevated rank, a brand new Star Destroyer, and priority in missions. Yet somehow it felt if she'd lost something in having left the old Providence-class behind for the Imperial Guard to takeover. Her crew was even, mostly, even the same…
'Okay Commodore Syndulla. You've got what you wanted. All it took was the fact you're probably going to start the next Galactic War like you're a damned Amidala' she scolded herself, looking towards the screens where the various heavy cruisers and escorts of her squadron were in formation near Confederate designs marked as allies. Technically they were here at the 'request' of the droids and handful of nudist organics…though it was, in all truthfulness, the guarantee of the Empire over this Protectorate. Fondor could not be allowed to fall. The orders from above were very clear on this fact. Not the rump Confederacy they were already at war with, and certainly not to the abomination that was the New Republic that she feared they would be at war with far too soon.
In fact it did feel as if her entire formation was designed for that very task; the Valiant was a brand new 'battleship' V-series, whose design was focused on killing large vessels with starfighter support. Essentially it was the latest evolution of the series, with the target having moved from old Confederate designs to the Republican ones. Even the fact she'd been given the Hammerhead-II cruisers, six in total to back up her three Star Destroyers gave an unusual weight of firepower for an independent squadron. Should she consider that a good thing or a bad thing?
'Ignore that. Focus on Teyr and your assigned mission' she thought, standing at the holo-display, studying the tactical and strategic displays. Teyr had been, essentially, a glorified resort and office world before the Fall of the Republic, occupied by the Confederacy at the height of the conflict, and then…largely ignored as a quasi-independent world for the two decades afterwards. Leading to a brief, unlamented, phase as a slave-trading hold that had fallen apart as the Empire, and the droids on Fondor's, influence grew in the years after the Fall. For the last decade, after the economic decline of the previous one, Teyr had established itself as a free port of sorts, but that clearly hadn't been gone well enough. Not since the place had practically fallen over itself to submit itself to the Fondor droids in the last year.
Because of that history, the system defences were extensive….but old-fashioned at best, a kludge of purchases from the old Grand Army of the Republic and Confederate Droid Army's, with a few recent, modern, additions. Easily enough to see off even the largest pirate fleet, but nowhere close to being enough to deal with a modern heavy formation. That made it a likely target for the Confederate Fleet formations based at Bestines and Foless should they go on the offensive, and also for the New Republic Navy's Southern Command. If they had sense at least, in neutralising support Droid formations here and Giju before going after Fondor proper. Of course, having fought the NRN in the so-called Northern Crusade, it wasn't a guarantee for them to take the logical course of action in any given engagement. The mentality of those of the Rim and the Core were often incompatible it felt like at times to Hera having seen and endured what she had over the years.
'Is Vice Admiral Thrawn seeking to take advantage of that?' she wondered, looking at her forces at Teyr, and the First Squadron at Giju, and Second Fleet as a whole relocated into Fifth Fleet's normal operating zones. That would allow the Third and Fifth Fleets to concentrate for….Force knew what. With the Imperial Guard of the OverSector and Sector forces being mobilised it meant that High Command were clearly confident that events were truly about to spin out of control. Mobilisation was popular now, with rage amongst the citizenry at the Republic's horrors running rampant in free media, with even the newly joined, former enemies, of the Bothans and Feddies doing the same as allied regions.
'Patrols are coming back with no sightings. Droids say the same' Hera began running through the reports in the assigned time. Combat drills and 'cross-party training' was scheduled for several hours from now, but the true concern remained watching for the movements of the enemy. Confederate Fleet intercepts indicated that they were on the backfoot so to speak, but that was never a definite fact you trust completely, and the New Republic Navy was definitely going to move. Just the when, and the where, was the problem to figure out…
[2 BBY]
[Command Bridge, New Republic Navy Liberty II-class Star Destroyer Enduring Freedom, Core Values Squadron, combined New Republic Navy Second 'Red Banner of the Workers' Fleet, in orbit Hosnian Prime, Hosnian System, Core Worlds, Corellian Trade Spine, New Galactic Republic]
Senior Captain Areta Bell frowned at her tactical display, working through the various problems laid out before her on the glowing holographic. Promotions to senior captaincy, at her age, was a sign of the changing times, and guard, within the New Republic, but the Admiralty's decisions seemed…somewhat old fashioned and very crude. Hardly Revolutionary as her training sessions as a Captain with the New Jedi Order's advisors had made clear was necessary for the survival of the New Republic, and the achievement of a truly peaceful and utopian galaxy as the Republic had brought for millennia before. She frowned again at the memory, reaching up and rubbing at the brief pain in her temples…
…there…was…
She shook herself. It was irrelevant. Personal concerns were irrelevant to the needs of the State. That was what good citizens did. Obey. Serve. Fight. Live in the Light!
…she was…
Areta shook her head, clearing it. Focusing on the mission always helped 'Casualties will be heavy in the initial assaults; they are correct in that. Still, perhaps, too blunt?'
The planned assault on Fondor was in perfectly in line successful operations against hardened opposition during the Liberation of the Northern Rim – clearing the way with dregs and the useless before sending in the true soldiers of the New Republic. Droid numbers, those stripped from the workplace and reformed for combat had boosted the workers living standards at home, while also allowing such assaults as she'd seen at Orinda and other battles. Most of those droids though, from the initial seizures, had been burned through, as had been the stocks of immediate Z-95s used to pilot them, or older GAR transports they'd been used as 'assault companies' for ground combat.
Thankfully they had made up the numbers by seizures of any 'useless' droids in the Northern Rim, from diplomatic, security, labourer and other such units as well as creation of penal units from amongst the traitors and thieves of the Rim. Billions had been recruited to serve in such a manner, and the vast stockpiles of even Pre-Fall Judiciary and further back gear had been drawn down, and refurbished, to equip these units for the coming battles. Her Star Destroyer would, sadly, need to play at Penal Unit Guard in those initial assaults, as even the explosive collars might not be enough to ensure the traitorous…traitorous…
…was…this…right…why was…she…
Obey. Serve. Fight. Live in the Light!
Areta nodded to herself 'Okay, assuming these units clear the initial breach lines….Admiralty are, probably, correct in assuming it'll take several waves to break into the system alone. If we're going to take casualties, then best it be amongst the scum of the galaxy being granted a chance at redemption than. Crush the droid abominations, and scare the Imperialist scum into submission'
After all the vile thieving imperialists of the so-called United Federal Empire were already in conflict with the oligarchic vermin of the traitorous Confederacy. They would not dare stand in the way of a righteous fleet doing the work of a true democracy, the work that was the right of the Galactic Republic by ancient custom and tradition. Treason, madness, and cowardness had turned the galaxy into a nightmare parody of what should have been. Now, now the New Republic would reshape it all…
'First wave casualties….will be likely near absolute then' she agreed with the assessment 'So, retreat to here, allow second wave to push through. Droid numbers need to be whittled down before landings'
That was the true problem at the heart of the operation. Fondor, like other such pockets in miniature, had been allowed to fester thanks to the failures of the Mon Mothma Regime. To entrench themselves, ruling over, and thereby corrupting, entire generations of Republic citizens. Removing the rot….would be the work of years, maybe decades, according to the Commisars, and Areta was inclined to agree. Resistance would be fierce from the old, backwards, order that still clung to their twisted past; the northern campaigns had proven that. No, they would have to firm and ferocious. Damn the losses till they achieved victory…
"Captain" her XO alerted her, Artea turning her head "Orders. It is time"