A Life at War: Twilight

Chapter 90: Council of Carida Part 1

I yawn as I get out of the shower. I had a long day ahead of me. The first day of this conference would mostly be occupied by an overview of the state of the war and a debate on how to proceed next. The debate would likely only be in broad strokes, leaving minutia for theater debates during the following days. All in all I was expecting a couple days of debates, the usual moral grandstanding and at least one fistfight on the subject of the base delta zero protocol. It was almost a tradition, whenever large numbers of high ranking officers gathered.I finish changing and march out of the sparse room, R4 on my heels handing me a datapad as we walk. I exchange salutes and nods with officers known and unknown as I make it to the cafeteria. I would probably have two times my usual caf ration this week, although on the bright side, I had managed to restock a decent chunk of my liquor supply over Commenor.

I grab a breakfast bagel to eat as I march down the next hall. The briefing would start in a bit and I wanted to be there on time, if not a little early. I enter the large room as I take my last bite of the eggy sandwich I had partially drowned in hot-sauce and scan the area. A group of Jedi huddled in a corner in a deep discussion. Another group of officers around Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin. A third group of officers around Admiral Jerjerrod which I slowly gravitate towards. Admiral Yularen stands proudly in another area, the highest ranking officers of the Open Circle Fleet gathered around the graying officer like he was standing atop a rock in gater infested sands. A couple smaller groups around various other Admirals and Generals who had been pulled from the front for this, with Fleet Admiral Coburn’s being the largest of these small groups. Though comparatively I can spot the representative from the Sith Worlds Cordon Fleet hiding, rather poorly with his full Navy uniform, among a smaller group of Jedi.

“Admiral Jerjerrod.” I greet the man currently pointing out something on his datapad to a familiar looking Commodore.

“Admiral Dericote. I see the front is treating you well.” The man says, turning towards me.

“Well I wouldn’t say well, I got hit in the head by a mouse droid a bit more than a month ago.” I reply lightly.

“Do you think you can manage the expectations placed upon you by the Head of Naval Operations after suffering such an injury?” He asks a hint of mirth in his tone.

“I believe I should be able to juggle my hats. As long as Sector General Therbon himself doesn’t make a sudden appearance despite the current siege at Lantillies I shouldn’t have any issues. Though if the Sector General does make an appearance I fully trust in your ability to take over until the heat has died down.” I answer.

The Admiral nods once, before gesturing towards some of the surrounding officers: “Here are some of our clear allies. This here is Commodore Uri Gerra, he was promoted to second in command of the siege of Mimban about half a year ago.”

“Pleasure to see you again.” I interrupt.

“Pleasure’s mine, sir.” The young Arkanian flag officer responds.

“Over there is General Gentis, currently trying to fully win over some of his colleagues to our way of thinking. Over on the railing above us are Commodores Hornblower and Bush, they’re the only members from our efforts in the Jaso Sector that could make it, beside Adjunct Captain Zsinj, who is representing his mother and currently running late.”

I nod quietly as I glance around the room, spotting the holograms of multiple Jedi appearing to add to the chaos of the room: “Do you know who the speaker will be?”

“Sector General Khor Seerdon is our host and is expected to lead the narration for a decent chunk of this.” Jerjerrod answers.

I frown slightly: “Could be better, could be worse. He’s officially neutral right?”ary defense forces in favor of the Republic and the already significant number of Republic forces in the theater. The Seps still hold a dangerous quartet of Thyferra, Mechis, Bestine and Yag’Dhul in the north of the theater, but its south is rather cut up between the reliable forces of Eriadu alongside our other loyal worlds and various smaller Sep forces which are busy bickering over who is in command of the theater instead of combining their forces to attempt an attack against us.”

The man pauses one last time before speaking: “I suppose let the discussion begin.”

Tarkin’s camp is the first to spit someone out. A General by the look of his badge, maybe in his mid forties or early fifties: “General Romodi, Southern Theater. I have said it before and I will say it again, the south is not as secure as it is being reported on. We need to fully secure its north and the supply lines to Eriadu.”

“Admiral Z’timin, Perlimian Theater. The south is in stalemate, which is far better than what can be said about the Perlimian.” An Admiral on the opposite side protests.

“Then let us finally mobilize the Core fleets!” Someone else barks into the arena.

“I remind everyone to introduce themselves at least once, before interjecting.” Seerdon interrupts.

“Admiral Dorja, Perlimian Theater. We must break Trench’s advance into the Core or else face the enemy within orbit of Anaxes.” The man emphasizing his point by smashing his fist against the railing.

Yularen’s being awfully quiet, I notice. Coburn too. Intriguing. It looks like the current shouting is less about doctrine and more about where things have gone worse. I hum in consideration, glancing towards Jerjerrod to see if he’s leaning one way or another.

“Admiral Killian, Open Circle.” An older man, with a Corellian accent, interrupts my pondering, “I believe it would be prudent for us to maul the enemy forces at Lantillies. Depending on the outcome after the battle, we can re-assign forces from the theater if necessary.”

“No, we should fully commit to forcing the enemy behind Ringo Vinda, before re-allocating forces to to other theaters. Mobilize the Core!” Z’timin interrupts.

I lean over to Jerjerrod and whisper a question: “Do we even have the reserves to commit?”

He answers equally quietly: “We’d be stripping forces from many inner Core worlds and the safer colonies, but they should be returned to normal levels once the sieges are concluded in a timely manner.”

“If they’re concluded at all.” I mutter darkly as a different officer barks their objection.

“General Tallon, Starfighter Corps and Representative of the siege of Foerost. If we strip reserves we leave the Core vulnerable to assault from breakouts in the remaining sieges.”

“General Rohn, Southern Theater. Are the sieges so brittle as to fail against simple breakout attempts?”

“I said no such thing! I am merely concerned with possible security risks.” Tallon replies, offended.

“Maker I’m not drunk enough for this.” I mutter to myself. Jerjerrod chooses to give me the stink eye for my quiet outburst.

“Admiral Ozzel, Southern Command. What about the Cordon Fleet? Surely her ships could prove fruitful in the defense of the Core?” A man I recognize from pa’s messages asks. I almost felt sorry for the him.

“Admiral Slocum, Sith Worlds Cordon Fleet. I demand the previous questions be stricken from the record. We have stood guard over the remnants of the Sith homeworlds for millennia upon millennia to prevent any Force wielders from accessing the tombs of monsters past. No matter who, no matter why, no matter when, the 13th Battlegroup and 17th Battlegroup will continue to do so and woe be to any fool who dares fight against us!” The well groomed Admiral berates from his post.

“What I think, most of us can agree on, is that Lantillies must be reinforced.” Admiral Killian says, trying to bring the conversation back on track, “And that we are simply in disagreement as to how the best way of doing so will be.”

“Admiral Yularen, Open Circle. Vice Admiral Wessex has my word.” Yularen finally joins the fray and using Wessex to appear more impartial too.

“Vice Admiral Wessex, Open Circle. A relief effort to Lantillies would be practical. Since the deep Core is safe from outside threat, couldn’t one strip the Republic garrisons from worlds in the Negs for those reinforcements?”

“They are severely outdated! It would be more of a liability to send them to the front!” Admiral Dorja protests.

“Even outdated ships could be useful.” Admiral Z’timin counters, “We should not look a gifted Bantha in the mouth, Dorja. I do fear that those ships will not be enough. Especially after the losses and damage already sustained to the vessels operating in and around Lantillies.”

“Agreed!” Dorja pounces, making an abrupt one-eighty.

I slowly rise as I speak: “Admiral Dericote, Tion Cluster Theater. I believe my colleagues within the Cerulean Spear are correct in their assessment. If we do not throw the enemy back at Lantillies, they will likely make it to Anaxes, though I pray they don't even manage to win at Lantillies in the first place. It would therefore be prudent to throw them back along the Perlimian, rather than to allow them within spitting distance of the inner Core. I recommend we take at least half of the forces within the Negs and whatever ships the Core can spare to do exactly that. Preferably without compromising their safety, as seen by the Marshal Administrators and not by the local commanders.”

“Should we really put so much faith in the Marshal Administrators instead of the local governments and their officers? Wouldn’t they know better?” General Rohn asks as I return to my seat.

“Admiral Tarkin, Southern Theater. I have to agree with my colleague within the Admiralty. A more centralized attack at the problem is more suitable for the dire situation.” A surprising agreement there.

“Very good. We are in agreement then.” Seerdon says, “Forces from the Negs will be sent right away while further forces will be gathered by local Marshall Administrators for continuous assistance. For confirmation of the latest plan, please press the green button on the provided datapads, red for disagreement.”

In the end, after a few minutes the first decision is passed and the next fight begins.