Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 13 - Acceleration
The orbit of the Tess-1 satellite, the Tess galaxy.

Bucksell Sector.

Although Raine and his men had been waiting expectantly for several hours, the arrival of the Republic fleet still caught them off guard.

To conserve energy, most of the crew on the bridge went into hibernation.

Renn dared not risk replacing the entire batch with a new one; even he himself was dozing off.

Sudden.

"Kronau radiation peak!"

Taylor sounded the alarm.

These two words struck them like a punch to the heart.

A dozen robots awoke from hibernation, their servos whirring like hurricanes, their restarting drives beeping, followed by the clanging of their limbs being recalibrated.

The console hummed, the display screen lit up again, and holographic repeaters popped up around the command chair.

Renn checked them one by one.

The left side shows the rudder and engine readings, and the right side shows the weapon status.

The open space directly in front is now filled with holographic tactical displays—

A large, flashing red bubble indicates the approximate location of the enemy, based on Kronau radiation data.

“System check!” Ryan shouted.

As every post on the ship, whether manned or automated, confirmed that everything was normal, green indicator lights flashed like a waterfall on their readings, instantly overwhelming their senses.

Xiao Ta put his hands on the back of his chair. “Recheck the planned flight path, scan all the detectors from 050 to 065. As long as we can’t see them, they can’t see us.”

Rein pressed the communicator, "'Resistance', 'Reputation', report the situation!"

"All systems are normal, sir!" Robot Commander 3-1 reported. "We can't wait to wreak havoc!"

“Calm down, 3-1,” Zenis, the OOM robot of the “Reputation,” said calmly. “Recheck your course plan. You are closest to the TES II satellite, so don’t crash into it, Captain. We are all ready.”

“We’re close to the satellite because we got the highest score in the last debris clearing exercise, remember?” 3-1 retorted. “My crew is the best among us! You’re just jealous, Zines.”

"Is your cooling cable clogged, 3-1?" Zinis mocked. "You know our positions will switch after the first loop, right? Or is it just too hard for your logic module to understand?"

"you--"

"Shut up, both of you!" Renn shouted sternly. "Zinice is right, check your navigation data again, and then check it one more time! This operation has a very low margin for error; there's no room for carelessness!"

“Yes, yes.” 3 - 1 immediately became serious.

“Yes, sir,” Zinis replied. “I have dispatched a Vulture robot fighter to provide real-time updates on the enemy’s formation and flight path.”

As more data was input into the system, the flashing red bubble suddenly shrank and then split into several small arrows.

Then, a dotted line shot straight toward the planet, and a small number appeared next to the enemy task force.

Acceleration.

One thousand standard gravitational accelerations, and it's still rapidly increasing.

“Two cruisers are checking registration information, the ‘Tranquility’ and the ‘Guararat’,” Taylor said, looking at the data stream. “And two ‘Cheerleader-class’ assault ships, the entire 41st Corps.”

“Very good, Zenith, hide that fighter,” Ryan snorted. “All ships, synchronize data. I want full information sharing. We’ll conduct the slingshot maneuver together. Taylor, reveal the enemy’s blind spots.”

A cone-shaped area of ​​shadow extended from the TIS-1 satellite, completely obscuring the markings of the "Repel" squadron.

This is a spatial region that the Republic's scanner cannot detect.

As the enemy marker hurtles toward the planet, the angle of the cone-shaped area adjusts accordingly.

“Maintain port echelon formation,” Rein said. “'Resistance,' you lead. My ship and 'Reputation' will follow behind you. We will stay within this cone until the enemy reaches the extraplanetary base, then launch a full-scale attack.”

"Yes, yes."

"Yes, yes."

Three dashed lines overlap on the display screen, extending forward and bypassing the TIS-2 and TIS-1 satellites.

There are pins and labels on it indicating relevant details, such as speed nodes and burn time required to complete the maneuver.

This is their expected flight plan, assuming everything goes according to plan.

Ryan stared at the ever-changing cone-shaped area until their navigation markers were about to leave its trailing edge.

Just slightly to their right, the thrusters of the Resistance flashed, then burst into a dazzling blue-white light, as if seven miniature neutron stars were born from the abyss.

A solid line emanates from the "Resistance" marker, curves around the TES2 satellite, but is not perfectly aligned with the planned route.

This is the ship's current route.

"Repel" is activated, and a second route appears.

"Initiate initial acceleration," Little Tower hummed.

……

“Our mission is simple,” Master Luminara explained briefly, “to rescue the little Hutt, return him to his father, and then rendezvous with General Kenobi’s fleet to liberate Christophersis.”

“It can be done in a day, sir,” the clone commander Gerry said almost jokingly. “We’ll be able to come and go as we please very soon.”

The gunboat rocked as it flew low over the dense jungle, and Paris could almost feel the highest branches brushing against the landing gear below her.

Behind this LAAT gunboat, a dozen gunboats tore through the lush green canopy behind them, flying in perfect column formation to reduce the chances of being detected.

The gunboat suddenly turned, slamming her against the bulkhead, and the entire gunboat flew diagonally to evade any potential enemy targeting systems.

What kind of hostage rescue operation would require an entire elite battalion?

Paris couldn't help but wonder.

It wasn't just one battalion.

Three battalions.

Two other gunboats arrived from different directions.

This made her uneasy, but how could she dare to question her master's decision?

Through the swaying armor of the clone soldiers, Baris glanced at Master Luminara, noticing her purplish-black lips and the string of interconnected diamond tattoos on her chin.

She also has more tattoos on her knuckles.

In Miriam culture, every tattoo represents a significant achievement.

In the darkness of the cargo hold, the Jedi Master's deep blue eyes seemed to glow.

One day, Paris thought, I will have as many tattoos as she does.

"Are you thinking about something interesting, Paris?" Master Luminara gave her a knowing smile.

"I was just wondering if a simple hostage rescue operation would require so many troops, Master." Paris suppressed her surprise deep inside.

"Simple?" Master Luminara's lips curled slightly. "Of course we all hope so, don't we? Pilot, have you made any discoveries?"

"Remote detection indicates heavy defensive fortifications on the plateau, sir," a voice came through the walkie-talkie. "We're flying low to avoid radar, but they must have anticipated our arrival. If it's a fixed artillery position, their depression angle isn't enough to target us, but if they have spider robots..."

Paris looked out of the hatch again, marveling at the endless green ocean.

She pressed her cheek against the hatch and peered out through the crack, seeing the dark outline of the plateau emerge from the thick fog.

The pilot replied, "Close the bomb shelter door now."

"it is good."

Master Luminara nodded vigorously to the team.

"Put on your helmet."

Commander Gerry said, fastening his helmet. The sunlight was replaced by red lights, and the crew cabin darkened; the squad members followed suit.

As usual, the pre-deployment equipment checks began: rifle battery levels, ammunition and climbing gear on the belt, jetpack calibration, and repeated testing of communication lines.

Paris sometimes wonders what it's like inside the data world of their complex helmets.

Gerry lowered his head, perhaps relaying last-minute orders to the other platoons.

Paris instinctively patted the lightsaber on her belt, even though she could feel its familiar weight.

An explosion was heard in the distance, and the gunboat suddenly turned to take evasive action.

She quickly reached out and grabbed the handle above her to avoid falling, but the sudden violent jolt still threw her out.

A soldier caught her; it was hard not to bump into each other in that cramped cabin.

Then gently help her up.

"Are you alright, sir?"

“It’s alright,” Paris breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

The soldier looked up at the ceiling. "It must have been hit by a shell. The hatch worked."

"Ascent in progress," the walkie-talkie buzzed, "Prepare to eject in ten seconds..."

As the LAAT gunboat climbed almost vertically, Paris's knees could barely support her weight. She flew as close to the cliff face as possible to avoid the gunfire.

Another explosion blasted against the armor plate, this time even closer.

then--

The creaking of metal and the screams of soldiers being slammed against the rock wall.

They did not show it even though other soldiers were moved by the horrific sounds of their comrades dying.

They were trained not to show their emotions.

The squad lined up beside the hatch.

Paris drew her lightsaber and felt its weight in her hand.

"...Three, two, one—Charge, charge, charge!"

The hatch suddenly opened, and sunlight flooded into the cabin.

The sky was filled with the shrill sound of lasers.

She counted nearly thirty LAAT gunships circling around the fortress atop the cliff, and hundreds of clone soldiers jumping out of the gunships, activating their jetpacks, and swarming toward the plateau like bees.

Mass-driven missiles pierced through the smoke from anti-aircraft fire, turning large numbers of robots to ashes. Meanwhile, spherical turrets swept across the fortifications with bright green lasers, blasting walls into rubble and melting emplacements into slag.

robot.

Paris knew that anyone with enough credits and no brains could buy a combat robot, but she had a feeling that Count Dooku and his alliance were behind it.

A gunboat swept across the left wing of the castle, lasers ripping ancient stone slabs off the ground.

A spider-like robot tracked the gunboat with its red, spherical eyes—

At that moment, Paris desperately wished she had a soldier's helmet so she could warn them. A flash of red light, and the gunboat's left anti-gravity propulsion wing disintegrated, causing it to spiral and plummet into the mist below.

However, despite the chaos, the firepower was disciplined and organized.

The gunboats completely suppressed the courtyard and fortifications with their powerful firepower, but the main building remained intact.

Commander Gerry shouted something, which she didn't hear, and then she jumped down. His jetpack activated, propelling him toward the landing site.

The team members followed him in pairs.

Below, the first batch of soldiers were already on balconies, in windows, and any other entrances they could find.

They gathered around and forced their way in.

The robots were completely suppressed, seemingly facing a three-to-one numerical disadvantage, and the enemy had complete air superiority.

Master Luminara was right.

She's always right.

It would have been much more difficult if they hadn't brought an entire regiment to the battle.

Master Luminara ignited her lightsaber, deflected an energy laser beam, and then jumped down.

Paris took a deep breath and followed behind her.

……

“Stop accelerating,” Taylor tapped the console. “Prepare for orbital flyby.”

The TES-2 satellite grew larger and larger in front of them, almost filling the entire viewing window.

This satellite is very large, comparable to an asteroid, and has its own atmosphere.

Rennes could see that thick, swirling clouds obscured the surface, interspersed with bright flashes of lightning.

The vastness of space makes it impossible to perceive speed; only occasional glimpses of trajectory readings tell you just how insane this maneuver is.

His neck was strangely stiff, as if he could only look straight ahead.

A flashing indicator light told him that the spacecraft's attitude control gyroscope was accelerating.

“Yaw 033 degrees to the right,” Taylor continued, “increase inertial compensation by three percent.”

The Repulse rotated around its axis, allowing the cockpit a clear view of the Resistance and the TES-2 satellite, both of which then moved away from the left edge of the viewfinder.

The next time they see this satellite, it will be the only thing they can see in about thirty seconds.

The bridge felt unusually quiet.

Ryan said that it had always been quiet, and he liked that.

But this time the atmosphere was different.

It was almost as if these robots were more nervous than when they were charging head-on into the enemy's battle line.

"How many margins of error, little tower?" Renn asked softly.

The robot looked down at him. “Too many. They’re too fast. The gravitational well on this satellite is too weak to significantly increase their speed. Instead, they’ll use the gravitational well to help adjust their course and then accelerate again over that distance. The problem is they don’t know the exact density of the TES-2 satellite.”

what?
"What?" Ryan blurted out, "Then how do we carry out this operation?"

He tried to dig out the formula for gravity from the depths of his memory and reminisce about his university days.

He was absolutely certain that to calculate any gravity-related data, one needed to know the mass of the object, which is density multiplied by volume.

“It’s all guesswork,” Little Tower admitted, “and the margin of error is huge, but they’ll fail safely, sir. The problem is that none of their escort ships have planetary scanners, and the existing scanners are too weak to penetrate the moon’s crust to observe its composition.”

"What about the Tais-1 satellite?"

"The margin of error is smaller because they are not only closer to the TES-1 satellite, but the satellite's atmosphere is negligible and its volume is much smaller. Their scanner can penetrate deeper and make an acceptable prediction about its composition."

Therefore, the first step is the most uncertain.

perfect.

Renn didn't know what else he could hope for.

He stared intently at the tactical display screen, as if praying in his heart that the flight path would bend to the expected route.

At this moment, the trajectory bends toward the lunar perihelion, and then flies into space along the tangent.

He could almost hear the howling wind from the TES-2 satellite as it gradually climbed back into the transparent viewing window, displaying the storm-ravaged surface before them.

He spotted the Resistance at the edge of his field of vision; it was so close to the satellite that its bow looked like it was about to scoop it up...

(End of this chapter)