Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 230, Section 232 - Comeno

The Komeno Galaxy, Komeno Approach Region.

Quilo Sector.

"On my command, exit hyperspace in ten seconds... nine... eight..."

The 19th Mobile Combat Fleet consists of seven almost identical sub-fleets.

At this moment, the fleet was 1.8 million kilometers away from the star Comeno-A, at the outer edge of the hyperspace confinement zone formed by the gravitational trap, when it was forcibly pulled out of hyperspace by an invisible force.

At the moment of separation, the Krona radiation emitted a strong, multi-peaked flash, illuminating the surrounding space.

Alarms blared aboard the Serenno Star.

The forced separation caused the hyperspace drive to malfunction, and the entire fleet was suddenly pulled off its course as if by an invisible hand.

A faint mist rose from the ship's hull, and the residual blue energy of its flight coiled around the vessel like a chilling breeze.

The electrical fire on the lower deck illuminated the internal structure.

"We have encountered an intercepting net of unknown extent." TX-103, also known as "Tex," quickly assessed the situation. "All ships, submit preliminary damage reports immediately!"

The blocking net is an extremely advanced technology, but Carly Trilm has no time to appreciate it at the moment.

The dizziness and nausea caused by the forced escape from hyperspace were unbearable for her.

She heard someone vomiting on the bridge of the Serenno Star and knew that thousands of crew members in the fleet were experiencing the same ordeal.

Nevertheless, Carly remained clear-headed, knowing that the entire fleet was in an extremely vulnerable state.

The Comeno Navy did indeed catch them off guard.

Had the entire task force not made extensive use of robots and automated systems, the 19th Mobile Fleet would have been completely incapacitated in the next few minutes.

In the few seconds or even minutes when the human crew stumbles and is unable to function properly, only the ship's robots and automated defense systems can react.

If enemy ships had taken the opportunity to launch an attack at that time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Carly braced herself against the control panel, enduring the discomfort, and tried to make out the damage report on the screen.

To her dismay, in addition to the expected engineering and navigation reports, the system was also sending out a continuous stream of casualty figures.

Click.

Click.

“Initiate…system navigation.” Carly’s voice was hoarse as she wiped the sweat-dampened gray hair from her face with her free hand. “We must escape the hyperspace restricted zone of the Comeno Interception Network before the ‘Opening Fleet’ arrives and repair the hyperspace drive as soon as possible!”

The auxiliary ships of the 19th Mobile Combat Fleet have deployed maintenance robots.

She originally planned to jump as close as possible to the hyperspace confinement region of the star Comeno-A, which would save half the journey.

Of course, completely bypassing the Komeno system would be ideal, but after the Battle of Sarapin, it was simply impossible to completely avoid the sensor network laid down by the loyalists.

She just hadn't expected that Comeno's interception array would be so formidable.

There are two main types of interception arrays: those centered on planets and those centered on stars.

Similarly, fortress worlds are divided into two types: those that prioritize protecting planets and those that prioritize preventing any enemy from crossing the star system.

People generally believe that these two types of interception arrays and two types of fortresses correspond one-to-one.

Now, the 19th Mobile Combat Fleet has experienced firsthand what kind of system the Komeno system possesses.

But that doesn't matter.

In order to prevent the 19th Fleet from making a micro-jump escape, the Comeno Navy had to maintain the uplink of the interception network.

One characteristic of interception technology is that it does not distinguish between friend and foe.

Click.

Click.

If the "Open-Loop Fleet" pursues the 19th Mobile Combat Fleet along the same trajectory, they will also be brutally pulled out of hyperspace at the same location.

Furthermore, the Republic's army should have already discovered them, which is precisely the significance of the coordinated operation between "Operation Starburst" and "Operation Stormgate".

“Report, Tex,” Carly said in a low voice. The effects of the hyperspace escape were fading, and her vision was gradually clearing.

"Current position is 5.6 million kilometers from the star Comeno-A, relative bearing 000-003." The tactical robot reported concisely as usual, "Current speed is 3000 kilometers per second. The fleet is accelerating at 500 grids per second. At the current acceleration and heading, it will achieve zero-distance interception with the star Comeno-A in 4.2 standard hours, with a rendezvous speed of 7.3 kilometers per second."

"Where is Komeno?" Carly squinted at the sensor screen.

The Komeno system has many planets, but none are as densely populated and reflective as Komeno.

It should have shone like a star on the screen.

But it's not there now... Then she remembered Comeno's position on the track at this time of year.

“On the far side of the star Comeno-A, sir,” Tex replied calmly. “Due to the star’s obstruction, our sensors are currently unable to observe Comeno.”

“…Damn it.” Carly slumped into her chair. “Okay, we’re cutting into orbit below the ecliptic plane of the star Comeno-A, approaching the Comeno Navy from below. Are there enemies coming towards us?”

“Nothing detected, Major General,” Tex responded quickly. “Sensors indicate a large number of engine signals within the system, which must include warships, but none have entered the interception path yet. However, given our high-speed advance, we expect the enemy to react soon.”

Carly glanced back. "Then let's try to buy some time. I don't want to fight Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Yes, Major General."

The 19th Mobile Combat Fleet left a "big gift" for that Jedi general in the Zeltros system.

It refers to almost all of the fleet's interceptor mines.

Hopefully, they can hold off the "open-loop fleet" for a few hours.

……

On the other side, at the Comeno Orbital Command.

Second Lieutenant Vlad Dordonna only managed to sit in the briefing room seat through sheer willpower.

An hour ago, he was having lunch in Chacin, a surface town in Comeno, and now he's here.

The Jedi General strode into the briefing room, and Vlad Dordonna sat up even straighter.

Judging from her loose robe and the glimpses of her black undergarments, she is indeed a Jedi general and a pilot who will be carrying out missions with them.

“Good afternoon,” the Jedi general said softly. “I am Olgo Prave-Doll.”

Vlad had heard of the name before.

She was the commander of the Republic's special forces task force that had been deployed to the Komeno system a few days earlier, apparently redeployed due to a threat alert issued by Coruscant.

General Olger surveyed the room with a wry smile, as if he knew something they didn't.

Some things she doesn't intend to tell them now.

"An unidentified enemy task force has appeared in the galaxy and is heading straight for us!" All the scattered eyes vanished instantly. "The Comeno Space Control Center estimates that the enemy has at least 30 capital ships and 60 cruisers, with a total of about three to four hundred ships."

General Olger nodded solemnly.

"The 'Open Ring Fleet' is on its way, but we're not sure if they'll arrive in time, which means we..." Her gaze swept across the room again, her eyes sharp as knives, "...becoming the last line of defense between the separatist forces and the core world."

“Do we really have to stop them?” someone asked, raising their hand. “I mean… the last time this happened…”

When the Jedi General's expressionless gaze fell upon the speaker, the man's voice gradually lowered.

Vlad didn't turn to look. Because they weren't facing another Comeno, but a Jedi General of the Republic.

The question raised by that pilot... would probably be considered treason in the ears of the Jedi.

But what he said was true.

Comeno itself is a fortified world, but it never existed to stop enemy fleets intending to invade the core system.

The last time the separatist fleet approached this area was when Tann attacked.

At that time, Comeno chose to fully activate the defensive shield, allowing the opponent to pass directly.

Subsequently, the Republic's army arrived and deployed a brand-new interception network throughout the galaxy.

Comeno received 20 new orbital combat bases, including two brand-new Tier 5 platforms.

The Comeno Navy not only gained Star Destroyers to bolster its existing dreadnought force, but also took control of 32 captured separatist warships.

All of this demonstrates that Comeno, as a fortified world, is no longer merely concerned with self-preservation, but rather with protecting the entire core region of the galaxy.

"Yes."

The Jedi General's two-word reply was enough to send chills down Vlad's spine.

To ease the tension, he mustered his courage and asked a question, trying to attract the general's attention: "Sir, do we have enough ships to withstand an attack of this size?"

"The Comeno Navy, plus my task force, currently has 200 ships in the system," General Olger replied. "We also have 20 orbital combat bases, as well as the planet Comeno itself."

"...The planet Comeno itself?"

The Jedi General pursed his lips. "3800 thermonuclear warheads."

……

……

"The 'open-loop fleet' is close behind."

Rael Hathor, who commanded the 192nd Strike Division and was in charge of rear guard duty for the fleet, sent an urgent communication.

“We will slow down for the remainder of our journey. The ‘Opening Fleet’ also needs to slow down. Judging from the condition of their ships… the battle in the Zeltros system clearly caused them considerable losses. As long as we break through Comeno quickly, the Jedi will not be able to catch up with us.”

The 19th Mobile Combat Fleet is performing reverse deceleration below the ecliptic plane of the star system.

The star Comeno-A was "above," and a solar flare nearly touched the fleet's deflector shield.

Positioned "below" the star, the fleet can both locate the planet Comeno and track the "open-loop fleet".

Once this point is crossed, the "Open Ring Fleet" will disappear behind the star, and the 19th Fleet will also disappear from the enemy's detection range.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Serenno Star, the captain of the Bronze Python sent a battle report: "Enemy forces have moved out."

Carly: "Troop assessment?"

“The distance is still far, making it difficult to count precisely, but the number is lower than expected.” Aviso said seriously, “Six to eight main Star Destroyers can be identified by the engine exhaust flames, along with several Invincible-class and Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers.”

"I need specific numbers, Aviso."

"...no more than 200 ships."

Carly frowned. "We're facing a fortified world. Unless the Republic and the Confederation have completely different definitions of a 'fortified world,' we shouldn't have this many troops."

“I have reported that the enemy’s numbers are fewer than expected.” Aviso’s tone was almost argumentative; this one-eyed officer was known for his professionalism. “Does this affect our operational plans, Major General?”

“It won’t affect anything,” Carly replied decisively. “Although the enemy forces are fewer than expected, they are still enough to pose a serious threat. I judge that they intend to use the ‘open-loop fleet’ to force us toward Comeno, the anvil.”

“How can you be sure they won’t activate their shields and let us through?” Rael Hathor asked. “Why does Tann’s fleet get special treatment? They’re far weaker than us, just ten main Star Destroyers and a bunch of outdated Justice Cruisers.”

Carly was convinced that the Republic would never allow Comeno to repeat the events of the Battle of Salapin.

Comeno must possess defensive capabilities commensurate with its fortress status.

This conviction grew stronger as the fleet continued to approach and the planetary shields still failed to rise.

"Fixed defense platform detected, Rear Admiral." Two hours after the fleet decelerated towards Comeno at an acceleration of 800 grids, Aviso reported again, "20 orbital combat bases have appeared in the warp zone."

"model?"

"Ten are level three, eight are level four, and two are level five."

"I had no idea of ​​the existence of a Level 5 combat base. Why wasn't it detected before?"

Orbital combat bases are easily mistaken for defensive satellites, but they are actually completely different.

Level 3 combat bases are the most common in the Milky Way. They were widely deployed on wealthy planets long before the war, and are up to ten kilometers in diameter, filled with fighter hangars, turbo-laser cannon arrays, and missile launch bays. Level 4 bases are twelve kilometers in diameter and were put into use during the separatist crisis.

As for the Level 5 combat base?

Although she did not see it in person, she speculated that its size was roughly equivalent to two "Consignor-class" dreadnoughts lined up end to end.

"They are being towed to key locations around the fleet," Aviso added after observing, providing crucial information without directly answering the question. "...Major General, according to detection, the Level 5 base has a diameter of fifteen kilometers."

“The Republic’s army is really going all out,” Carly whispered. “Perhaps we can find a breakthrough here…”

"There's one more thing, sir... Comeno's satellite detected thirty to forty ships in its Fro orbit."

"A flank force?"

"The possibility is very low. At the point of close interception, the FLO satellite would still be behind the enemy fleet, and the engines of these ships would not be running."

Carly pursed her lips.

As a busy commercial planet, it is not surprising that Comeno's orbital facilities serve various types of ships year-round.

She had assumed that Comeno Space Control had evacuated all civilian vessels, but these might be newly built ships or ships that were unable to move for some reason.

In any case, if her strategy is executed smoothly, even if they are reserve forces, it will not affect the course of the war.

Click.

Click.

"Don't worry about them. But continue to monitor them."

"Understood, General."

"Hasor," the major general's tone turned urgent, "any movement from the Jedi?"

"Absolutely not."

"Tex, speed and distance?"

"18,000 kilometers per second, 20 million kilometers from the point of zero-distance interception on the planet."

"All fleet synchronize speed, raise yellow alert to red alert, shut down all sub-light speed engines, deploy attack formation according to plan α, we are about to cross the Comeno Line."

“General, with those combat bases in place, we can’t possibly cross over,” Aviso warned, and an alarm sounded.

"Who said we'd force our way into the combat base? I'm going to use the railgun, Aviso!"

Aviso's one eye widened at first, then narrowed. "Understood, General."

Click.

Click.

(End of this chapter)