"When the mercenaries came, we couldn't defend ourselves," the underground leader explained. "Lur's atmosphere had always been enough protection for us. Plus the Imperial blockade..."
"You thought the Imperials would protect you?" Ventress clarified.
"That was the thinking," the Lurrian admitted. "But... the Imperials acted with them. Our people were captured, forced to work for them..."
"Well, looks like some managed to escape," the Dathomirian witch remarked, glancing at the dozen or so furry Lurrian natives sitting behind the leader.
Advisors, apparently.
Or close associates.
"Very few," the leader explained. "We live in families, so some who lived in remote regions managed to avoid capture. Others joined them later. Mostly bioengineers who managed to hide in the tunnels one way or another. That's how we founded this underground city for everyone who wasn't captured... The rest — along with our genetic manipulation equipment — they seized and forced our brothers to create clones for them. Tens of thousands, but probably more, clones of ruthless soldiers enhanced with our knowledge and skills."
"Yes, that's all a very sad story," the Dathomirian witch said impatiently. "From the looks of it, you're not exactly putting up much of a fight against the occupation. And the 'occupiers' aren't bothering you all that much either, since you're still alive and able to move around openly."
"We live in the most inaccessible part of the planet," the Lurrian leader explained. "No ship can reach here. No soldier can get here. And digging tunnels through bedrock takes an enormous amount of time. Our captors are satisfied that we can't interfere with their clone army production. They don't touch us, and we're forced to accept the current reality to survive."
"We've bred animals that will protect us..."
"Can they retake the planet from the mercenaries and Imperials too?" the witch asked.
"No," he admitted. "I thought you would help us. Since you responded to our distress signal."
"Signal?" Ventress was surprised.
"Yes. We've been sending it since the occupation began." The Lurrian leader pointed at a massive pile of spare parts standing next to them. "But no one has responded until you."
Even without being a technician, the Dathomirian witch needed only a few appraising looks to render a verdict.
"Seems like you're better with genetics than with machinery," she said.
Then she added:
"This scrap metal couldn't even punch through atmospheric interference," she shook her head. "No one and nothing has been hearing you."
"But... then how did you end up here?"
"Who seeks, finds," Ventress explained vaguely.
She didn't miss the ripple in the Force, carrying a sense of wariness from the fur-covered beings sitting across from her.
Several armed Lurrians appeared from the corridor.
What simpletons.
"No, I'm not one of your invaders," she said, pulling a small holoprojector from a hidden pocket on her belt. "Let's just say — I'm among those who have a great and unbridled desire to deal with those who are holding you against your will. The recording will explain everything."
The device was placed on the tabletop.
A three-dimensional blue-and-white image of a humanoid formed above it.
In a Grand Admiral's uniform.
"People of the planet Lur," the Supreme Commander of the Dominion addressed them. "I am Grand Admiral Thrawn, ruler of the Dominion. Your planet lies within territory controlled by our enemy, the Zann Consortium. As I understand, you have suffered from their actions. I offer you assistance in liberating the planet from enemy occupation. In exchange, Lur will join the Dominion. With the preservation of your own political structure, system, and so forth. No discrimination on racial or any other grounds. Your activities will not be restricted within the bounds of Dominion law. Moreover, I can promise active support for your work as bioengineers in the service of the state. My representative — Lady Ventress — will convey to you the more detailed terms of the alliance treaty. I hope that from today, the future of the Dominion will be intertwined with the future of your planet and your people."
After these words, the hologram faded.
Silence reigned for a few seconds.
The Lurrians exchanged glances, quietly conversing among themselves in their native tongue.
Finally, their leader reached some conclusion and turned to the bored-looking Ventress across from him:
"Your leader calls himself 'Grand Admiral.' Are you an Empire?"
The witch didn't even consider hiding her irritation at the question.
"We're former Imperials who concluded that the New Order is the worst thing that could have been created in a galaxy with such a diversity of sentient races," she recited almost verbatim from the manual Thrawn had made her memorize before sending her on this mission.
Though she only lasted one sentence.
The rest of the boring text, written by some unimaginative desk propagandist, frankly irritated her, so the woman decided to paraphrase everything in her own words.
She laid out a data chip containing the standard alliance treaty information — the standard one for the Dominion and the planets it absorbed.
"But we don't oppress anyone," she said, trying to maintain at least a semblance of goodwill on her face. "And we're not opposed to giving our enemies a good thrashing ourselves. Whoever they are. The Empire included."
There was no point telling the locals about the New Republic, the Alliance, or anything else that had formed after Endor.
Since they'd been under blockade by Imperial forces that had also sided with the Zann Consortium, it was unlikely they understood anything about galactic politics.
And as far as she knew, the Lurrians didn't care at all about what happened beyond their homeworld.
Just imagine!
Loving some snow-covered ice ball on the galactic fringe to the point of blind adoration!
"Do you guarantee that no more members of our families will be kidnapped or taken away by slavers?" the leader asked. "Our families are falling apart from such actions. This is unacceptable."
"Me?" Ventress was surprised. "No, the Dominion guarantees that. Its legions and thousands of warships."
"Warlord Zsinj also promised us full support," the Lurrian grumbled. "But instead, he captured our best scientists and took them off-planet in an unknown direction. For years, families have been separated, and no one knows each other's fate."
"And none of them have returned to Lur," one of the leader's "advisors" added.
"And they're unlikely to ever return," Ventress thought.
Zsinj had probably kept them on his ship.
Which the New Republic had destroyed a couple of years ago.
And it was done by those well-known heroes.
The ones now leading the Alliance.
Or maybe they were in laboratories somewhere in Zsinj's Empire territory.
If so, they were probably working for the Zann Consortium in the Corporate Sector right now.
Separation was like an unhealing wound for the Lurrians.
They lived in large families — basically work groups.
And separation caused them great discomfort — which the Lurrians themselves had let slip.
Ventress barely suppressed a smile.
It seemed she'd figured out how to motivate the locals to agree to an alliance with the Dominion.
If she managed that, she'd have a reason to ask Thrawn to override Shohashi's decision to send her to the Hutt on the front lines.
Sitting around in some Order headquarters reading dreary texts didn't appeal to Ventress.
But fighting...
Why not?
Killing was her profession, her hobby, her life's creed.
"Your countrymen are probably in the hands of the Dominion's enemies," she said casually. "Along with many other members of advanced races who are specialists in one field or another. We've encountered this before. And we've taken it upon ourselves to investigate every abduction case and search for the abducted."
"In that case, we are ready to study the Dominion's proposal," the Lurrian leader announced.
"Splendid," Ventress snorted. "Now, tell me more about what you know about the clones your kin were making for the Zann Consortium. My superiors and I will find that immensely interesting."
"But you said yourself that our communication system couldn't punch through the interference," the Lurrian reminded her.
"Of course," Ventress snorted. "That's why I delivered an impulse transmitter in the emergency containers. Send someone to the crash site — I need all the salvaged containers."
* * *
Impulse communication is a very expensive, but sometimes vitally necessary, "luxury."
It can't be localized because of the device's short operational time required to send a message.
For example, the impulse transmitter used in the Delta Source — the New Republic couldn't detect it, no matter how hard they tried.
Leaving Coruscant, they never made any progress on solving that fundamental problem.
The Pentastar Alignment, which captured Coruscant, apparently doesn't even know what the ch'ala trees planted in the Imperial Palace Vestibule really are — based on the data received.
Information from the mouths of Alignment military personnel discussing this or that thing went straight to Dominion Armed Forces Headquarters as long as the HoloNet was functioning.
This, in fact, helped understand the scale and weaknesses of Grand Moff Kaine's military campaign.
Based on the data obtained from the Imperial Palace, I planned the operation to remove Kaine and his "Reaper" from the control of Palpatine's puppets.
Unfortunately, the plan failed.
The Grand Moff is dead, Fey'lya refused to fulfill the remaining part of the agreement.
Well, that was expected.
The backup plan for releasing Kaine's ships will be implemented soon — when its turn comes.
Right now, it's necessary to deal with the planet Lur and complete operations in the Aparo sector.
And Lady Ventress's mission plays the primary role in this.
Unlike data transmission and exchange based on HoloNet technology, an impulse transmitter — like sending information via laser beam — is one-way.
It's impossible to establish message exchange or conference calls in the same communication session.
To vastly simplify the principle of this technology's operation, it's barely more advanced than the first telegraphs, transmitting a message in one direction.
But for the plan to capture the planet Lur, that was enough.
When the Dathomirian witch's message finished playing, I needed some time to sort everything out.
So, the Lurrians are indeed involved in cloning.
And they are broad-spectrum specialists in biotechnology and biological engineering.
This is good.
Such "niche" specialists are vitally necessary for the Dominion.
There's a group on the planet — several thousand natives — who managed to avoid capture by the Zann Consortium's mercenaries and the Imperial deserters who joined them.
They're ready to support the Dominion and join my state on the terms offered.
The treaty text was developed considering the Lurrians' mentality and psychology.
Understanding that took me three standard weeks.
Ventress also reported that the locals have several types of genetically modified animals.
But none of them are suitable for combat.
The Asgnat, for example, is an organic earth-moving machine, capable of digging multi-kilometer tunnels by devouring and processing soil, stone, and much more with its body.
Essentially, it's a "construction droid."
Which, by the way, from a strategic initiative standpoint, is a very valuable creature.
The Dominion needs to build a large number of underground facilities — both military and civilian.
Yes, there are races in the state that are perfectly comfortable working underground.
But even they aren't as numerous as one would like, since they mostly lead a sedentary lifestyle and aren't eager to venture beyond their worlds.
But having such "living machines" could greatly accelerate the work of equipping everything necessary.
Especially if Ventress's data is correct, and genetic engineering can be used to "tune" the Asgnat to work in any conditions except airless ones, then the prospects are truly fantastic.
Also, among the widely used products of Lurrian genetic engineering, a special place is held by hounds — guard creatures created for search, security, sentry purposes, as well as tracking and pursuit.
The Empire had experience using certain types of animals for base security, but it wasn't widespread.
For example, in the forests around Mount Tantiss on Wayland, there are creatures that biologically react to the operating frequencies of speeder bike and repulsor engines.
But they aren't suitable for every terrain, gravity level, climate, latitude, and so on.
Lurrian hounds, however, can be grown in enormous volumes with strictly defined parameters.
As a source of meat, the local natives have been quite successfully breeding animals called grebnars for a long time.
And yes — the meat parameters of these animals can also be set using genetic engineering.
Effectively, Lur and its inhabitants are a treasure trove of genetic creation, thinking, and technology.
Which could be useful in almost any field of application — demand will always justify supply.
Not to mention that Lurrian specialists will provide invaluable efforts in the study of cloning — in which they also specialize — and in the study of Yuuzhan Vong technology.
Experiments to create effective weapons against the latter are still ongoing and progressing slowly.
In my opinion, the more specialists are involved, the easier it will be to achieve positive results.
We have time to prepare for the invasion.
And to repel it not from a position of "plugging holes" and "sheer grit," but with ready-made, effective weapon samples in hand.
But that's a strategic goal.
Right now, the tactical component is most important.
Namely, the Lur cloning laboratories.
Though it would be more accurate to call them bioengineering planning centers, because cloning on Lur is not an end in itself or a necessity for survival.
It is, for the most part, a side effect of the bioengineers' work.
The Lurrians once concluded that with the same types of orders for their bioengineered creations, growing them from scratch was slow and costly.
Which, in conditions of metal shortages and other resources we're used to, heavily affects the final product's price.
They sought help from the population of the planet Khomm in the Deep Core, each of whose inhabitants is a clone.
Somehow, previous generations of Lurrians, several hundred years before the fall of the Old Republic, managed to obtain about twenty thousand cloning cylinders from the Khommites.
And that's quite interesting.
Because Khommite technology is the basis for the Spaarti cloning cylinders created on Cartao and used by us to replenish the Dominion Armed Forces with experienced personnel.
The Lurrians invited Arkanian and directly Khommite specialists to modernize the installations.
And that's a rather curious fact.
Because Spaarti cloning cylinders can create fully functional human clones if all cloning technologies are followed.
No matter how hard you try to create clones of other races from them, they soon go insane.
What exactly the Lurrians wanted to modernize on their installations, the current generation doesn't know.
But their history contains facts that the first cloned organisms didn't obey the implanted genetic programs.
Aggression, attacking their owners, disobeying commands...
These insane creatures partially damaged, partially destroyed the equipment.
It's somewhat reminiscent of the insane Wookiees created on Arkanian copies of Spaarti cylinders by the mad clone ×1 on Mustafar.
It makes sense why the Lurrians first invited Arkanian geneticists.
They thought there was a problem with the genes and maturation of clones in their incubators.
Or maybe, under the guise of this story, they also wanted to engage in corporate espionage and gain access to Arkanian science, which is generally cutting-edge in the field of genetic manipulation.
Sephi wouldn't let me lie.
Why didn't they invite the Kaminoans?
Because, up until the Clone Wars, not much was known to the galaxy's inhabitants about the latter. And those who did know preferred to keep quiet.
I have a theory that, right up until the order to create the Grand Army of the Republic was placed on Kamino, there wasn't a huge number of lab-factories-cities engaged in clone production. Because it's unprofitable to keep even a certain volume of unique technology idle. It's logical to ramp up production capacity (and for Kaminoans, clones are precisely a product, merchandise) when a "fat" contract comes in. As far as I know, before the Grand Army of the Republic was created, the Kaminoans mostly produced small batches of servants, slaves, genetically modified workers for mines, and so on. It was probably with the appearance of the order for the clone army that they built new cities.
Otherwise, if they already had millions of cloning cylinders before that, some of which were used for their own needs, then why wouldn't rumors about Kaminoan clones be discussed by every other inhabitant of the galaxy? The name of a planet that turns out thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of clones for various needs should have been known. But no. In the second episode of the prequel trilogy, even the Jedi Order Archives hadn't heard of such a planet.
However, that's a digression. Let's note that thought.
The Lurrians invited the Arkanians. And only after them — the creators of the technology, the Khommite. This sequence is probably also due to the fact that the Lurrians eventually received an answer from the Arkanians. The appearance of mad creatures instead of obedient ones is not due to problems in genetics, but to the settings of the cloning equipment. But right away a question arises: why didn't the Khommite configure the export equipment to the owners' requirements? Perhaps it's a matter of the Lurrians' secrecy, who didn't explain or didn't want to explain to the sellers what exactly they needed these technologies for.
One way or another, after the Khommite visit, the Lurrians' business improved, and their products began to reach the worlds of the Outer Rim. Why exactly there? Because in the more "civilized" regions of the galaxy, there is always the opportunity to buy expensive, time-tested mechanical equipment and tools.
One way or another, it all ended with the Imperial blockade of Lur. Which, by the way, did not prevent smugglers and slavers from "visiting" the planet to abduct Lurrians. Each of whom, mind you, like the Kaminoans, is a specialist in biotechnology. On one scale or another.
Then Endor happened, the Emperor died, the Imperials scattered to their own states, and a period of fragmentation began.
Tyber Zann, having brought the criminal underworld under his heel, lost everything as a result of Silri's betrayal and the combined efforts of the Empire and the New Republic against him. Having lost Kamino, Rothana, and most of his forces, territories, and wealth, he subjugated what he could. And, being closely tied to the criminal world and especially the slave trade, he turned his attention to the Lurrians. It turns out quite interesting. Zann had, in fact, two cloning laboratories. One was the Black Sun base on Smarck, where he used Kaminoans to produce "Vultures" and copies of prominent aristocrats, officials, and so on for himself. The second was Lur. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more.
One way or another, most Lurrians are engaged in producing clones for the Zann Consortium. Sometimes the "free" manage to recapture some of their kin, sometimes they flee on their own. It is from them that information comes about what is happening in the occupied part of the planet, which is less susceptible to climatic disasters. Locals report that on Lur, the Zann Consortium was engaged in manufacturing and genetically modifying soldiers. Moreover, if previously this was done slowly, recently the activity has been accelerated. If we compare accounts, it turns out that the order to accelerate work on creating genetically modernized soldiers on Lur came right after we captured the planet Smarck — and the cloning laboratory located there.
So, Tyber Zann didn't just "feed" me one of his laboratories in the hope that I would latch onto the "trail" he had prepared for war with the Silri Syndicate. He was also building up his own forces. Not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively. Judging by the specifications of the cloning equipment, we are dealing with technologies similar to the Spaarti cloning cylinders. Moreover, Zann clones not only sentient beings — oddly enough, humans — but also ysalamiri. The lizards do not leave the planet and are located near the cloning cylinders in underground cities. No one explained to the Lurrians what they are needed for, but fact remains fact.
Instead of a year-long cloning cycle, "duplicates" appear within fourteen to twenty standard days. Short terms — for soldiers. Long terms — for fleet officers. And this has been going on for several years now. It's easy to calculate that with a fourteen-day production cycle, there are twenty-six batches per year. If each batch uses all twenty thousand cylinders, then in one year Zann can produce five hundred twenty thousand soldiers. And this has been happening for several years now... And in addition to this, he has mercenaries, forces from the Corporate Sector, slaves, droids... Even though he is my enemy, Tyber Zann can only be applauded for the scale of his restoration of his "Consortium." The man lost practically everything he had. And he managed not only to restore practically all of it, but also to develop it along several vectors. Whether he did it himself, or was initially controlled by Cronal, and through him Palpatine, is no longer important from a hypothetical standpoint. Fact remains fact. The current cloning of exclusively humans indicates the dominance of human-centric policy in the Zann Consortium. And that's the agenda of Palpatine and his inner circle. Everything is clear here without unnecessary speculation.
The Zann will not surrender Lur. Under no circumstances. I think the planet holds large reserves of clones that were supposed to be transferred to Zann. I have no doubt that this entire group is under Cronal's control, just as he controlled the Moffs in the Korva and Mieru'kar sectors. This also explains the reasons why the fleet in the Aparo sector, as soon as communication was lost, did not rush to force its way into other sectors, but was recalled to defend Lur. Other systems of the sector were guarded only nominally. A similar tactic was already used during the assault on Fo Fea, when demonstration forces were left in the sector systems, and the main ones were concentrated to defend the key planet.
Yes, we disrupted communication between sectors by blowing up the central hub of the Intergalactic Communications Center. Which does not negate the possibility of establishing communication between "subscribers" through the Force. Now the Zann have decided not to disperse their forces and to commit everything available to holding Lur. And that is also a very telling position. Why hold a system where you cannot deliver reinforcements to break the blockade? There's no reason. Because sooner or later such a fortified area will fall or be forced to surrender. It's like a naval blockade of an island where all possible convoys — with food, weapons, ammunition, reinforcements for units, medicines, raw materials, and so on — are intercepted on approach. Objectively, there is little point in such actions. But there is some. More precisely, there are only two logical possibilities for the course of events in the Lur system. First: holding Lur with all available forces is intended to delay our offensive potential. The enemy is trying to force us to concentrate a sufficiently large force in this direction to prevent a breakthrough. Something similar already happened during the Clone Wars. The Republic fleet blockade of the Foerost system, where one of the largest CIS shipyards was located. To contain a large enemy group, an even larger Republic group was required. And this tied up significant Republic forces while ships and crews were needed on other fronts. This tactic works when the enemy has the ability to break the blockade — from outside or from within. The latter is out of the question in principle, because the number of enemy ships inside the Lur system is not increasing, unlike at Foerost, which even under Republic blockade continued to produce military starships for the Confederacy's needs and accumulated reserves for a breakthrough. No cloning capability will allow the enemy to increase the number of warships. Lur is poor in terms of natural resources, and there are no shipyards or military equipment factories here. Only one option remains. The blockade is intended to be broken from outside.
The only places from which the enemy can now strike at Lur in particular and the Aparo sector as a whole are, first and foremost, the Corporate Sector itself. As well as the adjacent territories of Wild Space, which are under the control of the "Corporates" and used by them for their own purposes: as a place to sell goods, as testing grounds, and so on...
Corporate Sector and its "neighbors."
Triani Space. Koboti Space. Morellian Commonwealth. Partovian Cluster. Farana Region. Faarl Empire. And several star systems suitable for oxygen-breathing life.
However, it should be noted that these territories, despite their proximity to the Corporate Sector, are poorly studied. There are mentions that they were studied one way or another, and even contacts with the local population occurred. However, the information is superficial and has not been updated in central archives for a long time. The library on Obroa-skai was not full of particular details relating to this region of the galaxy. Imperial Intelligence only had fragmentary data that the "Corporates" had managed to push their business interests in some of them and subjugated considerable territories. Given that the reports contain relatively detailed mentions of contacts with races possessing hyperdrive technology and energy weapons, one must understand that since the settlement of the territories bordering the Corporate Sector from the north, the local population has been productively working on their own development. It is precisely these "northern territories" that currently cause me healthy concern.
Because the second logical justification for holding Lur by any means, in order to maintain control over the cloning base, is the possibility of a quick breakthrough through the blockade of minefields separating Aparo from the Corporate Sector. And the "northern territories" could very well be that "key to happiness" for Tyber Zann.
The only well-known and actively used hyperspace routes leading to the mentioned poorly explored territories passed through a web of regional routes inside the Corporate Sector. But are there other, "roundabout" routes that lead from these regions of Wild Space, for example, to the Hydian Way or the Shaliti Tunnels, and consequently to Dominion territories? The enemy clearly signals their readiness to hold Lur. Observers report that attempts to break through the minefields between the Corporate Sector and the Aparo and Vyl sectors, which hem the "Corporates" in from the south, are gradually fading. I don't believe the enemy has resigned themselves to the fate of the blockade. Just as I don't believe that the commander of the force defending Lur is confident that he will not be knocked off his position.
Ten orbital defense stations, built both by the Golan corporation and by the Zann Consortium itself. Five Star Destroyers of each type: "Venator," "Victory," and "Imperial." Ninety-eight assorted corvettes, frigates, and cruisers, many older than the stars themselves, in whose light they stand out against the darkness of deep space. To break through the minefields, Zann will need a huge number of starships. After each breakthrough attempt, the minefields are renewed and strengthened, supplemented and compacted. Accordingly, his "reconnaissance in force" should already have reported that we are monitoring our mine positions. And the possibility of "weakening" the minefields with periodic "sweepers" is minimal. If he wants to break the blockade, he will need to throw several hundred ships at once to certain death. Large ships. Of course he won't do that — at least not using combat starships. Requisitioning transports from civilians and corporations is entirely possible. For these purposes, the "Red Star" was the first in the entire Dominion to receive the upgraded "Threes." A similar number was sent to defend the Kessel system in exchange for the twin of the "Guard" recalled from there. More of them are only in the Karthakk sector with Commodore Brandei, and even then, only because of the sector's distance from us and its proximity to the Silri Syndicate's territories. In Aparo and Vyl, large forces will soon be permanently stationed to eliminate possible breakthroughs — both through the "northern territories" and through the minefields on hyperspace routes. But that's not yet Lur's problem.
Whoever commands the forces there, he is clearly no fool. And he is using our own tactics against us. No, we don't yet have confirmation of minefields in the system — only logical assumptions. It's not without reason that the enemy keeps "Vengeance-class" ships, and possibly "Aggressors," in masking mode at the system's entry vectors. And not out of kindness, mistake, or oversight did they destroy specifically the ion cannons rather than the armor on the "Dragons." The enemy acts economically. We currently have about fifteen "Venators" in service equipped with ion cannons. The first-generation ships of the "Solar Burn" project, armed with various ion cannons, were lost during the first phase of the counteroffensive. Now we only have second-generation ships. They are equipped with w-180 model ion cannons, connected to solar ionization reactors and with additional generators providing sufficient power to the cannons. These cannons need only a single shot to not only knock down an enemy ship's shields but also hit its power system, disabling it. And the enemy clearly understands that we have plenty of both "Venators" and ion cannons with solar ionization reactors. As well as the time we had to build a large number of such starships earlier. Consequently, under blockade conditions, when there is nowhere to replenish ammunition and ships, they are not inclined to sacrifice their "trump cards" in the form of masked starships. No matter how many they have in reserve, it's much easier to destroy the ion cannons and deprive us of the long-range strike advantage than to sacrifice ships with masking, trying to shoot through the thick armor of a solar ionization reactor or blow up the "Dragon" itself. Yes, the destruction of any Star Destroyer would be a heavy loss for us. Primarily due to the loss of the crew. But we still have ships of this type. And the enemy understands that he clearly has fewer ships with masking fields in reserve than we have starships with ion cannons capable of firing at extreme range. Therefore, he tries to eliminate the threat to his positions with minimal damage to his military force. This is readable. As is the fact that such tactics should provoke us into attacking with our available forces. The loss of long-range ion cannons on ships that have this armament should undoubtedly have led, as I already said, to our moving forward without the cover of this weapon. Leaving behind a vaguely large number of enemy starships under masking. What does the enemy hope for, having such forces at his disposal and no communication with the main base? Having no reserves? A trap that will disrupt the attackers' formations, reduce their numbers, and unequivocally lead to the collapse of the offensive. What does a failed offensive in such a situation threaten us with? That the enemy can launch a counterattack. By any logic, we cannot commit all our available regular fleet starships to the blockade of the group in the Lur system. Consequently, we will attack with the forces of the task force concentrated in the Aparo sector. The forces of the "Red Star," of course. That's correct. This was already clear by the time Shohashi stopped attacking the enemy's position in the system and switched to a tactic of containing enemy forces and interrupting any attempts to break out of the Lur system. For these purposes, single ships were sent along the exit vectors from the system. Of outdated designs. Which fell into ambushes by our forces blockading the hyperspace routes leading out of the Lur system. The enemy must already understand that his attempts to break the blockade with reconnaissance ships have brought no result whatsoever in terms of lifting the blockade and reaching operational space. Even without communication with these starships, the enemy must realize that the plan has failed and all routes are blocked. He must understand this doubly if we accept the fact that this group is controlled by Cronal through the Force. We wouldn't know about this possibility — a Force-sensitive taking full control of a non-sensitive — if not for the feat of Operative Steben, who recorded the last moments of his life. Therefore, the enemy assumes that we do not know about external control. And about Cronal's ability to take control of any of his soldiers at any time. However, perhaps not any. We only know that he subjugated clones. But the enemy has an entire base engaged in producing copies of living humans. Consequently, any of these thousands of sentients could be a "puppet" of the former Director of Imperial Intelligence. Anyone aboard the ships — whether they remain in Lur or break out of the system and die under our guns. And we supposedly should not know this. Let's note that thought.
But a question arises: why does the enemy continue with manic persistence to send single starships to break out further? What is he achieving by this? No, he does not hope that at least one starship will break through. Cronal is probing our "interdiction forces." By regularly sending ships there, he can personally see scanner data through the eyes of his puppets. See the starships blocking a particular route. He can count them. Understand which squad is stronger. Which is weaker. Why does he need this? Clearly, for an attack. But he fully understands that we have a large number of ships that will stop him if he leaves the Lur system and charges in one direction. He does not have enough strength for a full-scale battle with Rear Admiral Shohashi's squadron. He knows what ships the Alderaanian has for the assault — Eric demonstrated them to him in previous assault attempts. He must also understand that Shohashi has additional force with which he controls the sector's territories. If not by quality, then by quantity of his fleet, he is capable of destroying Shohashi's assault forces. And he understands that Shohashi will request reinforcements to break through to the planet Lur. The most obvious solution — to gather all forces — both assault and sector defense — into a single fist. And strike. If Shohashi falls into a trap in the Lur system, he loses part of his fleet. And poses a lesser threat. The enemy needs to weaken the "Red Star's" forces in order to have a chance to break out. If he can defeat us during our next attempt to break into the Lur system, he will get a chance for superiority over our "interdiction forces." He will attack any one of them. Even if Shohashi throws some of his remaining forces after the defeat to help — Cronal will easily finish them off with the ships he has. Undoubtedly, it is disadvantageous for him to abandon the planet where the cloning laboratory is located. Retreat to save a fleet doomed to destruction, but leave behind a strategically important planet with technologies on which the Zann Consortium's ability to continue resistance depends? Of course not. He won't do that. Cronal is cunning enough to foresee an outcome where he must retreat. And he will leave Lur only with all the trump cards up his sleeve. But then a question arises. Where will he go? Wherever he remains in the Aparo sector, one way or another we will find him and give battle. Therefore, he needs to leave from here. Deeper into the new territories of the Dominion? No, that's foolish. We'll find him there too. The only possible option is to go to the Corporate Sector via the Hydian Way. On which there are minefields that our enemy has been diligently trying to study all this time. The attempts to break through the minefields established between the Corporate Sector and the Aparo sector — that is exactly what Cronal is doing with the attempts to break out with single ships from the Lur system. This is studying our defenses. And a distraction at the same time. If there is a passage through the "northern territories," then why didn't the enemy use it immediately? Why didn't he bring troops here, or withdraw them as soon as he realized he was blocked in the sector? After all, we only blocked the Hydian Way. If there is a passage from the Aparo sector to the "northern territories," then we, not knowing its coordinates, could not block it. The enemy could easily have checked this by sending a lone scout. If the flight succeeded, reinforcements could have been sent to the Lur system. An attack by even fifty "Victory"-class Star Destroyers — the "Red Star" would not have withstood it. In fact, Zann could have brought the entire Corporate Sector fleet to defend his cloning center. If he had free passage to the Aparo sector bypassing our minefields on the Hydian Way. The impression is that even if such a passage exists, it is clearly not under the Zann Consortium's control.
If that's the case, and if Cronal does manage to spring a trap on us, breaching through one of the "interdictor squadrons," then to escape into the Corporate Sector, he'll need a massive assault on our minefields between Aparo and "Corporate" territory.
Given the value of the ships in his squadron — his own vessels, at least the destroyers — he won't throw them into minefields.
That means he'll likely send his available light forces to clear a path.
This maneuver could secure him a "channel" through the minefields between sectors.
But for greater certainty, "minesweepers" from the Corporate Sector side would also be necessary.
If you break a wall from two sides, the process of destruction progresses quickly enough.
If from one — it takes longer.
In war, you can never count on the enemy not receiving reserves you don't know about.
And consequently — Cronal will be in a hurry.
So the attack on the minefields will be from both sides.
And, most logically — from "Corporate" territory, screening ships will be waiting for them.
A sufficiently large group to provide support in case of an attack on the retreating forces.
I leaned back in my chair and looked at the galactic map projection hanging in the center of the apartment's work area.
If I knew what race Cronal belonged to, I would have tried to analyze him.
But I don't have that information.
I have to rely on logic.
So far, it hasn't led me to the brink of failure.
I hope it won't this time either.
I had three weeks to prepare.
The meeting with Shohashi allowed me to adjust the plan.
Now all that's left is to wait.
"Sir," the comlink crackled with Captain Pellaeon's voice. "The expected ships have arrived at the rendezvous point, including the freighters."
No, the wait won't be long.
"Excellent, Captain," I replied. "Let's move to preparation. Have the technical teams begin installing the trap."
"Yes, sir."
The comlink clicked off with a dry snap.
I looked back at the galactic map.
Every Lurrian is a specialist in bioengineering.
The planet is home to a considerable number of this species.
They are, literally, an invaluable resource.
And even in the event of victory and part of Shohashi's fleet falling into the trap in the Lur system, the "Zann" forces, during a subsequent counterattack and retreat, won't be able to do several things at once.
First — they won't be able to remove their space stations from here.
They'll remain in orbit around Lur.
Second — they won't be able to evacuate the entire population of the planet on the available large ships.
Because all the small ones will be sent as "minesweepers."
Having Lurrians on them during the breakthrough through the barrier between sectors would expose them to mortal danger.
Obviously, there won't be any Lurrians there.
So, Cronal needs to evacuate as much valuables from the planet as possible — and only Imperial and Old Republic-style Star Destroyers are suitable for this.
Not disguised ships.
Because he'll leave those as cover for the defensive stations in orbit around Lur.
Yes.
Now the picture is coming together.
Cronal does not intend to leave Lur for good, leaving us the masters of genetics on the planet.
Destroying them would be a waste of valuable specialists.
Cronal intends to break out of the system and escape to the Zann Consortium to deliver the most valuable resources and technologies there.
Simultaneously, an attempt at a counteroffensive from the Corporate Sector will be undertaken.
One group goes there, another comes back.
How interesting...
"Captain," I opened a channel to the commander of the Guardian. "Connect me with Rear Admiral Shohashi."
"It will be done, sir."
Well then...
This will be interesting.