章 136: War Begins To Rage

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~~~(POV: Satele Shan)~~~

~~~(Location: Republic Capital Ship, Above Ziost)~~~

"Grandmaster! Our ground forces are breaking through, but we've suffered heavy casualties! They need reinforcements!"

An officer whose name I don't know yells the status of our ground forces on Ziost. We're currently engaged in ship-to-ship combat with Ziosts forces. The Imperials weren't expecting this. We caught them by complete surprise.

We've brought a significant force to bear here, one that will win us Ziost. My attention shifts to another Officer making her way to me. She's young but bright.

"Captain Narla, I take it you've had success in gathering intel?"

She'd only be here if she's completed her mission. Her squad was to go down to Ziost and retrieve military secrets. Ziost is a world that holds most of the Imperial's secrets. The biggest ones are on Korriban within the Dark Councils' chambers.

The mission was to bring back anything that tells us their targets and military strategies. Our war with the Empire is just beginning, and this will be a great first blow.

But as I look at Captain Narla, all I see is a grim look. She hands me the datapad, and I start reading. The more I read, the more my stomach sinks.

"Grandmaster, the Imperials had a similar idea as us. According to these documents and reports, they're on their way to Corellia. They attacked it earlier in the Cold War, but this is the first time I've seen an invasion of this size, Ma'am."

The Empire had the same idea as us... A devastating first blow... They'd be at Correlia by now... One of the most important worlds of the Republic is under invasion...

"Get ahold of the ground forces. Tell them to retreat and head back for the ships. We're heading to Corellia."

As much as Ziost would help us win this war, Corellia is more important. Captain Narla nods her head and gives the order to the ground troops.

This war is already off to a terrible start...

I make my way over to the window as the last Imperial ship is destroyed. Marking our win of Ziost. But we won't be able to stay. Not with Corellia under attack as it is. It takes some time, but all the surviving troops are back on our ships, and we're in Hyperspace.

Corellia is a good few days of traveling. By the time we reach it, Corellia might already be taken. I can only hope that the local forces hold out long enough.

I close my eyes and sink myself into The Force. My mind is trying to be at rest. I feel the rare sensation of Nate on my mind. He's reaching out through The Force. Our Force Bond allows us to do this. Even speak if we want.

'How are you doing with the war?'

His voice fills my head, and I'm shocked. I never expected him to talk to me. He only sends me a wave of comfort from time to time when I'm stressed. But given how I'm doing now, I can see why he's talking to me.

'Corellia is under attack. The Imperials had an idea similar to ours. We were at the end of an invasion of Ziost when we got the information. By the time we reach Corellia, it might be too late.'

War takes a lot out of everyone. No one more than those sensitive to The Force. We feel the loss of life. The death and destruction. Jedi aren't made for war.

'I'm on an important mission too. Corellia is important to the Republic, but worlds will be won and lost multiple times. I have a feeling this war will be unlike anything we've ever seen before.'

I have the same feeling too...

'Thanks for reaching out... Have you come to forgive me for my mistakes as a Master?'

It's a question I know I won't get to ask for a long time. So I'm asking it now. Nate and I left on good terms when we were done with Ord Mantell. But it's a question that's haunted me.

'I wasn't a regular Padawan, Satele... I don't think there was a person in the galaxy that could've stopped what happened. Not you, not Caleb, no one. Good luck in your war, you'll need it.'

As he finishes talking, the mental link is severed, and I'm left with my thoughts of when he was a Youngling.

Master Caleb was always better with Nate than anyone else. When he left the Order, it shocked everyone.