Chapter 224 - A Failed Rescue Mission (1/2)

Short-distance hyperspace travel.

Entering and leaving hyperspace in a split-second, just enough to travel less than half a parsec. Basically, it is enough for someone to go from one side of a planet to another. It was also a very dangerous and highly costly move.

Such type of travel used the same amount of fuel as any long-distance one, sometimes even more. It was also risky because, since it was almost instant, it would shake the entire structure of a ship. Smaller sh.i.p.s would instantly fall apart, and bigger ones would suffer a lot. But that wasn't the worse of it. By using short-distance hyperspace travel, anything that hit the ship when it came out of hyperspace would have the same impact as a laser cannon shot. And, considering that Ryloth's surroundings were currently filed with debris, one could imagine how big the chances of 'accidents' happening were.

But the Separatist gamble paid off. After all, they had tactical droids, and their circuits were programmed to deal with situations like this. They calculated were the dreadnoughts would arrive perfectly, and, aside from a few holes in their shields, the sh.i.p.s were almost intact. And that was where General Skywalker's plan failed.

He wasn't able to see two things. Firstly, he couldn't scan the fleet around the planet, so he failed to notice there were more enemy sh.i.p.s. Secondly, no one would have ever thought that the Separatist commander would be crazy enough to use short-distance hyperspace travel. Even for the Separatist and the Trade Federation, dreadnoughts weren't cheap.

”That isn't good...”

”Yeah. General Skywalker should retreat. He won't be able to break through now.”

”This... isn't Master Skywalker.”

”What? What do you mean, general?”

Ragout frowned, and looked up. Following his gaze, the clones saw the small squadron that was attacking the Lucrehulk-class Battleship push on forward.

”What are they doing?! They are being cut off!”

While Cell was questioning the mental state of the clone pilots, Dageer looked at Ragout. The padawan had an expression of horror in his face.

”Who is leading this squadron, general?”

”I feel... Uhmm... I think it is Master Skywalker's padawan, Ahsoka Tano. Yeah... I feel her presence.”

”General... I mean, Commander Tano? Why would she be leading the attack?”

”Master Skywalker must want to train her, just like Master Di once trained me. She is just like I was... Just like I was on Dantooine, with Kuvu.”

”Well, Ryloth isn't exactly the best training grounds for a new padawan. She has to fall back, otherwise they are all going to die!”

Unfortunately, there was nothing the few dozen troops on the ground could do. It didn't take long for the first starfighters to blew up, and the Republic fleet also started taking heavy damage. Almost hesitantly, the starfighters got back to their cruisers, not without losses.

It all happened so fast. Firstly, it seemed like the Republic was winning, and in the next minutes, they were forced to run away with heavy losses, leaving several starfighters and one cruiser behind, to increase the amount of debris around Ryloth.

The clones watched silently as their hopes were crushed. It was almost impossible to believe it. The Republic's attempt to save Ryloth lasted less than an hour.

”I-Is... Is that it?”

”General Skywalker's capital ship was hit. I doubt they have the strength to fight the seppies. I guess we don't have to attack that relay station now...”

Tech analyzed the battle better than any of the others. Small discussions filled the clone group. After so many battles, they had long learned that it was better not to underestimate the Separatist. Commander Tano, unfortunately, was too inexperienced to know that.