Happy New Year

702, Happy New Year

No matter how displeased he was, Wilhuff Tarkin had to admit that after the Republic 19th Army was wiped out, he would have to face Dawn Star Planet's confirmed force of over 150 large warships on his own.

Thus, while continuously requesting reinforcements from the Galactic Republic, Tarkin also actively adjusted his strategic deployment.

He established defensive lines and Interdictors on Dolla Planet, located between Gerrenthum Planet and Eriadu, both controlled by Dawn Star Planet. At the same time, he strengthened ties with Terminus Planet, a key transportation hub in the remote regions, coercing and tempting this neutral planet into maintaining its stance and refusing passage to the Separatist fleet—or suffering the consequences.

He also intensified the assault on Suluust, striving to seize this critically positioned and vital industrial world as soon as possible.

He was also actively seeking outside support. He contacted the Governor of the 20th Republic Army, hoping the 20th Army would resolve the issue on Yag'Dhul as soon as possible and launch an offensive against Kinyen, drawing Dawn Star Planet's forces northward.

The Governor of the 20th Army had an exceptionally imposing name: Octavian Grant.¹ Born into an aristocratic family from the Sápani Sector, he held himself in high regard and shared quite a bit of common ground with Tarkin. Both were filled with contempt for non-human species and believed that lower-class residents were nothing more than screws holding up their rule.

However, Octavian Grant had his own difficulties. On one hand, the Confederacy of Independent Systems fleet had already captured Bestine in the Inner Rim Territories and showed signs of driving straight into the Core Worlds. As such, he was concentrating his main fleet on Bestine to battle the Separatists.

After all, if he displeased those noble families of the Core