Caedus went into the meeting unsure whether Tahiri just couldn’t follow the subtext, or if she was much more arch and sly than he realized. He decided on the latter. Once the business of agreeing on plans for the engagement began, personal barbs were temporarily sheathed and everyone concentrated on the task at hand, which was the isolation of Fondor and the containment of any fleet assets it might still have on its surface. Caedus examined the holoimages carefully. It was hard to tell from reconnaissance imaging whether the vast numbers of vessels and assorted craft on Fondor-one giant manufacturing site, in effect-were operational or customers’ orders.
“In the absence of the mine net containing surface-based threats, this is a time-consuming task, “Caedus said. “I suggest placing Third and Fourth fleet fighter wings inside the ring, for recce and rapid response to counterattacks from the surface, and a Destroyer and frigate flotilla to hit whatever dares raise its head. Meanwhile, we devote the rest of the two fleets to taking out the orbital yards’ own defenses, and then land an assault force to secure them. The Imperials will be on the outer ring to counter the inevitable reappearance of the Fondorian fleet.”
Pellaeon stroked the first knuckle of his forefinger down his mustache, nose to lip, as if lost in thought while he studied the holochart.
“The aim is still to take the yards in one piece…”
“Yes, “said Niathal firmly, looking to Caedus even though Pellaeon was asking.
“Which, as I’m sure you’ve made allowance for, means holding the yards long-term, which means… we also need to hold Fondor itself long-term, quite apart from neutralizing its fleet, or else we’ll be under siege ourselves on those orbitals.” Pellaeon held up three fingers. He glanced at Tahiri. “Three distinct battles in one, two of them possibly a semi-permanent commitment, unless we can perform a mass lobotomy on the Fondorian government and people overnight, and get them to love us.”
Caedus felt the trap creak, but saw no pit beneath. Ordinary beings often made those mistakes. He wasn’t prey to uncertainty. If he changed his mind, it was due to dynamic risk assessment.
“If you’re saying we can’t do this, or that the commitment is too much for the Imperial Remnant, then say so. Most expeditionary wars involve entering places where we’re far from welcome. That’s what wars are.”
Pellaon was still stroking his mustache. “I’m just saying that subduing a civilian population is much harder than smashing a fleet.”
“Not if you project sufficient power, “said Caedus. Pellaeon didn’t blink. “Which force are we talking about, the unseen one available to you, or the one that goes bang?”
“Conventional force.”
“Bombing civilian populations can be a desperately slow way of breaking their will, actually. In my very long experience, most don’t give in until they’re standing in rubble and there’s not even a stick left to fight with. In the shorter term, they just dig in. It’s their home. They’ve nowhere to retreat.”
Caedus ignored the lure of an argument. They had different priorities: Caedus wanted Fondor broken as an example to everyone of how serious he was about forging a united galaxy capable of responding to those yet-unknown but very real threats like the Yuuzhan Vong. But Pellaeon was looking at a working asset that the GA-or the Imperials-could claim. Niathal probably favored that, too. It was small-scale and-in galactic planning terms-short-term.
How very typical.
Niathal was very quiet. And she hadn’t said a word about Jedi StealthXs wandering around at will in the fleet assembly area. Any commander would have been in a flap about that, unless they thought it was a problem that didn’t have their name on it.
I’m not stupid, Admiral.
“Thoughts?” said Caedus, looking her way.
“I’ve often fought the urge to reduce a planet to molten slag myself, “Niathal said, unmoved. “Probably for totally different reasons to you, Colonel. But I agree with Gil-holding what we seize is going to be a drain on resources, unless Fondor shows some pragmatism and rolls over. Let’s give them an extra reason for doing that, beyond annihilation.”
“Such as?” said Pellaeon.
“Make it worth their while. They rejoin the GA and play by our rules, and allow a token force to remain for a while to make sure they mean it, and we give them special status-guaranteed GA work for their yards and factories in perpetuity.”
“That’s not unlike their status under the old Empire, as I recall…, “said Pellaeon. “Handy hyperspace lane just for that, too.”