The art of war. An unforeseen factor

Since the first volleys of the battle of Ruusan, the initiative has completely passed to the talented Republic Jedi warlord Lord Hoth. The Republic suffered terrible losses. But in this case, the end justified the means. There is no doubt that it was the actions of Hoth and his generals that saved Coruscant, and with it the entire Republic. Although, in general, this shabby Ruusan had no strategic use, both sides were fighting like crazy for this piece of stone. A long-term positional war has begun on the planet. Well, it's a long time, by the standards of local realities, a long time.

At this time, the warships, time after time, converged in linear battles in the orbit of Ruusan and throughout the entire star system. The skies were ablaze, starships were exploding, taking the lives of thousands of people and non-people overnight, showering debris on those fighting on the surface. Landing craft and supply vessels from both sides often missed their targets. It was a complete mess. Hundreds of Jedi, Sith and soldiers of their armies sometimes did not even have time to land, dying in low orbit or in the atmosphere of the planet.

As a result, the Main Sith Kaan went completely insane on the grounds of the extermination of the Jedi, and staged an all-out gamer. Well, how about you create a Mental Bomb and destroy all your followers and enemies? Of all the Sith, two survived. Two of them!

Naturally, the Republic and the Jedi won, and they happily disbanded the army and navy, saying the Sith were destroyed once and for all. The morons. Although all power was in the hands of the Jedi, even the chancellor could only be a Jedi, but after Ruusan, everything changed....

The Jedi rejected the principles of warrior knights, and became guardians of the world. Power in the Republic passed to the Senate and the elected Chancellor. The army and navy were disbanded. There was a pathetic stub left in the form of the Justice Corps. And so it went on for almost a thousand years.

All the other conflicts didn't deserve attention at all. Except for Stark's Hyperspace War, and then only by ship maneuvers and the very cause of the conflict.

After that, a lot of technology has advanced. But not in tactics. Perhaps if the army of the Republic had not been disbanded, there would have been some kind of officer school where all these battles would have been studied and analyzed. There would be at least some instructions and rules, but alas. Moreover, I did not find any instructions even from the time before the Russan reform. And when I searched for the "Charter of the Republic", I got something painfully reminiscent of the instructions for using a microwave oven for American kettles, well, of those where almost half of the text are paragraphs like "it is forbidden to dry cats in a microwave oven." The only difference is that instead of a microwave oven, there were names of different models of equipment, as it is not difficult to guess, which have long been obsolete.

Nevertheless, I've been going through more and more documents, reports, descriptions, and book excerpts. They were often in languages unknown to me, but the built-in translator somehow conveyed to me the meaning of what was written.

Hell, thousands of years ago, even the Hutts, those lumps of fat weighing a ton, had their own army in armor! And they fought successfully, by the way. What can't be said about today's times: they can only rely on mercenaries.... No, I think there's only one Hutt Jedi living right now.

The droid uprisings were of little interest, but they mostly ended with the same intervention of the Jedi — they flew in, cut out the main troublemakers with pinpoint strikes, and the uprisings choked on that. No tactics, no strategy.

Well, I decided to get knowledge... great Archives. I thought I'd come like this, learn secret knowledge, and become a brilliant commander. Yeah, right now. He ran away. Kenobi's phrase comes to mind: "Maybe the archives are incomplete?" Apparently, you'll have to get out on your own. No, you can catch some grains of truth, but you have to think long and hard. However, that's why I took the holos — we'll read and analyze them during breaks.... But I still need to find out what is expected of me, but there should still be breaks, I don't have to run around the clock....

Feeling that his head was already swollen from trying to wade through the hodgepodge of dates, names and geographical names, trying in vain to fish out the dry, stating facts (They came. That's how many fights we've had. We won.) After a few lines, at least some clear descriptions of the tactics of the parties, I decided to take a break and look for information about Strength techniques and the development of sword fighting techniques. Looking through the numerous instructions and descriptions, I eventually came to the conclusion that the ideal option would be to study the third form, Soresu, ideal for deflecting blaster shots and numerous weak opponents. What the doctor ordered.

And the fact that this is an exclusively defensive form of combat doesn't bother me at all. No more full-length saber attacks at a gallop. No, thanks, it was enough for me once. Well, okay, let's not be sad, I'll also copy this information to the holodisks. I hope I'll have time to study it all. Immersed in a lengthy treatise by some ancient Jedi, I fell out of reality....

* * *

Wearily falling away from the projector, I stretched my slightly stiff arms and legs, and only then did I glance at the time indicator hanging on the wall. Wow, I've wasted seventeen hours here. Well, yes. That's what Jedi politeness means-if they see that you don't care about them, then they won't bother you much.

After leaving the Archives, I trudged to the wing where the dormitories were located, cubicles used by the Jedi for meditation and solitude. I should have rested my head, which was buzzing with information, then picked up the training droids from Rolfo in the morning and, indeed, arranged for myself to train in armor, just to assess the level of capabilities, after which there are several more cases where I will need to communicate with the local administration, oh...

With my last strength, I dragged myself to the bunk, as I was in armor, and collapsed on the mat and passed out. Tomorrow was going to be another difficult day.

* * *

Oh, if it weren't for my meditation practice, my body would definitely go numb, but it's okay, it's bearable. Having finally opened my eyes, I hastily washed my face and had a snack with a briquette of something from a dry ration. Something told me I should hurry up. Clearly the machinations of Power. I'd rather believe her....

Having difficulty remembering the way (my memory almost gave up, after all, it was a long time ago), I went to the Tower in which the Council of Definitions "lived". They were in charge of distributing younglings to teachers. Well, as they were doing, usually a Jedi would come there and say that he was taking such a youngster as his padawan. In most cases, the Jedi's decision was not disputed — it was believed that he knew better, because the Council believed that the teacher and the student should bring the Force together. Those Younglings who were not chosen as padawans were usually assigned to the Agro Corps.

Well, in exceptional cases, such as with Anakin Skywalker and Rama Kotoy, the decision was made by the Supreme Council. The usual cases were routine, designed more to put a decision on the list (so as not to stupidly lose sight of the person, not otherwise). Taking a high-speed elevator up, I entered a small oval room where a lone Jedi woman was sitting. Her memory had briefly failed to identify her race as Kodiank.

"Dear..."

"Ntorra Ailio is my name, knight..."

"Mikore Vict. I'm glad to meet you."

"Choosing a padawan brought you here, didn't it?"

"You're completely right, Master Ailio," but why would a Jedi come here?

"What is the name of your student?"

"Ahsoka Tano, togruta."

"Oh, I remember when I was a Youngling. She often acts impulsively and is prone to emotions. Of her stream, only a couple of Younglings remained, who were not chosen as padawans. Are you sure about your choice?"

"Yes, the Force says that," I know I'm not lying childishly, but it should work.

The master closed her eyes.

"Well, so be it. I hope she becomes a worthy Jedi. I'll arrange everything accordingly. You can go now."

* * *

Ahsoka silently practiced her set of punches, even though a storm was raging in her soul. She couldn't figure out why she was still a Yongling. Many of her acquaintances have already become padawans. Many were chosen by the teachers themselves, and some had the courage to ask the Jedi to become their teachers. But no one wanted to take her. But she's capable! She even collected her first battle blade! Even Master Yoda praised her!

If this continues, her fate will be decided by the Council. And he can send her to the Maintenance Building. Or to the Agro-Corps.

"Well, no, that's not going to happen." A slight anger gripped little Togruta. She started putting more force into her punches than she needed to.

"Look, look," someone's voice rang out from the crowd of Younglings waiting for their turn.

The girl, without interrupting the exercises, squinted her eyes.

An unknown Jedi knight was leaning against the wall in the passage. Well, there was nothing unusual about it, except for one thing-it was the strangest Jedi she had ever seen. The outlines of real armor appeared from under the usual cloak, the metal parts had a bluish sheen, the gloves and collar were dark brown, the man's forehead, by the way, was bandaged with a bandage, and a bulky backpack was visible over his shoulder. Actually, he looked a little... shabby.... And he carefully looked around at the Younglings who were training.

Ahsoka continued to practice her punches, but her thoughts jumped to a new wave. "Wow, that's probably someone who participated in the Geonosis raid. Anyway, I haven't seen him before. What was he doing here? Maybe... no. Not happening. What if he's looking for a padawan? And the war started, and the news announced that the Jedi had been appointed generals. Oh, I wish I could go to war! I would have shown my worth there. Commander Ahsoka Tano sounds good. But Padawan Ahsoka Tano is even better, and yet..."

"Ahsoka Tano?"

Togruta, who had been dreaming, jerked sharply and turned around. The blade of her sword, making an intricate trajectory, almost cut into the body of the approaching Jedi, but was stopped by his own sword, which he barely managed to activate. Everyone froze. The sword that Tano trained with was a combat sword.

"Oh!" was all Ahsoka could manage.

The Jedi grinned and said:

"It was close. I almost killed him, by the way."

Ahsoka became despondent. "Well, I screwed up. This had to happen. No, what a shame. How did I not notice him?!"

"Excuse me, knight, I..."

"However, I like your approach." Meanwhile, the stranger continued. "You hit me first, and then you ask. I think you're right for me."

"Is he really..."

"My name is Mikore Vikt, I am a Jedi knight," The man introduced himself, smiling, and it was clear from his face that Yongling's mental groans had not remained a secret to him. "Ahsoka Tano, would you be willing to become my padawan? I've already been on the appointment Board...

"Yes. I agree!" Togruta answered on instinct alone and almost with a "cry of the soul", while her brain was stalling in impotence, afraid to believe what she had heard.

"Great. Come on, we need to talk."

Turning around, the Jedi headed for the exit of the training hall. The girl hurried after him, blinking in prostration and almost forgetting to turn off the sword. Whispers accompanied her from all sides, only further fueling the storm of feelings that flared up in her soul.

"Yes, yes, yes! I became a padawan! Finally!"

"Ahsoka," her companion broke the silence as soon as they entered a more or less deserted corridor, "I'll take you as a padawan, and you won't have to go to the Agro-corps, but before that we have to agree on something", The knight turned around and looked closely into her eyes.

"Is he a mind reader or something?"

"About what?" Ahsoka asked cautiously, unable to think of anything, but fearing the worst in advance. True, she didn't really understand what the "worst thing" was, but she was afraid anyway.

"First— we're going to war, so don't argue with me in a combat situation! Before or after I allow it. I even insist that you express your thoughts and criticize my ideas, but during a fight, if I say "Go!" you go forward, if I say "Stop" you stand, if I say "Run" you run, even if you don't understand the reason at all."

"The Jedi are not retreating!" She stated reflexively and immediately shut her mouth hurriedly.

"Well, yes, well, yes. "If we are retreating, it means that we are advancing. In the opposite direction,"" the knight mimicked someone, breaking into an ironic smile and squinting somewhere to the side.

Ahsoka felt the blood rush to her cheeks...

"So, do you agree with this point?" Vict continued.

"Yes," Togruta managed, ashamed.

"Then the second condition is that it is possible and even encouraged to joke and make fun of others, if it does not harm the cause, but," The Jedi emphasized the last word intonation, "You can't make fun of me!"

"Uh... why is that?" it's not that she resents the condition very much (Ahsoka has never considered that she is abusing this case too much. The girl didn't know what the people around her thought about it. Well, almost... And they were wrong anyway, that's it!), but... but it was weird! And dishonest, yes!

"So are you against it?" the man tried to raise one of his eyebrows, but due to their absence, it looked... funny.

"No, Teacher," Tano barely restrained the taunt on her tongue. Togruta could tell by the look on the knight's face that he didn't really believe her.

"Well, then let's go pack up. I feel like we'll be on our way soon."

* * *

Well, Ahsoka Tano looked exactly as I imagined. Although I wasn't very good at taking a thirteen-year-old girl seriously. And what could I teach her, so far it seemed weak. "Yes, she can teach me something, too. By the way, it's worth holding a couple of training matches. I hope I don't merge in the first few minutes." A goofy smile crept onto his face.

Following my padawan through the Temple's winding hallway, I stopped in front of the door leading to her room.

"I'll be waiting for you here."

"I'll be quick, Teacher!" And my student disappeared through the door.

"Fast" dragged on a bit, but while I was waiting for the comlink built into the armor, to which I had already transferred the settings from my predecessor's old device, something chirped loudly. Surprised, I activated the connection.