Ten hours.
For a robot, this was simply a number that could be precisely converted into minutes and seconds. But for the defending troops awaiting the attack, this time stretched endlessly, each moment a torment.
A day on Donovia lasted only twenty hours, so ten hours represented half a day—more than enough time for anything to happen.
Some orders were routine, like officially appointing Bram as Deputy Commander of the Corps. He had already been managing the entire base in practice. Other orders related to establishing the Headquarters required intense effort.
Fortunately, all preparations were complete. Though the enemy had yet to appear, Solo could clearly sense the approaching threat.
This feeling was indescribable, barely forming into coherent thoughts—a pure instinctive warning.
He knew the enemy was about to attack, but he couldn't pinpoint the exact time or location.
In that moment, he finally understood why Master Yoda had failed to detect Palpatine's schemes.
Solo chose the hall with the tactical table as the core of the Headquarters. This space, already designated as an alternate Command Center, offered ample room, robust security, and was located deep within the building—safer than the original Command Room on the top floor.
The remaining tasks involved technical adjustments: moving equipment, assigning operators and communicators, and connecting power sources.
Now, all core personnel were present: Commander Bram, the four former Regimental Commanders now serving as Brigade Commanders, Ensign Li Norega handling logistics, Warrant Officer Miro monitoring communications, and the assigned communicators. Everything was orderly.
Additionally, two Clone Commando units were formed around ARC-15 and ARC-22.
Solo gazed at the unfolded terrain map on the table, using the Force to pull a chest from the corner. He sat cross-legged, scrutinizing the holographic battle map with keen eyes.
Their defense plan was straightforward. Of the twelve regiments stationed on the planet, ten were deployed along the perimeter, occupying trenches and defensive fortifications.
The sixteen-kilometer-long defensive line, manned by only ten regiments, was thin, but ample firepower compensated for the numerical disadvantage.
The base's standard armaments included over two hundred various laser cannons and blaster cannons. They had also reinforced their defenses with a large number of captured weapons.
For example, E-5 blaster rifles were mounted in parallel on homemade frames, operated by B-1 battle droids.
Air defense was equally rigorous. In addition to the base's standard artillery, heavy equipment such as SPHA self-propelled howitzers and J-1 proton cannons were deployed, along with lightweight quad-barreled autocannons modified from blaster carbines.
The remaining two regiments, including the "Valiant Boys" regiment, were responsible for internal security within the base to guard against any unforeseen incidents.
A special assault team led by two Alpha clone troopers was also stationed.
Nearly all the All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE) walkers were parked in the base's hangars on standby, while captured Armored Assault Tanks (AATs) patrolled the base perimeter, serving as mobile reserves.
The entire combat plan centered around defense. After all, they held the pre-set positions, and the enemy's exact numbers remained unclear—anywhere from a hundred thousand to five million troops.
"If—"
At that moment, Solo's thoughts drifted toward a datacrystal containing information about a Force technique called "Combat Meditation."
This technique was extremely complex, and its description was lengthy and convoluted.
It felt like something Master Yoda himself had written.
However, not long ago, he had attempted the initial energy infusion. Meditation had never been a problem for him, and—more importantly—the Force had responded positively.
This led him to speculate that he might be able to master this technique after all.
Solo had always struggled with an "imbalance" in his mastery of Force techniques.
He could never learn advanced techniques like Tutaminis, which allowed one to absorb energy and catch a lightsaber bare-handed. Yet he had perfected Force Jump, the technique that enabled Jedi to perform acrobatic feats and leap great heights.
Similarly, he made no progress with Force Forging, but all forms of meditation came easily to him.
This imbalance hindered his development.
He repeatedly hit roadblocks with creative techniques, but destructive techniques—
Solo didn't want to dwell on it. He already had so few mastered skills to begin with.
His knowledge of Combat Meditation was limited.
Force-sensitive beings used this technique in battle to boost their own morale and combat effectiveness while sowing uncertainty and suppressing the will to fight in enemy forces.
But he wondered: if this technique worked well on organic life forms, did it have the same effect on robots?
How could uncertainty be transmitted to a machine?
Clearly, the mental interference effects that worked on organic life forms would likely be ineffective against inorganic ones.
Continuing his study of the datacrystal's records, he discovered that this technique was most effective in large-scale space battles, yet it remained indispensable in ground combat as well.
When employing Combat Meditation, a Force-sensitive individual would immerse themselves in the Force, greatly expanding their perception range.
In this state, they could sense every participant in the battle, their emotions, movements, and every detail of the conflict, gaining the opportunity to influence all of it and steer the battle's course in their favor.
Soldiers fighting under a Commander who mastered Combat Meditation would feel brimming with confidence in their strength and victory. The Force granted them an incredible surge of energy, and all warriors, coordinated by the Force, shared a common objective and acted in unison. This doubled their combat potential and effectiveness, hastening the battle's end.
Typically, Combat Meditation acted in two directions simultaneously.
If its effect on allied forces was achieved through sustained morale boosting, then its effect on enemy forces was precisely the opposite.
By spreading fear, panic, and chaos within enemy ranks, their will could be broken, their minds completely controlled. Terrifying visions and illusions could be implanted, forcing them into countless mistakes.
Enemies in chaos are unable to organize effective defenses or orderly retreats, ultimately making them easy to defeat or forcing them to surrender.
To use Combat Meditation, Force-sensitive individuals must completely empty their minds, achieving perfect tranquility, in order to draw upon their inner Force and support combat participants.
At the same time, they must avoid external disturbances.
For example, the Meditation Sphere used by Darth Vader.
The Sith are extremely particular about comfort, almost to the point of idealism, and they are equally proficient in this technique, no less so than the Jedi.
The only difference is that they primarily rely on the Dark Side to gain power, focusing more on spreading fear and terror among enemy forces.
"Alright, I'll give it a try. Waiting and passive pursuit are the most annoying things anyway. Even if it's useless, it'll pass the time."
Solo habitually entered a meditative state—perhaps it could be called a subconscious immersion.
At first, something inexplicable interfered with him, but after concentrating, he finally began to "float away."
"Empty your mind—discard emotions—"
"Return to balance—Force—perceive—"
"Discard emotions—insight—Force—see."
Solo wasn't sure how long this state lasted. It felt like he had suddenly awoken, yet also as if he had never left reality.
A peculiar sensation enveloped him. He was simultaneously seated in Headquarters, yet also seemed to be everywhere at once.
He could sense the condition of every soldier under his command. At the same time, the indescribable threat that had been haunting him became increasingly tangible.
He could almost "see"—not the future, but hazy visions of the battlefield. This was enough to shock him. The sensation was similar to predicting an opponent's moves in a lightsaber duel.
Yet this was different from meditation.
Normally, he immersed himself in his inner world, but this time was the opposite. His consciousness seemed to leave his body, covering the entire space, forcing him to embrace the vast cosmos while simultaneously retaining the feeling of being a mere speck of dust in that vast world.
However, this state lasted only a moment before a violent headache swept over him, as if his head were being torn apart.
"Always the same," he thought. "The most useful things always burn out your brain. Are they trying to tell me I have to figure things out on my own?"
It took Solo several minutes to recover.
During the aerial battles of the Battle of Kamino, the squadron's combat coordination had been severely lacking, even with numerous Jedi Knights present. If a similar battle were to occur in Donovia, the losses would be even greater.
This had to change.
The galaxy was vast and wondrous, filled with countless marvels and artifacts. Even in this world of science fiction, some planets harbored sacred relics.
With this thought, Solo activated his data pad and called up the galactic star chart. Donovia, located along the Perlemian Trade Route, lay in the northern region of the galaxy.
He zoomed in on the outer ring region, his gaze finally settling on a planet in the northeastern part of the outer ring.
"Delonga..."
"Pota Grass..."
Delonga's Pota Grass possessed immense medicinal value, making it a coveted target for both the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
Early in the war, the Republic dispatched massive medical ships and mobile field hospitals to support operations on Delonga.
During one such mission, the Republic's Hailfire-class attack ship VCD987, carrying clone troopers and Jedi Knights Trei Joy, Siann J. Eisel, and Kai Justice as reinforcements to Delonga, was ambushed by Quarren Separatists loyal to Count Dooku. The ship's engines were crippled. Dooku and Sora Bulq then led Quarren soldiers onto the ship, slaughtering the surviving clone troopers and cutting off Delonga's reinforcements.
The Separatists employed saturation bombing, rendering most of the Pota Grass ineffective and forcing the Republic Army to withdraw.
However, the Republic ultimately managed to preserve a significant amount of Pota Grass and, with the support of the Resolute, a Hunter-class Star Destroyer, forced the robot army to retreat, securing a tactical victory.
Yet, the hidden property of Pota Grass—its ability to help Force-sensitive individuals develop their potential—remained largely unknown throughout the galaxy.
If this property were revealed, it would inevitably trigger a frenzied scramble among all factions. As of now, the public only knew of its basic healing properties.
Moreover, the Republic and Separatist operations on Devaron had yet to begin.
However, reaching Delonga was not without obstacles.
The planet's flora and fauna were extremely dangerous, especially the plant spores floating in the atmosphere, which posed a lethal threat to ordinary intelligent life.
Another challenge was the planet's excessively high oxygen content, which accelerated metal corrosion. Even a Consular-class ship like the Resolute would struggle to withstand long-term exposure.
More importantly, Delonga housed a forward outpost of the Black Sun criminal organization.
This station was entirely operated autonomously by robots. No one wanted to stay long-term on a planet filled with lethal spores. The robots were responsible for the cultivation of Pota Grass, its carbonite freezing, and distribution. A defense space station was also stationed in orbit.
Solo pondered. All these problems could be solved. Moreover, by going to Delonga, he could use the Pota Grass to focus on Force technique training and enhance his own Force potential.
The midi-chlorian count of less than five thousand was too ordinary. Compared to Anakin's talent, it was truly disheartening. Even Ahsoka's count was significantly higher, to the point where her innate ability to use Force techniques was limited by her talent.
"Let's go with this plan."
Solo closed the star chart, shook his head, and refocused his attention on the impending battle, trying to sort out the blurry visions he had seen during meditation.
He continued to keep his eyes closed, using his inner vision to combine the images from his memory with the holographic battle plan.
"Ensign, pull up the landing sites from the Confederacy's first attack on Donovia, as well as the coordinates of the most recent landing forces."
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