The Morale of a Jedi

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Northwest Command (NWCOM) was involved in both major campaigns of the Silver Jedi, with elements having engaged the Resurgent Empire in Kaas City on Dromund Kaas, and on Ord Radama as well as Serenno, even though Jessica was transferred to Northwest Command only after the Dromund Kaas campaign. As one of the Silver Jedi Major Commands, Northwest Command covered a vast expanse to the Silver Jedi's northwest, much like Northeast Command, Southwest Command, Southeast Command and Central Command covered their respective regions. And by far Northwest Command was the major command that took part in the most combat sorties in recent memory. As with all Major Commands, they were responsible for coordinating all forces in its region, both ground and naval forces. Today, with Jessica still on Ord Radama to deal with the fallout of the Serenno campaign, she has to pay attention to the more paperwork-related part of her job. Usually she would leave the bureaucracy part to the command staff, but here was a memorandum addressed to her directly, regarding the promotion of a general officer, a Jedi knight. That, even though the Silver Jedi may give the impression to an outsider that the Jedi proper dominate the upper echelons of the factional chain of command, the reality was only one of the major geographical commands actually had a Jedi at their head, and few Jedi wanted such things as command of an army or a fleet, let alone joint commands that amounted to simultaneously commanding an army and a fleet (the same holds true of Sith, too). Only a handful of Jedi held positions where they had at least an entire planet's worth of troops at their disposal, but whereas the regular army or navy did not have a whole lot of Jedi, the picture changed somewhat in starfighter and especially in special operations, where, as was the case among the Sith, the Jedi proper tended to congregate. She read the letter on her datapad:

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Grand General Jessica Med-Beq, commander, Northwest Command

FROM: redacted, Commanding officer, 18th Infantry Division

SUBJECT: Letter of recommendation for BGen [member="Catherine Soja"]

I highly recommend Catherine Soja for promotion to the rank of major general. She has played an integral role among the Silver Jedi Army for the better part of three years and has displayed shrewd tactical ability in every engagement she fought in a command capacity as well as outstanding devotion to the cause.

Ms. Soja’s promotion would be well-advised as she has proven time and time again to be a fearless leader and warrior capable of carrying out her duties at the highest level of diligence. In her last deployment on Dromund Kaas, as well as on Midvinter before that, her actions ultimately allowed the Silver Jedi to come out on top on a strategic level against the various Sith armies she encountered on these occasions, including Graug, the Blackblade Guard and the Resurgent Legions.

As a Jedi with an outstanding record of command ability, Catherine will use her rare skillset to become a successful divisional commander. I strongly suggest you take her file under close consideration. I would be happy to answer any question you might have about her qualifications or record.

redacted
Commanding officer, 18th Infantry Division

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"Get me Brigadier Soja to report to Livien Magnus, on Ord Radama on the double!" Jessica ordered after reading the letter.

"Roger, roger" the communications officer acknowledged, before comming Catherine.

 

[Catherine Soja]

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

It had been a day or twos travel to arrive once summoned, Catherine still insisted upon living like a typical Jedi with only enough money to get her where she was goign to next. Her arrival was in a small shuttle not a grand cruiser with escorts. To most it'd look like a trader got lost or stopped for supplies. As she approached the office of the local Northwest command she looked around silently. To any who went to see the Jedi's arrival she came out her armor covered by her green jedi robes. Looking straight out of the history books. As she was ushered into the room she looked to the person before her. "Jedi Knight Catherine Soja I heard you wished to see me." She said calmly.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

"Ah yes, Catherine, one of the Silver Jedi's main fixtures for urban warfare"

The office of Northwest Command was a forward command post, using property rented out by the Silver Jedi Army for one standard year, so that it can serve as a field headquarters for any and all Northwest Command elements in that region. Sure, the brunt of the work on Ord Radama would be done in the first few months, but transition periods were never instant. Also, the first time she met [member="Catherine Soja"], she was coming at her for Force-training. Today, she reviewed Catherine's record and she realized that both engagements where she proved herself were urban warfare engagements, first around Thainbroek's eastern wall and second on Dromund Kaas, where she used her force to not only flank, but surround the Resurgent Legions, so it would be logical to either assume command of a division dedicated to urban warfare, the 33rd Division, or to take the lead of a training facility dedicated to urban warfare. Even though Jessica had her own set of run-ins with urban warfare, on Irn, which was, in fact, the one campaign that allowed her to assume that rank in the first place, she'd rather delegate the actual field duties to other field commanders if it is, in fact, warranted. Which accounts for why she wasn't personally present in the Krayiss campaign.

"In order to maintain the morale of the troops, which has been worn down by fighting in several engagements, we have to ensure proper morale maintenance is made. One of those steps is promoting those who proved themselves in combat, like you. There are two matters we would like to discuss, in sequence. Given your combat record in urban warfare, especially as it pertains to Midvinter and Dromund Kaas, you have been nominated for promotion to major general. You are given the opportunity to decline the nomination, but if you accept it, there is no turning back without just cause"

Here just cause usually means the sort of disciplinary stuff that can get an officer demoted, or worse, cashiered: disbanding units was also in the cards, but in today's context it might be a distant possibility at best.