The fleets exit hyperspace smoothly and precisely on target. The three systems' defenders are all caught flat-footed as the Imperials begin their attacks.

Oh, good, they're all out of hyperspace.

Then three battles begin all at once, and she vaguely wants them all to go back to hyperspace. That was much easier than this. She feels - well, stretched very thin, to be frank. There's so much, so many people and so many things that need doing and it's hard to really get a perspective on any of them. Her previous records of improved efficiency just aren't going to be able to apply, here, even with Occlus's power at her fingertips. Maybe she could manage it if that's what she were aiming for, but she doesn't want efficiency at the cost of turning innocent soldiers' minds to jelly. That'd just be utterly missing the point.

Still, she won't get anywhere if she just lets herself be overwhelmed by the magnitude of her job. She can't be everywhere, so she just has to be in the right places. Paying attention where it matters, and leaving it to the men where it doesn't. Giving them openings that they can exploit, or closing up holes in defenses where they exist. When there's not much of either she can help line up shots and clear up communication and sow confusion in the enemy. There are a thousand things to keep track of, and it's hard, but it's not impossible. Slowly, she adjusts to a world where she keeps track of a thousand different threads. Bouncing between things as necessary becomes more natural, less like she's desperately rushing between different potential fires to put out or at breakneck speed. Instead, she's like some kind of watchful spider, sitting upon a vast and complicated web, flitting to and fro to weave different results or tug at certain threads, always keeping an eye out for disturbances that require her attention.

It's the most mentally exhausting thing she's ever done. It's the most exhilarating thing she's ever done. It's terribly fun, and if she weren't so busy doing it, she might be tempted to cackle.

It is always a pleasure to observe a competent individual perform their job efficiently and capably. All the more so when that task also advances her own goals.

Pellaeon watches the tacscreens intently, occasionally flicking a glance at the Grand Admiral or the Sith. Several times he moves to order a slight change in position to counter a threat, only to see the men already responding.

It reminds him of the height of Imperial power, when the fleets were crewed by experienced veterans rather than half-raw recruits.

The Grand Admiral watches his own tacscreens with an almost lazy interest. There's a hint of a smile at his lips as the very one-sided battle proceeds.

"If I'm not mistaken," observes Grand Admiral Thrawn, "I believe that we're improving in efficiency. Darth Occlus, what's the status of your apprentice, and the other two taskforces?"

"She is performing well. The other forces are meeting with equal success."

"Good. Then have the Nemesis break off from its group and return to the rendezvous point to await us."

"Very well."

Occlus extends a tendril of thought towards the center of her apprentice's web of activity. Gently so as not to disrupt her concentration, but infused with a sense of importance.

The Nemesis is to disengage and return to rendezvous.

... What? Why? That makes zero tactical sense and is completely out of nowhere, and furthermore she's not even in any kind of state to relay orders. She's too busy dealing with keeping the Judicator's TIE fighter screen in perfect formation and the Chimaera's angling optimized for breaking through the defenses of this fighter base and a million other little things she's juggling too quickly to even really think about, and in order to actually relay an order she'll have to pull back on all of them and refocus herself clearly enough that a non Force-user could even hear her -

She does it, because whatever it is, it is important, and she doesn't have time to question orders when she needs to be back doing her job. But she does it with a sense of sullen impatience and frustration. It is much better for everyone if she's left to meditate and someone else relays orders, unless it is absolutely necessary.

The Nemesis disengages, but the overall effectiveness of every taskforce suffers, and Callida has to work double time to catch up to what she was doing. It takes a little while for efficiency to recover.

"Done," reports Occlus. "In the future, I advise you to relay that sort of command via ordinary holochannels, unless you have strong reason to believe your battle encrypts have been compromised. My apprentice will be most effective at aiding your forces' coordination when she is not distracted in such a manner."

"Duly noted," says Thrawn agreeably. "You have my sincerest apologies for the disruption."

He's watching the tacscreens with single minded interest. There's just so much that he's learning today.

The chrono ticks over fifteen minutes. Pellaeon takes note, and rechecks the data from the fleets.

"Mark fifteen minutes, Admiral. All objectives report as achieved. Shall I signal the retreat?"

"Yes, I believe we've terrorized them enough for our purposes. Begin making the preparations for lightspeed."

Pellaeon gives the necessary orders, and the fleets disengage.

The other attack forces break off as scheduled, and Callida begins easing her way out of the fleet. Everything that still requires her attention is wrapped up, and then she starts disentangling herself from Occlus. While the entire thing didn't last more than twenty minutes, she's exhausted. She would like nothing more than to have a long bath and an even longer nap.

A very satisfied nap. She did well, and knows it.

Take your rest, sends Occlus before the link is broken. I will stall them.

She arches an eyebrow at the Chiss across the command room. "Well, Admiral?"

"A most telling offensive," says the Grand Admiral, sounding vaguely pleased. "And how has it affected your apprentice?"

"She is wearied. This was a large-scale endeavor. More stamina will come with practice."

"Indeed. If I may, how much practice has she had?"

"A week or so, conducting a planetary-scale campaign."

"Really? Is it normal, for a Force-user of her talents to develop the skill so quickly?"

"My apprentice is an exceptionally quick study in most areas."

"I commend your excellent taste and good fortune."

"There was no 'luck' involved, Grand Admiral. Any apprentice of mine would inevitably be one of her caliber."

"I have no doubt to your standards or methods of instruction, Darth Occlus. I was merely congratulating you on finding an individual who met your criteria."