22. To Take Down a Warlord

                                    

                                          
"I will fight for my country, but I will not lie for her."

 Zora Neale Hurston



||Location: Darpa Sector, Ralltiir System, Ralltiir||
|| Timeline: 7 ABY ||


Weeks had passed since the integration of Admiral René Veldon's battlegroup into the Sable Dominion. The Wrath, his imposing Assertor-class Star Dreadnought, now stood as a cornerstone of my fleet. Its massive presence, alongside the Annihilator and the growing armada, projected the strength of the Dominion across the galaxy's fractured sectors. The alignment of such formidable forces had secured not only our borders but also the resources critical for our continued expansion.
The mining colonies on the moons of Mrlsst and Sullust had quadrupled their production, funneling rare minerals and metals into the construction of new ships. Our shipyards had never been busier, and new fleets were being outfitted faster than I had anticipated. The Provocator-class Star Destroyers and Venator-class ships were quickly becoming the backbone of our might, each vessel a symbol of our ambition.
Yet, despite these achievements, my attention was drawn elsewhere. The galaxy, even after years of war, was still rife with threats. The New Republic, while victorious in the Bacta War and now in control of the Lusankya, posed no immediate concern. Ysanne Isard's supposed death at Thyferra had left a vacuum that the Republic was eager to fill, but I was not troubled by their ascendance in that region. My focus had always been more ambitious, more strategic.
The true threat lay in the hands of Warlord Zsinj.
I stood on the observation deck of the Annihilator, gazing at the stars beyond. The memory of Paqualis III still burned vividly in my mind—the destruction, the betrayal. Zsinj's attack had been an insult that I had not yet answered in full. And now, with his recent assault on New Alderaan, he had once again shown his disregard for the order we sought to impose on the galaxy. It was time to settle old scores.
"High Admiral Teradoc has agreed to assist," came the familiar voice of Admiral Gaarn, my ever-competent commander of the Annihilator when I was elsewhere. He stepped forward, his posture as rigid as ever. "The Greater Maldrood is rallying their forces even as we speak."
I turned, nodding in acknowledgment. The alliance with Teradoc had been forged in the fires of the Battle of Paqualis III. The Greater Maldrood had stood by us during that brutal engagement, and it had cemented our partnership. Teradoc, though ambitious in his own right, understood the value of cooperation when facing a common enemy. Zsinj, with his scattered forces and opportunistic raids, had become a threat neither of us could afford to ignore.
"Zsinj has made himself an enemy of more than just the Republic," I said, my voice calm yet resolute. "His attack on New Alderaan was reckless, a move of desperation. He's grown overconfident, and that will be his undoing."
Gaarn nodded, but his expression remained as unreadable as ever. "The Republic is preparing to respond. Intelligence reports indicate that General Solo is leading the charge. If Zsinj is cornered, he'll become more dangerous."