"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."
I smiled at the mention of Han Solo. The Republic hero had been a thorn in the side of every Imperial commander he'd crossed. But Zsinj was a far more cunning adversary than Solo had faced before. The battle to come would test them both, but I had no intention of standing idly by.
"I'll let the Republic and Solo fight their battles," I said, stepping away from the viewport and pacing the deck. "For now. Our concern is positioning ourselves to strike when the moment is right. Zsinj's forces are scattered, disorganized. He can't defend everywhere at once."
Gaarn raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "And when will that moment be?"
I paused, the faint hum of the Annihilator's systems filling the silence. The strategy had been forming in my mind for weeks. Zsinj's movements were erratic, but I could see the patterns. He was playing a game of misdirection, striking at weak points while fortifying his core systems. But his aggression had made him vulnerable, stretching his forces thin.
"When Zsinj overextends himself," I said at last, "we'll be ready. Our alliance with the Greater Maldrood will give us the strength we need to strike decisively. And when we do, we'll cut him off from his resources, his allies. We'll isolate him, and then we'll crush him."
The cold certainty in my voice seemed to settle over the room, a plan of attack forming like a storm on the horizon. Gaarn, ever the strategist, nodded in approval.
"Teradoc's forces are standing by, ready to engage when the order is given. And with the Wrath now fully integrated into our fleet, we have the firepower to rival anything Zsinj can muster."
I clasped my hands behind my back, feeling the weight of the command that now rested with me. The galaxy was fractured, and every move I made had to be calculated, deliberate. But this—this was personal.
"Veldon has proven himself valuable," I added, recalling the admiral's efficiency in integrating his forces. "The Wrath is a symbol of what we've built. And soon, Zsinj will see firsthand the power of the Dominion."
Gaarn's eyes gleamed with understanding. He, too, had been wronged by Zsinj's reckless attacks. The admiral, like me, knew that this was more than just another battle for territory. This was about retribution. About restoring order to the chaos Zsinj had spread.
As we moved to the tactical table, displaying the galaxy's star systems, my mind drifted momentarily to Ysanne Isard. Her supposed death had caused ripples across the Imperial remnants, but I couldn't bring myself to care. The Lusankya in the hands of the Republic was a footnote in a larger game. There were bigger prizes, and Zsinj was one of them.
"Prepare the fleet," I said, my tone final. "We move when the Republic makes their strike. Zsinj's days are numbered."
Gaarn saluted crisply, his loyalty unquestionable. As he turned to carry out my orders, I allowed myself a brief moment to savor the thought.
Zsinj had made a mistake, one he wouldn't live long enough to regret. The Sable Dominion, forged in fire and strengthened by alliance, would soon bring order to the chaos. And I, Grand Moff Kodo, would stand at the center of it all.
The galaxy would remember.
Kodo fleet:
"Annihilator" (Executor-class Super Star Destroyer)
Escort Vessels:
4 Imperial-class Star Destroyers (Among them is the "Interpid")
2 Venator-class Star Destroyers
4 Quasar Fire-class Cruiser Carriers
3 Arquitens-class Command Cruisers
3 Strike-class Medium Cruisers
4 Raider-class Corvettes
1 Dreadnought-class Heavy Cruiser
||Location: Maldrood sector, Centares system, Centares||
|| Timeline: 7 ABY ||
The Maldrood Sector, specifically the Centares system, was a hub of chaos, ambition, and raw, unfiltered Imperialism. It felt like the last gasp of the Empire, where warlords carved out their little kingdoms, clinging to whatever shards of power remained in the shattered galaxy. I knew that aligning with High Admiral Treuten Teradoc was a dangerous game. But Zsinj had to be dealt with, and I would use any tool necessary to see him fall.
The Annihilator, along with its escort vessels, hung like a monolith over Centares, dwarfing the planet and the fleet of the Greater Maldrood. My command deck was a place of orchestrated calm as we approached Teradoc's fortress—an orbital station that hovered like a bloated reminder of his own ambitions.
Beside me, Admiral Gaarn stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the approaching station with an unreadable expression. He would be staying behind on the Annihilator to oversee operations. A wise choice, given Teradoc's unpredictable nature.
The shuttle ride to Teradoc's command center was uneventful, the cold of space giving way to the hot, suffocating air of the Greater Maldrood's interior. It was gaudy, excessive—much like its master. And as I walked into the chamber where Teradoc awaited, flanked by his officers, I saw the man for what he was: an overweight opportunist with a mind sharp enough to survive the endless infighting of warlord politics.
His corpulent frame was draped in a uniform that strained against him, but his eyes were sharp, alive with calculation. He rose to greet me, his wide face reddening slightly with the effort, and gestured broadly for me to sit.
"Grand Moff Kodo," he boomed, his voice thick with an exaggerated warmth. "The great commander of the Sable Dominion himself graces my humble fortress. A pleasure, truly."
I offered a thin smile and inclined my head. "High Admiral Teradoc. The pleasure is mine."
We both knew that pleasantries meant little here. What mattered was the strategy that had brought us together. Zsinj's forces had grown too bold, too ambitious, and while the New Republic pursued him openly, our role was more subtle—an encirclement that would choke him off from his resources, and ultimately, his power.
As we sat, the holomap of the galaxy flickered to life before us. The pale blue light illuminated the sectors in play, and I could already see the movements of Zsinj's forces. He was stretched thin, attacking New Alderaan while still attempting to maintain control over key systems.
I placed a hand on the edge of the table, my fingers tracing the lines leading from Zsinj's territory to the Tion Cluster. "If we're to crush Zsinj effectively, we'll need to cut him off from his supply lines here." I pointed to Lianna, a planet known for producing his TIE fighters. "Taking Lianna will deny him one of his key production hubs, and it will also give us leverage over the Tion Cluster. With that under our control, we can protect Mon Cala from any further aggression."
Teradoc's face twisted in disapproval, his reddened cheeks darkening as he waved a dismissive hand. "Lianna? Tion? That's near The New Republic territory! Do you really think they'll stand by while we march in and take over their space?"
His tone was filled with disbelief, but I had anticipated his objections. Teradoc saw every move through the lens of conquest and rivalry—he lacked the patience for subtlety.
"An enemy of my enemy is a friend... for now," I said calmly, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence. "The New Republic will focus on Zsinj. We will take what's necessary to cut him off. Once he's cornered, the Republic can have their territory back, and we'll have what we need: Zsinj's demise and Mon Cala secured. The Republic won't like it, but they'll be too busy to challenge us."
Teradoc's lips curled into a smirk, though his eyes gleamed with suspicion. He was still unsure, but the prospect of weakening Zsinj without losing resources or risking his own forces was tempting. He folded his arms across his chest, leaning back in his chair.
"And what's to stop the Republic from turning on us once Zsinj is dealt with?"
I allowed myself a small smile. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But for now, Zsinj is the greater threat. Our forces combined can encircle him, force him into a corner. The Republic will strike at his front, and we will strike from behind. Zsinj won't know which way to turn."
Teradoc stroked his chin thoughtfully, his gaze returning to the galactic map. His bloated ego was weighing the options, but I could see the logic breaking through his skepticism. His rivalry with his brother, his obsession with gaining the upper hand in the fractured Empire—it all boiled down to one thing: power. And power lay in victory over Zsinj.
Finally, he gave a slow nod. "Very well, Kodo. You may have your encirclement. But I'll make this clear—this is a temporary arrangement. Once Zsinj is gone, so is our alliance."
"Understood," I replied smoothly, my tone leaving no room for doubt. "For now, we have a common enemy. That is all that matters."
Hours later, I stood before the holomap again, alone this time. The stars and systems of the galaxy stretched out before me, each sector a piece of the larger game we were playing. I could feel the weight of the decisions I had made—the alliances, the risks. But this was necessary. Every move had to be calculated, every step toward victory meticulously planned.
Zsinj's forces, scattered though they were, remained dangerous. He was a predator cornered, and that made him all the more deadly. But with the combined might of the Sable Dominion and the Greater Maldrood, I knew we had the advantage. The New Republic would take the brunt of his assaults, while we methodically cut away his support, piece by piece.
As I stared at the map, the Tion Cluster loomed large. Lianna would fall—it was only a matter of time. And once it did, the galaxy would witness the unraveling of Zsinj's empire.
I folded my hands behind my back, staring into the infinite expanse of the galactic map. The pieces were in motion, and soon, everything would fall into place.
"Zsinj," I whispered to the stars, "your time is running out."