Chapter 339
**Dagon POV**
I stood in the *Terminus*' forward super cannon reactor bay, the main kyber matrix glowing with arcs of Force lightning. The raw power surging through the chamber gave me a kind of high — an almost intoxicating focus, like standing at the center of a living battle meditation sphere. All this power at my fingertips… it was odd, exhilarating, and slightly terrifying.
"Sir," Ragnos' hologram appeared beside me. "We have arrived at the Dentaal system."
"Excellent. Set up the fleet in guard positions around the Fourth Fleet. Five Valiants each, and have the Resurgents gather in the rear of the *Terminus*."
"Yes, sir."
The hologram faded. I took one last look at the pulsing kyber matrix, then turned and headed back to the bridge.
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**Scene 2 – Adrian Varino POV**
Admiral Adrian Varino stood on the bridge of the *Pearl Dragon*, sipping caf and reviewing patrol logs. The Fourth Fleet's current assignment — guarding the Dentaal system and the nearby Bacta Run — had been quiet for weeks. Almost too quiet.
Then the sensors lit up like a fireworks display.
"Admiral!" the sensor officer called. "Multiple large contacts dropping out of hyperspace — unidentified Republic signatures!"
Varino set his mug down hard. "On screen!"
The viewport filled with the sight of massive ships he had never seen before. Sleek, dagger-shaped behemoths with heavy armor and bristling weaponry moved into formation around his convoy. Venators and Acclamators he recognized, but these new vessels — longer, more aggressive, with forward-split wedges and enormous forward hangars — were something else entirely.
"This is Admiral Varino," he transmitted sharply. "I demand to know who this is and what you are doing in this sector!"
A reply came almost immediately.
"Sir, a message from one ship — the *Terminus*."
"Put it through."
A black-armored figure with a half-white mullet and several prominent scars across his face appeared on the main holoscreen.
"Yes, this is High Jedi General Dagon Marek. What can I do for you?"
*High Jedi General.* That was basically the third-highest rank in the Order. Varino swallowed his pride.
He recognized the name instantly — Dagon Marek, conqueror of Jabiim, scourge of the CIS at Saleucami, Boz Pity, Grievous' fleet at Lianna, Metalorn, Christophsis, Muunilinst… several high-profile CIS worlds with powerful fleets had been destroyed by assaults led by this man.
Adrian cleared his throat. "I wish to inquire your reasoning for this sudden arrival."
"We received intelligence of a possible attack and arrived to support you."
"Oh… I understand." Varino relaxed slightly. "Sir, scans are picking up a massive ship near the sun — very distant."
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**Scene 3 – Dagon POV**
Alarms were sounding across the bridge, but I remained calm. Fear was the enemy's weapon. I would not fail.
"Sir, we have identified the massive ship. Image loading."
The main holoscreen filled with the nightmare silhouette of the *Malevolence* — nearly five kilometers of brutal engineering, its twin ring-shaped ion cannons already glowing with charging energy.
"So that is you, Grievous," I murmured.
"Captain, ready all ships to full speed forward and target the primary rings."
"Yes, sir."
"And ready the super cannon — ion version."
"Yes, sir?"
"Let's see ion charge versus ion charge."
The *Malevolence* fired first.
A massive purple sphere of crackling ion energy erupted from one of its ring cannons, hurtling toward the Republic formation like a dying star.
I raised my hand, channeling the Force through the kyber matrix of the *Terminus*. A massive blue bolt of concentrated ion energy — amplified by the ship's kyber-enhanced reactor — lanced forward from the forward super cannon.
The two colossal ion charges collided in open space.
A blinding shockwave erupted, washing over the fleet. Shields flared. Consoles sparked. For a heartbeat, every ship in the formation lost power — lights flickering, systems resetting.
But no total blackout. The *Terminus*' upgraded shielding and kyber matrix held.
Grievous' voice crackled over an open channel, laced with mechanical rage and metallic coughing.
"Marek… you dare face me again? This time I will crush you and your pathetic fleet!"
I allowed a small, cold smile.
"You're welcome to try."
The *Malevolence* began to advance, its secondary turbolasers opening fire while its second ion cannon started charging.
My fleet responded in kind.
The five Resurgents and fifteen Valiants unleashed their full broadsides. The wall of green and blue turbolaser fire lit up the void like a second sun.
The battle for Dentaal had begun.