**Chapter 533**
**The First Strike**
**Scene 1**
**Aboard the Gray Wolf – Bridge**
**Dagon POV**
**Lantilles Orbit**
The *Gray Wolf* and the full task force hung in high orbit, a formidable wall of steel and firepower. I stood on the elevated command walkway, hands clasped behind my back, studying the tactical holodisplay. The fifteen Nebula-class Star Destroyers had integrated seamlessly, their massive silhouettes dominating the formation.
"Fleet formation: wide-angle crane," I ordered. "Nebula-class and Resurgent-class vessels form the forward U-shaped wings. Allegiance-class, Venators, and Accumulators form the rear U. This gives us overlapping kill zones and maximum firing arcs for concentrated fire."
Fleet Admiral Dittmar nodded from his station. "Understood, General. All ships confirm formation lock."
I studied the galactic map one last time. The Allied Tion sector was our entry point — a buffer zone with several CIS-aligned worlds. Lianna was secure, but Cadinth and others were quietly feeding the Separatist war machine. Clearing this route would open the way deeper into the 11th Sector and Felucia.
"Set coordinates for the Cadinth system," I commanded. "Prepare to jump."
The fleet began maneuvering into the crane formation — a wide, enveloping U-shape designed for maximum firepower projection. The *Gray Wolf*, flanked by the other Resurgents and the new Nebula-class ships, formed the forward prongs. The Valiants and support vessels filled the rear, ready to close the trap.
As the stars began to stretch into hyperspace, I felt the familiar pull of command. This was the beginning of the real push.
**Scene 2**
**Cadinth – Oligarch's Palace**
**Rankwin Fopow POV**
Prime Oligarch Rankwin Fopow stood on the balcony of his opulent palace overlooking the sprawling capital of Cadinth. The planet had declared itself "firmly undecided" in the Clone Wars — a careful political dance to avoid choosing sides too early. In reality, three secret droid factories and ten repurposed shipyards had been working overtime for the Confederacy. Profits spoke louder than neutrality.
His secretary burst onto the balcony, face pale. "Sir! Emergency! Republic ships have entered the system — their designs are unknown. I've never seen anything like them!"
Rankwin's blood ran cold. He rushed to the tactical display inside. Red icons filled the screen — dozens of massive capital ships in an aggressive formation.
"Contact CIS High Command immediately," he snapped. "We have no choice. Declare open support for the Confederacy. Mobilize all defenses!"
The secretary hesitated. "But sir, the Republic fleet is enormous. Those ships… they're not standard Venators."
Rankwin slammed his fist on the table. "Do it! We've invested too much. If we fall, the entire sector follows."
**Scene 3**
**Cadinth Orbit**
**Dagon POV**
The fleet dropped out of hyperspace in perfect formation. The wide-angle crane spread out like wings of death, the forward U-shaped prongs of Nebula and Resurgent-class vessels locking onto targets immediately.
"Enemy fleet detected," Admiral Piett reported. "Twenty Munificent-class frigates, five Lucrehulk-class battleships, ten Providence-class carriers, three Golan Mark I orbital defense platforms, and ten shipyards."
I nodded. "All ships, fire at will."
The order unleashed hell.
The *Gray Wolf* and her sister Resurgents opened up with their heavy turbolasers. The new Nebula-class ships added their overwhelming firepower — 80 heavy XX-10 batteries per ship ripping through space. Sienar-Jaemus Harpoon missiles streaked out in salvos, their performance exceeding even my expectations. Only four or five missiles were needed to turn a 3-kilometer Lucrehulk into an expanding cloud of plasma and debris. One Golan platform lasted less than thirty seconds before it disintegrated under concentrated fire.
The battle was over in twenty minutes.
The enemy fleet was annihilated. The shipyards burned. Escape pods dotted the void as survivors fled the wreckage.
I felt the deaths through the Force — sentients on the shipyards, workers, technicians. Innocents caught in the crossfire. I pushed the guilt down. *This is war. Nothing changes. Nothing I can't handle.*
"Secure the remaining escape pods," I ordered. "Bring any survivors aboard for questioning. Prepare ground teams for the surface. We take Cadinth today."
The fleet moved in, a silent, victorious shadow over the planet.
The push into the 11th Sector had begun.