**Chapter 614**
**Scene 1**
**Mandalore – Sundari Royal Palace**
**Duchess Satine Kryze POV**
The grand halls of the Sundari Royal Palace gleamed with their usual understated elegance — white marble floors, sweeping arches, and large transparisteel windows that offered breathtaking views of the domed city below. Satine Kryze stood near one of the tall windows, her hands clasped behind her back as she gazed out at the peaceful skyline of her capital. The city was a beacon of New Mandalorian ideals: order, neutrality, and progress. But in times like these, even peace felt fragile.
Prime Minister Almec approached from behind, his footsteps measured and formal. "Your Grace, a Jedi visitor will be arriving in our system shortly for discussions on the war and the current status of the neutral systems. However, we do not yet know who is to arrive."
Satine turned slightly, her expression calm but thoughtful. "Very well. It has to be a Jedi. It might be Kenobi. He is the Order's renowned diplomat, is he not? And recently, with news of the peace treaty talks between the Separatists and Republic in two weeks' time, it must be to use Mandalore as neutral ground."
Deputy Minister Jerec, standing near the long conference table, shook his head with a skeptical frown. "I wouldn't be so sure, Duchess. The word of General Grevious' death, the 'Demon of the Shield' Dagon Marek's iron push through CIS space, and the fact that several Jedi are stuck on Mygeeto… I wouldn't be so sure of peace."
Satine's lips pressed into a thin line. The reports from the Outer Rim had been troubling. Dagon Marek's campaigns had been relentless — liberating worlds, destroying entire CIS fleets, and leaving a trail of fear and admiration in equal measure. The man was becoming a legend, and legends were dangerous in wartime.
"Perhaps it might be of the use of the new Cinder satellites," Almec said hopefully, adjusting his formal robes. "They have worked wonders on Ryloth and several other worlds to help crop growth. Perhaps they might also work for Mandalore's deserts."
"If only," Satine replied softly, turning back to the window. "But I fear if this war grows any larger, neutrality may no longer be enough to protect us."
The three leaders stood in contemplative silence, the weight of an uncertain galaxy pressing down on their shoulders.
**Scene 2**
**Eriadu System – Tarkin Command Center**
**Wilhuff Tarkin POV**
Wilhuff Tarkin stood on the observation deck of the Eighteenth Sector Army's primary command center on Eriadu, watching as the new Valiant-class Star Destroyers smoothly joined his growing fleet. The vessels moved with disciplined precision, their wedge-shaped hulls cutting through the system's asteroid fields like predators on the hunt.
Silencer.
Retribution.
Endurance.
Knull.
Necrosword.
Enterprise.
Vanguard.
Skelter.
These were once under Dagon Marek's direct command. With the new Nebula-class Star Destroyers Tarkin had seen in the holonews reports and read about in classified briefings, it seemed Dagon had found even more powerful ships to bolster his forces. Tarkin understood the strategic value — the Valiants were formidable beasts in their own right, excellent for sector defense and rapid response. Still, he felt a strange mix of anticipation and unease. Dagon's shadow loomed large, even from across the galaxy.
Tarkin strode into the bustling command center, immersed in the noise and controlled chaos that filled the place. Dozens of officers and officials of various ranks scurried back and forth, animatedly discussing reports, waving their arms, and coordinating fleet movements. It was an unusual gathering for such a late hour. He distinctly sensed the underlying tension gripping every sentient being present.
It was a typical Friday evening, and most of the officers — except those on duty — had already departed for rest. Tarkin himself should have been on his way to his family home, but studying the latest report had delayed him at his desk.
Several months had passed since Wilhuff had been promoted and transferred to Eriadu. This planet was his home. Not a very favorite one, frankly, especially due to its poor ecology: merciless exploitation of resources, disregard for common sense, and overcrowding had led to the planet's ecology collapsing. And all this in pursuit of the status of an "ecumenopolis" on par with Denon or even Coruscant. Yes, much had been accomplished, but not everything had gone smoothly. And now, instead of blue skies, there was red; instead of a pleasant climate, unpredictable weather with dust storms.
And yet, it was his home. It was also an important planet in the Outer Rim, one of the top five. Two of the five major hyperlanes, along with numerous secondary ones, converged near Eriadu. That's why, at the start of the war, Eriadu became the headquarters of the Eighteenth Sector Army, which controlled a large area, including the Seswenna sector, located at the intersection of the Hydian and Perlemian hyperlanes.
True, the GAR didn't control the entire area marked on the maps. In fact, the Republic controlled only a portion of the planets; the rest were under Separatist control. The distribution of these planets was uneven, and so the overall situation resembled a layered pie: on one section of a secondary hyperlane, one planet might belong to the Republic, another to the CIS, a third back to the Republic… It even reached the point where, within a single system, different planets belonged to different sides. As an example of the situation, Eriadu itself was surrounded on almost all sides, and only one secondary route connected it to the rest of the Republic…
Such was the situation upon Wilhuff's arrival on the planet. With the rank of admiral thanks to Dagon, he was assigned to the Staff, becoming a member of the Military Intelligence Division. He didn't stay there long: within a month, he had organized highly effective patrols of his assigned area. Only now did Tarkin realize the caliber of Mern-13's officers and the invaluable experience he had gained under General Dagon. None of the staff officers there could hold a candle to Lee Noriega. Nevertheless, the newly minted line captain managed, after sifting through numerous personnel files, to find a couple of officers — two ensigns — who significantly assisted him in organizing the operation. Another lesson Tarkin learned: "Smart subordinates are never a bad thing." Ultimately, his efforts paid off handsomely. A couple of intercepted CIS raiding parties, the prevention of a pirate attack on a convoy, and the thwarting of a droid "offensive" on Karfeddion — these accomplishments, plus an attack by Grevious which was destroyed thanks to the Allegiance as Tarkin's flagship, allowed Tarkin to advance through the ranks. Naturally, he didn't forget his subordinates. Now two captains served under him as an admiral, and he himself headed the Sector Army's naval military intelligence.
Such rapid advancement, owing to many factors, surprisingly didn't cause much controversy despite the Tarkin family being one of the most important on Eriadu. Palpatine's obvious patronage made civilian officials more polite, and sometimes even ingratiating. Tarkin's share of Dagon's aura of glory, however, made his promotions routine in the eyes of the navy and army. "What, Tarkin got promoted? Which one? Oh, from the General's command? Well, nothing strange there. Heard of Dittmar? You know, the one from the Twelfth? He was a commander for six months after the war began, and when he came to Dagon, he rose to fleet admiral in a matter of months! What? No, my friend, not only don't sycophants stay with him, they're absolutely loathed there. If you have brains, you'll get promoted; if not, you'll go home in a durasteel coffin."
"Hey, look at the sky — it's turning blue," one officer remarked suddenly, pointing out the viewport.
"It must be those new Cinder satellites," another replied. "I heard they were responsible for Ryloth, which always suffered a food crisis."
"Cinder? Aren't those Jedi machines by the Demon of the Shield? You know, Dagon," a third added.
'Demon of the Shield,' Tarkin thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. *Interesting name. But I never saw Dagon as having a shield. Then again, if it works through fear, it works.*
He turned away from the window, his mind already calculating the strategic value of the new Valiants and the potential of those Cinder satellites for Eriadu's own recovery. The war was changing — and so was the galaxy.