**Chapter 630**
**Scene 1**
**Coruscant – Republic Military Headquarters**
**Dagon POV**
The Republic Military Headquarters buzzed with barely contained urgency. Officers moved between tactical displays, aides carried stacks of datapads, and the air hummed with the low murmur of strategy sessions and damage reports. To say most of the high command was relieved that I had been named Supreme Commander would be a long shot — especially with the disaster unfolding on Mygeeto. But everyone was glad, even Moff Trachta, who had long viewed me with wary respect rather than outright hostility.
I stood at the head of the main strategy room, listening as High General Valentra delivered the grim report. The holographic display showed Mygeeto in stark red — heavy losses marked across the orbital grid and surface cities.
"During the Mygeeto campaign, 25 Venators, 18 Accumulators, 80 Consulars, 40 Arquitens-class light cruisers, and 100 Marauder-class corvettes were lost," Valentra's aide read from the datapad. "Over 3,000 clone pilots confirmed dead during the initial landing and orbital battle. In taking four cities before the retreat, 75,000 clones and 120,000 regular army personnel were killed. Repeated raids cost us another 15 Venators."
The aide paused, swallowing hard. "Reports indicate at least 100 Venators need repair, and 70 are heavily damaged but stable. The remainder of the fleet is intact."
I stared at the tactical board, my mind racing. *Why would they suddenly retreat? Even if they heard about the Council news, they were supposed to hold. Why pull back with the entire force? That would delay the Mygeeto campaign against the current war timeline. Sure, Felucia was won with limited losses, same as Saleucami last year and Metellos, but Mygeeto was supposed to be the linchpin.*
"It's not good, General," Valentra said, his voice heavy. "With Mygeeto and the current status of the Jedi Order from what we're getting, reports indicate the war is falling apart. News says at least 30 Jedi have rerouted their fleets to Mygeeto and are joining their forces. Some suspect a coup."
I rubbed my chin, eyes narrowing. "Hmm. The Corporate Sector has decided to fully join the war effort. Though with the Corporate Alliance fleet shattered, we have some breathing room. Same as Felucia — we have access to the Outer Rim in the 12th and 11th sectors that are near CIS worlds, including their capital. We could end this war right now."
Valentra exchanged glances with Moff Trachta. "In three days there is to be a peace conference where it will have a vote. As Supreme Commander, you are entitled to act as you see fit, but as Republic officers we advise you not to. Currently your campaigns are still shielding you from the other Jedi's Mygeeto failure, plus the incident on Mandalore, which is bad for the Senate but good for us as you got more Mandalorians to go to Kamino to train our troops plus the other sector armies. So that at least removes the neutral systems from our operations."
Trachta nodded. "The board is balanced for now. But at least, I need a file containing the list and location of every corps, legion, and ship currently in the army and navy sent to the Mern 13 headquarters. In the meantime, I am contacting my Darkstar fleet. It will reinforce the Coruscant fleet and my Mern 13 fleet until after the peace conference."
All officers present agreed without hesitation.
"Also, place bomb squads and heavy troops at guard stations for Coruscant power grid," I added. "I suspect that will be a possible target."
Trachta nodded sharply. "Agreed. We'll double the patrols."
**Scene 2**
**Republic Army Research and Development (R&D) Base**
**Location Classified**
The classified R&D facility was buried deep beneath an unassuming Outer Rim moon. Inside a secure testing chamber, engineers and droids worked on the next generation of elite infantry armor. The prototype Dark Trooper suit stood on a raised platform, its sleek, menacing form gleaming under harsh white lights.
**Login: Dark Trooper**
**Status:**
**Modularity:** Yes
Compatible with various control suites and networking systems.
Boots may be replaced entirely or modified with compatible systems/technologies.
**Modular Hardpoints:**
Gauntlet/Glove Hardpoints — Gauntlets or gloves may be replaced entirely or modified.
Utility Hardpoint
Energy Shield Hardpoint
Various Misc. Equipment, Accouterments, Aesthetic Alterations, and Armor Patterns.
Accouterments include capes, kamas, etc. Systems may be stripped as needed.
**Optional Secondary Undersuit**
**Role/Environment Configuration** — Including but not limited to cold weather assault, cave, wetland, etc.
**Universal Fittings** — Intended wearer's body is scanned and a fabricator produces armor tailored to their exact physical profile. Limited resizing via programmable matter.
**Production:** Minor
**Material:**
- Beskar Electroplating and Gammaplast Armor (Helmet and Other Nonspecific Areas)
- Ostrine Reinforcement
- Anti-Corr 113 Treatment
- Tinted Ceraglass Helmet Visor (Color Changing and Transparency Capability)
- Multi-Layer Body Glove
- Kaldrweave-Ostrine Composite Armorweave
- Anti-Corr 113 Treatment
- Self-Sealing Properties
- TYI Flex-Armor and Shell Spider Silk (Joints)
- MRS-04D Omvendt Ablative Inertial Damper (Primary Anti-Kinetic)
- Anti-Shank Cloth (Secondary Anti-Kinetic)
- Reactive Polymer
- Miniaturized Intrinsic Shield Projector Array (Integrated)
- Double Phase Shield System
- Infantry-grade Solar Ray (Anti-Energy, Anti-Ion/EMP, Anti-Lightsaber, and Anti-Kinetic)
- Thermal (Anti-Heat)
- BACS-X89i | Breytast Adaptive Camouflage System (Outer Coating)
- Skuggalegt I-pattern Polymer (Inner Coating)
- Reifflex Cellular Padding (Comfort)
- Programmable Matter (Various Applications)
- D-Baffling Construction (Sound Dampening)
- Polyweave (Pouches, Straps, and Belts)
- Reinforced Duraplast Electronic Hardening (Ion and EMP Mitigation)
The Dark Troopers were equipped with white blaster-resistant armor, resembling the classic stormtrooper armor, made with an alloy of beskar like that of Mandalorian armor, along with NJP-350 jetpacks, vambraces, and blasters. Commandos that held the rank of captain had red-painted vambraces, leg armor, and red stripes on the sides of their helmets. The commandos had better aim than the average stormtrooper. Their gear included powerful blaster rifles, an SE-14r light repeating blaster or a long-barrel blaster pistol as a backup weapon, flamethrowers, whipcord launchers, jetpacks, and a vibro-knife in their right leg sheath.
A lead engineer activated the prototype. The suit hummed to life, its shields flickering briefly before stabilizing. "Phase One complete. Ready for field testing."
I watched from the observation gallery, already imagining how these new Dark Troopers would change the tide of the war.