**Chapter 659: Shadows of Command**
**Scene 1**
**Serenno, Castle Serenno**
**Dooku POV**
The last holographic figures of the Separatist Council flickered and vanished, leaving the grand chamber in silence once more. Dooku remained seated on his ornate throne, the heavy stone walls of Castle Serenno pressing in around him like the weight of the galaxy itself.
A storm raged inside him — anger at the constant failures, relief that the fool Passel Argente was no longer a liability, and a dark, surging power that made the Force itself feel electric in his veins. The dark side had never been stronger. Yet the light... the confusion... the *balance*... in all his years of Sith training, he had never felt the scales tip so violently between them.
The past month had been chaos. Jedi High Council members vanishing on mysterious "personal missions." Mass defections and returns within the Order. Yoda — *Yoda* — now serving as Mand'alor, protector of Duchess Satine and the Council of Neutral Systems. Death Watch scattered and broken after Vizsla's humiliation, reduced to begging shelter from the Hutts. Dagon Marek elevated to Supreme Commander of the Republic *and* Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Skywalker promoted to the Council. Mace Windu and his entire strike force on Mygeeto simply... disappearing from both Republic and Separatist scanners.
And then the nuclear attack on Coruscant. A desperate, sloppy move that should have crippled the Republic's heart — only for Dagon to throw himself into the fire and contain most of the devastation. The galaxy now called him *Hero of Coruscant*. Dooku clenched his metal left arm, the cold alloy a constant reminder of their last clash.
The attempted offensive that followed the Republic's failed campaign on Mygeeto had stalled. Dagon's brutal "search, protect, and destroy" campaign had not only reclaimed lost ground but forged new alliances — the Bothan Spynet now fed directly into Republic intelligence, and another CIS admiral had died with his fleet at Kothlis.
Dooku rose slowly, crimson robes whispering against the stone floor. He had one final card to play tonight — the elimination of a useful but increasingly dangerous ally, and the ignition of a new front that would stretch the Republic thin.
**Scene 2**
**Serenno, Castle Serenno**
**Dooku POV**
The doors hissed open. Selena entered with the grace of a predator, her black robes flowing like liquid shadow. At thirty-nine, she had matured far beyond Ventress — more controlled, more lethal, more *useful*. The cloned dark acolytes were disappointments; most lasted less than three months before madness claimed them. Over two hundred had been put down. Their bodies, at least, had not gone to waste — training fodder for Selena and himself, and raw material for Sidious' dark prophets.
"My Master," she said, kneeling with perfect deference.
"You have proven yourself repeatedly," Dooku began, his voice smooth but edged with command. "The time has come for your promotion. You will be named Supreme Commander of the Confederacy's military forces. With this comes a great fleet, soon to be put to decisive use."
Selena's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Your will, Master."
"You are to attack Selonia. Capture its shipyards. Destroy the defending fleet. Once we hold that world, the Republic will be forced to divert major forces — and in doing so, overextend themselves. We strike at Corellia next."
"What of Dagon Marek?" Selena asked carefully. "He has an excellent mind for battle — ruthless, strategic. Even his fleet and those strange new ships could outgun anything I command."
"Do not worry about Dagon," Dooku replied, a cold smile touching his lips. "He will be distracted. We will launch diversionary campaigns against several Core Worlds with enough ships to force him to defend the heart of the Republic while you strike at Selonia."
He activated a holographic display. The massive form of the *Malice* appeared — now upgraded to 7,500 meters.
"Three thousand heavy dual turbolasers. One thousand heavy flak cannons. Your flagship is ready."
Selena studied the schematics hungrily.
"In addition, you will command fifty new *Allocator*-class Star Destroyers — each 1,800 meters long and 534 meters high. Armed with 33×2 heavy ion cannons in bow towers, 128×2 heavy turbolasers along the hull and superstructure, 164×4 turbolasers, 18×2 light ion cannons, 36×4 light laser cannons for anti-fighter and missile defense, 32 universal launchers, 12 tractor beam projectors, and 36 deck guns. Each carries 168 Jackal-class droid starfighters, 72 Tri-droid fighters, 48 HMPs, 48 Hyena-class droid bombers, up to 60 shuttles, and a maximum passenger capacity of two standard divisions of battle droids — 130,000 strong."
Dooku continued without pause:
"Five hundred *Recusant*-class heavy destroyers at 2 kilometers each. Two hundred *Providence*-class Dreadnoughts at 2 kilometers. One thousand *Munificent*-class frigates. Seventy *Lucrehulk*-class battleships of the new Class A model — heavy armor, one hundred quad battleship-class heavy cannons, and three hundred light point-defense cannons."
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
"Apart from the Republic defense fleet, your main obstruction will be the Corellian ships. Their Dreadnoughts have egg-shaped hulls painted blue, designed for close-quarters combat with missile launchers and turbolaser turrets spaced evenly across the hull. They are 2,500 meters long. Engage them at distance. The CD-10, known as the Corellian Destroyer, is 1,500 meters long — lightly armored, more of an artillery platform. Use your range advantage."
Selena bowed deeply. "I will not fail you, Master."
"I know you will not," Dooku said, though his tone carried warning. "But should you fail... at least ensure the *Malice* survives. That ship is the only one we possess capable of standing against a Kuat Mandator — and destroying it."
**Scene 3**
**Serenno, Castle Serenno**
**Dooku POV**
As Selena departed to prepare her forces, Dooku returned to his throne and activated a private comm channel. Sidious' hooded image appeared.
"The pieces move," Dooku reported. "Selena will strike Selonia while diversionary fleets draw Dagon to the Core. Corellia will burn next."
Sidious' voice was a satisfied hiss. "Excellent. The peace conference was always a distraction. Now the Republic screams for total victory. When they overextend... we strike the killing blow."
Dooku bowed. "As you command, my Master."
The hologram vanished. Alone once more, Dooku allowed himself a small, cold smile. The game continued. And this time, he would ensure Dagon Marek finally met his end.