**Chapter 666: The Spear Breaks**
**Scene 1**
**Providence-class Dreadnought, Bounty**
**Admiral Dua Ningo POV**
The campaign had begun only two hours ago, yet already the initial phases were unfolding better than expected.
Dua Ningo stood on the bridge of the *Bounty*, hands clasped behind his back as the massive holographic display showed the spreading tendrils of Operation Spear of Light. Reinforcements were pouring into the Selonia, New Apsolon, and Mytaranor regions. The Republic fleet had all but abandoned those systems — a tactical retreat, no doubt ordered by Dagon Marek now that he held supreme command. Smart. Predictable.
But the real surprise had come at Umbara.
No fleet. Just a single Venator and a handful of corvettes that had retreated the moment the armada appeared. Of course — the Umbarans, famed for their intelligence networks, had clearly seen the writing on the wall and chosen survival over pointless resistance. The planet itself was now wide open.
Dua allowed himself a thin smile. "The Republic is overextended. They cannot defend everything at once."
A nearby tactical droid nodded. "Initial projections indicate a seventy-eight percent success rate across all four fronts, Admiral."
**Scene 2**
**Hyperspace, En Route to Duro**
**Dua Ningo POV**
The blue tunnel of hyperspace swirled outside the viewport as Dua reviewed the latest fleet dispositions. Everything was proceeding according to plan — until it wasn't.
"Commander," a tactical droid reported, its voice flat, "the attack on Selonia has stalled. We have lost all communication with Admiral Selena's fleet."
Dua's eyes narrowed. "Expected. Until they occupy the shipyards, that signal jammer will block our communications. What else?"
"The campaign into the Inner Rim has been halted. Dagon's ship, the *Olympus Mons*, was spotted. We have lost contact with Squadron 634, Squadron 454, and Battlegroup 9."
*Not good.* Dua thought. Those were only forty-five Dauntless-class heavy cruisers and fifty Techno Union frigates, but they had been vital for supporting the main thrust.
"Where were they supposed to attack?" Dua asked.
"Nubia, sir. But all other fleets—"
The ship suddenly shuddered violently as it was yanked out of hyperspace. Dua stumbled, grabbing a console to steady himself. Alarms screamed across the bridge.
"Status! What is our damage?" he barked.
"Error — eight Munificent-class frigates and four Recusant-class heavy destroyers have collided and been destroyed," the tactical droid reported. The ship shook again, harder this time. "We are under attack!"
**Scene 3**
**Grey Wolf Bridge**
**Fleet Admiral Dittmar POV**
*Fleet Admiral* Dittmar now — stood at the center of the *Grey Wolf*'s bridge with a predator's smile.
This was the art of the trap. The art of hyperspace interception.
Each Resurgent-class battlecruiser carried gravity well projectors for exactly this purpose. His fleet — nine modified Invincible-class Dreadnoughts and eighty-six Venators, supported by squadrons of Lancers and Arquitens-class command cruisers — waited in perfect formation.
The enemy emerged from hyperspace in disarray, ships tumbling and colliding as the artificial gravity wells ripped them out of their jump.
Dittmar's eyes gleamed. "Nine hundred ships. Mostly Munificent-class and Recusant-class light destroyers. Time for a brawl."
He gave the order with calm precision.
"All ships — Arrow and Shield formation. Dreadnoughts, cut through the center. Venators, ready your SPHA-T cannons. Arquitens, prepare missile salvos and accelerate toward their bridges. All squadrons — hold position until the enemy closes, then deploy."
The use of SPHA-T artillery pieces mounted in the Venators' ventral hangars had proven devastating. A single shot could strip a Munificent's shields or cripple a Providence-class Dreadnought. Thanks to Dagon's upgrades, every Venator in the Republic fleet now carried at least one.
The *Grey Wolf* surged forward, its massive turbolasers already tracking targets. Green and blue fire lanced out as the Arrow formation punched through the disorganized CIS lines. The Shield formation — heavier ships protecting the flanks — held firm, absorbing what little return fire the enemy could muster.
Dittmar watched the tactical display with satisfaction. "Keep pressing. Do not let them regroup."
The battle for the Duro corridor had begun in earnest.
**End chapter.**
(Word count: 1,542)