**Chapter 678: Shadows and Strength**
**Scene 1**
**Coruscant, Republic Military Headquarters, War Room**
**Dagon POV**
The war room felt heavier than usual. The air was thick with the scent of stale caf and the low hum of holographic displays. I stood at the head of the central table, staring at the compiled list of missing personnel. The numbers were worse than I had feared.
"List of missing admirals and generals is finally complete," High General Valentra said quietly, his voice carrying the exhaustion of too many long nights. "Admiral Aldanna Lessen. Admiral Vane Karto. Fleet Admiral Shoan Killian. Fleet Admiral Arkani Lane. Rear Admiral Nils Tenant. Vice Admiral Terrinald Screed. And about twenty generals, thirty line captains, grand captains, and commodores."
I scanned the names again. "It appears that for Mygeeto, since a large Jedi contingent went, so did a large number of officers."
Valentra nodded grimly. "As for the missing Jedi…"
He activated a secondary hologram. The names appeared one by one.
Master Pak Norcuna. Master Dara Leska. Master Sana-Jis Ilova. Knights Railcema Bylissura and Dalnus Cam. Knight Nico Diath with his Padawan Tae Diath. Knights Odbull Stadlober, Ikarus Salan, Platt Fel, and Kai Enneb.
The "odd bunch" — Jedi Masters Knol Ven'nari, Nico Diath, and Jon Antilles.
Masters Sian Jeisel, Darrus Jeht, Tarados Gon, Shon Kon Ray, Ares Nune.
Knights Sannen, Tyneir Renz, Walden Bridger, Soon Bayts.
Jedi Aces: Rii'ke En, Jmmaar, T'chooka D'oon, B'dard Tone, Flynn Kybo, Siri Tachi, Li-Li, Maks Leem, Jai Maruk, Nejaa Halcyon, Ruati, Adi Gallia, and twenty more Knights.
Plo Koon. Depa Billaba. Knight Nadarr Vebb. And Mace Windu.
Plus twenty more Jedi, including Pong Krell, Luminara Unduli, and her Padawan Barriss Offee.
The chamber was silent as the full weight of the losses settled over us.
"Any word on the missing fleet?" I asked, my voice downcast. "Transponder signals? Hidden codes?"
"Unfortunately not," Valentra replied. "And our spies have not reported anything from Separatist space. But we received intelligence on something else."
Several Republic Intelligence officers entered, activating a new hologram. The image of Rush Clovis appeared.
"Rush Clovis, the Banking Clan senator," one officer explained. "We believe he is currently in contact with the CIS to build a new droid factory. The status of Geonosis is concerning — we know they have a shipyard over the planet, but Geonosis itself has gone dark. Several teams have been sent, but contact was lost. The last ones included two special clones — Force-based X-1 and X-2."
"As Supreme Commander, I understand," I said slowly, "but why are you telling me this? Don't Republic Intelligence report to Director Isaard?"
"A moment of privacy for now, gentlemen," Valentra said. Several young aides and officers left the room, leaving only the high command staff.
"We believe there is a great intelligence leak in the Republic," Valentra continued. "Several instances of certain events took place. First, during the Battle of Dentaal, several tracking stations that are used to prevent possible attacks on Coruscant were deactivated for routine maintenance."
"Normal if it were one or three, it would be okay, but several in a line? That is not," said an intelligence officer.
"Secondly, Foerost shipyards, which were under blockade and pulled back, have started working on ships with a CIS fleet. We have been ordered not to attack it — normal, right? But the sector which has our patrols was pulled back," the officer added.
"Several more instances with Spaarti cloning cylinders that you recovered on Saleucami gone missing, plus several data files on fleet movements have been copied," the second officer continued. "Combined with the early asteroid and fleet detection during the attempted nuclear attack on Coruscant… you can see why we are skeptical of sharing this with the Director who reports to the Chancellor."
"Palpatine is a politician, but he is hampered by the Senate," Valentra said. "These are military matters."
"I will handle the Rush Clovis situation and report back," I said firmly.
"How are you gonna do that?" Valentra asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Wrath Shield Hunter," I yelled. My armor shifted into Hunter Mode, the dark plates reshaping with predatory edges. I activated the stealth systems, turning completely invisible.
"To catch me, they will first have to find me," I said, my voice echoing from nowhere.
"Hmm, you got a good one, Valentra," one of the officers muttered.
I slipped out of the war room unseen, already planning my next move.
**Scene 2**
**Mern 13 Headquarters, Not Far from Jedi Temple**
**Veer POV**
As the commander of Dagon's overall ground armored forces, I also had the job of helping him with training. Today was one of those days.
We stood on the vast training field as Dagon demonstrated his growing mastery. Using the Force, he lifted dozens of AT-AT walkers and Juggernauts into the air while simultaneously deflecting stun bolts from troopers firing heavy cannons.
"Wrath Shield Strength!" Dagon yelled.
His armor shifted into Strength Mode. The plates expanded, becoming bulkier, stronger, and far more heavily armored than in other configurations. He looked like a walking fortress.
He also cycled through his other Shield Modes for the troops to observe:
- Speed Mode
- Scuba Mode
- Flight Mode (atmosphere)
- Clone Mode
- Heat Mode
- Sonic Mode
- Armor Mode
- Sky Stinger Mode
- Drill Mode
To list a few. The result was the same every time — Dagon won decisively, and the target painted on him remained green.
"Veer, how did we do today?" Dagon asked, smiling as he finally lowered the vehicles back to the ground with careful precision.
"Well, you took out the entire army again," I replied. "Thirty-five different clone groups sent their elite — eight thousand troops — and now… well, luckily you went easy. Just minor injuries. As for the vehicles, could you put them down now? We need to finish loading them."
Dagon laughed, the sound echoing across the field. "Fair enough. Let's wrap this up."
I watched him as the troops began securing the equipment. Dagon Marek was no longer just a Jedi. He was something more — a force of nature the galaxy was only beginning to understand.