**Chapter 704: The Mentor's Shadow**
**Scene 1**
**Republic Military Headquarters, Secure Briefing Chamber**
**Coruscant**
**General Valentra POV**
General Valentra stood at the wide transparisteel viewport of the secure briefing chamber, arms crossed behind his back, watching the massive Kuat delegation shuttle dock with the headquarters spire. The recent pocket nova — Dagon's "brightest star" — had sent shockwaves across the galaxy. News networks were in a frenzy, speculating wildly about what the Supreme Commander was planning.
Now Kuat wanted a piece of the action.
The doors hissed open. A tall, aristocratic Muun-human hybrid in a crisp Kuat Drive Yards uniform entered, flanked by two aides. He bowed gallantly, a practiced smile on his face.
"Allow me to introduce myself — Admiral Oret Namore-Kuat," the man said smoothly. "At your service, General."
Valentra returned the bow with military precision. "A pleasure, Admiral. And you are…?"
"Onara's younger brother, to be precise," Oret replied. "I've been assigned as commander of the vessel that will support you during the upcoming operation."
Valentra raised an eyebrow, glancing at the massive holographic projection of the new warship now rotating above the central table. "A new toy? I thought the Mandators had been in production for nearly eighty years."
Oret chuckled. "The youngest of the original Mandators is indeed only a little younger than you, General. A couple more are roughly the same age. But in this case, we truly have something new. You'll see for yourself when we arrive."
Valentra studied the hologram closely. The ship was enormous — clearly a dreadnought class, but with noticeable differences from the classic Mandator design. "I see it's longer… and there's a distinct bulge at the bottom."
"Sharp eye," Oret said approvingly. "It's hard to notice from this distance. Yes, the ship has grown by seven hundred and fifty meters in length. The new engines simply wouldn't fit within the old dimensions. It's also become thicker thanks to a significantly more powerful reactor. The armor plating forms that protrusion you noticed."
"Why all the changes?" Valentra asked, zooming in on the tactical display. "The threats from the Trade Federation and now the Separatists required something more powerful. Fortunately, at the start of the war, Kuat managed to secure permission to repeal parts of the Ruusan Reformation that limited hyperdrive classes for ships of this size. The Mentor is equipped with a Class II hyperdrive, while the fastest original Mandator only had a Class VIII."
Valentra nodded slowly. "I assume you've upgraded the weapons and defenses as well?"
"Most certainly," Oret replied with clear pride. "The ship carries seven hundred and fifty heavy turbolaser batteries, similar to those on the Venators, but with improved power output. Another seven hundred and fifty are mounted individually in casemates — modernized planetary-grade turbolasers. There are also five hundred ion cannons, two hundred and fifty torpedo launchers, and an equal number of missile launchers. The shields are thirty percent more powerful than standard dreadnought models. In standard units, that's forty-five thousand, three hundred and sixty SBD."
Valentra whistled softly. "That's… a lot."
"The Venator has just over three thousand," Oret said with a smirk. "And the Mentor outclasses it in armor as well. The thickest armor plate on a standard Star Destroyer is only thirty centimeters. On the Mentor, the thinnest sections are two meters."
"And the thickest?" Valentra asked, genuinely impressed.
"Fifteen meters."
"Impressive," Valentra admitted, smiling apologetically. "Though I don't fully understand the technical details. Rest assured, this is the most powerful warship in the galaxy. You won't have to worry about combat effectiveness. We'll sweep the enemy away like trash from a table."
Upon arrival at the secure hangar located behind the headquarters' main conning tower, Valentra received another surprise. Rows of sleek, angular starfighters lined the walls — unmistakable in their design.
"Are you using Ethereal Fairies?" Valentra pointed at the fighters. "I thought those were exclusive Jedi craft."
Oret laughed. "Impressive observation. Although nicknamed the 'Jedi fighter,' our pilots fly them as well. All our dreadnought squadrons are equipped with them. The Mentor, in particular, carries twenty-four full squadrons of these little birds."
Valentra walked closer to one of the fighters, running a hand along its smooth hull. "Interesting. Though compared to the *Annihilator*, this ship is nine thousand meters while the *Annihilator* is eighteen thousand meters — and already has a substantial kill count."
"Yes," Oret conceded, "but can it be reproduced? Kuat has to protect its assets. The *Annihilator* is unique. The Mentor-class, however, can be built in meaningful numbers. That's the difference between a demonstration of power and sustainable industrial might."
Valentra nodded thoughtfully. "Then let's see what this new toy of yours can do."
**Scene 2**
**Jedi Temple, Council Chamber**
**Coruscant**
The Jedi Council chamber was tense. Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi, Cin Drallig, and several others gathered around the central holotable as urgent reports flooded in from across the galaxy.
"The pocket nova was visible from nearly every major world in the Core and Inner Rim," Obi-Wan reported, his voice heavy. "Dagon's Dark Star symbol burned in the sky for almost a full minute. News networks are calling it 'the brightest star the galaxy has ever seen.'"
Cin Drallig crossed his arms. "He's sending a message. Not just to the Separatists — to the entire Republic. The question is, what exactly is he planning?"
Master Nhon Artu, attending in person, shook his head. "He's not reckless. He's decisive. The Mon Cala secession happened too cleanly. Someone helped them from within. And now Dagon is gathering every major asset he controls — the *Annihilator*, the *Terminus*, the *Olympus Mons*, multiple Resurgents, and the Liberators. This isn't a defensive move. This is preparation for a major offensive."
Obi-Wan rubbed his beard. "The Senate is in chaos. Mon Cala's defection has shaken loyalist support. If Dagon strikes now, he could either stabilize the situation or push more worlds into the CIS camp out of fear."
"He won't push them away," Cin Drallig said firmly. "Dagon understands optics. He'll make an example, but not a massacre. That's not his style anymore."
The Council fell into uneasy silence as another report came in — the *Terminus* had jumped to an unknown destination after Dagon personally cleared the ship of all crew.
Obi-Wan sighed. "Whatever he's planning… may the Force be with him. And with all of us."