**Chapter 710: Reckoning**
**Scene 1**
**Galactic Senate, Grand Convocation Chamber**
**Coruscant**
The Grand Convocation Chamber was in absolute chaos.
The massive central holoscreen played the leaked footage on a continuous loop, captured from Mandalorian helmet cams and Republic probe droids during the Geonosis operation. Every senator, delegate, and aide in the chamber stared in stunned silence as the images unfolded.
Dagon Marek, fully encased in his Wrath Shield armor — the helmet shaped like a roaring dragon, reminiscent of ancient berserk warrior legends, complete with metal wings and razor spikes — tore through thousands upon thousands of Geonosian mutated warriors. The creatures, twisted and enhanced like the infamous Durge, charged in endless waves. Dagon moved like a force of nature, ripping them apart with raw strength, burning them to dust with dark crimson energy bursts from his cannons.
Then came the most shocking moment.
A mutated, monstrous version of Plo Koon — eyes glowing with corruption, body warped by dark side experiments — lunged at him. Dagon grabbed the fallen Master with one massive hand and crushed him, ripping out his spine in a brutal motion. His voice echoed coldly through the chamber:
**"I had enough of you."**
As he stood over the broken body, his final words rang out like a death knell:
**"I rise. You fall."**
The recording ended.
For three full seconds, the Senate was deathly silent.
Then the chamber exploded into pandemonium.
Senator Bail Organa shot to his feet, face pale with outrage. "This is barbarism! Even in war, we cannot condone such brutality against our own people — even if they were corrupted!"
Mon Mothma's voice cut through the noise, calm but sharp as a blade. "The Supreme Commander has crossed every line. We demanded accountability, not slaughter!"
From the Chancellor's bloc, Lorian Maverick rose, his voice booming. "Accountability? The man just destroyed a planet-killing weapon and rescued our kidnapped Jedi! If not for him, that Death Star would have been aimed at Coruscant next!"
Shouts erupted from every corner. Platforms collided as senators surged forward. Mas Amedda slammed his staff repeatedly, his deep voice thundering, "Order! We shall have order!" But his calls were drowned out by the storm of outrage, praise, fear, and political maneuvering.
Raio Cho sat frozen in her Pantoran delegation box, her blue skin pale. She whispered to herself, barely audible over the chaos, "He's becoming something none of us can control…"
**Scene 2**
**Jedi Temple, Council Chamber**
**Coruscant**
The Jedi Council chamber was deathly quiet.
Obi-Wan Kenobi stared at the frozen image of Dagon crushing the mutated Plo Koon. His face was ashen. "Plo… Force preserve us."
Cin Drallig's fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. "This is not the way of the Jedi. Even against the fallen, we show mercy. This… this is vengeance."
Yoda's hologram flickered, his ears lowered in deep sorrow. "Lost, young Dagon is. The dark side clouds his judgment. Powerful, he has become… but unbalanced."
Nhon Artu shook his head slowly. "He did what had to be done. Those creatures were no longer Plo Koon. They were monsters wearing his face. Dagon ended their suffering."
Master Hiram Mardin spoke quietly. "The question is not whether it was necessary. The question is what this does to him. And to the Order."
The Council members exchanged heavy glances. The boy they had once trained was becoming something far greater — and far more dangerous — than they had ever imagined.
**Scene 3**
**Chancellor's Office, Senate Building**
**Coruscant**
The doors to Chancellor Palpatine's office burst open. A squad of Republic ISB agents in crisp black uniforms marched in, surrounding a hooded figure.
Cronal — Palpatine's secret Sith aide and longtime ally from the Prophets of the Dark Side — was dragged forward in restraints.
"You are under arrest," the lead agent declared coldly, "for charges of kidnapping, murder, and foreign espionage on behalf of the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
Cronal's face twisted with rage as he was hauled away. "You fools! You have no idea what you're doing! The darkness will consume you all!"
Palpatine watched from behind his desk, his expression one of perfect, grandfatherly shock. As the doors closed behind the agents, he allowed himself the faintest, coldest smile.
**Scene 4**
**Chancellor's Office**
A senior aide stepped forward nervously. "We apologize for the disturbance, Chancellor. The ISB acted on new evidence linking Cronal to the Geonosis operation and several high-level leaks."
Palpatine waved a hand graciously. "No apology necessary. The Republic's security must come first. See to it that the investigation is thorough. We cannot allow traitors in our midst."
As the aide left, Palpatine turned toward the window, staring at the distant glow of the Senate district.
"So, my young apprentice," he whispered to the empty room, "you've begun to clean house. How interesting."
The game had changed once again.