**Chapter 708: Scorched Earth**
**Scene 1**
**Annihilator Bridge, Geonosis Orbit**
**General Valentra POV**
The bridge of the *Annihilator* was bathed in the cold, flickering light of tactical displays and damage reports. General Valentra stood at the central command dais, hands clasped tightly behind his back, staring down at the ruined world below.
Geonosis — or what was left of it — was a scorched, broken shell. Vast sections of the planet's crust had been turned to black glass by the earlier cataclysmic detonation of the *Terminus* and the incomplete Death Star. Thick columns of smoke rose from thousands of impact craters where burning debris from the destroyed fleet had rained down like the wrath of an angry god. The once-thriving industrial world was now a dying ember.
"So this is what's left," Valentra murmured. "The missing Jedi and fleet… at least what remains of them."
"Sir," a clone officer reported crisply, "the Pelta-class medical frigates are approaching from the surface. General Dagon has successfully rescued the hostages."
Valentra gave a single, sharp nod. "Very well. Initiate Base Delta Zero on any intact formations. Then prepare a full planetary bombing run. I want nothing left that the CIS can use."
"Yes, sir."
A devastating wave of green and blue turbolaser fire erupted from the Republic fleet. The remaining Geonosian strongholds, hive clusters, and any surviving industrial sites on the surface were systematically annihilated. What little infrastructure had survived the initial cataclysm was now reduced to molten slag and radioactive craters. The planet itself would never recover. Geonosis — once a key Separatist foundry world — was being erased from galactic history.
It was the safest option.
Valentra had personally reviewed the recordings transmitted on the CIS shadow feed. A moon-sized battle station — a Death Star — had been under secret construction in the depths of the planet. If Dagon hadn't acted when he did, the weapon might have been completed. The CIS had grown desperate enough to build a planet-killer in secret.
"Record everything," Valentra ordered. "Transmit the full footage to the Senate, the Chancellor, and every major news network. Let them see what the Separatists were willing to unleash."
An aide approached quietly. "General, we've confirmed the rescue. All eleven Jedi — including the girls — are aboard the medical frigates. They're unconscious but stable. General Dagon is with them."
Valentra allowed himself the faintest exhale of relief. "Good. Tell the medical teams to prioritize them. And inform Dagon that the planet will be fully sterilized within the hour."
He turned back to the viewport as another series of brilliant explosions bloomed across the surface below. Geonosis was dying.
And with it, one of the CIS's greatest hidden threats had been burned away forever.
**Scene 2**
**Pelta-class Medical Frigate, Geonosis Orbit**
**Dagon POV**
I stood silently in the observation gallery of the medical bay, watching through the transparisteel as the girls floated gently in their bacta tanks. Their vital signs were stable, but their minds were still recovering from the brutal mental violation of the Justice Bow. Ahsoka's orange skin glowed softly in the healing fluid. Zule's purple hair drifted like silk. The others — Flare, Stella, Kayla, Visenya, Shin, Erictia, Aayla, Sakura, and Grace — looked peaceful for the first time in what felt like forever.
Aubrey Wren was in a separate tank, her expression finally calm. The dark side parasite that had twisted her into a monster had been completely burned out. She would wake up broken, but free.
Ethan's hologram appeared beside me. "You really went all out this time. The planet's basically a cinder."
"It had to be done," I replied quietly. "The Death Star was almost complete. If we had waited even a few more weeks…"
Valentra's voice came over the comm. "General, the bombardment is nearly complete. Geonosis will be fully sterilized within the hour. Do you have any final orders?"
I stared at the girls for a long moment. "No. Finish it. Then set course for Coruscant. We have a war to end."
As the frigate pulled away from the dying world, I placed a hand on the tank containing Ahsoka. Her montrals twitched faintly in her sleep.
*Rest now,* I thought. *I've got you all.*
The brightest star had burned brightly today.
And the galaxy would never be the same.