**Chapter 769: Victory or Death**
**Scene 1: Morishima Orbit – Hapan Battle Dragon Deserving Gem**
Ksolder POV
Green, green, and blue. That was all he saw, punctuated by flashes of orange as the Republic fleet bore down on the combined Muun and Hapan forces.
The Subjugator-class heavy cruiser assigned as the Muun admiral's flagship had just lost its bridge. It shuddered under several missile hits before erupting in a brilliant explosion that lit up the void.
The last of the Munificent-class frigates were gone as well.
As for the Hapan fleet, they were outgunned. The Resurgent and Allegiance weapons were too powerful. Battle Dragons — the pride of their fleet — exploded one after another around him.
"Sir, we've lost the Blue Hope battlegroup. Our shields can't take much more. We need to retreat," an officer reported urgently.
"What of the Mon Cala? Are any of their ships still available?" Ksolder asked, eyes fixed on the tactical display. The enemy fleet remained strong — not a single ship lost — while theirs was being ripped to shreds. The *Deserving Gem* shook violently as another Nova-class battle cruiser exploded nearby.
"They seem mostly intact. All their light cruisers are gone, and one of their ships is on fire. The other seven — scratch that, six — and one on fire still seem operational," the officer replied.
"Sir, we have incoming!" a sensor officer shouted.
A squadron of TIE Silencers streaked in, their weapons tearing into the engines of the *Deserving Gem*.
"Sir, orders?" another officer asked desperately.
"Abandon—" Ksolder tried to say before the bridge erupted in fire and chaos. The flagship of the Hapan contingent died in a spectacular fireball, taking the vice admiral and most of his command staff with it.
**Scene 2: Bridge of the Resurgent-class Battlecruiser Sena**
Dagon POV
Hapan Battle Dragons were weird when you destroyed them — they broke apart like three separate circles spinning away into the void. Anyway, it seemed I was right about Mon Calamari shielding. It held better than most, but even it couldn't withstand the Resurgent and Allegiance ultra-heavy XX-10 turbolasers, which were designed to reduce ships to molten debris.
"Sir, we count 2 Mon Cala cruisers and 3 Nova-class battlecruisers still remaining. They are requesting to surrender. How do we proceed?" Fleet Admiral Etain Clairmoor asked.
Dagon stared at the tactical hologram for a long second.
"Very well," he said coldly. "Open fire."
"Uhh… yes sir." Clairmoor hesitated only a moment before relaying the order. "Well troops, finish it up."
The last enemy ships exploded in brilliant flashes as Republic turbolaser fire tore through their failing shields.
*They weren't going to surrender,* Dagon thought. *No, those ships chose to fight. Victory or death, right?*
He turned away from the viewport as the fleet began maneuvering for the jump back to Mygeeto. One week until the New Year. Two weeks until the Confederacy's expected major offensive.
The pieces were almost in place. The Dragon had drawn blood again, and the enemy was bleeding badly.
**Scene 3: Hyperspace – En Route to Mygeeto**
The stars stretched into lines as the Republic fleet entered hyperspace. Dagon stood on the bridge of the *Sena*, surrounded by his girls. Ahsoka leaned against the command console with a satisfied smirk, Talon and Zule quietly discussing the battle, while Aubrie and the others reviewed damage reports.
The ambush at Morishima had been a complete success. Another relief fleet shattered before it could reinforce Mygeeto. The Banking Clan, Hapes, and Mon Cala had all paid a heavy price for their desperation.
Dagon allowed himself a small, cold smile beneath his mask.
The CIS would come soon. They had no choice. And when they did, the Republic would be ready.
The war was entering its final, bloodiest phase.