**Chapter 803: The Hammer Falls**
**Scene 1: Salvation – Hyperspace, En Route to Outer Rim Staging Area (Codename: Vengeance)**
**Rahm Kota POV**
The bridge of the *Salvation* — a modified Nebulon-B escort frigate — hummed with quiet efficiency as the ship tore through hyperspace. Rahm Kota stood at the central command console, arms crossed, staring at the swirling blue tunnel beyond the viewport.
Mustafar had been a bust.
They had expected more — a hidden CIS command node, perhaps a major droid foundry, or at least some valuable intelligence. Instead, they found only twelve Munificent-class frigates and a handful of cargo ships. The Black Sun base on the planet had been a pleasant surprise, though. Kota's forces had destroyed it thoroughly, along with over fifty Black Sun Gozanti cruisers and various support vessels. The Techno Union lava-processing plants had also been reduced to slag. No more raw materials from Mustafar's volcanic heart would reach CIS factories.
Still, it felt… incomplete.
Now, Kota's orders were clear: prepare for a campaign on Tatooine. Orbit only — no full surface invasion yet. He remembered the reports from the first year of the war. It had been a light campaign in the southern hemisphere, just Republic forces clashing with CIS outposts for control. Jabba the Hutt hadn't cared. He hadn't even noticed.
But Jabba was dead now. His family was dead. Hutt space was tearing itself apart in a brutal civil war — one faction backed by the Confederacy, the other fighting for its own survival.
Kota turned to his former padawan, now Knight Falcon Grey. "Status on the fleet?"
"Twenty Assault Frigates Mark 1, eight Nebula-class Star Destroyers, and five Nebulon-B escort frigates — all green," Falcon reported. "The Jedi contingent is ready. Twenty Temple Guards and fifteen Knights. The Dark Star volunteers are itching for a fight."
Kota nodded. "Good. Tatooine is a crossroads. Control the orbit, and we cut off a major smuggling and reinforcement route for the CIS in the Outer Rim. Dagon wants them isolated. We'll give him that."
Falcon hesitated. "Master… the orders for Mustafar were extreme. Base Delta Zero if we lost contact. Is this campaign going to be the same?"
Kota's expression hardened. "If there's a Sith presence on Tatooine, yes. Dagon doesn't take chances with dark side threats anymore. Not after everything we've seen."
He looked out at the stars again. The Dragon of the Republic had changed the rules of war. No more half-measures. No more mercy for the truly dangerous.
And Kota found he didn't mind the new rules at all.
**Scene 2: Coruscant Orbit – Bridge of the Ionic (Modified Venator-class Star Destroyer)**
**Dagon POV**
The *Ionic* hung in high orbit above Coruscant, a sleek 1,750-meter beast of war. It was one of my personal testbeds — heavily modified with experimental systems from Sienar-Jaemus and Lantilles.
**Ionic Modified Venator-class Star Destroyer**
**Length:** 1,750 meters
**Width:** 600 meters
**Height/Depth:** 300 meters
**MGLT:** 60 MGLT
**Hyperdrive Rating:** Class 2
**Shielding:** 6,700 SBD (primary) / 6,500 SBD (secondary)
**Hull:** 4,390 RU
**Armament:**
- 8 Super Heavy XX-10 Turbolaser Batteries
- 45 Dual DBY-827 Turbolaser Batteries
- 88 Point-Defense Dual Laser Cannons
- 12 Energy Torpedo Launchers
**Complement:** 192 starfighters, 15 assault shuttles, 20 assault vehicles, 1,300 soldiers
**Crew:** 6,000 (minimum 3,000)
**Passengers:** 2,000
**Cargo Capacity:** 23,000 tons
**Consumables:** 1.5 years
I stood on the bridge, reviewing the full fleet composition for the coming campaign. The girls had already departed for Kuat to oversee the final integration of my changes and secure total operational control over Kuat Drive Yards. Their presence there would ensure no delays.
My personal strike fleet was formidable:
- 30 Triumph-class Star Destroyers (1,600 meters, 28 twin XX-9 heavy turbolaser mounts, 36 quadruple XX-6 light turbolasers, 72 twin rapid-fire laser cannons, 24 heavy torpedo launchers, Class 2 hyperdrive, 6,700 SBD shielding, 4,390 RU hull, crew 8,000/min 4,000, passengers 3,000)
- 25 standard Venators
- 10 Silencer-equipped Venators
- 30 Carrack-class light cruisers (350 meters, 10 XX-9 heavy turbolasers, 20 ion cannons, 5 tractor beam projectors, 880 SBD shielding, 440 RU hull)
- 18 Assault Frigates Mark 1
- 8 Nebula-class Star Destroyers
- 15 Vector-class Star Destroyers (1,600 meters long, 985 meters wide, wedge-shaped, crew 12,000; armament: 8 gun turret stations, 6 dual heavy turbolaser turrets, 2 dual heavy ion cannon turrets, 2 quad heavy turbolaser batteries, 3 triple medium turbolaser axial turrets, 2 medium turbolasers ventral, 60 XX-9 heavy turbolaser emplacements, 60 NK-7 ion cannons, 25 point-defense laser cannons, heavy Q7 tractor beams; 220 mixed starfighters/bombers, 30 landing craft)
- 7 Resurgent-class battlecruisers
A decent and very large fleet for the campaign I was about to launch.
I turned to the tactical map. First target: Ukio. Then Cato Neimoidia. After that — any CIS world that dared defy the Republic.
"Set course for the Outer Rim staging point," I ordered. "We strike hard and fast. No mercy for their remaining shipyards and command nodes."
The *Ionic* and its escort fleet accelerated, jumping into hyperspace with the grace of predators on the hunt.
**Scene 3: Hyperspace – Strategic Contemplation**
I stood alone on the observation deck of the *Ionic*, watching the blue tunnel of hyperspace streak past. The girls were safe on Kuat, overseeing the final upgrades and ensuring my total control over the massive shipyards. Their presence there was both practical and symbolic — the Dragon's inner circle claiming one of the galaxy's most powerful industrial hearts.
This campaign would be different. Not just destruction, but consolidation. Ukio would fall quickly — its agricultural output and strategic location made it a vital supply world. Cato Neimoidia would be the real prize — the heart of the Trade Federation's remaining power. After that, any world still flying the Separatist banner would learn what it meant to defy the Republic under my command.
The *Annihilator* and the main heavy fleet would remain on standby, ready to reinforce or strike deeper targets. The Titan-class dreadnoughts and Resurgents would provide the unbreakable backbone.
I allowed myself a small, cold smile beneath the mask.
The CIS had started this war thinking they could carve out an empire. Now they were bleeding from a thousand cuts. Raxus fallen. Serenno taken. Pammant destroyed. Hutt space in chaos.
Soon, there would be nowhere left to hide.
I activated a private comm channel to the girls on Kuat.
"Status?" I asked.
Sakura's voice came back first, calm and professional. "Kuat is cooperating. The new Vector and Triumph production lines are being prioritized. We'll have the first batch ready within the month."
Miaria's voice followed, laced with amusement. "They're scared of you, love. Good. Fear keeps them honest."
Ahsoka chimed in. "We miss you already. Come back soon."
"I will," I promised. "Stay safe. I'm counting on you to keep Kuat in line."
The channel closed. I turned back to the viewport, the blue hyperspace tunnel reflecting in my masked eyes.
The crusade continued.
And the Dragon would not stop until the galaxy was remade in the image of strength and order.