Empire's Vanguard: Sovereignty | Star wars

19. Sabotaging the Ambitious

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it."

George Bernard Shaw

||Location: Inner Rim Sector, Paqualis III||

|| Timeline: 6 ABY ||

The aftermath of the battle of Paqualis III was a testament to the unpredictable nature of war. The Sable Dominion and House Benelex had held the line against Zsinj's forces, a chaotic whirlwind of destruction that had settled into a bloody stalemate. Victory had slipped through both our fingers, only to be snatched away by the arrival of the Greater Maldrood. High Admiral Treuten Teradoc's reinforcements had descended with deadly precision, like vultures circling a dying prey.

As I stood on the bridge of the Annihilator, my eyes surveyed the burning wreckage scattered across Paqualis III's orbit. The crimson light from the planet below cast eerie shadows across the debris fields—remnants of Zsinj's ships mingled with our own. The Crimson Sunrise had caught Zsinj's forces off guard, but in the end, no one had truly won. The battle was a draw, a bloody, costly draw.

Admiral Gaarn was overseeing the aftermath, ensuring that the survivors were accounted for and that the wounded received the care they needed. His efficiency was commendable, though I could see the fatigue in his eyes as he methodically worked through the reports. On the other side of the bridge, Captain Tessa Varn was debriefing the surviving pilots, her tone stern yet reassuring. Varn had a way of getting to the heart of matters, and her pilots respected her for it.

It was then that Teradoc's image flickered onto the holoprojector before me, his bloated figure illuminated in blue. Even through the holofeed, his presence was repugnant. His red face, now only a dim echo, still conveyed his barely contained frustration. I could sense the resentment in his voice even before he spoke.

"Kodo," Teradoc began, his voice a grating rasp, "I commend your forces for holding out. Few would have managed as well against Zsinj's onslaught."

I inclined my head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment. "High Admiral Teradoc, your arrival was most... timely. Zsinj's forces were beginning to test the limits of even my patience."

Teradoc let out a gruff chuckle, though it lacked any genuine humor. "A stalemate it may have been, but it has left Zsinj wounded. However, I cannot allow him to recover and strike at me again."

I could see where this conversation was headed, and I wasn't about to waste any time. "You speak of an alliance, High Admiral?"

His eyes narrowed, the hollows of his cheeks accentuated by the harsh lighting of his command room. "An alliance, yes. Zsinj's forces threaten my territories, my status. The Crimson Command, as mighty as they are, cannot be everywhere at once. We both know the New Republic will eventually set their sights on him, but until then, he remains a thorn in my side."

I leaned forward, folding my hands thoughtfully. "Zsinj is indeed a nuisance. And if the New Republic takes him down, we can sweep in and claim the spoils. But until then, we must play our part in this dejarik game."

Teradoc's gaze bore into mine, a challenge, a test of wills. He may have been a coward in some respects, but he was no fool. He understood power, and more importantly, the illusion of power.