Empire's Vanguard: Sovereignty | Star wars

47. Combat Disorder

"Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient."

Sun Tzu

||Location: Ottega sector, Ottega system, Ithor||

|| Timeline: 25 ABY ||

The Annihilator cut through the void of space, a massive shadow against the stars. I stood on the bridge, my hands clasped behind my back, eyes fixed on the slowly spinning orb of Ithor below. The planet looked peaceful, a deep green sanctuary in a galaxy torn apart by war. But peace had become a fleeting illusion, a distant memory. The Yuuzhan Vong were coming, and the Imperials and the New Republic both had one chance to hold the line. That chance rested in my hands.

The Shield Brothers, the elite soldiers under my command, had secured Ithor's defenses. Their efficiency was unparalleled, their loyalty unquestionable. Across the comms, the Vexilarius reported the last civilian transport departing the surface. Rohan's Knights of the Owl, ever the idealistic warriors of the New Republic, had held their own in the evacuation. For now, it seemed, the uneasy alliance was holding. But soon, the real test would come.

I turned to Admiral Gaarn, who had just received the latest briefing from our scouts. "The Yuuzhan Vong fleet approaches," he said, his voice tight. "Larger than we anticipated. They've brought a vessel the size of a Super Star Destroyer, with multiple warships in tow."

"Good," I said, my voice calm, deliberate. "It will make their defeat all the more satisfying."

Pellaeon's task force was inbound, with the Reaper leading the charge. I could trust Pellaeon—he was as methodical as ever, a commander who understood the value of patience and precision. But there was more to this than tactics and firepower. The Yuuzhan Vong were different from any enemy we had faced. They wielded a cruel, organic weaponry, twisted technology that obeyed none of the rules we had come to rely on.

I could feel the dark side stirring beneath the surface of my mind, a familiar presence that had become both weapon and curse. It had been years since Sidious had trained me, molding me into something more than an Imperial officer. He had seen the galaxy's future in me, and now, I saw the same future in these invaders. Ruthless. Unyielding. Relentless.

"Counsellor," Admiral Gaarn broke the silence, snapping me back to the present. "We have confirmation. Two high-ranking Yuuzhan Vong commanders are aboard their lead vessel."

A thrill ran through me. "Then we must strike. This is the opportunity we've been waiting for."

Gaarn raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He knew better than to question me, especially now. We had one shot to cut the head off the serpent. The enemy commanders were too valuable a target to ignore. But there was something else gnawing at me, a sense of unfinished business, a reckoning that would come not in space, but on the ground. With my soldiers. My responsibility.

I turned away from the bridge and spoke quickly. "Admiral Gaarn, you have command of the fleet. Prepare the Annihilator and the rest of Crimson Warden. Engage the Yuuzhan Vong on my signal. I will be leading the ground assault."

He blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Counsellor, are you sure that's wise?"

"My mind is made up, Admiral," I said, my voice firm. "The battle will not be won from the bridge of a starship. It will be won in the dirt, in the blood. The Shield Brothers need their commander. And the New Republic needs to see that we are more than just leaders—we are warriors."