The battle above Vaart had turned into chaos.
Burning fragments of Separatist ships drifted slowly across the void while Republic starfighters hunted down the last pockets of resistance. Acclamators continued their steady advance, hammering the remaining CIS ships with coordinated turbolaser volleys.
On the surface, the thunder of artillery and blaster fire echoed across the mountains.
Inside the command bunker, Dagon opened his eyes.
The Force trembled.
Something else was coming.
He stepped toward the communications console.
"Patch me through to the *Terminus*."
The officer hesitated only a moment before activating the channel.
"Channel open, General."
A hologram flickered to life.
"General Dagon."
"Captain," Dagon replied calmly. "Status."
Ragnos gestured toward the tactical projection.
"Republic reinforcements have already engaged the Separatist fleet. Their numbers exceed the enemy three to one. However… several Lucrehulk carriers and escort frigates remain combat capable."
The holographic battle map rotated.
Red icons flickered.
"They are attempting to break orbit and retreat," Ragnos continued.
Dagon nodded.
"Then we end it now."
For a brief moment the two men simply looked at each other.
Both understood.
"Admiral," Dagon said. "Bring the *Terminus* in."
Ragnos smiled faintly.
"At once."
### The Attack
"Target Lucrehulk carrier," Ragnos ordered.
"Range locked."
"Fire."
The *Terminus* erupted.
Eighty heavy turbolasers unleashed a devastating barrage.
The beams crossed space like a burning storm.
The Lucrehulk carrier attempted to raise its shields—
Too late.
The massive ring ship shattered under the concentrated bombardment.
Fragments spun away into the void.
"Secondary targets," Ragnos continued calmly.
Medium turbolasers and ion cannons joined the attack.
Separatist destroyers lost engines, shields collapsing under the relentless firepower.
Republic Acclamators surged forward to finish them.
The battle lasted less than ten minutes.
One by one, the remaining CIS ships were destroyed.
Others attempted hyperspace escape—
Only to be dragged back by the *Terminus*' **tractor beam projectors**.
They were annihilated moments later.
Within minutes the Separatist fleet had ceased to exist.
---
### On the Surface
In the command bunker, Ahsoka stared at the tactical display.
"That… ship…"
Blam shook his head slowly.
"Remind me never to fight on the wrong side of that thing."
Dagon said nothing.
Through the Force he could feel the battle ending.
The Separatists had lost.
---
### A New Signal
Suddenly the communications officer stiffened.
"General… incoming transmission."
Dagon turned.
"Source?"
"Outer Republic channel… extremely weak."
The officer adjusted the receiver.
Static crackled across the speakers.
Then a broken voice came through.
"…this is… Lantilles Base…"
The room went silent.
"…requesting immediate assistance…"
The signal cut in and out.
"…Separatist forces… heavy casualties…"
"…partial evacuation required…"
Then the transmission abruptly ended.
Ahsoka looked toward Dagon.
"That didn't sound good."
Dagon slowly folded his arms.
"No."
He turned toward the comm officer.
"Reconnect the channel."
Outside, the wreckage of the destroyed CIS fleet drifted silently across orbit.
But somewhere far away—
Another battle was beginning.