**Chapter 366: The Road to Zygerria**
**Dagon's POV**
I stood on the bridge of the *Sovereign*, staring at the tactical display of Falleen's orbit. The defeated CIS fleet had left behind only drifting wreckage and silence. Zule's pain still echoed through our bond — sharp, raw, and unrelenting.
"Tarkin," I said quietly, "if we were transporting civilians along with the current troops, how many could we handle?"
The Grand Captain didn't hesitate. "Well, sir, about 25,000 given adequate space and life support. If we are not worrying about comfort or long-term sustainability… roughly 50,000."
"Interesting." I turned to the comm station. "Contact fleet command. I need 20 Pelta-class medical frigates loaded with medical supplies and food. Also send over 75 GR-75 medium transports. And prepare 15 additional Venators. We will make a jump to the Kadavo system."
Tarkin's eyebrow rose slightly. "Kadavo, sir? That is Wild Space. There is nothing there."
"Maybe," I replied. "But just in case."
**Scene 2**
The reinforced fleet emerged from hyperspace an hour later, positioned behind a large moon in the Kadavo system.
Five *Valiant*-class cruisers led the formation, supported by 55 Venators, 75 GR-75 transports, and 35 Pelta-class frigates. It was a small but potent rescue armada.
"Puck, launch the *Scimitar*," I ordered. "Zule… it's time to unleash your rage."
The *Scimitar* slipped away from the *Sovereign* under full stealth, its advanced sensor-masking systems rendering it nearly invisible. Zule sat beside me in the cockpit, her golden eyes burning with barely contained fury. We both activated Thunder Breathing — the aggressive, lightning-fast sword forms I had taught her — letting the Force flow through us like a storm.
We approached the Kadavo slave processing facility stealthily. The massive complex was built over a deep volcanic crater, its brutal architecture designed to break the spirit of any slave who dared rebel. Keeper Agruss ruled it with iron cruelty.
We infiltrated the facility in under twelve minutes.
Thunder Breathing turned us into ghosts of death. Zule moved like violet lightning, her lightsaber a blur as she cut down Zygerrian slavers with precise, merciless strikes. I fought beside her, crossguard blade humming as we cleared corridor after corridor. Over 900 Zygerrian guards and overseers died without a single distress signal being sent. The Force and our combined stealth made the assault almost surgical.
When the last guard fell, I keyed my comm.
"Tarkin, send the Peltas and transports to evacuate. Priority on medical care for the weakest."
"Yes, sir."
Over 30,000 slaves were held in the facility — beings of every species, broken and starved. We searched every cell and processing block, but Zule's mother and sisters were not among them. The pain that flashed across her face was visceral.
After the last civilian was loaded onto the transports, I gave the order.
"Destroy the facility."
Orbital bombardment from the *Valiants* and Venators turned the entire complex into molten slag. The deep crater glowed red as the brutal slave processing center ceased to exist.
**Scene 3**
"Prepare the jump for Zygerria," I ordered once the fleet had regrouped.
The rescued slaves — all 30,000+ of them — were already being transferred to the safer vessels and would be sent back to Coruscant under heavy escort. Medical frigates and transports would ensure they received proper care during the journey.
Zule stood beside me on the bridge of the *Sovereign*, her expression hard but determined. The tears from earlier had dried, replaced by cold resolve.
"We didn't find them here," she said quietly.
"No," I replied. "But Zygerria is the heart of their empire. If they were sold a year ago, that's where the records will be… and where they are most likely still held."
She nodded once, fingers tightening around the hilt of her lightsaber.
The fleet aligned for the jump. Hyperspace streaked around us as we left Kadavo behind — a smoking ruin and 30,000 freed souls the only evidence of our passage.
Zygerria awaited.
And this time, we were not coming to negotiate.