The Empire begins with the Fourth Scourge.

Chapter 2417 Conspiracy and Decision [Happy New Year to everyone! ]

2418: Conspiracy and Decision

Admiral Demetrius Zaarin is a good man in the Imperial Navy. He is very polite and modest to everyone, and has a strong professional level. He has been committed to helping the Imperial Navy improve its equipment and trying every means to narrow the gap with the Kingdom of Dawn's army.

Previously, under his leadership, the Shina Fleet System developed TIE improved fighters and bombers. Compared with the much-criticized TIE/LN light fighter, the TIE improved fighter truly achieved combat performance far exceeding the previous V-wing Alpha Holy Light fighter.

Even many Inquisitors and Dark Jedi use the improved TIE as their equipment.

This also made the fighters equipped by the Imperial Navy finally no longer a joke. Because before this, many performance parameters of the TIE/LN fighters were even inferior to the V-wing Alpha Holy Light, the last generation of the main model of the Galactic Republic, which made many people laugh at the Imperial Navy forcing the TIE fighters to replace the V-wing fighters just for the sake of cheapness.

Demetrius Zaarin was also very modest. He often said that he was just a technician in the rear and should not enjoy the same status as the frontline officers. After all, the real heroes were the ones fighting on the front line. Therefore, Admiral Zaarin usually did not wear the white uniform of the Imperial admiral, but the gray uniform of ordinary naval officers.

Thrawn naturally had a favorable impression of such a person. He nodded and said to Zaarin, "If you need anything, just ask."

"Ah, that's right. After Mr. Orman Tag formed the Advanced Technology Alliance, he invested huge resources in technological research. In addition to those top-secret projects, I also have a super fighter plan, which I call the Defender Plan. So, I hope Ms. Arden-Lin can cooperate with me to conduct some tests, which will take about a month." Admiral Zarin said.

Thrawn frowned, in his heart he didn't want Arden-Lin to leave. Because although the Tribunal sent six people to successfully execute the decapitation operation and kill Admiral Mal-Tuk of the Kingdom of Dawn, and sink the Infinity-class supercarrier Neimoidia, the second sister left here and returned to the center of the empire.

If Arden Lin left now, there would be no strong Force-sensitive people around him, which could be very fatal in certain circumstances.

But Arden-Lin also noticed Thrawn's hesitation. She said, "Admiral Zaarin had already mentioned this to me before I set off. And I have other missions to attend to, so I can't stay here for long. However, I will leave Barris-Offee, Jing Fang, and Hora behind. They are enough to protect your safety... As for Tok, he is not suitable for the mission here, so I will take him away."

Thrawn didn't force him to stay, he just nodded in agreement.

Arden-Lin and Tok soon set off, leaving Thrawn's fleet on the ship that Admiral Zaarin had arranged to pick her up. After leaving the signal coverage area of ​​Thrawn's fleet, Admiral Zaarin accessed the communication through the encrypted frequency band.

[This victory is enough to elevate your status in the jury. Congratulations, Your Excellency Arden Lin.] In the communication, Admiral Zarin's tone was full of majesty, completely different from his humble appearance before!

"Admiral Thrawn is an excellent general. If you want to achieve something, you must win him over," said Arden Lin.

[To be honest, I am not optimistic about his development prospects in the Imperial Navy. But don't worry, I can see his potential. Under my rule, he will have a bigger stage to play.] Admiral Zarin showed a sinister smile.

"Are you talking about 'rule' now? You are really impatient, Admiral Zarin." Arden Lin smiled coldly, "This victory alone is far from enough to achieve our goal."

[Don't worry, there will be a chance.] Admiral Zaarin said, [Now I have a close relationship with Orman Tag, and he is constantly showing his value to Palpatine. Palpatine will continue to use him, and as a representative of the military, I will also have a corresponding status.]

He spoke of Palpatine with a tone full of contempt. He looked at the date and continued: [In September of this year, Palpatine will hold a celebration of the 9th anniversary of the founding of the Empire. During this celebration, he will appoint twelve admirals, and I will be one of them. This also means a reshuffle of the Imperial Navy's sphere of influence. That will be our best opportunity... I will have a fleet appear on Coruscant in due time.]

"Very good. As long as you can get the reinforcements, then leave the rest to me." Arden Lin finally showed a satisfied smile. "Tell me, what do you want to talk to me about this time when you asked me to go back?"

[Ha, there is indeed something that needs your help.] Admiral Zarin said, [Vice Admiral Skeeter-Carr, he is the deputy inspector of the Imperial Ship Supervision Committee, and he may be transferred to the Advanced Technology Alliance in the near future. His research direction is similar to mine, and he also has another super fighter project, so... I don't want to see him become my colleague.]

"Oh...it seems he's blocking your way." Arden Lin's expression changed a little. "It doesn't matter. As the eldest sister of the jury, I should also investigate the corruption of some naval officials. Hehehe..."

She sneered. Unlike her usual lazy look, she now looked extremely gloomy, even scary!

……

In the northern battlefield, Severance Tann's fleet was still advancing slowly. She divided her forces into two groups. The main fleet slowly advanced from the planet Od-Mantell and was approaching the planet Genassa, getting closer and closer to the planet Palin-Minor.

In the north of the planet Palin-Minor, the branch fleet she sent out has begun to cruise around, cutting off the transportation route in the north of the planet.

At this time, what was Dunn Wessex, the King of the North, doing?

He had long been frightened by Severance Tann's reputation. After hearing that Tann was leading a state-of-the-art Titan warship and was preparing to directly threaten his hometown, he went straight into the underground command center and did not dare to step out. He did not even dare to send a squadron to drive away the small fleet in the north! In Dunn Wessex's mind, no matter what kind of fleet it was, as long as it confronted Severance Tann, it would only end in death!

But the damned Thrawn had taken away his greatest reliance, the Executor-class Super Star Destroyer! In Dunn-Wessex's opinion, this was as disgusting as having his wife borrowed away! That's right, the Super Star Destroyer was really named after his wife.

In fact, if Dunn Wessex had not considered that the North was his base and he absolutely could not give it up, he would have run back to the center of the empire long ago!

Now he sends at least two hundred communications every day asking Admiral Thrawn to withdraw his troops as soon as possible and send reinforcements. When he gets tired of fighting, he lets his subordinates continue fighting. In short, it is a non-stop communication bombardment.

In fear, he even ignored a basic fact - with the destruction of the Eighth Army of the Galactic Empire and the fall of the planet Od-Mantell, the northern battlefield of the Galactic Empire was actually split off into a small area in the west towards the planet Bilbrin. In other words, there was no direct route linking the planet Bilbrin with the core planet of the north, Palin-Minor.

Therefore, if the two places want to communicate, they must go around the core circle of the Milky Way, which will waste a lot of time. A small fleet is fine, but if the main fleet still has to carry out such a large-scale maneuver in the face of a powerful enemy, then it would be a bit too much of a disrespect for Severance Tann.

Therefore, Thrawn ignored all of Dunn-Wessex's orders to withdraw troops without any surprise. He knew very well that although the traffic between Bilbrin and Palin-Minor was cut off by Od-Mantell, Bilbrin, as a fortress planet, had enough power to protect itself. As long as Bilbrin could be defended, there would be more strategic space.

On the contrary, if the planet Bilbrin is lost, then only the planet Palin-Minor will be left to resist the offensive of the Kingdom of Dawn alone, and it will undoubtedly be defeated!

Admiral Thrawn was very careful to keep his main fleet away from Severance Tann's fleet. He did not get too close, nor did he abandon the enemy. This was a method he often used. He believed that only by maintaining continuous monitoring could he ensure that all movements of the enemy fleet were under his control.

On March 3, Kinassa was captured by Severance Tann. Tann continued to advance and began to attack Ithor! It was only one step away from Palin Minor!

Dunn Wessex was almost going crazy! Thrawn didn't listen to his orders at all. Now that the fleet of the Kingdom of Dawn had already reached his doorstep, his fleet was still following behind slowly, with no intention of stopping the other side at all!

This is betrayal! This is murder!!

Dunn-Wessex directly informed that Admiral Thrawn was removed from all military posts! He also reported Thrawn's disobedience to the Imperial Military Department and demanded that Thrawn be brought to court-martial!

No, that's not enough, he wants to send Thrawn to the Judgment Board!

However, unexpectedly, this matter was suppressed by the Imperial Emperor Palpatine himself! Palpatine issued an order requiring Dunn-Wessex to respect the tactical decisions of the front-line commanders and make all preparations for support.

In order to appease Dunn-Wessex's emotions, Palpatine also dispatched three Commander II-class dreadnoughts and 3 Imperial II-class Star Destroyers to reinforce the planet Palin-Minor.

For Palpatine, it was enough to give Dunn Wessex a warning so that he wouldn't have any other thoughts. If he hit him too hard and caused the core planet of the North, Palin Minor, to fall, then this would be a big problem.

Although he didn't get a new Executor-class Super Star Destroyer, he finally got three Commander II-class dreadnoughts and 40 of the Empire's most advanced Imperial II-class Star Destroyers. Dunn-Wessex finally felt a little relieved. But at this moment, in his heart, he was very upset about Admiral Thrawn and Palpatine!

This humiliation will be repaid double one day!

……

Since Dunn-Wessex had withdrawn almost all of its outer fleet forces, the planet Isol did not hold out for long under the attack of Severance-Tan. Three days later, on March 3, the planet Isol surrendered!

At the same time, Admiral Thrawn also led his fleet to stop near the planet Ord-Mantell, but did not launch an offensive. He was watching and wanted to see what Severance Tann was going to do.

At present, the force that Severance Tann will use to attack the planet Isol has been determined, including 250 battleships and 2400 small and medium-sized warships. She left about a quarter of the fleet to garrison the planets of Mygeeto and Od-Mantell respectively, but Thrawn believed that the fleet left behind on the planet of Od-Mantell would not be able to resist head-on and would most likely retreat.

But if the force is like this... Thrawn thought. With only the current force of Severance Tann, it is impossible to threaten the planet Palin Minor! According to his calculations, in order to capture the planet Palin Minor, at least 500 to 800 Imperial-class Star Destroyers are needed!

"So, your target is still me... Severance Tann." Thrawn sat in his office, muttering to himself, "But I'm curious, how are you going to force me to take action? Political factors? It does make me uncomfortable, but that's all. After this battle, I will not stay in the North... Of course, before I leave, I will eliminate all threats to the North."

He sneered and tapped rhythmically on the armrest of the seat with his fingers. Then, an unfathomable smile appeared on his face.

"Oh... strike back... Yeah, that's right." Thrawn said lightly, "The textbooks at the Chiss Naval Academy cover a wide range of topics, but all the battle examples and analyses seem to have one word written on them - strike back. And now, I am also taking a stance of striking back, so... are you planning to do the opposite?"

“Hahaha…” He chuckled, “Then I’ll do the opposite.”

He stood up and said to his adjutant, Leir Benting: "Order the fleet to set sail immediately to attack the planet Od-Mantell and cut off Severance Tann's retreat!!"

"Yes!"

The huge fleet set off immediately, heading towards the planet Od-Mantell, once an important city in the North!

As expected, the fleet left by Severance Tann did not put up any resistance and immediately retreated to the rear. So without firing a single shot, the planet of Od-Mantell, once the capital of the Eighth Army of the Galactic Empire, was recaptured by Thrawn.

However, Thrawn did not stop, and he actually commanded the fleet to advance towards the planet Kinassa! Following the route of Severance Tann before!

His troops were at a disadvantage, yet he planned to take the initiative to attack?