The Empire begins with the Fourth Scourge.

2776. Escape

Thron turned around abruptly. The person who grabbed him was a man wearing a black robe, with brown curly hair. His face was originally very handsome, but the right half of his face had been modified into a machine, and his right eye was also a mechanical prosthetic eye.

Antinis Tremayne was one of the last remaining high-ranking judges of the Imperial Inquisition, which was on the verge of dissolution. He was also one of Emperor Palpatine's most trusted judges.

In fact, if it weren't for a series of devastating defeats that resulted in the near annihilation of its main members, the Imperial Inquisition would have firmly suppressed the Imperial Inquisition within the Dark Theocracy.

Whether it was the Imperial Court controlling the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, the Black Hole, the Emperor's trusted chief advisor, or the fact that several of his senior judges and high-ranking judges accompanied the Emperor on numerous missions, all these factors were sufficient to demonstrate the extent of his power.

When Palpatine unearthed Arden-Lin's tomb, he was accompanied by High Inquisitor Radinar Tobin and Antilis Tremaine; when Palpatine personally led the campaign against the Night Queen Geszerion, he was accompanied by High Inquisitor Jerik and Antilis Tremaine; when Palpatine went to investigate the planetary temple of the God of Destruction Coleman-Law, he was accompanied by Black Hole and Jerik.

Palpatine never sought the assistance of the Imperial Inquisition for crucial operations like these.

Therefore, at its peak, the Imperial Court had four Grand Judges, but only one Judicial Committee, and there was a significant difference in the personnel and strength of its subordinates.

Antilis Tremaine was one of the Imperial Inquisitors who frequently accompanied His Majesty the Emperor and was deeply trusted. He was also the most highly regarded among the surviving Inquisitors, even though the Imperial Inquisition had almost completely disintegrated.

Sending him to hunt down the rebels of Arden-Lin and Demetrius Zarin was a logical choice, but it also revealed the empire's growing talent drain. After all, although Tremaine was one of those who cut off Arden-Lin's arm, the real main force at that time was Radinar Tobin, and he was merely providing cover.

In other words, although he enjoyed Emperor Palpatine's trust, his strength was far from being a match for Arden-Lin. Therefore, Antilly Tremaine never acted alone, but always stayed with Thrawn's fleet.

Currently, the cooperation between Thrawn and Antilis Tremaine is actually quite harmonious, because Tremaine does not have the sense of superiority and aloofness that other judges often have. On the contrary, he has a very cheerful personality and often mingles with those imperial officials, so he is very popular in the officialdom.

Now, Tremaine's face was grave. He grabbed Thron's shoulder and said solemnly, "If you keep going, you'll be doomed! That thing is coming for you!"

"What is that?" Soron frowned.

Tremaine didn't answer immediately, but turned to look ahead. Through the warship's porthole, he gazed in the direction of the Fist of Orega fleet.

"Is there something wrong with Zarin's fleet and that pirate group?" Soron asked again.

“That’s not a fleet! The Force is raging like a raging storm! You may not know this, but to me, what we’re facing isn’t a ragtag group of pirates, but a terrifyingly powerful force of the dark side! Get out of here, leave now!” Tremaine said.

Solon's expression hardened, and without saying a word, he immediately issued the order: "This ship shall immediately begin calculations for a hyperspace jump! Order all ships to adjust their attack formations and focus on outflanking the enemy fleet's flanks!"

"Yes!"

Tremaine frowned and said, "Shouldn't we immediately switch to a defensive formation?"

“No. We just performed a hyperspace jump, and it will take at least an hour for the hyperspace engine to cool down and restart. Whatever that being you're talking about is, that hour is his chance,” Thrawn said in a deep voice. “All I can do is completely suppress their fleet. The rest is up to you.”

Even though Tremaine's words were quite serious, Thron remained calm, his hands behind his back, his legs as straight as compasses, unmoved by anything.

“I don’t know what’s on the other side, but I won’t leave your side,” Tremaine said.

Solon nodded, turned around, raised his arm, and said decisively, "Order all combat units to launch an attack immediately!"

The Galactic Empire fleet immediately began to change formation, maneuvering to the flanks and setting its main attack direction to the flanks and rear of the Fist of Orega fleet.

Thrawn's flagship remained firmly in the center of the battle formation, using precise tactical maneuvers to tie down the enemy's main force. The battle had begun, both sides firing wildly. Alarms blared and red lights flashed continuously on the flagship's bridge, yet Thrawn stood firm, his gaze occasionally piercing the distant starry sky through the porthole. Tremaine, sensing the Force with his eyes closed, grew increasingly grave.

“Whatever it is, all I need to know is that it’s definitely inside that God’s Will-class destroyer, and that’s enough,” Thoron muttered to himself.

……

“You only have one chance, Colonel Raven.” Olega’s deep and heavy voice echoed in Commander Raven’s mind. “I have marked the location of that flagship for you. Launch a surprise attack, get close, and let me establish a spiritual connection with him.”

“I understand, Master. I will do my utmost to fulfill your wish,” Raven nodded in reply.

Then, he began to issue orders methodically, with each fleet forming a diamond formation to deal with the Imperial fleet, which had an absolute advantage in firepower and manpower.

Almost from the very start of the battle, his fleet was overwhelmed by the Imperial fleet, utterly powerless to retaliate. In less than ten minutes, he had lost over ten warships, including two Victory-class Star Destroyers!

But Raven remained unmoved, calmly continuing to command his ragtag army against the well-organized regular fleet of the Galactic Empire.

Just then, Orega's terrifying voice reappeared in his mind, "The enemy's formation has spread out to both flanks, why not attack their core directly?"

Raven shook his head and said, "No, this flanking formation is fake. The enemy commander is waiting for me to strike his central core directly. His target is your flagship. If I want to attack the core formation, I must use your flagship, and at that time, he will counter-encircle and attack your flagship from both sides, which will be extremely dangerous."

He abruptly waved his hand and said to his adjutant, "Continue to disrupt their formation, don't stop! My lord, when the time is right, I will mark the core of their formation. At that time, I will ask you to make your move." "Hehehe, I admire you, human... Colonel Raven," Olega chuckled sinisterly.

The combined fleets of Orega's Fist and Zarin continued their seemingly desperate attack, with countless lasers and missiles flying through space. Both sides' warships were firing at full power, their firepower constantly clashing, and armor fragments and wreckage were scattered everywhere with each explosion, turning this once empty space into a battlefield of carnage.

The flashes of the explosion illuminated Raven's cold, stern face. He calmly awaited an opportunity—an opportunity for his master, Orega, to directly seize control of a portion of the enemy's warships. This was his only chance.

Otherwise, the rabble of the Fist of Orega would have no chance against the Imperial regular fleet.

Raven was completely accustomed to Orega's direct use of mind control; he didn't even consider whether such mind control would be applied to him. He simply accepted it as his master's power, as naturally as breathing.

He also knew that his master, Orega's, mind control was not omnipotent; it had distance limitations and consumed a great deal of psionic energy. Therefore, most of the time, Orega would only control the core figures of the target. As for the lower-ranking officers and ordinary soldiers under his command, they were only indirectly influenced through the psionic field radiating from him, gradually developing loyalty to their master.

Now, because Master Orega has just used mind control to control Demeteris-Zarin and himself, which has taken a toll on him, he only has one chance to control the commander of the Imperial Fleet, and he must strike decisively.

Indeed, even after considering things to this extent, Raven still harbored no doubt about Orega. Using mind control to control himself? Wasn't that perfectly reasonable?

Under Raven's command, Orega's flagship, the Divine Will-class destroyer, began to approach the right flank of the Imperial fleet. At this moment, Raven saw the Imperial fleet immediately begin to adjust its formation, continuing to form a subtle encirclement of the Divine Will-class destroyer from a distance.

He gave a cold laugh and muttered to himself, "Thoron? You know nothing about your master's power... It doesn't matter... Soon, you will become your master's servant too."

Raven spoke to himself as he operated the control panel, "I can sense that your military capabilities far surpass mine. Only you are qualified to command the thousands of warships under your future master's command... to make your master dominate the galaxy, and even the entire universe! But now, it's time for you to feel the power of your master."

He slammed down the last button on the console.

Almost instantly, Orega's deep voice echoed in his mind, "I have received your request."

In this starry sky, it seems as if a pair of omnipresent eyes are watching everything from the darkness...

……

At that very moment, Thrawn was watching this unequal battle from the bridge.

Under normal circumstances, this enemy fleet wouldn't last long; it would be completely annihilated within half a day at most. However, the warning from Senior Inquisitor Antilis Tremaine told him that things were far more complicated than that.

That unknown and powerful force always loomed over the battlefield.

Suddenly, Tremaine cried out in alarm, and then collapsed to his knees as if struck by a terrible weight, trembling uncontrollably!

"No...no...what is this thing...it...it's too powerful..."

Before Thrallon could react, he saw five Imperial-class Star Destroyers in his right-wing fleet suddenly cut off all communication with the command center and then quickly turned their guns on his side and opened fire!
Chaos erupted instantly. The other warships of the Imperial fleet scrambled to take cover, unsure whether they should retaliate. Shouts and pleas for help came through the communication channels, but to no avail.

The five Imperial-class Star Destroyers simply opened fire wildly and accelerated toward Thrawn's flagship!

The Imperial fleet's right flank formation instantly collapsed, and the Orega Fist fleet, led by the Divine Will-class destroyer, rammed directly into the right flank, preparing to crush it!

“No…his power is expanding! Get out of here as soon as possible!” Antilis-Triumph shouted.

"How much time do we have left?" Thoron asked, turning around.

"20 minutes until the hyperspace engine completes its recirculation!" the navigator replied immediately.

Thron's eyes gleamed. "Did they use some kind of method to make our warships kill each other...?"

He began rapidly maneuvering on the holographic star map, constantly issuing combat orders and meticulously adjusting the movements of almost every warship. He instructed the other ships in the fleet to form a solid defensive line to prevent the enemy from approaching, while simultaneously ordering his flagship to begin retreating.

However, less than five minutes later, his newly established battle line was thrown into chaos again. Two more Imperial-class Star Destroyers suddenly opened fire on friendly forces! And soon after, two more appeared!
Senior Judge Tremaine was already kneeling on the ground, exerting almost all his strength to resist the encroaching dark and terrifying power. But from his trembling body, it was clear that he couldn't hold on much longer!
"So, you're planning to do the same to me?" Soron looked in that direction, his expression serious, and said to his adjutant, "Immediately set up the warship's self-destruct program. Condition 1: As long as I issue an order contrary to the all-out fight against the enemy, the self-destruct program will be activated immediately. Condition 2: As long as the ship successfully enters hyperspace, the program will be canceled immediately."

"Yes!" The adjutant's rigorous training and absolute conviction meant he didn't question it at all and immediately carried out the order.

Warships began to suddenly rebel and open fire on friendly forces. This quickly threw the entire Imperial fleet into chaos, but under Thrawn's adjustments, the chaos did not last long. Instead, the fleet was constantly being reorganized and integrated, building new defensive lines time and time again.

The remaining Imperial warships fired a barrage of fire that would inflict heavy damage on any enemy destroyer that got close.

The Imperial-class Star Destroyers still possessed formidable firepower, and with the added cover of numerous light cruisers and frigates, the Divine Will-class destroyer, where Orega was stationed, dared not take any risks.

Just then, a flash of white light appeared, and Thrawn's flagship activated its hyperspace engine, disappearing into outer space. (End of Chapter)