The Empire begins with the Fourth Scourge.

2811, Ah... Salukami

Ordinary generals fight localized battles: deploying troops, following procedures, and fighting as planned. Excellent generals fight with a holistic strategic vision: using both conventional and unconventional tactics to achieve victory, maintaining superior forces to attack the enemy's weaknesses at all times. But… true master generals fight against human nature! They don't use strategy; they target human nature itself! They let the enemy's humanity make choices, making humanity make the choices it desires… This is how to command the enemy's army!

General Grievous stood before the porthole, his face reflected in the reinforced glass. A Kali-style metal mask concealed a pair of savage, vertical pupils, burning with the flames of vengeance and hatred! Below his eyes were two battle lines, tinged with dark red rust like congealed blood and tears—his ever-present mask, worn since the Clone Wars. Even when he was transformed into a Purifier, he requested that the mask be repaired and worn again.

He could not forget the massacre and the hatred of that year.

When the Independent Galaxy Confederation was first established, and before the conspiracies hidden behind the scenes had surfaced, almost all the member planets, including Grievous himself, were full of hope for the alliance.

Everyone hopes to unite against the exploitation by the elite inner circle of wealthy and powerful families, to be independent and to control their own destiny.

Back then, everyone fought for their ideals. Those backward planets tightened their belts to squeeze out their last bit of funds and hand them over to the super-corporations of the Trade Federation to build robot armies to fight against the suppression of the Galactic Republic.

And Grievous genuinely believed that he could defeat the Galactic Republic and establish a new, fairer, and freer order.

However, as the war escalated, this belief was destroyed—both physically and mentally.

The Galactic Republic displayed a despair-inducing industrial capacity; no matter how many victories they achieved in the early stages of the battle, or how many warships they destroyed, they always managed to produce more. The addition of the Jedi Knights further complicated the situation, making victory impossible through either strategy or tactics.

On a spiritual level, when he discovered that the war was a conspiracy from beginning to end, the belief that had sustained their struggle also collapsed.

When the Galactic Empire was established, they were utterly desperate.

Those who joined the Confederation of Independent Systems, throwing themselves into the war in the hope of gaining freedom, ultimately discovered that they had only been burning themselves to accomplish a much larger conspiracy.

Freedom? Fairness? They never existed, and are becoming increasingly distant.

Ultimately, ten years ago on the planet Salukami, all of this came to naught—the Independent Star System Confederation was utterly defeated!

In fact, by that time, the massive shipbuilding center of Port Parmant had been shut down for a long time, and the member planets of the Independent System Confederation had been squeezed dry of their last tear, last sweat, and last drop of blood.

Griffiths' fingers slowly traced the deepest crack on the mask, a mark he had deliberately preserved to commemorate the despair of that time.

In the final moments of the Battle of Sarukami, the Confederation of Independent Systems' fleet was a ragtag bunch, powerless to resist Darth Vader's Death Squadron, which had been equipped with Imperial-class Star Destroyers.

But they fought to the last moment, and even in order to cover his escape, the last of the warships charged the powerful and hopeless Imperial-class star destroyers.

What followed was the massacre...

Griffith let out a whimper that was hard to tell whether it was a cry or a roar. His fists clenched so tightly that even the Purifier's body trembled, and his artificial psionic energy vibrated the surrounding air.

Now, I'm back! Finally back! Back to the place where my dreams were shattered...

Ah... Salukami!
……

The planet Salukami is now a dark and desolate place. Apart from the wreckage recovery companies, there are no residents here. It is a dead planet, and you can even hear the wailing of the Force.

The battle that ultimately broke out here was not actually arranged by Griffiths.

In fact, as the battle lines between the Galactic Empire and the Kingdom of Dawn continue to advance, both sides are building their own military bases and establishing logistical routes.

The previous war on Sarukami was protracted largely because of its distance from the Galactic Republic's core, making logistical support impossible. However, this problem no longer exists. Both sides have strengthened their control and infrastructure in the region, increasing the possibility of the war spreading there.

The planet Salukami is not too far from both planets Chalos IV and Bonta, where both sides have concentrated their forces.

When Lin Nan realized he would be facing a counterattack from Gideon Tarkin's main fleet, he instinctively chose this location. After all, the numerous warship wrecks from the four-year-long Battle of Salukami could delay the Imperial fleet's attack.

Thus, the final battle finally broke out here.

This is not human interference, it is... the arrangement of fate.

That's right, this is...

“…It was destined!” Grievous’s somber voice echoed across the bridge.

……

Outside the porthole, the Galactic Empire's fleet had begun to scatter in all directions. They had split into four parts: one part was being pursued by Lin Nan, another part was entangled with Grievous's fleet, and the other two parts were fleeing.

Greaves immediately dispatched two small fleets to relentlessly pursue the fleeing Imperial fleet. His aim was not to inflict heavy casualties, but simply to keep them constantly on the run.

The Protoss observers have been deployed in dozens of star systems around the city, and no matter where the Imperial fleet goes, it will fall into the observers' lock-on.

It's okay, this is a long and desperate massacre!
The despair that the Galactic Empire brought to the Confederation of Independent Systems back then must now be repaid tenfold!
Galactic Empire warships were being destroyed one after another. Imperial warships that were in the process of fleeing, especially Imperial-class star destroyers, all became targets without exception.

The Imperial-class Star Destroyer's large rear and small front design made it very convenient for facing the enemy head-on. However, when it turned to escape, its massive engines blocked the firing angle of every turbolaser cannon—they couldn't even return fire while fleeing!
But once they start running away, they can't stop.

Now, the only thought on the minds of every captain aboard an Imperial warship was to pray that the Dawn Kingdom's warships would attack other ships, allowing them to escape quickly. (End of Chapter)