The Empire begins with the Fourth Scourge.

2830, Strategic Shift

At the same time that dramatic changes occurred on Dagoba, in the core of the Milky Way, at the headquarters of the First Star Army, on the planet Anax.

Inside the planetary military command tower, red lights flashed rapidly, and alarms sounded incessantly.

At this moment, inside a towering bakta tank, a half-human, half-machine body is being immersed in bakta liquid filled with active therapeutic cells.

The person's body was mangled beyond recognition, almost entirely devoid of a lower body, as if it had been completely ripped apart from right to left by an immense force. Starting from the right shoulder and extending to the left hip, the body was torn apart, with the lower half entirely gone.

Instead, black mechanical prosthetics made of countless precision instruments have been installed, including the right hand, both feet, and almost the entire abdominal cavity and a small part of the chest cavity, all of which have become mechanical.

The cold, mechanical structure was directly embedded from the prosthesis into the mutilated body, penetrating deep into the bone marrow, connecting to nerves and blood vessels. Through the metal frame, one could even see the mechanical lung inside the right side of the body expanding and contracting with each breath.

The body was in a terrible state; even the right side of the face was severely injured, and the right eye and a small part of the cheek were replaced with mechanical prosthetics and metal structures. To facilitate the installation of the mechanical parts, all the hair had been shaved off, and the bald head was covered with data interfaces and connecting cables.

The alarm sounded, and the man jerked and opened his eyes.

The intelligence network began to connect, the command system was linked, and countless data points immediately converged into the mechanical eye.

The evacuation from Dantuin, the collapse of the Eastern Frontier, the lament of Governor Serben of the Twelfth Army, the departure of the Titan warships, the Fourth Army beginning to construct a new defense line on Umbala, the recent activities of the rebels beginning to affect the inner circle, and Krull-Vanderlon's speech on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor...

Wait a minute! Data rollback.

Among hundreds of thousands of intelligence reports, one report was selected and marked in blood red.

Titan warships set sail!

The flagship of the Dawn Kingdom's northern main fleet, the Divine Messenger Titan warship, has left its home port on the planet Bilblin and entered hyperspace for a jump. Its destination has not yet been tracked!
The still-intact brain quickly communicated with the quantum computer connected via the prosthetic eye, issuing a top-level order through the military command system: "Convene the highest-level military meeting of the First Star System Army immediately, in half an hour!"

After the command was issued, with a rumbling sound of water being drained, the nearly two tons of precious Bakta liquid inside the Bakta tank was discharged like wastewater, and the glass dome slowly descended. Dozens of black mechanical arms extended from the surrounding automated machinery and began to install outer armor plates on the half-human, half-machine remains.

Unlike the black mechanical prosthetic skeleton, the outer armor plates were white, the color of the Imperial Navy. The armor plates covered not only the mechanical parts but also the body. Once installed, what appeared was a white-armored general, with the Galactic Empire's insignia on his chest, along with etched badges—three blue and three yellow in the first row, and three blue and three red in the second row, a total of twelve squares. These badges identified this person as: Imperial Marshal!

That's right, this person is none other than Oswald Tessik, the supreme military commander of the First Star System Army and an Imperial Marshal.

Although his body was covered in imposing white armor, he was not wearing a helmet, had a bald head, a scarlet mechanical prosthetic eye and a black metal structure on his right side, and his head was covered with connectors, making him look incredibly terrifying.

The once somewhat overweight but still imposing and handsome imperial marshal has now become a mechanical monster.

However, he also got what he wanted.

Because of his resolute decision to lead troops to attack Bilblin as part of the Goalkeeper Plan, he demonstrated his loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor through this action. At the same time, he was hailed as an Imperial war hero by the Imperial propaganda machine.

This is the price he paid.

Half an hour later, a terrifying figure appeared in the conference room of the highest combat command on Anax Planet. All the staff officers and generals present were terrified in the face of such a cyborg monster.

Because he is no longer the Oswald Tesick he once was.

……

Meanwhile, in the northern capital of the Milky Way, at the command center of the planet Palin-Minor.

An intelligence officer strode into the command center, burst into the chief of staff's office, and shouted, "Sir! Something terrible has happened! The separatist Titan warships are setting sail!"

"Monitor immediately!" The chief of staff jumped up instantly. "Report to General Gerard Perrin and Governor Dunn Wessex immediately!"

Titan warships set sail!

This means that the main fleet of the Kingdom of Dawn in the North will be making a major move!
Based on the Galactic Empire's understanding of the Dawn Kingdom, their large-scale military operations would inevitably be accompanied by the movement of Titan warships. Now that the Titan warships have moved, it means that the Dawn Kingdom will be carrying out a major military operation in the North!

Dunn-Wessex was incredibly nervous; his body was even trembling. Judging from the results of the recent large-scale military operations, the Galactic Empire, while not exactly suffering a complete defeat in the Northern Front, was essentially in a state of continuous retreat.

He immediately reported the news to the Imperial Supreme Strategic Command.

The Dawn Kingdom dealt a heavy blow to the Galactic Empire in the previous battle on Palancy, but then withdrew from Palancy. This puts immense pressure on the Empire's northern defenses, forcing the Empire to spend huge resources to maintain the Palancy defenses.

What the Imperial Supreme Strategic Command fears most right now is that the Kingdom of Dawn will charge in again, taking advantage of the fact that Palancy's defenses are not yet secure, and tearing them apart once more, making the Empire's already strained resources even worse.

Governor Dunn-Wessex immediately convened a meeting, which was almost entirely filled with his wails.

"No! Perain! They're coming! They're coming to Palin-Minol to take my life! Quick! Reclaim the defenses! Quick!" Dunn-Wessex shouted. "Get reinforcements from the Imperial Central! The more the better!"

“Please calm down, Your Excellency! I don’t think the likelihood of a direct separatist attack on Palin-Minol is high,” Gerald Perrin said. “But we must be prepared! They’ve launched far too many surprise attacks before!” Dunn Wessex said. “What does the Imperial High Command say?”

"Imperial Marshal Oswald Tessik is already in a meeting discussing the First Star System Army's deployment of reinforcements to the front lines on Palancy. However, the Supreme Strategic Command has rejected our request to send reinforcements immediately," the intelligence officer said. "They seem to want you to lead the Northern Legion and, just like you did with Severance Tann last time, use the 'Dunne's Claws' tactic to strike the Separatists again."

Dunn-Wesexton was momentarily speechless. He said, "It is absolutely necessary to strike hard against separatism! But they are too cunning. They never fight us head-on, but instead resort to all sorts of schemes! I am worried that they may have some kind of trick up their sleeve this time! Perhaps it is a feint to create a gap in our defenses."

Gerald Perrin was also somewhat nervous. He thought for a moment and said, "You are absolutely right, Your Excellency. I also believe that the separatists will definitely want to divert our main forces to create an opportunity for their next target. But the question is... where is their next target?"

“Planet Palin-Minor! It’s definitely Planet Palin-Minor!” Dunn Wessex slammed his fist on the table as he lectured.

But their tension didn't last long. A message came from the hyperspace outpost that the Titan Messenger had returned to Macito, taking half of the main fleet with it, and disappeared without a trace through the stargate.

Currently, the Dawn Kingdom's northern defense line consists only of the Taotie Titan warship, 400 capital ships, and second-generation heavy cruisers. Furthermore, this force must be divided to defend the planets Bilbrin and Ode-Mantel.

These two directions are respectively for defense against the First Star System Army and the Northern Legion, and it is very obvious that the forces are severely insufficient.

This force is absolutely incapable of launching a strategic offensive.

However, it won't be easy for the Galactic Empire to launch a counterattack, because the Taotie is currently stationed behind the defenses of the fortress planet Bilblin, making it virtually impossible to break through.

unless……

Dunn Wessex is willing to cooperate.

Oswald Tessik's chilling command arrived, ordering Dunn Wessex to immediately organize a fleet and launch a probing attack on Od Mantel. Meanwhile, he would launch a full-scale attack on Bilbrin—a deceptive maneuver that would force the Taotie to intercept, exposing the most vulnerable central node of the Northern defenses.

But Dunn Wessex refused outright. This was practically using the Northern Legion as bait! He roared in fury upon hearing the news.

However, his reply was very high-sounding: "Given that the separatists have stargates as a strategic means of maneuver, the recent movement of the Titan warship 'Divine Messenger' is likely a feint. Do not act rashly before identifying the separatists' target."

But the newly appointed Marshal Oswald Tessik was very decisive. He immediately began to command the First Star System's fleet to assemble on Palancy, preparing to threaten Bilblin.

A new round of battles is about to break out in the North.

However, the Imperial Supreme Strategic Command still attached great importance to the Dawn Kingdom's historically unpredictable strategic maneuvers. They ordered Marshal Oswald Tesik not to launch an offensive for the time being, but to prepare for an attack on Palancy as soon as possible.

Since his rebirth, Marshal Oswald Tesik has become a loyal follower of His Majesty the Emperor. He has assembled a massive force consisting of 1000 capital ships and 8000 medium and small warships, preparing to launch a full-scale attack on the planet Bilblin.

……

Just as tensions suddenly rose in the North, about a week later, a guest arrived at the Imperial Palace in the heart of the Galactic Empire, the capital of the Galactic Empire.

Governor-General of the Twelfth Imperial Army—Seben!
The octogenarian was wailing and crying out in the imperial palace. He collapsed on the steps outside the emperor's bedchamber, his silver beard covered in dust, and cried out hoarsely, "Your Majesty! The Twelfth Army is doomed! If we don't receive reinforcements soon, the Imperial Twelfth Army will be disbanded within a week!"

There was only one reason why he personally went to the imperial palace to meet the emperor.

After returning to Dawn Planet to replenish its fleet, the Dawn Kingdom's Titan warship, the Divine Messenger, led a massive force of 200 capital ships and over 300 heavy cruisers to the planet Losar!

The Eastern Territory again!

However, it is almost impossible to see Emperor Palpatine now. After the previous Northern War, Palpatine was also seriously injured and his dark side forces were on the verge of going out of control. Like Tang Xiao, he also chose to live in seclusion, and almost no one could see him.

However, the Twelfth Army, which was already in a state of near abandonment, was naturally unable to receive any reinforcements, and was not even summoned to the operational meeting convened by the Imperial Supreme Strategic Command.

Because no matter what happens now, the Galactic Empire has only one requirement for the Twelfth Army—defend Landilis, for as long as possible. If you can't hold it, just kill yourself and don't bother us.

The Imperial High Command is currently holding a meeting to discuss two main topics: First, what is the purpose of the Titan warship "Divine Messenger" going to the Eastern Territory? Second, how should the Imperial Navy respond?

The first question in particular sparked heated debate among the high-ranking imperial generals at the meeting: some believed that the Divine Messenger was intended to lure the imperial main force to the east, creating an opportunity for a real offensive in the north; others asserted that the Kingdom of Dawn was simply incapable of fighting on two fronts, and that the east was merely a bluff; still others pointed out that the Kingdom of Dawn intended to completely destroy the Twelfth Army and occupy the planet Lantilis.

Amidst the various speculations, Imperial Marshal Miltin-Tarkel, already high from inhaling spices during a meeting, stated that the Messenger's arrival in the East had only one objective: the Fourth Army. Furthermore, their goal wasn't to advance all the way to the Fourth Army's capital, Alderaan, but rather to break through the Fourth Army's blockade and threaten the Galactic Empire's largest defensive line from the east—Delon!
Once this strategic plan is realized, the Kingdom of Dawn will be able to launch a three-pronged attack on Planet Delon from the directions of Planet Fondo, Planet Kira, and the Fourth Army.

However, regardless of the strategic intent, there is one thing everyone agrees on.

That means the Divine Messenger's journey to the Eastern Territory will likely involve a lengthy stay. And even if the stay isn't that long, the Imperial Navy will do everything in its power to delay the Divine Messenger!

Because the Eastern Territory is currently the perfect place to trap the Divine Messenger!
Firstly, the Dawn Kingdom only has one operational stargate in the Eastern Territory, located on the planet Losar. New stargates have not yet been built, and Losar is located in a remote area of ​​the Eastern Territory, which reduces the mobility of the stargates.

Furthermore, following the Dawn Kingdom's bloody purge in the East, the Rebel Alliance also harbors deep hatred for the Dawn Kingdom in this direction, and they will inevitably continue to retaliate in the foreseeable future.

Therefore, once the Divine Messenger is trapped in the East, the Galactic Empire will have opportunities in other directions! (End of Chapter)