Within a month of the fall of Kalyndra Prime, the Theocratic Dominion ceased to exist as a unified state. Without their religious leadership and with their capital world reduced to ruins, the outer territories descended into chaos. Some systems attempted to continue the fight, launching desperate raids against Imperial positions. Others surrendered immediately, hoping for mercy that would never come.
Daimon had given explicit orders: no quarter for those who continued resistance, no negotiations with zealots who refused to abandon their faith. The Imperium's response was systematic and brutal. Imperial fleets moved from system to system, destroying military installations and religious centers while offering civilian populations a simple choice: renounce the old faith and accept Imperial governance, or face relocation to prison worlds and in some cases, death.
Obviously most chose survival over getting killed.
"Latest casualty reports, My Lord," Grand Admiral Caedus transmitted to the Luminary as the fleet prepared to jump to their next target. "We've neutralized sixty percent of the Dominion's military fleet. Civilian compliance on Kalyndra is at sixty-three percent and rising as the garrison continues to establish control."
"Good, now we can initiate the second phase of the plan. No doubt, some leaders on other planets will try to unite what remains, so we should move fast before that can happen." stated Daimon.
Grand Admiral Caedus nodded and issued the order for the second phase of their plan. Two fleets would be created from the main fleet and will start invading their designated planets while the remaining ships would remain under Daimon's command and have their own targets.
This would speed up the annexation process of the Theocratic Dominion with three separate invasion fleets spreading out across their remaining systems.
Prince Malrik would lead one of the invasion fleets while Sera would lead the other, targeting the industrial centers that supplied the Dominion's war machine.
Daimon's own fleet would focus on the core worlds, the systems most likely to harbor die-hard fanatics who would never surrender. These required his personal attention, both to ensure swift victory and to send a message that resistance was futile.
Three days later, the three fleets departed for their respective targets. Daimon's first objective was the world of Sanctum's Rest, a fortress world that housed one of the Dominion's largest military academies and served as a training ground for their warrior-priests.
The planet's defenders had fortified every approach, turning the academy grounds into an elaborate kill zone. They knew the Imperials were coming and had months to prepare defensive positions. What they didn't know was that Daimon had no intention of playing by conventional rules.
As they got close to the orbital defense platforms of the planet, he created a wormhole, but instead of using it for travel, the wormhole was used to suck in all the platforms. For the Theocratic warriors, there was nothing that they could do besides watch as their defenses were obliterated. But still, their resolve held strong.
Once the defenses were gone, the invasion began. Imperial troops landed all over the surface, obliterating the defending forces for 4 weeks until the planet finally fell.
The religious centers were wiped out, and the planet was moving into the pacify stage. For this stage, the Imperium used war droids who would arrive a week later to replace the invasion army.
These war droids were produced at the Star Forge and brought via a droid transport fleet that was in charge of transporting war droids to garrison enemy planets. It was something Daimon thought of during the beginning of the war.
In order to pacify these worlds quickly, they would need a constant and major presence on the planet. In addition, they would need to control major cities, continents, shipyards (if any), power, food/water, and any space installation. For this, war droids would be used in place of organic soldiers as they were expendable and had superior surveillance abilities.
And for the next year or two, that is what Daimon will be doing. Hoping around from planet to planet and slowly conquering the Theocratic Dominion and then setting up garrisons.
But there were some troubling rumors about the puppet states that were set up after the Abominor war, potentially getting involved in the war after Kalyndra Prime had fallen.
These puppet states were the Concord of Sovereign Worlds, a democratically aligned nation that had decided to not get involved in the war. And the Pyrean Ascendancy, a militarized theocracy, similar to the Theocratic Dominion. Both had been side saddling during the initial part of the war, but now they were receiving pressure from the other powers to get involved and cause some pressure on the Imperium.
If they did decide to join in the war, then it was just more trouble for Daimon down the line as it would just add more years onto the war.
————
On Veldari, former Major General Krolus Verr had arrived at an Imperial detention center for his crimes, escorted by two Judicars who hadn't spoken a word to him during the entire journey. The facility was located deep beneath Veldari's surface, a place where the Imperium held its most dangerous criminals and traitors before and after their trial.
As they processed him through security, Verr's restraints were checked multiple times. The guards here were members of the Imperial Security Bureau, trained specifically to handle Force-sensitive and enhanced prisoners. They showed him no respect even with his former rank and achievements.
"Cell block seven," one of the guards announced, reading from a datapad. "Solitary confinement pending trial."
"This is a mistake," Verr snarled as they led him down a corridor. "When my family hears about this, when the High Council learns what's happened..."
"Your family has already been informed," the guard replied. "They've disowned you and now they will be watched by the emperor's agents very closely. As for the High Council, their approval wasn't required for this."
Verr felt his stomach drop. Without his family's political protection, he was truly alone. The guards shoved him into a small cell, removing his restraints before quickly stepping back and sealing the door.
The cell was sparse: a bed, a toilet, and nothing else. No windows, no entertainment, just four walls and the weight of his actions pressing down on him. For the first time in decades, Krolus Verr was forced to confront what he had become.
Hours passed. Then days. Guards brought food but never spoke. The isolation was deliberate, designed to break down prisoners psychologically before they faced judgment. On the fifth day, the door finally opened.
Deputy Warmaster Ilaria Zane entered, her presence immense despite her relatively small stature compared to Verr's massive Gen'Dai frame. Behind her stood two more Judicars, their hands resting on their weapons.
"Former Major General Verr," she began, "Your trial has been scheduled. You will face charges of criminal negligence, violation of Imperial military doctrine, and causing the unnecessary deaths of thousands of Imperial soldiers through incompetent command decisions."
"I demand to speak with…."
"You will demand nothing," Ilaria interrupted. "You threw away soldiers' lives because of your prejudice. You ignored sound tactical advice because it came from non-Gen'Dai officers. You are a disgrace to your species and to the uniform you once wore with honor."
She pulled up a holographic display showing casualty reports, tactical analyses, and testimony from surviving officers under his command. Every piece of evidence painted the same picture: a once-competent general who had allowed bigotry to corrupt his judgment.
"The trial will be convened in three days," Ilaria continued. "I suggest you use that time to prepare whatever defense you can muster. Though I warn you, the evidence against you is overwhelming."
"What will happen to me?" Verr asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"That depends on the verdict," Ilaria replied. "But given the severity of your crimes and the number of deaths you caused, I wouldn't expect leniency. The Imperium has no use for officers who waste the lives of those under their command for personal prejudices."
She turned to leave, then paused at the doorway. "Your service during the Abominor War earned you respect once. You could have retired as a hero, remembered for your contributions. Instead, you'll be remembered as the general who forgot that the Imperium's strength comes from unity, not division."
The door sealed behind her, leaving Verr alone once more with his thoughts.